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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Exacting revenge at the Emirates

On a cold winter night we stood at the DW watching Arsenal capitulate to a Wigan side that looked hungrier than us, more organised than us and generally performed better than us. Which is frankly embarrasing.

We were woeful. However, football is all about 2nd chances! So now we welcome them back to our manor and now to exact our revenge.

Without wanting to jinx it, our players are all coming back to fitness and form and that can only be a good thing. The league is definitely winnable with the inconsistent performances across the board by all the teams.

Drogba was quoted as saying Chelski can't win the league because they cant string two performances together. Its a situation that all of the top teams seem to be suffering with at the moment and it seems Drog wanted to try a bit of kidology to gee up his beleagured teammates.

The only team that worries me really is ManYoo. They're keeping up that run and whilst they're not setting fire to the league, they're not losing games and thats not going to break their morale, so we need someone rubbish to break them...come on the Brum!!

So onwards to Wigan, team preview to come tomorrow..

WG

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8 Personnel changes, disjointed performance - surely a coincidence?

Arsene Wenger said last night that the 8 changes he made to the first team after the game at Chelski had no effect on the game against Wigan. Its a shame for all of his money and brains he's not got a decent optician.

Diaby and Denilson had a shocker. Everyone in the stand heaved a sigh of relief when Diaby went off and Wilshire came on. We immediately looked a better side as Wilshire and Rosicky were on the same page immediately.

It was a very disjointed performance last night. It lacked pace, power, tenacity - everything that was in abundance against Chelski. When we were 2:1 up and N'Zog got himself sent off Wenger should have immediately put on Walcott and Nasri. Instead he procrastinated and thought we'd just try and see the game out only to watch Wigan equalise. I said just before they scored that if we didn't make a change soon we'd lose momentum, they'd score and then stick 10 men behind the ball. Exactly what happened. Everyone could see it coming and its disappointing to lose two points like that.

I'm not generally a fan of cheering for a player who's not on the pitch, but we all felt the same. We needed the dynamism and pace of Nasri and Walcott, so the chants began.

In terms of performances, several things were apparent last night; 1) Squillaci doesn't talk to anyone. 2) Diaby and Denilson should be sold. - Denilson isn't a central midfielder, he needs space to work and you don't get that in central midfield. Diaby is a conundrum in himself, I don't know what to do with him. He's so far away from being match fit its ridiculous he started. He was so far off the pace of the game he was practically static. When fit, he's powerful going forwards, but last night he had a shocker. 3) Bendtner isn't a right midfielder, at all, ever.

Rosicky was one of our best players last night, Chamakh was tireless in his running and fighting for the ball, Koscielny did well at times, extremely well at others and then made simple mistakes, but generally the back line defended ok...Squillaci really disappointed me last night. He's capable of much better.

Its such a mixed bag of emotions, decisions should have gone our way that didn't, but we got decisions we shouldn't have too, so I cannot complain about it. It all evens out. I just hope we don't look back at this game and realise its cost us a lot more than two points.

For now gooners, i bid you adieu.

WG

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Bring on the pies, another result needed

Tonight we head to the DW Stadium, where another good result will send us into the new year in a great position. On paper its a result we should walk but the Christmas period often sprouts some odd results.

I'm thinking the line-up will look something like the below, though changes might be made due to fitness or knocks after the Chelski game.

Fabianski
Sagna	Squillaci Koscielny			Clichy
	Song Wilshire
Walcott		Robin Van Persie		Nasri
		Chamakh

With Cesc being injured, I expect Wenger to swap about some players about. I expect Chamakh to return and perhaps with RvP in a withdrawn creative role behind. Its difficult to predict the line-ups but I hope it looks something like the above. You never want to change a winning side.

In terms of a result, we should get this. Wigan are a battling side who have improved massively since the start of the season. Ali Al-Habsi has been playing extremely well in goal and they have been defending better too. Their main issue is scoring goals, their strikers could hardly be called prolific.

Not to dismiss them, with weary legs this is a tough encounter, but there's noone i'd rather play off the back of the Chelsea result. Lets banish the memory of last season, hit them for about 6 and have a great party in the DW. Let them eat pie and we will run riot.

WG

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Staking a claim, right through scumbag Terry's face...

In big games like last night it needs a collective team performance to get a positive result. Last night we got that. Many are pointing to the waning star of Chelsea as a reason for the victory. I think that does Arsenal a disservice and we have much to be proud of,.

I'm loathed to pick out individual performances from such a fantastic team effort, but here are some that stood out for me.

- Wilshire, Young Jack excelled last night. Showing a maturity above his years he was no over-awed by the occasion and excelled in his role. Up against the likes of Fat Frank and Essien he played extremely well and its worth noting that the central midfield of Chelsea were very poor last night. Even swapping Mikel for Ramires did not inspire an insipid performance, no doubt they were hampered by the bustling of Wilshire, Fabregas and Song.

- Song, A great performance by the guy that Wenger said lacked the engine to be a central midfielder (no doubt kidology to make him work harder in training). He was snapping at heels from the first whistle to the last and covered every blade of grass. He's not perfect, but his goal was well taken and his performance deserves noting. His contribution in keeping Chelsea's midfield quiet was significant.

- Fabregas, Back to his mercurial best, if not trying a bit hard at times, it was a great game to have him for, his dynamism, drive and vision was a constant thorn to Chelsea and he deserved the applause he got when Wenger brought him off early to an ovation. Excellent performance from the skipper.

- Djourou & Koscielny, Both played extremely well last night to shackle the Drog. Both showed the best and worst of their games. Koscielny wandered once or twice into midfield and got caught when Chelsea broke, Djourou's timing of headers and runs with opponents was a bit hit and miss but between them an excellent performance.

- Theo, always a threat last night. Cashley was in trouble as soon as he got that stupid booking for kicking the ball away. Theo went past him time and time again and put in crosses (mostly poor) and had a shot on target which forced an excellent save from Cech. Theo's vision to put Cesc through clean on goal was excellent and he showed great composure to score his goal. Another performance showing the best and worst of a young professional who is clearly improving and showed that in abundance last night.

So, in summary and excellent performance all round. Not one player did poorly and will have much to be happy with today. Next game is paramount however, you're only as good as your last game and we need to go to the DW up 'ere in Wigan tomorrow night and get a result.

I'll see you there in the cold and rain Gooners, its a shame Cesc is suspended, he'd have ruined Hendry Thomas and Diame.

WG.

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Arsenal 2:0 Pie Eaters . . . Mmm thats good eatin!

The Pukka Pies sold at the Emirates would have taken a hammering tonight...I can practically taste the curry pies. The Wigan fans had a feast I bet, though they're not as good as "Poole's Pies" I'm sure...

There were two feasts on offer tonight. The aforementioned Pies and the total domination of the Latics by Arsenal.

With better finishing and better decisions it could have been 5 or 6. Nevertheless, a win is a win and the manner of our domination is pleasing.

Great game lads.

WG

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How important is it that we play tonight?

We face Wigan tonight at the Emirates, but with the "Big Chill" thats going on at the moment, just how critical is it that we play it now?

My thoughts - absolutely critical. If we can get our players out on that pitch we need to. With the unpredictable weather to come we need to play our games as and when we can because we can't afford a fixture pile up - especially if we can avoid it.

If we get a mid-week break and our rivals don't for example it puts us in a stronger position. Tonight is a good time to play Wigan. They have two key players missing in Rodallega and Cleverley and we've got plenty of rest from now til the weekend to recover. Much better than shoehorning the game in about 65 hours after the last.

This is a extremely winnable game for us, we just need to focus and get a good result. If you listen to certain media outlets and items in the blogosphere certain players are playing for their Arsenal futures (a tad harsh on the players involved) and I hope they show their quality tonight.

Player focus to come later on today - Theo Walcott

WG.

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Welcoming the Pie-Eaters to the grove

Its cold outside in Wigan, bloody cold. There isn't much optimism here that they can get a result at the grove. I'm in agreement, this should be a formality game where Wenger will mix up the squad with fresh legs.

After a great result at Villa Park, Arsene will want to continue that momentum with a good win at home tomorrow night. There are plenty of squad players that need a game and I expect the squad to look something like this

Sczcesny
Sagna	Squillaci Djourou			Gibbs
	Wilshire Denilson
Walcott		Rosicky		Vela/Bendtner
		Robin Van Persie

It would be great to see Rocket Robin back on the money tomorrow night. I've put him up front but I would expect him to drop a bit deeper and interchange with Bendtner. Regardless of personnel, we should be winning tomorrow night, Wigan are not a great side and we have a lot of quality coming in that should be enough to secure the result.

I'm looking forward to seeing Sczcesny again, I think he's got all the attributes to be a good 'keeper so lets hope he shows it again.

I'll do a bit more on this game later, now I have to go defrost my car.

WG

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Wigan v Arsenal - 29th Dec 2010

I've been speaking to my local landlord re: our game against Wigan in december. Being that my local is about 10mins walk from the DW he's offered to put on a bus from the pub to the Stadium and lay on hospitality.

There will be freshly cooked grub in the pub and a spud behind the bar...what more do we need? If nothing else its the Venue where The Verve used to practice before they made the big time!

At least this way we can all go to the stadium en masse and there's plenty of parking round there too!

Comment me or email me on azraels at gmail dot com.

WG

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