Mind the rotor – its every 2 and a half days

The Coach
By Boris Mellor
December 12 2006

Seven games in 18 days – that’s one every two and a half days!! This is fixture madness, and no doubt due to the number of International breaks. True the Wigan game is the game in hand, and one game is the Lager Cup, but it is still a game every two and a half days.

That means the Wenger Rotor will have to operate at full steam, but he will need to get it right. It is difficult because the squad is still not at full strength. But if Wenger believes that it is possible to compete for the league (personally I haven’t much hope on that score) then he will have to get the team on a run now. We certainly will need to get a run going to insure third place. It is no use beating Man U, and denting the Russians title hopes, and then go tits up in the Northwest graveyard. So Arsene will have to come up with a bit more than the team that flopped up Fulham, probably the only game the team deserved to lose all season.

Wenger expresses shock at Pardew’s sacking, but if Arsenal had not let him off the hook, he would have been sacked weeks ago. Arsenal got a draw at Chelsea with one of the youngest outfields ever, but one problem with youth is inconsistency. Youth can be up for the big occasion, but not be up for the daily grind. If they don’t treat Wigan with respect they will lose. Wigan always scores at home, and only Man U and Liverpool have won there this season.

So it will be tough, but Arsenal should build on their great performance on Sunday, the idea that Arsenal can be bullied was proved to be nonsense, for vast periods our midfield outfought the best, and most physically strong, midfield in the Premiership. They could do it again if they find the same will power and energy as at Chelsea.

Kolo is the only new addition from Sunday, Gallas is still out, Henry is out, but Rosicky may be back for the weekend, and there is a small chance for the weekend that Gallas too may return. Should all help the Rotor.

Arsenal Possible Squad Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, van Persie, Almunia, Walcott, Adebayor, Baptista, Hoyte, Song, Flamini.

Don’t forget to enter your predictions on the league.