I am interested to know what Wenger will do with Jack Wilshere, he was being saved for this game but had to be introduced early at Wigan due to Diaby’s injury. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see

A happy new year to you all, but I know it can only truly be a happy new year if Arsenal get a result at St Andrews this afternoon. My Christmas present only turned up on Monday when we finally disposed of Chelsea for the first time since 1872 or something. The hangover 48 hours later was not at all enjoyable though.

Birmingham City away has been a very depressing fixture in recent years, a fixture that has had a hand in putting an end to our league campaign on more than one occasion.

After making eight midweek changes in our 2-2 draw, I can imagine Arsene making a similar amount this afternoon as Cesc Fabregas returns from suspension and the rest of the resting crew should return to a side that should resemble the team that beat Chelsea.

A draw would normally be an acceptable result and in the bigger scheme of things would not be the end of the world but as Manchester United managed to win a game where they were second best for most of the game, we really want to keep the gap as close as possible.

How one team can escape a red card, penalty and opposition missed penalty is beyond lucky but that is what we are up against.

I would imagine that Johan Djourou will be drafted back in to deal with the aerial threat of Birmingham City and perhaps Koscielny will be the one to sit out after playing the last two.

I am interested to know what Wenger will do with Jack Wilshere, he was being saved for this game but had to be introduced early at Wigan due to Diaby’s injury. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Wenger start with Denilson and Wilshere on the bench. Wilshere made an instant impact in midweek and his energy and passion turned the game around in Arsenal’s favour from one goal down but asking the 19 year old to play three high tempo games in a short space of time may well be asking a little too much.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Johan Djourou

Plenty of credit has been pouring in the way of the Swiss international and rightly so. We could not deal with a set piece at Wigan and I am sure many crosses and set pieces will be heading towards our penalty area this afternoon. Djourou will be important as we attempt to keep them out of our box.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Birmingham 0 Arsenal 0

With Manchester United unbelievably riding their luck, I cannot help but feel that we will be heading for another St Andrews draw. We do not seem to do scoreless draws so for that reason in this topsy-turvy season, I will go for that result.

If we can manage to get a victory then it could be a hugely important victory. Lets cross all our fingers, toes etc that the rested boys can produce the same type of performance that blew our west London rivals away.