Post Thursday, pre Saturday guff

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Just over 24 hours to go until the big confrontation – I’ve just got to get one rather pointless final day at work out the way before the nerves can truly kick in.

On head-to-head form over the last few years (OK – more like decade), we should win the game, but it’s clear to me that the new manager up the Seven Sisters Road has instilled some confidence into his new team and there’s no room for living on past form in this fixture. We’re unbeaten in 19 league and cup games against the Spuds and Christmas would be a bit rubbish if that record were to go tomorrow.

The good news, other than we’re top of the league and playing well, is that the only injury doubt seems to be Walcott. Somewhat miraculously, Eboue from Ivory seems to be living in perfect harmony just six days after being stretchered off. His injury can’t have been that bad, something I say with predictable regularity every time he bounces back onto his feet after a few rolls on the turf in apparent agony. To be fair to him, it did look bad on Sunday.

Which means, unless I’m a curse and Wenger announces a raft of new injuries at today’s press conference we’re basically at full strength – what a nice place to be.

And finally, it’s the Champions League draw today, and we’ve got a simple draw. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Internazionale, AC Milan or Porto await. Someone surely must be fiddling that.

Pre-match stats here
Champions League draw procedure here

Jim

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