[Vote Here] Has Tomas Rosicky Fired Arsenal Back Into The Title Race?

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With Tomas Rosicky’s wonder strike after 2 minutes of the North London Derby, Arsenal managed to take home all 3 points from their nearest rivals.

After the goal, we defended well, kept together and kept ourselves in the title race.

Or did we?

We still have Premier League games against Manchester City and Chelsea, so after we’ve played those matches I suppose we’ll have a better idea of whether we’re really in the race.

So did Tomas Rosicky fire Arsenal back into the title race? Cast your vote below:

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Great Effort From Arsenal, But The Damage Was Done In The First Leg

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Tonight we faced Bayern Munich, the reigning European Champions, in their own back yard and gave them a game. This season we’ve been guilty of under-performing and putting in displays that have been subpar, but tonight was not one of those nights. I was proud of the effort the boys put in today.

Our game-plan was excellent, and in that regard Arsene couldn’t have done better with the resources he had. About 5 minutes into the game, I tweeted that Theo would have been perfect for a match like this. Bayern who already held a comfortable lead, would predictably try and dominate possession, especially at home, and stifle any threat from Arsenal. That happened but with that there was a lot of space in behind as they pushed high up the pitch. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain apart, we had no real pace to scare the Bayern back line.

Without Ramsey or Theo, it would always be an uphill challenge and it was hard not to think back to the first leg when Mesut Özil stepped up to take that penalty. I have no doubt whatsoever that if he smashed the ball into the net and scored in that moment, the tie would have been completely different.

But back to tonight, and most of the players put in a real shift. Fabianksi was excellent, saving a penalty from Thomas Müller and making a smart save from a Götze half volley. He didn’t have a chance for the Schweinsteiger goal. Mertesacker, Koscielny, Sagna and Vermaelen were excellent, and I was particularly impressed with the captains performance considering he’s been out for a long time both injured and on the bench. With Gibbs being injured during parts of the season, I would seriously consider using Vermaelen in that position on a more regular basis. He is part more secure than Monreal and always gives 110%. Maybe that’s how Vermaelen can get himself back into more regular first team action.

Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla were deployed to anchor the midfield which was a slightly surprising selection choice as most people thought Mathieu Flamini would start. But it signalled Arsene Wenger’s intent having more attacking midfielders on the pitch. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Özil and Lukas Podolski made up the midfield while Olivier Giroud spearheaded the attack. Podolski was also a surprise selection choice, but I guess Arsene felt he had nothing to lose.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was excellent and full of running, while Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta were the same. Mesut Özil was poor in the first 45 minutes and was duly taken off for Rosicky at half time. Reports suggested that Özil had a hamstring tweak, while more cynical Gooners felt Arsene was being brave. I prefer to think it was the latter.

Lukas Podolski had a quiet game as well but popped up with a goal which gave us all some hope with half an hour left, and a goal we deserved on the night. Unfortunately, it was clear we had ran out of legs and we couldn’t muster the energy to force that last push to try and score the two more goals we needed.

We had a few half chances in the closing minutes of the game but in the end, it was one hell of a gutsy performance from an Arsenal side that had a virtually impossible task. The damage was done in the first leg, but Arsenal gave a performance every Arsenal fan can be proud of.

Arsene pointed out before the game that referees had conspired against Arsenal, pointing to the sending off of Jens Lehmann in the final and Van Persie at the Nou Camp. It’s hard not to agree with the sentiment as the Szczesny red card was also harsh in my eyes.

Another season where we’ve been knocked out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage and it’s not hard to think with a bit more luck, we would have progressed further in the last few seasons.

Why Arsenal Can Beat Bayern And Progress Tonight

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So tonight is the big one. After losing 2-0 at home against the reigning European Champions, we face a the though prospect of going to the Allianz Arena needing to score at least 2 goals to stay in the tie.

Impossible? No, but there’s no doubt the odds are heavily stacked against us.

We won 2-0 there last season and Bayern went on to progress on the away goals rule. We scored an early goal, they missed a few chances and things got nervy at the end when Koscielny scored with 5 minutes to go. We couldn’t nick that vital third goal but we showed that we’re no pushovers in Europe.

In our last 5 visits to Germany, we’ve won 3 games and drawn 2 which is an excellent record. It shows how resilient we can be and that when it matters, we can get a result.

I would be much more confident if we had our first choice back four, but Gibbs is injured. A defensive line of Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker and Gibbs is one of the best in Europe in my opinion. The four of them defend so well as unit and regular readers will know that I don’t rate Monreal, since he featured in the heavy defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool. And for me, he was also one of the major reasons we conceded the two goals against Bayern in the first leg.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Monreal is also injured meaning that our options are to put Thomas Vermaelen at left back, or to move Sagna to that position and play Carl Jenkinson at right back. Vermaelen has only just come back from injury so could be a risk and people forget that Jenkinson played in the Bayern game last season. What will Arsene do? I suspect he will play Vermaelen even though I think it’s a risk.

Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are certain to anchor the midfield with a bit of fight and organisation and further up the field Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud are nailed on to start. So the last midfield position is between Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and I have a feeling he might start with the Czech. He’s played in Germany before and sets the tempo in the big games, as well as being able to track back and throw his weight around in midfield.

Obviously, tonight hinges on the first goal. Like at Dortmund, we had to withstand a lot of pressure before nicking a goal at the other end. If we can keep a clean sheet anything is possible but like tonight, if Dortmund scored first you just know that would have opened the floodgates.

If we can keep it tight, then Bayern will feel the pressure and we can slowly edge our way into the game. But if they score early then our heads will drop and it will be one long, tough evening indeed.

In a way, if Bayern did score it wouln’t make a huge different in terms of an aggregate score as 3 goals would see us through. But obviously that is something we need to avoid.

They say you need some luck on nights like these and tonight is no different. If the Gods of fate are playing fairly then we are definitely due some luck in the Champions League. One top of the harsh decision to send of Szczesny in the first leg, we also had a petty sending off at Barcelona (Robin van Persie) and another in the Champions League Final (Jens Lehmann) so we’re due some good luck.

Perhaps Bayern will have their goalkeeper sent off and some of their defenders will score a couple of unfortunate own goals. But maybe that’s asking a little too much.

As long as Arsenal put in a determined, focused performance and give it everything they have, then that’s all you can ask for. And if we do manage to surprise everyone and progress, then that’s a bonus.

You can say many things about Arsene Wenger but one thing I will say is that no matter which team we face, I believe that Arsenal can always win. I have never gone to watch Arsenal thinking they had no chance of winning that game. Because of the style of play Arsene adopts, I always think we can score goals.

So tonight we’re going to need a bit of faith and a bit of luck.

#COYG

[Online Poll] Would You Be Happy With Winning The FA Cup This Season? Vote Here!

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As Wigan pulled off another shock in the FA Cup, Arsenal face the prospect of playing the Latics at Wembley in the semi-final and then if they progress face a final against Sheffield United or Hull City Tigers.

And that situation makes Arsenal the firm favourites to win the competition, both with the experts and the bookies.

But obviously, it’s not that black and white.

Wigan have been awesome in the FA Cup over the last couple of seasons – beating Manchester City in last years FA Cup final and then beating the same team in their own back yard this season. This is a side that really is a giant killer and more worryingly, they know how to play against the top sides.

Their place in the FA Cup semi-finals is no fluke, so Arsenal will have to be very wary of the threat they can give us.

And don’t forget, in the cups we have lost to poorer teams than Wigan. We’ve lost to Bradford City, Blackburn Rovers and of course the 2011 final to Birmingham City. So unless we’re at 110% Wigan will take advantage.

But would you be happy if Arsenal won the FA Cup? Sounds like a stupid question, but there are some fans that think we should be winning more this season. Anyway, cast your vote below and leave your thoughts in the comments section:

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Great Result For Arsenal, But Wigan Should Not Be Underestimated

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Well I didn’t expect that to happen!

I was out today but saw Wigan were 1-0 up at half time against Manchester City in the FA Cup. Sunderland were in the same situation last week in the Capital One Cup Final and we all know how they turned out – so I expected a similar turnaround in the second half.

But to my surprise, I got home and it was 60 minutes and it was 2-0!

They say the FA Cup is the stuff of dreams but  with half an hour left, you still expected Manchester City to comeback as they attacked and attacked time and time again. Samir Nasri scored with 15 minutes left to play and that setup a tense 20 minutes. Wigan defended valiantly and I even tweeted that this is probably the most important 20 minutes in Arsenal’s season.

And Wigan held on to setup a FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley against Arsenal.

It was unbelievable stuff from Wigan and after beating Manchester City in the final last season, and now beating Manchester City at their own home Arsenal should be very wary of Wigan.

They may be playing in the Championship but don’t make any bones about it, they will give us one hell of a game and they have previous for causing upsets. Arsenal will need to be at 110% if they want to book their place in the final – anything less and Wigan will be there to take advantage.

With Hull City Tigers, Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic remaining in the FA Cup, Arsene Wenger finds himself in a situation where it is now expected that we end our 8 year trophy drought. Will Arsenal fans be disappointed if we win the FA Cup this season? I for one won’t be.

We have shown we can put in a real performance this season, but also shown we can be pedestrian and try and stroll through games. Wigan Athletic deserve our complete respect and they have shown time and time again that they are the ultimate giant killers.

We meet Wigan Athletic on the weekend of the 12th of April, and Arsene must make sure that his troops are ready for the battle that awaits.