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Wenger backs Hodgson and Houllier

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has jumped to the defence of under-fire Liverpool and Aston Villa bosses Roy Hodgson and Gerard Houllier and warned frequent changes at the top lead to financial ruin.

Wenger, whose team face Championship side Leeds United in the FA Cup on Saturday, said managers should be given time to remedy their clubs' problems.

"Every day you open the papers and a new manager is sacked," Wenger told reporters on Friday.

"I am the complete enemy of that. Without stability the clubs are going in different directions every six months and it always ends in financial disaster.

"When you choose a manager you need to give him the time it takes to change things around.

"Roy Hodgson was appointed in the summer and Gerard Houllier a bit later and within a few games people question their abilities. They are managers who have proven themselves."

"We picked a team we thought was good enough to beat Leeds," he told reporters on Friday.

"The FA Cup is a competition that has had its shocks, and we got a shock last year. I picked the wrong team; I hope I don't pick the wrong team this time.

"I hope to have Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney fit for Sunday. Rooney has been in good form lately and Edwin is obviously valuable for his experience. Rio Ferdinand is OK, we just rested him against Stoke."

Tottenham Hotspur will rest several first-teamers for Sunday's FA Cup third round tie at home to Charlton Athletic including midfielder Gareth Bale who needs a break after suffering a back spasm at Everton on Wednesday.

Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King, Jamie O'Hara and Jonathan Woodgate remain sidelined through injury while Younes Kaboul will serve the final game of his three-match suspension.

Chelsea's Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole will have fitness tests ahead of their FA Cup clash against Championship side Ipswich Town on Sunday.

All three suffered knocks in Wednesday's defeat to Wolves.