Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 18 December 2010 11:26

After the result on Monday, this game couldn't have come quick enough. The long wait for the top of the table clash ended with disappointment and the best way to shake out of the system is to win your next game.

After thinking about our Barcelona draw for much of yesterday, it will have to be a jump to the other end of the spectrum for my thought process. A completely different world of football as Stoke City and Ryan Shawcross turn up at the Emirates with the aim of giving us a difficult game.

I certainly hope that the players will have put the Barcelona game to the back of their minds because this afternoon's match is the only one that counts right now.

While the crowds focus is likely to be on Mr Shawcross, I hope the players can focus on the job in hand and use all available energy on creating chances, scoring goals and keeping clean sheets. I suppose just the one clean sheet will do.

Stoke are a physically imposing side but unfortunately we will be missing a few of our taller players. Abou Diaby is back in training but is not yet ready to appear in the squad whilst Nicklas Bendtner is due to become a father so is likely to miss out.

Ideally Wenger would have wanted to rest Chamakh and put Van Persie at the top end of the pitch but because of the aerial threat, I wonder if Chamakh will be needed in both penalty boxes, especially if Bendtner does not rejoin the squad.

Arsene has some decisions to make. Cesc and Van Persie both need games but I struggle to see how all three can play in the same team unless the formation changes which I cannot see it doing.

I imagine that Theo Walcott may start on the right, possibly shifting Nasri to the left and Johan Djourou's extra power in the air may be preferred over either Squillaci or Koscielny.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Theo Walcott

I am assuming that Theo will start the game and play in his familiar right wing position. We need him to rediscover his pre injury form earlier in the season. Everything was going right for him in that period. He had pre season behind him, he was scoring goals and looking assured in possession. His injury seems to have knocked him right back to the beginning and his luck and form will have to turn at some point. I hope it starts today with a goal and an assist against Stoke City

Mean Lean's Match Prediction

Arsenal 2 (Walcott, Nasri) Stoke City 0

We have to find our fluidity early in the game and get back to creating chances. I expect Stoke to play on the counter attack and cross many balls into our box. The likes of Djourou should he be selected need to dominate in the air.

Lets forget about Shawcross and his manager, the three points are the only thing that matters this afternoon.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS.

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (4)

• 18-Dec-2010 12:02 | | GunnerPete  - No to Denilson
  

  Sorry mate but Denilson is a very willing water carrier and not good enough for AFC. I would keep your selection with a few tactical changes.ie; I would prefer Kossy in place of Clichy any day until Gibbs is totally fit. This would mean that Jack & Cesc could share the third slot..45 mins each. This would give us extra height and pace in defence and MF. As for Diaby, sorry but we have had enough false dawns for him to be considered anything but a back up sub. In my eyes I see no future for him...Denilson and Bentner so let them go at the best price we can get or as part exchange for top defenders like Jagielka & Jones. We need back bone as we have enough lightweights to fill two teams. My preferred team today against the filth of Stoke would be;-
  
  Chesney
  Sagna Djourou (with out fail) Squilly Kossy
  
  
  Song Nasri Wilshire
  
  RVP
  
  Walcott Chamakh
  
  SUBS= Fabiansky, Clichy, Rosicky, Jet, Aneke, Cesc
  
  Until vermuy is back we need all the strength and pace we can get at the back and in MF....Denilson is neither and Clichy has become a liability.
  
  Mind you the bloke who matters has eyes only for his favourites and that wins us nothing!!!!!!

• 18-Dec-2010 21:36 | | Waterboy
  

  Arsenal desperately need another defensive midfielder to rotate with Song!
  
  Currently there is no one else in the squad who can take the pressure off Song. I know many people say Denilson is a suitable replacement but I am struggling to buy in to that arguement.
  
  Whilst Denilson is a neat passer of the ball he simply doesn't have the physical presence required to play as a tackling DM in the Premier League nor the passing range or dribbling skills to play as the more offensive DM in Arsenal's system (thinking of Wilshere and Diaby).
  
  The fundamental strength of Denilson and Clichy for that matter is their ability to intercept passes. Whilst this would be invaluable if Arsenal were playing in La Liga which is far less physical, it is not as sought after in the fast pace, rough and tumble Premier League were physical full backs such as Sanga thrive.
  
  The one saving grace Clichy has is his speed. But countless times this season I have seen him burst up the left flank and instead of getting to the byline to cut the ball back or potentially cross the ball he freezes. Gibbs willingness to stick his foot into a challenge and ability to get to the byline means (in my view) he has overtaken Clichy as first choice left back. That said, Clichy has the ability (needs some coaching on the tackling side of the things) to recover his previous form of years gone by.
  
  The other thing I wanted to raise is that I would love to see Wenger try Bendtner in the No# role. With his ability to split the defence with thru balls, strength and commitment I think he would thrive in that role. Also Wenger could rotate him with V Piersie, who has sublime control, vision and a thumping left foot.
  
  That would free up a central striking spot for Vela to rotate with Chamack. I think that would give us something different and FINALLY allow Vela to play in his natural position.
  
  The only drama with the above changes, particularly to the No# 10 role and not playing Denilson as a 'tackling DM' is that the more offensive ball playing DM role would need to be rotated between:
  
  Fab
  Diaby
  Rosicky
  Wilshere
  Ramsey
  Denilson
  (not to mention the likes of Lansbury, etc)
  
  That is too many players to rotate in one position and highlights the in balance in Arsenal's midfield between defending and attack.

• 20-Dec-2010 12:13 | | Frog of The Arsenal  - I agree with Waterboy ...
  

  But one has to ask this season - is Song really a defensive midfielder this season He is more offensively minded then Wilshere
  
  We do not really have a proper defensive midfielder anymore, besides Eastmond and Frimpong. Song was excellent as DM and Arsene has made him a more attacking individual, generally giving us less stability. The team aren't confident defensively because of this. Against big teams especially, we fear to attack because we fear we will be caught on the break.
  I guess that mean the stronger we are defensively, the stronger we will be offensively, the stronger we will be overall.
  
  Thanks for reading my ... er ... 'blah blah blah'-ness.

• 20-Dec-2010 16:36 | | tr7  - need a mentality change
  

  too gung ho, even last season when song was a sitter and without his burst forwards arsenal played too offensively as a team. never mind needing centre backs or DM, the whole mentality of our play needs to change. people (wenger) always say well look at barca they play with attacking football and win, well Ive got absolutely nothing against that I love seeing arsenal play, but when we're on top. when we face a team who also know how to play thats when we struggle and become very frustrating to watch. theres a big difference between us and barcelona. their whole team is much more tactically aware and defensively responsible as a unit. all their midfielders xavi, iniesta and even their strikers drop back accordingly when out of possession (which isnt too often tho tbh). We saw how arsenal played against braga, absolutely suicidal tactics, 9 or 10 men forward when all we needed was a draw. Result? well we're up against barca next., god help us.

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable