Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 20 April 2011 14:29

As a supporter I tend to hope for the best, I like to imagine that the best outcome will happen and that has been my mindset through the whole season until our recent home draws to Blackburn and then Liverpool. Winning all our games was always going to be a tall order but then the incredible high of Van Persie slotting in his penalty to the anger and frustration of Kuyt's high penalty in added on time meant that I had let go of the idea of hope. It is strange really because I did and do not expect Manchester United to win all their remaining games but our recent form and lack of goals convinced me that the title would evade us for another year.

Last night Manchester United, the team often put on a pedestal as the team who always bounce back from disappointment faced Newcastle United after recent semi final defeat to their neighbours. Newcastle have been largely inconsistent in recent weeks and they could only manage a 0-0 draw.

The result could have been worse had yet another referee failed to award Fergie's opposition a clear cut penalty.

That is how fine the margins are. Had Mariner and last night's referee done their jobs correctly then we would be currently four points behind them with tonight's game in hand. However I know it is not as easy as that, apparently decisions even themselves out over the course of the season. If that is the case then I expect Manchester United to concede two goals a game for their next five remaining matches. I get the feeling that the cliched excuse is just that. An excuse for bad decisions.

Now onto tonight's game. It is not just a normal game in hand, a normal fixture. It is the North London derby and there is revenge to be had. The inferiors have unusually had the upper hand of late in our last few meetings.

The defeat to Tottenham at the Emirates earlier this season could actually be the lowest point in the season so far. The team produced a marvelous attacking first half, scoring two quality goals and really should have buried away more chances. The second half collapse still makes me sit rather uncomfortably in my seat whenever I think about it for more than a couple of seconds.

I have had a rather niggly feeling about this fixture for some weeks now, a game that we need to win to stand any hope of snatching the title and a game where the opposition will probably be more eager to stop us winning rather than gaining the points for their own benefit.

Unbelievably our squad is pretty much healthy. Bacary Sagna is back and should replace Emmanuel Eboue at right back. Alex Song will start in midfield after coming on late against Liverpool. Arsene spoke of rotation being used in midfield and from what I have read, many are expecting Diaby to drop back down to the bench but I believe that Wilshere has played too many games of late and has looked jaded in recent matches. I predict that Wilshere will sit this one out with Diaby and Song adding a strong physical platform for our creative players. The battle of midfield should be one of the most interesting points of the game.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:

Szczesny

Sagna Djourou Koscielny Clichy

Song Diaby

Walcott Cesc Nasri

Van Persie

One to watch: Robin Van Persie

Robin has had a sensational second half of the season but his shooting boots have disappeared a little in recent games. He cannot do it all single handedly and his impact largely depends on his supply. After recent matches I would hope that our midfield do much more to support Van Persie and once that happens then we can see what quality he has. I back him to be back amongst the goals this evening.

Mean Lean's Match Prediction:

Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2 (Van Persie, Bendtner)

While hope remains I will continue to believe that we can turn around our season at the death. As Arsene Wenger said in his pre match interview, it is important that the players put every last drop of blood into the game. This really is the last chance saloon and the players have to show that on the pitch.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS

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Comments (31)

• 20-Apr-2011 14:59 | | Man United Killa  - Bright side?
  

  I like your optimism but I wish you were right.I guess at this point of the season there is not much to do but stand behind the team.Tottenham is not going to roll over like they used to and we will have a tougher time forcing them to do that than in the past.They are getting more confident against us season in season out and that is bad for business.
  There is a lot wrong with this team.Its time to clean our closet.If Wenger will not address the issues its time he walks.And all those who want to follow him are welcome to do that.Afterall all good things come to and end.
  Our key players will eventually get tired of the lack of trophies.Its already starting to show.Cesc's half hearted performances,Nasri's unwillingness to sign...Need I say more...dont you find it disturbing that Barca's only sensible argument for Cesc to join them is that he will finally have a chance to win something?

• 20-Apr-2011 15:35 | | pH  - Please Mean Lean, drop the score predictions!
  

  The final score have no sense whatsoever, they are so biased, that if they came true we would be the champions of the universe! We never lose and we seldom even draw!

• 20-Apr-2011 15:51 | | MeanLean
  

  You can like sort of.. erm.. ignore them if you like

• 20-Apr-2011 15:53 | | MeanLean
  

  There are indeed things that need to be improved upon with this team but the fact that we are second in the league means that there is plenty right with this team. Plenty that can be built on and improved upon.
  
  Would you not agree?

• 20-Apr-2011 16:29 | | Wenger Boy
  

  I like them. They offer me hope and belief, however fragile and prone to destruction they both are.
  
  I would also like to apologise wholeheartedly for my comment on your post-Liverpool piece. You may not have even noticed it but in it I referred to our season as 'lost' and that phrase has haunted my mind since. Literally.
  
  My confidence was completely shot after the weekend's events and my response was reactionary and uncharacteristically bleak. If there is one thing I should have taught myself through my own writing it is to keep beleiving until there is nothing to believe in. And right now there is a hell of a fucking lot to believe in.
  
  It ain't over til it's over and however hard it is to keep pushing on, keep pushing on we must.
  
  Pick up, dust off, fight on - that is the mantra.
  
  COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!

• 20-Apr-2011 16:43 | | Man United Killa  - I agree
  

  There are of course positives to be drawn in every situtation..just like this one...but we are second becasue the others have been poor.plus,even with how bad the others have been we never show up when it matters most.That is a headache.It shows there is a lot wrong.
  Would you not agree?

• 20-Apr-2011 20:45 | | dkgooner
  

  Dreadful display.
  Wenger out.
  

• 20-Apr-2011 20:47 | | dkgooner
  

  (Just thought I'd get in first before all the predictable negative posters flood the blog)

• 20-Apr-2011 21:13 | | Fatso
  

  Here is what I wrote before the Liverpool game: "We have the resources but Wenger doesn't want to spend so let's stop this nonsense that Wenger has limited resources. Which future is Wenger building the squad for? This is the closest we came to winning something in 6 years. Next season we'll be very lucky to finish among the top four. I don't think we'll have as many penalties. We were very lucky this season. Most refereeing decisions went in our favour."
  
  This season we are very lucky to be among the top 4. Thanks to other teams being in poor form as well. Are we going to be as lucky next season?

• 20-Apr-2011 21:34 | | dkgooner
  

  

• 20-Apr-2011 21:51 | | Fatso
  

  This is what Wenger calls success:
  
  Arsene Wenger on questions about Arsenal's mentality: "It is very unfair, we are on a 15-game unbeaten run and no-one else has done that. This team has an outstanding attitude."
  
  Yes we are on a 15-game unbeaten run but how many dropped points?
  
  Mr. Positive Poster, what do you say to that?

• 20-Apr-2011 22:22 | | richie
  

  That game will be discribed as a fantastic advert for the English Premier League. For the neutral it would've been really great. I think most Gooners will apreciate the fact that our team took the game to the home team and really we should've won it. And the boys turned up and fought. Personally I feel like the gods are against us. Because yet again I think we did enough to win it.
  
  Last week Eboue over enthusiastically got caught up in a pen bought by very cleaver cheating. Tonight our young keeper made a mistake, and whenever its a GK that makes any mistake its costly. Sczesny cost us the win we needed by a (mad Jens type) move that he really didn't need to make, but I can't come down on young Woj too hard. It could be described as inexpirence and it was, but it was also just simply over enthusiasm. We must've offended the footballing gods.

• 20-Apr-2011 23:00 | | MeanLean
  

  It was indeed a fantastic game of football and it was so nice to see our attacking football return. We were great in the first half and I have missed us move the ball around like that with purpose.
  
  Richie, I agree. The footballing gods are against us and it seems as if we are being punished for every error we make.
  
  VDV's take and finish for the first was quick and excellently taken. Who can you blame for Hudderstone's snap shot on the edge of the area? and Szczesny who was for the most part fantastic misjudged the Lennon challenge and it was most certainly a foul and penalty.
  
  A draw away at Spurs is not a bad result, it is the Blackburn, Sunderland and even Liverpool performances at the Emirates which has killed us.
  
  The title was a long shot before tonight so it will be very difficult barring a major collapse from United. We have to get back to winning ways and cement second.
  
  Wenger will supplement the squad with additions in the window and with a few tactical tweaks as well as the squad continuing to improve then hopefully we can take that next step sooner rather than later.
  
  Arsenal till I die.

• 20-Apr-2011 23:28 | | Man United Killa
  

  "(Just thought I'd get in first before all the predictable negative posters flood the blog)".............Who are you kidding DKG?
  
  If you are happy with this,there is something seriously wrong!

• 20-Apr-2011 23:31 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Van P's goal was onside though. It seems there is always something to look back on with disappointment unfortunately.
  
  3-3 was a fair result though I felt and we played with heart and that's all you can ask really. If we play with heart until the end of the season I'll be content. Might be just a game too late though.
  
  Great game though.

• 20-Apr-2011 23:34 | | Man United Killa
  

  This has nothing to do with footballing Gods..even if they exist...We just cant hold on to a lead.period..for the manager to say we are on a 15 match unbeaten run and deserve credit for that spells it out.
  Do you really think its a coincidence that these days almost every team has a good game against us?I think not
  Of course they did their best but is theri best good enough to win the league?No...that means things have to be changed.Lets not kid ourselves saying it was a good game yada yada yada..In your heart you know there is a lot wrong with this team.

• 20-Apr-2011 23:35 | | Man United Killa
  

  A draw with Spurs is not a bad result?Has it really come to that?
  Of course Arsenal till we all die,I only pray its not through a heart attack.

• 21-Apr-2011 07:23 | | Don
  

  The squad continue to improve?.If this team could not win the worst ever premiership you have to have big doubts for the future.Wengers favourite saying is Mental Strength but that has come and bit us on the bum in the last 6 games.Where has the Mental Strength been?Twice this season we have let 2 goal leads slip against Sperz and of course the nightmare Newcastle game which was the real start of our downfall.Is there any other top team in Europe which is so vunerable when they have a lead.Major surgery is needed to this team.But with Wenger in charge it will not happen.3rd place finish again

• 21-Apr-2011 09:32 | | dkgooner
  

  For some people the glass is 3/4 empty. I can only feel sorry for you all if you think last night's game was a failure. It's the best game of football I've seen all season, with fantastic, swift attacking and excitement from beginning to end. All credit to a resilient Spurs team. If you can't enjoy that game because it finished all square, then there is little hope for you.
  I guess I'm not a true gooner because I don't hate Spurs. TBH, I think the mentality that to support your team, you have to hate another is despicable but a symptom of a broader malaise which I won't go into here (I've already expressed my views on it several times).
  You can only blame Wojciech for last night's draw if you ignore the (at least) three fantastic saves he made. But for some people, only perfection is enough and they always have to have a scapegoat.
  As icing on the cake yesterday, an excellent refereeing performance from Martin Atkinson.
  For me the glass is 9/10ths full. I still don't understand how a manager who has kept Arsenal in the top 4 for the entire time he has been at the club (only matched by SAF) can be so reviled. 13 - soon to be 14 - consecutive seasons qualifying for the CL is seen as failure. I guess one of the burdens of supporting Arsenal is the fickleness of the club's supporters. I'm not saying I think he's perfect - for example, I find putting Bendtner on the pitch and asking him to play right wing is unfathomable. And when Theo shows how deadly he is playing through the middle, why not adapt the sytem to accommodate that fact?
  And I agree it would have made sense to strengthen our defence in the January window, but as I have no knowledge of who was available and at what price, then I have to just trust the management. All those who believe we should be held to ransom and pay astronomical amounts for average players are living in cloud cuckoo land. There are lots of internet sites that start rumours about Arsenal "failing" to buy player X, Y or Z when there is no basis that said player was even available. But the gullible believe everything they read and take it as another sign of AW's failure. The only site I know that is reliable with regard to signings is Jamie Sanderson's Young Guns and even he gets it wrong sometimes.
  I can see that many have lost that trust in the management that I mentioned earlier. I haven't and nothing will persuade me otherwise while I see Arsenal playing the way they did last night. It was exhilarating and the final score is not going to take that feeling away.
  I have decided to ignore those of you who can only see failure. I will not give you space in my life - I won't even read what you have to say. There is no point talking to each other because we will never agree on the fundamentals.
  Life as an Gooner is a joy and you can't win all the time. The journey is more important than arriving.

• 21-Apr-2011 10:09 | | richie
  

  Come on Muk you know a draw @ the Spuds is always not a bad result for most teams, for us in the local derby its most definatley not a bad result. The thing is normally we beat them at ours! This seasons was their first win in 17 years, a win at ours and a draw by them is the norm.
  The one thing I'm fully with you on though is this ain't no good for the ticker! This whole season has been a rollercoaster for a dicky ticker.

• 21-Apr-2011 10:19 | | richie
  

  WB
  On-side!
  Thats why I said the gods seem to be against us.
  The no-nothing shit for brains lazy repeating pundits will say these things even themselves out over a season. Anyone with half a brain will know that in a major derby like last nights that ain't true. Moreover London as the capital has the majority of clubs in the one city. Therefore we have the most local derby's, meaning its harder for any team with more local derby's to win.
  
  As you say the boys really turned up and played with heart and thats what counts.
  
  If a tad hard on the heart it was a great game!

• 21-Apr-2011 10:56 | | richie
  

  DKG
  Is there any real point in saying you and I are on the same page?
  
  Unlike you though I do hate the Spuds!
  
  Like you with our team playing as they did yesterday I can't have too many complaints. If thats seeing the glass as half full and not half empty. Then thats what I do.
  
  I couldn't agree more Arsene ain't perfect!
  Substitutions wise he often has me at a loss. In terms of Bendtner out wide? As yet I can't get it. Same with Diaby out wide.
  Theo through the middle with RvP where he plays for Holland makes sense to me. Chamakh up top with RvP where he plays for Holland makes sense. We've all been asking when Theo is going to play central? Yesterday's goal with his pace (I'll argue) shows what we've lacked. Dispite his faults I still know we have a great manager, and up and until the day I can name the man I'd rather have in his place. I'm still 100% behind him.
  
  We ain't perfect but the ride we are on still feels like we've got the wind behind us, life as a Gooner as you say is still damed good.

• 21-Apr-2011 11:13 | | richie
  

  No Muk I think there's a lot right with this team. Can you name another team that has been on a 15 match unbeaten run this season? Of corse we should've won more that goes without saying, because then we would've had the lead Manu'ers enjoying now. Manu'er have been difficult to beat this year and like us under GG they've won ugly. I don't want us to return to those dark days. I want Arsene to tweek this team into playing with more direct attack. Then we'll be a little more like our old self without all this tippy tappy foreplay and no penitration.

• 21-Apr-2011 11:27 | | CHGooner
  

  That was a superb game of football. Tottenham are no mugs these days and we played well. There was actually a bit of urgency, movement and - dare I say it - tackling and hard work going on. But I have to alugh when I read about a '15 game unbeaten run' that has included so many draws many against poor opposition. 1 win in 10 is a more realistic appraisal of our recent form. also whoever said Man u have been boring haven't watched their last few games. Admit they can grind a result when they need to, but against Newcastle and before that they played well (excepet in the semi) . they move the ball quickly and efficiently intp goal threatening positions, something we normally fail to do. Last night was much better from us. Yes we could have lost it and being 3-1 up and drawing is never great, but if we played like that every week we might have turned a few of those draws into wins. Comes back to the old problem though. Is this a team of winners? Empirically no as they haven't won anything. Mentally I think no as well. Main problem. No leadership, no winners amongst them to learn from.

• 21-Apr-2011 12:29 | | Man United Killa
  

  I respectfully disagree that our results against Spurs over the past three years has been satisfactory.We should be doing more to draw the line between us and them.

• 21-Apr-2011 12:31 | | Man United Killa
  

  Which would you take Richie? 3 wins and a loss OR 2 wins and 2 draws?

• 21-Apr-2011 13:42 | | Fatso
  

  When accused of just being a "Trophy Winning Coach by Johan Cruyff, Mourihno said after the final: " " A few days ago someone called me a coach for winning titles and not a coach for playing football. Well, thanks very much, I like being a coach who wins trophies"
  
  Nuff said.

• 21-Apr-2011 14:28 | | dkgooner
  

  Barca 0 Real Madrid 1
  Guardiola out!

• 21-Apr-2011 15:01 | | Fatso
  

  Not so fast dkgooner. Barca will win the domestic league and may even win the CL. Have they been trophyless for 6 years? Barca play attacking football but also know how to defend. Defence/defense wins teams trophies. Ours is attack, attack, attack.

• 22-Apr-2011 01:09 | | richie
  

  So do you like the football Mourinho plays? As football is a spectator sport do you find Mourinho's teams entertaining? There was a time when Italian teams had the mentality "better to finish 0-0 than risk losing trying to win" That's where Mourinho's football comes from and its why many people call that style "anti football". The idea is first to stop the opposition playing, and try to nick a goal from a set piece. Its horrible to watch from an entertainment point of view but it is effective, I know I used to watch it often enough when our team was under GG.

• 22-Apr-2011 12:45 | | richie
  

  Muk sorry I must have missed something in your question? Everyone takes 3 wins (9 points) and a loss in fornt of 2 wins and 2 draws (8 points). As far as I can see thats not an argument for anything to do with what footballing style, I or anyone else would prefer.
  
  There is massive amounts of argument everywhere at the moment, but particularly in La Liga about what style of play people prefer. Barca under Guardiola or Real under Mourinho. Now Real just beat Barca and won their Kings Cup. 1 - 0 after 120mins, but even a large proportion of the Real fans hate the style of Mourinho's play and don't want him to stay. They like winning but they're saying its not Real Madrid's way to play like they are under Mourinho, it ain't entertaining.

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