In wednesday morning’s blog, I talked about how having committed players could make the difference against Udinese. I was going to revisit the topic in tomorrow’s blog. but instead, I’ll just offer up this excerpt from the Udinese Preview:

This is the match that none of us wanted. But if the result goes our way, it could be just what the team needs. Let’s face it, there’s not a lot going right for Arsenal at the moment. Morale is low and the Club’s image has taken a beating over the past few months. But a win tonight would send us into the Champions League group stages and remind the footballing world that Arsenal are still a club to be reckoned with. It’s a chance for the players to hear some words of encouragement for the first time this season and start to build belief.

Winning on the road against a strong Italian side would be a feather in their cap, and answer critics that have often accused this team of being bottlers. That could come back to help us the next time the pressure is on. Not to mention that Champions League participation could also help us secure any potential transfer targets that Wenger might be considering. (No, really). But maybe most importantly, it’s an opportunity for this group of players to show that they can win without Cesc and Nasri despite the naysayers. It’s a chance for them to begin to forge a winning identity of their own.

It may only be our fourth match of this campaign, but Arsenal’s season stands very much at a cross-roads. The outcome of tonight’s tie may determine which direction we take for the next ten months. I’m choosing to believe in the players that still wear the Arsenal shirt. They’re the ones that really want to be here. In the past, we have sometimes questioned our team’s commitment. But now we have a team of players with a real love for Arsenal. Some of them were raised as Arsenal supporters themselves. They will give us everything they have. They will bleed for Arsenal tonight. And in the end, I believe they’ll emerge victorious.

If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we will be destroyed. I don’t care if you like each other of not, but you will respect each other. And maybe… I don’t know, maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men.

I was just wondering if I could name our starting XI for NUFC. Considering that it’s Thursday, and the season starts on Saturday, it should’t be too hard. Sadly, it’s next to impossible to name Saturday’s lineup.

Let’s assume for the time-being that Cesc, Nasri, Jack and Theo won’t play. I’m not saying that’s definite, but it seems very likely.

Let’s also assume that RVP, Arshavin, Ramsey, Koscielny, Vermalen and Gibbs all have injuries that could keep them out of Saturday’s match.

So, without further ado, here are just some of the very possible permutations based on injuries:

Front 3:

Gervinho, RVP, Arshavin

Gervinho, Chamakh, Arshavin

Gervinho, Chamakh, RVP

Gervinho, Chamakh, Rosicky

Gervinho, Chamakh, Ryo

Now let’s try the midfield trio:

Ramsey, Rosicky, Song

Rosicky, Arshavin, Song

Rosicky, Frimpong, Song

Ramsey, Arshavin, Song

Ramsey, Frimpong, Song

Not much easier in defense:

Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs

Sagna, Vermaelen, Djourou, Gibbs

Sagna, Vermalen, Djourou, Traore

Sagna, Verlamen, Koscielny, Traore

Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs

Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Traore

Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Gibbs

Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Traore

Well at least we know who will be in goal:

Szczesny!

(well, there are reports he’s carrying an injury now too…)

There are other possibilities but why muddy the water?

Can’t wait to see what Le Boss does!

He’s got four chocolate legs

I wrote this as part of a midseason evaluation in January 2009. I found it interesting because it made me realize that Clichy’s performance for Arsenal has been a concern for more than just the last season.

“Gael Clichy

This is part of the team evaluation that I have been dreading. Not because I don’t want to write it. Rather because I don’t want to face the wrath of all the hordes of Clichy loving Gunners roaming the internet. So rather than beating around the bush, let me be blunt: Clichy has been awful this season. There I said it. I said it and nothing bad has happened to me as yet. … Still nothing. Okay, let’s continue. I genuinely believe that Clichy’s problems this season are a case of believing too much in your own headlines. Last season Clichy emerged as a world class left back. He may be the fastest player in the Premier League. He is clever with the ball at his feet. He tackles solidly. His service into the box is usually effective and he even seems to have a decent shot. Unfortunately he seems to have forgotten that you must demonstrate those qualities on a regular basis to be a quality footballer. Clichy has been beset this season by a rash of crucial mistakes that seem to boil down to a lack of concentration. He was personally responsible for the goal that caused the collapse at home against Sp*rs. More recently he deflected the cross onto Cousin’s head for the Hull goal after playing much too far off his man. He relies on his incredible pace to do all the work for him. Unfortunately that means he winds up overcommitting and getting horribly out of position. He makes careless mistakes at the back that put the team under undo pressure and he inexplicably cuts his overlapping runs short at the worst possible moments. There’s no denying that he has regressed and his lack of concentration can be clearly traced to some very ill-timed goals conceeded this season. He has all the talent in the world, which is why I find myself so critical of his play.”

The manpile after completing the everton comeback