O'SHEA LETS IT SLIP ABOUT NEW PLAYERS COMING IN

Last updated : 05 January 2006 By Ed

O'Shea first:

"It is not as if we have gone backwards.

"Someone was telling me this is one of our best points tallies for the last 10 years.

"What we have not done is step up to the level Chelsea have reached and that is the next challenge for us now.

"We have taken eight points from 12 over the Christmas period but when you see the pace Chelsea are setting, it really needed to be 12.

"But we have a few players coming back and a few new lads coming in this month which will freshen everyone up, so hopefully we can finish the season strongly and match the run Chelsea are making.

"We felt we had them (Arsenal).

"Once we got into the second half we could sense if anyone was going to win, it would be us.

"Ruud was unlucky with a chance early in the second half.

"He connected sweetly with the ball but unfortunately it was just off target.

"Giggsy had a chance at the back post soon after but was put off by the floodlights, Gary [Neville] was unlucky with his sliding effort and Wes also had a great header cleared off the line.

"On another day those chances go in for you and we're convincing winners. But it wasn't to be."


Fletcher from the official site:

"We were a bit disappointed to only get a draw.

"We were certainly looking for the win and thought we deserved it.

"We had quite few good chances and in the end we were disappointed not to take them.

"Chelsea are the only winners from the game. But we just have to keep persisting with the way we are playing.

"Their three central midfield players tried to drag us wide," he added. "But I don’t think it was too congested in there. They tried to play through the middle of us. Then, when we had the ball, they dropped back to make a five which was difficult for us to break down.

"It was still end-to-end action and I’m surprised it finished goalless. But that’s the way it goes in big games sometimes.

"We definitely had the better of the second half and we were the team that was looking to win the game. We had Arsenal on the ropes but couldn’t quite manage to kill them off.

"We’ve started playing some really good attacking football at the moment, which is pleasing," Fletcher said. "We want to make sure we are in second place so, for now, that means just concentrating on ourselves and winning games."