Hello everyone.
Tomorrow we play Stoke away in what will be the first game among the slew of no less important ones.
I think this month will define our whole season. At this point, we're still in the FA Cup, among the teams that fight for the title and stand a chance (however slim) of progressing further in the Champions League. I genuinely hope this side has not come this far for nothing, but, ultimately, our success and failure will largely depend on how we play in March.
We have to play against the best and have to beat them in order to show we are among the best. If we start April still fighting on three fronts, we'll stand a very real chance of ending our trophy drought.
The manager seems to be thinking along the same lines, that's why our squad was given a few days off. In a week's time all the hell will break loose and Arsenal will need to be both physically and mentally up to the challenge.
I'm pretty sure everything is alright with our mentality (as Poldi here points out). On the other front we probably could have done better. Diaby and Walcott aside, as many as four our players may not feature against Stoke. Ramsey will remain sidelined for another two weeks (he himself hopes to return against Spurs), no update was given on Kallstrom (hope that's because he'll be available sooner rather than later), while both our left-backs will undergo late check-ups.
This may mean Vermaelen can be asked to play in his, arguably, weaker position, not to mention the Belgian has only just recovered from a knee injury himself. Not the best option possible.
However, everyone else got the green light, so I expect the team to deliver. There are plenty attacking options, all players have got a proper R&R, and I can't think of even one player who can be considered out of form. Some may lack practise, true, but it's not like they are way behind those who don't. We have, at the end of the day, a pretty large squad with no weak links. Anyone can start and you can be sure he'll be at his best. This is what proper competition for places does to the team.
A win tomorrow will do us world of good, as we face Everton eight days from now and playing the Toffees on the back of two wins will no doubt put us in a strong position to win the third game in a row. So let's hope we get that win tomorrow.
In other news, Platini has called for rule change regarding triple punishment for a foul in the box. I've talked at length about how this particular rule left us with little chances to make it past Bayern, but let's not forget City has suffered exactly the same fate 24 hours prior to us. Platini says all FIFA and UEFA committees are against such harsh punishment, but it's still up to the International FA Board to decide whether this rule needs to be changed. From what I've heard, Blatter is against such change. We'll have to wait and see what happens, but it's a real shame it took two very high-profile failures inside one day for this matter to be brought up.
Not much else going on, so I'll leave it here. Here's for the all-important three points tomorrow and I wish you all a pleasant weekend.
Back Monday with a review. Until then
Tomorrow we play Stoke away in what will be the first game among the slew of no less important ones.
I think this month will define our whole season. At this point, we're still in the FA Cup, among the teams that fight for the title and stand a chance (however slim) of progressing further in the Champions League. I genuinely hope this side has not come this far for nothing, but, ultimately, our success and failure will largely depend on how we play in March.
We have to play against the best and have to beat them in order to show we are among the best. If we start April still fighting on three fronts, we'll stand a very real chance of ending our trophy drought.
The manager seems to be thinking along the same lines, that's why our squad was given a few days off. In a week's time all the hell will break loose and Arsenal will need to be both physically and mentally up to the challenge.
I'm pretty sure everything is alright with our mentality (as Poldi here points out). On the other front we probably could have done better. Diaby and Walcott aside, as many as four our players may not feature against Stoke. Ramsey will remain sidelined for another two weeks (he himself hopes to return against Spurs), no update was given on Kallstrom (hope that's because he'll be available sooner rather than later), while both our left-backs will undergo late check-ups.
This may mean Vermaelen can be asked to play in his, arguably, weaker position, not to mention the Belgian has only just recovered from a knee injury himself. Not the best option possible.
However, everyone else got the green light, so I expect the team to deliver. There are plenty attacking options, all players have got a proper R&R, and I can't think of even one player who can be considered out of form. Some may lack practise, true, but it's not like they are way behind those who don't. We have, at the end of the day, a pretty large squad with no weak links. Anyone can start and you can be sure he'll be at his best. This is what proper competition for places does to the team.
A win tomorrow will do us world of good, as we face Everton eight days from now and playing the Toffees on the back of two wins will no doubt put us in a strong position to win the third game in a row. So let's hope we get that win tomorrow.
In other news, Platini has called for rule change regarding triple punishment for a foul in the box. I've talked at length about how this particular rule left us with little chances to make it past Bayern, but let's not forget City has suffered exactly the same fate 24 hours prior to us. Platini says all FIFA and UEFA committees are against such harsh punishment, but it's still up to the International FA Board to decide whether this rule needs to be changed. From what I've heard, Blatter is against such change. We'll have to wait and see what happens, but it's a real shame it took two very high-profile failures inside one day for this matter to be brought up.
Not much else going on, so I'll leave it here. Here's for the all-important three points tomorrow and I wish you all a pleasant weekend.
Back Monday with a review. Until then