West Brom (a): The title chase resumes

So the first time in some while that Arsenal have failed to reach the Quarter Finals of the Champions League. The optimist would tell you how this would reduce the fixture congestion over the next couple of months, allowing us to concentrate on the trophy that matters the most.

It has been a strange season up till now. A neutral’s delight they tell you. But then, does this fabled ‘neutral’ really exist? The sort chap who enjoys football for, well, football’s sake alone. I haven’t met one yet. If you’re the sort then do drop in a mail. I might send you a gift coupon or something.

The reverse fixture at The Emirates earlier in the season was nothing short of diabolical. To be 3 nil down in home game against a newly promoted team does not exactly bear well for a team aspiring to win the League. That particular result was partly due to some shoddy goalkeeping by our then No. 1 Manuel Almunia, whose less-than-exemplary performance saw him being dropped down the pecking order. The ‘official’ reason stated though was a ‘mysterious’ ailment. He was not to be seen playing a Premier League game again.

His replacement wasn’t exactly someone not prone to the occasional bungle, but on confidence alone a certain improvement. However it wasn’t until Szczesny came to fray that I felt our goalkeeping worries were finally behind us. They were right behind us because as fate would have it Almunia is back to continue from where he seemingly left off.

Joining him in the squad would be our new/old keeper, the former Invincible Jens Lehmann. Injuries to both Fabianski and Szczesny meant Arsene had to bring in an emergency replacement which meant he basically had two options:-

1. To buy an experienced keeper from somewhere at this point of the season.
2. To re-sign Lehmann who happened to be at Arsenal trying to earn his coaching badges.

Could not have been the most difficult decision Wenger has had to make. With team and fan moral at an all-time low, Lehmann’s presence would – as was the case with Sol last year – come as a boost. Although at 41 and having retired from football at the end of last season he does not inspire the sort of confidence we could do with right now. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see how this one pans out.

Injuries to Song, Fabregas and Diaby, in addition to the long term absentees, presents another opportunity for the likes of Denilson and Roskicy.
The line-up we could expect today: Almunia; Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy; Nasri, Denilson, Rosicky, Wilshere, Arshavin; van Persie.

It has been a very nightmarish fortnight, as Wenger rightly puts it. Cup heartbreaks, crucial injuries, inexplicable refereeing, fortunate neighbours and what not. Why even the weather’s been terrible down here. But this isn’t the time wallow in the inequities of the past. It would be just like the Arsenal we’ve come to know over the past few seasons to crumble at this stage. This isn’t the time to wonder about the ‘what-if’s’ surroundings the events that have conspired in the last couple of weeks. Now is the time to pick ourselves up and to stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

So here’s to three points at the Hawthornes. One nil would do just fine for starters. Cheers to wherever you’re watching the game.