With 13 matches gone by, second on the log- only two off the top; Arsenal fans have reason to be optimistic. Tottenham comes to the Emirates hoping to be a bump on Arsenal's path to premiership glory.
Need I say, Arsenal's much documented now seven year long quest to be the top dogs in the world's most competitive football league to highlight the importance of the North London Derby ?
A look backwards may reveal to us what awaits in the lunch time kick off and also what lies further ahead in the battles ahead. As noted in the first line of this post coming to you from thereabout the Equator on a calm, clear sky, moonlight washed night; It won't be right trying to exorcise the demons of the recent home losses to Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion here by moaning again over how the supposed easy prey had so miraculously managed to escaped its seemingly inevitable fate - kind of like tethering a gazelle in a lion's den only for the lion to venture out not only hungry but wounded too!
The same thinking also applies to 'the moments of the season' so far such as the 3-0 win at the City of Manchester or the more recent triumph over Everton at Goodison park as the important statistic today is one that reveals that with a win today, albeit probably temporarily, Arsenal have a chance at taking the lead of the English premier league log.
I suppose it's time we learn from the king of the jungle-The lion.Though the sheer sight of a Lion should be enough to paralyze it's prey with fear, nature behooves that even the wimps in the game have a chance at survival.
Some are tall like the giraffe [read: aerial bombardment and long balls into the box and the real possibility of Crouch knocking them down for the likes of Van dar Vaart in tomorrows game].
Others, hurdle together in packs and utilize their considerable sizes to thwart predator attacks by using all means necessary like the African Buffaloes whose fully grown male can easily gorge a lion open wit h its horns [ read: defensive mindset of away teams at the Emirates, the familiar tale of crowding of midfield to suffocate creativity in the middle of the park, hard pressing and hard tackling displays that teams resort to to stop Arsenal's groove. Hard working Modric, and the Palacios/ Hudlestone/ Jenas types in spurs ranks are capable of such crimes against football]
Some are tricky, nimble and with quick feet like the gazelle which uses its pace and quick change of direction to both outrun and outlast a lion in the race of death.[The potent Gareth Bale on the right and a recovering Aaron Lennon may come of the bench and ruffle some hairs at the back]
All said, a spattering of prey does get away from the lion as the king of the jungle is not the most successful of hunters. Quite a lot of prey also falls and provides nourishment to the King of The African Savannah. That said, the Lions success stems from it's masterful execution of the hunt.
The lion plays to it's strengths by using positioning and posture coupled with acumen in strategy. The king of the jungle keeps away from sight by crouching low in the long Savannah grass such that it's brown to hay colored coat blends in with the environment.
The lion keeps away even by scent making sure that it's scent is carried away by the wind and not towards it's prey. It is by such means that it manages to almost soundlessly crouch to within striking distance. Having identified it's target- usually a weak member of the herd such as a young calf , old, sick or wounded adult-, first comes the chase, then the slap by the paw to throw the prey off balance before the kill ensures.
At times, the lion has to track prey for long periods before it is in the position where an attack would be more successful as the survival advantages that the prey holds such as their pace and running endurance are nullified.
Today's game at the Emirates in one such encounter for Arsenal. It is a game of strategy more than raw strength as by no means are Tottenham an easy take and in lieu of the effect that the international break has on player fitness, team cohesion and momentum; this Tottenham Challenge could be a rate limiting step.
On paper, on historical grounds [17 years since Tottenham last won the London derby] and going by current form, Arsenal should carry the day. However, I don't think today is the day to for Arsenal to run riot. I say so partly because of my witnessing of the masterful way in which Sir Alex's side dismissed the white lilies at old Trafford. Even without the controversial but legal Nani goal, Tottenham were already beaten.
On that day, limping Manchester United just like the lion were position aware both in defense and attack. The red devils wore the apt posture as they were calm cool and collected in possession and off possession. In that game, quite uncharacteristic for Manchester United, with more than 30 minutes to go, they chose to consolidate their advantage by adopting a more defensive approach. The boss laid down the strategy by his substitutions and the players executed it to the end.
Common wisdom informs us that a general it is said is as good as his Army. Looking at the image above, Arsene Wengers guns are without doubt some force. The red shirts represent Wenger's first team so far as far as number of starts and appearances go. While the yellow shirts make up the equally important squad members based on the same criteria.
Injury woes have clearly affected the team set ups, but do not belittle the accuracy of the depiction as player injuries are part of the game. In the 13 premier league matches played, 4 champions league group stage matches and 2 Carling cup matches, Arsene wenger has used a mash up of the two sides with the first choice team [in red] being the dominant ingredient.
With Robin Van Persie back, Gibbs back and Bendtner jostling for a starting breath, many gunners appreciate the dilemma that the boss faces in selecting a team for today. Should he employ to pin back Tottenham early by giving Theo Walcott a start? Is Robin Van Persie ready to dislodge Chamakh? Or should the boss think of a partnership of the two upfront? Such are the questions today as Arsenal kick off game week 14 of the 2010/11 English premier league in a few hours time
Leave your comments/ predictions in comments below.
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