Wigan (H)

Well due to Chelsea's inability to see out a game we're in a position where only 2 wins will do. As expected Tottenham beat Stoke and have jumped us back into 4th. The importance of Champions League football is pivotal and decides who and what we can do this summer. We take on a Wigan side who are literally fighting for their survival, if they lose tomorrow they are down. A game that is simply must win for both teams, they will be buoyed by their FA cup win over City and us having 10 days rest. Anything over than a win tomorrow leaves us praying for a favour from Di Canio's Sunderland at the lane on the last game of the season.

I'm worried about this match. Wigan are a team we don't seem to perform against, we absolutely have to perform against them. With Newcastle safe, we can go there knowing they don't need a win but it's almost irrelevant if we can't take 3 points tomorrow. With Giroud serving the last of his ban, Podolski looks most likely to retain his spot up top. Apart from that we have no injury worries the central role in the midfield will be up for grabs between Wilshere and Rosicky. I think Rosicky will probably be the preferred option and that's not necessarily a bad thing considering he isn't afraid to shoot unlike the rest of our team.

Wigan on the other hand will probably field a side similar to the team that beat City on Saturday. With stand our performances from McManaman who ran the show along with threats from their other players Kone, Gomez and co. However they have defensive problems with Alcarez in at right back which may be our best option to get in behind them.

This will be a hard game, a really hard game and we know that Wigan play good football and they are dangerous. But if we come out and really go at them and play like we all know we can, we can do it. We can't bank on other teams to do us favours but as it stands we have our destiny in our own hands.

As it's such a crucial game and I'm superstitious I'm not going to predict this one, just pray for an Arsenal win.

Bayern Munich (A)

After 10 days without an Arsenal match, we play in one of the most pointless games. We travel to take on the might of Bayern Munich with a weakened team. Quite frankly right now the only thing we should be focusing on is the league and we have some big games coming up. I can understand what Wenger is saying that if we could grab a win it would boost confidence but I really can't see it. 

We go into the game knowing that Wilshere is out for around 3 weeks. The news on him seems to be that he will miss this weekend and the internationals but we're hopeful he'll be back when we take on Reading at home. I really hope that it only is 3 weeks because Wilshere has been the engine in midfield and without him we are certainly a weaker team. Along with Wilshere we're without Sagna which means Jenkinson will be on the right. Podolski took to twitter to say he has an "annoying" problem which may explain why we've seen so little of the dangerous German recently. In terms of on the left we may have Gibbs back which would be a real boost. Bizarrely SZCZ is out tonight, Wenger has said that he needs a rest "mentally". Make of that what you will. So my guess tonight is: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Cazorla, Arteta, Ramsey, Alex OC, Walcott, Giroud.

The news from the German camp is that they will be without Robben and Ribery for tonight not that it makes much difference as their team has quality throughout. They're better than us in every area of the pitch and I think maybe only Wilshere would get into their team. I'm not going to go into their threats we all know who they are.

To get a result tonight is a mammoth task and you wont find many punters backing us to score at least 3 there. They have the most sound defence in the Bundesliga and to stick 1 past them there, let alone 3 will tonight be too much.

Prediction: Bayern 2-0 Arsenal

Swansea (H)

Firstly apologies for not having a preview up for the City game, I've been extremely busy recently and still am to an extent. I'll start with just a little bit on the City match. It was a game that was undoubtedly influenced by the sending off of Koscielny for rugby tackling Dzeko in our box. From there we never really looked like getting back into it and although the second half was a lot better, the game had gone. We were dealt a big blow injury blow losing Arteta pre-match and I felt that led to the rushed decision to include Diaby in the squad, who although showed flashes of quality, showed more signs of a man who has played very little football recently. Overall a disappointing result.

With the injury to Arteta in mind the midfield tonight could be interesting. Rosicky is also out with a calf problem which causes yet more problems in the midfield. I think we'll see Ramsey come in to partner Cazorla and Wilshere but Diaby may also feature in his progression back to the team before his inevitable injury. There is the possibility of playing the more defensively minded Coquelin which I can also see Wenger going for to deal with the likes of Michu and Graham.

I think the side we'll play will be something along the lines of: SZCZ, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Sagna, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Alex OC, Podolski, Walcott. Obviously we're also without Koscielny due to his suspension, which he'll begin tonight. The team will have to be on top form tonight if we are to progress against a Swansea side who have already won at the Emirates this season. 

Obviously their main threat is Michu who just can't stop scoring at the moment, but they also have Graham and Routledge who can pop up with goals every now and then. Our full backs will need to be on form tonight and if they go forward they need to get back. Similarly I think Gibbs will need some help from Podolski who seems to be reluctant to track back.

Tonight's match is critical for us in many ways, it represents our best chance of a trophy, it's a chance for us to return to winning ways and it's a chance for us to send a message to other teams in the league by showing them that we mean business. Till tonight we just won't know. COYG!

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Swansea  

Arsenal 2-0 Montpellier

It was not a classic Arsenal performance by any means, but it was a game where there was only ever going to be one winner. The first half was frustrating and really disappointing. For the first 10 minutes I can't recall seeing any team pass as badly as we did, balls were being sprayed all over the place by Wilshere, Alex OC and a few others. We did eventually settle down and began to boss the game, especially in the midfield. However for all our dominance we created only 3 chances. The best of which came to Podolski who dragged his right footed effort wide.

4 minutes into the second half however and we were on the score sheet and it was a special moment for Jack Wilshere, after so long out of action. Podolski knocked it back for Vermaelen who crossed it in, the ball was expertly controlled by Giroud and Wilshere flicked the ball past the keeper, a great finish. He showed his appreciation by running to the bench and hugging Declan Lynch, our fitness coach.

We continued to hammer the Montpellier goal and then in the 63rd minute, Podolski showed exactly what he can do with his left foot. Podolski and Giroud linked up well and Giroud flicked the ball back to Podolski who hammered the ball in past the keeper, definitely our best goal of the season. The points were sealed and we could have had more.

Giroud was denied a goal by the onrushing keeper as was Cazorla. Montpellier to be fair had their chances too and there were a few worrying moments in the Arsenal box but in the end we were the dominant team and we thoroughly deserved the points. New that Schalke had scored late on meant we were through, for the 13th consecutive season. We can still win the group in Olypiacos but its nice to know that now the pressure is off.

Job well done and now we look ahead to Villa away on Saturday.