While I would understand the theory if we went to possession to then turn the screw later in the game due to hopeful weary late opposition legs I hope we do not go into the game like that. I hope we lay our defensive trap and that is all the players in position waiting for Wigan to pass the ball into their midfield only to find Rosicky, Ramsey, Cazorla and company tearing around jabbing in a foot to win

So here we have it, after the good for nothing Stoke City and Aston Villa spoon fed Tottenham and Chelsea respective victories, the room for error is now down to zilch, nothing, nada.

6 points is what we require to make sure that our fate remains in our hands. If we don’t beat Wigan then we do not deserve top 4 is a phrase that I have heard a lot of late and I understand the need to pull down those emotional protective covers but whether we deserve it or not it does not change the fact that this summers recruiting is partly dependant on reaching the footballing promise land.

It is crazy when you think of it because if Chelsea or indeed Tottenham were playing Wigan at home especially given the cup final game and the home sides rest, I would hold very little hope that they would drop points but as it is the emotions are much closer to home when it is your own team. On paper we should be beating Wigan every day of the week and twice on Tuesday’s but expectations, nerves and importance can play havoc with players minds.

Wigan have it a little different because they are the underdogs who have just been injected with a massive dose of confidence after slaying possibly an even larger dragon, well I say larger but obviously I mean richer. You can imagine what Martinez team talk will be. Believe in yourself, we proved it against Man City, we won here last season etc

What is good news is that Wigan need a victory and nothing else will be good for them so even if they are not a side who play this way, parking the bus is not going to be an option, well not for 90 minutes anyway.

It will be interesting to see how we counteract Wigan’s funky formation. We attempted to match them last year and it didn’t really work well I thought. We had Thomas Vermaelen pushing into midfield when we had the ball to match their numbers in midfield and it made us look a bit disjointed because simply Thomas Vermaelen is not a midfielder, especially in a pass and move side. How about Mertesacker galloping into midfield to add a spark of creative flair? Nah, me neither.

While I would understand the game plan if we went all possession based to then turn the screw later in the game due to hopeful weary late opposition legs I hope we do not go into the game like that. I hope we lay our defensive trap and that is all the players in position waiting for Wigan to pass the ball into their midfield only to find Rosicky, Ramsey, Cazorla and company tearing around jabbing in a foot to win the ball and then quickly launch a speedy attack. Just as we did against Manchester United in that first half. The champions sporting their strongest team (Grrrr) had no answer to us and were second best when trying to match us. Start on the front foot like that against Wigan and we can score early and maybe this time score again. Rather than disappear into our shells at 1-0 up assuming we do get 1-0 up. Pretty please.

I think the team pretty much picks itself all over the pitch apart from perhaps just perhaps centre forward. Walcott will not be the striker, Arsene has already hinted hard enough that he can contribute just the same on the right which makes sense. Do you want to lose his goal threat from the right by putting him as centre forward? I don’t. The Ox as much as I love the kid does not have that same goal threat.

If anyone it will be Gervinho but at this stage I do not expect Arsene to change what in effect has worked in recent weeks if you count 6 wins and 2 draws from the last 8 as working. The idea of switching everyone around and losing all connecting partnerships at this stage would see the decision maker moved into the looney house if I had the power to do so. That being said, I wouldn’t cry if I saw Gervinho replace Podolski, his movement and mobility is better but then that might be better used against tired legs.

I am slightly.. ok well quite a lot worried about our lack of goals of late. This whole winning narrowly is better than not winning obviously but I am not sure it is good for the old heart. Don’t get a fellow Gooner wrong here, I will take a uncomfortable, narrow even lucky 1-0 win right now but can I be greedy and say can I have a comfortable enjoyable game for a change. Even writing that last paragraph has got the bloody butterflies doing their fluttering thing in my stomach again, and why the hell did I go and eat butterflies in the first place?

I am Titus rambling again so here is the team I expect us to play this evening,

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up:

Big night for Kieran Gibbs me thinks. He saved our bacon for us last season and he may have to be at his best tonight. Callum McManaman destroyed Gael Clichy in the final. Ripped him to shreds and I used to regard Clichy as a top one on one defender. Doesn’t hold a candle to Koscielny obviously but you already knew that didn’t you? Didn’t you I said?

In truth the whole Wigan attack will be somewhat of a threat. Mcmanaman, Kone and Maloney are all good players and can hurt you if given the chance so I recommend not giving them that chance. This is why I should be a manager, insight like that would lift players.

To be fair we have done well in restricting teams in recent weeks it is the other end that I have slight fears. While Tottenham can play rubbish for what roughly 83 minutes then they can give the ball to some banana loving bloke to beat two players and shoot from 25 yards.

We have an advantage of having some rest while Wigan don’t but unfortunately I have found yet another thing to worry myself about. Breaks in our games are not always a positive thing. Being a team that relies so much on combinations and partnerships it is not always good to go so long without playing. Training is never the same as playing real games.

But what am I worrying about, we will blow them out of the water. Won’t we? won’t we? someone help me. *gulp*

Come on you lovely Gunners.