The chase is well and truly on. Let’s not forget too that Stoke are coming off 120 intense mid-week minutes. One can’t pray for kinder circumstances.

Wenger doesn’t have to say anything – he should just take his seat in the dugout.

We can be top next Saturday, just think about that for a moment. TOP.

I have no doubt we wont win, but if we can’t do that now, with this opportunity in front of us, then frankly we wont deserve to be champions.

It is very important to keep going at the doomers. You may not change them but it at least shows that there are many who will not have any truck with it. They are a danger to the project.

Essential reading, for once, from Henry Winter:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/7326648/Arsene-Wengers-revival-at-Arsenal-will-take-time.html

This is what makes me so proud to be a Gooner & even more so under a man apart. There is so much more about AFC as a club.

Off to Stoke now, let’s hope for the best, my thoughts were revealed yesterday.

I do agree that the previous games won’t have a bearing and the circumstances and personnel involved are very different. The mouthy pundits and hacks need something to say though – so I guess we’re stuck with that Fortress Britannia story.

I appreciate your feedback about the balance to hit with the type of articles. As with most things, it really is a work in progress – and I’m sure we’ll find a balance soon.

Sometimes writing just comes with the mojo you have at that point in time. Dooming especially after the United and Chelsea defeats just became an art form that gave me an itch.

We’ve got 3 points up for grabs today so let’s look forward to it.

Like you, I have a strong feelingn that Wenger will start with Theo. Song is also a welcome addition to what’s likely to be an ‘in your face’ type of game.

This last week has been so busy I have had no time for the blogs, but that might be a good thing. I really struggle to deal with no mid-week game. By Thursday I was having very surreal Arsenal dreams each night.

I think that the fact we lost the last two times at Stoke is not too significant. As ever, the media ignore the circumstances. Last time was with a very mixed cup side, last season that result came in a run of form that might be just about poorest since Wenger arrived.

They should be tired and maybe have an eye on the cup game with the chavs upcoming. If we can start well and take the lead it should open things up for us as they chase the game. At the very least, there will be no surprises this time and the player should be alert from minute 1.

As good as Eboue was, I hope we play Walcott. I don’t think that we should suddenly start playing a defensive line-up and fret about grinding out a result. We need to attack and open them up, not try and muscle a 1 nil.

Darius, I really like the blog, but it is noticeable that what makes it on here is generally better than on to ACLF on a Friday. Although yesterdays post, which clearly went down well with some, is in a similar vein.

There are many fans who really couldn’t give two tosses about the plastics. Not any more, they have been on the net doing their thing for years now – if you met them in a pub you would laugh and wouldn’t give them the time of day on football. By constantly going on about it you may turn as many people away as you get through to – the doom merchants won’t listen, certainly not the way you phrase, which is a cleaned up version of how it should be put.

It seems a shame to waste a lot of time that could focus on the good and great points of our club by indulging in some sort crusade whilst already addressing the choir. Given the choice, I for one would much rather look forward to the great things ahead, marvel at the current set-up, and enjoy the true artistry of Arsene’s Arsenal than allow a bunch of twunts to distract from that.

Keep up the good work and remember your ditty about the water and the tea leaves – don’t let them change you dude.

I think there’s too much mouth out there in the media about the mystical powers of Stoke at the Britannia.

Remember that on the two occasions they’ve visited the Emirates, we’ve humbled them proper – and even in the last game at home – they really din’t threaten our box and both Vermaelen and Gallas duly dispatched their long balls and their set pieces.

I think with the Britannia it’s up to us to show we want it more. Last season, we were complacent and we assumed we were going to win – and after RVP was sent off, it became a more difficult game.

Take a note today and see what Stoke does during set-pieces especially on the Delap throw. They usually have a big man harrasing the keeper of the opposing team and stopping them from getting to the ball – and that’s the only job that person will do.

I’ll see when’s best to republish the anatomy.

—————-Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
———Cesc Song Denilson
——–Eboue Bendtner Nasri

Either way, it just shows the strength of our squad, regardless of yet more key injuries to first team players.