I was right to be confident. This young side plays some beautiful football but their maturity when behind and when chasing a winning goal is inspiring to see.
What Arsenal Need: They need to play their beautiful game and their opponents won't be able to keep up. If the Gunners play their quick, short, dynamic passing style they are sure to create chances in front of goal and then it's just down to taking a good percentage of your chances. If Arsenal create ten chances, they could score two or three today.
At times today I felt that the Gunner's wasteful display in front of goal could cost them a deserved victory but scoring three in the derby game will keep the smile on Arsenal fans faces for a while.
Gilberto needs to have a good game, even though he'll be getting over his jet lag, but at least at centre back there's less running to do than at centre midfield. Whoever plays in place of Gilberto in midfield needs a good game today by protecting the back four and disrupting their opponent's play.
Gilberto did play quite well but the credit should go to Flamini who flew around like a wasp at a picnic, irritating and harassing anyone in a white shirt. Yes there are players in the Gunners squad who are technically better than Flamini but not many can match his Ray Parlour-like work rate.
Things To Watch Out For: Spurs are going to come out kicking and screaming, like a child having a tantrum and the Gunners will have to be professional and patient in dealing with this approach. Jol will have them wound up in the dressing room and I can see the home side getting a few bookings early on. The Gunners cannot retaliate and need to let their football do the talking.
Arsenal let their football do the talking and stood up for themselves but without being petulant.
I believe Wenger will go with Adebayor up front but I think he'll be feeling Da Silva breathing down his neck. The Crozilian has scored 12 in 17 appearances for Croatia and scored three in two games during the international break.
Da Silva wasn't included in the 16-man squad. Maybe Wenger is saving him for the Seville match?
Hopes For The Match: I hope Da Silva gets a good run out this afternoon. Wenger will probably only play him for about twenty minutes but I'll be watching him closely as he does excite me as a player.
No luck. I hope he plays in the Champions League.
I'm looking for the strikers to start taking a better percentage of their chances in front of goal. What I don't want is another "20 chance but one goal" display like we had at home to Everton last year.
This is a serious issue at Arsenal, which I'll address in a later post.
Obviously I hope the Gunners don't pick up any needless bookings and more importantly any injuries.
To finish a feisty Derby with a win is the most importnat thing. Hleb got booked for moaning at the ref after being elbowed in the face (dissent) and Sagna got booked for unsporting behaviour.
Team Selection:
Apart from Gilberto replacing the injured Gallas it'll be the Gunners first choice back four starting today, so I'm looking for a solid performance from them.
To be fair, the selection of this back four was a no-brainer. Gilberto looks ok in the centre of defence but I can't wait for Gallas to be back. Senderos will be available for the Seville match, so Gilberto may move back into midfield.
Once again in midfield it'll be three of the first choice four players starting the match. I'm not sure who Wenger will start alongside Fabregas, but I have a sneaky feeling it'll be Flamini. Although from the poll I conducted last week most fans would prefer Diaby or Diarra.
I was surprised not to see Rosicky start this match partly because I don't like Diaby as a left midfielder and I didn't see Wenger had any other option but to play the Czech. Rosicky replaced Diaby on 55 minutes.
My hunch that Flamini would partner Fabregas was correct. This match was the kind of match that Flamini's work-rate and effort were needed in and he played well.
Up front will be van Persie and Adebayor, but the Togolese player will be feeling the pressure from Da Silva.
Da Silva didn't even make the bench.
Denilson replaced van Persie on 84 minutes and should have scored when clean through. He'll be disappointed with his scuffed shot.
| Wenger's selection for this game: Adebayor (9), van Persie (6) Diaby (5), Flamini (7), Fabregas (8.5), Hleb (7) Clichy (7.5), Gilberto (7), Toure (8), Sagna (7) Almunia (7) Subs: Fabianski, Song (x), Rosicky (7), Walcott, Denilson (6.5) |
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Lehmann, Gallas and Eboue will all still be unavailable for the Seville match.
Long-term issues: I'm not sure Wenger has enough depth up front or on the wings but the transfer window slammed shut a few weeks ago and so we have to go with what we have.
Rosicky was replaced on the left side by Diaby and I guess the use of the young Frenchman on the left side highlights the lack of depth in left sided players in the Gunners squad.
Prediction: Spurs 0 Arsenal 2
Score: Spurs 1 Arsenal 3
Performance of the day: Adebayor could have scored more but his two goals in the Derby will endear him to Gunners fans. Fabregas was excellent again today and kept the team ticking over almost effortlessly.
Laugh of the day: The Gunners fans singing... "You're getting sacked in the morning!" and "You're not rivals anymore!"
