Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 07 March 2011 13:09

Well well well!

Who would have thunk it ey?

Manchester United not being brave enough to capitalise on our goalless draw at the Emirates the day before. Liverpool totally outfought the Mancs and fully deserved their victory. It leaves us three points off the top with a game in hand and with all to play for. I think it shows that Arsenal are in fact no worse than last season's champions and are where we are on merit.

Manchester United have now conceded three more goals than we have after conceding six in their last two games. Imagine what it would be like if they had Vidic (Vermaelen) out for the whole season.

I have heard on a number of occasions that Manchester United come good in the second half of the season well the truth is that since the turn of the year, they have lost three league games and while we have not always won games we should have, we are still yet to lose.

So while we should feel somewhat disappointed and frustrated about Saturday, all is far from lost in this title race with only ten games remaining.

A big game tomorrow but I strangely feel somewhat relaxed about it. I like many Gooners are pretty much investing most of my emotional eggs into the Premier League basket and see the game tomorrow as a bonus. I asked the question on Twitter last night about which game would Gooners prefer to win, tomorrow's game or our big game against the Mancs at the Emirates and an overwhelming majority went for victory against the Mancs.

We have yet to be victorious in the Champions League but there is nothing like winning the league title. It is the most difficult and requires the highest level of consistency but if you are going to hand over the CL as well then I would be very rude to refuse wouldn't I?

So Cesc and Wilshere are likely to play but Alex Song is ruled out for the game. To be honest, he hasn't been playing that well in recent weeks and rushing him back from injury to play whilst not being at his best would surely only end in disaster, either from collecting another injury set back or just a poor performance.

I suspect that not many people will agree with what I am about to say but I really believe that Denilson is suited to tomorrow's game. Well at least a Denilson on form. He hasn't been playing at his best in his last few outings, regular readers will know my feelings on players who do not have the benefit of an extend run so I won't go over old ground again but even so, I think Denilson's qualities is just what our team need against the best ball possession team in world football.

I am a huge Abou Diaby fan and usually I would have him ahead of Denilson in most circumstances but I do not fancy Abou Diaby receiving the ball from our central defenders only to be snapped at by Pedro, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

In the first game, I thought our defenders and two deeper midfielders lacked support from their team mates when they received the ball. Especially Eboue and Clichy. Denilson always looks for the space and opens up passing angles, he follows the ball and always makes himself an option. Hence why his passing and possession stats are always so high.

Getting out of the Barcelona press will be one of our most difficult tasks and I believe that Denilson playing well can do that. On the flip side, a Denilson who isn't playing well can give the ball away in a dangerous area, but so can Alex Song.

We will miss Van Persie massively tomorrow but I really believe we will miss Theo Walcott even more. After we beat Barcelona at the Emirates I said that if we are to progress then we will need Theo in the return. I reluctantly stand by that but obviously we still have the talent to score goals and pass the ball well so anything can happen.

I just hope for another entertaining game of football. Not last season's Nou Camp type of entertainment, that wasn't actually very fun but a more respectable type of entertainment will do me fine. I just want our players to arrive back from Catalunya without injuries regardless of if we win, lose or draw. The Premier League is our bread and butter, fried eggs, double bacon and cup of tea and that is what I want our players to be eating first and foremost before snacking on Barcelona deserts.

Not much in the way of news today, so I shall vanish until tomorrow, where we will be getting all excited about Arsenal taking on Arsenal light at their ground.

Wenger Boy will be adding a few words shortly, so stay tuned and stuff.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (41)

• 07-Mar-2011 13:33 | | Dom  - strange
  

  It's a strange feeling, but as soon as i heard Song was unfit to play, i suddenly got a surge of confidence for Denilson. Lets face it, if he pulls off a performance tomorrow, all sideways passes will be forgiven.

• 07-Mar-2011 13:33 | | pressplay
  

  The only way for denilson to help the team tomorrow is by getting injured in training before the game. Sorry but he is a joke and would totally mess things up. He bends under pressure , not physical enough to win a ball and tactical inept to place himself in the right position.

• 07-Mar-2011 13:39 | | Adams
  

  Courting controversy, ML? ;)
  
  Song is a big loss. Still, from what's available I also think Denilson. Diaby will try to hold on to the ball for too long and end up running into trouble under tight pressing from Barcelona. I seem to remember Denilson did really well for us in the home leg last year so let's hope he can do the same tomorrow.
  
  How are we supposed to focus on work and stuff when tomorrow night looms?

• 07-Mar-2011 13:46 | | Holloway Afro  - hmmm
  

  Surely if Ramsey is fit we should play him?
  
  Our other options are Arsh-Chamakh-Bendtner up top with Fab-Nas-Jack behind.
  
  Nas is disciplined enough to play holding mid, as he proved in the first leg.
  
  But I'd like to see Ramsey there.

• 07-Mar-2011 13:46 | | UgGunner
  

  Not as much of a joke as you are...

• 07-Mar-2011 13:46 | | FHCGooner  - Song sadly missed
  

  Without Alex Song Messi is going to have a royal time like the previous visit to the nou camp. Song knows how to handle Messi. Sorry but Denilson just does not! Even Landsbury would do a better job!

• 07-Mar-2011 13:50 | | scarface  - formation is key ...... no matter who plays
  

  We should not play a 4-5-1 setup at all !
  
  the team knows how to play in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 turning into 4-3-3 in attack . Chamakh can play a deeper role and we have seen this from his assists and quick escape from defenders.
  
  We lose if we play 4-5-1
  we draw if we play 4-4-2
  we win if we play 4-3-3
  
  the players wont matter. The whole squad is comprised of kids and no point talking about player strengths and weaknesses to make the team. give them the role to play and end it there, do not make them think on their usefullness of attack and defense at the same time ( Wenger is doing this about fabregas talkin bout linking both and this will backfire by making him sit deeper........... nullifying our counter attack potential).

• 07-Mar-2011 13:52 | | Vicky  - Denilson Important - so am I
  

  AW - pls dont play Diaby and Denilson tomorrow. Dont even take them to Spain.
  
  Let them play an important role by staying at home.
  
  If Denilson is important - so am I. Atleast I promise I will not job aimlessly on the pitch.
  
  A few months @ 40-50k per week will not hurt my bank balance. AW what say.

• 07-Mar-2011 13:54 | | The Fan  - C'mon Deni
  

  Like adams said, denilson did well in the home leg last season and helped us gain some control in the first half onslaught.
  The qualities Song has aren't as applicable against barca as shown against them. With denilson we may be able to keep hold of the ball more often albeit potentially less threatening but that may be enough to frustrate barca i.e tire them out faster, cause them to commit silly tackles , create spaces etc.
  
  In regards to ramsey , despite his qualities, i doubt putting him in against barca on his first game back for arsenal since the stoke incident would work.

• 07-Mar-2011 13:58 | | Mark william
  

  Yeah I do agree with u 100%, surely Barca without Puyol n Pique,Walcot wld ave done them harm bt we ave to focus now on tht game putting in mind they ave an away goal so let's go to Barca n play our best. The important thing is we don't need any injuries if we still ave d hopes of a silverware thz season.

• 07-Mar-2011 14:01 | | Adams  - Cause for optimism
  

  Feeling gutted about Song's absence made me turn my attentions to what we HAVE got when compared to last year's corresponding fixture:
  
  - We've got Szczesny in goal
  - Yes, we've lost Vermaelen at the back but we should be happy to have Djourou and Koscielny in the middle. A great partnership. Last year we had Silvestre....!
  - "We've got Cesc Fabregas...."
  - We've also got Jack Wilshere.
  - We've got Arshavin up front.
  - We'll have Chamack on the bench.
  - We've got a goal advantage.
  
  Nasri and Bendtner played in last year's fixture so I'm not including them in the above list.
  
  All reasons to be cheerful.

• 07-Mar-2011 14:06 | | CHGooner
  

  Vicky's comment about right. I think you are being deliberately provocative here, knowing full well that having watched the clown FAR FAR FAR too many times in an Arsenal shirt no right minded Arsenal fan wants him at the club at all, let alone playing in probably our toughest fixture of all. In terms of what I'd rather win it would be the CL. We have never won it, I've been fortunate enough to see us lift 5 titles. I think you are getting your defense in early as you have no confidence for Tuesday but - quite correctly- see Man U as relatively weak. To say it is harder to win the Prem than the CL is just silly. If that is the case why have Man U won it twice and us none? We've won 14 Prem titles between us. This year it is even more the case when the top teams are so poor in comparison to previous. Look at the sides in the last 16 and compare to the top 16 of the Prem. Think that it is a slightly better field myself.

• 07-Mar-2011 14:07 | | zaragooner
  

  hahaha, denilson haters will commit suicide after read your article..we have 2 AMD Jack and Cesc will be back tomorrow, so we need someone to hold and posses the ball and knowing Cesc, sometimes he can't catch the ball though he is the best MD, so it's Deni' role to hold and posses the ball. stop make him as a spacegoat guys, if he play tomorrow and we win, I welcome those haters to commit suicide!!!

• 07-Mar-2011 14:08 | | gsrythrgunner
  

  dennilson is crap ,pressplay is right ,if you were at the game on sat and every other game the plays you agree

• 07-Mar-2011 14:09 | | ken (From Kenya)
  

  Mate, I totally agree with you. I remember in our 2 all draw with Barcelona, he did help us hold the ball and maintain possession. I sometimes wonder whether Denilson main role in the team is to biuld confidence of his team mates or what! He can pass to a man in the middle of the forest and try to create some space for him. Like saying "Lets go buddy I trust you with that, after all thats why you are an Arsenal player, pass it to me if you can't get space out"

• 07-Mar-2011 14:12 | | Adams
  

  Ken, amazing they named a country after you What an honour

• 07-Mar-2011 14:13 | | Tony C  - Denilsons Qualities....????????????
  

  Jeez, Denilson hasn't got ANY qualities! Can't pass further than 5 yards sideways, can't tackle, doesn't track back, very lazy...............need I go on? If Denilson plays there is every chance Arsenal will lose because in effect we start with 10 men. Without Doubt Denilson is the worst player to appear in an Arsenal shirt since the likes of David Hillier and Ian Selley. Diaby isn't much better, although he has much more talent, I've never seen a more brainless gimp in my 40 years of watching Arsenal.

• 07-Mar-2011 14:19 | | MeanLean
  

  Just to point out that I have said that Denilson would be a good selection against Barcelona since the draw was first made.
  
  17th Dec 10 -
  http://www.arsenalvision.co.uk/articles/3468-arsenal-need-to-escape- barcelona-stalkers-and-use-speed.html
  
  I think those who are slamming Denilson should keep in mind that he has not been playing regular football this season and I assume that everyone know's that it is hard to be at your very best when you haven't had a run of games.

• 07-Mar-2011 14:20 | | Kofi  - Funny Guys out there
  

  Arshavin is good today and worth a dime tommorrow. Diaby not now the latest victim is Denilson. Funny how we make Wilshere look like a saviour. If Wilshere pplays without song or denillson or diaby we suffer. When diby was sent off and Wilshere brought in we conceded 4 Goals. Arsenal is the only team whose fans condemn it players. Never heard that from manu , liverpool or chelsea even when player were under performing. We said the same worse things abt song now he is an angel. Arsenal does not have fans

• 07-Mar-2011 14:29 | | uche  - not now
  

  he could be very important to d team..i mean d barcelona team

• 07-Mar-2011 14:47 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Agreed ML, but with your added caveat of 'on form'.
  
  I'm not in any way part of the Denilson hate camp but I do feel he has been struggling of late. I do think his quick passing would be of much more use than Diaby's dribbling however. Diaby just ciuldn't release the ball early enough on Saturday, he kept hugging the touchline and getting it caught under his feet.
  
  I do think he will go with Denilson however. Let's just hope he puts in a shift like he did against Barca at the Emirates last season. He was immense when he came on. Game changer.

• 07-Mar-2011 14:53 | | uche  - or maybe
  

  yes ,He is not that inportant in all our matches this season so far ,how come this one in particular?

• 07-Mar-2011 14:56 | | Kofi
  

  Worse personality gsrythrgunner. Hasnt denilson been better than song in privious seasons

• 07-Mar-2011 15:31 | | MeanLean
  

  oooh Robin is in the squad!
  
  Interesting.

• 07-Mar-2011 15:32 | | MeanLean
  

  If we keep Cesc and Robin fit from now until the end of the season then the title is ours.

• 07-Mar-2011 16:00 | | goonerbegood  - MY TEAM SELECTION FOR TOMORROW AGAINST BARCA
  

  .......................................SCEZNY......................... .........
  
  
  SAGNA...........SQUILLACHI.........................DJOROU............. KOS
  
  
  .................DIABY................WILSHERE........................ .CLICHY
  
  
  .................NASRI..................CESC.......................... .........V.PERSIE

• 07-Mar-2011 16:06 | | Adams  - Team
  

  I would think:
  
  Szezesny
  
  Sagna - Djourou - Koscielny - Clichy
  
  Denilson - Wilshere
  
  Fabregas
  
  Nasri - Bendtner - Arshavin
  
  with RVP to come on from the bench with 20 to go...?

• 07-Mar-2011 16:06 | | Man United Killa  - what???
  

  They have been on the same platform for years.But lets face it..Denilson is crap...He is just not good enough.he cant even make one simple forward pass.He must not have anything to do with the Barca tie!!!

• 07-Mar-2011 16:16 | | Man United Killa
  

  Yep...He is in!!!!!!!!!!!RVP,,here we go!!!!

• 07-Mar-2011 16:29 | | Man United Killa  - ML...What?????????
  

  Which Denilson do you speak of?Is it the Arsenal number 15?If it is please stop joking!
  oooo..but I like the fact that he can shoot pretty decently...

• 07-Mar-2011 19:50 | | Mo
  

  I pretty much exactly repeat your sentiments ML, Denilson's on form is just what the doctor ordered for a match like this..diaby's hugely talented but probe to silly give-away's esp when not on form, though might be a good weapon for later in the game with his direct running..
  
  Rvp in the squad, great boost, AW said he'll only play him if fully fit, which is good..though I must say it's HUGE to have him back for united at the weekend, who will have a full week off & be hungry after two defeats on the trot but I think we can still topple them..

• 07-Mar-2011 20:29 | | richie  - time & space
  

  Barca press we all know that but La Ligua isn't played at anywhere the pace of the prem so there is likely to be more time and space for our players than there is in the average prem game. I think Barca tired late everytime we've played them. They pressed like mad against us last year
  and dropped off. I think our players should come on stronger second half.
  lets just hope we aren't too far behind by then. Big big boost if RvP playes.

• 07-Mar-2011 21:03 | | uche  - oh! bendtner
  

  no matter who is fit or the team selection,bendtner must start,most times he plays nonsence bt he can give d barcelona defense unrest with his nonsence.the gunners will qualify with ease!

• 07-Mar-2011 21:05 | | uche  - oh! bendtner
  

  no matter who is fit or the team selection,bendtner must start,most times he plays nonsence bt he can give d barcelona defense unrest with his nonsence.the gunners will qualify with ease!

• 07-Mar-2011 21:34 | | richie
  

  Thats a big ask normally we can't keep our players fit for more than a 6 week stretch. But here's hoping.

• 07-Mar-2011 22:09 | | richie  - Oh for the Hardcore Highbury Mob
  

  Poor Denilson! Seems he's this weeks hate figure for a large portion of our lot. I recall a time when it was Alex Song who was the target of every other fool on the blog's hate. Then it was Vassiriki's turn until he got a few games under his belt and suddenly looked like a world beater. Then injury struck him down again and on his return VAD became the figure of hate once more when he got himself sent off. I've been a Gooner all my life and I have good memory's of our great supporters, but our lot recently are the most fickle bunch of no nothing tosser's imaginable. Most of them probably turned up on the coat tails of "George the Judus" and then Gloried on Arsene's wins and player finds and now they've got nothing better to do than slag our own. It must be the corporate in our ranks, because a large part of our so called supporters stink.

• 07-Mar-2011 22:33 | | MeanLean
  

  It is a big ask but we only have ten more league games. I just sit and hope that the run in is kind to us for a change.
  
  I think it is time the injury gods had a look at a few faces in Manchester instead of North London

• 07-Mar-2011 23:50 | | richie  - Amen to that
  

  We have the squad, we have the talent. After the CC final we need to prove we have the will to win. Personally I don't believe we bottled the final, but now there is a question mark?
  
  No doubt the PL is the prize we should be looking for! Its the one! Of course I'd like the big ear'ed cup (It's whats been missing from our cabinet) but as you rightly say thats the icing on the cake, the meal is the league. Unfortunately we spilt the apperatif but lets hope that concentrates the mind of our players.
  
  If a fit RvP play's tomorrow it changes the dynamic, Cesc, Nasri, Shava, Wiltshire & RvP is enough to cause even the great Barca problems. May that long continue! We need our back 4 to operate at their full capabilities, which also means our defensive midfielders need to give our defense cover.
  
  A score draw is "All we need" and I can see us scoring.

• 08-Mar-2011 07:20 | | luis zelaya  - prediction
  

  compared to last year's return leg, we are better defensively, better in midfield and about the same strenght offensively since we don't have theo, but van persie and arshavin are available.
  they are about the same strenght, except defensively since they don't have pique nor puyol.
  a 3-2 losing score or 2-2 draw don't seem unimaginable.

• 12-Mar-2011 22:54 | | nice  - gooner?
  

  well.....denilson against MANU , lol na hes just so bad

• 12-Mar-2011 22:55 | | sooo saad  - soooo sad
  

  so upset

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