Ever since the Aston Villa defeat our fanbase has been divided on our title chances. With our destiny no longer in our own hands some feel we have to win all our remaining fixtures to have any hope of being Champions. That’s led to debate if mentally the run in is too big a step for our youthful squad?
Even if we are mentally strong enough, we are physically (with certain players) possibly playing through the pain barrier.
Mikel Arteta has been questioned if he could have rotated more?
Perhaps our manager should have shown more trust in his fringe players?
The Spaniard needs to prove he has the man management skills to help his team cope with the pressure in the next month. He will be aware of the perception of the stage being too big for us at this time of the year.
Naturally at this time of the season every aspect of the club has a microscope on them. That includes though ….us Gooners!
Of all the things that have improved over the last couple of years, the atmosphere at our home is the most drastic.
Once mocked for being a library, our venue can be now so loud it intimidates opponents and dictates a result. One of the new regime’s first targets was to give the arena an identity, making little tweaks like finding a pre match anthem.
Gooners are entitled to an off afternoon.
The reason so many left the Emirates early in our last League game wasn’t as black and white as the scoreline. In reality, the stadium had been quiet long before Eric Bailey’s goal.
In one afternoon, trauma got the better of us, we were conflicted by our past, consumed by too many memories, guilty of fearing the worse. Our players were not playing well enough to lift the crowd, spectators had been burnt too many times to pretend they didn’t know what was about to happen.
Many have seen this movie before, know how the book ends, and can predict the ending of the play. It’s an insult to be told you’re not being patient when your heart has been broken for two decades.
The irony being at Unai Emery’s return to North London, he regularly managed in that kind of environment, as did Mr. Wenger in his final years as boss. Where you can feel the anxiety in the air, you can almost smell it. Unless you have never attended our stadium it’s hard to put it into words but if you have been there on a match day you will know what I mean.
Even with good teams and great talent, spectators feared the worst, because of how many times they put their faith in the teams and were disappointed. Opposition would know that if you got to an hour still in the game, it wouldn’t take a lot for anxiety to creep in.
That will be central to Pochettino’s team talk on Tuesday. He will play on the fact all the pressure is on us and that we have zero margin for error.
He will hope the game follows the pattern of our last home match, where without the early goal we froze, crippled by the fear of failure.
That’s why Trossard’s goal before half time at Wolves was vital. Any longer and we would have been consumed by worry.
That’s where we play our part this week. If that early goal doesn’t come, if it’s level at half time, even if Chelsea score first, we need to be the 12th man. We need to make so much noise that it’s uncomfortable for Chelsea to play in.
Because to be honest some of our Gunners look exhausted yet prepared to give it a final push.
We need to help our players. Inject them with extra energy, be their parachute when they fall, be their cape to let them fly.
The likes of Thierry Henry and Fabregas have insisted that the only way our dressing room gets that knowledge and leadership is getting over the line. The first time we do that, the rest will be easier.
So, we are meant to be nervous. This is meant to be tricky, the best things in life are not meant to be easy.
If this proves too big a step that’s not a disgrace, a reflection of where one of the youngest squads in the division is at. Keep this group together and it will happen for us.
Yet, we got all summer to mope around and say what if.
Let’s leave it all on the pitch with zero regret.
No letting the moment pass us by. Players and fans!
If we fail, let’s die on our sword with pride.
Let’s on Tuesday night make this a cup atmosphere. Let’s make some noise!
Dan
I totally agree with your post.
All I expect for the next 5 games is each and everyone of our players leaves everything they have on the pitch
CHelski won’t be a push over tonight but I expect and won’t our team to go for there throats from the moment the whilst blows and dont let up until the final whistle is blown
We do that and we win the game
Cannot wait..😃
Onwards and upwards
I just love the ending part of this article. Come on you gunners!
Article too long for me !
And I think our fatigue will show today
Dan,
the Gunners who Arteta the Arsenal manager will select to start and play in their Epl home fixture against Chelsea. Are professional hired top footballers. Who Arsenal have hired to be playing the game for them.
The Arsenal FC professionals are being paid week in week out some colossal amount of money to always be performing maximumly at the top level of the game for the club. And be delivering wins in games at all times for the club too.
Therefore, the Gunners who will start and play in their tonight Epl home big game match against Chelsea are professionals.
To those who much are paid. Much good results are being expected of them to deliver.
The Gunners SHOULD show and display high level of professionalism in their match against the Blues tonight. And eschew any anti- professionalism as they play match which can hinder them from winning it. But embrace high professional ethic in all the ramifications of it to win the match. And beat Chelsea and win it unfailingly.
The starting line up will count in this encounter more especially the number 9 role.
Gabriel Jesus should start on the left wing and Harvatz in the middle and Trossard on the right wing. Saka needs a rest and should come from the bench. Arteta should start with Rice, Jorgino and Odergaad in mid field. We should be able to get the three points at home. The boys must have the confidence coupled with the the 12th player (funs).
“The Spaniard needs to prove his man management skills to help his team cope with the pressure in the next month ”
Is the five nil demolition of the Blues proves the gaffer is sharpening up his man management craft?