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Will return to the bench for today

off, happy new year 2011 to all of you. It’s been a wonderful 2010 and long may that continue this year. Except maybe to cut down on the disappointments and perhaps see Arsenal lifting trophies once again. Hope I find you well even after you day/night out partying, but for our players, there’s another match to contend with today.

Footballers get more holidays as a profession than others. The only downside is the fact that they have to work on weekends and in the case of the Premier League, on most holidays. The new year of 2011 should bring about the change in fortunes for Arsenal. Whatever happened last season and last year should be forgotten. We can no longer change any of those results and can only look forward. More than that, it is also time to change our fortunes at St. Andrews.

We have not won there in the last 2 visits. The first was of course the infamous Eduardo leg break. Talking about clean slate, I do feel that this year, we should move away from that particular incident. Sure, it still leaves a bad taste in the mouth whenever we think about that but the players involved have both left the club and that should be that. The last visit saw some calamitous defending which allowed a later Birmingham equaliser after Samir Nasri had given us the lead.

The home side has not won away all season but has only lost once at home. In addition, that home record stretches back to last season as well. Manchester United was there in midweek and could only managed to take home a solitary point. Birmingham do have a very solid first 11 who play together on a regular basis. This week more than most, that could be their downfall. The disadvantage of having a small pool of good players in the squad meant that the manager have consistently use those select players, game in game out. With this being the 3rd game in 7 days, fatigue and tiredness could play into Arsenal’s hands.

There should be no such worry for us given that we rested 8 players for the trip to Wigan. Cesc Fabregas, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Alex Song, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott should come straight back into a side to rejuvenate the team. Here’s my take on the team selection for today;

Fabianski

Sagna—Djourou—Koscielny—Clichy

Fabregas—Song—Wilshere

Walcott—RvP—Nasri

That would be how we lined-up against Chelsea and that is what I prefer to see. Even though Birmingham lie just a spot off the relegation zone, believe me when I say this will not be easy. So, that is why the team would have to come out all guns blazing and use their extra stamina to good effect. Let’s build a good lead because we know what we’ll get with this Arsenal side. We are bound to concede and with Djourou expected to deal with the giant presence of Nicola Zigic and the trauma of last season’s late equaliser as well as that against Wigan in midweek, a single goal lead would not be enough.

In other places, Abou Diaby stand to miss a few more weeks of football with a calf problem with Aaron Ramsey expected to fill in after finishing his loan stint while Carlos Vela might get a trip out of England till the end of the season. RvP was also mentioned in a big money move by Juventus, perhaps using Felipe Melo to offset some of the payment. Not entirely impossible but sounds all too familiar. Even Pat Rice is involve in a rumour linking him away from the club. The loyal servant of Arsenal have a contract which will run out in the summer but have not decided whether to stay or leave. Thank you Pat but let’s welcome Steve Bould.

So, some wise advice that I’ve heard over the years includes one for new year. “What you do on the first day of the year, will generally show what you do the rest of the year”. In that sense, let’s start with a win at Birmingham and may be win every game in 2011. COYG.