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Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.</td></tr></tbody></table>Arsenal 'keeper promises tougher defensive play in '09 Manuel Almunia claims Arsenal have exorcised their defensive demons as the Gunners look to force themselves back into contention with victory over Bolton in the first Barclays Premier League game of 2009 today. Arsenal have been less than watertight at the back this season, and are well behind the top three on goal difference, not to mention back down in fifth place and some 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool. Manager Arsene Wenger, though, feels that has changed in recent games following "a small change to the structure of the team." However, the Gunners boss will now have to reassess his defensive options following injuries to Mikael Silvestre and William Gallas, who will be out for around three weeks with respective thigh and hamstring problems. Goalkeeper Almunia is convinced the Arsenal defence is now ready to show their mean streak once again. Long balls, crosses "We have had bad moments against the kind of team that play long balls, lots of crosses," the 31-year-old told Arsenal TV Online. "The attitude of the team has changed over the past few games. We are finding our way and our origins and the desire to win and show the strength of the team." Almunia added: "Every single player realised that we have to not only play when we have the ball, but we have to play without the ball too. This is the work that we have to practise every day and we are doing that now." Wenger believes his squad have now come through a difficult spell of a stop-start campaign with greater strength for the battles ahead. He said: "We have become more solid over the last few weeks," Wenger said. "As a team we are better defensively and I also think that the creative spark will come back quickly, as confidence builds. u00a0 "When you can be consistent, the confidence returns and with that the creative side of the game will come."u00a0u00a0u00a0 EPL on Saturday Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers LIVE on ESPN 20:25 u00a0 Newcastle v West Ham LIVE on Star Sports 20:25 M'brough v Sunderland LIVE on ESPN 23:00 Stoke v Liverpoolu00a0LIVE on Star Sports 23:00 Aston Villa v West Brom u00a0 Everton v Hull u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 Fulham v Blackburn Portsmouth v Man City

Arsenal 'keeper promises tougher defensive play in '09

Arsenal 'keeper Almunia promises better show

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Arsenal 'keeper Almunia promises better show

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