Not 'Just Another Victory'

As a great man made clear in a previous post, Gareth Southgate’s Boro teams have done fairly well against us. Well, up until today that is. A Cesc brace puts Boro in further trouble – I’d much rather see Phil Brown and Hull City go down to be honest – while we are now 20 unbeaten in the league.

The term geometry is apposite when describing the types of movement, angles, and precision it takes to play Wenger’s brand of football. Add the thrust and pace of our attacks and you have a lethal potion. Southgate’s men did themselves no favors playing such a high line, especially on the first goal. The neat back heel from Bendtner should not go unnoticed for it was pivotal to the move that exposed the folly of Boro’s defence playing so close to the midfield stripe. They were always going to be vulnerable with Theo and AA23 lurking.

Cesc finished another superbly diagrammed move from an inch perfect Eboue pass that deserved a goal. I have been very vocal about my disappointment in the captain’s poor form for some time. Cesc really hadn’t been himself for us consistently since February, 2008. Putting the disappointment of last week’s FA Cup semi final defeat aside (a big ask really as Chelsea were a big challenge and we handed them victory in unforgivable fashion), Cesc has been spectacular since returning from injury. We’ll need that as we close the season with very serious intentions to take home the European Cup.

Make no mistake about it that winning in such fashion, i.e. a clean sheet plus a brace by our pulsating leader, is a fine way to prepare for the CL semi final 1st leg. Arsene won’t need to make Patton like speeches for this one. The boys want it. The boys know what is at stake. They will savor this eventful moment. I sense that to a man, they feel that they are as good as if not better than United. Let’s be clear, we’ve beaten United. We should not fear them. I feel we’re better equipped for this tie than they are, with injuries to our key players or not.

We have far more to play for than Taggart’s lot. We have tasted the bitterness of disappointment often in recent seasons. A factor that I feel is under-rated. We’ll want to make the best of this opportunity. I feel that for United, the tie rests on how well Ferguson manages to gee up his gang.

United vs. Arsenal needs no hyperbolic treatment. It is THE glamour tie in England. Spores are small potatoes and generally insignificant. Chelsea are chavs with a super rich sugar daddy whose billions helped to end their long run of being our doormats. Anelka’s Real Madrid comparisons are a little off target in my opinion. United is our true rival. To face them in the CL is fantastic. Ferguson will need to remind his players that we will be gunning for glory. We are a true threat to their treble quest.

Arsene won’t have much motivating to do. The troops will be up for this one.

Red is the color. My palms are sweating in anticipation.