Monday, November 20, 2006

Breaking the routine, Gilberto back, Walcott to start?

Sitting in the car after my football match had ended listening to radio 5 live unknowing of the score. If we had gone 1-0 up we surely were to win 3-0. If Newcastle has scored first then it was destined to end 1-1.

They did and so it did. Bang went my prediction. I am as fucking bad as Lawro!

Arsenal need to break the cycle of going 1-0 down and it ending 1-1. We need to win a game 2 or 3-1 and so have the confidence that we can do it when we score second. A common theme with all of the games we have drawn 1-1 is that it has stayed 0-1 for a fairly long time and we have scored relatively near the end.

Thus making it seem as though we have salvaged something from a game we have in truth dominated. Then maybe we don't go as wholeheartedly for the winner as we feel it has been tough getting back level again.

However, not the rank performance people say. Taking the positives, we are still unbeaten at home. We just need to crush someone at home after going 1 or even 2 down to instill the utter belief.

Ahead of the game against Hamburg Gilberto Silva has arrived back from Brazil. Whether he is fit enough or in the right frame of mind for tomorrow night is another question. However, he strikes me as a naturally fit type of person so I would be surprised if he wasn't involved.

We also have Freddie Ljunberg back in the squad. Senderos is expected to come in for the injured Gallas.

I would like to see us play 4-4-2 with Adebayor or Van Persie alongside Henry and Walcott starting the left wing. Will some of his excellent crosses on Saturday mean the boss will play Baptista to get on the end of Walcott's crosses in what looks to be a promising partnership?

I suspect AW will play 4-5-1 with Henry up on his own with Hleb, Fabregas, Van Persie, Flamini and Gilberto / Baptista in the midfield.

Either way win we must and win we shall.

Prediction: Arsenal 2 - 0 Hamburg

 
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