So we can now start the buildup to Wednesdays crucial match in Athens in a much more confident mood than we would have imagined a couple of weeks ago. We have got Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott and Ramsey back in the squad and we have had a confidence boosting second half against Sunderland on Saturday.
Ramsey’s return couldn’t have better timed considering Santi Cazorla was forced into the treatment room the week before, and he is very happy to be back in his favoured position. He said after Saturday’s game: “It felt really good today. I feel a lot more comfortable and it suited my game a lot better, I could time my runs into the box and get on the end of things and I could have had two or three goals but at the end of the day I’m happy.”
He scored one and as he gets more match fitness I am sure they will start coming on a more regular basis than he was getting on the wing. If he can stay fit for the whole season he may even keep Cazorla on the bench when the Spaniard finally comes back.
Another crucial member of the side against the Black Cats was Mesut Ozil, who gave an inch perfect pass to Campbell to open the scoring. He feels, he looks good and by jolly he’s playing good! And he is feeling confident about the trip to Athens. “This season is the strongest season I have ever played. I am in a good way, playing really well. I believe in myself.” he said.
“We have the quality to beat them (Olympiacos) and our goal is not to even think about going out of the competition.”
That’s the spirit we need to see in the team. We may have quite a few injuries still, but we are still stuffed with quality all over the park. Ozil and Ramsey will be the general’s orchestrating the attacks to make sure we get the goals to put us through to the knockout stages.
Onwards and Upwards!