Genuine Contenders

Arsenal outclassed and outplayed Juventus on Tuesday night in the Champions League QF 1st Leg. It ended 2-0 and Juve ended with 9 men. (Is Camoranesi mental?!) As my dad said.. 'They were lucky to get 0'.

Arsenal made Juventus, the Italian Champions who are currently 8 points clear at the top of Serie A, look pedestrian. There was a point, midway through the second half when Juve's players were WALKING.

They were beaten men. Beaten men, beaten by boys.

I have rarely felt such unadulterated joy at a result, I had cautious optimism but to be perfectly honest expected Juve to score and the game to be a lot tenser. To be in this position is a dream. However we still have work to do and there is another big game on Saturday so now is not the time for reflection. But in not wanting to undermine the result, the fact is we might have made another chapter of history for the club with this result.

It was poetic. Vieira and Fabregas head to head. Fabregas dominating the midfield with his hard work, clever forward runs, perpetual motion, slick passing and angle creation.

Vieira didn't look interested. Not up for the battle, maybe he has had it too easy in Italy?

Pires won the ball off him with a sliding tackle in the build up for the first goal, that was like a snapshot of the game. In that one moment Pires showed his desire, and encapsulated the performances of the 2 teams. The likeable Frenchman saying "I am delighted with the tackle on Patrick Vieira - it is the first time I have done that in my 13-year career and it led to the first goal. I even surprised myself by doing it!"

Arsenal looked sharp and committed all over the pitch and after they tuned their game to the slick surface we looked as good as Juve were non existent and laissez faire.

I thought this is the European Cup Quarter Final, how can Juve show so little desire and ambition?

Juventus looked like they had accepted defeat when things didn't go their way and after the first goal never offered anything. I am proud to be an Arsenal fan, none more so than Tuesday night, but Juve fans cannot have been proud of their team after that.

I cannot single anyone out, there was not a weak performance in the entire team. The attitude of the team was spot on, concentration high, organisation, commitment, desire, pace, intelligence, calmness under pressure and a sense of team spirit and discipline that Juventus lacked.

The smile on Cesc's face at the end summed it all up. The realisation kicked in, it was a genuine smile which said, wow I knew we are improving but I didn't expect to dominate a side as big as this like that. I think it was the realisation, for all of the promise we have shown and all of the talk about a parallel with Liverpool of last season, for the first time, Cesc knows we have a genuine chance of winning the Champions League.

Van Persie or Pires? Vieira or Fabregas?

Big game tonight.. Big big game..

Will Arsene play the 4-5-1 that worked so well in Madrid and gave us a 0-0 thriller at Highbury? Or will he go for the fluent 4-4-2 that we played against Liverpool and have been coming back to form with in the Premiership?

Essentially that means either Pires in a 5 man midfield or Van Persie up front with Henry.

The thing to remember is that in the 4-4-2 we have been playing Adebayor does a lot of hard work and is very much a central striker which means Henry is under less pressure to lead the line, can get on the ball more and probably be more effective.

Can Van Persie play that role? I think he is a different type of player, not a natural out and out centre forward. He isn't scared to work hard but isn't a natural target man, he has better feet, looks to play people in as well and doesn't play in the box like Adebayor likes to.

That is why I think Wenger will play Pires and 4-5-1. He can always bring on Van Persie, who hasn't played in a while and is likely to be lacking a little match practice. Van Persie is an ideal substitute for tonight, he is versatile, can play in the midfield or up front and when people are tiring he can exploit that extra yard with clinical shooting from outside or inside the box.

That is the decision Wenger faces tonight, he faced a crucial one in the summer as well.

Vieira or Fabregas?

He chose Fabregas. Vieira had 2 years left on his contract. He would have been 31 when it was up for renewal, Wenger was never going to offer him anything other than a 1 year rolling contract, look at the Pires situation. Vieira's body is unlikely to last until he is 34 or 35. Wenger had Fabregas waiting and maturing all the time, he stepped in last season when Vieira / Edu / Gilberto got injured or suspended and he excelled. It was only a matter of time before Vieira got too old and Fabregas took his place. Vieira could conceivably have been sitting on £80,000 per week and not playing.

Therefore ultimately, selling him for £14m was good business.

He still remains a Highbury and Arsenal legend. He was captain of the best ever side to play in the Premiership. He will receive a very warm welcome to his footballing home.

Fabregas has a chance to show his master what he has learned, however tonight is not about individuals, we need the same team work ethic as we had against Madrid. We can do it, we need a bit of luck and belief.

It's exciting stuff and I'm as excited as a schoolboy in a porn shop.

Come on you gooners!

Right sided attack / Ljungberg & Campbell in

Arsenal won 3-0 and at a canter against Charlton at Highbury on Saturday. 2-0 after 34mins and the game over as a contest. Pires scored a wonderful goal, which was a perfect advert for the effectiveness of the passing game.

Adebayor is improving, he offers something different and affords Henry more space and allows him to influence the game more than if Henry has been the main striker.

Hleb and Eboue are offering a new balance to the side, now we have option left and right and Adebayor is a central point who is always available and wants to take the ball in the central strikers position. We are looking a lot more confident in each other now. That is important.

Hleb always looked an Arsene style player, quick, low centre of gravity, a little bit of a shuffler like Pires.

Hleb has started slowly but has the potential to do what Pires did in his second season. He needs to shoot a bit more but he is always looking to attack and doesn't neglect his defensive duties either. I have a feeling he will be an important player for us next season. The bigger pitch will also suit his marauding style.

Sol Campbell played against Charlton reserves on Tuesday and came through unscathed, as did Van Persie and Abou Diaby who are both expected to be fit for Saturday's trip to Portsmouth. I wouldn't play Campbell as Senderos and Toure have done well and formed a successful partnership but Arsene knows best so we shall see.

Ljungberg is also back in contention and Reyes and Cole are not far off a recovery so things are looking promising as we enter arguably the most crucial period of the season.

We are looking good at the moment, confidence is improving and we have put a run of results together for the first time this season. However Portsmouth away is still a tricky fixture, especially given it is likely to be win or bust in a bid for the final Champions League place.

Time to get right back on track and take that fourth position again come Saturday night and put some pressure on Sp*urs for Monday night.

I am confident we will.

Fluidity / Balance / Hleb / Fabregas / Combinations

Arsenal deservedly beat Liverpool 2-1 thanks to a Thierry Henry brace.

Arsenal were impressive for the most part and we could and should have translated our dominance into a more convincing scoreline.

Arsenal were fluid. Having so many versatile players makes that possible. It was our best performance against a big team this season I feel. Something we have been lacking this season.

Wins against big teams are the key to Champions League qualification.

Fabregas really is coming into his own and threaded a great ball for Henry to score on 21. He got the better of Xabi Alonso, Hamman and Gerrard on this occasion and that is not bad company to be holding your own in. We knew he was special. How special? That depends on him, his luck and injuries. But right now he is along with Messi, one of the world's most exciting teenage midfield prospects.

Henry is working hard and he has been somewhat near his best in the last few games. He believes again. The youngsters have stepped up a level and the team has found balance again. Hleb / Eboue is a great combination down the right, full of energy and pace, dribbling ability and work rate. Hleb has impressed me in the last few games and is deserving of this right midfield place. He is an Arsenal type player and I wouldn't be surprised if he did a Pires next season, although without the goals as he doesn't appear to want to shoot!

When we have Cole and Reyes / Ljungberg back down the left we will possibly improve further.

Gilberto seems to be more concentrated and is happier with a more limited role protecting the defence. Hleb and Ljungberg allow him to do this with their work rate and direct style of play. Fabregas and Henry dropping deeper and Adebayor able to hold the ball up, mean we have become more fluid in a 4-4-2 anyway.

Hleb adds balance to the midfield. Now everyone seems to be clear of their roles. Wenger is getting closer to knowing his starting XI. The team looks stronger, Eboue is a big plus, he has become an important player in defence and attack. He and Toure are a great combination, Senderos / Toure is working well as is Lehman / Toure. Flamini knows his limitations and has been a model professional at left back. The defence have been pretty consistent all season.

Fabregas / Henry is another important partnership. A concentrated Gilberto makes that viable. Ljungberg in a more central role and Hleb wide right / inside forward allow Gilberto to be effective. So there are a lot of combinations which are working well.

The team in developing and we are not world beaters.. Yet! But optimism is well founded.

Confidence has improved. Our form is gathering momentum. No coincidence there.

The reserves beat Brighton reserves 1-0 in an friendly, Theo Walcott setting up Bergkamp. Campbell and Robin Van Persie played. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of Walcott after he signs a pro contract on Thursday.

The Spirit Of Keown Instilled Into Real Potential

What a game! 0-0 but the spirit and tempo of the game were outstanding. Both sides tried their best to score and played the game in the right spirit and it was an open and ultimately thrilling game.

The atmosphere was as good as it has ever been at Highbury, which was great to see. The crowd really getting behind the players and supporting the team well.

One thing that stood out for me, with all Arsenal's potential and speed, skill and passing ability was spirit and determination to win. The shadow of Martin Keown was cast over the entire back line who were dogged and bullish in their defending.

Lehmann was outstanding, saving on Raul shot which seemed for all the world to be heading ofr the net and his handling was as good as ever. He and Toure are taking on more responsibility and it bringing the best out of them.

Eboue was brilliant in defence and daring in attack with some great dribbles and runs and added some impetus to our attacking play with his direct style.

Flamini could have been mistaken for an established left back! He epitomized the spirit we played with. Playing out of position he gave it everything, you cannot ask for much more than that.

Hleb was equally if not more impressive on the right hand side and his constant touch, vision, dribbling ability and pace were focal points for many Arsenal counters. He also got stuck in and helped Eboue out when needed.

Toure was immense and stood firm, with Lehmann organising the defence and standing well and truly firm. He and Senderos coped very well with Real's long style. Growing as the game went on.

Ljungberg was tenacious, Reyes was all over the pitch, and although he spurned a great opportunity he kept on going.

Gilberto, much maligned for most of the current campaign was determined and worked hard, executing one particularly important tackle on Ronaldo to perfection. He and Fabregas were hard in the tackle and broke things up well, they broke forward when they could, passing quickly and incisively. Zidane looked overwhelmed by Fabregas as stages, knew he couldn't beat him.

Henry caused the entire back four of Madrid problems on his own and gave a real captains display. He was unlucky to score but over the two legs he proved the difference.

In fact, it would be unfair to single anyone out as a MOM as the whole side was outstanding, every player showed great spirit and work rate, desire and commitment. We all know they are young but have been bought in because they have great potential. This kind of determination is what turns potential into the Real deal. No pun intended.

This was a big performance. A great spectacle and a game to remember. Henry said after the game 'If you show that kind of desire then anything is possible'. He is right.

Martin Keown has been bought in to instill that belief and determination which was so obvious in much of his play and etched into his character. He is a winner. Let's hope he can help the current squad to be the same.

Away Improvement.. Midfield Balance.. Real Line Up

Arsenal won 4-0 at Craven Cottage. Now we have 'turned the corner' How many times have we said that?!

Consistency is the key and once again we have set up a platform for that. Now we must achieve it.

We moved the ball around quickly and our movement was excellent, Henry dropping back and dictating play. Diaby and Gilberto proved a good foil for each other and Hleb added good balance, allowing Ljungberg to cut in and roam, like the days of old.

Coleman said we looked like we would score on every attack. It's good to see that on our day we are the best side in the country. It's just a shame it hasn't happened like that against our rivals.

Poor results against the top 6 mean we are struggling for fourth. But there is definately hope.

Are we better off without Fabregas in midfield away from home at the moment?

Diaby and Gilberto played in the middle together against Birmingham away (our last away win prior to this one) and Hleb on the right means Ljungberg could have somewhat of a free role and against Fulham he excelled in that.

Or does it matter?

When we are on our game we have such a flexible formation the beauty of it is that the opposition don't know who to pick up. It's a tough one and maybe something to look at form game to game, but knowing your best XI is key to becoming consistent again.

Next up is Real Madrid. Like every game form now on until the end of the season, this game could have huge implications for the future and is our most important game of the season.

Will Wenger play Reyes and Fabregas? He must. A fit Ljungberg is surely a given thanks to his performance on Saturday. Therefore we have 2 positions to fill.

If we play 4-4-2, Reyes up front, Hleb on the right, Ljungberg on the left, Gilberto and Fabregas in the middle?

4-5-1 Ljungberg, Gilberto and Fabregas in the middle, Reyes and Hleb on the wings supporting a lone Henry?

Bergkamp?