Arsene Wenger, fresh from telling everyone how much he liked Martin Jol, has put a proverbial hand on Rafa Benitez’ shoulder and told him he knows how cocking up in Europe can lead to cocking up in the league,
‘You don’t know the psychological consequences it can have on a team in the next five or six vital points until you bounce back and find a balance again,’ said the Frenchman.
‘If you go into the UEFA Cup it can be worse.’
And he knows what he’s on about. The one Champions League final aside, the knock on Arsenal the past few years has often been a failure to get results in Europe – often leading to a run of poor form in the league as well and general laughing from the direction of Tottenham fans (which probably won’t be happening again anytime soon).
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