Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

Injuries to Fabregas, Nasri and Diaby mean that Aaron Ramsey is sure to start today at the ground where he had his leg broken. Could be a bit daunting for him, but coming off the back of a great game against Manchester United it will hopefully be a chance to rise above what must have been a dreadful episode with another classy display.

You have to wonder about Fabregas’ injury. Is it the same sort of problem perhaps as Almunia’s elbow? Have we seen him play for the last time? Much will be written on the ‘should he stay or should he go now’ theme. My two thoughts are that he needs to make his mind up early on, and he should only stay if he really wants to. Performing on the pitch isn’t just about technique. You have to want to be there. Cesc needs to decide where he wants to be. I don’t think it’s cut and dried yet – does Cesc want to be part of a Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets rotation? – would be any happier at a different non-Barcelona club than Arsenal?

Doubts about Djourou’s fitness may mean the return of Thomas Vermaelen. I’m in two minds about this. His injury made a huge difference to Arsenal’s defence this season and it would be great to see him back. Just so long as it isn’t going to jeopodise his fitness. With only three games left and the title hopes a faint flicker, the priority now has to be his fitness for next season.

Clichy is also a doubt with a tight hamstring, so it could be a rare chance for Gibbs. With speculation about transfer moves for a left-back, Kieran Gibbs will want any opportunity to be on the pitch. Gael Clichy has got better as the season has gone on, but still hasn’t shown the promise that he did immediately after Ashley Cole’s departure. Arsenal could probably do better, and whether Clichy is number one left-back next season depends more on whether the the right deal is available than his own form.

Arsene Wenger says that although there is only a faint chance, a real competitor fights to the end. So I assume that means Van Persie starts rather than making some gesture to Bendtner or Chamakh. Keeping number two and three strikers sweet is a real problem given the formation Arsenal play, but fighting until the end means that RVP should start.

So depending on the final fitness tests, I expect to see:

_________________ Szczesny ____________________
Sagna _ Djourou (Vermaelen) _ Koscielny _ Clichy (Gibbs)
___________ Song ______ Wilshere _______________
________________ Ramsey _____________________
Walcott _________ Van Persie ____________ Arshavin

Painsme to say it, but we need Chelsea to win today to tighten the race further, on top of a solid Arsenal win at Stoke. It’s only a flicker, but that’s what the game is all about. We are Arsenal – it isn’t just about taking part!

C’mon Arsenal!

So in the end disappointment.  Barcelona were the better team last night and they won.

They weren’t the better team for the usual sublime skills that generally have you singing their praises for the silky passes.  Arsenal can do that bit too.  Last night they demonstrated the other side of their game – the determination to press their opponents on every inch of the pitch.

If you take the ball off Barcelona, they want it back. Always and straight away. It doesn’t matter if you are back in the corner at your end. They still want it back. They don’t think about ‘their end’ or ‘your end’, they just think about the ball and want it back.

Early in the first half, Nasri had the ball near the corner flag at our end.  Barcelona won it back.  It took four of them to do it and at the time I smiled at Nasri’s skill.  But the point was that, even though it took four of them, they had the ball back before Arsenal could even get across the half way line.  And so it went on.

Van Persie Red Card
That has to be one of the softest dismissals I’ve ever seen.  Van Persie contributed in getting the first yellow for losing his cool, but the second yellow was outrageous.  Barely a second passed between the whistle for offside and Van Persie taking a shot on goal.  To get sent off for that was so massively disproportionate it left me speechless.  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

At first I thought there must have been some incident off-camera.  I was waiting for the TV Producer to run some replay that explained the appearance of the ref card.  But no.  It was a yellow and red for carrying on for one second after the whistle for off-side.  Something that happens countless times in every game, including last night.  Unbelievable!

Arsenal line-up
I was surprised to see Rosicky start.  When I thought about the team decisions Wenger had to take I hadn’t even thought about Rosicky.  He worked hard, putting heart and soul into the game.  I thought that he got the balance about right in terms of when to drop deep and help Sagna and when to stay in space to provide a way forward, but he didn’t have the pace or control on the ball to be enough of a threat.

Van Persie was clearly fit enough to be on the pitch, but not fit enough to make as much impact as he can.  I thought he wasn’t risking 100%, fearful of his fitness.  It was probably worth the gamble, but thanks to the mind-blowing decision of the referee we’ll never know.

First Barcelona Goal
Terrible and unusual mistake from Cesc.  The way that Barcelona were energetically pressing in numbers round the ball, the back heal was way too risky.

The Arsenal Goal
Even this was scored by Barcelona! But it was a good corner from Nasri and a great leap from Diaby, who still missed the ball but unsighted Busquets for an own goal.

Goalkeepers
We started the season with four first team keepers, now we’re down to Almunia.  Presumably Mannone or Shea will have to return to sit on the bench now.  Unlucky injury for Szczesny.  Almunia actually did very well and can’t be blamed for the goals.  He kept us in the game.

Abidal
Eric Abidal somehow got away with grabbing Robin Van Persie by the throat without being spotted.  Ironic given the advert they run at half-time about the extra match officials – “now we see more”!  Maybe there will be retrospective action after the UEFA comments after the Rooney incident.

C’mon Arsenal
All-in-all a disappointing night, but not too much of a shock.  Thanks to our first leg-win and the own-goal we were only one strike from going through right up until the end.  The team gave their all last night but were out-played.

Let’s try and take it out on Man Utd.  C’mon Arsenal!

***** Man of the Match poll running here. *****