Manchester City (H)

Evening all, what an odd weekend its been in the world of football. Many people including myself are still getting over the shock of the sad loss of Gary Speed. When I heard it on the radio in the car it was one of those moments where you stop and think "I can't believe I've just heard that". It was a day as many people said when the football becomes irrelevant and I have to say full marks to those players brave enough to play after hearing the news 15 minutes before the team talk.

The sheer number of tributes that have been paid are a testament to what a true gent he really was. Everyone talks about what a lovely man he was and he was a real good guy on the football scene. He was also one of those players that everyone liked, he simply had no enemies. The reasons to why it happened can wait, naturally my thoughts are with the wife and two children he leaves behind, I hope they get the privacy and respect they need at this hard time.

The show must go on though and we look ahead to tomorrow nights Carling Cup clash with Man City at home. Now the team that we'll play is a real difficult one to pick, if we'd have drawn Crystal Palace then I think that we'd be talking about this in a whole different light. No disrespect to Palace but simply because its Man City, putting all of our hopes on our young lads is a bit harsh on them so Arsene has spoken about bulking up the side with a few regulars so to speak. But who they'll be remains a mystery. Apparently Walcott, RVP and Ramsey are on 'alert'. To be honest I'll be surprised if RVP starts, yes we're playing city, yes its a big game but I think its too risky. 

Picking their side is equally as difficult, I've lost track of who is and isn't a regular, I couldn't really care either. What we do know is that any team they put out will make it a challenge. Samir Na$ri returns to the Emirates to what I'm sure will be a less than warm welcome back. Whatever happens I'm sure it will be full of drama and have all that big match atmosphere.

Talking of atmosphere, the Emirates is often criticised for lacking it, but on Saturday evening it was anything but. Even after we went behind, the fans really got behind the team and after we equalised I really thought we were gonna nick it. But it simply didn't happen. That sad, if I get stuck behind the grown man who decided to stand on his fucking seat for the last 10 minutes tomorrow night, I'm kicking off.

So tomorrow will be a test regardless of who plays but I just have a feeling that we might do city over tomorrow. However I'm more often wrong than right. COYG!

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City