Hardest away game of any season- you know possession wise the Gunners will dominate and distribute the ball around which makes your midfield look dazzled and like headless chickens. I think that Lukaku will have to be as dominant as he was against Vidic today against Mertesacker and our final pass has to be clinical. I've watched the United game several times back and our incisive counter attack should have finished with a goal but we couldn't find the final pass and when we did, it was far too heavy for the likes of Lukaku and Mirallas to benefit from. The thing I fear the most about Arsenal are their off the cuff footballers; you can restrict and tighten the midfield all you want against Ramsey, Cazorla and Ozil but they have the ability to disguise a pass and create something out of the blue which Giroud, whose been in excellent form so far this season, will poke home. As others have said the midfield has to be able to strangle the energy out of Arsenal and lay a good platform for Mirallas and Pienaar and Barkley to benefit from. We have to remember on Wednesday United's 'midfield' was non existent hence why we created so many overlaps and openings. Arsenal are far more structured both defensively and offensively so I highly doubt the number of breaks and openings we made will be of a similar quantity today. We have to be clinical and take our chances but also play with a little more discipline and awareness; there were moments on Wednesday night where Arsenal would have taken the lead but a lacklustre United, low on confidence, couldn't. I think we're in for an excellent game and the second half will be critical because it will all be about who still possesses the legs to go on and pick up the three points because I'm sure both teams will be flying around the pitch early on, getting a feel for one another and trying to disrupt both team's patient passing rhythm and style. I think Bobby will keep things the same and alternate should the going get tough or we are in the ascendency and require the pace of Gerard or stewardship of Osman to see us home. I'm both optimistic and extremely pessimistic at the same time. I think the first goal is essential; if Arsenal take the lead then I feel we haven't got it in us to retaliate and respond but if Lukaku slides home from close range early on, the sea of Blue on the terraces will certainly be thinking six points will be coming our way from the supposed Big 4 in a matter of days. Heart says blue win, head says draw. Should be a cracker like but we have to keep focused and order should we want to get out of London alive.
Allez allez oh! Enjoy the game and COYB!!!!
