Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 27 October 2010 16:47

As I prepare for tonight's game by tucking into some lovely lasagne dished up by the lovely Mrs Lean and then washed down with some tasty orange juice, I flicked through some articles that I have put aside from the last couple of days due to not finding the time to read through without interruption. I came across some comments made from our work horse Marouane Chamakh.

“I'm at the club of my life, I don’t want to see too far ahead in football. I'll go to the end of my contract. That leaves me four good years. I played in my favourite club in France. I'm playing now in the club I've loved since I was small. For others, it’s Real or Barca. For me, it was always Arsenal."

I have already taken in the Moroccan as one of my favourites from the Arsenal squad after his fantastic commitment and energy in every game but those type of comments are just what you want to hear as an Arsenal supporter. He has once again taken another step up in my estimation.

Obviously he is still going through the honey moon period and everything is hunky dory. We will see what stuff he is made from once Robin Van Persie comes back fit and he finds himself spending more bench time than he has been used to in recent weeks. At the moment you would have to say he is currently one of the first names on the team sheet for the big games.

I watched some clips and downloaded some Bordeaux games when we all knew that his next destination was going to be the Gunners and I must admit that I was unsure of exactly how he would fit into our team, I suppose I had hoped that Van Persie was going to continue from his world cup fitness and actually play more than a couple of games before he found his way back to the treatment table again.

So I suppose my questions have yet to be answered. How will Wenger incorporate both Van Persie and Chamakh into a system that we have pretty much stuck to in recent times. I think a wide position removes plenty from both of their best attributes so we will have to wait and see. I have been down this road enough times on this blog and will refrain from dragging that subject back up once again, well not anymore than I already have today.

Tonight the striking focus is likely to be on Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela and hopefully Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. The latter is likely to start on the bench which would be a shame, His form at reserve level has been fantastic, admittedly a lower level to what is he likely to come across tonight if and when he gets some pitch time.

His form in the pre season looked very good and his overall contribution was very impressive so I was certainly shocked that he hasn't had more pitch time so far, especially during the absence of both Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner. Wenger gave the impression that it was down to a lack of fitness but then you look at Andrey Arshavin and scratch your head. Clearly the two players are in different stages of their careers, one is an experienced international who came in for a record fee the other is trying to get a chance in the first team but essentially the issue of fitness still remains.

Arshavin does not look fit right now, he was huffing and puffing during the Manchester City game and has done so on more occasions in the past when other players have not broken sweat.

Arsene has often taken great pride from the fitness of his troops, so I wonder what his personal feelings are about Arshavin's current shape, In my eyes he hasn't looked fit since his first 6 months at Arsenal.

Shava has produced the goods in the final third this season and his ability will be vital in many games but this time round he will be under pressure from others who are pushing to grab a first team place. Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky instantly spring to mind.

Anyway, time to snuggle into my sofa and get ready for the Arsenal to turn on the style. Well I certainly hope so.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (5)

• 27-Oct-2010 17:42 | | OldGoon
  

  i can see 4-4-2 at home when RVP's fit.
  
  
  Nasri - Cesc - Song - Arshavin
  
  RVP
  
  Chamakh
  
  Away from home, one up top.

• 27-Oct-2010 18:18 | | Bob
  

  OldGoon's formation would be the best way to incorporate them both into the first 11... but I can't see us reverting to that. The way I see it RVP should work his way back into the side, not automatically get selected ahead of someone who has been excellent for us so far.

• 27-Oct-2010 18:41 | | mr h
  

  Gotta say that MC and RVP are a bit of a conundrum. Playing either out wide will certainly detract from their overall abilities. However, what MC adds to the frontline in some ways outweighs what RVP adds in the same position. On the other hand, RVPs link up play, as he exhibited during the early stages of last season, far exceeds MC.
  
  A real puzzle. But if anyone can put it together, that man Wenger is the one to do it. A far cry from having to put AA up front all on his lonesome. As you have spoken about so many times before ML, it shows a definite expansion in our so called weakness in depth. To have to choose between JET B52 MC and RVP does seem to underline the massive amounts of talent our manager has hoarded.
  
  I have to go to work 15 mins into the game which really grinds my gears. I reall want to see what all the fuss is about with regards to our supposed solution to the keeper crisis. Chesney Hawkes has been spoken of in hushed tones normally reserved for the solution to global warming and the violence in the middle east. Lets hope he lives up to it.

• 27-Oct-2010 23:49 | | Rizal
  

  Don't bother about playing Chamakh and RVP together, because it will be once in a blue moon occurrence.

• 28-Oct-2010 15:33 | | noobpro
  

  rotation and different abilities are what rvp and mc bring to arsenal. mc has excelled in leading the line, pressuring the defenders and getting other players to join the attack, but he is a little too static imho. eg. after the initial run that red carded boyata he did not make any runs into space and just waited for a pass to feet. maybe i've been spoiled by th14 and that mc is still adapting but i was hoping that he could be more mobile.
  the way rvp plays is like a more attack minded f4 in his linking play and looking to play a killer pass. what i liked about rvp up front is that he either assists a goal or looks to score one. but opponents are wising up to him and like in the world cup they crowd him out which forces him to come deeper for the ball and abanding the striker position.
  
  my idea is to keep mc up top and rvp left ie aa position. since arsenal players are always interchanging positions it's fine that way. besides rvp has a sweet left foot and he could do the aa shots from the left side but with more power.
  
  imagine a front 3 of rvp - mc - theo. power on the left, speed on the right and a front man of mc abilities would be sweet.

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