WENGER SALUTES OLD FOE FERGIE
Arsene Wenger has hailed rival Sir Alex Ferguson's march towards a second Treble while admitting Arsenal's "massively disappointing" season has been hampered by their move to a new stadium.
In an unusual show of magnanimity towards the Manchester United boss, with whom he has had many public disagreements in the past, Wenger has insisted that the Scot deserves to be named manager of the year.
But, despite Chelsea's bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, the Gunners chief has ignored Blues counterpart Jose Mourinho, instead claiming Reading's Steve Coppell is Ferguson's nearest rival for the honour.
Asked who would get his vote, Wenger said: "I feel this year Sir Alex Ferguson, because he's in a position to fight on every front, and Steve Coppell, who is in a position where nobody expected him to be and he has a team who do not play negatively - they have a positive attitude everywhere they go."
After 10 trophy-laden years in north London, it is unusual for Wenger himself not to be considered one of the front-runners when end-of-season honours are being bestowed.
But with Arsenal lying fourth in the Barclays Premiership and out of the FA Cup and Champions League, their controversial final defeat to Chelsea in the Carling Cup will remain their strongest sniff of silverware this year.
The Gunners' frustrating inconsistency has been widely attributed to the youthful nature of their squad.
And Wenger admits moulding a winning team out of his inexperienced current crop is proving a massive task.
"It is the biggest challenge of my career because I am desperate to bring them as far as they can go and I feel there is a lot of potential in there," he told the League Managers' Association's website.
"I have to make them realise that a sports life passes quickly and that you have to quickly be mature.
"The second thing is not to lose the belief, because this year of course we didn't win anything, and come back next season with the great belief that they can do well."
He added: "To be a professional and a young player is to learn as well how to deal with disappointment.
"This year we had a massive disappointment, I feel overall, especially in going out of the Champions League the way we went out.
"But it's part of a growing process as well to handle this kind of disappointment and to still not let your disappointment stop your progression."
BENDTNER CAN BE GREAT - LAURSEN
On-loan Birmingham striker Nicklas Bendtner is being tipped by his Denmark team-mate and Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen to be a star of the future - so long as he does not get carried away by his current success.
Bendtner is due to return to Arsenal at the end of the season after playing a major role in helping Birmingham to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship with just two games remaining.
He has also quickly made his mark with his country after breaking into the senior squad this season and last month scored the winner against Germany.
But the 19-year-old is not lacking in self-confidence and Laursen warned it is important he keeps his feet firmly on the ground.
Laursen said: "Nicklas is big and strong and quick and can become a very good player but it is always dangerous for a young player like him.
"He is only 19. I didn't have a contract when I was 19. He is already playing for Denmark and is at Arsenal.
"If he can keep his feet nicely on the ground, and work hard and take advice from the older players, then he can become a very good player.
"But it is always dangerous with the young players when they come through that they lose their head, think they are better than they are and don't have to learn anymore.
"They think 'I am here and that's enough. I am good'. He can be a great footballer if he can work hard and keep his feet on the ground."
Laursen believes Bendtner might find it more beneficial to go out on loan again next season if he is not going to figure prominently for the Gunners.
SKIN MASSAGE FOR A BEAUTIFUL SKIN
For a healthy and glowing skin it is very necessary to take out some time for your SKIN MASSAGE. A human body contains a large number of pores and they should not be big or small, they should be in their standard size for a healthy skin. Blood remains circulating in our body at all time and the air around us has an unlimited amount of germs. When this air touches to our body it catches all the germs from the air which blocks all the pours of the skin and produces several skin problems and because of it skin stop perspiring and it begins to circulate less blood in our body. This causes several skin problems like pimples, scars and spots.
To prevent pimples and other skin problems skin massage is very ideal. Skin massage should be done at least once every week for 5 to 7 minutes.
Here is the method for skin massage:
Take a good cold cream and add about 1/3 of talcum powder in it. Make a paste of it. Wash your hands well and tie a scarf on your head. Now put a towel on your chest and apply that cream on all over your face and neck.
Now massage your skin in eight different directions:
1) MASSAGE YOUR NECK:
Move your hands from downwards to upwards to massage on your neck for 5-7 minutes.
GAEL READY TO BLOW DOWN COTTAGERS
Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy has told Fulham not to expect easy points in their fight against relegation when Lawrie Sanchez takes his side to the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners are virtually assured of a Champions League place next season but need a point on Sunday to make absolutely sure, while overtaking Liverpool in third would mean more prize money for the club.
They could have secured a top-four finish with a win against rivals Tottenham at the weekend but conceded an equaliser deep in injury-time when Jermaine Jenas struck.
"We were looking forward to getting the three points on Saturday so we could have been through to next season's Champions League," said Clichy.
"But now everyone needs to be focused for the next game against Fulham so we can qualify. We need to do that for ourselves and for our fans."
Clichy's determination may be bad news for Fulham, who are hovering three points above the bottom three and are without a win in their last eight Barclays Premiership games.
The 21-year-old Frenchman insists the Gunners will also be going full throttle in their final two games of the season, against Chelsea and Portsmouth, even if they seal a top-four place on Sunday.
WENGER UNDERSTANDS FAN REACTION
Arsene Wenger can understand the frustrations of Arsenal's fans when things do not go all their own way.
The Gunners moved up, temporarily at least, into third place in the Barclays Premiership following a 3-1 win over Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Despite sweeping into the lead through Tomas Rosicky after just 12 minutes, Arsenal were frustrated for long spells by a determined City side who levelled before the break through DaMarcus Beasley.
Inspired by a brilliant 25-yard strike from Cesc Fabregas, Wenger's men finally got back in control and wrapped up the three points when Julio Baptista netted with 10 minutes left.
However, there were spells during the match when sections of the home faithful got on the back of the team.
Wenger fully understands. The Arsenal manager said: "The crowd does not irritate me, no.
"With a professional player you have to deal with that.
"People coming here pay good money and sometimes they let their frustration out.
"People are impatient. They want to win. When we do not win as quickly as they want, they get frustrated.
"It is down to us to transport them to a different world."
City boss Stuart Pearce believes the constant demand for success can prove a double-edged sword.
He said: "That is the nature of the Premiership now.
