Indeed, my friends, the season continues and no matter how disappointed we all are – we have to put the recent final defeat behind us and focus on the games ahead. The recent loss of Walcott & Cesc as well as the even more recent loss of Van Persie has put us into a very precarious position in terms of personnel in the next 3 weeks or so. Our first choice players will have to consist of Bendtner, Arshavin, Rosicky and Chamakh – players who have not performed well at all in the last couple of games (Arshavin aside). I’ve been raving about the difference between last year and this – talking about the players who we will have this season compared to last – but up to the lead up to the game – suddenly we’re dropping like flies.
We need to decide which competitions we want to win and then focus on them. The Carling Cup has been an obvious distraction. It’s meant we’ve used more of the first team that we should have – it’s had counter effects on our league form and also the team we choose for the FA Cup – 2 replays already… and the fatigue and injury is evident for all to see. I’m confused to why we have so many players on loan and also confused to see why we want to go for all trophies with a relatively small squad.
Where we are right now, personally, we need to focus on one competition – unfortunately for us, we have 4 games in the next 10 days ranging all the three competitions… so we’ll see how Arsene prioritises in the next week or so. Focused on the Premiership is the obvious thing, considering Man United’s recent loss to Chelsea. We’re 4 points behind them with a game in hand and it’s essential that we win our games in hand and really give it a go.
Check out the run in for both clubs:
United
Currently on 60 points, with ten games to play.
- Liverpool (a)
- Bolton (h)
- West Ham (a)
- Fulham (h)
- Newcastle (a)
- Everton (h)
- Arsenal (a)
- Chelsea (h)
- Blackburn (a)
- Blackpool (h)
Arsenal
Currently on 56 points, with eleven games to play.
- Sunderland (h)
- West Brom (a)
- Blackburn (h)
- Blackpool (a)
- Liverpool (h)
- Sp*rs (a)
- Bolton (a)
- United (h)
- Stoke (a)
- Aston Villa (h)
- Fulham (a)
Our run in looks relatively easier than United’s but with the number of games we’ve played, the fact that we are the Arsenal and the injuries we have got too – who knows which is the easiest run in? Outside of the Premiership, the next game is Leyton Orient away and it would be nice to win the game – at the same time, United away is the next one if we do win it – one of the hardest games of the season, a game where our first team failed to turn up to…
We’ve got injuries to Song and Koscielny for the game, so it looks like we might just give Miguel another run out… My predicted line up for the game is:
Almunia
Eboue – Squillaci – Miguel – Gibbs
Denilson – Diaby
Bendtner – Rosicky – Arshavin
Chamakh
With a bench of Szcznesy, Sagna, Djourou, Clichy, Wilshere, Nasri and a youth product, perhaps?
All that is left to say, is that we all need to keep the faith, not over-react, back our team and get a win against Leyton Orient!!
