Eboue is likely to continue on the right wing even after his dismal performance on the weekend. We are clearly short on options in wide areas and Arsene is being forced into playing Eboue

Robin Van Persie has popped up just in time for the Liverpool clash which is an obvious plus. Arsene Wenger must have known about this for a while now but has chosen to keep his cards close to his chest. I assume Van Persie will take a place on the Arsenal substitutes bench as it is highly likely that Arsene will want to play 5 in midfield. If Van Persie had stayed fit since his return then he could have been played on the left with Hleb dropping inside behind Adebayor. I think the fitter and fresher Diaby will take that place on the left.

I personally would switch Hleb and Diaby around because it is clear that Diaby is not very comfortable on the left unlike Hleb. Diaby has come in for alot of criticism this season from Gooners around the world but I feel it is harsh to rubbish a player who is not able to show what he can do. Imagine Cesc, Flamini, Song or Gilberto only given a handful of games here and there and not only that but on the left wing.

Anyhow, I digress. Liverpool will probably play the same side from the first leg and have the advantage of being fresh after sitting out the league game.

Eboue is likely to continue on the right wing even after his dismal performance on the weekend. We are clearly short on options in wide areas and Arsene is being forced into playing Eboue. When everyone is fit and available then Eboue takes his place on the bench with Rosicky and Hleb taking up the wide spots.

I was chatting to a mate of mine the other day and I had an image of Eboue giving away a needles penalty tonight. I have also had the thought of Eboue bursting past the Liverpool defence and smacking in a winner. I know which one I think is more likely.

I hope Adebayor will stay in a more central position during the match as we are going to need his presence in the middle of the pitch. 4-5-1 can be so negative when he decides to drift on the left because it leaves us with a 4-6-0 formation. You are not going to score with forwards in midfield positions. It reminds me of when Thierry Henry used to do the same thing. He used to drop deep or pull out wide and we had no other players taking his place.

We know we have to score at least 1 goal tonight to go through but in a way being tight at the back could be a priority. If Liverpool score first then I will worry about our task. We can score depending on our attitude. Come out slow and without any urgency then we can kiss the Champions League goodbye.

I expect our side to line up something like this.

I want Walcott to be given a run of games upfront. Not in a game like this but I think he could give us that spark that extra dimension. He could turn our collection of circles into triangles. He could give Cesc and Hleb some more options by running off defenders and into spaces. I just cannot see him getting in front of Van Persie and Eduardo to partner Adebayor.

Arsene Wenger still feels that the side can achieve the double this season, which I believe is that talk to inspire the side.

He said: “I still believe we can finish as champions in the league but we need to win at United on Sunday.
“I also believe we can win the Champions League. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that.

I would believe it if we were in good shape. The truth of the matter is that we are in terrible shape at this important period of the season, We are lacking in numbers, fitness and goals.

Eduardo has settling in very well before Taylor stuck his studs into his shin. All those draws could have been totally different if he was in the side. Adebayor was not scoring but the one man who can stick the ball away in his sleep is the deadly assassin Eduardo Da Silva. We will never ever know what it would have been like with him available. We wouldn’t have drawn so many games that’s for sure.

Wouldn’t it be nice to a change if we scored two goals in the first 15 minutes without conceding. Am I asking to much? We could play on the counter and pick them off. Then Ashley Cole breaks his leg clashing into John Terry who suffers knee ligament damage as they slide into together to try and stop a last minute equaliser that ends up bouncing in off the pair of them for a 1-1 scoreline that sends them out.

If we all think about it hard enough, it will come true.

Enjoy the match, and COME ON YOU GUNNERS!