WHY ARSENAL’S LOSS TO BLACKBURN WON’T MATTER ON TUESDAY

Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Time: 10:45pm (Kenyan Time)

On Tuesday the 19th Feb, 2013, Arsenal takes on Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal goes into this match on the back of an FA Cup defeat against a division two side, Blackburn Rovers. Yet this is the subject of my discussion today. Discussions have been ripe on the streets, in offices and on social media on why and how Arsenal are going to loose their match against Bayern. Well, here is a response! I DON’T THINK SO. 

First, the team assembled against Blackburn was far inferior to the team that Wenger will put against Bayern. The squad that played on Saturday lacked three or four first team players. And while some of you (especially Man U fans) will claim that two or three players cannot make the difference, the sad reality for you (Yes, You Manchester United fans) is that it really does matter. And why, would I be so sure. Its because the difference between the TROPHLESS MAN UTD of last season and the current leaders sitting pretty at the top of the table with a twelve point gap on second placed City is VAN Persie (And, how I hate to say this).

Back to my point. Santi CAZORLA, Theo WALCOTT, Jack WILSHERE and Lucas PODOLSKI, all rested for the game against Blackburn, will be back for the Bayern match with their guns blazing. Take Podolski and Walcott for example. What lacked in the game against Blackburn was the incisiveness in front of goal (Read Gervinho). The same cannot be said of the forward line that will consist of the trio of Giroud, Walcott and Podolski. The latter even has the added advantage of proving to his former employers just how good he is. And indeed he is.

That said, there is no need to emphasize the importance of the Midfield Maestros Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla. Simply put, these two are competing for honours with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. Nothing less. And it’s needless to say that the match will be won in midfield. In the words of William Ruto, I am not saying that I know who will win the midfield battle, but I know who will not.

Well, unlike in the Real Madrid vs Man Utd game last week, in this game you can be sure there will be no one team throwing a whole team into the backline (it’s so obvious who were defending for the better part of the game). For this fixture you can sit back, enjoy the game and watch as the mighty Gunners disapprove their critics.

Gunners’ fans, do you agree with me? What are your thoughts on this game?