Morning Gooners,

OK, it might not be a day out at Wembley but I tell you it will feel like it at three o’clock this afternoon.

Those are the words of Robin van Persie ahead of our final game against West Bromwich Albion, a must win if we are to secure 3rd place and with it, finish above you know who!

That seems to be very important as it attracts new players ahead of the transfer window but that’s not what counts today.

West Bromwich Albion will be managed by Roy Hodgson for the last time as he’s just been appointed as the new England Manager and he will want depart on a high.

No doubt Wenger and the Board will have drummed into the players that we have to qualify to attract the kind of players we need to move ourselves forward, the Β£30 odd million has nothing to do with it does it – yeah right!!

Players play in their positions on the pitch but they all have different jobs to do, a mistake at the back can result in a goal where a miss from six yards can lose you a goal but whatever position, they must all strive to not make those mistakes today.

It’s a team game, not an individual sport and one position at the back is no different from up front, losing the ball or giving it away to the opposition is the most harmful thing a player can do and its important that that doesn’t happen today!

When we are in possession, other players need to give an outlet, otherwise we end up passing sideways and backwards and the threat is gone for that moment!

Football is an easy game made hard by errors and lazy performances, if we lose the ball, chase back, get the possession back again, show the commitment that is needed in a team sport and especially today.

Whether a player is worth Β£1 million or Β£50 million is immaterial, the work rate, effort and desire to not give up is what matters. If things are going wrong and proving to be a weakness in our side today, replace them at the right time, don’t let their performance upset our balance, not today!

We have who we have for today’s game and we can’t change that until July, players should be giving their all for just one more game, if they can’t then let some other club have them and get players who are prepared to fight for the right to wear red and white. (with a hint of blue)

I would expect the whole of the Arsenal team to be up and ready for this game, their dismal performances in these last half a dozen closing games has been pitiful and we cannot afford to see the same today.

I truly hope each and every one of them pull their socks up, go out there today and give the manager a reason not to doubt them!

Work hard for one another from the first whistle to the last, keep the mistakes down to a minimum and don’t give the ball away.

Individuality is fine as long as its positive to the team but working as a tightly knit unit will win us this game.

This is a Β£30 million game don’t let yourselves down Arsenal, don’t let your manager down and most of all, don’t let us fans down…

This is it β€” 90 minutes to seal our fate. We must deliver.

Well said Robin, now go and lead the way!

COYG’s

Written by Steve Palmer