Football FanCast columnist Matt Reveley responds to Steven Gerrard's remarks regarding the motivational climate within the Arsenal and Liverpool camps ahead of tomorrow's mouth-watering tie.

I don't know whether the Liverpool captain was acknowledging today's calendar activities with his latest comments on Wednesday's all-English Champions League quarter-final first leg, but you can't help doubting the sincerity in his voice when he reflects that Arsenal's remaining hope for the Premier League title could disrupt their psychological outlook of tomorrow's encounter at the Emirates.

Agreed, Arsenal's impressive fight-back at the Reebok on Saturday was just as vital for their title ambitions as it was for Bolton's relegation rivals, the win in Lancashire ending a run of five league games without success. But to suggest that any optimism of claiming a fourth Premier League title would affect how the Gunners mentally approach the two-legged affair, resembles as much validity as most of the statements thrown my way this morning on this first day in April.

Gerrard told the Guardian:

"If Arsenal hadn't beaten Bolton, maybe they'd only have had one thing to play for this season and that could have made it more difficult for us

"but with them still having half a chance in the league, maybe that could distract them a bit".

Whist understanding the argument, will the weekend's result really create a psychological distraction within Arsene Wenger's camp?

Could it not be suggested in fact that Arsenal's second-half determination on Saturday may prove as beneficial as Liverpool's Merseyside derby success the following day, in terms of self-efficacy amongst players? Both were hugely important games domestically, and both were significant in the mental preparation ahead of this week's first leg.

The Liverpool captain however does not feel that his side's only previous visit to the Emirates, a 3-0 defeat, bears any psychological importance on the European competition's fixture. Instead, he points toward his and Rafa Benitez's recent success in the tournament:

"I think the other teams are more worried about us because we've proved in the last two or three years that we're one of the best teams in the competition. We've got nothing to fear."

After the Liverpool captain's magnificent showing on Sunday and his understanding with Fernando Torres, as well as the availability of Javier Mascherano, Arsenal may indeed have reason to be fearful themselves. But will the Gunners' lingering hope of Premier League success affect their motivation on Wednesday night? Will Liverpool's derby success inspire Rafa's men to further European glory? Or is it just a case of ninety minutes of football before the second leg at Anfield in a week's time?

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