Arsenal can't cope, says Chelsea's Grant

Avram Grant last night turned up the heat on Arsene Wenger ahead of Sunday's showdown at the Emirates Stadium, claiming that Arsenal's squad cannot cope with injuries.

The usually mild-mannered Chelsea manager, preparing for this evening's final Champions League group B game against Valencia at Stamford Bridge, believes his title rivals are beginning to buckle under the pressure of mounting injuries.

Grant, who has had to cope with a crippling injury list at Stamford Bridge since he replaced Jose Mourinho, said: "Since we beat Valencia (in October), we have won a lot of games and we have played better football — even with a lot of injuries.

"It shows the character of the team. You see Arsenal when they have injuries and what has happened to them in the last couple of games.

"The same happened to Manchester United at Bolton without Wayne Rooney. Even Liverpool, without Yossi Benayoun, lost at Reading."

Grant's surprising attack is the first time he has stepped out of the comfort zone since he replaced Mourinho, but he is clearly increasing in confidence.

Chelsea qualified for the second round of the Champions League with a game to spare after their 4-0 win in Rosenborg at the end of last month. They are three points behind Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League.

Grant has had to contend with injuries to key personnel — including Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho and Frank Lampard — but they are still in the hunt for four major trophies.

The Chelsea chief added: "We have a big squad, but other clubs have big squads. We have used ours in the best interests of the club.

"We have had a lot of injuries in a very short space of time, but the players have done what we needed them to do.

"They have done everything we have asked of them. Carlo Cudicini, Andriy Shevchenko, the defenders and the midfielders have all come in and shown their quality. You can't ask for more than that."

Drogba is the latest big name on the treatment table, but Chelsea expect the striker to return to action in around three weeks following a knee operation. The Chelsea striker, who underwent surgery at the weekend, has responded well and is likely to recover in time to play for the club before he leaves for the African Cup of Nations.

Grant added: "The priority is for him to feel good with his knee. He did not feel 100 per cent in the games before his operation, but we hope he will be back for us in around three weeks. The operation went well and now we will wait to see."

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cudicini; Belletti, Alex, Terry, Bridge; Essien, Lampard, Sidwell; Wright-Phillips, Shevchenko, J Cole.

VALENCIA (4-3-3): Canizares; Miguel, Albiol, Helguera, Murretti; Marchena, Sunny, Silva; Morientes, Villa, Vicente.

Referee: Grzegorz Gilewski (Poland).

TV: ITV4 from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45).