How long is today going to take, do you think? The waiting, the anticipation, the nerves, excitement, building all day long. 7.45 seems an eternity away.
The team news is that Robin van Persie is fit, as is Sylvester. In that case I think the team for tonight picks itself. In a 4-4-2 it’s got to be: Almunia – Sagna – Kolo – Sylvester – Gibbs – Walcott – Song – Cesc – Nasri – van Persie – Adebayor.
In a game in which we have to score at least once we’ve got to put out our strongest team and this is arguably it. The only real question mark is whether or not you’d play Djourou ahead of Sylvester but I suspect the manager is going to err on the side of experience.
Watching Arsene’s press conference yesterday he wasn’t even considering the idea that we might lose this game but was under no illusions as to what it might take, saying:
I am very confident the team will produce a magnificent performance and that we will manage it. Everybody is focused and ready for the game.
And it will take a top, top performance to go through. Unless United play like complete chumps and I don’t see that happening. Cesc Fabregas said:
Of course we can win this tie. It’s not as if we are talking about them winning the first game 4-0. For most of our players, this is probably the most important game of their career. So as long as we are strong and compact, put pressure on United and don’t let them play, we have a great chance of going through.
From an attacking point of view we’ve certainly got players who can hurt United. Adebayor, van Persie, Nasri, Walcott, Fabregas – all capable of scoring goals. Where we have to be really focussed is at the back. We know what an away goal means for United and they have such an array of talent up top as well. The back four is going to have to play out of its skin to stop them from scoring but for them to do that they need the rest of the team to work hard as well.
Cliché it might be but defending starts from the front and the best way to stop them scoring is to stop the supply to the front men as early as possible. Arsene has singled out Kolo Toure as one of our key players and he’s probably right. He hasn’t had his best season, not by a long way, but he’s got to lead that defence tonight and show us the Kolo of old.
Despite how truly massive this game is it doesn’t stand up to much analysis. We know where United are strong, we know what we have to do and how we need to play. Every single player has to sweat blood for the team tonight. An early goal would be brilliant but it’s no panic if it doesn’t come. Remember, one goal might be all we need. A draw, extra-time, penalties, we’re through. Of course I’d rather not go through the torture of a penalty shoot-out but it’s a definite possibility.
Let’s not forget we’ve already beaten United this season. 2-1 at the Grove back in November – and that result came when we were in the doldrums. We’d just been beaten by Stoke, drawn 0-0 at home to Fenerbache and thrown away that two goal lead against Sp*rs. Confidence was low and our form was poor.
Tonight is a different proposition entirely. This is a chance to go to the Champions League final. It’s win or bust for the season and the lads are going to be rightly fired up for this one.
The players have, over the last few days, spoken about the fans and how they can help. Now, I think United are too experienced a team to be fazed by any kind of atmosphere, no matter how intimidating. However, I think our players would benefit hugely from having a noisy, passionate crowd right behind them from the first whistle.
This is probably the biggest ever game at the new stadium and there’s no question the fans have a part to play. There’ll be 60,000+ people there tonight. The club are providing red flags, urging everyone to wear red, and to make as much noise as possible. Every single Arsenal fan there tonight needs to shout and roar and sing the songs. Ultimately it’s down to the 11 players on the pitch but if they know the crowd are with them then it does make a difference. It can provide tired legs with that last surge of energy that might stop a goal or score a goal.
We have to rock the Grove tonight, ladies and gentlemen. This is Arsenal, fighting for a place in the Champions League final, against Manchester United. If that’s not a reason to support the team as loudly as possible then I don’t know what is. You don’t need to have a voice like Pavarotti to sing, you just need to open your mouth and make noise. And if someone said to you ‘Arsenal will win if you sing the songs tonight’, wouldn’t it be an easy task to ensure our qualification?
Remember, the guy or girl to your left or right is an Arsenal fan. The boys in red are your team. Our team. United are the enemy. United would kill your mum. They’d run over your puppy and then point and laugh. They would make you listen to Phil Collins. They would insist on putting cloves on everything. They would dip their pizza in ketchup. They would offer you a cup of coffee then serve you chicory. They would force you to watch Tom Hanks films. They would kidnap you then read to you from the novels of Dan Brown. They would drive really slowly in front of you when you’re in a hurry then speed up so they get through the amber light and leave you stuck at the red. They would chew gum loudly in your ear. They would come on our pitch and dance after getting one of our players sent off because of their theatrics. They would score a goal in the last few minutes of a semi-final then show everyone their hairy chest. They would dive to win a penalty to stop us going 50 games unbeaten. They would sing disgusting songs about our manager.
Need I go on? They are not our rivals, not our competitors, not our competitors, not our peers: they are the enemy. Treat them as such.
And in the face of such monstrous evil, such hideous, diving, tantrum throwing, ballerina, monster faced malevolence, make sure you let our lads know that they are fighting the good fight, on the side of truth and righteousness. For, after all, we are The Arsenal.
COME ON YOU REDS.
