The season is dead, long live the season - well next season that is. As we know Gooners all we have to play for this season, what's left of it - is pride. In the last week and a bit we have seen The Arsenal drop out of all competitions, so we have another wait for silverware. And I am not counting The Emirates or Amsterdam Cups either! Anyway the cup up for grasp is one of pride and an ideal team to play to show that is Reading FC. Reading having been flirting with the relegation battlers and this should be a game where The Arsenal put them to the sword. Arsène Wenger has already started the war cry by saying The Arsenal will go for the second spot in the Premier League. Great for Le Gaffer to believe we could finish second, I think even that is out of our grasp but if Le Gaffer wants the boys to stay focus and aim for that then fair play - I'm with him all the way, I just don't think it is possible. The Arsenal are currently seven points adrift of CSKA Chelsea but with a game in hand, so once again it's not in our hands and we have to rely on other games to get that spot. But what the hell the boys might as well aim for something and where better to start than unleashing hell on a side who have a worst defensive record than them N17 chavs (I'm not sure if that's 'officially' true, I haven't checked but spurs defence is shocking lets not mess about).
Anyhoo onto team news. There's the normal injury sicknote waving shenanigans from the usual suspects in the treatment room with messrs Tomas Sicky, Eduardo heading the queue. They are joined by an ever increasing list though as Bacary Sagna, contract rebel Mathieu Flamini, Justin Hoyte and the missing Beach Boy Manuel Almunia are all out. Almunia to be fair though has been penciled in for a fitness test on Friday to see if he will start and give Jens Lehmann another go on the bench.
So that's who's not playing, question is, how will Wenger freshen things up? Will he make major changes or will he continue with the same team and formation. I really reckon against a team like Reading we need to be playing 4-4-2 or even 4-3-3 formation so we can rip them apart. I would also give Theo Walcott a start, either on the wing in preference to Manu Eboué or give him a start up front. The defence pretty much picks itself, the midfield might be tinkered with a bit as the likes of Alex Song, Denilson and Abou Diaby could be in with a shout in the middle of the park if Wenger decides to give Gilberto and Cesc Fabregas a rest. If Gilberto does leave the club in the summer which seems to be a definitely maybe then I would throw someone else in there to see if they can do the job and how they fair. I probably wouldn't of said this a year ago, but I would play Alex Song at defensive midfield. He has been proper for us the times he has played and was outstanding in the African Cup of Nations, so I say give the lad a run out. I would also give the boy Cesc a rest, god knows the player could do with it. In his place I would put Diaby in at central midfield as I believe he would be better equipped to get the job done there than out on wing. To compensate the creativeness that could be lacking from Cesc not playing I would get ice cream loving Alex Hleb to play a free role and generally scare the bejesus out of Reading. However not sure if that's too much change and could disrupt the team's flowing football, but it isn't going to happen, so it's just a thought.
There's a lot to think about. Here's my team line up seeing that your asking,
Lehmann
Eboué Gallas Touré Clichy
van Persie Song Diaby
Hleb
Walcott Adebayor
Any road up, if you want to know a bit more
regarding the possible team line ups and trivia, the folks at the Beeb have done all the stats and that malarkey, so have a butchers to get yourself up to speed. The Tale of the tape: The Arsenal vs Reading
What's your thoughts on the above, team selection and line up? Let us know what you're thinking Gooners. Jump onto The Forum and get amongst it. The Arsenal vs Reading
We all miss you Rocky, you were not only an Arsenal Leg-end but a right gent as well. Allgoonerdup is holding a new win a t-shirt competition and it's to honour the Arsenal hero. For your chance to win a Rocky t-shirt just answer this simple question, what number shirt did David Rocastle wear for The Arsenal? Get your answers down and let us know your name, size and postal address - job done.
Send your answers to:
iwannafreebie@allgoonerdup.com
Competition ends 30 April.
Good luck Gooners.
For all you Gooners out there that have FaceBook there is a FaceBook page dedicated to Rocky, do yourselves and join up. David Rocastle - Arsenal Legend - Never Forgotten.
We all miss you Rocky.
Once you get there have a look through the different categories to make it easier to choose just which shirt you want. Is there a shirt you like but would prefer it in a different colour? Well have word via email (shop@allgoonerdup.com) and we'll see what we can do for you, see how helpful the staff are? Go on, have a butchers - The Allgoonerdup Shop
Latest standings after the weekends game.
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Got something to rant about? Want to see what the discussion of the day is? Well jump on board The Allgoonerdup Forum and register if you haven't done so already and have your shout about Arsenal and general football topics.
That's rich: Apparently ex-Arsenal goal king Thierry Henry picked up a massive £10m in his final season at Ashburton Grove. Not bad work when you can get it...Wenger after another Brazilian: Completely out of the blue it seems Arsenal are making a bid for a striker. Coming from a long line of one named Brazilian players, Palermo striker Amauri who's rated at €25m is on Wenger's radar. Not sure if it's just paper/site talk or even just Amauri's agent Mariano Grimaldi sparking the interest... Make some noise: Arsenal blog Le Grove (a great site by the way) is trying to get something done about the noise level (or lack of more to the point) have butchers on their site and add your thoughts or alternatively you can jump onto the Allgoonerdup Forum and stick your thoughts on their - Ashburton Grove - Bring the noise and we'll get the ideas together and send them as well as ours onto the Le Grove boys... That's your lot, we out of here, au reviour mon amis...
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