..Quick build-up to our spurs clash today. So Chelsea also suffered a similar result to our Stoke City Debacle. But in their case they didn't as much as crash land at Villa park...They turned over, slammed nose first, then burst into flames bagging 2 red cards in addition; with Jose Mourinho also getting sent to the stands ( Never one to be outdone in anything is he?). What that portends for us in terms of our title hopes needs no over-analysis, but suffice it to say that with City to Visit the Emirates and a clash with Chelsea at Stamford bridge in the offing; things will look very different again for us with a favorable result in today's game.
Spurs are in a bit of a funk lately, back to back defeats in both the EPL and Europa league to Chelsea and Benfica respectively has seen their hot February form go ice-cold like a cats' nose. Manager Tim Sherwood acknowledges the task ahead of his team today but expects them to see the Derby as their best chance to bounce back. The small matter of rumors of a dressing room unrest has done little to help the mood at White heart lane. The Spurs manager was slammed in certain quarters for comments made over his players performance but i think he was right to say what he did. Not everyone is Mr Diplomatic like you know who...
We have not won at white heart lane in the last five seasons and that is a statistic that must change today if our title hopes isn't to fizzle out. Its instructive to note however that in those five seasons we somehow always seem to go there at the back of some very bad form. Last season, Confidence was low and a combination of poor defending and lack of belief saw us lose in the most disappointing way possible. However this season, even if we aren't riding the crest of high-flying form; we are coming off a creditable result at Bayern and that should count for something (hopefully). Injuries! injuries! injuries!! They seem to be out to ruin our season... Walcott,Ramsey, now Ozil has recently joined the growing crocked list and i find that worrying in the extreme. Every team need its best legs to mount any sort of challenge to win silverware, for us it just seems no matter what we do there's always going to be one injury or the other to set us back in our quest. On the left Podolski will now have to play, in Ozils' absence and here's hoping the Smiling German can continue where he left off at the Allianz arena. I want to see a compact Midfield display with Ox and Rosicky leading the pressing from the middle while Arteta and Flamini space out to prevent balls over the Top catching us cold as we do so. Lennon is speedy but his game lacks end product..Monreal will be advised to keep him on his left foot as he never likes the ball there..The cut-in to the right foot will almost always happen and when it does snuff him. I know Gibbs already knows this, so if its him playing i have no fears. Adebayor i trust will be marked by Kos on the ground and by Mertasacker in the air. Koscielny will do well to be a good boy today and not do anything rash in the box that would give todays' ref who has a strange record with Arsenal any excuse to give a penalty against us.
Guiroud, Poldi and Sanogo (if he is listed) have enough threat in them to cause problems, the question is how they are used by Arsene. I'd go with Sanogo and Poldi starting ( i know, i know its a strange choice). But Giroud has shown a knack for goals from the Bench. Also if anything, Spurs won't be expecting that and it might rattle them. Sanogo isn't a world beater yet, but he is unpredictable and that in itself can be a weapon. Anyways that's it for this preview. I guess we can only hope the boys are up for it as the EPL is far from over! oh and Carzola...I need a big game from you little Man.. COYG!!
We have not won at white heart lane in the last five seasons and that is a statistic that must change today if our title hopes isn't to fizzle out. Its instructive to note however that in those five seasons we somehow always seem to go there at the back of some very bad form. Last season, Confidence was low and a combination of poor defending and lack of belief saw us lose in the most disappointing way possible. However this season, even if we aren't riding the crest of high-flying form; we are coming off a creditable result at Bayern and that should count for something (hopefully). Injuries! injuries! injuries!! They seem to be out to ruin our season... Walcott,Ramsey, now Ozil has recently joined the growing crocked list and i find that worrying in the extreme. Every team need its best legs to mount any sort of challenge to win silverware, for us it just seems no matter what we do there's always going to be one injury or the other to set us back in our quest. On the left Podolski will now have to play, in Ozils' absence and here's hoping the Smiling German can continue where he left off at the Allianz arena. I want to see a compact Midfield display with Ox and Rosicky leading the pressing from the middle while Arteta and Flamini space out to prevent balls over the Top catching us cold as we do so. Lennon is speedy but his game lacks end product..Monreal will be advised to keep him on his left foot as he never likes the ball there..The cut-in to the right foot will almost always happen and when it does snuff him. I know Gibbs already knows this, so if its him playing i have no fears. Adebayor i trust will be marked by Kos on the ground and by Mertasacker in the air. Koscielny will do well to be a good boy today and not do anything rash in the box that would give todays' ref who has a strange record with Arsenal any excuse to give a penalty against us.
Guiroud, Poldi and Sanogo (if he is listed) have enough threat in them to cause problems, the question is how they are used by Arsene. I'd go with Sanogo and Poldi starting ( i know, i know its a strange choice). But Giroud has shown a knack for goals from the Bench. Also if anything, Spurs won't be expecting that and it might rattle them. Sanogo isn't a world beater yet, but he is unpredictable and that in itself can be a weapon. Anyways that's it for this preview. I guess we can only hope the boys are up for it as the EPL is far from over! oh and Carzola...I need a big game from you little Man.. COYG!!
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