Tomorrow sees us face Chelsea, who the media would have us believe have already run away with the league and everyone else is just scrapping for second place. Now I think I recall Chelsea racing into an early lead last year and not being crowned champions?
Picture from arsenal.com
Arsène gave his press conference yesterday and the first thing to be touched on was the team news. Compared to the previous game we are, of course, definitely without Kieran Gibbs; he had surgery on his broken first metatarsal, which went well according to the surgeon but the young English player will be out “for at least 3 months”. Arsène was questioned on who would fill in at left back, he responded with
“we have three very good left backs, however we only have one remaining”
I think this points to us seeing Armand Traore starting, which will worry some including me. However he needs game time and whilst a game of this magnitude might not be the best place to get that we need someone who is firstly a natural left sided player to fill this gap and we shouldn’t shuffle our pack elsewhere which might leave us more vulnerable.
William Gallas is rated as 50/50. I expect him to start tomorrow, this is his sort of game, and it is against his former club. Without him I worry we might be a bit more vulnerable to the Drogba/Anelka threat, something which Arsène will not focus on or change his game plan specifically, we will stick to our game first rather than playing to what Chelsea can do. With a team of our, purported, strengths that’s what we need to be doing.
Sunday’s game is also our Charity of the season game. This year the charity of the season is the Great Ormand Street Hospital and all Arsenal players and Directors will be donating a day’s wages to help raise funds for the world-renowned children’s hospital and are encouraging supporters to give what they can through the ‘Be a Gooner. Be a Giver.’ campaign. The picture above comes from a recent video shot for the charity campaign and can be viewed in full at beagoonerbeagiver.org where you can also donate online. The club has a target of £500,000 to raise for GOSH this season.
Picture from arsenal.com
Arsène also talked about Cesc in his press conference, a journalist asked what he brought to the team. The manager responded with the fact that he is a winner, he has become a complete midfielder (in no doubt down to Arsène’s tutelage) who can now defend as well as attack. He also noted how he is physically different to how he was 2 years ago. He is one of the cornerstones of this team, and I think the new formation benefits him greatly and we are witnessing his best football so far in his career.
When asked about last season’s 4-1 defeat at home to Chelsea, Arsène said that is hurt very much, that week was pretty crap as a fan having gone out of the Champions League to Utd a few days before then seeing Chelsea beat us comprehensively at home. Comparing this season’s Chelsea to that of last year Arsène said they are pretty tight at the back, having only conceded 8 goals in the league, and this game will be one of our biggest tests so far but as a team you want to play in these games. He feels that the team can no longer be considered too young, which is true they have been together a number of years and hopefully can go on to win something this season.
Picture from arsenal.com
There was a question regarding how clinical the team can be in the absence of van Persie (given we have only missed him in two games I hardly think it can be considered but that’s the press for you). Theo Walcott was mentioned as this giving him a chance, Arsène feels that he can play through the centre. However he does not want to rush him back from injury as he has done that on a number of occasions previously and it has cost him. But with some more experience of the central role he can learn in this position. I expect to see Theo come on as a sub in this game, perhaps for Eduardo as our front man, or even in addition to him with Eduardo moving out to the left.
As for our starting team tomorrow I find it too hard to call, there will be a few moves due to injury but it’s the forwards who are up in the air. I suspect we will opt for pace and skill but which of the pool of players Arsène picks from will be interesting. There is no doubt to the importance of this game, all is not over if we do not win, but we need a strong committed performance from the players. We need them out of the blocks firing, just like the home league game against Utd about this time last year. A fast pacy start, shock Chelsea, strike when they are off their guard and get an early lead. Our defence does worry us, Anelka and Drogba are a massive threat and we will need to be ready, especially at set pieces. I think Vermaelen will be massively up for this game, hopefully he will show Drogba that we are no soft touch.
Here’s to an Arsenal win tomorrow. Come on you gunners!
