Thursday 10 April 2014

Wigan (N)

The league is well and truly out of our hands now, after our humiliating defeat to Everton we now rely on results from others AGAIN to get into the Champions League. Should Everton win their game in hand which lets face it against Sunderland they will, we will be 2 points behind them in the race for the top four.


Our attentions now turn to our best chance of a trophy this year when we take on Wigan at Wembley on Saturday. This is a huge game and for a team that hasn't won in 4 games, we really need to turn up and put on a show. There is no doubt that we have enough to beat Wigan but this is the FA Cup and we have our own Wembley demons to deal with. The new Wembley hasn't been a happy hunting ground for us at all, in fact I don't know if we've even won there yet. Wigan travel under no pressure knowing that all the eyes are on us.

Team news ahead of the game is less than encouraging with the OX, Gibbs and Rosicky all facing late tests ahead of the game. Aaron Ramsey however is fit to start and I have a feeling he will be in such a game. Wenger also confirmed that Fabianski will start ahead of SZCZ as he has throughout the competition. News amongst others is that Koscielny has a chance against West Ham on Tuesday and Ozil a chance against Hull on the 19th. 

I haven't seen much of Wigan this season but I know that they're playing well in the Championship despite defeat to struggling Millwall the other night. They still play their own brand of football and if we're not completely focused they'll punish us. I still worry about our defence with Vermaelen and Monreal playing together, the Spaniard has his moments but he's certainly much less eratic with Kos on the right of him. 

Aside from Birmingham three years ago this is our best chance of winning a trophy since the infamous drought. If we can shake this monkey off our back it will be a giant step to truly competing again. It'll be a hard game but at this stage that's to be expected at this stage in the season. I'll see you all on the other side on Monday. COYG!