No Idea Really

I just don't know what to expect





 

It's been awhile since I have not looked forward to a game.  Getting skinned by Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea all least all occurred away from the Emirates.  The beatings took place in front of our stalwart away fans who usually make the best out of the worst situations.  Fans at Emirates, as we discovered at halftime during the Swansea game can be less forgiving and more impatient.

 

 

Some fans on Twitter have talked about protesting before and during the match Saturday.  I always have wondered how that kind of thing affects players.  Knowing fans are that unhappy with possibly your performances, the club, and their manager can't be inspiring.  I'd think it'd be depressing and hard upon which to build any momentum.  People are upset though, and rarely in those times does good sense prevail.

 

Tuesday's draw wasn't one due to a bad performance, per se.  The squad performed similar to the way we have after our Liverpool and Manchester City losses.  We played cautious with a little left over feeling from being shell-shocked.  We actually showed some determination against the Swans with coming from behind to be winning 2-1.  It was a gaff in front of goal that provided our opponents a draw.  Some say the ghost of Birmingham made an appearance. I don't entirely agree.  The cup final loss was due to a miscommunication between a green Koz and a green Szcz.  Flamini's own goal really was a fluke, with its fault lying at the fact that our fullbacks were all the way  upfield and isolated due to the substitutions (what happened to "bring on the fullbacks"?). Poor tactics and positional discipline were at fault because they allowed the counterattack to occur in the first place.

 

So, what can we expect today?  If the pattern continues its run, we should have a win.  However, there are some other factors present today that were not when we won against West Ham and then Liverpool in the FA Cup.  Eight injuries to important players is incredibly impactful.  Our bench will consist of promoted reservists and recalled players who were out on loan.  Our striker is running with lead legs and feet.  I saw desire from Ollie on Tuesday.  His body is just no longer complying with his will.  And lastly, I think our boss and club are seriously considering their futures together.  If the squad has any grit left in their weary bodies, that alone should inspire them to play their hearts out.  For many, Wenger has made them into the players they are.  For others, he has given second chances to play at the top flight of European football.

 

All in all, it makes it difficult to not want to watch the game without my scarf in front of my eyes.

 

But, I will watch.  Like all of you.  A good performance today is imperative to build confidence for a FA Cup semi-final win.  That trophy is exponentially growing in its importance, isn't it?

 

That's it for now.  Let's Go You Gunners.  I'll see you all on the other side, and have a good one Gooners.

 



No Apologies - Just Performance Please

The sun still rises in the morning even after the demolition that Arsenal went through on Saturday.  Goonerdom and Twitter imploded, the club went into lockdown, and the media speculated over the future of Arsene.  None of the after effects shocked me.  There are those Gooners who get abusive, the media needs to sell papers, the club needed some quiet, and time needed to pass.

 

Two days later, many are still critical, but less over-the-top.  The media have posted stories of Arsene retiring in two years, rather than at the end of the season, and the club are talking again.  Although, apologies from Arteta and quotes like this from Arsene make me wish they had chosen to maintain radio silence:



 

"An accident has happened, that doesn't mean that you're not a good driver," he told Arsenal Player.
"It just means that we have played about 40 games this season and it's not what happened on Saturday that reflects the quality of this team. We have 62 points that we earned hard with quality games and that's what we want to focus on, to get back to that quality. We go back to basics."

If by accident, Arsene is referring to a 40 car pile-up on the interstate, than I agree.  Otherwise, I'm just going to assume he is protecting the players and the privacy of what was said behind closed doors.  That assumption is for my own sanity because I refuse to believe he's that out of touch.

Really all we want as fans is to see our team look like they want to challenge each and every opponent - squashing those who get in our path.  And we want the manager to make decisions that reflect his tactical nous - not his tactical no.

What it comes down to for now is the next game - Swansea on Tuesday.  Because we're The Arsenal and luck usually shows us her backside, Koz is out with a calf injury.  Hector Bellerin has been promoted to fill in for him (on the bench) while Vermie has a chance to shine in the next few games as the on-field replacement. 

Gibbs will start at left-back as both he and Ox are available.  Ox's red-card has been rescinded.  Whether the FA has just decided to give Ox a break as an apology for the embarrassing mistake or they truly believe he did not deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity, who knows.  And who care.  We have both back, and I think Ox should start.  Get him back on the horse - but on it's wing (apparently the horse is Pegasus).  We need some sort of speedy outlet for our midfield, and if he starts to give the ball away, at least it will be in less dangerous areas.  Santi, if he's not too fatigued from running his dogs off on Saturday, can pull those strings in the middle.  Let's not forget Serge or Kallstrom, neither have seen much/any playing time recently.  Swansea might be the game for them coming off the bench.

The most important thing is winning those three points, not to battle for first, but to make sure we lock down a Champions League spot, and get some of our confidence back as well as the goodwill of the fans.  Wenger has a lot of buying to do in the summer, and having the opportunity to play in Europe is, as we know, a draw for world class footballers.  And we need this squad really to face Man City on the weekend.  That's it for now.  See you in the funny papers.

Have a good one you Gooners.

Not So Ready for Prime Time Players Crash and Burn at Stamford Bridge

 

I really hate having to write a report after we lose in such devastating fashion.  It's the same feeling I had writing after Manchester City and Liverpool defeats.  This is worse though in that Mourinho has no class, we needed to win to stay within fighting range of the title, and Wenger's 1,000 match was suppose to be a positive milestone.  Instead, Wenger was treated to a thrashing that highlighted the deficits in our team and manager.  Without Theo out wide and Ozil or Ramsey in the middle, our offensive threat is greatly diminished.  Starting without Flamini against a team with outstanding midfielders was a mistake, and Oxlade-Chamberlain had one of his worse performances in an Arsenal shirt, giving away passes (there were warning signs in previous games), and ultimately taking us down to ten men with an outrageous and thick-headed handball. 

We played slow and could not handle the  pressure that Chelsea, nor the immensity of the game itself ,brought on.  I think the latter is a mindset that isn't going to be fixed on the training ground.  This team for many years is unfortunately, used to losing and only winning something is going to flip that around. 

Team selection was wrong.  There's just no way around that.  Arteta was completely overrun in midfield with the likes of Oscar, Hazard, and Schurrle on the pitch at the same time.  If Wenger wanted to include both Ox and Tommy, he should have sacrificed Podolski, and put Ox on the wing.  There is no speed or outlet when Ox is in the middle, and his defensive awareness is still developing.  The Flamini/Arteta axis should have been deployed from the start.

Can a win in the FA Cup help turn that tide, or does that have to happen with a new manager?After this most recent performance, a win in our semi-final against Wigan seems a bit shaky now.  Our confidence is low, and in addition, we now have the added pressure of being the favorites, and responding positively to pressure is the issue for us, isn't it. If we don't win the Cup, I wouldn't be surprised if Wenger does not extend his contract.  He is intelligent, loyal, and really loves Arsenal.  If he thinks he is no longer the man for the job, I think that he will help the club find a suitable replacement, and try to make a graceful exit.  Actually, after today, even if we win the Cup, I can see him doing the same thing.

I've been saying for the past few games that I thought Fabianski's form earned him a run in goal ahead of Szczesny.  Today made me wonder again.  Half of the goals were not his fault, but he fumbled two chances that could have resulted in more goals, and I wonder if Fabianski could have kept out the penalty.  He's a better shot stopper than Szcz, and maybe would have had a better time against Oscar's goals.  Of course, those came after we were already down three so I could be nitpicking here.


What hope is there for the rest of the season?  We have Swansea on Tuesday.  If patterns continue, we should see a more cautious Arsenal grind out a win, focusing on reestablishing the defensive side of our game in time for Manchester City.  As for that game, I don't hold much certainty that we won't get turned over - at least the match is at home.  After that, all our games are incredibly winnable, but I don't see us finishing third unless someone above us stumbles worse than us.  Manchester United have looked to be getting back on form with two decisive wins in a row.  Even though the skunk is out the rest of the season with injury, could they (or Everton) mount a run for fourth place?  The thought frightens me a little bit to be honest.

That's it for now.  I'll be back with a preview on Swansea.  The weekend is ruined for me, but I will try to make due like the rest of you.  Take care you Gooners.

It's North London Derby Day!

Adebayor, Lennon, and Dawson

I love Derby Day.  I don't consider playing Chelsea, West Ham, or Fulham as real derbies.  To me, this one is the one that counts.  I don't know if all overseas fans absorb the rivalry as I have.  I have a special I Hate Tottenham scarf at my disposal.  I take a vacation day off of work to celebrate St. Tottenham day,  and losing to them is like losing a trophy.  The one thing that is different over here is that there is a lack of a Spurs contingent, so I don't have co-workers or even family with whom I could exchange banter.  I thought that might change when NBC picked that "rabble down the road" as the team to highlight in their PR video with Jason Sudeikis - but fortunately we Americans are rather band-wagon-ish when it comes to picking teams.  Spurs' performances this season have tanked whatever overseas following they were hoping to get.  Thank God.  I can't imagine seeing Spurs jerseys over here, although that would allow for some enjoyable jeering and pointing.

Anyway, the trip to the Lane is earmarked by injuries to some of our best midfield players.  Ozil, Ramsey, and Jack are all out of contention with Rambo still feeling reoccurring pain in his thigh which is worrisome - so much so that the manager is looking to investigate what is causing this late season pile-up of injuries.  In the meantime, we have our Magic Spaniard and our Little Mozart both of whom can fill in for Mesut.  Podolski can go on the left to pick up his scoring record against the Spuds again and the Ox certainly needs to start whether on the right or in the middle, depending on whether Flamini starts with Arteta or not.

Wenger tactics are difficult for me to figure out.  Anyone who reads my prematch reports will note that my starting lineups are usually off by a few players.  If Wenger expects Sherwood to revert back to his open/attacking style of play that he invoked after first taking over managing the club, then I could see Arteta/Flamini axis being called in to stop their attacking threat and then maybe look to exploit their high line on a counter.  But if Sherwood sits deeper as he has been the past few matches, then I think one or the other will get a rest.  And let's not forget our miracle from January who may turn out to be a shrewd signing with all the injuries.  Kallstrom is fit, and according to Wenger, looking good:

“I think he can play an important part in the end of our season," said Wenger. "We are all absolutely delighted to have him with us because on a daily basis he is a joy to watch.
“He is a fantastic guy. His motivation and attitude has been spot-on. His readiness to put the effort in has been spot-on."

The fact that his heart seems to be in it is good to hear.  I'm sure he is somewhat aware of all the guff that was caused by him joining Arsenal while injured.  If he has any competitive bones left in his body, he will work hard to rectify the situation.  The whole transfer was so bizarre, having a meaningful contribution from him would go a little way in healing some of the disbelief disappointment incurred during January's window.  A little bit.  I hear there are 20/1 odds offered for tomorrow's match that Kim scores the winner in injury time.  I'm saving my best Kim prediction for April 14th. 

Anyway, even though Spuds have been playing somewhat boring, mediocre football, they are a mere six points below us in the table (we have a game in hand), and we know derbies are unpredictable - like a cup game.  Adebayor is encouraging his teammates to get physical and pressure us - knowing we don't like that kind of play.  He's somewhat right about that.  We have panicked at times when pressured, but I'm not sure Spurs are solid enough defensively in the back to hold us off if we get past pressing that's higher up the pitch.  Nor do I think they have the camaraderie needed to defend as a team.  Just a feeling. 

That's it for now.  Three points is a must tomorrow to pull away from those commoners and to gain traction in the title race yet again.  Chelsea dropped three points today to Aston Villa - anything is possible people.  Remember that.  If we play at our best from the get-go, I know we'll get the win.  Here's to making mash out of those 'taters.

Have a good one Gooners.

Arsenal 1 - 1 Bayern Munich - A Solid Performance Can't Undo Squad Issues

Ala Robben



Good morning all.  So much for sunshine.  I'm home and off of work thanks to Winter Storm Vulcan.  Vulcan?  That's not a Name.  It's a planet and a species - and fictitious at that.  Won't it be refreshing when I am no longer opening blog posts with weather comments?     Anyway...

So, we are out of the Champions League tournament.  We didn't play as open as I thought we would, but overall, it was a not- quite- spectacular- but -solid performance, and one where we can hold our heads high as we go into Sunday's match against our bitterest of rivals.  And while I have no real issue with individual players' performances against such a convincing team like Bayern, I don't think this year's CL was lost last night.  There are contributing factors to our going out that have occurred for years, and they have not being fully addressed... yet.

We can't take on Champions League Teams with a bench including the likes of Ryo Miyaichi.  Forgetting the fact that we probably looked like amateurs when it was announced Ryo was ineligible because he wasn't registered to play in Champions League, he's a guy that should not make it on the plane in the first place.  Yaya and Nikolas may have both gotten late injuries, but there's not better back up than Ryo?  It comes down to the most consistent issue:

Squad depth up front is lacking.  Even with Yaya healthy, he's still not a proper backup for a Champions League match against the best team in the world.  And look, I fully admit that I am not the expert when it comes to January transfers.  There very well may or may not have been clubs willing to sell and/or players willing to leave those clubs.  But, the drought days instigated by the building of the Emirates are over.  We now have the cash and a summer window approaching that will require us not only to buy a proper striker (or two), but defensive cover as well.  What we need is the back room and Arsene to get on the same page and do what needs to be done.  Otherwise, we'll be that little train that could, but never did, make it to another Champions League Final.  We may, in fact, keep setting ourselves up for failure by continuing to finish second in our group, thus forcing us to play these mega-giants year after year.

Some positives from last night.  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlein continues to be fearless no matter who the opponent is.  He was our one direct threat, got kicked to ground three times pretty fiercely from which only one yellow was given if I'm remembering correctly, and is always gutted to lose.  Check out his post-match interview.  It's professional, but you can see the sadness.  He's one of the reasons I want us to spend on strengthening the squad.  He deserves a reward for all his hard work.  And that reward needs to be a trophy.

I've talked about Fabianski's improvement and blossomed maturity in goal already.  I think he was very unlucky to  get injured last season while deputizing for the out-of-form Szczesny.  Chezzers is still capable of making errors of judgment (I still think he made one against the Diver in the first leg) which will in all likelihood diminish as he also matures.  This penalty save last night was phenomenal and so brave that it highlights again a case for his starting in league matches, in my opinion.  Lukasz is most likely gone in the summer, and the club who signs him is lucky indeed.  I just hope we don't have to face him in the BPL.

Ozil's injury is lamentable, was probably preventable, and made him a target for knee-jerk journalism.  I am not going to give links to the paper articles written by John Cross of the Mirror or Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail because I don't want to give them more page hits, but both were that of character assassination.  If they had waited to write or publish those articles until after the post-match press conference, they would have learned that Ozil was injured in the opening 20 minutes of the match which, duh, affected his performance.  Now he has a hamstring injury that "looks quite serious".  This means surgery and probably 5-6 weeks out.  So now our most creative and expensive player is on the sidelines for our run-in.  Wenger's lack of man management skills drives me bonkers.  Mesut did not get a break playing through the winter like his body is used to.  Resting him a couple of games the last few weeks apparently did not help.  He should have been rested through the holidays - his form went down as soon as he got fatigued.  It's not rocket science.  If a middle-aged woman from Indiana can figure it out, why can't Wenger?

Overall, our players' spirits should be in good shape for the derby on Sunday.  Having Ramsey back training should also provide a lift for them.  I'd be surprised if he makes an appearance, but I fully admit, Wenger appalls surprises me with those kinds of decisions, so who knows?  I'll be back for a fuller match preview on Friday.  Until then, have a good one Gooners.

Bring on Bayern



Bring On Bayern - and the Sunshine





It's amazing what a little bit of sunshine and warmer temps can do for people.  The grumpy-pants are now walking around with smiles and friendliness.  Of course, we do have more of the s-word on the way.  But fret not.  In addition to all this (temporary) buoyancy, we have what I think is a very exciting match coming up against Bayern.  Make no mistake, these big guns will offer an even bigger challenge than last year, in my opinion.  We yet again have to overturn a deficit at the Allianz, but the Bavarians will have last year's close call at the back of their minds.  I think they will have a point to prove to their home fans.

On the other hand, we are coming off of an exhilarating, fun win in the FA Cup and are feeling pretty confident right now.  I think that feeling will serve us well on Tuesday.  Bayern are way too serious for their own good, don't you think?  We go in as total underdogs at this point which is fine with me.  I think that status will allow us to play with more freedom and with little to prove.  The big question, as always, is the squad.  Will Wenger start our less-experienced striker like the first leg and bring Giroud on as an impact sub, or will he start the now in-form and rested Olivier?  I think Yaya starting in the first leg was a move to provide Giroud some physical and mental rest.  He now looks to me hungry and confident.  I think starting Giroud is the way to go - let's keep those goals a comin'.
(UPDATE:  Yaya is listed as having an ankle injury - did Bendtner make the trip?)

Gibbsy is out with a thigh injury along with Monreal which means a makeshift leftback is in order.  Vermalean is the logical choice which means he'll need someone on the left that will help provide cover, as he doesn't have the speed nor stamina of either of our fullbacks.  Between Poldi and Santi, I think Santi provided a bit more defensive grit against Everton and that, along with his great partnership with Ozil, would make him the better candidate in my eyes.

If we start with the Arteta/Flamini axis, Wenger will have to choose between Tommy and Ox on the right wing, both of whom deserve a start.  Ox gives energy and excitement and hustle - almost a younger version of the Little Mozart except he is faster and more of a threat in the final third.  Quite the conundrum for Le Boss.

That's all for the squad except, of course, we have Fabianski in goal instead of Sir Szczesny.  Fab has played really well with the run of games given him, so I feel pretty confident with him between the sticks.

That's about it for now.  Here's hoping for an early goal, a solid defensive display, and a performance we can be proud of.  To me, the latter will do if the result is not what we want.  Pride will go a long way the rest of the season.  I'll be back with a post-match report.  Until then, take care you Gooners.

We're Going to Wembley..for the Semi (that rhymes you know)

Mr. Cool





I have to admit to experiencing a ton of trepidation in anticipation of this game.  In light of our attitude and ineptitude against Stoke last week, I don't think it was an unreasonable reaction.  But, we again proved that we can survive and thrive after a setback.  We played a positive and attacking game against a team who did the same, and we came out unequivocal winners.  What fun it was, too.

 

I'm glad Fabianski started.  I know that there were many fans who wanted Szczesny between the sticks for such an important game, but Fabianski has done a really nice job in our cup matches, and because of Woj's red card, he's our goalie against Bayern .  Playing back to back games is important for a goalie, and I knew he'd be fine - which is really saying something about his current form.  I think his maturity level has helped him.  He's my pick for the FA Cup semi has well.  Wenger is all about keeping players' confidence high.  I would be very surprised if he pulls Fabianski from any future cup games.

We do better coming out of the blocks right away.  I don't understand why we don't do it more often.  Everton pressed us, too, but because of the positivity of our start, Ozil scored fairly early which revved our engines even more.  It does leave us more open to the opposition's counterattack, but we have a very reliable defense now that can handle most of that pressure.  And while Everton did bother us on the counter, they were fairly ineffective but for their opening goal.

 

We didn't crumble after Everton equalised. When Lukaku scored, I held my breath for the rest of the half.  This season, our defense has been way more stable than season's past, but there has been enough inconsistency in our team performances that I just wondered if we could push our way through the mistakes that led to that goal.  And I was wondering if Flamini could be effective the rest of the game while being on that stupid yellow card.  But he was, and we did.  Talk about a confidence builder.

Santi and Mesut are a dream team.  Many have questioned whether having two such prolific and  creative midfielders playing on the pitch at the same time would be a magic blend or too much of a good thing.  Yesterday's game highlighted their individual achievements and their combined ones.  Santi's ability to create an extra yard of space allowed him two shots on goal, and his nimbleness of foot allowed him to get around an opponent, pass to himself, and set up Ozil with a perfectly weighted pass for his goal.  Ozil, in return, crossed a perfect pass that landed right on Santi's foot allowing him to shoot on the volley, and of course he was the final one-touch pass to Giroud for his goal.  Now that Ozil seems rested and rejuvenated along with Santi who looks to be fully recovered from his early season injury, I think the verdict is that these two players are combining to create and finish some beautiful team goals.  Delightful stuff.

I honestly don't think Mikel gets enough credit.  He's mostly noted for his aging legs and an inability to play every three days.  His contract should be winding down soon, and I'm not sure what, if any, kind of extension he will be offered.  All I know is that when he is not on the pitch, we miss him.  We miss his ability to help us keep possession, his calmness on the ball, his experience, and his aggression going into a tackle.  And the coolness with which he took that second penalty speaks volumes.  I just love him for that alone.

Rosicky signs extension as he's a must-have at 33 years old.  There's not many clubs who have someone of TR7's age and quality, and still-fresh legs.  Whether he comes off the bench or starts, he's a necessity.  His pass to Ozil in the set-up of our final goal was perfectly weighted and allowed the German to touch and pass the goal in stride.  He looks to be enjoying his football now more than ever.

Theo being out has allowed Ox to shine.  Ox having to compete with Theo for the right wing position and Wilshere/Ramsey for a a middle one all season could have robbed us of the revelation he has become in their absences.  Coming back from his own injury, Ox looked to me as if he had slimmed down and sped up.  He has a passion and fire when he plays now that may be the result on missing so much football, and now he has given the manager a real argument for starting in two different positions every game.  I like that he was subbed off during this match.  Wenger sometimes has overplayed guys coming back from injury, resulting in longer-term ones (Theo anyone?), and we need Ox in perfect shape for the next three months.

March can be another resurgence for us.  The teams we have left to play are probably going to be more challenging than last year's run-in, but we have important players returning, and we are a better squad as well.  If all the pistons are firing, and with the right players peaking, I am much more optimistic about our chances of winning a trophy than I was a week ago.

That's it for now.  We have Bayern on Tuesday so I'll be back with a pre-match report for that game.  I apologize for not having one for this week, but I was experiencing so many internet issues, I almost threw my computer out the window.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

And take care you Gooners.


Arsenal Fail To Show Up and Title Hopes Are Damaged

Orc Victory



I hate playing Stoke.  I hate their narrow pitch and their "physical" players, their ignorant Ramsey -hating fans, and their managers whether Pulis or Hughes, who often display moments of classlessness.  Continually drawing with them is bad enough, but to play so poorly after having a week between games and a couple of days off from the manager puts into question the reality of having title winning aspirations.  I'm not sure this squad is up for it or built for it. 

How can we maintain a serious title challenge when our offensive backup is a 21-year old kid who misses a wide open shot from 12 yards out?  How can we challenge for yesterday's very important three points when only making 14 tackles the entire game against a very physical opponent?  Even I, with my constantly buffering stream,  saw Jack skip out on two chances for tackles.  He's suppose to be one of our most spirited players.  Unless he's carrying some sort of injury, that's not excusable.  And even then, why is he on the pitch injured when we have so many midfield players who could fill in?

Giroud spent most of the game allowing himself to be bullied by Shawcross and Wilson.  He's a strong guy, and should not accept being manhandled. Whining to the ref doesn't accomplish that. I fully realize that this ref didn't call much in terms of physicality and allowed  Giroud to get beat up and stamped on, but I would rather have seen him go a bit "Flamini" on someone and  potentially earn a yellow, rather than complain.   He was more of the show-pony than mustang we needed him to be yesterday.

The one not-so-dim spot was that we improved greatly when Ox came on.  He helped create more in the last 20 minutes (along with Ozil) then the starting XI did for the first 70.  Our game is most effective when we have width and some pace.  Although the starters did well against a very poor Sunderland, they did not provide either attribute against Stoke on their narrow pitch.  I really think Ox should be a regular starter if he is physically ready for it. 

There are nine league games left, and I could be overly negative here because mathematically, we are still in the hunt.  But even Wenger was realistic about how yesterday's result affects our chances:

It is not slightly worrying, it's a big worry for us to lose a game like that. It is a massive setback of course.

March is here.  The push is on.  This team has shown resilience before along with grit.  It remains to be seen if those qualities reappear for our next set of challenging matches.  Everton is up next in a tournament in which we have a realistic chance of winning, but only if the fighters within our squad make an appearance.  Otherwise, I think this temporary momentum switch can very well become permanent, and this season will end up like the last decade's worth.

That's it for now.  Take care you Gooners.

 

Next Up - Arsenal Venture Into Mordor

What a weird start to the day.  I woke up with one sock on and different top for my pj's.  One sock.  I know I went to sleep with both on because of the stoopid polar vortex reoccurance-thingy makes it impossible to stay warm without them.  Apparently I got so warm during the night, I took off a sock and changed my top.  No idea. 

 

Onto Arsenal and things that make more sense.

 

We journey up to Britannia Stadium tomorrow to play the "pre-Neanderthals" (ala Tuesay Club) in a match from which we should be able to get three points.  However, playing there in the past has been notoriously difficult resulting in two draws in the last two seasons.  A 1-1 and 0-0 scoreline does not provide much confidence, but I don't think many would argue that we are not the same team as last year nor the year before.  Plus, our boss has rotated well over the past couple of games, there has been a full week since we have last played and handedly won.  I think our boys will be well rest and not the least bit jaded.  Especially since the boss gave the them a couple of days off - which seemed to send the media into some sort of frenzy parodied well on this Friday's Arsecast (we all know Wenger is damned-if- he-does and damned- if- he-doesn't, yes?).

So I'm looking for our best to start to guarantee the win and inject even more confidence into the club.  We'll have a full week off again before facing Everton in the FA Cup so rotation for this game would probably only exist in circumstances due to injury.  Such as...

Monreal.  He is still out with his ankle/foot issue as is Gibbs.  So does Wenger start the newly returned Vermie on the left or Flamini?  Stoke are not known for the offensive prowess even though Hughes has tried to get them to play a more open style of footie, so  I'm not sure we have to launch the Arteta/Flamini axis.  Whomever starts on the left will probably be going against Odemwingie, so quickness and reading the game well will be important.  If we are feeling comfortable in the second half, Vermie could get an appearance for left wing or Koz. 

Everyone but Ramsey (did you see that Stoke fans?  Ramsey is not going to be at your stadium), are back to provide midfield options.  I'd really like to see Ozil back in and provide him with players who are going to make runs.  I don't think Hughes will play a high line against us, but crossing into the middle from the wings will be difficult as well.  All of Stoke's back four are well over six foot tall and are going to give Ollie a hard time with headers.  Our striker is excellent in the air, but the scouting report on the Arsenal site (yes, I read those), credit Stoke with winning the most aerial duels in the league.  I think keeping the game on the ground will be key.  Luckily, our cup overfloweth with those types of players.  Wenger can choose between Podolski, Santi, Wilshere , Rosicky, Ox, and Serge for the most winning combination.  Unfortunately, Stoke also claim the  spot for the worst disciplinary record in the league.  Whoever does get to start is going to have to play tough as nails cuz they're gonna get kicked pillar to post by these guys.  If I were going to make a prediction on who is not going to start based solely on the defensive record, I'd say Rosicky  - because we need him in good health for upcoming cup competitions- and Serge because he's young, and we don't want him to have nightmares for weeks after. 

One thing we can't do is have a slow start and give Stoke confidence.  I like how we pressed Sunderland and got a goal early in the game.  Stoke have to be forced to change their style of play, and scoring early will accomplish that.

That's it for now.  Chelsea play at Fulham  the same time as us and Liverpool play after.  Three points is a must to keep the pressure on.  C'mon You Gunners!

And have a good one Gooners.