Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 21 October 2010 12:57

Happy Thursday Gooners,

It should have been far happier, in fact I am a little sour that Gareth Bale decided to ruin my fun. I was really enjoying the Inter game last night, especially after the first half hour. At 4-0 down I was licking my lips at a potential double figure spanking but no, Bale had to ruin that didn't he?

Well the good news is that he has just put himself in the shop window at Toys r us, all the kids would have been watching with their pocket money in hand so perhaps one good thing has come from it after all. We don't need them trying to cramp our style and all that, even though it can be quite entertaining and humorous watching them at times.

With victory against the Brum and another European spanking, our attentions slowly turn towards Sunday's game against Manchester City. They are a tough proposition and on their day they can beat most teams, especially at their own ground as demonstrated when they put Chelsea to the sword earlier in the month.

They could quite easily beat us on Sunday if we do not play well and they find their game but I have to say that I do not agree with all the hype that has been going around about them possibly winning the league and finishing above Arsenal etc. They have a big squad but a squad with average to good players. How many very good players do they have? Tevez is a fine player, one that I like very much. Andy Johnson is a very talent young player who could be exceptional in the future then they have a squad full of strong, hard grafters give or take a few others.

I imagine that they will do well against the big four or whatever number that is nowadays just by simply strangling the life out of those games. I am sure they will do that against us. Defensive midfielders galore and Tevez on his own. They will trt and stop us from finding space, finding passes. Great, but against teams who will lack ambition against them then I think they will fall over. I think they will pick up many unwanted draws at points during the season.

Rosicky is correct in saying that we need to be as clinical in the Premier League as we are in the Champions League. As it was at Stamford Bridge, we will not be afforded the luxury of missed chances. No more point blank headers sailing over the bar please lads. The difference from the Chelsea game will be in the probable inclusion of a certain Mr Fabregas. If the ball falls to him inside the penalty area then I expect him to have calmness and conviction to stick his chance away. His obvious vision and execution of pass will hopefully allow us to open up City some more.

Good ol Nigel will be around so perhaps a second round of shin pads may be required for the players, especially to Abou Diaby. One of de Jong's special's could see Diaby's legs flying out of the ground and that just wouldn't be a good look. Hopefully with so much media attention on him, he will have calmed himself down a little. Well here's hoping.

I would have to agree with Cesc's comments regarding City not being able to buy team spirit, you look at their squad and many of the players have been recently assembled from many countries around the world. Our approach to building a squad has been pretty much the polar opposite. Many of our players have been together for a number of years, developing together and learning how the other plays. That is a big reason why we are so good at keeping the ball and moving. We have been doing it for many years.

However it is ultimately down to how well the players play together and the balance between whatever eleven that go onto the pitch, Sunday will be a big test for us and if we could manage to get a result it could set us up nicely. We need to gain some momentum and keep a run going without defeat.

We are all awaiting the results of today's AGM, I am sure the quotes will be flying around newsnow soon.

Before I disappear for the day, I just want to point you in the direction of the Make the Team campaign which is organised by v, the National Young Volunteers Service, which helps young people to volunteer and gain recognition for what they do through the vinspired awards scheme.

Sky Sports commentators Martin Taylor, Andy Gray and Chris Kamara are helping  the project, along with footballers Kieran Gibbs, Stuart Pearce and David Seaman, and the campaign is being advertised on radio stations such as Galaxy, Choice, Capital and XFM and in publications such as FHM, 442 and Metro.

There are many examples of volunteering opportunities such as.

• Coaching young children

• Stewarding at local matches

• Helping to run football groups for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems

• Delivering footballs to children in Africa

• Promoting ‘Make the Team’ online

Volunteers will also be entered into a draw and given the chance to win tickets to see Premier League clubs. If you want to get involved or have a look around then just take a look http://vinspired.com/make-the-team

Ooh the first bit of AGM news heading out is that Arsene is confident that we will keep Cesc for a few more years. I'd certainly have a bit of that.

And one more thing before I vanish, I would like to point a finger in the direction of Akhil from Hounslow who has written a few articles for Arsenal Vision in the last few months, well he now has his own show at http://www.akhilvyas.com/

That's it folks, back tomorrow.

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Comments (4)

• 21-Oct-2010 13:52 | | A Gooner among others
  

  HI Mean Lean,
  
  Have you heard about Vermaelen's injury being more serious than we thought ?
  
  I find this very worrying. Do you think we should buy a defender in January ?
  But then what do we make of him in June ?

• 21-Oct-2010 17:59 | | Sergio Giorgini
  

  I may be alone, but I actually think we're covered alright at CB. We have 3 options and then at worst Song who is more than capable. I've heard the Verminator rumours, but I considering he went nearly a whole and his first PL season nearly uninjured, it's just a case of covering the absence. I also do not see who we'll get in the Jan window who's going to replace him. We looked for a another Vermaelen over the summer and the best we got was an older, and lucky for us very underated, stop gap and an experienced player who has proved the odd slip aside to be up to the PL more than a Jolean Lescott.
  
  As for Cesc, as it turns out that Barca are considering suing their ex El Presidente over the fact that they are running not at a profit but a big deficit, it may prove they simply don't have the money. Luckily in Guadiola, I think they have a manager who can steer them beyond a Liverpool meltdown, but their financial clout may be done for. To make it so public could end up a bad political move by the new owners.
  
  Onto Rosicky. Completely correct, though I hope he includes himself in this. Good thing is, I reckon if Tomas gets one, they'll flow like the Niagra in a tsunami.
  
  Without even mentioning Tuesday, last night or Rooney, isn't all that positive for us Gooners?

• 21-Oct-2010 21:10 | | Tom Lee  - My Arsenal blog
  

  Hello everyone.
  
  Just to let you know, i recently created a blog about the one and only AFC. I have four on there already, my most recent one about the Birmingham game and tackling.
  
  You can post articles on there too.
  
  Visit it! The more opinions, blogs and comments the better!
  
  thelifeofanarsenalsupporter.blogspot.com
  
  Cheers

• 22-Oct-2010 01:09 | | francis  - Rosicky correct
  

  Rosicky is right, but at the same time we need players to return and i think walcott needs to start working harder on and off the pitch, visit my blog for more
  
  http://europeanexpatfootball.blogspot.com

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