It’s very difficult to put the size of this evening into words. You all know what it feels like right now. A few hours to kick-off. Dreams and nightmares all morning, then all afternoon. For some reason I decided to wear my yellow away socks all day under my jeans. Pulled right up to the knees. It’s itchy under there, and it’s tense.
People play football all over the world, every single week. Arsenal play most of those weeks. But sometimes football gives certain players, certain teams, certain fans, the chance to achieve something which will never be forgotten.
Much of the British press was this morning presenting the game as essential if Arsenal are to keep their bigger names at the club. Even with a game as big as this, all they’re interested in is transfer gossip. Pathetic. If all they’re interested in is the transfer market, on this of all days, then they need to find themselves a new interest, and get someone who knows and cares about football to write about it.
Tonight isn’t about who stays and who goes, who might be here next season and who might not. Who cares? That stuff will sort itself out, frankly. It’s about Arsenal playing Man Utd for a place in the European Champions’ League Final. And it’s about making sure we win.
Sammy Nasri says that tonight has got to be “like a volcano” and I’d say that’s about right. There aren’t many sides against which I wouldn’t back us hands down to overhaul a slim, single-goal deficit in a home second-leg. But United are a little different, and last week they seemed to have what very, very few teams ever achieve against Arsenal – control.
Bits of tonight will be tense, testy, and all about control. Getting the ball down, keeping it, crafting out decent chances. Playing it patient, tight and waiting for good openings. But knowing Arsenal – and unless things go horribly wrong – we’re likely to see at least a bit of volcano before the night is through. A bit of Champions’ League Night madness where everything goes absolutely crazy.
Let’s hope our boys can stand the heat, and that we come out of that volcano staring at May 27th in Rome.
With RvP back and ready to score the big goals to fire us to the Final, the team will almost certainly by a 4-4-2: Almunia, Sagna, Gibbs, Toure, Silvestre, Nasri, Walcott, Fabregas, Song, Van Persie, Adebayor.
It might be tempting to switch Sagna to left back (where he can easily adapt) and bring in Eboue at right-back for his experience. Others have suggested starting Djourou ahead of Silvestre, which is similarly tempting but would have the opposite effect in terms of experience. An unpopular variation would see some kind of 4-5-1 involving Abou Diaby, perennially chosen for the big games, it seems.
As always, delighted to have your thoughts on who you want to see in, and who you’d rather sit out.
Twenty years ago this month, on May 26th, 1989, Arsenal went to the reigning champions of England needing to win by 2 clear goals to win the League. Our victory that night couldn’t have come any later, and couldn’t have felt any better. It has inspired generations of Gooners since, and always will.
Tonight, of all the nights between that one and this, for Arsenal, it really is Up For Grabs Now.
Tags: Arsenal, Big Ears, Champions League, Manchester United, May 26th 1989, May 5th 2009
May 5th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I’ve been flummoxed this afternoon trying to work out why I wasn’t as ‘up for it’ as I would expect myself to be. Perhaps, I figured, I really didn’t fancy our chances and couldn’t bear to build myself up before the inevitable come down.
Perhaps I’m rather tired or simply ‘under the weather’. Or perhaps I’ve caught swine flu after my day in Dulwich on Sunday.
The answer, though, was simply that I hadn’t yet read this piece.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Biggest night in donkeys.
The press haven’t been quite as nasty “you haven’t got a prayer Arsenal” Anfield 1989 but the upset that follows will shake everyone up.
We’re outsiders, we’re at home, we’re up for it. Come on you reds!
May 5th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
lets show up the scum and ruin their season
May 5th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
We need to be on point tonight and give 150%. It’s one of the biggest games of the season and could very well define the last couple of seasons for the club. Wenger is determined to be vindicated for his youth and development.
Let’s go Gunners!!!
May 5th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Game over. We’re done, we look like we’ve accepted the inevitable and again Wenger shows you can’t win anything with kids. He will continue to look into what could very well be a pipe dream. The season isn’t a bust but it is trophyless and the Emirates’ cabinet will have to remain barren. The Spaniard with the armband continually looks on the ground for answers but can only shake his head as each referee whistle blow signals the inevitable. Since the goal we’ve looked unmotivated and uncaring – as if we’re playing because we’re mandated to do so and not because we need/want to do so. There is no leader, no Vieira shouting a battle cry – just some kids who have learned a lesson and are reflecting on it. It’s only halftime but I don’t see a 4-2 victory for us sadly because I tihnk the team has seen it as the impossible.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I take it either your server has gone down or you’ve topped yourself!!!!!
May 8th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Come on boys, give us some inspiration!
If I read another blog about how we need to buy Gokan Inler, who ever the fuck that is, I might shoot myself.