Love Sick Underdogs Head North

WWLWHL
By Boris Mellor
February 13 2007

Well you would feel sick if you had to spend Valentine’s Day at the Reebok. Hardly a romantic evening, and not a lot of love will be lost between the two teams.

It’s not often that Arsenal are involved in a match as the underdogs. Nearly all the  pundits had Arsenal down as the underdogs for the visit of Manchester United a few weeks back, especially old moon face Platt, but there was big difference, most Arsenal fans didn’t feel that the Gunners would lose. Indeed buoyed by victory at Old Trafford quite a few expected a win. But this time I suspect a lot of Gooners are convinced that a victory will take a miracle. But then Wenger is a creator of miracles.

 

The past weighs like a nightmare on the minds of the living, and recent results against Bolton are beginning to prey on the mind of Gooner fans and footballers alike. On their day Arsenal can beat anyone, but they seem to be in a rut with the Trotters. Whether Arsenal win or not depends on which team turns up, by that I don’t mean will Djourou or Fabregas turn up - of course that will have an important bearing on the result – but what mood will the team be in.

Arsenal are unbeaten for the whole of 2007, but are in strange form of late.  It appears that the team cannot raise its tempo until the other team has scored. It is almost as if they are saving themselves for the moment they concede; then they really begin to play. Incredibly they conceded to Manchester United, and then went on to win in the last few minutes. Against Tottenham it took two goals to rouse them, they then could have gone on to win.

 

They are like a heavyweight boxer toying with a lightweight, hardly bothering to punch his weight, then the lighter man catches him a good blow on the chin and then all hell is let loose. The only problem is that if they take that approach at Bolton they could come unstuck. If Bolton land a good blow it will not be easy to come back from behind. Bolton are also a heavyweight, they are strong in defence, and have forwards who can really hurt a team.

 

Henry says he knows the team is playing badly, and that he doesn’t care as they are still winning. No doubt all the late great escapes are giving them a feeling of invincibility; the only problem is it could lapse into over confidence. Either the standard of play must rise to the level of the results, or the results will sink to the level of the play.  Let’s hope that it is the former. Coming from behind at home is easier than doing that away, and now thanks to Jewell we will be getting even more shit from referees.

 

Arsenal have had a crowded fixture list, plus international week, many players looked like they were running on empty against Wigan. A draw and extra time is the last thing they need at Bolton, with a prize of even more matches to play. Wenger will have to rotate, to rest players, and that means weakening the team whilst still chasing three cups, and third place. The squad is not yet back to full strength yet. Stormy weather ahead, batten down the hatches and hope for the best.

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