Ok then, after a relatively quiet week it all kicks off again today against Stoke.
Their season is more or less complete, they’re in no danger of relegation but you can be quite sure they’ll be up for this one today. Their fans don’t like us very much after we hurt their feelings by being upset that one of their players smashed Aaron Ramsey’s leg in two. And I think it’s fair to say we’re not exactly well disposed to them, their cap wearing, goblin prince manager, the long throws and their playing style which is part football, part American football, part non-erotic wrestling.
Still, it’s a style which has worked well for them. They’re a big team and they like to let others know they’re a big team. Physical intimidation is hardly a part of the game that the aesthetes cherish but each team plays to their strengths and their strength is, quite literally, their strength. There’s no point in us complaining about it once it doesn’t cross the line from strength to dirty, we’ve got be able to cope with that.
I would hope there’s a bit more willingness to do that with this team than with others in seasons past. We’ve seemed a bit cowed by their long balls and long throws but at the back in particular I think we’re a much stronger unit than we have been. You will not find Sagna, Koscielny or Vermaelen shirking any physical confrontation, Song and Rosicky can get stuck in in midfield, van Persie likes that side of the game (it appeals to his dark side) while Wojciech Szczesny will be a key player today.
Without being overly critical, I think it would be reasonable enough to say that neither Lukasz Fabianski or Manuel Almunia were the kind of dominant goalkeeper we’ve had in the past, like Seaman or Lehmann. The big Pole has the presence that’s required on trips like today’s and the manager is looking for him to play a part.
Here’s a great stat: Szczesny has dealt with 98.5% of all the crosses he’s come for this season and, ahead of today’s impending aerial bombardment, Arsene says this is something he’s been working on:
We encourage him to do that and that means he can come out for even more balls. Because he is successful you want him to be audacious on that side of his game because he can be really good.
The timing of his crosses is good and we will encourage him to do it. That will be needed at Stoke.
However, while there’s definitely got to be some focus on countering Stoke and what they do, we also have to concentrate on our own game and hoping we can click from an attacking point of view. Last weekend we struggled against a Chelsea team which looked to defend and hit us on the break, and given the way Stoke view us you can be quite sure that they’ll lack for nothing in the defensive department. They will get stuck in.
Let’s hope that the two awards will have re-energised Robin van Persie somewhat, he’s looked a little fatigued in recent games, while a Tomas Rosicky who hasn’t spent all week sick might have the kind of edge in midfield that will be required. I think Benayoun will come into the team on the left hand side of the front three while I’d be very much inclined to play Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right.
I know I’ve been espousing caution with him as the expectation levels grow far beyond his actual readiness for the first team, but I just think today is going to be a very ‘English’ game and I think it’d suit him better than Gervinho. Still, that’s one for the boss to think about and it wouldn’t surprise me too much if the Ivorian got the nod.
We have three games left this season, this is probably, on paper at least, the most difficult of them. The Brittania has not been the happiest hunting ground for us. The only time we’ve won there since they returned to the top flight was the night Shawcross broke Ramsey’s leg, so the memories aren’t the happiest either. However, it’s all in our hands. The top three, changing our record at Stoke, all of it.
We have to want it today, we can’t let ourselves get bullied. If they start, we’ve got to fight back. Simple as that. And if we do that then I think our football is of sufficient quality to get us the goals we need to get three points. It’s a week in which football has disappointed us with Chelsea in the Champions League final, but I can’t quite express how much I dislike Stoke and how painful losing to them is.
Let’s hope the boys are well and truly up for this today and come back to London with three points and our grip on third place tightened.
—
In other news, Arsene Wenger has hinted that Steve Bould might take over from Pat Rice when he retires this summer. Interestingly, Bouldly hinted he didn’t really want the job not so long ago, and if the grapevine is anything to go by there are other former players of that era in the mix. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Also, some worrying stuff from Arsene about Jack Wilshere, his recovery from injury and his unhappiness with Stuart Pearce. What it highlights, for me at least, is that Pearce is using Wilshere to try and make a point which is as cack-handed as it gets. His focus should be on what’s best for Jack Wilshere instead of attempting to assert his authority as an international ‘boss’. He ought to remember he’s a glorified care-taker and if he can’t see why Wilshere’s return to football needs to be properly managed then he has no business doing the job he’s doing.
Right, that’s just about that. If you can’t see the game later there’ll be live blog coverage which keeps you up to date with every kick, throw, half-nelson etc. Check back later for a post with more details or bookmark the default live blog page.
And if you fancy a flutter, register with Paddy Power and get up to £50 in a free bet. Click here to register with Paddy Power
Ok then, breakfast, more coffee and we’ll await the 3pm kick off. Until then.
