Will Villareal Win Carry Over To Chelsea?

It was a great win Wednesday night at the Emirates, a win that not only spells progress in the competition, but also ensures we will be up against Man Utd for the first time in our history in the European Cup. But this is not a preview of that match, this is a preview of Chelsea. Arsene Wenger said about the Man Utd game that the form of the day will determine the winner, and I believe the same might be true of tomorrow's game against Chelsea.

And whether or not it's any indication of how we'll do, our form is the best of any club in Europe. In the entirety of the year 2009, we have only one loss, and that was followed five minutes later by a penalty shootout which we won. So if that is counted as a win as well we are undefeated in 2009. How's that for form?

Add to that the confidence that a big European win always gives us and the ingredients are there for us to attack very very well. But that's just the problem: whilst our attack is on fire right now, our defense has collapsed almost as fast as our title challenge last season.

Sanga has been ruled out for the weekend, and Gibbs will have to pass a last-minute test to play. This leaves us with only one first-choice defender in Toure; thank goodness the man has been able to stay fit for us, he's been a rock in our defense so far in 2009. But that leaves us playing Eboue, Silvestre, and if Gibbs is not fit then Song in the centre of defense.

The Sanga injury, as rocking to us as it was last season, won't be as hurtful this I don't believe. Eboue, who played back in his natural position (and I believe only true position) at right back on Wednesday night looked superb. I was reminded why he was called one of the best right wing backs in the world a few years ago. So that's one crisis solved, but what about the rest of the defense.

Let's assume the worst and say Gibbs does not pass fit to play. That will mean playing Silvestre at left back, which will almost completely diminish any attacking threat we'll have down the left via an overlapping fullback, and if he does go forward, he will certainly not have the speed of Clichy or Gibbs to get back in defense fast enough. As far as playing Song at centre half, we all know he can perform there, and indeed he seemed to be being bred for the role last season, but he has since moved up to midfield. Regardless, I think he can do the job, but he's not perfect, and will need to follow closely the instructions Toure gives him during their partnership.

Fabianski is a spectacular keeper in my mind, so there's not problem there, and there are no problems up the pitch attacking-wise. Eduardo may return, and Diaby definitely will. Add to that Arshavin will be available to play for us and we will have a very potent attacking force. And I think that if we are to win tomorrow, that will have to be what we take advantage of.

We need to go out not to defend but to attack, non-stop. If we concede three then so be it, as long as we score four in response. Since this a cup game the goals against tally is irrelevant as long as we have more goals for. So here's my score prediction for Saturday: 3-2 to Arsenal. Chelsea will be dangerous going forward but they have been lacklustre in defense in recent weeks. We have exactly the same story. So 3-2 sounds about right.

Hopefully the Villareal win will carry over to the Chelsea game, but only in that it affects our attacking force to make them stronger. We will try to cope defensively to be sure, but only our attack will, I believe, win us the day. Expect a cracking game tomorrow afternoon.

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Fab 4