Liverpool Preview + Arshavin Interest?
45 comments December 21st, 2008
Win and the gap to the top is five points. Lose and it’s eleven.
Perhaps even more pressingly, defeat today and on Boxing day would see us seven points behind rivals for fourth place Aston Villa.
It’s a crunch fixture at critical time. And I’m oddly confident.
Perhaps it’s because Liverpool have never won at the Emirates, or perhaps it’s because I expect our players will be motivated to avenge the Champions League Quarter-Final defeat of last season. Whatever it is, I feel fairly certain our players will perform today. Maybe I, like many of those players, simply find it easier to get up for the big games.
Samir Nasri is likely to return on the left, and I personally think Arsene will continue with Denilson on the right with Song and Cesc in the centre. On his return to the Emirates Stadium, I fully expect Emmanuel Eboue to come on and score seven. That might get the fans of his back. (Might.)
Arsene is in bullish mode ahead of the game:
“I can understand the critics who say we are not in the title race, and it is part of my job to make the second half of the season better. I have analysed what we have done and what others have done, and it makes me believe that we can be at the top again soon. So many people are questioning my team, but I have every faith in them. Technically, they still have it all. All we need is to pass the ball better in the final third of the pitch.”
I find that last sentence remarkable. With our ineptitude at the defensive side of the game, it seems extraordinary that Arsene feels it is in the final third we require improvement.
However misguided that may be, perhaps it explains Arsene’s reported interest in Andrei Arshavin. The story was born in The Mail, who are actually usually pretty spot on when it comes to our transfer dealings. I remember they were the first/only paper to report that we were close to signing Jens Lehmann, and they were also the first to reveal David Dein’s meetings with Del Nido to discuss signing Jose Reyes. At the time that signing seemed as unlikely as Arshavin’s does today.
Whilst Arshavin isn’t exactly top of the list of players we need, he’d be a better wide man than Denilson, and better support striker than Diaby. Alongside a couple of defensive reinforcements, his addition would be an exciting one.
Anyway, for now it’s just speculation. Today is all about three points against Liverpool and the truly hateful Rafael Benitez (I refuse to call him Rafa – it’s too close to endearment).
Like I said, I’m worryingly confident. Come on Arsenal.
