Good day to you.
In a few hours time we will host Tottenham in a hotly contested North London derby. The last two encounters at the Emirates ended up with us beating our neighbours to a pulp, and I hope, that's the case today.
As I've already said yesterday, I feel no particular hatred towards Spurs. Most Arsenal fans, however, view this fixture as crucial and, might I say, the manager's already unstable position very much depends on the outcome of today's game. I don't think even Champions League qualification (or, rather, unqualification) could have affected the decision, whether Arsene Wenger should stay or leave, more. Even a defeat from Villa on the opening day wasn't, in the end, that important. Sure, it was viewed as a direct result of our transfer inertia (rather than just coincidental), but the outpouring of anger, which followed that defeat wasn't linked to a result alone.
Tottenham is an entire different story, however. The level of hatred between Arsenal and Spurs fans is unprecedented. During these 90 minutes the team simply HAS to win. Not because the opposition is weaker (on paper, that is), not because three points are important, but because much more is at stake here. The alternative, for the fans of both teams, is unacceptable. It's not a case of "Do or die", much more "Die but do".
If a team wins, every decision of the manager will be justified. Not in the long run, but definitely for now. Every player, injured during that game, will be viewed as a hero. All in all, emotions, extreme emotions, will be running high, that's why the importance of result cannot be underestimated by those involved. And it's a straw, our manager should hold on to tightly.
Win, and he'll get some breathing space with the signings. Win, and there'll be an opportunity to get several senior players up and running before the next game. Win, and the manger will be looked at with more pride and lenience to (occasional) oddities.
I think, Arsene Wenger understands that. He also understands, that a defeat will have a lot of fans lighting their torches and heading towards his office. The extreme emotions I mentioned earlier will leave no room for mercy, no understanding from the fans, no support from them. The heat, that will emanate from the fans, will scorch Wenger alive, should he lose. Because it will be him, who'll lose. Not the players. Every accusation, however unfounded it is, will be aimed at the manager. The fans will do their utmost to have Arsene fired, should we lose, and they'll not be interested, in who replaces him or whether the club has the opportunity to find someone on such short notice. This may well be the most important game during Wenger's 16-year stay with us. No kidding.
In terms of team news, apart from Podolski, we have no fresh injures. I expect Flamini to start the game on the bench, apart from that the team pretty much picks itself and should look like: Szczesny-Sagna-Mertesacker-Gibbs-Ramsey-Whilshere-Rosicky-Cazorla-Walcott-Giroud. I gotta say, I'm still uneasy about the Whilshere-Ramsey partnership, cause it leaves our back four exposed. The manager will have to work something out, but I doubt he'll choose Flamini over either of these guys.
It is a squad, more than capable of winning the game, to my mind. Sure, Tottenham has a slew of new players (none of those are near the form or abilities, demonstrated by Bale last season), but one thing may be against them. The manager was right to say, that bringing a lot of players in is a risk. In the long term, Villas-Boas may work out, how to effectively use them all, but for today he doesn't as much has a team on his hands, than just a number of individuals. This may work to our advantage, cause we, opposed to Spurs right now, have a TEAM, not a bunch of players.
And these players have already showed, what they are capable of, demolishing Fenerbahce and deservedly beating Fulham. We have a shallow squad, no doubt about it, it will hamper our chances in the long run, should it stay as it, but we have enough players to do the job today. Fingers crossed, they will, so out only worry, come 9 p.m., will be non-existent signings. Come you reds.
That's it for now, back later with a review