Arsene Wenger described the game on the weekend against Liverpool as one which “decimated” his squad. Kieran Gibbs picked up a knock and is a doubt for the next game, Thomas Vermaelen had a noticeable back problem during the game, Abou Diaby made a rare substitute appearance, only to be hauled off a mere 28 minutes later, and Mikel Arteta was taken to hospital due to a concussion from the clash with Jordan Henderson. But there can be no hiding the fact that Arsenal’s last two victories against two top four rivals have been hugely impressive, and 6pts from six would have been inconceivable only a few weeks prior. The manner of the victories, specifically against Tottenham which saw the side score five unanswered goals, will give the team tremendous belief that they can pull off the impossible on Tuesday night against Milan.
A chance to ride the momentum and do the unthinkable, or a necessary need for caution and a wider perspective for more important games coming up?
There was a similar air of belief amongst Arsenal fans prior to the first-leg away tie at Milan that the team could pick up a memorable win, much like they did in 2008. The team was hot off the back of a number of impressive wins, notably the 3-2 win over Aston Villa and the 7-1 hammering of Blackburn, and the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. There was fear within the Milan camp that the teenager, who had only made a handful of first-team appearance, would be Arsenal’s primary threat from the wide positions. Arsene Wenger’s decision to hold the youngster back may have been enough of an incentive for Milan to push on and grab the win. There’s no mistaking, Arsenal were poor on the night—perhaps the poorest they’ve been all season, a season which served up humiliating losses away to Manchester United, Blackburn and Swansea. But the confidence Arsenal fans went into the game with quickly evaporated and the 4-0 deficit now seems an impossible mountain to climb.
Arsene Wenger said in his press conference earlier today that he intends to play Robin van Persie, and that it would make little sense to believe his side could pull off the impossible without the Dutchman in the line-up. There was also a suggestion of a tinkering with the formation and perhaps allowing for much more firepower to be used from the start, with the intention of grabbing an early goal an unsettling the Milan defence.
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On the other, perhaps more realistic, side of the coin, would it not be wiser to simply write this game off? Yes there is a sense of pride which needs to be restored and upheld in front of the home crowd, and the highest tickets in the country certainly warrant a bigger fight from the team than just a fringe side looking for minutes. The glamour-tie of the round absolutely warrants a good effort from the Gunners and a sense of belief from the manager and squad.
But the problem with Arsenal at the moment, is that the club are delicately poised over a tremendous achievement of finishing in the top four or losing important players in a competition that there is little chance of winning and harming the short-term financial stability of the club.
On the face of it, and even for some of the most ardent Arsenal and Wenger apologists, there must be a great sense of doubt as to whether Arsenal can pull off the impossible, that being to score at least five goals to win the tie and keep a clean sheet against a Milan side who scored four on the weekend against Palermo.
There is absolutely nothing to play for in this match, but, at the same time, there is everything to protect in the grander scheme of things.
What if Arsenal do pull off the unlikely and beat Milan and advance to the next round of the Champions League? A tie against Real Madrid or even Barcelona could await—a game in which again, even the most loyal of die-hards, would struggle to see a positive outcome. The squad is thin, despite Wenger’s previous comments of how much depth there is; the squad are heavily reliant on one source for goals every game, and the club are one wrong move from the carpet being pulled from underneath them.
The truth is, maybe this tie against Milan came at the wrong time. The club and every supporter are on a massive high following the last two results. The club’s positioning in the league and the results against their top four rivals on the weekend have given them a great foothold with which to finish the league in the Champions League spots. Naturally, this has been complimented by talk of overhauling Spurs for third place in the league. Much like Arsenal warned their North London rivals not to count their chickens, the Gunners would do well to take on similar caution, as one poor result or major injury could see the side tumble out of the top four and surrender their European place next season—even if it is against the unlikely threat of Chelsea.
The home tie against Newcastle next Monday night is of greater importance to the stability of the club going into the summer and subsequently next season. A win, no matter of the result tomorrow night against Milan, will give everyone associated with the club a genuine belief that Arsene Wenger can once again rise above and guide the poorest side under his tenure to another season in the Champions League.
The phenomenal and long overdue high that Arsenal fans are experiencing following their two recent results will do little to paper over the cracks of this season, but a clear head and a realistic perspective going into the Milan game will do a lot to save a season which also at one point seemed impossible to rescue.
At one point or another the magic cards hidden up Arsene Wenger’s sleeve will run out, and it would be best to save the next one for a strong and positive finish domestically rather than gamble it away when the opposing side hold a stronger hand. That saying, “Live to fight another day” couldn’t be more appropriate for Arsenal at this moment in time. And there is still so much to fight for in the remaining 11 league games.
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