Wolves + Barca thoughts: Press Press Press
143 comments April 6th, 2010
Arsenal 1 – 0 Wolves (Bendtner, 90+4)
Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
Bendtner’s header kept our challenge alive
Chelsea’s win at Old Trafford means we cannot afford to drop a single point between now and the end of the season if we’re to have any chance of claiming the title. They’re clear favourites now, but still face tricky journeys to Spurs and Liverpool.
We got away with one of our weakest line-ups of the season
Had Bendtner failed to score would Arsene have been criticised for leaving the Dane, Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri on the bench?
Eduardo and Vela are in serious danger of being shipped out this summer
There is reason for patience with both: Eduardo is recovering from a terrible injury, whilst Vela is at the start of what could yet be an illustrious career. However, with Marouane Chamakh likely to arrive in July, both seem in danger of slipping yet further down the pecking order. On Saturday, neither looked like making any impression in their time on the field – Eduardo in particular looks a shadow of the predator we once knew, whilst Vela has suffered the indignity of being left out of tonight’s thread-bare squad for the Nou Camp.
Sol Campbell has been a remarkably astute signing
A couple of times in this game he held off Kevin Doyle for pace, who is no slouch. But what he offers is far more than canny playing ability – he is a leader and a winner. He galvanises and organises those around him better than any player we’ve had since Patrick Vieira left. If he is called upon tonight he may struggle, but he certainly won’t let anyone down.
There is a strong determination in this side
that will be needed at the Nou Camp tonight. It’s what has brought us so many late goals, and it comes from two very distinct places: there is one set of players who have never won anything, and are determined to make their first imprint on history. But crucially we now have a few – the likes of Campbell, Silvestre, and Rosicky – who suspect this may be their last chance. They will give everything they can between now and the season’s end.
The loss of Song is a huge one
He was arguably our best outfield player in the first leg, and kept Lionel Messi relatively quiet in that torturous first-half. Denilson has big shoes to fill, and will need to be ably supported by Abou Diaby, who simply has to perform better than he did last week.
Starting Walcott would put us on the front foot
The principal difference between us and Barcelona is not, contrary to popular opinion, how well they keep the ball, but how hard they work to win it back. They press very high up the pitch, with two or three players closing down the opposition in their own half. They force errors, win the ball, and exploit the created space. Arsenal must do that tonight, which means the front three of Bendtner, Rosicky and one of Eboue or Walcott working extremely hard. I think starting Theo would give us an attacking impetus that might spare us from coming under too much pressure ourselves. If Abidal plays centre-back with Maxwell at left-back, he’ll be able to exploit the Brazilian.
It’s a cup-tie
Barca are massive favourites but funny things can happen in a one-off game. If we can stay with Barca until the last twenty minutes or so, anything can happen. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already got butterflies.
Let’s do it for Cesc. Come On You Reds.
