Previews

The mood amongst the Arsenal fans after our 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Greeks in midweek was very low, frustrations boiling over online (shock horror) and the managers future being questioned by sections of the fan base. Yet victory this afternoon against Manchester United at the Emirates would put Arsenal only two points off the top of the table, that without Arsenal having found any consistency and it's fair to say, not anywhere near our best form. That is not exactly a bad position to be in at this moment in time, but you know that anything less than a victory today will more than likely see Arsenal fans venting at the final whistle and obviously that helps absolutely nobody at Arsenal football club. Especially the players who we are kinda hoping find some consistency and

It's amazing what a volley at the lane can do for you. Mathieu Flamini has jumped up the pecking order and keeps his place in the team ahead of Mikel Arteta as Francis Coquelin is still short following a knee injury. Gabriel's one game suspension has given Per Mertesacker the chance to win his shirt back after sickness so he will partner Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the defence. The rest of the team that were cheated at Stamford Bridge come back into the side which means Theo Walcott reclaims his position leading the line.

 Theo and Giroud on the pitch at once gives us a better chances of scoring, plus they have always seemed to compliment each other pretty well whenever they have played together. The biggest change for me would be in midfield, I would start either Mikel Arteta or Santi Cazorla as our deepest option which I know is almost blasphemy in the eyes of some. I am just not sure whether tough tackling, hard as nails 'DMS' are needed in every single home game. In a game where our build up play could be more of a determining factor to the result than a battling in midfielder, I wonder if one of the Spaniards dictating from deep which would allow Ramsey

My constant and probably quite random outbursts of 'we really cannot lose this game' did not go unheard. On cup final day I along with a few Gooner friends went to watch the game at another friend of ours where we consumed plenty of beverages and food, pre match it was all going so well and the spirits were high until we of course went 2-0 down, nearly 3 but for a Gibbs clearance off the line. It was that point where I received a phone call from Mrs Lean telling me to try and refrain from passing on my football stresses to Lean junior in future. He had moved into the kitchen to get away from his younger sister who was winding him up and obviously didn't understand the seriousness of the situation. By gee it was serious. Sitting on his own upset at what he had seen on TV. 'This is a match Arsenal have to win' he told his mother desperately trying to fight back the tears