Initially I thought that tonight’s team might contain a few changes; that was before the squad was announced. I say announced, more the BBC ran with their guess, hoovering up the tidbits of misinformation that float around before a game. The one change that seems likely to happen is that Theo Walcott will start, probably ahead of Emmanuel Eboue on the right. To me that makes more sense than resting Eduardo this evening, the other candidate to make way for Walcott. It is nothing less than the lad deserves, a chance to start following on from two impact performances from the bench. Having pace to burn is by far and away his best asset from that position; I hope that people will realise that he cannot do that for a whole ninety minutes, needing to be more judicious in his choices for runs than being able to replicate a thirty minute cameo, expanding it to a ninety minute performance of non-stop running.

The other position where I believe there could be activity is centre back with William Gallas making way for Gilberto, resting the Frenchman ahead of Saturday. We should not forget that he has returned from ten weeks of inactivity to playing two games in three days which if continued could well lead to a muscular injury that can ill be afforded with the upcoming fixture list in mind. Whether Arsene will do that or not is another manner and somehow I think he will play the Frenchman, perhaps taking the view that he needs another match to regain his sharpness which, let us not beat about the bush, was in no way challenged by an appalling Bolton attacking display.

Otherwise, it is hard to see that there are changes which are warranted. The ideal for Arsene I guess is to be three up with an hour played which would enable him to rest players such as Fabregas and Adebayor with Sunday in mind.

The team tonight will probably be

Almunia; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Walcott, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb; Eduardo, Adebayor

with a bench of

Lehmann, Bendtner, Rosicky, Gilberto, Diaby, Denilson, Eboue

The problem Arsene has tonight is that this is a game we expect to win. Not even are expected, expect is the crucial word. Having seen the side enter the season as underdogs in the race for any trophies, expectations have shifted seismically. An unbeaten run with one draw and thirteen wins has created more confidence in the players which he appears to be keeping in check so that the dreaded prefix of ‘over‘ is not inserted beforehand. In Europe, rarely have we been in a position whereby we can assure qualification by not losing our next two games. Not even having to win them. A goalless draw tonight and a scoring draw in the return in Prague sees the team in the knockout phase on head-to-head results against Slavia. That assumes that Sevilla do not lose to Steaua, something which ought not to happen but the inconsistent form domestically of the Spaniards means nothing can be taken for granted.

William Gallas was effusive in his praise for the players and the manner of their victories in his absence yesterday,

When I was on the bench or in the stands I was really, really surprised at how we played. I was so happy for them when they won. I think I was like a fan – when they had an occasion to score and they didn’t I stood up and would shout. I was like a kid. We’re playing better football than any other team I’ve been involved with

High praise indeed, although when you consider one of those team’s was Mourinho’s Chelsea who were well, the equivalent of Revie’s Leeds; players capable of playing good football but the managers obsession with winning had no room for flair. There was however, a proviso to all of this.

We play good football but I have said before you can play well and win nothing, Maybe we have to play not so good but win. The most important thing is the victory. It is very important for us to win something this season and we’re ready to fight. We know the season will be long and we know we have to improve in every game. That will not be easy for us because every team wants to beat Arsenal, but we’re ready to fight them. It is not only the Champions League but the Premier League. This season I don’t know if we will win the Champions League or the Premier League, but definitely we have to win something. If we can win them both that would be good

And here, I have to take Monsieur Gallas to task. To win the Champions League and the Premiership in one season would not be good. It would be (insert your own expletive disguised as a verb here) unbelievable. But that, as they say, is getting a long way ahead of ourselves.

Arsene meanwhile has given more fodder to the stirring pot when talking about Gilberto and Lehmann’s omission from the starting line-up,

They are certainly not happy, but their attitude in training is spot on. That’s where you gain more respect. My job is to win the next game, and my players will always behave like professionals

You cannot envisage that barb being directed at Gilberto who, as far as the English media is concerned, has not been reported as saying anything contentious. It was not even a thinly disguised barb at Lehmann; more a direct shot across the bows. However, nothing would be better if that were the truth and Lehmann was simply doing his job and trying to win back his place. Arsene also threw down the gauntlet to the team to continue to improve,

We can be more efficient, we can improve our movement and I feel our conversion rate with the chances we create can be better. We will not always have five or six chances in the big games for one goal, in the big games you need one chance, one goal or two chances, one goal. We can improve in many aspects. What I thought was important at the start of the season was to win to give confidence and belief to the team because we had not a lot. The test is how can we put in consistent performances and how well we deal with big games. I hope we can become invincibles again, but I want to see that first

Some people are just never satisfied. And long may that continue. The point regarding chance conversion is pertinent when you look at the Sunderland and Bolton games, although not so much the latter. The conversion rate in that match was about one in three but Sunderland showed more profligacy in front of goal than had perhaps been the norm. The assertion about the big games though is true but in the tougher matches this season – Sevilla, Tottenham and West Ham – the team have been converting about one in two of their chances but much more importantly, the defence held together, conceding just one goal in those three games. It is those two combined that have propelled the team so far and long may that continue.

Enjoy tonights match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.