Morning all, I was dreaming about this game last night. United were given a very generous penalty which Ronaldo, wearing United’s neon pink away strip, hammered into the top corner. The Arsenal penalty area was covered in leaves which I’m sure is symbolic in some way. Or it could just be that there were a lot of leaves. I went into my kitchen and broke my radio. Then I woke up.
In terms of the team there are five ‘doubts’ beyond the players we know are already out. The manager has to make decisions about Almunia, Sagna, Walcott, Gallas and Sylvester. He says he can gamble with a couple but not three or four. He’s also been talking up the quality of his squad saying they should be judged in May, not now. He also says Cesc is playing as well as he ever has and that he doesn’t believe there’s been any drop in his performances.
Now, we could sit here and analyse that to death but there’s little point. We all know why the manager is talking the way he is. He has to try and strengthen the belief and confidence of the players ahead of a very difficult game and month. He simply can’t come out and even hint that we have problems or that some players aren’t up to it. It would be insane of him to do so. So while it’s frustrating for us as fans to hear things which go contrary to our beliefs, and to the evidence which we’ve all seen with our own eyes, we have to realise why he’s saying the things he is.
Cesc, in a column for the Sun, says that Arsenal should not be written off as title contenders. He plays down the fact that we lack experience, saying:
We might be young but we are not inexperienced. This is my sixth year at Arsenal and my fifth season in the side. As a team, we came of age last season when we went so close to winning the Premier League.
And the importance of today’s game, based on what’s gone before, is touched on too:
Today we have to make sure the three points stay with us. If we can play good football on the way to beating United, all the better. But the result is more important than anything else. A win today will put everyone in the right frame of mind and show that we can handle the pressure.
And this really is a huge game today. Win it and there’s an instant injection of belief because you’re beating one of the best teams in the league. It would do wonders for the players confidence. A draw can feel almost like a win, as per the late goal last season against them, or it can feel like a defeat as per the Sp*rs game the other week. Lose and the boots are going to feel heavier than ever for the next game.
One of the major criticisms of the games we’ve lost this season is the apparent lack of effort, that some of the players thought they just had to turn up to win. Any similar thoughts today will be punished and punished severely. We need a massive team effort today. We need a big performance from Cesc, we need Nasri to perform, especially in light of how many strikers we’re missing, we need Bendtner to show that all the self-confidence he has is justified, and we need to be rock solid at the back – which is perhaps the biggest challenge.
If we can pull all those things together then there’s no reason why we can’t get a result today. Despite what they’re saying I’m sure United are looking at us at the moment and thinking it’s a good time to play us. I’m not suggesting they’ll ease off but maybe we can take advantage of that a bit. It’s got to be 100% straight from kick off. We need to see a committed, energetic, physical and competitive Arsenal. And after that who knows? I mean if Stoke can beat Arsenal …
So fingers crossed for this early afternoon’s fun and games. Whatever about the state of our team a game against United is always exciting and nerve wracking, today will be no different. And I want to see that lady give Giggs the finger again. Go on Finger Woman.
Finally for today a new article in the columns section. Written by regular Arser ‘Perry Groves’ – Thoughts From The Top Of The Blue Quadrant no.2 – “It’s all beginning…” – is a lengthy and interesting read.
If you’re going today get right behind our lads and remember, United would kill your mum.
COME ON ARSENAL!
