Published: 22 December, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

SPURS defender Michael Dawson has refused to offer Arsenal fans any Christmas cheer as he eyes a January return to the Tottenham first team.

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny attempted to keep Gooner spirits up after defeat by Manchester City on Sunday by declaring that his team will rise above Spurs come May.

“That’s my personal ambition because I am one of the fans and so it means a lot to me to finish above them,” Szczesny told arsenal.com. “I am confident we will do so.”

But Dawson, who hopes to return to Tottenham’s defensive line-up next month after recovering from his Achilles injury, is having none of it.

“I fancy us to finish above them, no doubt about that,” he said.

“We have gone about our work. And we are right in the mix. We will keep doing our jobs and see where it takes us.”

Dawson’s comeback will give Spurs the kind of defensive boost that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger can only presently dream of.

Injured Kieran Gibbs missed out once again in last night’s (Wednesday) dramatic 2-1 win at Aston Villa. Robin van Persie gave the Gunners an early lead before an equaliser from Marc Albrighton – the 20,000th Premier League goal.

It was left to an unlikely match-winner in the shape of Yossi Benayoun, who came off the bench to head home with just four minutes left.

Given that defenders Bacary Sagna, Carl Jenkinson, Andre Santos and Johan Djourou are also out, Wenger may be forced into the transfer market. “We are starting to look at players if Gibbs is not back,” he told arsenal.com.

Before the transfer window opens, however, Arsenal need to negotiate visits from Wolves on Boxing Day, and QPR on New Year’s Eve.

Twenty-one-year-old Szczesny remains optimistic though.

He added: “The atmosphere in the dressing room is very good at the moment so that made us stronger and I believe we can go very far in all competitions.”