Morning all,
a quick round up of the not very much that’s going on. Arsene Wenger says we need to be ‘on song’, even without Song, for today’s game and the follow up against Bolton on Wednesday night. We certainly have to use these games to keep pace. We know the schedule we’ve got the far side of them, we don’t want to have to use those games to play catch-up after dropping points. We need to go into them right in the mix and putting pressure on United and Chelsea, both of whom won comfortably yesterday.
Some good news though in that Man City lost to Everton and Sp*rs were held at home by Hull so three points today would put us 7 points clear of 4th place. More importantly though it’d move us back to within 3 points of the leaders. We know all the team news, we know what the likely starting XI is going to be, although the Mirror article above says we might switch back to a 4-4-2 today, now we just have to go there and play.
Bolton has been a tricky place to go in the past but we’ve won three out of our last four games at their place so we can be reasonably confident. An early goal would be just the thing and if we can cut out the gifts we love to give, being football’s year round Santa, then I think we can get the right result today. Our scoring record is good, there aren’t too many worries there despite the imminent arrival of Striker Idol on Arsenal TV Online, it’s making sure we don’t let in stupid goals that will ensure the right result. We are vulnerable at the best of times and Gallas and Vermaelen will have their hands full with the elbowy and powerful Kevin Davies. I suspect, as there’s been no talk of change, Almunia will continue in goal so hopefully he’s not shaking like a leaf with Parkinson’s – as has been his wont in recent months.
The Man from East Lower agrees re: our defence and the stat he provides, that we haven’t kept a clean sheet in the league away from home since the 1-0 win over Fulham at the end of September, is telling. We’ve got to tighten up.
Much depends on the big players, of course. Cesc is back and that will make a big difference but it’d be nice to see a telling contribution from Arshavin and hopefully Eduardo can find his form again. Of him Arsene says:
When I see him now in training he is much closer to the Eduardo I know. The vibes coming out of his game are much better than one month ago. He has been out for such a long time and he is getting stronger and stronger.
Fingers crossed. The manager also speaks about Arshavin having a dip because he’s always played with a winter break and his body isn’t used to playing at this time of the year. I don’t know about that. Amy Lawrence writes about Arsene’s search for a striker in the Observer and the manager admits:
I am thinking, but I must confess I am not close. I cannot find a player to convince me.
I’m sure there are players out there who convince him, it’s just whether they convince him at the price being asked that’s the issue, I’d imagine. The Mail links us with Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic about whom I know next to nothing, I must say. I’m hopeful he finds that player who does convince him because I think making the right kind of signing now would be a big boost to our chances of silverware this season. If we remember the impact Arshavin had last January when we were struggling, then replicating that when we’re in a good position can only be a positive thing. Maybe he’ll have to take a bit of a gamble. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t (Asprilla!), but he’d be sorry if the cupboard lay bare in May and he hadn’t at least tried. Fingers crossed on that.
Not much else in the way of transfer rumour or speculation, which is kinda strange. The sports desks must have plenty of copy this week not to have to invent a load of shite, so we’ll leave it there. Here’s to a good performance later on, one that signals our intent in this title challenge. Or a scabby, lucky 1-0, I don’t care once we come back from Bolton with three points. Till tomorrow.
