Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 01 February 2012 13:42
Here we are again, we are in that situation once more where a victory would claw back some points on Chelsea who only managed to salvage an injury time equaliser last night. We start the day six points away from fourth and in sixth position in the league table. We have been in this position before and we have failed to capitalise on rival slip ups but the difference this time round is the strength of our available players. At Swansea and Fulham we were depleted at the back and we missed the composure and fight of Mikel Arteta, thankfully we have Sagna back in the squad, Coquelin can continue as right back if need be and Arteta is ready to play and hopefully that will give us a major boost.
While no games in the Premier League are easy games, Bolton's recent victory against Liverpool proves that point, we have to take six points from six against Bolton and Blackburn over the weekend. We have dropped more than enough points already so the wriggle room to drop points has all but disappeared.
We have the players again, we have the quality so it is now down to the attitude and commitment of the players. I want to see the second half team against Aston Villa from the first whistle instead of waiting until the second half. That said, perhaps our apparent raising of the handbrake is due to the amount of games we have had to play in a short time without the previous option of rotation.
With every game being so important, it will be difficult for Arsene to rotate too many of his best players but at the same time overplaying them can lead to injury. A classic case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. Arsene would get blamed if we drop points due to not starting with Vermaelen but then blamed if Vermaelen picks up an injury. Who would be a football manager? Well I guess the few million a year may just convince me to give it a go.
Arsene has a few decisions to make tonight for sure. Mikel Arteta is likely to come back in but in the place of whom? Aaron Ramsey sparked our come back with a superb second half effort but Tomas Rosicky has been floating around the pitch in recent games, linking everything together. Aaron Ramsey is currently Arsene's first choice right now but I suppose it depends on his physical recovery after Sunday.
Arsene has to decide whether Bacary Sagna is ready to come back in, a leg break should not be rushed but something tells me that he will return to the starting line up today, I guess it all depends on what we do not see at the training ground. If Francis Coquelin starts then I will still feel confident because the lad has done a fantastic job in whatever positions he slots into. Well worthy of a place in the Arsenal squad for the foreseeable future.
I created the line up graphic last night, but it now occurs to me that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may well be pulled out of this one. I am not sure if Arsene will start him in three games in a row, even though he more than deserves his place. It is a shame that we do not have Gervinho about the place right about now, he would be the ideal player to rotate around with Walcott and Chamberlain.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Andrey Arshavin starting the game today or perhaps even Yossi Benayoun who hasn't really had much of a sniff since his disappointing showing at Swansea a few weeks ago.
Thierry Henry should return to the squad from his recent injury but I cannot see a starting place for him. Hopefully he can come on with the game already won and it would be nice to see another goal from the former legend.
Like I say, regardless of who starts, who plays. The players just need to fight for this and give their all. Play with a quick tempo and take the chances that come our way. Should we do that then we can win the game. We must win this game.
Come on you Gunners.
For those who are yet to see our new signing Thomas Eisfeld in action, check yesterday's blog for a video compilation which I have changed to improve the quality.
Back tomorrow.
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) if RVP doesn't leave before the end of the summer transfer window.
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