Chelski win - still in the race - how poor is our preperation?!?

Whats the state of the Premier League nation? Chelski are having a stuttering stop-start season this year...and I love to see it. They were back with a bang last night against Bolton.

My thought for the day is this, how lucky are we to still be in the race and still be challenging?

Noone is setting the league on fire, this has really helped us recover from daft losses to Newcastle, West Brom etc. The Arsenal engine room is really starting to turn it on now with key players hitting form now when we need them. All we need is luck to keep them fit. Can we be lucky enough this season?

If we do finish this season well and win a couple of trophies, maybe the league will everyone paper over the cracks in our squad? Will they suddenly be winners instead of also-rans?

I'm still not convinced ManYoo will remain unbeaten because they still aren't performing well, albeit they are grinding out results. So we have to be on the money for the rest of the season. Starting tonight. We need a result and we need to take our fight to Ipswich and show them its not going to be a repeat of the first leg. They need to see the Premier League Arsenal.

A quick point....Every player that has come out talking about the Leeds games and the Ipswich game has said that they were suprised by both teams...thats a massive lack of preperation. Even in sunday league we had an idea of who we were playing and now to tackle them.

Were the West Brom and Newcastle games the result of similar poor prep?

WG

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Good result, lets keep up this momentum

Football games are all about momentum. If you win a game well you take that confidence into the next game. In-form players feel everything is going to come off for them so they try to be a little bit more spontaneous and creative. Look at Nasri as an example of this.

Our first eleven in the Premier league is playing well, they've confident and extravagant. They're a joy to watch and a nightmare to play against.

This is the first eleven that should start against Ipswich. We need a result and this is the way to guarantee it. After the game tomorrow night they have 4 days to recover and it should easily be enough.

It was a great game against the Latics and we deserved the result. Everyone put in a good shift. Another clean sheet is good for the confidence at the back and I was confident pre-match and I'm glad to see it rewarded. Too often this season we've looked lightweight in games we should dominate. I hope that chapter is well and truly closed!

For now, its full steam to Ipswich - More demons to banish following the ironing out of Leeds at Elland road. I think its time for Wenger to gamble, if he wants the silverware he has to play a team that he knows is on form. It should be the same players who played against Wigan....but I think he'll throw in Bendtner, Denilson and perhaps even Diaby who has returned to fitness.

WG

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Turning the lights on at Elland Road

With the visit of Arsenal, Ken Bates was forced into investing an extra 50p in the meter to keep the floodlights on in what was a thrilling game of football.

Nasri tormented, Song battled and our defence was excellent last night. Koscielny and Djourou's job was made easier by Leeds playing tubby Billy Paynter who's as mobile as a bus, but they handled the threat well and neither of them put a foot wrong in 90mins. Both of them are seeing their stock rise at the moment with their consistent, reliable performances.

Nasri's goal was typical of him at late, everything is working for him at the moment, superlatives escape me as I search for originality, perhaps simply everything he touches turns to goals. This in stark contrast to poor Arshavin. I actually feel so sorry for him right now, we've all been there when everything you try just doesnt come off...you have to play through it and get out of the other side but its a killer. He worked so hard last night, he was even trying to win a defensive header, HIM!! ... he's only 3ft tall! (slight exaggeration).

Sagna's goal was exactly what he needed and he should do it more, a few minutes earlier he chose to put the ball across the box and Bendtner failed to get on the end of it when I think he really should have put something on it. It was an excellent, swerving powerful shot that Schmeichel should have saved, but the power beat him.

A point of frustration to me is Nik Bendtner. He's not a right winger, he never will be. He's not got the pace or the tricks in the locker to beat the left back. I know last night with the rotation Wenger didn't feel he had anyone else to put there but I would put Vela out there (he's not gone out on loan yet has he?) because he has pace and tricks to burn. In fairness to Bendtner, it was a frustrating night but he redeemed his performance somewhat with the cross for Van Persie, it was a peach and made Robins job very easy indeed.

Lets hope this is the first of many cups we continue to progress in, we need to thrash Ipswich. I didn't want to preview last nights game because I didn't want to jinx it. I'm glad I didn't. Bring on the Latics at the grove on Saturday, I can't wait!

WG

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Wholesale changes expected

12:45pm - We take on Leeds in the FA Cup. We will not see the magic of Van Persie and Nasri. But we will see a return to the first team squad for Gibbs and Ramsey. I'm hoping that the young welsh wizard gets a game today. I feel he is in a good state to play Championship opposition after playing against it in his last 5 games.

Ramsey is a player I rate very highly, I see a bit of myself in him. He's combative, powerful and creative. Fully fit he's a shoe in for our midfield and I wonder where that would leave young Jack. I think we'd see a midfield of Ramsey, Jack and Fabregas with Jack and Rambo given the responsibility of defending and creating. Though for today I think it will be different.

Today I expect the squad to be flexed and rejigged. It wouldn't surprise me to see a start for Vela, Bendtner and I'd like to see Sczcesny given a game.

For me, I cant wait. I think Theo will start and Rosicky on the other wing and we'll tear them apart. Rambo, Denilson and probably Song to start.

Its so hard to pick but I expect a good win from us today, but Leeds won't make it easy

WG

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