Man United Preview: Rome awaits the winner 4 May, 2009

I’m lost for words as how to start this preview. It is without doubt the biggest game of our season and the most important fixture since the 2006 Champions League final. For many of our players it will be the biggest game of their careers so far. The 2009 Champions League Final in Rome is just one step away. After a disappointing season we never would’ve thought we’d find ourselves here, but we are here, and we have to produce.

Our players need to realise how big this game is. They need to put in everything they possibly can give like their lives depended on it. This is no time for a lazy performance, this is where it matters – Adebayor, yes I’m talking to you; we all know how good you can be so fucking prove it. You can score a goal out of anything if you try, make us forget this whole season with a strong performance tomorrow night. There might be one or two playing tomorrow who have been slightly disappointing with regards to their efforts this season – well the same goes for all of them too, everything can be forgotten with a winning performance tomorrow.

I just can’t put into words how important this game is, I really can’t. So I’d like to describe to you a mental image: The final whistle goes and Man United are through, the players go wild running around hugging and that away corner of the ground erupts to complete silence around the rest of the stadium. The players and staff are running over to their fans and celebrating reaching the Champions League Final on our ground. We’re walking up the steps, heads hung, thinking of what could’ve been.

We cannot let that happen.

It’s fucking Man United for fucks sake. We can’t let those dirty Mancs wherever they’re from cunts celebrate on our turf. Our players need to think about this, and so do the fans. Give every single last breath you have to the cause, we’re going to need the home atmosphere to carry us through. I don’t want to hear a single word from the United end. I’ve heard us make noise in that place before but we need to better that tomorrow night. This is the biggest game we’ve had at this stadium since it was built, I want it to rock.

Let’s look at the team then. For once, there’s a bit of good news injury-wise! It sounds like van Persie’s going to be fit, he trained today and Wenger describes him as “available”. As for Silvestre it doesn’t sound so promising, he is in the squad though. It would be a massive boost to have RVP back in the team, he has been our best striker this season. He can create things which is exactly what we need. We could also do with one of his free kicks going in, it’s been a while. If Robin is fit enough to play, we have no excuse not to play the traditional 4-4-2. We’ve been messing around with players in different positions recently but this is no time for experimentation, lets play with what we know we’re good at. Here’s what I hope for/think it might be:

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Djourou – Gibbs
Walcott – Fabregas (c) – Song – Nasri
Adebayor – van Persie

I don’t see why that team can’t beat Man United. At some point this season every one of those players has put in a really good performance. Wenger’s been talking about this being a great team performance tomorrow night rather that individual moments of brilliance and I hope he’s right. If we all pull together, all get stuck in and all concentrate I know we can beat any team in the world.

Almunia needs an even bigger game this time around. A goal conceded means we have to score three. If he can keep a clean sheet we have a massive chance. The defense need to do their bit too, it’s a bit of a makeshift back four but so was the one in 2006 that got past Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal. They need to be big, strong and not let United create anything; So, no big gaps at the back post this time please.

In midfield we have Theo Walcott who is just a menace, he needs to get more in the game his week, we need to make the most of him. Alex Song should be in there helping the back four and cutting out anything United try and develop. Cesc, is Cesc – we could do with another beautiful assist tomorrow please. Nasri scored two against this lot when they came down for the league game, let’s hope he can find that magic again.

I’ve already spoken about the strikers. They will be the man men tomorrow night in our search for goals. Missed chances are not an option; we need to take everything we get, I hope they’ve been practicing their shooting.

They will be up against Vidic and Ferdinand, who has recovered from that rib injury. Two of the best in the league, but so are Ade and Robin so there shouldn’t be a problem…

This game can go either way. United have the upper hand but there’s no reason why we can’t win. A 1-0 would take it to extra time, a 2-0 would win it and if they score we need a 3-1 to go through. It’s not impossible, there is no impossible. We’ve beaten them 2-0 already this season and just think back to this time 20 years ago up at Anfield; we got the result there when it mattered. A lot of our players would’ve still been in nappies back then, it’s now their chance to become the new crop of heroes.

If we do get through tomorrow night it’s going to be one of the most memorable Arsenal performances ever. If it doesn’t go our way, well I want to be proud of our performance and not go away thinking we fucked it up. I’m hoping that if we do fail we go down with a fight and we can go home knowing we gave it everything. If at the end of the night they do go over to that corner celebrating I want them to do it with the Arsenal fans still singing loud and proud over the top of them.

There’s nothing more I can say here, it’s up to you lot going and the players now. Speak to you Wednesday.