Its T-8hrs before zero hour. I have tried to imagine the state of mind of our players at this moment in time. What could be the overriding feeling of our guys in the camp, at the threshold of this huge fixture? Pressure? fear?or Excitement..maybe even all three! But one thing is for sure, they won't be in the Christmas mood towards Chelsea, i expect there'll be no niceties on the pitch today..Our premiership title credentials have been ridiculed since that last defeat in Manchester. The ubiquitous dross from the media we've been made to digest from the increasing army of ex-footballers turned pundits is that we don't stand a chance. The manner of the Defeat at City didn't help also. Its funny how if a theory garners enough circulation in the football world it starts to assume a certain kind of credibility. What i'm talking about is the whole ''Beat a Big Team or you are not a contender'' thing. I agree that for team confidence and self-belief beating your rivals is important, but what is inaccurate is the theory that Mathematically, it can be said that if you lose most of your games to the Big boys, you can kiss your title dreams goodbye. The gains of taking points off your rivals is purely psychological especially when the scenario mirrors the kind we face tonight. However, if you beat all the other 13-16 lesser-lites whilst dropping points to just only 4-6 big teams, you will still challenge...especially if those so called big rivals stutter against those smaller guys. Essentially the point i'm making is that if by some stroke of misfortune we do not take Max. points tonight, our challenge for the League title would not be over unless we allow ourselves implode and fall apart.
Make no mistake though, today is Massive for us. This is what top flight football is all about, High-stakes, Pressure, ambition and pride. Its been difficult for us in the recent years to win Chelsea not because we didn't try enough or weren't talented enough , but simply because in their best teams of the mid-to-late noughties they simply had those exceptional individuals who had the mentality and quality to tilt the game in their favor. I need not name them here, you already know them...*cough*.
So unto the team line-up and the identities of the men on whose shoulders the responsibility will lie to deliver the best christmas gift to Arsenal fans tonight...Here's my take:
Szczesny,Sagna,Mertasacker,Vermaelen,Gibbs,Arteta,Flamini,Walcott,Ramsey,Ozil,Giroud.
The double defensive lineup of Flamini and Arteta is informed by our need to ensure we do not loose the midfield battle that will surely be intense due to the caliber of personnel Chelsea boast in that department. Ramirez is a tireless machine that combines physicality and Mobility. In the Capital one cup game earlier this season when he came on as a sub, he literally took over the middle of the park. Taking advantage of our slightly built duo of Ramsey and Wilshere to bully them time and again. In Mikel Obi, he may not be the kind of goal threat from the middle like Ramirez or Mata but the job he is usually saddled with is to break up any and everything that looks remotely dangerous beyond the center circle. His physical attributes need no introduction, a battle is always on the cards whenever he's on form. The forward line has Giroud starting up top despite his indifferent form of late. The hold-up play he brings to the forward moves we orchestrate are crucial in enabling Ramsey and Walcott to get played in behind the occasionally static Chelsea backline. In Terry and Cahill/Luiz pace isn't the biggest card they have, so i expect Walcott and Ramsey to find plenty of joy in between them especially after Giroud would have battered them with his physique. I would have made a case for Rosicky in this game to start, but the nature of his game is such that his forays up front may prove costly on turn-overs when we have to defend against counter attacks. He does the sliding tackles better than most in this squad but for tactical stability i'll go for the line -up above. On the bench we are looking much better now though. There's certainly enough firepower there to come in and do a job if we need them. Podolski is top on that list, we all know what that left foot can do if given the opportunity.And there's also Big Nick Bendtner, who most discerning Gooners out there will agree has that Big game mentality.
So its all set up brilliantly, i'm typing this late because of the rigours of work and Christmas shopping. However, i just knew i had to send this out no matter how late to share my thoughts on this epic tie. Win and it'll be a jolly christmas for Arsenal's worldwide fans that's for sure..Lose and well *cough* ..lets not go there..C'mon Arsenal!!,
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