David Moyes aims to thwart Arsene Wenger

Dec 29 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DEFIANT David Moyes will have no qualms heaping further frustration on Arsenal this evening as Everton bid for a hat-trick of home victories over the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger brings his team to Goodison having seen their championship hopes dented by a goalless draw at Portsmouth on Boxing Day.

The Arsenal manager bemoaned the stifling tactics employed by Pompey manager Harry Redknapp that helped knock them off the top of the Premier League table.

On the same day, Everton recorded an impressive 2-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers to extend their encouraging run of form to just one defeat in 15 games.

But despite playing plenty of free-flowing football and racking up 33 goals in that period, Moyes admits stopping Arsenal playing will be his first priority this evening.

“What you have to remember is that we are still playing a fabulous side and you cannot ignore the fantastic ability they’ve got throughout their squad,” said the Goodison manager.

“We are showing good ability of our own just now and we are playing good football, plus we have shown we can be tough when we have to be.

“I hope we can play good football but the first thing you have to do against Arsenal is stop them from playing and that is a big task. That is a problem we will face, despite how well we have been playing recently.”

Of Wenger’s complaints about how Portsmouth approached the Boxing Day draw, Moyes added: “The job of a coach is to find a way of getting a result. That is what you are paid to do. That was Harry Redknapp’s job on Boxing Day and I will be hoping to do the same.

“Arsenal and Manchester United are different to most teams and so your approach has to change, but that doesn’t mean you stop playing your own good stuff when you have the chance.

“United and Arsenal and similar in a lot of the things they do. The level between them is very close. Both are well organised, have pace throughout the side and people who can win games on their own.”

Arsenal have taken just two points from their last three away games, but an admiring Moyes has dismissed suggestions the Gunners are suffering a dip in form.

“I have seen them a few times recently, including at Blackburn when they played a different side, and I wouldn’t say so,” he said. “They are still playing excellent football.

“Maybe if you compare their recent performances to how they were playing two months ago you could argue they are not at that level just now, but I wouldn’t say there has been a real drop in their performances. They are still an excellent side.

“But I’m surprised by how well Arsenal have done. The young Arsenal players were given added responsibility when Thierry Henry left and they have thrived on that, but that is not to take anything away from what an outstanding player Henry was for them.

“Fabregas is now in the top two or three players in the Premier League. He is a player I really admire and can do a bit of everything.”

Everton have won their last two top-flight Goodison Park meetings against Arsenal 1-0, the most recent of which was secured by Andrew Johnson’s dramatic last-minute winner in March.

They also earned a 1-1 draw at the Emirates last season, and Moyes said: “Hopefully last season’s game

at Goodison will give us the belief that we can beat Arsenal and we are a better team than we were last season.”

Moyes may be forced to change the starting line-up from Boxing Day with Phil Neville (illness) and Thomas Gravesen (knee) doubtful.

“Phil Neville jogged today but is not in great shape and we will wait until tomorrow,” said Moyes yesterday. “Alan Stubbs and Leighton Baines are both back in training and I could call on them if required for this game, but I think they could both do with more training and a game before I bring them back in.”

Moyes has also revealed he will talk to Nigeria coach Berti Vogts next week over the possibility of Joseph Yobo and Yakubu being allowed to appear in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea before joining up with their country for next month’s African Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, former Everton and Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes Moyes’s current side is the most talented to play at Goodison Park since their last title-winning side over 20 years ago.

He said: “They have got real quality with Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill arriving from deep, and Ayegbeni Yakubu has an outstanding record.

“They work their socks off. This side has got more quality than any Everton team have seen since they were the champions way back when.

“It is a very strong Everton squad and them and Manchester City, along with Portsmouth probably, have been the most improved throughout this season.”

Keown, who played for Everton between 1989-93, added: “I feel the way they have managed to play in the UEFA Cup on a Thursday and still do well in the league is nothing short of a miracle.

“They have been playing Sunday football for months on end and they have used that as a springboard.

“I get the impression David Moyes seems to have cracked Europe now and he has given them confidence in themselves.

“The potential is there.”