SoccerNet Live

There was a serious Europe hangover for Premier League teams last week. Manchester United and Chelsea crashed out of the FA Cup and Arsenal could only manage a draw against Wigan in the Premier League. Only Liverpool bucked the trend and peaked at the right time, notching six wins on the trot.

For Arsenal, there is little room for error. They still sit on top of the table (two points ahead) but power has shifted to the Red Devils with a game in hand. Wenger can seek solace in the miserable pitch condition at JJB Stadium for disrupting their fluent, passing game but since Wigan played on the same pitch, this excuse doesn’t hold much water.

There is an increasing tendency of lowly teams hampering Arsenal this season when they adopt a tough, physical approach. We do not need to look far, just the recent three consecutive draws (2-2 with Birmingham, 1-1 with Aston Villa, and 0-0 with Wigan) exemplified this undesirable trend.

Arsenal must set things right, starting from Middlesbrough to maintain their hopes of keeping Manchester United and Chelsea at bay. But it is not going to be easy despite the disparity in their league positions.

Middlesbrough are languishing near the relegation zone because they behave very much like a Jekyll and Hyde team - rising to the occasion against the big guns but falling to average teams. The Boro squad which successfully claimed Arsenal’s scalp in December at Riverside was impressive, as Arsene Wenger learned to his surprise. That game was easily Boro’s best display. They outfought their illustrious opponent and dispelled their air of invincibility. The question is which team will we see at the Emirates Stadium?

After being dumped out by Cardiff in the FA Cup (deserved for being outmuscled in every aspect), I believe Middlesbrough will be anxious to get over their disappointment by achieving another glorious victory. Boro also need to pinch every point for a looming relegation battle, so it will be an epic match with the last man standing.

Arsene Wenger revealed that Robin van Persie, Kolo Toure and Theo Walcott are fit but Rosicky remains a 50-50 situation. His presence will be missed as he has forged a good understanding with van Persie in the early stage of the season. I am not sure when he will be back but in his fragile condition, if he continues the Euro 08 campaign with his country, Wenger can expect to welcome him back in the treatment room for the new season.

Robin van Persie may not start in the first XI as he still lacks match fitness but if he is fielded in the second half and can last the pace, Wenger will have a trump card up his sleeves for the Champions League clash with Liverpool.

Most likely, Wenger will opt for the “trusted” partnership of Adebayor and Bendtner upfront. Bendtner is keen on getting more games under his belt, saying: “I need to obviously get more games. The more you play with the team as a regular starter, then the more you get to learn and know the team.”

He won’t be having much competition currently, due to a lack of better options, so he can enjoy his time with Adebayor. Fostering a strong relationship with the Togolese, instead of nursing grudges against each other, will help to cement his position.

Philippe Senderos may end up on the bench with the return of Toure and it is a pity since he is regaining confidence and a few matches away from establishing himself as a mainstay. Wenger is likely to go for an experienced hand to man the fort but he will hardly complain about having able defensive options on the bench.

While Arsenal need to snap back to winning form, Manchester United are not having it easy either. Their form cannot be said to be consistent and with their opponent’s weakness exposed, the pressure is actually on the Red Devils to move in for the kill. They have to mount a sustained challenge and win all the remaining matches.

Under such circumstances, I believe United, or rather, both teams will crack. More points will be dropped and a superior goal difference will prove to be crucial. On paper, there is no doubt that United will enact Chelsea’s 6-1 demolition of Derby. With their attacking talents, anything less than three goals, is a set-back. The worry for Ferguson is that Derby give the fight of their life after the drubbing and gain inspiration from the performance of Portsmouth. Chelsea and Liverpool will be well poised to take advantage of any slip-ups.

Liverpool, especially, have settled into a winning 4-2-3-1 formation and hopefully, Rafa Benitez is not inclined to tinker. More than just securing a fourth position and displacing Everton, a third position is now likely with their razor-sharp form.

Liverpool are good for another Champions League medal and Arsenal should not be much of a hurdle for them. The clash has been described as an “interesting and challenging draw” by Wenger. In the Premier League, Arsenal are more consistent but in the Champions League, Liverpool, the five time European champions, have the upper hand.

Nevertheless, the Champions League actions will take place two weeks from now, and Arsenal will be strictly focussed on getting three points from Boro. Put it this way, failing to win will cast doubts on the character of this team. The Young Turks are nowhere near the quality of the 1998 squad, even if they win anything, it is down to the mistake of others rather than the ruthless manner in which their predecessors swept the double.

I hope Wenger is more aggressive in the transfer market this summer, buying utility players or raw diamonds are prudent investments but getting in a couple of world-class talents is inevitable, unless he wants to grapple with an embarrassingly thin bench again.

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