Prof will need positive approach

I’M not sure what Fergie will have learned from his presence at Sunday’s stroll in the sunshine. I’m assuming he was only paying a visit to our place, en route to donning his penguin suit for the PFA Awards.

Yet I doubt he was left any the wiser as to the Gunners line-up at Old Trafford tonight, by a game which, to my mind, really only stood as testament to the disappointing amount of fight left in Gareth Southgate’s side.

In the absence of Van Persie, Arsène might fancy the goal threat posed by Fabregas, playing in the more advanced role. Yet Cesc might not find Manchester United’s defence nearly so accommodating as Boro. On the basis that we’re likely to have a better chance of outscoring United than keeping a clean sheet, I’d love to see us go for it, with a more offensive 4-4-2 formation. But le gaffer is hardly known for his gung-ho qualities and I guess we can expect the Gunners to line-up with a lone striker.

Over the course of 90 minutes, Adebayor is the player most likely to conjure up an inspirational goal. I imagine the United defence would be more apprehensive about the Togongator’s ability to do the unexpected, than Nicky Bendtner. Nevertheless, with Ade’s tendency to stray offside, his apparent inability to get off the ground (to take advantage of his height) and his recent woeful first touch, one could make a meaningful argument for selecting the Dane, since Ade patently isn’t suited to a role demanding so much selfless graft.

Selection and formation arguments aside, my principal concern is that le Prof doesn’t repeat the mistake he appeared to make at Wembley. Perhaps it was related to his esteem for Hiddink, but I felt his team selection paid Chelsea too much respect, instead of putting his faith in our most in-form XI. Arsène responded to his critics in Sunday’s programme, explaining that with nine games in 27 days, it’s essential that he makes the most of his resources. He also referred to the irony that the same people who were crying about the exclusion of Alex Song, were moaning about his selection six months back! However, it felt almost as if Wenger was contradicting himself, as Monday’s weekly email from the manager revealed “it’s better to win, than to lose and rest players”. Perhaps if le Prof had stay true to this policy, Shava might’ve had less to prove at Anfield last week and would be saving some goals for a return to Wembley in May? If Fergie learned one thing this weekend, it was how lucky United are that the little Cossack is cup-tied in Europe. Cesc and Shava have only played a couple of games together, but already you can sense the intuition developing between the two. I’m positively licking my lips at the prospect of a pre-season which will enable all of his teammates to tune into the diminutive Ruski’s wavelength and instinctively occupying the sort of vacant areas that Shava was finding on Sunday.

For the Gunners to triumph at Old Trafford, we need United to set the same cup final high-tempo that Liverpool produced last week. The Scousers frenetic pressure forced us to zip the ball around at the sort of furious pace that was far more likely to encourage the best out of us, than 90 minutes of tentative probing, in a contest where the fear of loss prevails.

I’ve a totally illogical inkling that our Wembley appearance will prove a dress rehearsal for Rome (hopefully with a different denouement).

The Gunners are guaranteed at least one cup final appearance, as on May 26, 20 years to the day of Micky Thomas’s magical night at Anfield, the kids will be returning in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final, after they mullahed Man City 4-1 in the second leg of the semi on Wednesday. It’s all too strange for words, as only the night before, apart from savouring the most scintillating away day of the season (so far), I was delighted to be present, to pay my respects to an Arsenal and Liverpool legend. Seeing a Parkinson’s-riddled Ray Kennedy shuffling onto the pitch at the break, credit where it is due, with the impressive pre-match card display at either end of the ground of Kennedy’s respective shirt numbers, the Scousers again proved a proper football family, when it comes to honouring their heroes.

Win against United and Wenger will once again walk on water. Lose and certain short-sighted Gooners will be sharpening their knives. No matter what fate and fortune has in store for us this season we can savour a sumptuous feast of football, safe in the knowledge we’re in comparative clover.