The hectic festive period continues with a game we could really do without given our current situation. However I see reason to be slightly optimistic. Why is this?
Well we haven't been playing that badly since Redknapp took control of the club for the second time. We are starting a resurgence whilst the other clubs around us are having a worse time and Arsenal, as good as they are have been a bit wobbly lately and their win yesterday was hardly convincing so in my opinion there isn't really a much better time to be playing them on their own patch even if defeat is likely.
Arsenal have a few injuries in the form of Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy and Robin van Persie however the man who scored a hat-trick against us last season will play (and surely he doesn't need to be introduced). We have our own squad worries too after Linvoy limped off yesterday as well as Robert being banned so picking up any more injuries or suspensions tommorow is just out of the question (so watch Gary O'Neil, Lomana Lua Lua and Matty Taylor all pick up injuries now).
It seems pretty obvious that to beat Arsenal you have to be physical however looking at our first team the only real physical players we have there are Andy Griffin and Richard Hughes. So maybe the team will be chopped and changed a bit and we'll see Viafara, Cisse and dare I say it.. Azar Karadas. Wouldn't it just be a dream come true if Karadas out-jumped Pascal Cygan and scored a 90th minute winner? Well OK maybe not (I'd be worried if anyone dreamt of Azar Karadas) but Karadas has to be considered an option considering his presence he may give to the team and you never know.. maybe some renewed confidence too now a new manager is at the helm?
Looking at it realistically we're probably going to get beaten because Arsenals sublime attack are going to penetrate our dodgy defence but if we battle hard enough and frustrate the Library crowd we could nick a point or maybe even all three...
Well we haven't been playing that badly since Redknapp took control of the club for the second time. We are starting a resurgence whilst the other clubs around us are having a worse time and Arsenal, as good as they are have been a bit wobbly lately and their win yesterday was hardly convincing so in my opinion there isn't really a much better time to be playing them on their own patch even if defeat is likely.
Arsenal have a few injuries in the form of Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy and Robin van Persie however the man who scored a hat-trick against us last season will play (and surely he doesn't need to be introduced). We have our own squad worries too after Linvoy limped off yesterday as well as Robert being banned so picking up any more injuries or suspensions tommorow is just out of the question (so watch Gary O'Neil, Lomana Lua Lua and Matty Taylor all pick up injuries now).
It seems pretty obvious that to beat Arsenal you have to be physical however looking at our first team the only real physical players we have there are Andy Griffin and Richard Hughes. So maybe the team will be chopped and changed a bit and we'll see Viafara, Cisse and dare I say it.. Azar Karadas. Wouldn't it just be a dream come true if Karadas out-jumped Pascal Cygan and scored a 90th minute winner? Well OK maybe not (I'd be worried if anyone dreamt of Azar Karadas) but Karadas has to be considered an option considering his presence he may give to the team and you never know.. maybe some renewed confidence too now a new manager is at the helm?
Looking at it realistically we're probably going to get beaten because Arsenals sublime attack are going to penetrate our dodgy defence but if we battle hard enough and frustrate the Library crowd we could nick a point or maybe even all three...