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Lukasz Fabianski urges Arsene Wenger to pick him for Liverpool clash
James Olley and Chris Hatherall10 Dec 2009
Lukasz Fabianski has pleaded with Arsene Wenger to pick him to face Liverpool on Sunday, so he can heap more misery on Rafael Benitez's team.
The goalkeeper could not prevent Arsenal being defeated 1-0 by Olympiakos last night as the Greek champions secured qualification from Group H in second place behind Wenger's side.
Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday knowing a win would bury any lingering title hopes on Merseyside while enhancing their own credentials with the hectic Christmas schedule fast approaching.
Rafael Benitez's position looks even more under threat this morning after another defeat in the Champions League last night, this time at home to Fiorentina.
Wenger is bound to restore his high-profile players to the starting line-up after sparing them the flight to Athens but Fabianski believes he is ready to take the No1 spot from Manuel Almunia now he has regained full fitness following a knee injury.
The 24-year-old Polish star said: “I want to put Manuel under as much pressure as possible.
“What else can you do? You have to work hard every time you have an opportunity to show what you can do. We will see what happens. I hope he will be happy with that competition.
“We are going to go there to win because Liverpool are not in a good period and we have to fight for the three points. I think we will do well there. I am preparing to start that game as I do every time. I've started to play a bit more and, hopefully, I am going to get more games in the future.
“It has been frustrating for me but all that is in the past and I am looking forward to the future.”
Whoever is in goal for the Gunners on Sunday will have to be at their best to keep out Fernando Torres, though, according to Steven Gerrard.
The Spanish striker, who has been out for five weeks with a groin injury, came off the bench to play 25 minutes of last night's 2-1 defeat by Fiorentina and is ready to return to the starting line-up.
Gerrard said: “It's massive for me that Fernando is back, massive for the club, massive for everyone here. He's our main man. He's our top scorer, so we need him back fit and firing.
“If that happens then I'm sure we'll move up the League and get in the top four places.”
Liverpool were already out of the competition before last night's defeat. But the result means they will not be seeded for the next round of the Europa Cup.
Gerrard added: “We had gone six games unbeaten before this, so it's a shame we lost. Having experienced the Champions League for such a long time, I want to play in it again next year. If we get back to our full-strength team, we are good enough to do it.
“But we'll be right up for the Arsenal game and if we can take three points there I think we can turn that corner.”
Reader views (6)
Staggering,seem too recall a couple of months ago,you Goons were claiming on here that Fabianski was useless and not the answer,they are both NOT top quality and that the AMAZING Wenger needs to buy a top keeper.
They have both mucked up big time a few too many times...FACT
- John, Ealing, 10/12/2009 13:18
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They are both decent keepers,but sometimes Fabianski panics,if he can make himself a more commanding figure in the box physically and verbally I think Arsenal have got a good future number one.
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand, 10/12/2009 12:37
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I think he is a superior keeper to Almunia. Both keepers have excellent handling, but Almunia doesnt make any 'special' saves, that Fabianski is capable of. One small point, Fabianski must stop scurrying around & slow down.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 10/12/2009 11:01
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Fabianski is not yet there to start our games. Are you telling me that the goal that went in last night was a good goal. Please man that was a big blunder from the kid
- Jay, JHB , South Africa, 10/12/2009 10:36
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His coming out for crosses is far better than Almunia's. He just needs to keep his level of anxiety slightly lower especially when coming out of the box to meet oncoming attacks, remember Drogba last year?
- Mukhwasi, Nairobi, Kenya, 10/12/2009 10:20
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Fabianski has done just about enough to be considered for the No.1 position for this weekend's game, especially, in his performance against Olympiakos. His handling of the ball is near perfection, his confidence has grown overnight and at least, he does make some telling saves that keep his team in games. Almunia cannot boast of too many such saves, in my view. His chance will be soon.
- Goonereris, Lagos, Nigeria, 10/12/2009 09:29
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