Ok, Leeds up tonight at Elland Road in a 3rd round replay of the FA Cup. Wenger said earlier in the week that he wants to go for all four competitions, he also said he will buy a Centre Half following the ‘breakdown’ of Vermaelen and the injury sustained by Sebastian Squillaci.

The team selection will show just how much Wenger wants us to get through to the next round of the cup – make 8 or 9 changes to the side that beat West Ham and I won’t be too confident, make 3, maybe 4 at most and I’ll believe him all the way.
But, should he make those 8 or 9 changes, we perform badly and get knocked out or the FA Cup, then wouldn’t that make any Arsenal fan doubt his words about taking every competition seriously?

Now I have absolutely no evidence of this suggestion so don’t have a pop at me, it’s just ‘MY THOUGHTS’ – I  have a feeling that young Spanish defender Ignasi Miquel will make his first team debut tonight and should he play well enough, Wenger will put his cheque book away, rub his hands and think ‘hoorah, he’ll fill the void until Squillaci is fit’…..

He’s already suggested there are ‘other options within the squad’. I hope I’m wrong, very wrong but you just know Wenger, he’s done it before and no doubt he’ll do it again. As long as the Transfer Window is open I’ll keep hope but I won’t hold my breath.

Today he suggests he is no further forward is his search for a defender, there are plenty ‘out there’ so why?

If the interview in The Sun this morning is right and Denilson has said what’s been printed, then he can go now. To be fair, in my opinion he could have gone a long time ago but now, he has gone the lowest he can go. Not only does he suggest that Almunia is the better goal keeper at the club which in itself is way off the mark, he has this to say about his captain:

Fabregas is the captain but he is not a leader, It’s a personality thing and a leader can be young. It’s something they are born with.

We are lacking leadership and we need leadership to go forward. There isn’t a leader. I don’t see one player as a leader. At Arsenal it’s more of a collective team at the moment, everyone is talking – but a leader is always important for a team.

Out with him!

http://arseblog.com/2011/01/leeds-preview-the-sun-charlie-wyett-are-content-thieves/ has the real interview.

Anyway, back to the game, what can be said? When Leeds came to us they defended well but they were assisted by some dreadful play by our strike force.

Kasper Schmeichel was on form and made a few outstanding saves during the game but a stupid ‘tackle’ by Denilson gave Leeds the upper hand until Captain Marvel and Theo Walcott came on and together they saved our day. Nikki Bendtner couldn’t hit a barn door that night and Andrey Arshavin wasn’t a lot better in front of goal either. In fact Arshavin should have made it 1-0 within fifteen minutes of the game starting, had he done so, I doubt very much if fixture would be being played tonight…

Who will play in the defence, will Sagna come back at right back, will he move into the middle and give Djourou a rest, will Song drop back and Denilson play in midfield?

Will Eboue retain his place, or will he be moved up the pitch and allow Theo to be rested? Theo’s in for some stick tonight from the Leeds fans after his admission – well, I saw his interview at the weekend and he said he was touched before he went over, so is that really a dive? Not in my book, do people want to see serious injury just to justify a player going over? Nah, I hope Theo shuts any abusive Leeds fans up by getting a couple of goals.

I don’t know the answers, none of us do right now but if it was down to me, I’d start with the strongest, and bring a few off when we/if we are home and dry… But I’m not Wenger, nor are you, so we’ll leave it to him and then pick the bones tomorrow.

If of course there are any bones to pick, let’s hope not, eh?

So, for a change the message has to be not the same as last time please Arsenal, actually, nothing like the home fixture is required tonight, we need a bigger, better and much more clinical performance is required to beat Leeds tonight – do that and we can carry on just what the club needs – winning, momentum and confidence….

Isn’t that what every Arsenal fan wants?

Have a good day all…..