The Observer's "Fans verdict on title contenders" - better late than never?
1) What is your
prediction for the game? (Please give us your tip for an exact score, plus a
quick explanation)
3-2
Arriving at the Emirates on the back of their humbling of the
former title favourites, I fancy that the Foxes will prove an entirely
different proposition to the team that we turned over 2-5 at the King
Power back in September.
As ever, the outcome will be dependent upon which incarnation
of the Gunners turns up. We badly need the likes of Alexis and Giroud
to rediscover their mojo, so that in tandem with the magical promptings of
Mesut Özil, we might have sufficient firepower to trouble Schmeichel.
The big question is whether we can match the visitor’s zest and
intensity in the middle of the park, in order to prevent the likes of
Kanté and Drinkwater running amok. Ultimately it might prove a tale
of the two keepers and whether Petr Cech can outshine our guest’s goal
minder.
2) Will
you win the title? If so, why? If not, why not?
Obviously my heart says yes, but there’s about as much
conviction from my head as has been evident in our far too tepid form
of late. Fitness permitting, the Gunners undoubtedly have the
talented tools to go all the way, but sadly we’ve yet to witness
proof of them having the necessary appetite.
The taxing nature of a title race puts the emphasis on the
whole being greater than the sum of the individual parts. With Ramsey
inheriting the injured Cazorla’s much coveted central role and the
Ox finally liberated from the shackles of his sideline yoke, their
seemingly blasé body language leaves us increasingly frustrated that the
same level of intense desire on the terraces is not made manifest on
the pitch.
To date that ‘I want a winner’s medal and nothing is going to
stop me’ type total commitment has been demonstrated almost
exclusively by Alexis, while the majority of his team mates appear to
expect it to be handed to them, gift-wrapped (leaving some of out
star names open to accusations of merely going through the motions, keeping their
powder dry for the Euros this summer). If the Gunners are to scale
the summit and remain there, we have to hope our Chilean Duracell
Bunny is infectious and that they all catch this same vibe…sharpish!
3) If you don't
win the title, who will?
As long as it’s anyone but Spurs! Although it would be most
amusing to see the Tinkerman making a complete mockery of
the traditional hierarchy.
4) What are
the three other games in the remaining fixture list that most worry you?
One always looks forward to a date with our neighbours at the wrong
end of the Seven Sisters Road, with similar amount of enthusiasm that
one has for a trip to the dentist! The outing to Goodison is a potential
banana skin, immediately upon our return from conquering Messi &
his Catalan cohorts. Then there’s the minor matter of winning the
title at the Etihad on the penultimate weekend.
5) What's been the
best moment of the season so far?
Blowing Man Utd away in the opening 20 mins has been somewhat
belittled by their mediocrity since. Not sure whether
Flamini silencing White Hart Lane with his stunning brace in the League
Cup trumps Giroud bearing his hat-trick of gifts for the Greeks and
thereby resuscitating our European adventure?
6) Who has been
the key player and what do they bring?
The privilege of watching Mesut Özil is, as they say, worth the
price of admission alone, but Petr Cech has proved key, since
he’s earned the points that would’ve previously been squandered, with him
possessing that special aura, which lends composure to our defence and
causes opposition strikers to fluff their lines.
7) Who is your
most underrated hero?
Never thought I’d be glad to see Gibbs on the bench, but Nacho
Monreal has been the epitome of consistency so far this season.
8) And finally,
please list your side's best XI....
With Jack Wilshere the forgotten man, our best XI pretty much
picks itself. The only real debate is Gabriel or the BFG, yet despite
his increasing resemblance to an oil tanker, Per seems
sufficiently composed, when afforded Franny’s protection:
Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey,
Coquelin, Cazorla, Alexis, Özil, Giroud.
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