The game on Sunday is the biggest home game of the season and possibly for many the biggest of the whole season (bar cup finals). The derby is something completely different to any other game. The form guide goes out the window, table position goes out the window, the only determining factor is who wants it more. This is highlighted by the fact we're favourites, bookmakers simply put the home team as favourite. Most people, myself included would put Tottenham as the team to win, but derbies throw up all sorts of different results.
After recent weeks, this is a game that we simply cannot afford to lose. The team needs to get up for it and put in a good shift, we've lost our last 2, now we need to react positively. Wenger has come under heavy fire recently, but I just don't think the players are giving him everything which they need to do. I understand the manager should be getting players up for games but when they don't perform what can he do? sub them? with 10 injuries that just isn't possible. We just have to hope the team come out all guns blazing on Sunday.
Anyway enough of the problems and onto what we know about Sunday. Team news is sketchy at best, unfortunately. Gibbs who played against Milan didn't make the squad on Saturday and instead was replaced by Coquelin. Watching on Saturday our players were dropping like flies and that means its difficult for me to pick a team. The site are keeping pretty quiet. Ramsey went off but he appears to be OK the same with Coquelin. Koscielny was out after going off against Milan, Wenger said "He should be back for next week", we can only hope. Don't take this as a given by any means but I'd guess at: Szczesny, Gibbs?, Vermaelen, Kosicleny?, Sagna, Song, Ramsey?, Arteta, Oxlade, Gervinho, RVP.
To Sp*rs, who The Mirror decided to suggest were having an "injury crisis". What a piss take. The word is that Adebayor will be fit to play (cue abuse from every Arsenal fan) but they have the option of Defoe as well as Van Der Vaart. There are a few doubts over that afro prick at left back meaning that the Chimp may have to slot in at left back but I doubt that will happen. Apart from that the squad will be relatively normal. Obviously Adebayor, Chimp man, Van der Vaart and the usual suspects will be the main threats. However I have my doubt about Dawson at the back, I just don't think he's up to scratch so hopefully we can get behind them that way.
Anyway in other news it appears season tickets will remain at a fixed price next season. For those of you who have Club Level season tickets, yours will be going up 2%, don't worry your bonus will cover that and the rest. Ivan Gazidis said when questioned about general tickers said
"We haven't made a decision on general admission just yet...the objective there has been to make those tickets more affordable for fans"Interesting stuff, but I wouldn't expect a drop in general ticket prices so lets not get excited just yet.
So roll on Sunday and lets have it! One team in London...
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham
