Cash v/s Class

Good evening Gooners. So we finally arrive to the day of the big game at the Emirates. This really is a game with which we could signal our intent to win the League. It has been awfully quiet around these parts with the only noise that seems to be emanating from Arsenal Football Club is that of the need for a new defender if TV5 does not make it in time, Vela moving on loan to Bolton and Ramsey's return to the club.

Today for me will be a true test of the maturity that Wenger keeps talking about that our side has acquired. It was great that we managed a big win against Chelsea but do we have it in us to put up a virtuoso display like that tonight. Mind you for all the millions that City have spent they are actually turning out to be a good team and their position in the league is all on their own accord. Kudos to Mancini for getting this lot of players together and playing for the common cause of winning some kind of silverware and/or Champions League status. Training ground bust ups aside i am sure that it will not be in the minds of the City players when they take to the pitch tonight because only one of the two (read Toure) involved in the bust up will actually be involved in our match as well. So sulkycuntycunt Adebayor may well be given some time to pack his bags for another club back home in the eastlands.

Tonight's game, i assure you will be a much more physical battle than the one we've endured against the likes of Brum and Stoke cos these monsters from City actually have some footballing class to them. To add, the last time we played them, they put on a fight right until the very end in spite of being a man down for most of the match. If we do not have a work rate like the one we had against Chelsea i can assure you that we might as well not bother taking to the pitch tonight cos City will make us pay.

They will be further buoyed by the fact that utd won against Stoke and the gap between them and Utd is now 3 points with Utd having played a game less. For Arsenal, we absolutely have to give everything to the match tonight and failure, sorry to say is not an option.

The team i imagine that will line up is below

Fabianski
Sagna-Djourou-Kos-Clichy
Song-Wilshere
Walcott-fabregas-Nasri
Chamakh

Subs: Chesney,RVP, Denilson,Bendtner, Rosicky, Squillaci, Eboue

I've picked chamakh over RVP today cos i feel Wenger would have seen from the display on Saturday that RVP is still short on his sharpness and simply cannot afford to take a gamble on his finishing. Hence Chamakh would step in and provide us with all the link up and hold up play that has made him so endearing to us, not to mention the 10 goals he's raked up already. Other than that i expect no other changes from the list above.

Here's hoping for an evening to remember for all of us this evening. The match is being broadcasted on ESPN at 1.10 a.m in the India Timezone.

Follow me on twitter @indigooner for updates and ramblings throughout the match.

Have a good evening wherever you are and here's to 3 points at the Emirates.

Until tomorrow.