Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 19 March 2011 10:31

Ok Gooners,

Ten games to go and this is the start of those games. We could make a season that has recently swerved off track into a fantastic season or we could continue to veer off road and crash into the advertising hoardings.

A victory at West Bromich Albion this afternoon could give our tyres some much needed traction and keep our destiny within our own hands. Manchester United take on Owen Coyle's Bolton in Manchester this afternoon and although they have more injuries than we do for a change, it is difficult to see them slipping up in front of their very own prawn sandwich brigadiers. A couple of nights ago I had a tingle in my belly that Bolton would sneak an unlikely draw but those feelings are better left to one side as I already have enough emotions to deal with whilst watching the Arsenal so hoping for Mancs to slip up and then watching them grind out yet another victory after lacklustre showing is just too much for me to handle at this stage of the season.

Hopefully the collective squad would have emptied their recent disappointment into the London Colny toilets and can start the match in the Midlands fresh and hungry. We have a somewhat depleted looking squad at present with key personnel such as Cesc, Walcott, Song, Djourou and Diaby all missing. Only Walcott is not a spinal player so replacements will have to give plenty to make up for the missing quality. It should make for a somewhat thin bench but we should have enough quality on the field to do the needed job as long as we fight for the points.

Injuries mean that Wenger only really has two selections to ponder. I should say 'had pondered' as by this time I would imagine that Arsene already knows which players will be wearing the red and white come 3pm.

Jack Wilshere will start in midfield, assuming he continues with his in between role, the question would then be who plays directly behind and ahead of him. Denilson, Ramsey, Rosicky and Nasri are the real possibilities but given the absence of Theo Walcott, I would imagine that Nasri will be used in the attacking position, the position where he has managed to contribute most of his goals and assists from this season. With Song and Diaby unavailable the only other player to perform the deeper, defensive role in the midfield would be Denilson and that for me would leave the attacking midfield position between either Tomas Rosicky or Aaron Ramsey.

Whilst I love the quality, ability and energy of Aaron Ramsey, I am trying to look at this from the managers perspective. Perhaps a trio of Denilson, Wilshere and Ramsey is too young and inexperienced in such an important game. Tomas Rosicky may not be in the best form of his life right now but he would add leadership to the midfield as he does for his country. Another reason for Ramsey possibly not starting the game would be his injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ramsey spending most of the last ten games on the bench just to ease him back into the speed of the Premier League. While he has played Championship minutes at both Nottingham Forest and Cardiff, the speed and quality of the Premier League is higher and surely the aim is to get through this season without anymore injuries. Ramsey has also been called up for Wales so that could also impact Wenger's selection.

Ramsey could be introduced from the bench as a replacement for either Wilshere or Rosicky at some stage during the second half depending on what the situation is at the time.

I would guess that the rest of the team pretty much picks itself.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line up:

One to watch: Samir Nasri

Nasri's goals have dried up considerably since his return from injury and at this stage of the season, we could really do with our player of the season switching that goal tap back on. In Cesc's absence we really need a great performance from Nasri and as always he shows signs of that. I do feel that he hasn't been making enough off the ball runs when team mates are in possession and hopefully he can do that for Wilshere, Arshavin, Rosicky or Ramsey this afternoon.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction:

West Brom 0 Arsenal 2 (Nasri, Van Persie)

Victory today is absolutely critical. If we draw this afternoon and Manchester United win then it certainly isn't over but the momentum of the team could take a huge blow. Psychologically a victory could do wonders for the team especially as they will have the likes of Walcott, Cesc, Song and possibly Diaby back after the International break.

West Brom are likely to display a much more cautious approach to the game under Roy Hodgson on than they would have earlier in the season so I do not expect an end to end game of football. We have to be organised defensively throughout the whole team yet attack with purpose whilst in possession. If we work as a team as we should then we will win, even with the absentees.

No regrets. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (32)

• 19-Mar-2011 12:49 | | DJ Dragonfly
  

  Rosicky and Diaby are not in the best of form at the moment, so I'm praying that Ramsey starts ahead of the aforementioned players. His style of play is very similar to Fabregas and most importantly, he rarely loses possession of the ball.
  
  I still feel that our backline needs better protection from our front six. Denilson will provide sufficient cover for our centre backs, but Wenger has to instruct Arshavin and Nasri to help out our full backs when we haven't got the ball.
  
  Let's cheer on the boys to the rafters now until the end of the season.
  
  Come on you gunners!

• 19-Mar-2011 12:52 | | Carl Baggie  - One wheel on your wagon and ..... ?
  

  With three wheels already lost and the Wenger Banger looking decidedly Scrapheap Challenge material, a huge question mark hangs over his team of 'Stars'. Truly great teams are those that bounce back from adversity, and get results under extreme pressure. Today will determine whether the current Arsenal crop will blossom or wilt. They will definitely face an Albion team with a plan, and a renewed belief under the Hodgson regime. Its games like today that make the PL a fantastic league, full of unpredictability, and a considerable helping of pride, passion and skill. Whilst the Gunners need three points from today's game, i'm not so sure it's a certainty by any means.
  
  Looking forward to a thrilling 90 minutes today!!!

• 19-Mar-2011 13:08 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Come on Arsenal. Let's show everyone why we are where we are in the league.

• 19-Mar-2011 13:17 | | Iskandar
  

  Failure to get the three points will have grave consequences. It will show the team aint good enough. Of course as usual Wenger will talk about this and that but surely he ill know some deadwood must be cast aside.
  Btw stop the million pass to nowhere. I believe this is a reason the gunners are getting mugged/beaten.other teams don't indulge in passing to eternity. This makes them unpredictable whereas the gunners are predictable and hence find it hard to score.
  I am no soccer expert like Wenger. I want simple football and shoot to score and not make unnecessary passing which gives defenders time to repel any attack

• 19-Mar-2011 13:37 | | Adams
  

  COME ON ARSENAL!!!!
  
  (for god's sake)

• 19-Mar-2011 14:22 | | Arsenal28
  

  Prediction WBA 0 - 6 Arsenal, just jokin
  
  0 - 5 will do it

• 19-Mar-2011 14:25 | | MeanLean
  

  Bang goes my theory.
  
  But very happy to see the future of Arsenal today. Ramsey and Jack in central midfield. Two of the most promising young midfielders in the country.
  
  COYG

• 19-Mar-2011 14:25 | | MeanLean
  

  

• 19-Mar-2011 14:50 | | Sobin the Indian gooner
  

  It will be a must win game for us,if we win it will be a psychological boost.COME ON GUNNERS.IN ARSENE WE TRUST

• 19-Mar-2011 15:06 | | allezgooner  - http://allezgooner.blogspot.com/
  

  http://allezgooner.blogspot.com/

• 19-Mar-2011 15:11 | | MeanLean
  

  *Sigh!*

• 19-Mar-2011 15:20 | | Danish Gooner  - Arsenes bottlers.
  

  Told you so,yesterday.

• 19-Mar-2011 15:36 | | MeanLean
  

  So you seriously cannot wait until at least half time before you start bragging?

• 19-Mar-2011 15:52 | | MeanLean
  

  Half time and we are clearly not our best. Confidence looks lacking in our football. Our passing is slow our tempo is also too slow and there is not enough movement and support to RVP.
  
  We have to improve in the second half.
  
  COYG

• 19-Mar-2011 16:29 | | jeroomme
  

  defending was not good and implosion will come sooner or later.

• 19-Mar-2011 16:38 | | jeroomme
  

  Arsene is only papering over the cracks of the wall but you can see clearly now

• 19-Mar-2011 16:56 | | jeroomme
  

  we are really frustration at our inability to deliver .....

• 19-Mar-2011 17:04 | | dkgooner
  

  Must remember not to respond to trolls.
  And people you say, "I told you so."

• 19-Mar-2011 17:14 | | jeroomme
  

  The best defender we see this season is djourou so why on earth does we have to deal with the two clowns at the back. Alumunia and Squillaci and really frustrated at everything they do on the field, We are not good enough that is why we crashed out at every competition, Look definitely for sure, we’re not going to win the title with this kind of performance.

• 19-Mar-2011 17:18 | | jeroomme
  

  go and stuff the danish pastry at your beloved cunt

• 19-Mar-2011 17:22 | | dkgooner
  

  Thanks for cheering us all up jeroomme.
  With friends like you, who needs enemies.
  Have you misspelt your own name?

• 19-Mar-2011 17:23 | | jeroomme
  

  Gr#g B*van - It seemed that I overcount the number of your brain cells.

• 19-Mar-2011 17:31 | | jeroomme
  

  DK- I'm not fluent in your autistic language , so please speak slowly and write clearly.

• 19-Mar-2011 18:58 | | richie  - A point gained 2 dropped
  

  The dreaded curse of the Spanish waiter strikes again. Injuries and lack of confidence are our downful yet again. We created few chances apart from a RvP header hitting the bar and Ramsey's follow up that was hit straight at their keeper. We lack penitration when we play RvP as a lone striker, from the moment the ineffective Denilson gave way at the mid point and Chamakh came on RvP dropped into his best position slightly behind the front man, thats when we looked like a completly different outfit. Shava's game was generally poor today yet he got a peach of a goal when he played a forward ball to Chamakh (that for once stretched their defense) and got a return as he ran into space, he still had work to do and his first touch with one foot to set up the shot with the next was mercurial. Its why when fit if your a manager the temptation to play him despite his faults would be so great.
  
  Clichy had a poor game, time and again he gave the the ball away, yet it was from his cross that RvP hit the bar and even at the death he had a shot saved by their GK Carson. Neither of our central defenders covered themselves in glory today nor in all honesty did many others. Nasri's limitations when playing the Cesc role came to the fore (with the ball at his feet he ran from left to right but) he was unable to play a meaningful pass for anyone to run onto. Wiltshire played as he does with passion and his aim was always to move forward.
  
  Today was a massive set back and yet it was not a total failer at the end our players looked devastated and serious questions will and should be asked about 4 of our back 5 only because only Sagna looked the part. Todays results with 10 man Manu'er scoring in the 89th gives them the momentum and although we dropped 2 points through horrendous defensive mistakes our players and ourselves should take some heart from the fact that at 2 down we looked completley out of it.
  Therefore to come back did and does show that the team does indeed have some team spirit. It doesn't look as good as it did but were not out of it yet.

• 19-Mar-2011 19:02 | | richie
  

  P.S. The best thing about today was our own. We supported even when 2 down. Thats all we can do!

• 19-Mar-2011 19:47 | | Adams
  

  

• 19-Mar-2011 19:54 | | Adams
  

  As bad as this feels, I've just remembered that we are still unbeaten in the PL since December and that nearly went out of the window today so fair play to the boys for turning it around. It is going to be very difficult now but hopefully we aren't too far out of it and after the international break, who knows what could happen....
  
  It's amazing just how much Wojciech Szczesny fuelled my optimism earlier this year... I can't say I believe in our ability to do it as much without him. Sad but true.

• 19-Mar-2011 21:12 | | dkgooner
  

  The only hope is that we get some of our injured players back during the international break. Unfortunately, we're pretty stuffed as far as defence is concerned. There is no real alternative to Almunia - can you see AW actually playing Jens except in the case of injury. Maybe we should hope Al gets injured. And if Squillaci is to be dropped, who do we play at CB? Miquel, a young rookie? Song? Sagna? I had been wondering why we don't recall Bartley from Rangers, but now he's out for 6 weeks too, so it doesn't matter much.
  So if we can get Cesc, Song and Walcott back, maybe we can create more chances and score more goals than we let in. I agree with richie that we look more threatening with Chamakh playing front man - it gives RvP more space.
  Blackburn up next. Then Blackpool. Then Redpool.

• 19-Mar-2011 22:14 | | MeanLean
  

  Another difficult afternoon to have to digest.
  
  I will add some thoughts in a moment. *sigh*

• 19-Mar-2011 23:09 | | MeanLean
  

  We start poorly and we often do not win
  
  Can we play 4-2-3-1 without Cesc and Theo?
  
  Almunia's error was pretty bad.
  
  We need Cesc, Song and Theo to hit the ground running after the international break.
  
  Unless we improve then I don't think we can win the league this season but the Mancs do not look impressive.
  
  We really have to get back to the way we played earlier against Chelsea, Manc City, Brum away etc.
  
  It will be difficult but I ain't giving up until the end, whenever the end is.

• 20-Mar-2011 10:43 | | dkgooner
  

  My feelings entirely.
  Except that Almunia needs brain surgery - if it's possible to operate brain cells INTO a brain.
  The first goal was almost as bad as the second one - no covering at all in the middle of the box - will they never learn? And we were lucky not to concede with that cross to the far first - Brunt should have put that one away. They did to us what they did at the Emirates and what ManU do to us every game - sit back and absorb the pressure and then break away quickly on the flanks while our full-backs are caught up field.
  Yes, we will need to find our scoring boots bigtime, because I can't see this defence keeping a clean sheet.
  But we're still in there - just about. But it was yet another missed opportunity - I know ManU only scored in the last couple of minutes, but they have a habit of doing that. Our habit is conceding goals from set pieces. You make your own luck.

• 21-Mar-2011 11:49 | | CHGooner
  

  Have we won a game this year with Denilson playing? At least Wenger took him off at half time before he could do any more damage, shame he couldn't have done the same with Almunia!
  
  Anyway looks like Chelsea are on the mend, Man U have got the bit between their teeth and Arsenal are collapsing in March. I think I might have seen this somewhere before or maybe I'm imagining it....

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable