Can we just play on Thursdays please? Like many blues, I can’t work Everton out. The Blues dual personality was evident again this week, as they comfortably dispatched BSC Young Boys 7-2 over two games in Europe, whilst sandwiching in a frustrating and disappointing draw at home to Leicester City in the league. Does our style of play suit European football better? It seems like a cliché, but there’s probably an element of truth in it. Teams from the continent appear less intense and physical, and the nature of knockout football means sitting back isn’t really an option if you want to progress. As a result, it’s a much more comfortable playing environment for us.
So, as we’ve known since Joel struck his penalty against bar in the shootout against West Ham, all of our eggs this season are well and truly in the basket marked “Warsaw.” That’s all well and good, but our precarious league position means we can’t take our foot off the gas in the league… that is, if it was even on in the first place. 6 points above the drop zone doesn’t make pleasant reading, particularly as we are about to enter March. Arsenal away, then, wouldn’t be the first fixture you’d choose to get the show back on the road. Nevertheless, we’ve played them 4 times since Roberto took over, and I don’t think it’s the blue-tinted glasses talking when I say we’ve been the better team in 3 of those 4 games. The two league games last season were arguably the two best performances last season. The cup game was a tight affair until a penalty put Arsenal in front and we had to go for it, and well, you know the rest. The league game this season, we were 2-0 up with 80 minutes on the clock, and well, we did an Everton.
Onto this weekend’s game, and while they were disappointing in midweek, losing 3-1 to Monaco at home, they’re one of the form sides in the league at the moment, winning 5 of their last 6. Inevitably, Wenger will demand a reaction from his team after their midweek disappointment. They’re still a side that’s packed with attacking riches most teams would be envious of.
There’s no doubt that this will be a tough ask, especially after playing on Thursday. After appearing to sort out our defensive problems, last weekend showed that isn’t the case. Much was made of Tim Howard’s return following injury, despite Joel’s impressive run in the side, and it’s fair to say the American’s done little to justify his selection. You could understand if he had been playing well before his injury, but the truth is since he received that phone call from Obama following his World Cup heroics, he has hardly saved a thing, and anything he has saved has been palmed out straight into the path of an opposition player to slot home.
Stones should return after his midweek suspension, and Baines should also be restored to the starting lineup despite an impressive showing from Luke Garbutt on Thursday. Expect Barkley to return, and Lennon will probably replace Mirallas. The midfield dilemma just got a bit more complicated, as forgotten man Darron Gibson revived the ancient art of the forward pass this week. With very little recent playing time under his belt however, it’s highly unlikely he’ll retain his place on Sunday. Expect Barry and McCarthy to start. It’ll be interesting to see whether Martinez puts Besic in there as well, in a similar vein to how he set up against Liverpool, in an attempt to try and stifle Sanchez, Cazorla and co.
Let’s be realistic, this is a tough ask even when we’re playing well. But, as no one expects us to get anything, there’s less pressure in that sense. Maybe that will play into our hands. We saw how vulnerable Arsenal are on the counter attack against Monaco, so we may get some joy there. Ultimately, any kind of result would be welcome. A win, well that would be phenomenal….
