Quick round up. So after licking our wounds for 4 days its time to dry our collective eyes and dust ourselves for the even more challenging mission of travelling to Turkey and getting a result in the Sukru Saracuglu stadium (Try saying that 3 times real fast ) of Fenerbache. Its been that sort of past few days for us Gooners. The kind we have now become all too familiar with after a defeat as disappointing as Saturday's. There have been lots of post Mortems on TV,papers,Twitter, all dishing out frustrations and righteous indignation from basically everyone associated with the club. And when you add the customary jeers from rival fans, you get to understand why a chance like this to redeem ourselves should not be allowed to waste.
So we battle Fenerbache for a place in the UCL group stages, and listen, it could have been worse in terms of who we might have been paired with. After watching a very good Sociedad side brush aside Lyon who are seasoned campaigners in this competition,you aren't unhappy we didn't draw them as they look a very dangerous side indeed.
Not much in terms of our overall squad out-look has changed, there hasn't been any other addition to the team via signings with less than a fortnight left in the transfer window. However the Much maligned Medical team have done a commendable job in getting most of our guys battle ready. Especially Sagna, who i think can count himself lucky he isn't out for the whole season after a Nasty fall on Saturday. Oxlaide Chamberlain wasn't so lucky as he is reported to be out for 6weeks. That's about the worst kind of news a squad in our position, would have wanted to hear, but what can we do?
Regarding our set up, we will most likely file out in the same pattern as Saturday. (4-3-2-1). I personally don't think there was a problem with that formation. However we may have been slightly guilty of expecting the game to be easier than it turned out. In Midfield, Ramsey and Wilshere will need to device a workable partnership that will involve a lot of communication, responsibility and focus. Traits which Arteta usually shows effortlessly but in his absence the two youngsters must demonstrate those qualities. In defence, Koscielny had a bad outing Saturday it has to be said..I know with him you take the Good and the Bad but i'd like to see him exercise a little more restraints in his tackles. We just simply cannot afford any other suspensions, nay injuries at this point in time. Going forward, there must be efficiency in front of goal than we managed against Aston Villa. I'd like to make a case for Podolski starting, in a tie that may ultimately be dependent on away Goals we musn't be wasteful nor keep our best outlet for goals on the bench. Lukas had a good pre-season and whilst he would have understood the reason for not being introduced after our Red card on saturday, he would expect to be involved fully tonight. Our opponents are not particularly in better shape than us, form wise. They lost their own League game at the weekend against a newly promoted side and would be looking to bounce-back too with a win. (A kind of battle of the bounce backers). We hear they boast some familiar faces in their side like Dirk Kyt, Bruno Alves and co. That should serve notice to all that this will not be a cake walk, and therefore everyone will need to be patient.
Its time to get behind the guys, no more whining over non-existent transfers (at least for 90mins). Of course the outcome either way of this tie won't mitigate the fact that this has been a very pooly planned and executed summer. With all the resources and tons of cash we claim to have to spend, we certainly can do better than we are doing now. Everyone knows this and most of all Arsene does to..so forget all the media posturing. Here's wishing the lads better luck in Turkey. In the stadium they call ''Hell''.....yeah right, if only they knew, where we are coming from..
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