Hello everyone.
Tomorrow we take on Hull in what is probably the hardest game (on paper), that we have left. It is portrayed by many as a kind of warm-up leading to the cup showdown in May, but with a couple of slight alterations. First, our game tomorrow is an away one, while the final will basically be held at home. Second, Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic will be available today, a luxury Steve Bruce won't have a month from now, due to both players featuring earlier for their respective clubs.
For me, such parallels aren't that important. It's just media trying to give the game some extra edge, while I'm pretty sure the managers will only be focused on getting the points out of this game. Hull are currently 13th in the table, well above the relegation zone, so for them, this game is about building momentum and getting to experiecnce Arsenal's style of play. That's not to say the Tigers will be an easy team to beat, though. They have some very good players and, as Sunderland has demonstrated, even a team with little to fight for can show their teeth and cause problems to even the likes of City.
From our point of view, this game is a chance to further tighten our grip on the fourth spot. Everton plays United tomorrow, no easy feat, cause United themselves may have a Europa League place to fight for. Better still, the game at the Mersyside kicks off after the final whistle blows at the KC stadium, and this fact presents us with a chance to be four points ahead of the Toffees.
We should have some help, as Ozil and Monreal return from their respective injures. Flamini is also back from his two-game ban and should probably start in place of Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard played a lot of minutes recently and could use some rest, in my opinion. Kallstrom is another player, who can start alongside Ramsey in midfield, so it's a tough decision for the manager to make. Arsene definitely has more input on the condition of his squad and, whoever plays, will be utterly focused and will give his all. I just try to emphasise that we do have options in midfield and if someone is nearing that red zone, he can sit the game out.
Another Spaniard I think can benefit from a break, is Santi Cazorla. Here's another guy, who's put in quite a shift recently. When Ozil pulled his hamstring, Santi was called upon to fill that role of the playmaker and thus has been playing basically non-stop. His match-winning spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out against Wigan seemed to have injected some confidence into the Spaniard and that is backed by his game against West Ham. Cazorla was at the heart of all three goals, provided an assist for the first one and could have scored himself, only for his beautiful shot to swerve agonisingly close to the far post.
Anyway, the fact that Santi played week in week out remains and should, in my opinion, be addressed. Ozil's back, ha can play under Giroud once more and, if I remember correctly, one of the goals from the German happened to be against Hull. Maybe he can add to that tally.
I'd also be tempted to reshuffle our defence a bit, but it's hard to say, who can come in. True, Mert, Sagna and Vermaelen are in the same situation as the two Spaniards, but dropping any of them can prove risky.
Gibbs is still out, meaning Monreal is the only option for left-back. However, Nacho was terribly convincing there as of late, so I'd stick to Vermaelen. The skipper had a solid game on the flank against the Hammers, so no reason to drop him. However, I don't think Arsene will agree with me. After all, it's risky playing all your centre-halves at once and Monreal is still (unlike Vermaelen) a more natural left-back. So, if the Spaniard is fully fit, our skipper will probably find himself benched once again.
Jenkinson. meanwhile, can start on the right (he played there the last time we faced Hull), but it's unlikely he'll do so tomorrow. Arsene has stuck with Sagna all season long (for good reason, might I add), so Jenkinson will probably be only a bench sub. If Sagna's not dead tired, that is.
Apart from these (possible) changes, the starting line-up should look the same. Whoever the manager picks, I'm more than sure will be up for it and what is even better, we'll have a strong bench as well, something that can help Arsene influence the game if such a need arises. But I don't think we'll have a whole lot of problems with this one. Sure, nothing can be taken for granted in the league, where relegation-threatened Sunderland nearly snatches all the three points from title-aspiring City at the Etihad, but the Gunners seem to be on the way up and should, on their day, experience no problems with a team such as Hull.
Now to the easiest part. The win. Come on you Gunners
Tomorrow we take on Hull in what is probably the hardest game (on paper), that we have left. It is portrayed by many as a kind of warm-up leading to the cup showdown in May, but with a couple of slight alterations. First, our game tomorrow is an away one, while the final will basically be held at home. Second, Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic will be available today, a luxury Steve Bruce won't have a month from now, due to both players featuring earlier for their respective clubs.
For me, such parallels aren't that important. It's just media trying to give the game some extra edge, while I'm pretty sure the managers will only be focused on getting the points out of this game. Hull are currently 13th in the table, well above the relegation zone, so for them, this game is about building momentum and getting to experiecnce Arsenal's style of play. That's not to say the Tigers will be an easy team to beat, though. They have some very good players and, as Sunderland has demonstrated, even a team with little to fight for can show their teeth and cause problems to even the likes of City.
From our point of view, this game is a chance to further tighten our grip on the fourth spot. Everton plays United tomorrow, no easy feat, cause United themselves may have a Europa League place to fight for. Better still, the game at the Mersyside kicks off after the final whistle blows at the KC stadium, and this fact presents us with a chance to be four points ahead of the Toffees.
We should have some help, as Ozil and Monreal return from their respective injures. Flamini is also back from his two-game ban and should probably start in place of Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard played a lot of minutes recently and could use some rest, in my opinion. Kallstrom is another player, who can start alongside Ramsey in midfield, so it's a tough decision for the manager to make. Arsene definitely has more input on the condition of his squad and, whoever plays, will be utterly focused and will give his all. I just try to emphasise that we do have options in midfield and if someone is nearing that red zone, he can sit the game out.
Another Spaniard I think can benefit from a break, is Santi Cazorla. Here's another guy, who's put in quite a shift recently. When Ozil pulled his hamstring, Santi was called upon to fill that role of the playmaker and thus has been playing basically non-stop. His match-winning spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out against Wigan seemed to have injected some confidence into the Spaniard and that is backed by his game against West Ham. Cazorla was at the heart of all three goals, provided an assist for the first one and could have scored himself, only for his beautiful shot to swerve agonisingly close to the far post.
Anyway, the fact that Santi played week in week out remains and should, in my opinion, be addressed. Ozil's back, ha can play under Giroud once more and, if I remember correctly, one of the goals from the German happened to be against Hull. Maybe he can add to that tally.
I'd also be tempted to reshuffle our defence a bit, but it's hard to say, who can come in. True, Mert, Sagna and Vermaelen are in the same situation as the two Spaniards, but dropping any of them can prove risky.
Gibbs is still out, meaning Monreal is the only option for left-back. However, Nacho was terribly convincing there as of late, so I'd stick to Vermaelen. The skipper had a solid game on the flank against the Hammers, so no reason to drop him. However, I don't think Arsene will agree with me. After all, it's risky playing all your centre-halves at once and Monreal is still (unlike Vermaelen) a more natural left-back. So, if the Spaniard is fully fit, our skipper will probably find himself benched once again.
Jenkinson. meanwhile, can start on the right (he played there the last time we faced Hull), but it's unlikely he'll do so tomorrow. Arsene has stuck with Sagna all season long (for good reason, might I add), so Jenkinson will probably be only a bench sub. If Sagna's not dead tired, that is.
Apart from these (possible) changes, the starting line-up should look the same. Whoever the manager picks, I'm more than sure will be up for it and what is even better, we'll have a strong bench as well, something that can help Arsene influence the game if such a need arises. But I don't think we'll have a whole lot of problems with this one. Sure, nothing can be taken for granted in the league, where relegation-threatened Sunderland nearly snatches all the three points from title-aspiring City at the Etihad, but the Gunners seem to be on the way up and should, on their day, experience no problems with a team such as Hull.
Now to the easiest part. The win. Come on you Gunners