Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 05 March 2011 09:17

The most important game of the season is almost here, victory this afternoon against Sunderland will put Arsenal within one point of leaders Manchester United. It is an opportunity that the team must grab if we are to win the Premier League title this season, no other result for Arsenal will do. Arsene Wenger has been at pains to say that the Barcelona match is not in his thoughts whatsoever and we can only hope that the players are all echoing the manager.

Too many thoughts drifting towards the Camp Nou in midweek could lead to a slip up and it is one that the team cannot afford to do at this crucial stage of the season. It could be argued that winning the league from our position could be more straight forward than beating Barcelona at their own patch.

We are now at the home straight, with two teams in the driving seat. If either us or Manchester United win their remaining games then that guarantees the title and that is a great position to be in. I suspect both teams will still drop enough points to allow another challenger with an outside chance of winning the league.

Manchester United go to Anfield tomorrow without Ferdinand and Vidic, I bet the Manchester United fans on blogs are writing about the lack of experienced back up center backs they have with Smalling likely to partner Wes Brown. With so many people hoping and expecting Manchester United to drop points tomorrow, I have a terrible feeling that they will produce one of those professional away displays that see them win 1-0 so it makes victory today even more important.

For once our opposition today have almost as many injury problems as our own. They currently have 6 players definitely out for today whilst we have 7 unavailable for selection. It is quite amazing when you look closely at the quality we currently have out, right down the spine of our team. Fabianski, Vermaelen, Cesc, Song and Van Persie with one of our wide goalscorers Walcott also out of the team, even with this ridiculous amount of talent not playing we still have a squad ready to challenge.

Interestingly on both sides 7 out of a total 13 of the injured players are all out with knee problems.

Most of the team today will pretty much pick itself but I guess Arsene has one question to find an answer to. Who to choose between Denilson or Rosicky to complete the trio in the middle of midfield.

I am very interested to see how the combination of Diaby and Wilshere work out, both similar skill sets but very different styles. If Tomas Rosicky continues the attacking midfield role then I expect Diaby to replace Alex Song and sit back slightly more than he would do normally and Jack Wilshere can continue to play in between the two.

Wenger could also choose Denilson as the sitting midfielder allowing both Wilshere and Diaby more licence to get forward and join the attacks. If we were playing away from home then I think the latter selection would be more likely to happen but given the fact that we are playing at home with the emphasis on going forward, I think a starting place for Rosicky would be Wenger's preferred choice.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Nicklas Bendtner

Arsenal will be without Robin Van Persie for the first time in a long while and a player in such a rich vein of scoring form will be sorely missed, the best way for a squad player to prepare for that role is to have scored goals in his last game and even if it was only league one side Leyton Orient, Nicklas Bendtner's hat trick would have done him the world of good.

He is now sharp and his opportunity to be the spearhead of the team has resurfaced, we need Bendtner to grab this opportunity with both hands and prove that his actions are as big as his confident words.

While Van Persie's ability to fashion chances out of absolutely nothing will be missed, Nicklas Bendtner will get himself into arguably more goal scoring positions over the course of 90 minutes so on the creative side we will need to be at our best.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction:

Arsenal 3 (Bendtner, Nasri, Diaby) Sunderland 1

I hope the hunger and desire is there from the very first whistle. We have to get back to defending and attacking as a team. Denying Sunderland time on the ball and shifting the ball quickly. If we establish a healthy advantage during the game then the players can see out the game so it is very important to start well and it will be the case from now until the end of the season.

CLOSE THAT GAP GUNNERS.

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Comments (30)

• 05-Mar-2011 10:11 | | Bala
  

  I think Diaby will start alongside Jack and TR7.He made me eating humble pies on Wednesday because I thought he would struggle when coming back from a break but he was really good and with him in midfield we will have that physical aspect which will be missing because of Song's absence. My prediction is a 2-0 win for us

• 05-Mar-2011 10:23 | | mo-money  - really?
  

  Interesting you chose B52 over Chamakh, I'm not sure if Le Boss will go the same way though

• 05-Mar-2011 10:43 | | MeanLean
  

  It would be a tad harsh to drop a striker who had just scored a hat trick.
  
  I am pretty sure he will start

• 05-Mar-2011 11:16 | | Adams
  

  Hope he does go with Koscielny at the back, it would be good for him to get a game under his belt ahead of Barca so he can properly put that abberation behind him.
  
  On twitter, someone has said that they have put money on us winning 3-0 with Van Persie scoring the first goal and have pledged to give the money to charity if we win. Good luck with that one.

• 05-Mar-2011 12:09 | | mo-money
  

  granted. but what do you think of him playing wide Right? One could argue that its really starting to work

• 05-Mar-2011 12:36 | | MeanLean
  

  Bendy does a job out wide but I think it unbalances the forward line a little. We are usually best with two creative or in Walcott's case, speedy wide players and one link striker.
  
  Arguably Chamakh is a better link player than Bendtner but in terms of form and confidence I think Nik is the better option right now.

• 05-Mar-2011 12:38 | | MeanLean
  

  I agree that Kos needs a game before Tuesday. He will be very important in midweek.
  
  Oh and haha on the RVP goal.
  
  It is a good way to look like you are doing well for others.

• 05-Mar-2011 14:31 | | Sobin the Indian gooner
  

  We can do it...
  My 11
  sczezsny-sagna-squillaci-djourou-clichy-diaby-wilshere-rosicky- arshavin-bendtner-nasri

• 05-Mar-2011 15:59 | | Jeromme
  

  In the first half, I notice two shite midfield players - Diaby and Denilson. I have no idea of what they are doing. No pace, can't win ball or tackle.
  Not physically strong to challenge the ball.
  Ball watcher Denilson tend to give the ball away.

• 05-Mar-2011 16:40 | | Jeromme
  

  Referee is a fucking wanker. No penalty for pushing Arshavin and red card. A yellow card for us.

• 05-Mar-2011 16:46 | | Jeromme
  

  Too many bad decisions from referee!

• 05-Mar-2011 17:12 | | Jeromme
  

  What can we say about the game? The final result was more about the lack of character that the team showed than anything else. So often we see the performance of Diaby very laidback. He is wasting too much time on the complicated ball control and dribble which elicits frustration from the Arsenal supporters. Jack Wilshere makes his first team breakthrough in one season unlike Diaby and Denilson

• 05-Mar-2011 19:07 | | richie
  

  I couldn't agree more about our teams lack of character, but I wouldn't single out Diaby. None of our forwards stepped up today. I thought we had the best striker in the world in our ranks today (at least in his own mind) but if our strikers don't take their chances in a tight game its simple you don't win games. If we as a club haven't got strikers who score we should have!
  
  I've now got a problem with Vela's loan (I agreed with it at the time but I now see it as a mistake) because I pose the question how much could we have done with a natural goal scorer in recent games? (for obvious reasons I think it's unfair to count NB's hat trick against the O's even though it was well taken).
  
  Comparing Jack to Diaby is like comparing the relative health benefits of apples or oranges. Jack is a young talent raised in Arsene's Arsenal creche. Diaby is a player that Arsene captured who showed hugh potential (like Arron Ramsey) but has been blighted by injury in the same manner as AR.
  
  We the Arse have been so unlucky with Diaby and he must be the unluckiest player ever, because every time he gets a little run of games and starts to show his potential again he gets kicked and is injured. Or gets kicked and he's sent off for retaliating. I fear we will never get to see the real Diaby because of his bad luck.
  
  If we as a club haven't got the motivation to beat Sunderland at home to go within a point of the leaders when we haven't won the prem in a while then surely we shouldn't consider ourselves as serious contenders should we? Yet again it feels like a massive missed chance just like the CC final. More disappointment

• 05-Mar-2011 19:23 | | Man United KIlla  - always say this...
  

  Whenever I say we wont win anything simply because our backup is not good enough,I get slated.But the writings are on the wall for all to see...What a poor job by Denilson and Diaby.
  The gulf between our first team players and our backup is just too huge.Players such as Denilson should be sold.Others such as Diaby,Bendtner,Rosicky,chamackh are at best fringe players.They are not good enough to step in for the first team and lead the team to success.
  Maybe I need to cut Chamakh some slack..he needs time.Afterall he has not been here a year.but the others are definitely rubish..
  Clichy has to learn to defend properly.
  Scenzy is amazing.I love this kid.even when after losing against Birm,I still hold in in high esteem.He is a good one.
  Apart from that,the team playing now (without Cesc-Theo-RVP) ,cant create simple chances to save their lives.Rubbish Rubbish Rubbish

• 05-Mar-2011 19:25 | | Man United KIlla  - if only
  

  If only we had done our job well,we wouldnt have been here crying about the ref..The chances Arsh missed..The number of stupid crosses from Sagna..He has to be patient when crossing.
  Attackers need to make themselves available in the box more often...DARN!!crosses going wasted..

• 05-Mar-2011 19:28 | | Man United KIlla  - Backup
  

  Backup is simply not good enough.It's as simple as that.Denilso-Diaby-Rosicky-Bendtner...are you kidding me????

• 05-Mar-2011 19:37 | | MeanLean
  

  I am still shaking my head.
  
  We were not at our attacking best today, that was clear to see. Personally I do not believe that it was a case of lacking motivation.
  
  We missed the cutting edge of Cesc, RVP and Theo.
  
  But at the end of the day we scored a perfectly good goal and had a player clearly shoved in the box. I could see it straight away so why a referee and an assist didn't is just beyond me. We also were very unlucky when Chamakh hit the bar.
  
  It was a big chance wasted and that is very frustrating but we were blatantly hard done by. That isn't to say that we couldn't have played better, we should have but we still should have won the game if the referee had done his job correctly.

• 05-Mar-2011 20:00 | | MeanLean
  

  MUD,
  
  Honestly, I understand your point. You don't rate many players in our squad. I get that but what is your solution?
  
  Let's imagine Arsene was fired and the board brought you in as manager of Arsenal.
  
  What type of players do you buy at a realistic price and how do use your squad?
  
  Another question for you. We are competing in the most competitive league in Europe right now and I would say our position in the league is pretty good if not perfect, right?
  
  Can you tell me which club has better back ups to ours? Which areas do other top clubs have better backs up to our own?
  
  This is how I see it, you are unlikely to agree with me.
  
  I think our back ups are very good players. Clearly not our best players because we can only have enough room for the very best and by that I include Sagna, Cesc, Van Persie, Nasri and a few others.
  
  The rest of our squad is made up of talented younger players who have been with us for a while now. Players that were brought to the club as youngsters mainly and still have room for improvement and natural growth.
  
  You may think all our players are useless, but the likes of Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky and Nicklas Bendtner are all internationals, they are big players for their countries.
  
  These players have a disadvantage as second choice players. They are not able to play every single week in the league therefore they are not able to find consistency. Believe me, I am not making that up.
  
  It appears that you expect Arsene Wenger to have a squad of the worlds best in every position not just that but two or three back ups of the same standard.
  
  Those players are expected to sit on the bench and except playing in the Carling cup and perhaps the FA Cup, even those players would still have to deal with being rusty and lack consistency, which would lead to many fans calling them RUBBISH RUBBISH RUBBISH and not good enough.
  
  Where do we find another Cesc who is content to play back up? How much do we pay him? Where do we find him from? Not only him because if Cesc and he gets injured then we need another one and they must all remain on top form every single game.
  
  Is this what you are expecting? If so point me in the direction of a team in the world which has this luxury.

• 05-Mar-2011 19:53 | | LiamBradyF
  

  Fucking RUBBISH. Not good enough,end of.

• 05-Mar-2011 19:56 | | Adams  - So close....
  

  Massive disappointment today that feels like acid in my guts and down the back of my calves but let's extract the positives:
  
  - We kept a clean sheet which will do Chezz and Kozz the power of good.
  - We did actually manage to score even though it was unfairly ruled out
  - We have closed the gap to three points. Man U still have tough games and they still have to come to us. That gap is NOTHING with 10 games to go, especially with our form this year.
  - We don't seem to have picked up any extra injuries, assuming Wilshere is okay and ran off his niggle
  - We are still unbeaten in the Premier League since December 13th, a run of 11 games with 8 of those being wins. Nothing wrong with that.
  - We only have (hopefully) one more prem league game to get through with key players out. Hopefully Fab will play against WBA and then we can expect to have RVP & Theo back and firing after April.
  
  We have drawn games like this in the past in title-winning seasons. Even the Invincibles notched up the occasional dodgy 0-0 at home. It may feel like it today but it's not the end of the world.
  
  Here's hoping Liverpool can do us a favour tomorrow.

• 05-Mar-2011 20:09 | | MeanLean
  

  Thank you Adams, agree with everything there.
  
  Massively frustrating. We should have won the game, scored one and had a 100% penalty turned down yet we have drawn these games before and won the league.
  
  It is not a great result but let us not thrown in the towel just yet.
  
  What we need are our game changers back and back quickly. Cesc is back and him alone will make a massive difference.

• 05-Mar-2011 20:20 | | Adams
  

  Exactly.
  
  It's all still to play for.
  
  Now for Barcelona.

• 05-Mar-2011 21:17 | | Man United Killa  - A reply to ML
  

  Gourcuff,Nuri Sahin,Joao Moutinho,Steven Defour and Hamsik are just some of the quality midfielders who can actually play in place of Cesc.I cant tell you how much it pains me the Van der Vaat went to Tottenham when we could have snapped him up.Plus I am pretty sure he would have chosen us over them.
  Mind you the players I mentioned above are decently priced player and real quality too. You really cant tell me Mean Lean that to get backup that is better than Denilson and Diaby and Rosciky we should break the bank.I don’t believe in breaking the bank.but I believe in spending a significantly reasonable amount for what you believe in.
  With regard to strikers,there are just too many to choose from and still keep spending in check.I personally admire Pazzini,Lavezzi, Remy ,Fernando Llorient,Mauro zarate are just a few people who can do the job.
  In any case I have already said,It is only fair that we give Chamakh a benefit of the doubt.Maybe he will start doing what stikers do-for a change.I would be unfair to judge him at this point.
  With regard to the defence,We could use a one big centerback.That would be a great addition.There are several places to look for that.We need a big bad wolf in the back.We presently don’t have it.
  Talking about the goalkeeper position, I really don’t have a problem with Scenzy.I actually like this lad and I didn’t even slate him when we lost against Birmingham.I think he has the potential to play at the top top level..as Wenger will put it.
  Also,I respectfully disagree with your point about Rosicky,Diaby and Bendner being internationals.The fact that they are big players for their countries does not mean they are big for the Arsenal.Afterall not all internationals are even first teamers and vice versa..so that point you make is not valid in my opinion.
  I have said time and time again that I don’t expect that we have another Cesc but it does not mean Denilson,Diaby and Rosicky are good enough.the gulf between them and Cesc is too wide.With the midfielders I mentioned,We can easily rotate.They don’t have to sit on the bench for every game.We are the same people who complain about fatigue and injuries.
  I also have a question for you…ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF WE HAD ONE OR TWO MORE WORLD CLASS PLAYERS WE COULD NOT FIT THEM INTO THE TEAM BECAUSE THERE IS NO SPACE?

• 05-Mar-2011 21:31 | | dkgooner  - Caught between two stools
  

  I have to say I thought AW's starting 11 today was too weak. The results have shown that when we have three or more of the first choice players out, we don't have the squad to fill the gaps. We can take 1 or 2 away but no more. We lost momentum today every time Diaby and Denilson got the ball. Diaby especially slows the game down too much. Nasri is wasted out on the right wing. It would have made more sense to start with Nasri playing Cesc's role in the middle and have Bendtner out on the right and Chamakh in the middle. When we played like that for the last 20 minutes, we were much more threatening. Don't understand this idea of starting with a weak team and hoping they can do the job, then bringing on the more attacking formation to try and save the day. I would go all out from the off, get the goals, then shut up shop. I know we have to rotate because of the Barca game and then the Cup against ManU but today should have been the priority and I think we've just blown a big chance. No, it's not over yet and lots can happen but I'm beginning to fear we don't have a strong enough squad.
  As for the referee/linesman today, I just despair. The average level of competence of our top referees is abysmal. But then, ManU got the thin end of the wedge against Chelsea with Luiz not being sent off and some other weak refereeing, so it's affecting all of us.
  Let's hope tomorrow's referee has a shocker too and gives 'pool 3 penalties. But then, that probably won't be enough. I expect nothing tomorrow. It could go either way, football's like that, but if I was to put money on it, I would have to back United.
  Hope I'm feeling better this time next week.

• 05-Mar-2011 22:10 | | MeanLean
  

  I think your argument is a little simplistic. It is easy to name a whole string of names and say they are perfect to replace Cesc when there is actually no proof of this whatsoever.
  
  We are going on your word that they would come in and do Cesc's role. None of them play in the Premier League and we have no idea if they would be a) suited to English football b) adapt to Wenger's system c) sit on the bench and wait until Cesc is missing.
  
  You really think that Gourcuff would come to play second fiddle? He is an established international in a big country (like Abou Diaby!) How much would these players cost?
  
  Do you think Van der Vaart would play back up to Cesc instead of first team football? If you plan on starting him then where does he play in the big and important games? Don't play Jack WIlshere? Sell Aaron Ramsey?
  
  You are throwing strikers names out there. How is Mauro zarate going to play center forward? How is he going to replace Van Persie's link up play? Is he the hold up central striker you are talking of?
  
  You didn't tell me which side in the most competitive league has a better squad than we have, and if it is not Man U then why are they below us?
  
  I could quite easily suggest that Park, Fletcher, Nani, Gibson etc are all rubbish and the Mancs should buy back Ronaldo, Messi, Iniesta, Gerrard. That is very simple to say but I would be so far out on so many levels.
  
  I think Arsene's job is a little more complicated than you make out. I am not going to go into why because we are not going to agree on this.

• 05-Mar-2011 22:46 | | Man United KIlla  - I dont think we will ever see eye to eye on this
  

  I guess I assumed that you understood a lot of the things I am saying...for instance before Gourcuff left for Marseille do you have any idea how much he cost?He was literally rotting on the bench.This is a player I have followed many years---including others.
  I only threw names out there because you wanted examples.But the PL can has a lot to offer too.
  The fact that we have enough quality players does not mean they have that they always have to be on the bench.In the same vein that we manage to rotate Nasri,Arsh and Walcott we can do the same for our midfield.they dont have to be on the bench week in week out.
  Your point about buying back Ronaldo,Messi,Iniesta and others is not valid.These are overpriced players.those I mentioned are reasonably priced.
  We cant compare ourselves to Manu in this respect.They know what it takes to win,they have been there,done that...we need people to guide us there..we just dont have that quality right now.Why else do we throw it all away when we need to hold on to it.We need that winning experience.since we have the policy of not signing old quality experienced players,the only route would be getting quality middle aged players who can do the job.Denilso-Diaby-Rosicky-Bendtner combination is not going to do the job.
  Every team has their unique problem.lets address our problems and forget about United this,Chelsea that.Take note that I didnt for once mention these teams in my reply because I believe we have to focus on our own unique problems and solve them--the results will follow.

• 06-Mar-2011 00:47 | | richie  - 2nd string
  

  For me our problem isn't our 2nd string not being good enough. Its that we continue to try to play in the same manner without our top personal as we do with them, which clearly isn't possible.
  Song can tackle and move it simple forward to our captain Cesc can play a defense splitting ball to Nasri who can cut it back into the path of Shava who can give the perfectly weighted pass to RvP who can finish it one touch. All the above played at top speed.
  
  Denilson might intercept a pass he often does, so he passes it to our No.7 now Rosicky ain't liable to play a defense splitting pass (a la Cesc) at the moment, first he's off his best game through injury and lack of play, second even at the top of his game he ain't Cesc he ain't even his cousin. Now he passes it to Diaby (who's been unable to string a few games together before he's kicked off and is injured) now Abou holds on to the ball way to long and at the very last moment only manages to give it to NB52 who runs at the two remaining defenders, beating the first easily but the second is still in his way, Chamakh meanwhile has run into a great position clear of the defense waiting for the pass that everyone can see, (everyone except the best player in the world) Nicky B takes on the the second defender and is forced wide eventually he beats the defender and try's a shot from an impossible angle.
  
  My contention is the above scenario is our team far too often.
  We can't play at our top game with our second string.

• 06-Mar-2011 04:07 | | Jeromme
  

  You can watch it again in the replay unless you are fucking blind

• 06-Mar-2011 04:26 | | Jeromme
  

  Generally speaking, all players start from somewhere to become a world class player. Given all learning opportunites Arsene handed over to Diaby and Enilson, there should be tremendous incremental change over time,
  However for Wilshere, his performance proves to us fans or critics, his high workrate and attitude given the shorter time scale of observation. In long term, Jack will be a first choice pick in this Arsenal team than Denilson and Diaby. His drive and attitude is needed for our quest for titles and trophies.
  
  Speaking of Diaby, apart from the fact that he said recently that his big mentality in future to play for Barcelona or winning the Ballon D'or suggests he has simply lacking of professional pride on his side.
  At matches that mattter most, Diaby doesn't look like he wants to be involved in the game or have any clues in the way a midfielder should (like Jack) and when he has the ball, he is too caught up with complicated ball control and dribble. he's going to do with it so In short, his skill isn't well spent in the field by his impact.
  
  Denilson is a a Brazilan with no samba skill. His only impact in the field is sideway passing.

• 06-Mar-2011 04:41 | | Jeromme
  

  To add to your point about Diaby, Arsene has given him the opportunity to blossom into a superb midfielder. Most important, we don't need his skill on control and dribble with no impact, What we need from is a midfielder who is goodon the ball, great passing and movement with a sound footballing mind. For example, don't slow the game when you want a quick counter attack. Splitting a defense with simple movement like Cesc.

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