Back on Track I think

I probably am going to be accused to doing a Keyrock here. You know being a fair weather blogger. I know I have remained conspicuously quiet starting from Sunderland through Citeh. Guilty as charged. Shame on me.

Two people who must be kicking themselves after yesterday are the two writers on this blog whose teams failed to pick up the three points yesterday. Not because their teams didn’t win; the Eastlands is a difficult place to go to as we’ve found out twice this season; but because god finally woke up and smacked them right on their mouths which they so foolishly shot off BEFORE the game. Turns out we did win and they didn’t. This has got to be one of the most up and down title races in a really long time. Chelsea have lost 3 as have United, a fact unremarkable by itself. But consider that fact that Chelsea have lost to Wigan and United to Burnley and you understand why I think any one of the three are still in it.

Remarkably the Arsenal side that was put out consisted of Almunia, the back four and 6 midfielders. Not one player who in your average fantasy football game would be listed under striker. Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin however was given the responsibility for the first time of leading the lines and did he revel in that role! He was at the heart of almost every move we made giving Cesc who was having a shocker of a day (by his standards) a break. The Holy Trinity that was has lost one in Van Persie and desperately needs Arshavin and Cesc to put in extraordinary performances week in and week out.

We probably did need 6 across the middle because Stoke clearly intended to park the bus and stem our usual marauding. Their unimaginative attack plan was largely dependent on Delap’s hands and though Almunia wasn’t entirely comfortable always, I thought we handled it pretty well. Tuncay Sanli spent the entire night spitting on the pitch and running into offside positions. The one time he beat the trap he was so unused to the feeling, he gave the ball right back to us immediately. At the other end, Sorensen was keeping Stoke in with some sharp saves primarily off Arshavin. I thought we were going to be one up when Delap clearly unaccustomed to using his feet during the game attempted a tackle and upended the little Russian. Cesc sadly took a poor penalty although Sorensen was way off his line way too soon. Still, I don’t think giving Cesc this responsibility also is too good an idea. I’d think Arshavin or maybe even Vermaelen could be given spot kick duties.  Emmanuel Eboue pulled off a brilliant save off the line, sadly though for us it was Cesc’s shot he blocked depriving me of 5 precious fantasy league points. Sigh it just wasn’t my day.

Clichy, Djourou, Gibbs, Van Persie, Walcott, Bendtner and Diaby. This impressive injury list was further bolstered by the addition of Rosicky, Eduardo, Eboue and Gallas. A fine 4-3-3 I could form out of it. A back four of Eboue, Gallas, Djourou and Clichy, Diaby playing central defensive midfielder, Rosicky and Walcott creative feeding Bendtner, Van Persie and Eduardo. Brilliant. NOT. Though Eboue’s injury was cue for Aaron ‘Rambo’ Ramsey to make an entrance and score s umptuous goal reminiscent of the one he scored for Wales against Scotland and settle any nerves that were jumpy with the score stuck at 1-0.

Liverpool next. The people we have should be enough to make a match out of it at Anfield I think. After all we have 4 goal wonder Arshavin ready and willing.

Chelsea’s aura of invincibility took another severe dent with a loss to City which saw Drogba back to his petulant antics. Irritating how he always seems to pull up his socks against us. Anyway, for once this season Arsenal fans must be pleased Adebayor scored and United fans sharing a similar feeling about Tevez. Lampard missing a potential point saving penalty was icing on the cake really. Rounded up a fine day. Of course United losing too would have been a dream but you can’t have everything in life.