Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

Today we go a game ahead of our rivals as all their fixtures were rearranged for the FA Cup. To keep the hold on third spot in our hands we must win of course. We can only afford one loss now and we have tougher games left than Wigan at home. Next weekend we must play Chelsea. By then hopefully Barcelona will have taken more out of them emotionally and physically than Spurs managed yesterday.

That doesn’t means that the guys can relax tonight of course. If I was Arsene Wenger I’d be tempted to make the squad watch QPR v Arsenal and Wigan v Man Utd back to back this morning.

But who will play tonight? The yellow card accumulator is off so, apart from Koscielny serving his second suspension tonight, we can only lose players through injury. But this is our last weekday game of the season. After this there are four games a week apart, so the need to rotate players is reduced. With all eyes on the prize of automatic Champions League qualification we have to be giving 100% to each game.

Obviously Djourou stays in for the suspended Koscielny and Santos probably stays in for Gibbs. Rosicky will return from being rested against Wolves.

I expect the team to be:

_______ Szczesny ______
Sagna _ DJ _ Verm _ Santos
_________ Song ________
___ Arteta ___ Rosicky ___
Walcott __ RVP _ Benayoun

The only question could be whether Arsene Wenger decides to rest Benayoun. But he’s only played a couple of games recently and he cannot feature in the next one against Chelsea anyway. I think that success in this final run-in has a lot to do with not screwing up stupidly. So I would hope we err in favour of old pro’s now. As long as they’re on top of fit bodies, let’s have the wisest heads for these last games.

I must admit that Santos worries me slightly. He is a wonderfully ‘free’ player, unconstrained by the words ‘left’ or ‘back’ and creates good attacking options. So far it hasn’t seriously cost us, but it does mean that Vermaelen, Song and Benayoun need to keep track of whether he’s left a dangerous hole that needs covering.

Wigan need watching. They are playing for their Premiership survival and will want something from every game no matter who they play. They have industry, pace and a few bits of top skill too. But an Arsenal team that’s really on it should win tonight. Let’s keep this in our own hands.

Come on you Gunners!

It wouldn’t be neighbourly though to finish without some reference to yesterday’s events at Wembley. Martin Atkinson was kind enough to give Harry Redknapp something to talk about other than getting thrashed. This is of course the same referee that saw enough of Balotelli’s assault on Alex Song to decide it didn’t even merit a yellow.

Now he’s gifted a goal when the ball wasn’t close to crossing the line. He’s having a bad week. But he’s only human. Which is why we need to support referees with the technology that’s bean available for years. And no-one can argue that the game would have been delayed any longer than the time taken by the Spur’s players’ protests yesterday.

Of course, that only explains one Chelsea goal Harry! What about the other four? And there we were hoping for a gruelling 120 minutes. Even before yesterday, Spurs fans that I work with were beginning to fear that their pursuit of Champions League football could go horribly wrong. I will try and be sympathetic and reassuring;-)

There’s plenty of ranting and raving amongst Arsenal fans this morning which isn’t surprising or even unwarranted. Some of the stuff is a bit unreal, but that’s true every day now!

What we have left now is the fight for fourth. It’s achievable, but at the moment we have a downward momentum that will be difficult to turn round. I hope that the home crowd can try and play a part in that, as well as the team and management.

The game against Sunderland was always going to be tough after Wednesday and started of course with another defensive reorganization. Koscielny and Gibbs will hopefully be our for just the one game because our patchwork back four only survived about ten minutes before Coquelin was helped off clutching his hamstring. On came Sebastien Squillaci. He hasn’t played in ages and it showed as he misjudged the flight of the ball and struggled to stay goal-side of Sessignon.

He must so regret his move to Arsenal. He had a solid reputation where he was and things didn’t start to badly. But now he lacks confidence and pitch time. And as fourth or fifth choice he inevitably only plays when Arsenal are up against it.

Yesterday we weathered an early onslaught but never really found a rhythm. We could have had a penalty, but we could have conceded one too. We were found out by two determined goals that both went it off our own players. Neither was the fault of the player involved, but it just seemed to some up where we are at the moment. As on Wednesday, the response to going behind was to drop Van Persie a bit deeper and put someone in ahead of him. Henry on Wednesday. Walcott this time. Didn’t work this time either. Neither really got into the game.

That doesn’t mean two strikers isn’t the answer. It’s just that at the moment it seems like a last gasp panic measure. And I’m not sure that Theo makes a great point-man. If this is plan B, then how about:
_______ Song ______
AOC _ Arteta _ Gervinho
_______ Van Persie __
____Chamakh _______

I know Chamakh hasn’t impressed but he has only played bits of games and he is probably more of a threat in the middle than Walcott. He can use his head too, which would give us variety.

But the main thing we need now is heart, in big measures. Last year, going out of the cups put us in a real spin, but we clung on to that Champions League place. Now we have to do the same, despite more teams in the mix this time. The rest of the season looks like a mini-league of Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Liverpool. The other three have their troubles too, but it’s going to be a big challenge.

Come on Arsenal.

Sunderland 2:0 Arsenal

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So yesterday Arsene Wenger locked the team in to tell them exactly what he thought of the performance on Wednesday night. Probably just the right thing to do, but he must of thought quite hard about how to play it with the next crucial game coming up so soon.

This is a big game now. If we hadn’t been so abysmal on Wednesday we might be discussing a relatively relaxed approach to the FA Cup, firmly of the view that the Premier and Champions League are what we are really about.

But that would be a dangerous approach now. At times like this it’s about momentum. As we found out too painfully last season, if you pick up too much speed running down hill it gets hard to stop. Barring a miracle we went out of the Champions League on Wednesday. Tomorrow we really need to stay in the FA Cup.

If we don’t, we will be in a very bad place mentally for the next game against the best Spurs side in twenty years – defending fourth spot. We are only in fourth on goals scored. Bloody hell this post is getting depressing.

Who should play then? Obviously Koscielny is out and Henry departed, but Gervinho has returned. Will he go straight back in. No-one who played on Wednesday really distinguished themselves although Van Persie saw so little of the ball the he had no real chance.

None of them could complain if they were dropped and some will be, but I’m not sure that this is the moment for wholesale change. It’s more a case of players going out there and restoring their professional reputation. Which is probably why Arsene Wenger decided that letting fly with both barrels was the way to go yesterday.

I’m guessing that Djourou will have to partner Vermaelen in the centre of defence rather than Squillaci or Miquel. The next most likely change is Gervinho for Walcott or Oxlade-Chamberlain. Neither were great on Wednesday, but AOC probably showed the most grit of the two.

The other possible change I guess is to use Coquelin somewhere in midfield.

I not going to predict a team at this stage. This is mainly going to be about mental strength and what Arsene Wenger saw in each of their faces after he told them the facts of life in short easy to understand words.

Can’t help feeling that these next two games are our season now. Come on Arsenal!

If ever there were a game of two halves….  Amazing turnaround yesterday to go through to the fourth round against Sunderland or Middlesborough.

January has been a crap month for us with three league games lost in a row and controversy over that substitution.  Put together with the likelihood that the temporary appearance of Thierry Henry will be the only form of reinforcement it was looking even more grim by half-time yesterday.

In the first half we watched that frustrating Arsenal that shows flashes of class but then sloppily squanders them.  Signs of superiority for a while, but without taking control.  It took Villa a little while to capitalise, but you feared it was coming.  Come it did, twice.  The second was a good finish from Bent on a very tight angle, but both were poor goals to succeed.

In the second half though, Arsenal were transformed.  Eager, faster and more direct.  Don’t know what Arsene Wenger said during the break but we were a different team.  All three Arsenal goals came as a result of strong runs into the box.  A bit of luck too, but the sort of luck that doesn’t come without pressurising your opponents.

Some really rate Richard Dunne and I’ve seen him put in some solid, professional performances.  But for Arsenal’s first goal he panicked big time.  Aaron Ramsey surged into the box but had probably pushed the ball a bit further ahead than he wanted.  He was certainly only evens with Given to collect first and odds against to score.  But before either could win that race, Dunne appeared on an unstoppable slide that cleaned Ramsey out.  Penalty, no question.

Nicely taken by Van Persie.  Given guessed right and was agile as ever, but the ball was beyond him.  Van Persie sprinted back to the centre spot with the ball, Arsenal were in with a shout.

Then we were level.  Again it came from a strong run with the ball into the box and a slice of luck.  Theo Walcott jinked his way in from the right, along the line, but there was no obvious pass on.  Another jink and a hopeful stab could have come to nothing but for the hapless Hutton stabbing the ball back into Walcott’s path for a rebound into the goal.  Another piece of well earned luck.  Alan Hutton you had that coming after your last appearance against Arsenal.

Same again for the third goal.  This time Koscielny surged forward, bursting through into the box.  Darren Bent had tracked most of his long run and I guess a sort of mental momentum took over.  He went for the tackle even though he was too late and too directly behind Koscielny.  On the ground he gestured hopefully that he’d got to the ball, but no chance.  He’d gone straight through Koscielny to get there and it was another straightforward penalty decision.

Given gambled on Robin Van Persie repeating the first one and went early to his right.  Robin went the other way and we were winning.  After that we weren’t going to throw it away.  Villa did have the odd attack, but Koscielny, Mertesacker and Fabianski dealt with them all.  Mainly it was more Arsenal pressure.

Henry, Arteta and Sagna came on as late subs to keep Villa exercised.  Good to see Bacary Sagna on his way back, because to be honest Francis Coquelin had a torrid old time against Agbonlahor.  Arteta though wasn’t so badly missed last night as Tomas Rosicky played an absolute blinder.

After the game, ESPN pundit Martin Keown was talking through the highlights.  With Laurent Koscielny onscreen he said that there were some real leaders beginning to emerge in this team.  He was certainly right about Koscielny.  He is a star and he is putting some backbone into Arsenal too.  He is the clear winner in our match poll despite strong support for Rosicky and Van Persie.

So, finally some cheer to end a dismal month.  Next up this week is a double helping in the league – Bolton on Wednesday, Blackburn Saturday.  The first half Arsenal will turn both into nail-biters, won or lost on a late, lonely goal.  Second half Arsenal will take six points with ease.

Come on you Gunners.

Arsenal 3:2 Aston Villa
Van Persie,Walcott,Van Persie

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Arsenal 3:2 Aston Villa
Van Persie,Walcott,Van Persie

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Apart from Thierry’s winner against Leeds United, January has been a thoroughly crap month. Let’s hope we can end it with a win against Villa tomorrow. I know the league is our main focus nut when you’re in a losing rut you just need any kind of win.

A big part of our problem has been injuries of course and the news there is good and bad. Arteta, Henry and Coquelin are likely to be available and Sagna could make the bench.

The news that Jack Wilshere has suffered a set-back this week is depressing. He’s said to be gifted and I’m sure he is. It’s frustrating for us as fans, must be so much worse for him.

Of the potential returnees, I think it’s Arteta we’ve missed the most. We’ve definitely lacked composure and possession whilst he’s been out so if just one of them is ready I hope it’s him. If there’s any doubt about Coquelin, I wouldn’t be disappointed to see Yennaris at fullback. He’s looked alright and it’s his position.

Last time we played Villa we won with a late Benayoun header. Since then they’ve added Keane on loan. He may not be quite the player he was, but he’s still a big threat. I think it could be a tough game.

Will Oxlade-Chamberlain get a start? I think he might just, although Arsene Wenger was on bit of a mission to fix Arshavin’s confidence yesterday. But form is the thing and managers earn their corn by being ruthless when required. So it would be good to see AOC, even if he doesn’t have the stamina for ninety minutes yet.

Course, if he can’t do ninety minutes, Arsene Wenger won’t relish repeating THAT substitution! But if Henry is fit he can be spared that option.

Maybe he’ll start them both and leave Theo sitting on the bench pondering where to pitch his contract bid.

Predicting a team line-up is difficult when so many players are on the cusp of match fitness, but how about something like this -

______ Szczesny ______
Yen _ Merte _ Kos _ Verm
_______ Song ________
__ Arteta ___ Ramsey __
Walcott __ RVP ___ AOC

He may not be as fast as before and we will have to see what he’s got in the tank. But in twenty minutes he showed that he still has a level of movement off the ball, composure, skill and commitment that can change a game.

Thierry Henry, did I need to say who, was the inevitable winner of our match poll. He probably would have been so just for stepping onto the pitch, but scoring the winner made it a no contest. It changed the game too of course.

Arsenal dominated possession and created chances. Arshavin worked like never before. Arteta, Ramsey, Chamakh and Chamberlain attacked and attacked. But it was almost as if they were trying too hard. The final ball often faltered rather than found the target. By half-time we must have had about a dozen chances and only tested the Leeds keeper on a couple.

We never looked in danger but the longer it stayed goaless you began to worry about us losing to a sole Leeds strike on goal. To add to the anxiety we suffered another defensive injury. Sprinting down the right to overlap with Chamberlain, Coquelin pulled up and fell to the ground clutching his hamstring. I’m guessing that’s the last we’ll see of him for a few weeks and it adds impetus to the search for some loaned reinforcement at the back.

Some say that playing out of position adds to the risk of injury and you wonder how often Coquelin sprints like that in training. He was replaced by number fifty-something Nico Yennaris, who, apart from nervously conceding a couple of corners, did a good job.

But back to the story which is dominating all sports coverage this morning. When Henry came on he showed the difference between good endeavour and class. He got into dangerous positions, he found space where the others got lost in a crowd of Leeds defenders. For extra encouragement he also ran to block and cover when we didn’t have the ball.

The goal when it came was classic Henry. He drifted wide, pulling a defender with him but still getting a yard of space. Looking along the line of defenders, he timed his move to perfection. Song played the ball through the gap and Henry was there to collect it. As he made his first touch I smiled and thought: I know what he does from there. He opens his body up and with his second touch he strokes the ball across the keeper and into the far corner of the goal. Beautiful.

It was a fairy tale script made real. Good job too, because we were struggling to break through a Leeds defence that worked and concentrated hard throughout. They didn’t many chances because they played so deep. But they were keeping us out despite having little possession.

If Thierry Henry hadn’t been there, either Arshavin, Arteta or Ramsey would have been man of the match for their sheer industry. And you don’t get to say that about Arshavin often. But we would probably be facing an unwelcome replay at Elland Road.

Instead the substitutes Walcott and Henry did the trick. Walcott’s pace and Henry’s experience stretched the Leeds defence just a little bit more than it could take and the gaps and the goal came.

One-nil to the Arsenal and the return of the king instead of frustration.

Arsenal 1:0 Leeds Utd
Thierry Henry!

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