The Black Country beckons on a bright Autumnal day with Wolverhampton looking to quaff the Banks whilst Arsene cooes, “Cootchy-coo” on their bellies. At least that was the rather disturbing image that Mick McCarthy conjured yesterday. Nobody expects Wolves to roll over and play dead whilst the Arsenal midfield and attack decimate them but nonetheless the fixture offers a good opportunity for pressure to be applied with everyone’s favourites meeting tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.

November is a notoriously fickle month for Arsenal during Wenger’s reign, more often than not a patch of inconsistency struck that has a minor or major derailing effect upon the season. Arsene set about defining success on his own terms:

Success is measured by consistency and quality. I don’t deny that it is measured by trophies, it is a part of it, what I deny sometimes is the comparison of the trophies. For example, when people say, ‘is winning the Carling Cup more difficult than to go to the Semi-Finals of the Champions League?’ I say no. But to win the championship or Champions League, that is of course a trophy that you measure the success of a team by.

Nobody can doubt the quality of the squad assembled for this season but consistency, that is the key. It is not about playing well in every game but getting results when performances drop is crucial. It is something that Alex Ferguson has ingrained into his squad’s over the years and has achieved a suitably large haul of trophies in the process. The signs are that this year’s Arsenal can hit the same consistency of result. Winning today emphasises that the demons of seasons past are consigned to the wastepaper bin.

Injuries play a big part in this though, the pressure on those coming in to perform to the same level as those already well attuned with their season. Kieran Gibbs has doubters but is a capable deputy for Gael Clichy. Other than that it seems that the injury fears Arsene had are working in reverse with Samir Nasri looking as if he is back and ready, Tomas Rosicky returning to the bench and Theo Walcott ready to join in training once the international break is over. Of the short-term absentees, that leaves just Bendtner out with Denilson apparently set to return in December.

One man garnering a lot of headlines in Fran Merida, despite not establishing himself in the first team yet. Arsene indicated that contrary to the player’s Mr20%’s assertions that Merida has an ‘illness’ for Atletico, a contract is going to be signed. Whether that is soothing words to counter such claims is entirely open to conjecture on our part but rarely has he been robust in his words and proven wrong about contract renewals. The Spaniard will have to content himself with a spell on the bench to continue his development.

Key to winning is mental application. As Wenger observed, concentration and focus are core to beating teams that on paper ought to provide three points as soon as kick-off occurs. Arsenal are an anomaly in the top four, losing only on their travels to highly-placed clubs. Cesc touched on this:

It is noticeable that the ‘big four’ teams have lost a number of matches so far between them. In my opinion, that is better for the league because it means other teams are improving. Everyone is striving to be better and that is making it difficult for the top teams

It is more indicative of the complacency at United and Chelsea, players believing their own and media hype regarding how much of a procession this season will be for them. Arsenal has a point to prove. Written off by all and sundry beforehand, it is still a majority belief outside of the club that they will fall away in the Winter. Having the desire to want to prove naysayers wrong is a strong motivator in a public arena.

For this afternoon, I do not see Wenger making many changes from the team that trounced Alkmaar. Defensively, Sagna will no doubt return for Eboue at right back but the question of whether Eboue drops out of the side altogether is less clear. The question mark will possibly be about Nasri’s fitness. Eduardo has come through around 90 minutes in the last two games and seems to be ready for the starting line-up.

Nasri has put in 180 minutes over the past three, crowning his return with a superb finish in midweek. Of the three, I would prefer Nasri to take one of the wide positions, his duality in attack and defending a bonus. The other two have strengths in one or other areas but not both to the same degree as the Frenchman.

However, it would be no surprise if this weekend Eboue started since Wenger has a habit of preferring a little more protection for his defence in away fixtures. The line-up will probably be:

Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermalaen, Gibbs; Eboue, Song, Fabregas; Arshavin, van Persie, Diaby

A bench that includes Nasri, Rosicky and Eduardo has plenty of attacking options for later in the match whilst Merida could add a midfield prompt or two if required.

A win is key to maintaining momentum as we head for an inconvenient international break. Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.