For the first time this century Arsenal go into a North London derby as the underdogs and although it hurts me to say it our opponents today deserve to be in, for them, the highly unusual position of being above us in the league.
They have been playing some surprisingly good football and their manager, having cobbled together a squad of players recognised as perhaps the third or fourth strongest in the Premiership, is being touted around as the next England manager despite his limited experience at European level and total lack at International level.
Their team is based around an aging but reliable ‘keeper, a sound defence a couple of classy mid-fielders and a pacy winger converted from left-back. Up front there is an on loan striker, whose wages are subsidised by Manchester City, and the last minute transfer window signing of another well travelled former international. The other option is an occasional England striker.
Today’s opponents have never won the Premiership title and it is fifty years since they last won the old First Division championship, 1960/61, for only the second time in their history.
This is the North London Derby! Arguably the biggest game of our season, a win is vital if we are to maintain a challenge for the top four. If any player is not prepared to “die” for the team then in the words of The Bard of Avon “That he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made and crowns for convoy put into his purse”. In simple language “if your not up for it; you know where the door is”.
Injuries have again laid waste to our defence, Ramsey, Coquelin and Squillaci this time although, frankly the last of those wont be missed that much. I see no reason why Szczesny shouldn’t return in goal, Fabiansky looked jittery throughout the Sunderland game.
Both Gibbs and Koscielny will be given late fitness tests and we can only hope and pray that are both passed fit. I’m going to cross my fingers, take a big swallow of optimism and predict a back four including both players.
The midfield is going to present a problem, with Ramsey in the treatment room and Arshavin in St Petersburg I guess we will see Rosicky join Song and Arteta although, all three must take a lot more responsibility for defending. Song in particular cannot afford to bomb forward as much as he would like while Rosicky must be much more alert than is his wont.
Up front our wingers are going to have to push forward with pace in order to keep the opposition full-backs occupied while RvP gets in amongst the centre-backs.
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Rosicky Song Arteta
Oxlade-Chamberlain van Persie Gervinho
I have left Walcott on the bench so that he may come on later after The Ox has destroyed the centre-back, with the dodgy knees, by running at him, twisting, turning and generally tormenting him.
Nowadays there is much talk about “motivation”, what more motivation should any Arsenal player need than a sight of this particular opponents name on the fixture list. In the past the gloves would be off , literally as well as figuratively, sleeves rolled up and a steely determination to defeat, at any cost, the enemy in their lily white shirts.
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