Thursday, 14 February 2013

Walcott wary of wounded Liverpool - ESPN.co.uk

Theo Walcott believes momentum is growing for Arsenal ahead of Wednesday's crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool at Emirates Stadium, but has warned that they cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to succeed this season.

Walcott is predicting the clash with Brendan Rodgers' wounded men will be intense and has urged his team-mates to prove they can handle the pressure.

Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Oldham on Sunday and Walcott is wary of the Anfield side as Arsenal go head to head against one of their main rivals for a top-four finish.

"Momentum in growing for us," Walcott told the Arsenal website. "It has been up and down, there have been patches of brilliance, but we need to do it in every game. We need to believe how good we are.

"We have tended to start slowly and then wake up and that's something we need to get out of our system. It's about being concentrated.

"The Liverpool game will be intense. Both teams are fighting for that fourth position and are very close together, but we are strong enough to beat them."

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has challenged his team-mates to deliver six points from their Premier League clashes against Liverpool and Stoke at the Emirates in the coming week, after admitting he finally feels at home in a Gunners shirt after some tricky times since his move from Montpellier last summer.

"There is more intensity in English football, it's more physical and you have to be ready in an athletic way," stated Giroud, who has scored four times in his last two matches. "That's why I chose to play in this country. I have had some difficult times, but I have a good understanding with my team-mates now.

"We want six points against Liverpool and Stoke City to reach Tottenham. We look forward and want to reach fourth place, and after, play and see."

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

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