Morning everyone.
Real football returns tomorrow, as the main surprise of the season visits the Emirates. Southampton sit in third place and trail us by only three points after eleven games. It's the kind of opposition that is dangerous to underestimate, especially as their relative success is not coincidental. They have beaten Liverpool and drawn United away from home so anything less than full concentration can see us drop a couple of points.
Thankfully, we have Walcott back in contention, for the first time in two months. He can offer something different to our usual set up, because of his willingness to make runs behind defenders and to generally play a more straightforward game. He's not another flippy-flappy, tippy-tappy midfielder, seeking an opportunity for a perfect pass. He's more goal-driven and for me he's basically a second striker, more valuable for his finishing skills, than for his passing game.
Theo may even provide a genuine alternative for Giroud. Again, his style of play is different to that of the Frenchman, but didn't we bemoan exactly that in several games? So it's definitely good, that he's back. Theo is still more likely to be deployed on the right, but his qualities won't just disappear because of it. Bottom line is, we'll just be able to rotate our midfielders because of Walcott's return.
As for the others injured, things aren't looking that good. The closest to full fitness is Podolski, but he's still the weeks away. The Ox, a month. Diaby, well, never.
Even with these out, we are still much better off than, say, a month ago. Arsene will finally be able to adequately fill both the starting eleven and the bench and this time there will be some genuine options on it. Someone that really can impact how the game unfolds. God we need this transfer window now, before anyone else is injured.
This is a game we can and must take three points from, though. We have the players, we play at home and we need a response to the United defeat. It's a pity we couldn't get one straight away, but where would the fun be in that?
In other news, Gibbs and Szczesny spoke up during this tedious Interlull. The Englishman talked about our (quite obvious) defensive improvement, saying that the whole team takes their respective defensive duties seriously. He also mentioned a high defensive line we adopt in order to retake possession of the ball immediately after losing it. Great, great, but nothing groundbreaking.
The Pole meanwhile, said we will able to challenge for the title even without new additions. While we do need to boost at least our striker options, Szczesny has a point.
He's talking about the spirit inside the team, rather than our transfers. Our mentality of winners, if I may. For the last year or so, our team really looks like a team, fighting for each other, grinding out results in unfavourable circumstances. There one thing, though. Comebacks. We rarely come from behind to win games. Though I hate United, but even last year the best indicator of their strength was the number of comebacks they have pulled off. We need to try and match it, if we want to be successful.
Not sure there'll be a post tomorrow, but check back, in case something pops up.
Until later