Source: Team_Talk
Song hails bright future
Alex Song believes he is coming of age at Arsenal after the Cameroon midfielder chalked up his third goal in as many games on Saturday.[LNB] Song's late strike helped to secure a hard-earned 1-0 victory over West Ham with a late header at the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]Song, 23, has certainly come a long way since joining the Gunners as another youthful prospect from Bastia in August 2005.[LNB]"When I came to Arsenal, I was just 17 years old. Today I am 23. I am more mature now and can learn every single day," said Song, who suffered a shin injury during the closing stages against West Ham and will be assessed ahead of the Champions League trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.[LNB]"Now I am more confident, which is maybe why I try to push myself."[LNB]Song continued: "We have a lot of players who have been here for seven or eight years.[LNB]"When you play in one team for a long time, with the best manager in the world, you want to give your best every day, that is why you can see it when we are on the pitch - we showed very good character against West Ham and never gave up, which is very good for the future for us."[LNB]Song had started out life as a centre-back, and endured a difficult spell following a disappointing performance in a defeat at Fulham during November 2006 when he was substituted at half-time before being loaned out to Charlton.[LNB]However, the 23-year-old always kept faith in his ability to cut it at the highest level.[LNB]"I never gave up. It was a bad time for me, but I try to learn," Song declared.[LNB]"When you make mistakes, you have to learn to be ready for the next step. That is why I push myself.[LNB]"My family help me a lot. I have to say thank you to my wife and children because that is where my inspiration comes from."[LNB]Song believes Wenger's latest crop of young talent - who stormed into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup - are on the verge of something special.[LNB]"We know this is a very important season for us which is why everyone gives their best to be happy at the end of the season," he said.[LNB]"We just need to give everything to give our best and see what happens in the end."[LNB]Wenger believes Song's improvement is down both to the high level of competition in the Arsenal midfield as well as the player's own improved fitness levels.[LNB]"He sees there is big competition in midfield and that helps, because nobody is guaranteed a place," the Arsenal manager said.[LNB]"Song has improved his engine. Before he was less mobile, now he does not need a breather when he goes and comes back, that has added something to his quality.[LNB]"Since he has more stamina capacity, when we win the ball, he is on the move straight away and, when his timing is good, he arrives at the right moment in the box."[LNB]As well as assessing Song, Wenger will also check on the fitness of captain Cesc Fabregas, who had been troubled by a hamstring problem, ahead of the trip to Ukraine.[LNB]The Arsenal manager believes as long as his team can keep within touching distance of the top sides, then they have every chance to land a first league championship since the unbeaten campaign of 2003/2004.[LNB]"Chelsea is a the super-favourite and everybody else is chasing," Wenger maintained.[LNB]"Our advantage is that we have played already at Chelsea, at Manchester City, at Liverpool and we will go to Manchester United in December.[LNB]"For us it is very important to keep in touch with the top teams knowing we will play them all at home in the second part of the season, with the absolute need to beat them here.[LNB]"If we can keep in touch until the second part of the season, we have a chance."
