United-Arsenal: The Truest of Tests

I was given a fair bit of stick as I previewed the Arsenal-Chelsea FA Cup semifinal, with many of our kind readers claiming that my criticism of Wenger and the team had been unjustified and that I have now been made to look like a “muppet," as one not very analytically-minded soul resorted to calling me.

However, many could also see my point, and I was indeed proven right about our lack of power and know-how when it came to the big games, and one great opportunity to destroy the trophylesswilderness was ultimately ended with a rush of blood from “Joey” Fabianski (see previous article).

That said, that is all gone now and after two fairly impressive showings, from an attacking point-of-view anyway, the time has come for the real big one.

Manchester United looked—and some argue—still look, to be on the verge of tiring and limping towards their much-anticipated glory.

In Arsenal, are a team, who in theory, have come into form at just the right time, and with the Chelsea debacle seemingly a mere blip, and despite the neutrals putting United as favourites—and rightly so—we should be very much in with a shout to progress.

This all depends on which Arsenal decides to turn up.

The split personality of this Arsenal side is nicely divided into three. You have the team that, for all its talent and flair, fails to get any kind of game flowing, succumbing to pressure from intimidating opponents. Thankfully, we have not seen that side of the coin since the fiasco of Manchester City in late November.

You then have a group of players who go all out displaying attacking verve and purpose, but forget that there is another side to the game and subsequently score and ship goals with scintillating alarm (ala Anfield).

And finally, a side with no real ambition and with such anonymity about them, a quality that has ultimately cost them a place in Wembley in late May.

The acrimonious non-performances of the likes of Adebayor, Cesc, and several others in the semifinal against Chelsea will have to be eradicated come Wednesday.

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