Hey guys, as i'm typing this post the results of some key week 15 fixtures in the EPL are starting to filter in and they are making for some good reading i must say. Chelsea and the hapless Man United both Lost. While the high flying ''we only score freely at the Etihad'' ManCity drew with Southampton. (There's a cracking goal from Osvaldo in that one, be sure to check it out). What these results portend for us in our chase for the title is not rocket science. It has made an already important game against the Toffees later today, all that more crucial. I do not need to stress here what the prospect of going 7 points clear would mean to our ambitions. Its an opportunity that i'm sure the boys know they have to capitalize on and though it will ramp up the pressure levels of the game, that can only help keep our concentration levels up..So its a good thing.
Make no mistake Everton are a confident side now and they have no reason to fear us. Roberto Martinez is an adventurous manager that has enjoyed some good days at our expense with his former team Wigan as well as suffered some not to good ones also. But what had always been constant over the years was the expansive and positive football his teams displayed . He favors the offense minded 4-2-3-1 formation as seen below very similar to us. But whilst ours involves an intricate interplay of short passes and endless mobility of players cutting across wing-back and central midfield. Everton love to build from the back slowly and then look to quickly move the ball up the field via comfortable ball huggers like Pienaar and Barkley. Where they intelligently seek to play versatile forwards Mirallas and Lukaku in behind their opponents back line.
In their impressive win against Man united last Wednesday, i observed Lukaku dropped deep a lot to get his share of possession. He was getting no change from Chris Smalling and Co. in the box so resorted to drop regularly in the middle of the park so as to help nullify United's high tempo play there. By adding an extra body, Everton began to retain possession better but Lukaku's position in the box as their top marksman was left largely vacant. In the 2nd half he began to see the ball a lot more out-wide, as Moyes naively introduced Giggs in to the fray in a bid to go for the win..This proved costly as Lukaku became increasingly free and was later to provide the assist that Oviedo finished off to consign the embattled United to defeat. His hold up play is not the best iv seen despite he being built like a rock. But for a big guy his overall movement is impressive and almost half of his 8 premiership goals thus far have come from intelligent runs in the box before being picked out and calmly finishing. He's without doubt, definitely one to watch by Per and Kos.
For us, our recent games have been played without traditional wingers. What we have been doing is allowing our plethora of offensive ''technical'' midfielders the freedom to interchange positions up front from the flanks to the opponents final third. Perpetually maintaining a state of flux to keep the bad guys guessing whilst we pass them off the pitch. Our pressing game has been exceptional also, its often common now to see post-game picture shots on Arsenal.com of 3 or 2 of our players surrounding one opponent in a bid to dispossess him. That has been a massive plus in our game this season, there cannot be anything worse in football other than playing a team efficient in ball possession who also readily dispossess you on the few occasions they lose it.
Giroud will be back in the team as he must be fully rested after sitting out Wednesday's win. Ditto for Gibbs and Arteta. Bacary Sagna remains out with a hammy injury, so Jenkinson would continue there. Our hard work on the pitch has been admirable to many key watchers so far..(even though there are still doubters who think United are title contenders while we are not) We'll be facing an equally hardworking side in Everton but i'm sure our Technical superiority, discipline and sheer hunger for the 3points should see us to the win. Can't really say more in all honesty, just have to wait and see what happens..C'mon you REDS
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