Pedal to the Metal, Boys!

It's time, isn't it? Time for our guys to step up, play fearlessly, and walk away from Chelsea with their heads held high.  Walking away with three points wouldn't be too shabby either.  It's time to just go for it.  Playing cagey, stilted, cautiously, or half-heartedly will not dent this opponent even if they're having a dip in form.  They're looking to get back their confidence too.  We can't let them.  I say we take it to'em. 

Pedal to the metal.

What's that going to take?  We're going to need our offense to take more shots and pass less in the final third.  Make Cech work.  Be there for the second or third ball off the rebound and keep taking our chances.  Van der Sart got off easy in the Manure game.  We only took 11 shots and only 5 were on goal. That's not enough.  Let's also pressure them into conceding corners and see if our lousy record on converting those improve.  It's time, isn't it?

Our players up top are going to have to press and pressure on defense.  That means you Arshavin.  All the players have had two weeks off.  No international duty or Cups.  Everyone should be rested and ready to go.  Clichy will need help from Arshavin this week.  If he happens to toe a ball away from Anelka, Andrey, be there to double team and take the ball upfield.  Don't leave Gael to dawdle.  Sagna is going to battle Cole who likes to go forward and has delivered some nasty crosses leading to goals against us.  He needs to be shut down.  Malouda needs to be pushed out wide and nullified as well.  Sagna's side of the pitch, I think, is going to be very busy.

Pedal to the Metal boys

Song and Jack need to protect Cesc from Essien and shut down Lampard who is struggling to find form after being gone so long due to injury.  Let's not let Frankie get into the flow of things and start feeding The Beast known as Drogba.  He loves to score against us (13 for 13?) as we all know.  Cut off his supply and we won't leave our center backs so vulnerable.  Song - don't concede stupid fouls in their final third leading to free kicks and opportunities for Chelsea to score off headers.  Drogba and company are good at that as well.  Allow Jack to go forward and you stay back.

I'm not sure what forward is going to start today - Robin or Chamakh.  Wenger may play them both with RVP behind Maroune, but I don't think that formation has worked well so far.  Maybe Robin is pouting because he hasn't been first choice yet.  If I had to make the selection, I'd pick Robin because he's used to the physicality that Chelsea brings.  Chamakh has a great workrate, but is still adapting.  I think he would be easier to shut down.  Both need to take their chances. 

Shoot, shoot, shoot.
Run, run, run
Press, press, press

Pedal to the metal.

This tempo of game that I'm advocating means that we could tire - as well the old men of Stamford Bridge.  I'm hoping Wenger will look to substitute earlier than usual in the second half...espeically if Arshavin starts.  Bringing Theo on in the 60th minute or so will allow more time for him to make an impact.  Van Persie may tire as well.  Please don't wait until the 70th minute to make substitutions, Arsene.

Basically, I'm advocating for us to go all out.   For us to leave every ounce of sweat and guts on the pitch.  Take the handbrake off - it doesn't suit our style of play.  If we do that for the whole game, I think the fearlessness that we have been looking for from our players will be seen.  I mean, if you're playing at such a high tempo, how do you have time to remember you have a mental block?

Pedal to the Metal.

I really think we can do this playing our way.  If we start off cagey and cautious, I think it'll be over before it even starts.  We have a chance to accomplish a lot of things today.  We can earn three points and move back up the table ahead of Manchester City on goal differential and stay within two points of Manchester Untied.  We can continue building up our wins at the Emirates leaving behind a poor home record.  Most of all though, we can overcome the supposed mental block this team has in big games by ending Chelsea's dominant winning run against us.  I think the latter is the most important.

It's just time, isnt it.

So let's go you guys.  Pedal to the Metal.  You can do it.  COME ON YOU REDS!

Beating Chelsea - What It's Going to Take

We've got a big game tomorrow. That's my understatement of this season. Even with the heart of our squad out with injuries, I still believe we can do it. We can get a result - either a draw or a win because, I think, we have two advantages over Chelsea. 1) Our team has moved forward. We've added to our squad, trying to shore up deficits. We didn't just add in number, but in age and experience. Both Chamakh and Squillaci have a lot of experience and continue to adapt to the pace and power of the Premier League. Koz, while extremely inexperienced, has displayed a lack of fear and a propensity for learning quickly. These additions have also given us the other advantage. 2) We have more depth this year. Yes, Cesc is out with an injury along with Gibbs, Vermaelan, Theo, Alumunia, Van Persie, Bendtner and of course Ramsey. Last year when injuries ran rampant through the squad, we really didn't have answers - not answers that anybody liked anyway. Silvestre for Vermie (or anyone) and Sol for Gallas. Arshavin playing in place of Bendtner and Van Persie. And Nasri was just not up to the task of taking on the creative midfielder role when Cesc broke his leg. And then there was Fabianski for Almunia. Oops - we still have that one but I'll get to it later. Plus, and I left this for last because it's a doozy - Jack Wilshere has evolved into a first team regular full of confidence, skill, and toughness. I know some of you will smile when you read this next part. He's like a new signing. Seriously.

See what I mean? Maybe the inordinate amount of injuries that Arsenal has (every season)has forced us to be deep. Chelsea not so much. They have intimidating starting players, but older ones too. Ones that will get tired in the last half of the game after pressing us all over the pitch. And they will press us. Lampard and Benayoun are out injured with means the creativity has gone out of their midfield. They still have Anelka out on the wing which means Clichy will have a foot race ahead of him, but I don't think Nikolas is particularly creative.

That's what I think we have over Chelsea. Now the trick is to use everything in our Arsenal. We have to defend forward to back. Arshavin is going to have to be in high gear nearly the whole game. Jack/Nasri and Rozicky are going to have to create, motivate, and finish. Chamakh is going to have to go at Terry without fear...which is his pattern. Our full backs are going to have to race back after surging forward, Song must protect and lock down the midfield with help from Denilson/Diaby. Let the forwards worry about scoring Alex - mop it up in the back. The center backs are going to have to contain Drogba forcing Chelsea to go wide to Malouda - which is still another problem. And...Fabianski must have protection. He's going to have to communicate with the back four and direct them. And on corners he's going to have to own the box.

We have some other things going for us as well. We're coming off a solid performance in Europe after a disastrous performance at home last Saturday. I'm hoping the embarrassment against West Brom will continue to motivate our players towards giving all of their effort and discipline (do you hear me Song) for 90 minutes. I think if we play a near perfect game, we're going to surprise a lot of people. We've played perfect games before. Just think what a boost to the rest of our season it would be to play one at Stamford Bridge. Oh ho, the bragging rights.

As I wind this post up, the Saturday matches have wound up too. Manchester Untied tied against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light - which makes me feel a bit better about our performance there. Spurs have beat Aston Villa which puts them in a tie for third with us, Manchester City (who also play tomorrow) and West Brom who tied against Bolton. A win tomorrow puts us into second a point behind our Chelsea. A draw leaves us in third above West Brom and Spurs with ManCity to be determined. A good performance is a must. A win is most desirable. Isn't it always?

I guess that's all for now. I have friends throwing me a dinner party for my birthday so I'm off to have a evening full of good friends, food, and wine. I'll be back tomorrow with my reaction to our performance. I am confident I will be brimming with pride. Until then...Let's GO YOU REDS!!