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Arsene Wenger has backed under-fire Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to come through the club's current crisis.
The Reds beat Manchester United last weekend but speculation over the Spaniard's future continues as the turmoil at boardroom level, involving a potential buyout of co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, shows no signs of ending.
But as the Gunners prepare for this evening's Carling Cup fourth-round clash with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, Wenger believes Benitez may have turned the corner after Sunday's victory over United.
"You would say for them with the environment they were in it was a vital win over United," said Wenger.
"I must say on the day they deserved to win because they dominated this game.
"I believe Rafa is handling the pressure very well. It's not always easy but I believe in this job you need to resist the stress and the pressure because you cannot dream to go for a career in this job without coming into these kind of situations, so that's an absolute necessity to go through this kind of period and survive."
Wenger also revealed Atletico Madrid target Fran Merida will not be allowed to leave the club.
The 19-year-old has made just nine appearances since joining the club in January 2007 but Wenger said: "I want to keep him. I nearly gave him out on loan in the pre-season but I made the decision to keep him because I feel he is a classy player.
"He just has football in his blood and these players always have a good chance to come through."
Reader views (2)
Let him concentrate on his own team and stop discussing others. He has enough problems currently with the Gooners allowing games to slip away from within their grasp and a clear goalkeeping & defensive problem which he refuses to acknowledge.
- Gooner In Spain, Pego, Spain, 28/10/2009 17:51
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Mutual respect by Wenger untill the first mild tackle by a liverpool player on one of his little tender darlings, then it will be back to the old wenger with his usual complaining to anyone who is prepared to listen. What a hypocrite.
- James, Manchester England, 28/10/2009 15:31
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