Championsleague preview and Gilberto

Champions League football tonight; at least Setanta had the decency to leave ours at a 7.45 kick-off. A tricky little tie but one that if approached with the same professionalism as Zagreb last season, will see Arsenal progress by a two goal aggregate advantage.

As far the team goes tonight, I would expect the eleven who started on Sunday to kick-off tonight. If Arsene is going to tinker, he might opt for a more defensive shape to the left hand side, resting Rosicky and bringing in Traore. However, given the situation of the game, that may be something if he decided to protect a two-goal lead but not from the start.

Tactically, the performance in Amsterdam is likely to be the template, defensively more solid and looking to retain possession, hitting Sparta on the break in the first half rather than taking the game to them as was the case at home to Fulham. For that to work, for the umpteenth time in the last season, it is going to be important that the sloppiness in defence is eradicated. I suppose Arsene may involve Senderos if he decided to rest one of the senior players ahead of the trip to Ewood Park, with Gallas being Captain the logical candidate is Toure but it is important that an understanding is built on that side of the defence with the addition of Sagna in the Summer so it seems unlikely that any changes will be made there.

Much is being made of the appointment of Gallas as Captain. Gilberto has supposedly informed us, via the normally reputable Daily Star, that he only found out about the Captaincy issue being resolved on the internet. Perhaps that is true. Maybe there is some ‘poetic licence’ involved. Either way, sun claims that Gilberto has met with Arsene and the latter is quoted as saying,

I respect Gilberto a lot. I’ve had a meeting with him and told him what’s what

Now I have no doubt that they did meet earlier this week, or maybe before the Fulham game, but would Arsene have ‘told him what’s what‘? Most unlikely; maybe as MAIL put it,

I respect Gilberto a lot. He did a good job last year. We have had an eye-to-eye meeting and I told him what I wanted to tell him and that’s it. He was not in the group last week and that’s why what happened happened. I’ve nothing more to say. I cannot justify every small decision and explain it to everybody

To be honest though, this is the mountain that they are making out of the molehill; that Gilberto is a proud man and would have liked the role permanently is beyond doubt. However, without taking him for granted, I doubt that he needed putting in his place as The Sun implies. If anyone is being put in their place, it is Gallas. Arsene has made it clear that he was displeased with some of the outbursts from his compatriot,

William’s now an example. Not only on the the pitch but off it. Of course, I told him about that. The captain is like a manager. I was one as a player and knew what you can do and that you cannot. This season he is a very positive influence and I don’t believe it’s a special risk. The captain’s job is important but what is more important is team spirit.

It is too early to say whether WG has acquired Grace or had his tongue curbed - he started with a win - but when the first bump appears on the road, how he reacts is going to be the point at which this can be gauged. The player himself has much to do to win over a sceptical support, many of whom were plainly unhappy at him being appointed Captain, and he is aware of that himself,

I have to give a good example in everything I do and I’ll do that. I think you will see a new me this year

Personally, I would like to see the defender who was a pivotal member of Chelsea’s defensive unit when they won the title three seasons ago, turn and play at The Emirates. If that happens, it would be a significant step in the right direction for the Centre of the defence.

On the subject of under-fire players, some of the criticism of Jens Lehmann has gone over the top. He made a mistake on Sunday, which was punished. However, this does not mean that he is ‘finished’ or ‘past it’; indeed less than five minutes after the mistake, a similar situation arose and was dealt with effectively, a passback from the left, he opened his body and passed the ball out to the right. Simple, and something he has done thousands of times before. That it went wrong is beyond dispute; the situation should be viewed as a ‘one-off’, unless it happens again. It would interesting to see the reaction towards any mistakes that those who point the finger make. Do their bosses and colleagues fire them? If you don’t learn from them then there might be a case for the ‘prosecution’ but at the moment, there is too much criticism of the player and little of it is constructive.

Whilst Sunday and mistakes being made is in the air, at least Lawrie Sanchez had the decency to recant his position to a certain extent,

I have to hold my hand up and say I was probably wrong to a certain extent

which is about as contrite as a manager will ever get. Too often the shooting from the lip by his peers remains unrepented and whilst it falls short of the full retraction you might have hoped for, it is as good as it is going to get. Unfortunately, the bandwagon has started rolling and it won’t be long before it is careering out of control.

Enjoy the game whereever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.