By Boris Mellor
May 5 2007

Manchester United’s defeat of Manchester City means that one more point for them will tie up the league. Alternatively, if Chelsea loses a point it will be all over for them. Therefore, Arsenal only have to draw to piss on the Special One’s parade and put out the smouldering embers.

Some might wish that his misery might be prolonged until his team meets Man U, but how much more fun we will have if he loses it at the Grove.

I believe we won the league at Stamford Bridge in the thirties, some fans feared they might win it at our home. But fear is now replaced with hope; will we be able to sing, “you lost the league at Ashburton Grove”? It spans very nicely.

Moaningho has suddenly discovered a long injury list, and overcrowded fixture list. I must say that my heart bleeds for him, and his gang of clapped out mercenaries, for they have run out of steam at the crucial moment.

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 Meanwhile Henry, RvP, Walcott, Ljungberg, Aliadiere, and possibly Rosicky, remain on the injury list. Quite a few fans, including me, dreamt of RvP’s return for this match, however, that is not going to happen.

So Adebayor will have to carry the weight of scoring expectation for this game. One attribute of big Ade is that he does not go missing in big matches, and often scores key goals.

Ade is quite a favourite with Arsenal fans who attend games, but a small minority have moaned about his goal drought. Yet I believe the cause of his drought is Chelsea. He was flying until the Carling Cup Final, his sending off for nothing cost him a four-match suspension. This was a break at a crucial time in his season, that plus the sense of injustice must have really messed with his head

Wenger did very well to protect him, true Ade got a 3 ban for nothing, and the FA could not admit they were wrong, but his second charge was restricted to one ban. Without Wenger’s protests I am sure it could have been far worse. Adebayor is also grateful that Wenger stood by him, well done Arsene.

So this game is going to have some history, Arsenal players may deny they are plotting revenge, but that is what they really want. Adebayor has also admitted they have not been up for all matches as much as they should be. But he knows they will be up for this one, as they were for Manchester United.

Now Arsenal have conceded first on quite a few occasions and still won, but they will have to watch out for Chelsea, if they score they will close the game down, wait until Arsenal are tired and then deliver the sucker punch. So Gallas and Toure must get it right, with Gilberto playing as well as he did at Stamford Bridge earlier this season. In particular the cheating Terry and Lampard must be guarded against at corners. They will be out to wind up Lehmann. The Gunners have only two clean sheets out of last 14 at home, maybe it is time that one turned up.

The Gunners defence has been poor this season, but it has also suffered many disruptions, but now there is some continuity, in particular Clichy and Eboue are improving. They are increasingly helping the attack and giving the team width.

 I also think it is time that some fans get off Eboue’s back. It is strange that some of his unwelcome antics earn more condemnation than the awful tackle that put him out for weeks, but hey that was manly wasn't it? I do not hear any Man U fans saying Ronaldo should not have got awards because of the free kicks and pens he has conned. Pires was crucified for a dubious penalty, Ronaldo has been exalted. Who are we out to impress by knocking Eboue? Wenger is dealing with it, the situation is improving.

Besides not all his antics are that bad, no Arsenal fan condemned Lauren after the battle of Old Trafford. So Eboue was silly to get involved in the rumpus at the Carling Final, but note silly, not morally bankrupt like another fullback I can think of. Get of the high horse and give him room to develop.

If Arsenal play as well as they can do then I look forward to singing “Oh Cashley Cashley you went to Stamford Bridge and won Feck all”. He might count the Carling cup, but, under Arsene, it has never been a priority for the Arsenal First Team. So it doesn’t count with us Cashley.