If we were hoping yesterday’s results might provide some wiggle room ahead of today’s clash with Man City, then disappointment was the order of the day. There were wins for Man United, Sp*rs, Southampton and Chelsea which makes getting something from today’s game even more important.
Of course many hark back to last season and the 6-3 at the Etihad as one of ‘those’ days, but for me that result was more about a crazy game of football than anything else. To my mind it doesn’t compare with the thrashings we got at Anfield or Stamford Bridge. It was 1-0 to them then 1-1. 3-1 to them then 3-2 and if I remember correctly we had at least one goal ruled out for offside, so as a game it doesn’t have the same negative impact as those others.
Even if you take the ghosts of those performances with you, there might be some comfort in the fact we should have won at Anfield, if not the performance itself on the day. Should we be cautious? Yes, we’re going to play the champions and a very, very good side, but they haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders this season. I watched them last weekend against Everton and if they play like that today, we’ve got a chance.
In terms of the team news, I think the only real question mark is over who starts in goal. Some papers this morning say Szczesny will be recalled while others maintain his absence will be prolonged, so your guess is as good as mine. I suspect he’ll stick with Ospina, but comments from the manager this morning suggest he might be of a mind to bring him back soon enough:
I do not know if it is a ‘wake-up call’ for Wojciech. Sometimes it helps when you can have a little breather; you re-focus and get yourself together. I think he is a great goalkeeper and will have a great career.
Whether one game out of the side is enough to wake him up remains to be seen. At right back I think Calum Chambers will get the nod, Coquelin should continue in midfield but a fit Ramsey should come back in to replace Rosicky, while the forward trio should all keep their places meaning we see something like: Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Giroud.
If we need to change it from the bench we’ve got Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott who can make an attacking impact, but in that starting line-up we’ve got players who can hurt City. One in particular will be on their minds and I’m interested to see how they try and deal with him. We’ve seen before this season that other teams decide the best way to try and stifle Alexis is rotational fouling, and while they may not have a reputation as such, I think today’s opponents have a team full of the experience and cynicism to carry out something similar.
Santi Cazorla is in outstanding form, Oxlade-Chamberlain feels to me like a player on the cusp of a step forward and a goal today would help that process along the way, while Giroud has 3 goals in his last 4 games and we need him to lead the line well against an experienced central defence but one that’s also far from secure.
However, as much as we might have going forward, it’s how we cope with them from a defensive point of view that will be key. It’s a big test for Francis Coquelin after good performances against Hull and Stoke but, you know, that was Hull and Stoke. This is going to be a lot more difficult and maybe this will give us a real measure of the player since his return from Charlton. He’s done very well, but it’s days like today that will shape what happens for him in the future.
A fit Ramsey alongside him in midfield will be a help as long as Aaron remembers that his first job today is in midfield and not as a goalscorer. He has had a tendency this season to be a little too focused on making a contribution at the top end of the pitch, and it’s something the manager has remarked on. I think he’s at his most effective when playing closer to the deep lying midfielder and given their threat I hope that’s something we see today.
Having Koscielny and Mertesacker together, even if the former isn’t 100%, provides some assurance back there, but you only need to give Aguero a sniff and he’ll punish you so we’ve got to be at maximum back there.
It’s also worth remembering that back in September we should have beaten City. Yes, it was a weird game in that we also could have lost it late on, but when you’re 7 minutes from full time and you concede a goal from a corner it’s hard not to be a bit frustrated. Despite going behind that day we played well, fought hard and were deservedly in front, so I don’t think we have to be especially afraid of today.
The away record against the big teams isn’t good, we know that, but this would be a great place to overturn that.
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In other news briefly, the manager has spoken again about recruitment and said that they’ve made enquiries which have been rebuffed by other clubs:
Of course we have made enquiries. They say: ‘OK, come back in June or July and maybe yes.’ Who wants to sell their best players, especially a central defender, in the middle of the season?
Well, nobody does, which is why you should buy that player in the summer, but this is the bed that the manager has made for himself so although it’s more difficult in January – and I think everyone understands that – it doesn’t change the situation. We need a defender, we’re just going to have to do what it takes to get one, and that appears to be something Wenger acknowledges who said of not buying somebody:
It’s too risky.
There’s also some risk involved with whoever we bring in. It might not be exactly the player we want but that is the consequence of putting ourselves in this position. I think we’re at a stage where anybody is better than nobody, it just remains to be seen how we solve this one. A younger player with potential, or someone a bit older with experience? Ultimately every player has a price, and if we really want someone in particular, it’s up to us to make those clubs an offer they can’t refuse.
Right, that’s about that. As always we’ll have full live blog coverage of the game for you. Check back later for a post with all the details or simply bookmark our default live blog page and updates will begin automatically.
Till later.
