Top of the morning to yall
Arsenal travel to Old Trafford in this afternoon’s lunchtime
kick-off to keep a date with Manchester United in the EPL after an incredible
turn of events on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup. A crucial period in the
season the club are this week as the comeback of Tuesday night followed by
victory today would be a major propeller for next Tuesday’s trip to Gelsenkirchen
to face Schalke 04 in the Champions League where a victory will send us back on
top of the group and we all know the advantages of finishing top of a champions
league group stage. Plenty of optimism huh, well that's what Arsene admitted to
having a lot of when he went after the game at Old Trafford last season after
going 4-1 down with 20minutes to go.
I am always an optimist. They say a pessimist is a well-informed optimist and on that day perhaps, I was badly informed.
But I always hope that my team will create something special.
With 20minutes to go, it was 4-1 and I decided to go for an offensive policy. But we were trying to come back with 10men but we were already dead. Of course after that, we paid for it, maybe I should have said ‘OK let’s keep it tight and go out with 4-1, thank you very much see you next week’.
But on Tuesday, optimism was given a whole new meaning
entirely. Arsenal fans gave it a whole new meaning. So maybe optimism is not a
bad thing after all.
All the pre match talk this morning has centered around the Dutch
skunk and the manager has even called on the fans to show him respect in today’s
game. Maybe even celebrate if he scores against us. While I totally agree withTim Stillman in this wonderful piece, its so difficult not to feel anger and
hate for a player that prior to his last 2 seasons never played more than 20
games in a season in the 8 years he spent at the club.
He was continually supported and shown loyalty to despite
his persistent injury worries and off field
problems and when he matured, he
turned to tell the man who managed him from a troublesome wonderkid to a world
class superstar which players to sign and which backroom staff to and not to
appoint. He had become a man and the people who helped him get where he was
suddenly became minnows and were incapable of their jobs.
Oh yes these were what transpired in the meeting held at Arsene
Wenger’s home at the close of last season where his contract extension was
supposed to have been negotiated with Kees Vos. But instead, Robin told the
manager what players to sign and that an assistant manager be appointed from
outside the club as everyone inside the club were yes-men and were incapable of
the position.
After the ensuing heated argument, Robin left for the Euros
and Wenger made up his mind to sell the traitor but not to get him to leave on
the cheap. On his return from the Euros, he released the open letter to the
fans and refused to sign for Juventus after the club gave the clear on a £15million
deal paving the way for both Manchester clubs to slug it out for his signature.
The rest they say is history but that he refused to sign for
another club outside England –obviously hoping Barca and Madrid would take the
letter to the fans bait to make a bid- shows how less of a human being he is.
Personally, I don’t talk about van Persie anymore but this
afternoon’s game means talk of him is inevitable. I would rather the fans in
the stadium concentrate their strength on supporting those who still find pride
to wear our shirts and do battle in our name rather than booing him. He is
definitely not worth the fuss.
I expect Aaron Ramsey to continue to deputise on the right
wing role if reports of The Ox sustaining a new injury are true. Theo Walcott –whose
contract situation is another kettle of fish altogether- might have been a good
candidate but after playing 120minutes on Tuesday, I suspect the manager might
want to give him a rest. I also expect Jack Wilshere to start alongside Santi and
Arteta in midfield while Giroud will lead the attack.
Getting adequate cover for Andre Santos would be key to
victory as Antonio Valencia would be glad to exploit any open space afforded him
down the left. Midfield battles will intense and I won’t be surprised if they
give our midfielders a good kicking in the middle and employ Paul Scholes to do
that. After all, it’s what they do and with Mike Dean with the whistle, we Arsenal
fans can expect the worst.
I expect the starting eleven to be Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker,
Vermaelen, Santos, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolski, Giroud.
Getting 3 points will be tough but it’s possible and like I said
earlier, optimism is not a bad thing so COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!
Follow me on twitter @NigerianGunners
God Bless the Arsenal. Iree o.
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