In my eyes our season changed after we lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. We came out the next Monday against Chelsea a totally different animal. Our work rate increased, our desire and commitment had shot through the roof. We no longer looked like a talented yet inconsistent side

What exactly is the point of this Saturday?

For the Gooners out there today, it is just about getting through today as quickly as possible so we can watch the boys strutting their stuff at Wembley. According to Jermaine Jenas, it will be the first time since 1998 that we have been to Wembley, somewhat longer than I thought it was but hey, he is the professional isn’t he? Professional spud and that pretty much says it all I guess.

I keep wondering how I would be feeling if this was the Champions League final we were taking part in tomorrow. I am full of excitement, nerves and bullishness at the prospect of tomorrow’s encounter. I must admit I feel somewhat hypocritical about my feelings. I have often ridiculed some of my mates who unfortunately for them, support other clubs. They have in the past celebrated Carling Cup victories and I have thrown the usual Mickey mouse comments their way. Over the last few weeks I have been keeping my thoughts under control in their presence whilst slightly wetting my pants at the thought of Van Persie and Cesc lifting the trophy, a first trophy for many of our squad members.

I have been wondering about the possible team selection in Cesc’s and Theo’s absence. In fact I seem to change my mind every couple of minutes. Wenger will choose Diaby, actually no, he will play like for like with Rosicky, in fact I am sure Bendtner’s form will allow him to continue in the team. I really do not know, so it leaves me scratching my head on how to approach tomorrow’s match preview of the game.

Arsene’s quotes about Wilshere were very interesting:

“He’s had very good games,” said Wenger. “His confidence has grown, his responsibility has grown, certainly.

“Our game goes naturally through Fabregas. When he’s not there, it will go more through Wilshere.

“The way of the game is simple: it goes always through the team’s strong points. So that the game goes through Wilshere is a good thing for him because it means the players around him have confidence in him. He will enjoy this game.”

Does this mean that Wilshere will take on the same responsibility and position as our captain or does it just mean that Wilshere will have to step up and get on the ball more in Cesc’s absence?

I have a good feeling about Wilshere tomorrow, he has played so far against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Chelsea home and away and Barcelona at the Emirates. He has never looked out of his depth, has always looked at least as good as his senior team mates. I would say that he is currently at his season’s peak. He is looking confident and his ability is coming out more and more as each game passes by.

Jack the boy Wilshere could contribute considerably to our team tomorrow against a side that will no doubt try to frustrate and kill the game as much as possible.

Bacary Sagna, the worlds best right back.. ever! (something like that anyway) has spoken about the team’s previous fear of losing but luckily for us, it is all a thing of the past.

“We were [scared], but we are not any more. We have grown up as a team, we are wiser and now in the final. It has taken time, but we are on a good way to being successful.” said the right back.

“We have been close to winning something but we got scared, we stopped playing and were waiting for the result to happen.

“I hope Sunday will be a good way to show people we can win, and go on to even more, to show we are very hungry.”

No wonder we didn’t win, when you stop playing then surely you will lose the game. Perhaps now that we play in every game we can win everything that is available.

Jokes aside, we certainly looked fearful in games in which we were winning and then the opposition pull one back. The team are growing and looking far more mature and solid defensively.

I think the next step for this team will be to defend for a length of time and look organised and unflustered. Easier said than done with a side built to play football, create chances and score goals.

To the main point of today’s post, I have tried to articulate this in the past but I have not quite managed to explain myself properly.

I have spoken about Wenger finding the right balance and system to use for many years and I really believe that this team is ready to dominate domestically if we can keep our players together, keep the same hunger and keep improving. Someone pointed out on Twitter that from our first team squad we only have a few players who are unlikely to improve. Squillaci, Rosicky and perhaps Arshavin are probably rolling down the career hill while so many are still climbing up to reach their peak. Jack Wilshere and Samir Nasri are currently sprinting up the hill at full pelt.

At the beginning of this season our talent and ability was allowing us to win a majority of our games but we were slipping up against certain sides who are clearly not as good as we are. West Brom, Newcastle and Tottenham have come to the Emirates and left with all the points. Whilst I do not expect us to win all of our games I would slap down a tenner on the table to say that we would win all those games at the Emirates today.

In my eyes our season changed after we lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. We came out the next Monday against Chelsea a totally different animal. Our work rate increased, our desire and commitment had shot through the roof. We no longer looked like a talented yet inconsistent side where you didn’t know what to expect.

Since Old Trafford we have won 6, drawn 3 and lost 0 league games. To be frank we should have won two more of those draws against Wigan and Newcastle. The team have clicked half way through the season and know how to win games. We can grind out wins, we can put teams under pressure and we can defend as a team.

Imagine if we started the season in this way? How many points would we have under our belts?

I cross my fingers that we keep this up for here on in. Next season we will have a fit Vermaelen and Ramsey hopefully fit for pre season and around 90% of the squad will have progressed naturally.

There is room for the squad to score more goals and to concede less goals. I expect Wilshere and Song to continue to develop their partnership. Djourou and Koscielny are in their first season’s either at the club or as a first team starter. Walcott has taken a massive step forward this season and is scoring and setting up goals for team mates.

We have plenty of trophies to play for this season but it is next season where I really expect the team and squad to show the world what Arsene has really been building since we last won a trophy.

If you didn’t catch it earlier then you can find Iron Man’s latest musings here: Stoke-ing the flames & Carling cup final – Iron Man’s Arse Weekly