Arsenal Fabregas hope

Saturday, 05/03/2011

by Richard Leighton, Shoot's Arsenal blogger

Every single game we play at the moment seems to be crucial; a season-maker, a season-breaker or a turning point of some sort, and our 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday was no different.

Going into the game, the League Cup Final debacle felt like a million years ago. Manchester United had lost to Chelsea and we had swept aside Leyton Orient 5-0 in the FA Cup.  

It felt like there was a real focus on the league now and that this was a side intent on taking full advantage and gaining ground on the leaders.

But without Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie we lacked the creativity and flair needed to get the points and towards the end nearly lost the game altogether.

It’s these kinds of results that are going to ensure we miss out on top spot and it’s mightily frustrating to have to watch.

I’m tired of hearing about how Manchester United aren’t playing well this season and yet keep getting the results that currently see them top of the pile.

While Arsenal fans have to put up with seeing us play well, pepper opposition goal-mouths, watch wonderful save after wonderful save and come away with a point or less.

That we were denied a clear penalty and incorrectly had a goal disallowed for offside against Sunderland is neither here nor there for me. We started slowly and there wasn’t enough spark to grind out the result.

Now we head to the Barcelona’s Nou Camp on Tuesday and while Song and Fabregas are 50:50 for the game, van Persie and Walcott will be absent.

No matter how hard I try, the head can’t help but rule the heart on this one and I just can’t see us getting a result we need without these key players.

 For that reason, if there is even the slightest doubt over Cesc and his dodgy hamstring then I would leave him out without hesitation.

We are still in with a shout in the Premier League and it’s just not worth risking the loss of our captain for another month over a game we probably won’t win anyway.

I realise this sounds very defeatist and I know he can change a game, even one against Barcelona, but we have to look at the bigger picture.

Anyway, let’s hope he is 100% fit because, as Arsenal fans know all too well, the overwhelming favourite doesn’t always prevail – especially in cup games.

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