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ARSENAL: Middlesbrough v Arsenal

/noticias.info/ Arsène Wenger takes his side to Middlesbrough tomorrow for their first game in 17 days and is concerned about fatigue among his players.

Liverpool’s Super Cup commitments prevented Arsenal playing a fortnight ago while international fixtures have taken most of the squad away from Highbury since then. Wenger knows his side have sometimes struggled after playing for their countries and intends to ring the changes to ensure they are at their freshest.

Some of the omissions are forced on him. Thierry Henry injured his groin playing for France in midweek while Sol Campbell is not match-fit despite recovering from the calf problem that has plagued him so far this season.

But Freddie Ljungberg is rested after playing two full games for Sweden and Alexander Hleb would have been missing had Henry not dropped out. The fact that Wenger intends to play all five members of his first-team squad who were not involved in internationals this week shows his anxiety over a fixture that kicks-off a flurry of three games in eight days.

“It is a concern,” said the manager at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “We have been 17 days without a game so it feels like we have had a pre-season again.

“But even though my players have been without an Arsenal game, some have played twice in four days [on international duty]. That is why I am resting Ljungberg tomorrow.

“I planned to rest Hleb as well because he played two full games. But I am not sure I will do that anymore because Thierry is not playing. I thought I’d play Thierry because he played 70 minutes twice, not full games.

“Certainly all the players who did not go with international teams will play - Lauren, Cygan, Bergkamp, Reyes and Pires.”

Arsenal have an outstanding record against Middlesbrough. A victory tomorrow would be their ninth straight win against the Teessiders in the Premiership. They have also taken three points in eight of their last nine trips to the Riverside.

Despite that, and the absence of a dangerous young England star in the Boro line-up, Wenger remains full of respect for Steve McClaren’s side.

“They have done very well,” he said. “They have strengthened their side every season in the recent years.

“They look to be a club on a good track. They won the Carling Cup when they had not won a trophy before, then they performed well in the Uefa Cup last year

“Although a player like Bolo Zenden was very influential for them, they have compensated with Yakubu. However they have lost Downing, who is a very, very promising player. I like the way he plays. He is very direct and puts in good crosses. You don’t find players like this very much anymore.”

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Barclays Premiership
Riverside Stadium
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Kick-off: 5.15pm notas_de_prensa_archivo