Players Are Back Already? Middlesbrough Preview

It seems amazing to me that somehow every single player who was out with injury has recovered in time to travel to the Riverside on Saturday. True injuries like we often experience often take two to three weeks to recover from, but all five of ours disappeared in a week. Almost makes you think they weren't really injured. Almost makes you think that Arsene Wenger deliberately put out a weakened side against Porto, doesn't it?

Well, whether the injuries were genuine or not at least the squad is mostly back for this fixture. It's one that we haven't had that much luck with over the past few years. Ever since we crushed them 7-0 back in 2006 we haven't beaten them again. In fact, for those that don't remember, last season's corresponding fixture, also at the Riverside, was our first League loss. Oh for those days again, but alas, they're behind us now.

Now we've dug ourselves such a deep hole due to our lack of defensive midfielder (which has in turn unbalanced the defense), that we almost certainly won't be able to climb back out. I'm the eternal optimist so I'm not going to say it's done and dusted, after all Chelsea last season came from 9pts behind us to finish two points ahead of us at years' end. So it is possible, but unfortunately we aren't Chelsea, and unless we get the long string of wins for which we are overdue, then I don't see us catching the league leaders.

If we are, however, to make a run, this Saturday would be a great place to start. They have almost become a bogey team over the last couple of years, Middlesbrough, and beating them at the Riverside would give the team the confidence they need to beat Liverpool next week. But a win will certainly require a mighty effort on the team's part. We will have to strike first and strike early to beat them, I predict.

Middlesbrough will gain confidence over time if we fail to take advantage of our chances, and their chances of nicking a winner will get higher and higher. I'm predicting a tight affair Saturday afternoon, and I'm really worried that we are going to again drop points. The only thing that eve gives me a shred of reasonable hope that the lads will be able to control the game and pull out a result is that Cesc Fabregas is still 3-0-0 as captain. He was out of action during our loss to Porto and maybe that signifies that his leadership is required out there.

I certainly hope our Spanish skipper holds that charm and can motivate the players as is so evident needs to be done every match. I'm hoping for the best and expecting the worst this weekend. Don't forget, you can get now all the Fab 4 Arsenal news and views sent direct to your mobile phone for free, Click Here for details. Till later,

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