Written by Mean Lean on Tuesday, 09 November 2010 13:47

Well, the pressure is well and truly on the boys tomorrow. Another performance like the one we witnessed against the Geordies could end up as one defeat too many, not for the short term because we still have plenty of points to play for but another defeat with the run of fixtures we have coming up could do mass damage to the belief and mentality of the players.

"A great side does not suffer three defeats, so we must respond at Wolves and show Arsenal are a great team"

Squillaci is right, three defeats on the spin shouldn't happen to a team of our quality and it is down to the players and Arsene Wenger to put that right.

Wolves are in good form and showed that against Manchester United in their last league game, they put up a strong showing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and have also beaten Manchester City so if our players think we can turn up and win without rolling up their sleeves then they can really think again.

I don't think commitment will be a problem though, just as I thought it wasn't on Sunday. We will certainly need to move the ball much quicker than we have done of late. I hope Newcastle United was our last pre season match before we go full tilt from our first Premier League game against Wolves. It is now about starting again, forgetting the negative displays and showing that we are more than talk.

Arsenal have appealed Laurent Koscielny's red card and the claim will be heard today by an Independent Regulatory Commission.

In my opinion he is the best fit central defender we have available and his strength in one on one duels will be important. I like Johan Djourou and he has many strong points but like I eluded to in my Newcastle match thoughts he will have lost his momentum from playing football in recent weeks and I wouldn't feel totally at ease in Johan playing his first game back away from home.

I am interested to know what part Cesc Fabregas will play tomorrow. Clearly below his usual standards for two games and the last thing we need is to make his hamstring snap again by pushing him too far. With Karl Henry on the pitch for the opposition, I would be more than happy for Cesc to start the game on the bench unless he has shown massive signs of improvement from Sunday on the training pitch both fitness and sharpness.

Jack Wilshere has spoken about his deeper position and his education in learning that new role. Jack Wilshere is such a natural footballer that he can fill into most positions and adapt to that role. Would he look totally out of place if he had to fill in at left back for 10 minutes if we had no substitutions left and Clichy was sent off? Probably not.

He is such a hard worker and shows no fear in making challenges against anyone. The Chris Samba clash springs to mind.

In his deeper position he gets plenty of the ball and his distribution is very good but I cannot help feel that watching Wilshere lay off a first time five yard pass back to Koscielny is a waste of his ability. Of course he will be pushed forward in the future and he is currently learning his trade but in certain games when our passing is not breaching the opposition enough (yes Newcastle match I am looking at you) I feel that Wilshere's drive forward from a more advanced position can help break down teams and open spaces that have been shut for long periods.

We have seen it countless times for the reserves and youth sides and Jack Wilshere has grown and improved since then. I want to see the shackles taken off Jack but at the same time I understand the need for rounding up his all round game.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (1)

• 09-Nov-2010 14:30 | | DJ Dragonfly
  

  @ ML
  
  I think we should give Wilshire tremendous credit for the way he has adapted to the dual role in central midfield. I would love to see him in the playmaker position (which I think he will operate in next season when Cesc sadly leaves our beloved club, leaving Ramsey to operate in the dual role), but at the present time, Wenger is playing him in the right area.
  
  He was very unlucky to be taken off at the weekend. Like Ramsey, he just gets on with his job and always puts in 100%.
  
  It's absolutely frightening to see that Jack is still 18. He plays like an experienced 25 year old. His defensive game has come on leaps and bounds and he has a good engine on him. I would like him to have a few more shots on goal like Denilson does the the same position.
  
  As for Koscielny, I feel Squillaci has been far more efficient and defensively sound than him. He tends to mark his man too closely like Vermaelen, which ain't a bad thing, but in most cases, it could result with him getting caught with a ball played over the top. At present, I feel more comfortable with Djourou in the side instead of Koscielny.

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