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Vieira confident of Arsenal`s hopes for title
Aston Villa, Apr 07: Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has insisted the Highbury club are still in pole position to retain their Premiership title. The Gunners dropped two points at Aston Villa on Saturday and allowed rivals Manchester United, who beat Liverpool 4-0, to draw level with them on points at the top of the table.
Aston Villa, Apr 07: Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has insisted the Highbury club are still in pole position to retain their Premiership title. The Gunners dropped two points at Aston Villa on Saturday and allowed rivals Manchester United, who beat Liverpool 4-0, to draw level with them on points at the top of the table.
But Vieira is confident Arsenal have the experience to hold off Man Utd who they face at home in a crucial match on 16 April - just four days after an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United. "Yes they are huge games," said Vieira. "But it is not the first time we have been in this position. It is hard to do it once but when you do it you know how to do it. And we still know how to do it. I believe that experience is going to be on our side.
"It`s still in our hands. I think Man Utd and Newcastle would love to be in our position and we just have to keep going and the next home game will be a huge game. But we love to play these kind of games."
Arsenal were unusually subdued in their 1-1 draw at Villa with several of their players seemingly jaded from the rigours of international football. Vieira or his French compatriot Thierry Henry could not find that extra sparkle to give their side victory.
Vieira added: "That was the kind of game where we didn`t play really well. When we had the chance to score first we should have kept the result. Of course, we are disappointed because we have lost two points but there are still six games to go and we are top. That is the main thing.
"We didn`t play really well. We were feeling like we did not have the extra things that can make a difference but in the end we have taken a point and that is better than nothing."
Bureau Report
But Vieira is confident Arsenal have the experience to hold off Man Utd who they face at home in a crucial match on 16 April - just four days after an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United. "Yes they are huge games," said Vieira. "But it is not the first time we have been in this position. It is hard to do it once but when you do it you know how to do it. And we still know how to do it. I believe that experience is going to be on our side.
"It`s still in our hands. I think Man Utd and Newcastle would love to be in our position and we just have to keep going and the next home game will be a huge game. But we love to play these kind of games."
Arsenal were unusually subdued in their 1-1 draw at Villa with several of their players seemingly jaded from the rigours of international football. Vieira or his French compatriot Thierry Henry could not find that extra sparkle to give their side victory.
Vieira added: "That was the kind of game where we didn`t play really well. When we had the chance to score first we should have kept the result. Of course, we are disappointed because we have lost two points but there are still six games to go and we are top. That is the main thing.
"We didn`t play really well. We were feeling like we did not have the extra things that can make a difference but in the end we have taken a point and that is better than nothing."
Bureau Report