When was the last time we played well? I'm struggling to remember. Scraping wins over Swansea, West Brom, Norwich, Fulham, being held and outplayed for stretches by Everton. To beat even a half interested United we need to play far better than we have done for a while. Possible, but I'm worried. I'm tired of having to rely on others.
Speaking of Vermaelen, it was him who gave RVP that assist for his goal when we met Man Utd earlier in the season.
They were so comfortable against us at old trafford, they probably could have beat us with 9 men that day
I honestly think we can beat them, now that we don't have to start Giroud, and our defence sort of looks like it knows what it's doing. 1 issue though, who do we play in goal? Szczesny has kept 2 straight clean sheets, but Fabianski was really good, and was organising the defence well.
I've been watching arsenal for 13-14 years now, and that was the worst performance i remember seeing, even worse than Norwich, and worse than the 8-2.
szczesny's parry for fulham's offside goal was pretty pathetic and that was the only thing i really remember him having to do
We had Vermaelen and Santos in defence for that game. We won't have the handicap over us come next Sunday.
This is my team for ManUre Undecided Jenkinson Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal Ramsey Arteta (c) Rosicky Gervinho Cazorla Podolski GK - Can't decide which keeper to go with, both have pro's and cons RB - The corporal over Sagna, We need some more energy at RB, there were times yesterday when Sagna just dawdled back into position. Jenkinson has faults, but he has limitless energy CB - Mert. Self explanatory CB - Kos. See Mert LB - Monreal is a better defender than Gibbs, Gibbs offers forward threat but is horrible positionally, a bit like a slightly better Clichy CM - Ramsey. Still playing well, hopefully he can keep it going. Scored the winner 2 years ago. CM - Arteta. Has perfect hair therefore is undroppable. AM - Roscky. We need his drive RW - Theo's been crap since January, so i'd go with Gerv, who can use his trickery against Evra/Butman or whatever he's called. Hopefully he doesn't trip over himself CF - Santi as a false 9. He shoots more than any other player of ours, so he should be our most advanced. LW - Poldi. Has workrate and a willingness to shoot. Also a deadly finisher, and makes our front 3 fully interchangeable.
Undecided Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal Ramsey Arteta (c) Rosicky Theo Podolski Cazorla Sagna - need his stability in defence RW - Theo - utd will come at us and that leaves space to be exploited. CF - Pod holds it up well links with Santi and he takes pops from everywhere need his clinicalness upfront.
I doubt Podolski will start. He's had that ankle injury hasn't he? He looked very sluggish yesterday too.
Going to be very painful with RVP coming to the Emirates as champion, while we're fighting tooth and nail to secure that top 4 spot (again). Wenger seriously better sort things the **** out this summer and make us challengers again, with our resources, there's no reason we have to find ourselves scrapping to get into the top 4.
Rather give him a guard of honour. Although if United needed to win at ours, we could also stop you from doing it Problem solved.
Watching MOTD, and wow, Robbie Savage instead of being negative for Arsenal, says we will be safe and be in the top 4, and it's between Spurs and Chelsea. If I'm honest, I also think we have a better chance of finish above Chelsea than Spurs, I can see Spurs drawing at Chelsea, and see Chelsea dropping more points to United away, and potentially Everton at home.
