Denilson who was majestic in the Carling Cup could well be drafted back into the defensive midfield position which will hopefully allow us to dictate the tempo of game better, while adding better positional sense

So here we are, the day after the night before, ok maybe a few more days after that dreadful afternoon or something along those lines. Having that West Brom game stuck in my head for the last few days has been nothing short of a living nightmare so I am glad that a new game can replace that awful experience, even if it is bad at least it will be a different kind of bad and not a West Brom playing one-two’s around us bad.

Anyway it is definitely time to turn over the page and start afresh, it is self defeating wallowing in the past when we can do very little to what happens on the pitch which brings me nicely onto Lukasz Fabianski who takes over the gloves tonight as Manuel Almunia has suffered hurty elbow syndrome after his penalty save in the first half of the game that I have now forgotten about.

I like many, probably most have a sense of nerves when Fabianski starts for us but complaining about that does absolutely no good. Clearly he is a good, honest guy who has all the raw ingredients. Positive when coming for crosses, fantastic reflexes and very agile. We know that decision making and lack of confidence has badly let him down at points but all we can do is hope that he manages to pay back the managers unbelievable faith in him.

Fabianski knows, Wenger knows and probably Szczesny knows that the faith will not last a great deal longer if he doesn’t show his potential on the pitch. There is no point calling for Wojciech Szczesny at the moment because only the boss will decide when it is the right time to cut his losses with our current number two if he does not produce the goods consistently. So all I can say is good luck Lukasz.

The rest of the team will also have a fresh look to it as Wenger will ring in the changes in an attempt to get us playing our fluid football which was on show for everyone to see against Tottenham last week and then vanished a few days later.

I expect Alex Song to be given a pillow, warm slippers and a cuppa coco after his somewhat below par performance, Denilson who was majestic in the Carling Cup could well be drafted back into the defensive midfield position which will hopefully allow us to dictate the tempo of game better, while adding better positional sense.

Jack Wilshere at only 18 could well be on the verge of gate crashing the senior first team on a regular basis with his performances. He could well come in for Abou Diaby who I imagine is resting his ankle in a bid to be fit for Chelsea, a game that I believe we really need him in.

Hopefully Nasri keeps his place and position as the creative midfield force after the silky Frenchman scored a brace and looked the only player to be busting a gut to make something happen, in the recent humiliation.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up 

One to watch: Jack Wilshere:

It should really be Samir Nasri after his two goals but as he has played two tiring games, I will move the expectation onto the youngster of the team (no pressure!)

Jack Wilshere had a storming game against Tottenham and was certainly the man of the match, he has had a chance to rest his legs and hopefully he can go again. He may be young and inexperienced at this level but his determination and attitude cannot be faulted. He is yet to produce a top performance away from the Emirates in a bigger competition so now would be a good time to stamp his authority on the European stage. I would love Wilshere to be playing the advanced midfield position but he will have to wait and I need to learn some patience.

As for the opposition, well I know diddly squat about them, clearly I am learning from the Match of the day team. What I do know is that they were unbeaten in their domestic league last season so at whatever level, they shouldn’t be taken for mugs. Arsene said that he expects them to sit deep, allow us possession and try and hit us on the break so keeping our shape and learning the lessons from the weekend will be important. Hopefully the squad have taken their homework away with them and studied hard, because the same gung-ho attitude will not be tolerated by our manager.

Mean Lean’s Match Prediction

Partizan Belgrade 1 Arsenal 3 (Chamakh, Rosicky, Arshavin)

Yes, I am picking these numbers out of thin air as I know nothing about the opposition but that is what happens when you start something that you cannot control. All I hope is that the players remember what has served them well so far this season. Working together as a team, limiting the opposition time and space on the ball and then getting our pass and move game together. Once that all clicks then we have a good chance of beating anyone, home or away.

COME ON YOU RIP ROARING REDS!