It's (Somehow) Still In Our Hands & Thoughts For West Brom

Does anyone actually want to finish third this season?

It would appear not, as all the chasers for the coveted final spot in next season’s Champions League group stages dropped points in the penultimate weekend of Premier League action for season 2011/12. As both Sp*rs and Newcastle failed to take advantage of our dropped points on Saturday, and incredibly we still find ourselves in third spot, with it all still in our hands. The mathematics is simple – three points against West Brom next Sunday, and it’s ours.

But that’s a lot easier said than done right now, as we’ve only taken three points from an available 12, and it appears we seem to be capping off the season in the same manner in which we started it. Bloody awfully.

I won’t go into details about what went wrong against Norwich, as others have done it and I don’t want to repeat what you’ve already read. If I could recommend one blog that analyses it expertly, then check out this from @arsenalvision. Fantastic insight into what went wrong in midfield, and how we struggled as a result of it.

It looked so good at this moment, but in the end it wasn't enough to beat a sharp Norwich side.

If I could mention one thing about Saturday, it’s that Norwich were very good value for their point. And in all honesty, they are the ones who should feel hard done by, not us. It wasn’t our day, and it is flabbergasting how at this stage of the season the players didn’t look right, given how much there is to play for. But we’ve been very lucky, and have one final chance to do it ourselves. So let’s hope the players pull their fingers out, they get a bit of a drilling, and they produce the goods next Sunday at The Hawthorns.

Following on from the midfield horror show against Norwich, I wonder if it’s worth mixing it up a little for West Brom. It’s clear to me that the midfield trio of Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, and Tomas Rosicky just isn’t working. Mainly because our success this season has come with two holding/anchor type midfielders, and one sole attack minded one (when Mikel Arteta was fit this was). However now, with Arteta absent and Ramsey starting, there are two attack minded players instead, and our shape is struggling as a result. And given that Song enjoys a good mosey up the park at the best of times, the protection that has been so strong in front of the defence is getting exploited far too easily.

Given this, I’d be tempted to start young Francis Coquelin instead of Ramsey in midfield, alongside Song and Rosicky on Sunday. He is a natural defensive midfielder, and would provide that assurance that has been missing since Arteta’s injury. Song can bomb forward, and Le Coq can hold the fort in front of the defence. His pass rate is decent (84% in the League), has unquestionable talent, and deserves a run in his natural position given the amount of times he’s had to fill in at full back.

Should Coquelin get the nod in midfield against West Brom?

That’s the position he came on against Norwich in. Bacary Sagna’s unfortunate and tragic leg break means that maybe Coquelin is likely to be favoured to start at right back on Sunday instead. But how about Carl Jenkinson? Anyone?

He is, after all, a natural right back. Plus, he’s fit. And before the injury he picked up mid season, he was enjoying a decent spell in the side in which he improved admirably after a difficult start to his Arsenal career. Le Coq is more than capable to play at right back, but due to the current failings in the midfield I think he’d be better off shoring that area up.

Of course this is just my mindless speculation. I’m no expert, and certainly wouldn’t fancy my chances in a tactical debate against Arsene Wenger. And if I’m being brutally honest I don’t think he’ll change the midfield for West Brom. He rarely takes team selection risks, or ventures into the unexpected, especially when the stakes are so high. Because if it went wrong, it would be all too easy to lay the blame on the fact he went with a young inexperienced 20-year-old instead of the Welsh international captain. But how I’d love him to take the gamble. Surely it couldn’t be worse than what we saw on Saturday.

Either way, team selection aside, it’s the mental preparation and application on the training field that are more important for this week. Because against Norwich that’s what was wrong. West Brom are in a similar situation to the Canaries of not having much to play for, although I’m sure they’d all love to give Roy Hodgson a winning send off before he takes the England reigns.

But for Arsenal there are potentially severe consequences in not winning the match, as we can’t rely on another Sp*rs screw up, although we will of course be hoping that in form Fulham can aid us as much as possible. Hopefully the result at White Hart Lane won’t matter, and we get the job done ourselves.

Finally, there have been a couple of off field developments that have come to light today. Firstly, @LeGrove reported that Steve Bould is the new Arsenal assistant manager, with Pat Rice retiring this summer. This has been doing the rounds for weeks, so not exactly new news but certainly good news if it’s true. Bould is an Arsenal legend, a defensive expert, and has a fantastic record with our Under 18 side. All of which are ingredients to suggest he’d be an excellent number two to Arsene Wenger.

And secondly, @YouAreMyArsenal has suggested in this blog that Arsenal have agreed a fee to sign Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila on a four-year deal. Again, the speculation about our interest in the talented Frenchman hasn’t been secret, but this is absolutely brilliant news if true. Especially if the reported fee (£16-18m) is correct. They are quick to emphasise that this is still not 100% confirmed, and as always I am hesitant to believe it fully until it appears on the club website. But it is certainly a very positive rumour from a reliable source, and one that I’m sure we all desperately hope comes to fruition.

Is M'Vila Arsenal bound over the summer?

The signs are good off the field but the focus now must go back to what happens on it. We have just 90 minutes left of the Premier League season, and we’re going to need to dig deep and really apply ourselves to ensure we make it over the line. We’re stumbling towards it right now. Let’s get over it in any way possible and say good riddance to this horrible season.