For example, in a game like West Brom at home why not replace Alex Song for Francis Coquelin and keep the rest of the first team together and then for the next game bring back Song and replace Ramsey for Rosicky etc. When it comes to the big games like Chelsea away then select the best players you have in every position. This would keep the team very strong whilst giving players the required rest over the course of the season so when it comes to the home straight, players are not burnt out and we can power our way past Manchester City. Yes you read that correctly. I always expect

It is Friday afternoon, I would be cheering and such but I am still wrestling with the most serious case of man flu known to erm man… Unfortunately I am still not winning.

However the Arsenal are back tomorrow and that is certainly something that will change my mood, hopefully for the good come the final whistle. The injury to Santos and the time of year means that this could be a crucial time for Arsenal. It is times like these that have seen us falter, seen us lose to teams like Stoke City or draw at home to bus parking teams more than happy to pinch a point from us.

But I have hope. Since our ridiculously bad start to the season, we have found a new fighting spirit, a never say die attitude that can hopefully get us past the likes of Everton even when we are not playing well and that will be key. Those days where our passing doesn’t go right, we need to find another alternative, still be secure defensively and find that winning goal.

Something niggling away at me, tells me that either we will snatch victory tomorrow or we will drop points and collect more injuries. I don’t know why but that is eating away at me right now but I hope I am just reacting to what happened to Andre Santos during midweek.

Arsene’s rotation policy is quite interesting really. He seems content with sticking to his first team as often as he can which given our recent form is very understandable. There are no easy games in the Premier League these days. Teams at home have to be broken down while those away from home are often galvanised by their home support.

While the likes of Samir Nasri had their hearts set on a bigger wage packet and Europa adventures, I think that Arsene’s lack of squad rotation didn’t help our end of season run in or in fact run out. Arsene obviously wants to keep us at our strongest as often as possible but I wonder what the odd single change to our team would do.

For example, in a game like West Brom at home why not replace Alex Song for Francis Coquelin and keep the rest of the first team together and then for the next game bring back Song and replace Ramsey for Rosicky etc. When it comes to the big games like Chelsea away then select the best players you have in every position. This would keep the team very strong whilst giving players the required rest over the course of the season so when it comes to the home straight, players are not burnt out and we can power our way past Manchester City. Yes you read that correctly. I always expect the best and work my way down accordingly if need be. Just like how I expect us to score the late winner if we are drawing. Many disagree with that thinking and that is fair enough, I just hope the squad are not limiting themselves. Aim for fourth and you are not likely to finish above it.

I tend to follow the advice of S Club 7 and reach for the stars and all that. May not get there but why aim for less?

Back to the rotation idea, I am sure Arsene knows a damn sight more about the conditioning of his team than I do and it would be foolish to think otherwise but it would be great for certain fringe players to have 90 minutes alongside our established players. We haven’t seen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain exchange passes with Robin van Persie yet. We are all the way in December and those two have yet to play a minute together *don’t quote me on that*

I am sure Chamakh would be gifted many more chances to score with Theo and Gervinho either side of him as opposed to Arshavin and Park for example. How good would it be for Coquelin to have Arteta making himself available for the pass? Surely that would maintain the confidence and sharpness of the squad players.

Currently our squad players are restricted to 10-15 minute substitute appearances and the odd Carling Cup game which is no longer available so when they do get 90 minutes they are off the pace. Apart from not having your 100% best available line up for every game, I do not see the downside. Unless it is a case of Arsene wanting partnerships to stay together, to develop together as often as possible. Who knows.

If certainly would be more difficult not to rotate when Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby find fitness. Arsene would have a very interesting dilemma if that were to be the case. Only three of Song, Arteta, Wilshere, Diaby, Ramsey, Rosicky, Benayoun, Coquelin and Frimpong can start in the engine room.

It would be easy to say Wilshere will come straight back into the team but that would be ignoring the platform that has been built up by the Song and Arteta duo. Arsene Wenger has been waxing lyrical about his new Spaniard and rightly so. Clearly not as spectacular as Wilshere or Diaby but he gives the team that stability that has been missing over the last few years.

Wilshere has some serious fighting to do before he reestablishes himself in the team. Rambo has the momentum and the games and if he keeps getting better as well as adding goals to his game this season then he will be difficult to shake off. That said, I was mumbling the same things about van Persie fighting his way back into contention after Chamakh’s excellent first six months.

Ultimately class tells and if Jack the boy Wilshere does not suffer with any ill effects from his injury then I suspect that Wilshere will take his chance whenever that comes. I am still absolutely gutted about his pre season injury. You could really sense that Wilshere was taking another step forward, he had this confidence about him and I thought we would see big things from him. There is still time, still trophies to win.

Right, I am off but I will be back with some pre Everton stuff.

Back tomorrow.