Arsenal-Roma: Walk in the Park for the Italians—You're Having a Laugh Right?

Forgive me for having a shred of optimism in my body, but this Gunner still believes there is something to keep fighting for this season.

The "opinions" of the media and football commentators seem to suggest that Arsenal FC should pack up for the season.

Fifth in the League

"Arsenal will never catch Aston Villa or Chelsea and would be lucky not to see Everton overtake them. Arsene Wenger is under severe pressure at the Emirates, he's not won a trophy in years."

Fifth round of the FA Cup

"Arsenal have a relatively easy passage to the semifinals where you would hope they can overcome Burnley and either of Hull/Sheffield United but after that it's Manchester United, Chelsea, Fulham, or Everton. Forget about it Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is under severe pressure at the Emirates, he's not won a trophy in years."

Knockout Stages of the Champions League

"Arsenal are up against Roma in a very un-glamorous tie. The Italians will win this easy because Arsenal are a team full of teenagers without experience. Arsene Wenger is under severe pressure at the Emirates, he's not won a trophy in years."

Really, the way some "commentators" carry on you'd swear Arsenal are fighting relegation, while the Premier League is all but out of sight. Arsene Wenger's team still have a good chance of getting back in the top four and having a good run in both cup competitions.

The meeting of Arsenal and Roma next week has largely been overshadowed by the fixtures between Manchester United/Inter Milan, Liverpool/Real Madrid, and Chelsea/Juventus.

As noted, some seem to suggest the tie between the two captial sides is a foregone conclusion in favour of the Italians.

If anything, it is perhaps the hardest tie to call, with both sides having indifferent seasons, but having individuals who—if they can gel in a one-off game—can overcome any opposition.

Roma do have a very good side boasting the likes of Aquilani, Vucinic, Taddei, Baptista, Perrotta, and of the course the talents of Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti.

Equally the North London side can call on Nasri, Van Persie, Adebayor, Sagna, Eduardo, and the hopeful returns of Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott for the return leg in the Stadio Olimpico.

Arsenal have home advantage for the first leg and this could prove to be a blessing in disguise for the Gunners.

Of all Italian teams, Roma like to play a more open game under Spalletti. If I were a betting woman, I'd expect the Giallarossi to pack the midfield as they did against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the group stages of the competition.

This tactic frustrated Phil Scolari's men and is a tactic often used by lesser teams at the Emirates. It has finally seemed to register with Wenger that teams will aim to frustrate Arsenal at home and he is setting up his team accordingly.

While Arsenal may not have been scoring freely in recent times, they have been creating. The return of the Crozailian Eduardo da Silva will be paramount to Arsenal's chances of making the next round.

Already Arsenal's No. 9 has scored twice on his comeback, albeit against Cardiff in the FA Cup. However, his performance was sharp and he showed no fear of going into tackles following his horrific injury.

Eduardo is a clinical finisher of the ball, and it is hoped that he will put away the chances that are being created.

His return has increased pressure on the other strikers at the club. Robin Van Persie was already having a good season and has now added scoring with his right foot to his armoury. Nicklas Bendtner continues to work his socks off and is very useful as an impact sub while Emmanuel Adebayor will have to return to his form of last season if he wants to make the starting lineup.

However, key to Arsenal's hopes of progression is keeping a clean sheet. If they manage to do so and can nick one themselves it will set the stage for the return leg in Rome where the Italians will have to come all out and attack to win the tie.

Wenger has managed to curb the leaking of goals that plagued Arsenal at the start of the season.

Manuel Almunia has looked more confident between the sticks in recent weeks, perhaps helped by the return to form of William Gallas—who finally looks like a £90,000 a week defender.

With Arshavin ineligible to play and Walcott and Fabregas not returning until the away fixture, I expect Wenger to play Song and Denilson in the middle of the park. Furthermore, I have a slight suspicion that he will play everyone's favourite player—Emmanuel Eboue—on the right side of midfield to deal with the strength of the Roma midfield.

Therefore I can see Arsenal lineup like this for the home-leg on Wednesday:

Almunia

      Sagna     Toure    Gallas      Clichy

     Eboue     Song       Denilson      Nasri

          Bendtner    Robin Van Persie

For the away leg the formation would be more attack-minded. Theo Walcott would replace Eboue while Fabregas would come in for Denilson. Emmanuel Adebayor would replace Nicklas Bendtner in the front line.

However, with Arsene Wenger you never do know and he may decide to be adventurous and attack from the off, in which case the team would be a little something like this:

Almunia

  Sagna    Toure     Gallas     Clichy

    Van Persie      Song       Nasri       Vela

                Bendtner     Eduardo

Either way, if Arsenal can prevent the Romans from scoring, I will feel very confident about Wenger and Co. progressing to the next round.

With Roma needing to go all out and score, Arsenal could utilise the pace of Walcott down the right flank and the deft passes of Fabregas in the midfield in the away fixture.

As I said, I am not a betting woman, but if Walcott and Fabregas do return fully fit for a return leg and Arsenal don't concede at the Emirates, I may just put my house on the Gunners to go through.

Hey, optimism—you can't beat it.