Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 10 April 2011 09:12

How times have changed. It was a warm afternoon on August 21st 2010 where the Arsenal had played their first game at the Emirates for the 2010/2011 League campaign. We had just salvaged a draw at Anfield the weekend before thanks to ironically, a goalkeeping error from no other than Pepe Reina, the keeper that Arsene was supposedly interesting in bringing to the club in the summer.

Cesc and Van Persie were not ready to play, Thomas Vermaelen was in the starting line up, Tomas Rosicky was probably our most creative player and Chamakh was the spearhead of the side.

We blew away Blackpool that day, they could not handle our quick passing and the movement from Theo Walcott who bagged his second hattrick of his Arsenal career.

I was watching the highlights on Arsenal TV online last night and what struck me was the speed and movement of our football. If we had been playing at that level over the last few weeks then there is no doubt that we would be streets ahead in the league race.

Confidence has seeped from the team and the football we see today is far less expressive than it was back in August. At this stage of the season the right amount of determination and fight can make up for the lack of sharpness and if the players follow on from their managers performance in his press conference on Friday then they should be just fine this afternoon.

That fight was lacking last weekend against Blackburn and I will be truly astonished if the players do not increase their level of commitment by some way.

As usual Wenger has to take a slow walk down the halls of the treatment room corridor to check on the availability of players to choose from. The curtains of Alex Song's bed are drawn shut following a knee problem so it is likely that Abou Diaby will replace him in the heart of midfield.

Bacary Sagna and Theo Walcott will be Wenger's main doubts I have absolutely no idea as to what level of risk they are so I am totally guessing in my predicted line up that Sagna will be available and Walcott will not be risked. Cesc Fabregas will start and is needed to bridge the missing link from midfield to attack.

For one reason or another, Cesc has not managed to get to his best this season and we have missed out on that. Last season he had racked up his best ever goalscoring tally and his high assist rate showed no signs of slowing down, this campaign has been somewhat different. Hamstrings and loss of form has hampered our skipper until now but all will be forgiven if he can finish the season on a high. We need his goals and creativity. We need our skipper and Van Persie to get back on the same wave length.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:

One to watch: Cesc Fabregas

His absence in recent weeks has been heavily felt by the team, we have not scored enough goals of late and his reintroduction in the team could give the team that spark in the attacking third.

When Cesc is playing well, he often makes those around him improve so lets us hope that he can hit the ground running and pick Blackpool apart. If there ever was a time where we needed our captain to step up then this is that time.

Mean Leans's Match Prediction:

Blackpool 1 Arsenal 3 (Van Persie, Cesc, Bendtner)

After watching how fired up Arsene was on Friday, I expect the players to repeat that on the pitch. It is now out of our hands so slip ups at this stage are simply not a question. The big players like Cesc, Nasri and Van Persie have to step up and lead by example and fight for the badge.

I am backing the team to turn it around and get back on track. If we do then you never know what will happen. But first things first. Three points please.

COME ON THE ARSENAL.

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Comments (5)

• 10-Apr-2011 10:38 | | CHGooner
  

  If we don't beat Blackpool today then I think our top 4 position is in jeopardy, that's how important today's game is. Maybe that was in Wenger's mind when he claimed that nobody expected us to finish in the top 5.? Maybe he could then claim that 5th was 'success' by his definition! On a serious note Blackpool are on a dreadful run and have a very leaky defence. Their home record is very poor, so we should pick up the points today. Failure is not an option really....

• 10-Apr-2011 10:41 | | double dapper  - i would take your 3 1
  

  Cheers ML for reminding me that we are indeed an awesome team when we come out of the traps confident and slick. Todays game could end up giving us the drive to go on and win this league and shut everyone up. On the other hand another draw today and i will conceed deafeat and accept another transitional season where at least we can reluctantly say we came higher then last year.
  
  3 1 you say....why not?

• 10-Apr-2011 12:13 | | richie  - Lets go for it
  

  I'd prefer 442 with Jack Cesc Nas & Abou in the middle, and Chamakh on point with RvP between. With the above formation if the players can't switch easily to 433 then they'd better learn. I'd also ask the mid to play zonally if 2 0r 3 go forward one always drops back. That way maybe we'd play to our strengths with Diaby not shakled to defensive duties which ain't his fort.
  
  Chamakh likewise instead of trying to learn a new position could do what he does best lead the line, and hold on to the ball upfield until the mid joins the attack. Whenever any team parks the bus 433 works badly for us, because there is no stretching of the oppositions defense. We don't have the type of players to get in behind defences and cross. Thats no to say Blackpool will park the bus but........................................
  Next up as you reminded everyone above we play best as we did previously against Blackpool passing fast going forward. Not with the PPP (patient possession passing) embodied by sideways ball movement on the halfway line.

• 10-Apr-2011 14:43 | | MeanLean
  

  Very important win today. Great to see Cesc and RVP linking up so well. Diaby was very good today. We need to sharpen up in front of goal and build on this.
  
  Seven to go.

• 11-Apr-2011 00:43 | | richie
  

  Yeah we needed that result big time! Diaby given the freedom to play to his attacking strengths looks totally different to the returning from injury defending mid. I know its Manu'ers to lose but we could still nick it stranger things have happened. As the Arse we never do things the easy way as my "dicky ticker" over the years will attest to.
  Now we've lost our cushion every game is a cup final unless Manu lose a couple.

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