"Even though we didn't win this game, we are still six points ahead. Despite two draws in a row, we are confident that we will be able to secure this point advantage. ”

…

'Guus Hiddink's new Chelsea won't have a chance, Arsenal don't have that chance, they're 14 points behind us and we don't pose any threat to us.

…

'Yes, Arsenal don't have the quality to compete for the title, last season was their best chance, but they missed it and I don't think they will have it again.

A team needs to build up as it matures, but they have missed it. Their current situation this season says it all, they are fourteen points behind us, a gap they can't close, and their opponents are great. ”

…

'Fulham are a traditional team with a lot of experience and I have no doubt about their ability to play away from home.

…

In the post-match press conference of the 0-0 draw with Portsmouth, Ferguson spoke eloquently, questioning Arsenal's quality and praising Arsenal's next opponents, Fulham.

Today's reporters are surprised, but they are also happy to see it.

As you can imagine, Ferguson was putting pressure on Wenger before the game, and the pressure game was not only Arsenal's later game against Fulham, but more importantly, it was to 'shoot' for his next game.

At the start of March, the League Cup final will begin. Manchester United and Arsenal, the former poles of the Premier League, will compete for the title at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester United have completed the 27th round of the Premier League, and all that remains is for their opponents, Arsenal.

Because the Champions League was played one day late, Arsenal was also one day slower than Manchester United for the start of the Premier League.

So Ferguson naturally wants to take advantage of this opportunity to open his mouth cannon and put pressure on his old opponent to make Wenger more involved in the league.

Ferguson's idea was warmly welcomed by British Coal, and with the fall of Arsenal, they had not seen two old men in the newspaper 'battle' for too long.

"Alex Ferguson: Arsenal are on the decline, not champions" - The Guardian

"Alex Ferguson: Fourteen points - the trench, Arsenal never have a chance" - Daily Mirror

"Alex Ferguson: Arsene Wenger's team is too poor to compete with Manchester United" - The Daily Star

"Ignored by former opponents, Arsene Wenger desperately needs to prove himself" - BBC

"Alex Ferguson: Fulham is extremely great and capable of delivering a good game" - Daily Mail

"Alex Ferguson: Fulham will help us stretch our points by a point" - The Sun

…

The hunt is like the wind, and all kinds of Ferguson's remarks are endless, all of which are 'contempt' for Arsenal.

Arsenal's strength has become the object of many media doubts in an instant.

"Coach Hodgson, what do you think of Sir Alex Ferguson's words? What do you think of the weekend's games? ”

At the pre-game press conference, as soon as Hodgson sat down, reporters immediately came up to ask questions, and he was about to arch the fire.

'Arsenal are a strong team and for us to try to get a point is our number one goal.

I know we can do it, they've got a lot of power in the Champions League, so it's our chance and we're going to take it.

Picking up points away from home will help us achieve our goals for the season and I believe in the quality of our players on the road, they are true warriors and this game will be no different. ”

Although he spoke mellowly, Hodgson did not take the initiative to take Ferguson's words, not wanting to offend people, but the Englishman did not hide the confidence of this game, a posture of sitting firmly on Mount Tai.

Hodgson is now in the prime stages of his club's managerial career, with veteran Fulham leading them into the top seven and a step further in Europe.

It is the stage of the bite, Hodgson naturally attaches more importance to this game, and scoring points is naturally Hodgson's goal.

Arsenal have only been in Italy for two days and will play against their own team. What Arsenal's reserves look like right now, Hodgson can't say exactly, but he definitely understands.

Fighting on the fourth front, the team is full of injuries, and the physical strength and energy have reached the bottleneck of the season.

At this time, Hodgson naturally dared to 'covet' Arsenal and snatch a point away from home, which was the lowest goal in his heart.

Arsene Wenger has been annoyed in recent days.

A series of bad luck against Roma has made Wenger very anxious, but fortunately the team won, at least there is a good ending.

When I returned to London from the expedition to Italy, I was tired enough, but there were still people who came to stir up the fire and blew themselves directly into the limelight, and the reporters were fanning the flames there. Arsene Wenger was so depressed.

What that old rival was playing, he knew very well, was nothing more than wanting to get his team into a game against Fulham and expend more of his energy before the next matchup.

But if you understand it, you can be like this, this is a yang conspiracy, and you can't hide from it.

Arsene Wenger can only let his players be honest, ignore what is said outside, and concentrate on preparing for the next game.

And for Hodgson's self-confidence, Wenger also ignored it, although Wenger did not understand Chinese, but he also understood the feeling and truth of 'dragon swimming in shallow water and shrimp play'.

Arsenal's 'dominance' in the league has declined, and naturally there are people from all walks of life who are worried about themselves.

It's normal, competitive competition, in the final analysis, is strength speaks.

If Arsenal wants to not be laughed at by Manchester United and not looked down upon by their opponents, they can only defeat their opponents and speak with their strength on the field.

'Fourteen points, I don't think it's an insurmountable gap, we still have one game to play against Manchester United.

Of course, we have to play well for the next games, against Fulham at the weekend, and I don't think we can do it like we did in the previous games. Three points are what we have to do and we have no way back. ”

As Arsene Wenger said, it would be okay for Hodgson to score a minimum of one point in the weekend's game. But Arsenal can't, they are only four points clear of Villa and Everton and Arsenal, and Wenger definitely doesn't want to fall short.

And this game is on his own home turf, and Wenger definitely doesn't want his team to stumble on his own home turf. Three points is a must, and accidents are absolutely not allowed.

"Andre, in this game, you revolve around Niklas and look for opportunities around him.

Niklas, you have to keep an eye on Andre's position at all times, and when you are on the spot, try to find him as much as possible. ”

In the dressing room, Arsene Wenger specially called his front-court combination over and kept telling them.

This season, on the forward line, only the reliable Van Persie is tired.

Arsene Wenger really didn't dare to it, after all, the next game was the point. Bendtner acted as a bridgehead in this game.

Nasri also needs to rest, and after being forced by Roma in the last game, Arsene Wenger also rotated him to Vela in this game.

Denilson was also rested, Song came on, and Eboue's place was replaced by Ramsey.

And Xiang Hao, Arsenal is really lacking now, sitting in the middle.

In the backfield, Galla worked quite hard against Roma, and this hard work also sold himself, and an ankle injury allowed Campbell to take his place.

And Gibbs replaced Klich in this game, and the others, Sagna, Toure and Almunia are still playing.

"Remember, you must keep an eye on that Hao's passing point, choke his passing route,..., this area, and you must not let him go.

He's got his right foot, Schwarzer, you have to pay attention to that. ”

In the away dressing room, Hodgson chattered and 'nagged'.

Since he wants to pick up points away from home, Hodgson naturally has a deep study of Arsenal.

He knows very well who Arsenal are without Cesc Fabregas, who is at the heart of them, and who is the key point in the transition between attack and defence.

Xiang Hao is naturally the target of Hodgson, but Hodgson studied the video for two days, unlike other coaches, he will not focus most of his energy on entanglement with Xiang Hao, but on Arsenal's entire offensive and defensive system.

Knocking out Xiang Hao's 'periphery' is Hodgson's main tactic in this game.

At the end of the day, Hodgson is still bullying Arsenal's young people, and if Fabregas exists, Hodgson would not dare to target him like that.

And Hodgson also made a mistake, that is, to leave out the Russian tsar, that is, at his peak, there were players who were not inferior to Fabregas's ability, and even advanced to the realm of Messi.

In this game, Arsene Wenger put Arshavin in the middle, behind the striker, which was the most comfortable position for Arshavin.

Arshavin, who can rush, lead, pass and shoot, is the biggest change in Arsenal's game.

It's a pity that Hodgson didn't notice it, and it's normal. Arshavin only arrived at Arsenal in the winter, although in the European Championship, Arshavin became famous all over the world, but in the Premier League, he is only a rookie who has only played one game.

In that game, the opponent was only Sunderland, who were fourth from the bottom, and it didn't explain any specific problems.

So it's understandable that Hodgson focused all his attention on blocking Xiang Hao and 'abandoning' Arshavin.

In this game, Hodgson chose the 442 formation, and the goalkeeper was No. 1 Schwarzer; On the back line, No. 34 Balde, No. 5 Hangerland, No. 18 Hughes, No. 3 Konchesky.

Midfielders No. 13 Murphy, No. 20 Etuhu, No. 23 Dempsey, No. 25 Davis; In the forward line, No. 9 Zamora and No. 8 Johnson.

Hodgson did not choose a more stable formation in this game, but a formation with both offense and defense, both offensive and defensive, which can also be seen that he is full of desire for this game.

This game, as he said, they are in the race to get points, so in terms of momentum, they can't be inferior to Arsenal at home. Hodgson was confident.

And when the Englishman stepped into the Emirates Stadium, his full confidence was unconsciously shaken.

As fierce as the wind, the opening stage of the Emirates Stadium was covered by huge cannons.