Team Spirit

By Boris Mellor
March 13 2009

Wednesday night's match didn't finish until nearly midnight in Rome. The plane had been delayed on the way out, and no doubt they got back late. I don't know how they felt, no doubt exhilarated, but I felt drained at the end of the 120 minute marathon. Almost immediately we learnt that Eduardo had suffered a groin injury, hopefully that is the only real damage to the squad.

 Whatever the damage, Wenger will have to rotate the team. Robin van Persie didn't have the best of games, but he certainly worked hard, with the cup coming up on Tuesday one of the strikers will have to rest. The cup will be followed by Newcastle away on the Saturday, so some players will have to sit out games.

It might be hard for Wenger to get the balance right, but Arsenal must use their new found will power to push on through. One player I would like to see ever present is Diaby, he is now on top form, but the question mark remains can he keep fit? I do hope so; it would not be a good idea to compare him with Vieira, for Paddy is a shadow of his former self.  However he is beginning to remind me of the young Paddy who could play two halves, and that was a long time ago.

Return of the Walrus

Sam Alladici (he once claimed that if he had an Italian name his true talents would have been recognised) likes to think he is Wenger's bogey manager. This is based on his alleged heroic record of four wins as against Wenger's seven wins and four drawn. As bogeys go it's not that scary. What worries me is that he has a panache for creating boring games and creating draws, but has lost all five games against the big four this season.

Ending the goal drought

Arsenal ended the goal drought at WBA in the Premiership; however they are yet to do that at home. True they have scored against Championship teams, but not against Premiership quality.  Arsenal cannot afford less than 3 points against Blackburn, it is important that the players get back down to earth after the tremendous events in Rome. They have also got to take their chances; it was the inability to score at Roma that put them at greatest risk.

After all only one goal would have guaranteed victory without extra time. I am sure I wasn't the only fan who felt we would never score even with another 30 minutes. If they take an early chance it will transform the team and the fans.

The victory in Rome united the team, and it united the fans with the team. If things are not going well on Saturday the fans need to remember that it's victory through harmony. If the team can bond, and the fans can urge the team on then we have a chance of silverware.

Get behind the team

We are running out of games, there is no longer the luxury of whining and groaning at the team. Whatever we think of the squad it is not going to change now, so let's raise the confidence of the players we have got. There is nothing to lose by doing that, and who knows there could even be something to win

Arsenal possible squad: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Walcott, Arshavin, van Persie, Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Vela, Bendtner, Eboue, Diaby.