Evening everyone.
In a couple of hours we face Newcastle at the Emirates and are presented with a very good chance to open up a four-point lead on Everton.
The Toffees were beaten by Southampton in an early game on Saturday and the Saints didn't even have to score to get the points. Two quite brilliant headers from Alcaraz and Coleman gifted Southampton the victory and with City up next Everon's chances of playing in the Champions League look slimmer by the minute. But we shouldn't count on Everton slipping up again. As the weekend has shown even a team with one hand on the the trophy can suddenly (and inexplicably) fail in a game of vital importance. That's because it's the Premier League we are talking about, and here everyone can beat everyone. Complacency can be punished even by the smallest teams.
That's why Arsenal has to be cautious going into today's match. Newcastle arrive on a back of an atrocious run of form, but, ultimately, they play in the top flight of the most competitive league in the world and it's for a reason.
Do I expect them to deliver? No. Even though I've long since spotted the pattern, due to which even the crappiest teams at their crappiest form add that little bit extra against the big guys, it's highly unlikely Newcastle will pull it off. They can punish us if we come into this game thinking the three points are already in the bag, but they don't seem like a bunch of players capable of turning the tables like Hull did in the first 25 minutes.
They say the fish rots from the head (God, I hate proverbs), but it describes the situation at Newcastle pretty accurately. The newspapers (in search of a flashy headline, perhaps) state that this game is a make-or-break for Pardew and it's not like they don't have good reason to. I mean, the Magpies have won three and lost nine in their last twelve games, something that can hardly be called spectacular. What is more, five straight losses during which Pardew was disqualified for his touchline antics, make their situation look worse still.
Will the fact that their manager's fate is depending on the outcome of this game shake the players out of their coma? I don't think so. Pardew looks an arrogant prick to me and, as far as I know, he's not very popular among Newcastle fans either. It just doesn't appear, as if the man feels for the club.
This is the part where I talk up that quality in Wenger. Arsene, whatever his shortcomings are, is one of the most passionate and loyal managers I've seen. Klopp is the only guy who comes close, but he's yet to work 18 years for Borussia. Back to the Frenchman and in him we've got a coach, who always defends his players, sometimes taking all the blame and has always fought for the ideals of this Club. Over the years Arsene has done so much for Arsenal FC and has become so deeply ingrained in everything that concerns it, that at this point we can say he IS the Club. Some even joke it's no coincidence, that the Frenchman's name is almost the same as the name of the Club.
And Pardew? Looks like a hired help to me. Like Benitez for Chelsea last season. It doesn't matter, how long he will be at the helm, he will always seem like an interim manager to me. A professional, who is doing his job, but over whose departure no tears will be shed. Is it likely, that the players will fight tooth (no pun intended) and nail for such a guy?
However, it's our performance (defensive, first of all) that we should be concentrated on. In that regard, we may have Vermaelen back. Even without the Belgian, though, our defense should cope. Sagna is having the time of his life at right-back (give this man a contract already), Mertesacker is much more assured with Koscielny back at his side and Monreal seems to have stepped it up, which was noticeable against Hull. I don't think he will be dropped in favour of our skipper, should Vermaelen make it.
In other positions I expect no changes at all. Podolski is in a free-scoring mood, Ozil and Ramsey are back and firing, and Giroud looks that much better with the Welshman making runs behind his back. Arteta and Cazorla complement this fine side.
The bench will also be a strong one, with only Gibbs, Gnabry, Wilshere and Walcott missing out (the latter will, unfortunately, miss the start of next season), so we'll have options available. A little too late, but still better than never.
Should we put in a shift like we did at Hull, I don't think it's unreasonable to hope for three points. Our fate is in our hands, two wins in three games will suffice for us to play among the best next season and both our next games will be played at home. We've dealt with such pressure before, let's do it again.
Come on you Gunners
In a couple of hours we face Newcastle at the Emirates and are presented with a very good chance to open up a four-point lead on Everton.
The Toffees were beaten by Southampton in an early game on Saturday and the Saints didn't even have to score to get the points. Two quite brilliant headers from Alcaraz and Coleman gifted Southampton the victory and with City up next Everon's chances of playing in the Champions League look slimmer by the minute. But we shouldn't count on Everton slipping up again. As the weekend has shown even a team with one hand on the the trophy can suddenly (and inexplicably) fail in a game of vital importance. That's because it's the Premier League we are talking about, and here everyone can beat everyone. Complacency can be punished even by the smallest teams.
That's why Arsenal has to be cautious going into today's match. Newcastle arrive on a back of an atrocious run of form, but, ultimately, they play in the top flight of the most competitive league in the world and it's for a reason.
Do I expect them to deliver? No. Even though I've long since spotted the pattern, due to which even the crappiest teams at their crappiest form add that little bit extra against the big guys, it's highly unlikely Newcastle will pull it off. They can punish us if we come into this game thinking the three points are already in the bag, but they don't seem like a bunch of players capable of turning the tables like Hull did in the first 25 minutes.
They say the fish rots from the head (God, I hate proverbs), but it describes the situation at Newcastle pretty accurately. The newspapers (in search of a flashy headline, perhaps) state that this game is a make-or-break for Pardew and it's not like they don't have good reason to. I mean, the Magpies have won three and lost nine in their last twelve games, something that can hardly be called spectacular. What is more, five straight losses during which Pardew was disqualified for his touchline antics, make their situation look worse still.
Will the fact that their manager's fate is depending on the outcome of this game shake the players out of their coma? I don't think so. Pardew looks an arrogant prick to me and, as far as I know, he's not very popular among Newcastle fans either. It just doesn't appear, as if the man feels for the club.
This is the part where I talk up that quality in Wenger. Arsene, whatever his shortcomings are, is one of the most passionate and loyal managers I've seen. Klopp is the only guy who comes close, but he's yet to work 18 years for Borussia. Back to the Frenchman and in him we've got a coach, who always defends his players, sometimes taking all the blame and has always fought for the ideals of this Club. Over the years Arsene has done so much for Arsenal FC and has become so deeply ingrained in everything that concerns it, that at this point we can say he IS the Club. Some even joke it's no coincidence, that the Frenchman's name is almost the same as the name of the Club.
And Pardew? Looks like a hired help to me. Like Benitez for Chelsea last season. It doesn't matter, how long he will be at the helm, he will always seem like an interim manager to me. A professional, who is doing his job, but over whose departure no tears will be shed. Is it likely, that the players will fight tooth (no pun intended) and nail for such a guy?
However, it's our performance (defensive, first of all) that we should be concentrated on. In that regard, we may have Vermaelen back. Even without the Belgian, though, our defense should cope. Sagna is having the time of his life at right-back (give this man a contract already), Mertesacker is much more assured with Koscielny back at his side and Monreal seems to have stepped it up, which was noticeable against Hull. I don't think he will be dropped in favour of our skipper, should Vermaelen make it.
In other positions I expect no changes at all. Podolski is in a free-scoring mood, Ozil and Ramsey are back and firing, and Giroud looks that much better with the Welshman making runs behind his back. Arteta and Cazorla complement this fine side.
The bench will also be a strong one, with only Gibbs, Gnabry, Wilshere and Walcott missing out (the latter will, unfortunately, miss the start of next season), so we'll have options available. A little too late, but still better than never.
Should we put in a shift like we did at Hull, I don't think it's unreasonable to hope for three points. Our fate is in our hands, two wins in three games will suffice for us to play among the best next season and both our next games will be played at home. We've dealt with such pressure before, let's do it again.
Come on you Gunners