Arshavin & Szczesny Ahead Of Manchester City

Manchester City loom on the horizon, a chance to put the recent spate of defeats behind the team. They may possibly face a trio of former Arsenal players, fired up for the occasion with Adebayor already being told to ignore provocation from the stands, something he will most probably not be able to do. With his attitude in the encounter at Eastlands, it is hard, nay impossible, to have any sympathy for the reception he will most likely get, a contrast with the ones that you would expect to be handed to Vieira and Toure.

Andrey Arshavin is expected to return, the usual “50:50″ applied to his fitness which realistically means that he is about 80% sure of turning out with several days to go. Were he to take his place in the starting line-up alongside Robin van Persie and Alex Song, it would be a massive boost to the squad, something that they are in desperate need of following recent performances.

The Dutchman’s absence was highlighted as key failing this season:

He had a big impact last season and he has done well before his injury, so he is showing his quality. It would be easier for us [if we had not had the injuries]. I cannot say we would be champions but it would be easier for us.

You cannot help but agree with those observations but it was the number of simultaneous injuries which finally put paid to the season’s challenges. Losing several key players at the same time is detrimental and highlighting that is not a search for excuses, merely stating  a reason that the campaign has tailed off.

Depth of the squad is a difficult area to assess with injuries and Premier League rules governing squad sizes will not help Arsenal one jot if this and previous seasons are anything to go by. When this happens though, it is up to experienced and talented personalities within the squad to impose themselves on games, helping inexperienced colleagues through. Arshavin falls into this category but does not always assert himself. Playing out of position showed a willingness to cover injuries and undoubtedly does not suit the Russian’s game but at times, he seems almost ambivalent.

He assessed the season as ‘not bad‘ for the club; I wonder how he would view his contribution? The same? Better than average. He set high standards and like a host of talented players before him, has failed to meet them every game. Scoring four at Anfield raised unrealistic expectations, no-one is going to carry out that feat every week but it gave an indication of his capabilities.

Wojciech Szczesny is confident he can become Arsenal Number 1 next season, provided he is given his chance:

I believe that if I had been given a chance at Arsenal before I came [to Brentford], I would have been good enough. I just came here to prove it. Hopefully some people – including Arsene Wenger – will see me in that number one place next year. I’ve said before that you need to learn the basics in this league to then take that back to Arsenal.

You might have seen in recent months that Arsenal goalkeepers have had problems with the basics.

It seems the Pole has been to the Jens Lehmann School of Charm when assessing his rivals. Were he to be promoted to first choice ‘keeper next season, I suspect uproar may be the outcome in certain quarters. Looking at the Bayern v Lyon match last night, Lloris showed some good reflexes and reactions mixed in with suspect judgement on crosses; much the same as we have now although the Frenchman is more consistent that either Almunia or Fabianski to be the French national team goalkeeper.

Can Wenger take the risk with either of his current first choices next season? I do not believe so. Both suffer mistakes on a regular basis which are costly, all goalkeepers do but neither of the duo are instilling confidence and this must spread to the back four, perhaps explaining some of the collective lapses. The mischievous have a theory that Almunia’s current injury is similar to that which Lehmann suffered shortly after his mistakes against Fulham and Blackburn. Arsène seems to have a high tolerance when it comes to goalkeeping errors but once that is breached, there is no coming back for the custodian in question.

’til Tomorrow.