SSHHH

As Arseblogger observed, it’s pretty quiet out there at the moment. It’s all so quiet; it’s all so still. Breaks in the Arsenal fixtures that seem interminable. This is the reality of not being in the FA Cup or Champions League and the reality of our destiny being in our own hands yet still somewhat reliant on others.

It’s not an end of a season when we are fighting for the title, nor are we on the precipice of Silverware. We are looking at that Champions League spot because that’s all we have to aim at. The Red Herring of finishing above Sp*rs is not as important as further opening the gap with Chelsea and Newcastle. The Bragging rights for London can be focused upon once Qualification is assured and something tells me that a Lasagne moment will put us in third come the final whistle on the final day.

Immediate concerns are about Sunday at 4:00. This Man City team, despite some faltering, are a good team; they’ve been top two most season. Our trump card is that the game is at The Emirates. An Arsenal win is essential and would probably put paid to their title aspirations. Anyone who was at last season’s corresponding fixture will remember a masterclass from Mancini’s men in playing for a draw and I wonder if he may not employ those same tactics again on the basis that a point may prove crucial for them.

We also have the dubious pleasure of our next two fixtures being against Wolves and Wigan; two sides who looked doomed before the crunch game against Chelsea. By the time the Chelsea game is over we should know what we have achieved and what next season holds in store. A crucial fortnight lays ahead and I get the feeling that the current quiet is very much a precursor to a storm of words and witticisms.