Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

After a game like that, you can understand Arsene Wenger describing this as a team close to glory.  Take away the fear that they are about to blow it and they get their heads up high.  If the team could play with this confidence when there was still something to play for then they would be champions.

Arsenal dominated this game.  Yes United had their moments but Arsenal coped and attacked and attacked. We had a little luck towards the end when Clichy got away with chopping the back of Owen’s leg just inside the box, but that only made up for the fact that Vidic denied Van Persie early on with a deliberate hand-ball.

In fact referee Chris Foy will probably want to forget this one, as well as two missed penalties he managed to get in the way of the ball three times.

Greta performance by Arsenal, everyone played their part.  It was twenty minutes before Manchester United managed a chance on goal.  I think Arshavin made more tackles and interceptions in the 45 minutes he played today than he has in the rest of the season.  Wilshere and Ramsey looked great together in the middle and Walcott sent the crosses in.

Well played Arsenal!

***** Ramsey leads our Man of the Match Poll so far. Cast your vote here. *****

Arsene Wenger’s task of picking the players up off the floor was given a massive boost last night by Chelsea.  By taking three points off Manchester United they have helped put the title within reach.  All we have to do is win all our remaining games and it’s ours.  Simple!

Well I doubt its going to be quite that simple, but it’s a big boost all the same and will help put some belief back into the team.  Manchester United have a tougher run-in than we do, so we have a real chance.  With the red card late in the game they will miss both Vidic and Ferdinand against Liverpool, so there is potential for more lost points there too.

And seeing Spurs drop out of the top four is a bonus for Gooners too!  Chelsea fans in the office will be shown great respect today for as long as they resist the temptation to mention Birmingham.  Ferguson blames the referee naturally and if the leniency shown to Rooney is anything to go by he will get away with saying it.

The Arsenal players can give fans a boost as well with a straightforward win tonight against Orient.  A professional, spirited display is the least we deserve after the depression of Sunday.

The dark cloud inside these silver linings of course is the current injury list.  Van Persie and Walcott out until after Barcelona – maybe three weeks.  No Fabregas or Song until after the weekend.  Koscielny has a tight hamstring.

Yesterday I wondered whether Wenger would take the ‘business as usual’ or ‘get straight back out there’ approach after the cup final defeat.  Looks like he’s opted for business as usual and will be resting a few players tonight including Szczesny and Koscielny.  Predictably some of the papers are going for the ‘blunderers dropped’ line this morning.

So Almunia, Squillaci and Diaby are in the team tonight.  No hints at all about Ramsay in the pre-match interview.  Whoever Arsene Wenger picks ought to be good enough.  But morale will be on a knife-edge and at the moment we seem to have the habit of adjusting our level to match whoever we play – making every game close.  So I still feel anxious about tonight.

I hope that every Arsenal fan in the ground does their bit tonight by roaring the team on.

C’mon Arsenal!