While every Arsenal fan will be urging the players to give absolutely everything for a victory over table topping Leicester City tomorrow, our manager is often a bit more pragmatic than that and whereas we used to sometimes get caught out when throwing players forward, Arsene Wenger will now sometimes make sure of the point rather than risking all for the win.
This was highlighted once again in the game against Southampton recently, when the boss brought on Francis Coquelin and left Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench in the closing stages. There is no doubt that we really need a win tomorrow but failing that we simply must not lose. Five points could still be made up but eight would look daunting and the win would also give Leicester a massive boost.
Having said all that, I expect Wenger to send the lads out to go for the win and to play with a certain amount of freedom. Being worried about losing is not good for the fluency of a team and so the defeat of Manchester United by Sunderland today could prove to be a big help to the Gunners.
If United had won at the Stadium of Light they would have moved to within four points and that might have got the prof and the players thinking about the fight to finish in the top four instead of just focusing on catching Leicester.
As it is we can afford to lose and still be six points ahead of the chasing pack and that should help the team to play with freedom and make the win all the more likely. Thanks big Sam.