Apologies for the absence of a post yesterday but work got in the way. A shame really because the draft was truly insightful but you’ll have to make do with the usual tosh this morning. And what a morning it is. Excited? Betcha by golly wow, yes indeedy. In a curiously perverse way, a semi-final can fill you with more adrenalin than a final. Until the Final comes around that is.

Much of this morning’s press is filled with analysis of why Chelsea are the stronger team but I should think Arsene is quite happy with that. When he surveys the wreckage of his first choice defence, I would imagine he is happy for anything that brings a smile to his face. Out are his first choice right, left and centre back. Add the second choice left back to that little list as well. Well, not entirely as Kieran Gibbs has a fitness test to pass before a final decision over whether Song drops back with Silvestre moving to the left back berth. If that happens, a match filled with interesting tussles will be missing perhaps the most personal of all, with the battle for midfield deprived of Song v Essien, Part Two. The opening salvo was allegedly fought over the heart of the daughter of a ‘controversial’ 80s footballer and far be it for me to say who won, for I will not stoop to such depths…

The defensive frailties are about the only area where Arsene should have concerns. Further up the pitch, he has pretty much his strongest squad available. If Song does retreat, Diaby will be the natural replacement, ahead of Denilson. A shame for the Brazilian really for he has been one of the consistent performers for Arsene this season. However, Arsene let it be known that Diaby was his first choice to partner Fabregas last season before Flamini stepped up to the plate and little appears to have changed this season, the Frenchman a seemingly automatic pick when he has returned from injury. It is that part which he must overcome if he is to live up to his potential but the history of football is littered with players who have missed chunks of a season only to turn up at the ‘business end’ and turn in stellar performances to drive a team to glory. Diaby can do that; equally so can Denilson, providing a solid backdrop to Cesc’s flair.

The key decision for Wenger is who makes way for Arshavin. Walcott can run Cole ragged with his pace on the right yet the Russian can turn him inside out. Hiddink will be only too aware of that danger. In truth, I suspect it will be Nasri who is relegated to the bench, giving Arshavin a run at Bosingwa, who has apparently returned to training.

The battle between the forward and defensive lines will be crucial this afternoon. Arsenal’s injury woes make theirs more fragile, on paper at least. Yet in the past two games, Chelsea have conceded seven goals which will give the Arsenal forwards encouragement whilst Chelsea will draw the same from the eight they have scored, especially since four came against a defence which is lauded as being as robust as the Arsenal back four have been this year.

Wenger hit the nail on the head when he said yesterday:

We have no reason to panic, we have a good reason to feel strong and determined and show we have the requested quality

That is going to be key today; maintaining the form and belief that has previously been evident. Arsenal has nothing to fear from Chelsea. They have quality players but so do we. As Robin van Persie observed:

We know the differences will be very small in winning and losing

More importantly, the players know that they can retrieve a deficit against a team who had developed a little bit of an Indian Sign since Abramovich’s money had arrived in all it’s brazen depravity. The turnaround at Stamford Bridge earlier this season should not be dismissed as irrelevant, given the different competitions. For an under strength Arsenal side, it was a confidence booster, a well upon which to draw and flourish. Fortune favours the brave – this team possess that quality.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. Play nicely people. ‘til Tomorrow.

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