Death Of The Auto Tune Arsenal Style: Arsene Wenger's Team Repays The Faith and Floors Chelsea

Wenger before the Chelsea Must win Clash:

"The statistics are history and every game is a new start. Life is there for change; life is there for movement"

Arsene wenger. Image source Getty Images via Zimbio.com

When I started writing this post, my working title was 'Death Of The Auto-Tune'. A title inspired no less by the Jay-z hit song. Then, my obvious intentions were that the post was to be a my take on the gigantic London fixture when Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates today.


 I had a hunch that it was about time Arsenal silenced the critics: The auto- tune had being going on for too long: Arsenal lack a spine; Arsenal can't defend; this is the nth year for Arsenal without a trophy; Drogba returns to haunt Arsenal; Wenger's team can't deliver when it matters the most; and so goes the familiar tirade.

18 matches in the recent past I am told, that Arsenal has tumbled before the English Premier League Bully boys, Manchester United and Chelsea. Most have been crunch premier league matches where a loss for Arsenal meant a release of their weak grip on the title. Some have been at advanced stages in cup competitions like the Champions League and FA Cup.

In all these occasions, the script has been familiar almost predictable: A change in tact for Chelsea/Manchester United characterized by deep defending, midfield congestion and hard pressing on the ball which resulted in Arsenal seeing plenty of the ball but not goal, complete with THE Pride of   London getting stabbed in the back with venomous perfect counter attack football from the competition.

So effective has been tactic, that it has been labeled and stored for use by any manger in need of the perfect antidote to neutralize Arsenal's all-attack-all-the-time brand of football. With every passing crunch against either Manchester United/Chelsea; my sadness has transformed into frustration. Frustration into despair. Despair into hope. Hope into believe -though not necessarily in the suggested order as the going has been more chaotic and often times unpredictable.

Such has been the journey of emotions for many Arsenal fans. Thus I beg of you to stomach my drastic change of mind. What started as a game preview, somewhere along it's birth, metamorphosed into a post game gloat when I added 'Arsenal Style: Arsene Wenger's Team Repays The Faith and Floors Chelsea' to the post title.

Call that stark madness -as the Emirates clash is yet to kick off. Maybe I have a generous imagination. Probably, it should blamed on the lingering sour taste of Drogba's 13 in 13.

Moreover, Wenger reckons that the recent case of delusional schizophrenia at Stamford Bridge that led to dismissal of Ray had derailed the Chelsea juggernaut that threatened to run away with the title so early on.

Arsenal

Besides, it's hard to fathom how the recently uncharacteristically leaky Chelsea defense was going to deal with a fit again agile Robin Van Persie twisting and turning the aging legs of John Terry, a rested Andrei Arshavin tormenting unconvincing Ferreira and Flamboyant Nasri finally shutting A.Cole up.

Not with Cesc Fabregas closer in mind and better in physique to the man who assisted Spain's winning goal at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Not with Denilson running the soft purr of his mighty engine: intercepting passes, first to arrive in 50/50 balls, spreading the ball wide to open space up, launching the attack by placing the ball on Cesc's feet and the occasional drive and long distance shot like he has shown in the past.

Not with Song enjoying the cover of Denilson as much as he is shielding the back four; sniffing out the counter by covering the open man.

With Djourou and Koscienly, there is pace and aerial ability to deal with Drogba's threat.

Winged by Clichy and Sagna, some forward movement from the back is expected especially on the right as all round Nasri can provide adequate cover.

Fabianski should enjoy his return after injury kept him off the Manchester United game. The  performance of  fellow compatriot especially so in his perceived Achilles heel-in collecting crosses into the box both from set pieces and open play- will be enough motivation;considering that the young pole Szczensy might have as well started.

Subs

Walcott (>>Nasri)
Diaby
Eboue
Chamakh  (>> Van Persie)
Bendtner
Szczensy
Rosicky (>>Arshavin)