My Thoughts on The Fixture Lists Part 2

Top of the morning to y’all

Today, I bring you the concluding part of last week’s piece on my thoughts on our fixture list for the 2012/2013 EPL Season. So far as is with me naturally, I have been very positive about the possible outcomes and of the results of our matches and our opponents’ results and it’s been deliberate, I as an Arsenal fan, I don’t want to start or preview the season with a bad mojo. I believe in the Law of Attraction.

The second half of the season will be a bit trickier to predict as we have champions league games, FA Cup as well as Capital One Cup games which will all be in their knockout phases and the continued participation or exit of the team from either of these competitions will almost definitely have a roll over effect on the performances of the team in the league. Continued participation will mean more games are played at shorter intervals and hence physical condition of the players is tested, squad is stretched more, injuries might also play its own evil part while an early exit from any of the competitions will dampen squad morale as questions of player competence and self-belief of individuals in the team will be more injurious to the team more than anything else. Let’s hope the latter is not the case so I will be more optimistic. So we continue with our January games.

January will be the busiest month of the season for us. We start the year on a slightly easy note with a trip to Southampton on the 1^st before home league games against Man City on the 12^th and Liverpool on the 29^th. Sandwiched between these games is the FA cup third round game on the 5^th, a trip to Chelsea on the 19^th and FA cup fourth round game on the 26^th. If we are still in the Capital One Cup in January, we would have to play the first and second leg semi-final games on the 9^th and 23^rd respectively.

Verdict: Toughest month of the season for us. The race for the title would have really picked up pace and the true colour of the team, if they do or don’t have what it takes to challenge for the biggest prizes in football would have been known by then. I have been really optimistic until now and am not about to change that so I expect that they do and if we come out of this month on our feet with heads high and proud, we would have gotten over not only the most difficult period of the season but also taken a big step towards the title because as far as tests go, physically and mentally, this month has got it in full store for the boys. The good thing though is that it’s January and the winter transfer window will be open and the manager can take the opportunity to sign a player or to boost our match to glory.

After the madness that is January, we get a slightly easier but potential banana peel fixtures in this month. There will be just three league games for us throughout the month. We welcome Stoke to the Emirates on the 2^nd, play Sunderland away on the 9^th and round off the month against Aston Villa at the Emirates on the 23^rd. the finals of The Capital One Cup is scheduled for the 24^th and if we are still in the competition then, the Aston Villa will be re scheduled for a later date.

Verdict: Relatively easier in terms of opposition quality but the two teams play very physically draining games against Stoke and Sunderland; teams that have been known to cause us real problems in the past. The team might also have to return to Europe this month as the knockout stage of the Champions League will begin in mid-February.

Physical condition will be key in this month though as this is the point where teams like Chelsea, Man United and City have the edge over us as they have more physically fit players in their squad but with some good luck, we would be standing toe to toe with them on the league table.

The beginning of March means the finish line of the season is already in view and teams are beginning to push hard for the title or avoiding the drop. In this month we also get a clearer view of where we stand in the FA cup and Champions League which means more high intensity games. We begin the month on a colourful note with the second North London Derby taking centre stage at White Hart Lane before hosting Everton on the 9^th travel to Wales to play Swansea on the 16^th and play Reading on the 30^th at the Emirates.

Verdict: March will be the 8^th month of the season and at this stage, no matter how easy an opponent may seem, it’s going to be a difficult game as fatigue will be a major issue and participation in cup tournaments will also take their toll. I however have high hopes for the month and expect victories against Everton and Reading at home and also Swansea away.

April and this is the stage where the team would either require one big lunge for the title or manage to crawl over the finish line like seasons past and the games in this month would suggest an easy run in but not exactly. We play West Brom at The Hawthorns on the 6^th, host Norwich on the 13^th, and travel to Fulham on the 20^th before rounding off the month in what will be a potential title decider against Man United on the 27^th.

Verdict: A very tricky month for us in the league. When we played all these teams last season, we only defeated West Brom on the final day of the season in that tense nail-biting game that saw us hang on to a 3-2 victory by the skin of our teeth. We lost to Fulham and Man United while drawing against Norwich in that pulsating 3-3 game at the Emirates. Am expecting lots of fireworks in this month and the game against United on the 27^th will definitely have a say in where the title will be heading come the end of the season.

May; the final month of the season at this point it’s either we are there or not. It will already be too late to make up grounds. At this stage, being at the top of the league will be a massive spur to the team to finish off strongly and they definitely can. Games against QPR away on the 4^th, Wigan at home on the 12^th are definitely winnable before finishing the season on the 19^th at St James Park against Newcastle where I hope the league trophy will be handed to Robin van Persie and our 7year trophy drought would have ended.

Verdict: There is no verdict needed here. Topping the league at the end of April means win 3 games and the trophy is ours. Also the final of the Champions League is also held on the 25^th at Wembley and I have a dream that we would also be lifting the big ears trophy on that night as well.

 Am glad by the way our fixtures are poised and am sure most Arsenal fans are too as we get the big teams out of the way early resulting in an easier run in to the title just as in previous seasons but our inconsistencies as well as injuries to key players have let us down. I sincerely hope this season is different; the manager has to address our defensive frailties which saw us concede 49goals in the league last term. I believe they can do it. I sincerely do but developing a winning mentality and defending like a unit will be important while hoping for an injury free season. So that's it on my thoughts on the fixture list for the season. Good luck to the lads on the season ahead and to a wonderful season laced with trophies.

On the home front, I will like to remind every Nigerian Gunner out there that the Press Conference at the SWAN Secretariat is scheduled for Wednesday 27^th of June. So y’all should be there.

That's all for now folks, be back with another edition.

God Bless the Arsenal. Iree O