Hello, permanent nerves. Let’s be friends.

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wordle
Word cloud from East Lower – courtesy of Wordle

Guardian squad sheet
BBC match page

Now, it’s got to be said that looking at the stats and the squad sheets above doesn’t get you all that far. It will tell you that Birmingham have a very good home record, but it will also tell you that Arsenal’s recent record looks like WWWWWW. The general picture is no clearer because since we went top last Saturday, albeit briefly, both of our rivals have since overtaken us again. It’s impossibly close and with every passing game, the effect of any dropped points is magnified. Studying stats now just gives me the fear. Doing the Prem Predictor merely magnifies it tenfold.

Ordinarily, a point at St. Andrews would be considered a decent enough result. Tomorrow though, it would feel like a hammer blow. Just look – if you can bear it – at the example of Chelsea from the last week. Written off last Saturday following a draw, a subsequent 5-0 win and it’s all back on for them. This is how it’s going to be between now and the end of the season I’m afraid.

It’ll be a taut day for Eduardo, you’d imagine. Over two years since the leg break, and it’s still hard to see the player that was in the player that now is. Three league goals this term tells its own story. Given that whenever I see the incident again – or Ramsey’s for that matter – my own never-broken ankle comes out in tingly sympathy, you can see why it’s not the kind of thing that a player who suffered an injury like that is likely to be able to dismiss entirely. It must be almost impossible. At least the perpetrator of the tackle back then is no longer at the club – he’s now at Watford.

Eduardo signed a new deal not long ago, which is either a sign of Wenger’s faith or a piece of economic good sense for a player coming to the end of his contract. Would anyone be really surprised if he did move on in the summer? On current form it has to be a possibility.

Back in 2008, had we won at Birmingham we would have gone eight points clear.

Oh for the luxury of a lead like that now.

Jim

Arsenal since about 1979. Thick, thin and all that.

This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Daryl Booth

    Ye Gods man!

    I am trying my level best to remain calm and rationale about the run in this year.

    And then you throw me right back into the hole of anguish, fear, anicipation, butterflies and angst I am hoping to supress long enough for Arsenal to do `their magic`
    Have you no mercy sir?
    Damn you!, Damn you to hell!
    I am off to run a few scenarios through that BBC predictor again…

    Daryl

  2. Daryl Booth

    * Excuse spellings… It`s been a night of beer.. hic!

  3. impossible dream

    just chill out y’all. what will be will be

  4. JayByName

    I do find the nerves upwards the end of the season a frightening thing, but must admit I am more concerned about eduardo moving on. He’s a player I have admired at the club and after the horrific injury he should have some leway, give him the summer to perk up fix all his bits that need oiling and like the old banger in the drive if it fails the MOT by next January hope someone takes it off your hands. Maybe we could use man city’s version of the scrapage scheme but for arsenal vetrans – couple of quid and no harm done.

    On a side note do feel free to tweet me and remind me of the lack of sense I made in the morning, un-till the… Goodnight.

  5. 433

    WWWWW – Arsenal’s form. Incredible after the Chelsea and Man United defeats when we didn’t look good enough to win a run of games. I’m enjoying it.

  6. Hairy Bottle

    Whatever happens i’m enjoying the run because its my Arsenal who’s playing and what do we’ve to lose ? Enjoy it guys, we’re close….

  7. Dgob

    Can’t deny the nerves but (and I’m telling myself this daily) that will only add to the joy of our final triumph!!

    COYG

  8. Tommo

    Don’t panic! Don’t panic!

  9. RotorGoat

    I’m not panicking… just need to stop myself running all the permutations through my head as it’s not remotely helpful!

  10. PD

    Just one game between now & the end of the season when our nerves weren’t in shreds going into the last 10 minutes would be nice. Come on Arsene & the lads – please, just one comfortable win would do us all the world of good !!
    3-0 please gents 🙂

  11. Booland

    Lately you have been writing better than anyone out there. Good stuff. As I have said before I rather see Sol play today and rested for quarter final tie. Song is a CB. Don’t want to see MS play cos the watching the game will be too panicky… don’t have any nails left!

  12. 433

    Deflated, but watching other results.

  13. PD

    What the fuck was Almunia doing ? Sick of saying it. 6 years now & has never been good enough. I’m sorry Arsene but not replacing him was criminal. Not just a bad decision but a shocking, indefensible one. And if it costs us the league title then you only have yourself to blame.

  14. Tommy

    i cant be bothered anymore… the old keeper debate…. we the fans will have to buy a decent keeper and give him to AFC. otherwise there is no need to watch the games anymore…

    u know iam right…

    Iam stunned.

    Wenger the genius?

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