For a change, the injury news is relatively good. Fabregas, Walcott, Diaby and Song all fit and ready to go. Van Persie, Bendtner and Ramsey waiting on fitness tests today. Of course we’re still missing Djourou and three goalkeepers but by this season’s standards we’re in reasonable shape.
The biggest miss is Djourou, but at least we will have Alex Song back on guard in front of the defence. He has been the essential part of the good performances Arsenal have had this season. Defensive midfielders don’t get a lot of kudos, and maybe that’s why he ventured a lot further up the pitch early on in the season, but his ability to win the ball and turn the team from defence to attack is fantastic. Denilson doesn’t have the same skill, Diaby doesn’t have the same discipline. Song is the man.
Anyway, back to the team. Despite his rusty reserve game there are still some out there agitating for Lehman. I don’t think so. Manuel Almunia will surely play in goal and I hope every fan will wish him well. He isn’t the keeper we really need and he will get caught out of position, but the is completely committed and will pull off some agile reaction saves too.
One or two mentions for Miquel out there, but I think that Squillaci will start alongside Clichy, Koscielny and Sagna.
Only question in midfield is whether or not Jack Wilshere needs a breather, which would Diaby in alongside Song. I think it’s a real possibility. Wilshere played big chunks of both internationals. I know he’s busy telling the whole world he should play every game going, but he there’s a chance he’ll be on the bench tomorrow.
The key decision up-front depends on the fitness test for Van Persie today. I hope that RVP is fit to play. We need goals to get this run of nine final games started and he’s the man most likely to score. Otherwise Chamakh.
Nasri has to play, which leaves us with a question that’s been there everytime they’re both fit: Walcott or Arshavin? For me, Walcott. When Theo is fit he is a more consistent threat. Even when he doesn’t have the ball, the threat of his pace influences the enthusiasm of his opponents to commit forward.
So I hope we will see:
___________ Almunia ____________
Sagna _ Squillaci _ Koscielny _ Clichy
__________Song _ Wilshere _______
___________ Fabregas ___________
Walcott ____ Van Persie _____ Nasri
Our league form coming in to this is OK, unbeaten in the last six verses Blackburn’s four losses and two draws. But of the real story is the disappointment of Wembly, Old Trafford, the Nou Camp, and having to fight back from two-down at West Brom.
We have one shot at the silverware left. Nine games. At home to Blackburn is as good an opportunity as any to pick ourselves up. So I hope the team will come out all guns blazing with the image of David Rocastle’s clenched-fisted determination in their heads.
(see 2.10 into the video below)
C’mon Arsenal!
