I am still trying to understand the reasoning for Cesc playing in the half striker role. My first thought was that Wenger didn’t want him to be in the middle of central midfield going in for 50:50 tackles and doing damage to his knee after being out for so long with the problem

I will start by saying that it was only Middlesbrough, we were not under much pressure, Villa and Everton slipping up has allowed us to breathe easy and maybe that is being shown in our football BUT I strongly believe that we watched the future of Arsenal football club yesterday.

This was the first time we witnessed Cesc, Arshavin, Nasri and Walcott pull the opposition all over the pitch for 90 minutes. We comfortably won that game in 1st gear. If we can do that to Boro in 1st gear then I cannot wait to see what we will be doing to teams next season in 3rd and 4th gear.

Andrey Arshavin was fantastic yesterday, his performance was far higher than it was on Tuesday. He tracked back, won tackles on the edge of his penalty area, his interchanging with Cesc was amazing. Those two players will take another step up next season and that is frightening for everyone else in this league and a great thing to look forward to.

I am still trying to understand the reasoning for Cesc playing in the half striker role. My first thought was that Wenger didn’t want him to be in the middle of central midfield going in for 50:50 tackles and doing damage to his knee after being out for so long with the problem. Arsene has done everything in his power to avoid dropping him back into his old role that he is so good at. Months on, Cesc is still occupying the shadow striker role and has been racking up assists before yesterday, now he is back on the score sheet with a brace.

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Arsene has spoken of the balance to the team so maybe the Song and Denilson partnership in Cesc’s absence has changed his mind. Perhaps Arsene wants to go back to the days of Vieira and Petit, win the midfield battle first and then play football afterwards.

Early on this season we looked more vulnerable than any other time in Arsene’s history as Arsenal manager. We were having problems and it cost us. Now Wenger talks of the need to address balance and it looks like he has found that.

Samir Nasri started his first game in central midfield for us yesterday and did a very good job of it. I do not think for one moment that Arsene would adopt that tactic at Old Trafford but for a home match against a side we should be beating, it could be a great move.

The first time I saw Nasri in that position at Arsenal was in the late stages against Sunderland away when we were 1-0 down. He came on a made a big difference to our play. Cesc Fabregas headed in the equaliser late into the game.

Samir Nasri is a very good player on the ball who is almost the complete player at his age but from wide areas he tends not to do enough offensively to make that difference that Arshavin or Walcott can. Centrally he is far more impressive and makes things happen.

It was great to see Denilson churn out a good performance after a few weeks of his standard being lowered, Perhaps the rest out of the team has done him some good. Do not forget that he has played the most amount of games in this Arsenal squad, and for a first full season it must take its toll.

I expect him to be called upon at Old Trafford alongside Alex Song to protect the back four and keep an eye on either Berbatov or Rooney when they drop out of the front line to get on the ball and make things happen. Cesc will continue in his advanced creative role with Walcott on the right. I think it is likely that Nasri could return to the left unless Arsene will want to use the power of Diaby from the left to combat the Manchester United midfield after his short and impressive cameo.

Arsene Wenger has said that he wants us to attack them from the start which is nothing short of what I would expect.

“We will go there with belief and to enjoy it, and also will be faithful to the game we play and will go there like we do everywhere in Europe to try to score and win the game.

“What is important on Wednesday is that we are at our best – when we our best we can beat everybody, so let’s focus on us to be at our best and not to speculate any weakness of Manchester United because they have experience.

“If we play at our best, we have a good chance and can do it.”

It won’t be a Liverpool vs Arsenal at Anfield type of game, this will be slightly slower, more cautious and more about possession. The team that gets on the ball more will dictate the game which sounds obvious.

The midfield will be absolutely vital on Wednesday. Cesc may start a little deeper than he did yesterday. Whatever happens it will be a good game of positive football.

I suppose the next few days will be all about Wednesday so I shall conserve some Arsenal writing energy.

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