Wenger’s revitalised young guns aiming to fire Roman conquest

FOR much of this season, Arsenal’s peculiar moniker has appeared little more than a hollow joke at Arsene Wenger’s expense: a side named after a south London armoury, but boasting all the firepower of a kiddie’s pop gun.

Arsenal have laboured in the prolonged absence of Eduardo da Silva, Emmanuel Adebayor, Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky, failing even to hint at a sustained Premier League title challenge and now being forced to scramble for the last remaining Champions League qualification place.

For a club that has become used to gorging on goals under Wenger, the offerings served up by the overworked Robin van Persie and the painfully raw Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela have appeared meagre.

But now, at last, Arsenal’s attacking appetite is flourishing again. Eduardo is back and, judging by his astonishing goal against Burnley in Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie, stronger and sharper than ever; Walcott, too, has returned from the dislocated shoulder he suffered while on England duty in mid-November; and returns have been pencilled in for both Adebayor, who should be available again next week, and Fabregas, who is targeting the home game against Manchester City on April 4 for his return.

For Wenger, the timing could hardly be better. Arsenal’s early season struggles mean that every game has now assumed monumental significance as they aim to swipe fourth place from under the noses of the stuttering Aston Villa and book a Wembley date with Chelsea with victory over Hull in next week’s rearranged FA Cup quarter-final.

Then, of course, there is the small matter of tomorrow’s Champions League encounter with Roma, where Arsenal will strive to build on the 1-0 first leg lead secured by van Persie’s penalty and book a place in the last eight for a third time in four seasons.

Roma manager Luciano Spalletti promised Wenger that he would encounter a “very different side” in the Stadio Olimpico, but the Giallorossi might be subjected to a surprise or two themselves if, as expected, Eduardo and Walcott are included in Wenger’s matchday squad. With the Croatian’s serrated cutting edge and the Englishman’s explosive pace, Arsenal’s attack should boast an added dimension in the Italian capital.

Ordinarily, Wenger would be loath to risk either for such a high-octane evening. The Frenchman generally takes a safety-first approach to players working their way back to full fitness, but with Arsenal now having no margin for error, both players will be expected to lay their bodies on the line. Needless to say, Gary O’Driscoll, the former Ireland rugby team doctor who moved to the Emirates in February, will be on red alert.

“Ideally, I probably need a few more training sessions, but I’m definitely available for Roma if the manager needs me,” Walcott said.

“The shoulder feels fine. I still haven’t experienced getting clattered yet so that’s the next test but, if that happens, our new doctor has come from a rugby background so he can deal with it!

“It might sound strange but I’ve got no problem with the Roma players getting stuck into me. It would be good for me, as weird as that sounds. In Arsenal training, you obviously don’t want to injure your own players so you tend to be a little softer but matchdays are totally different.”

Walcott looked rusty in a 20-minute cameo as a substitute against Burnley, but the winger can draw inspiration from the way Eduardo has slipped seamlessly back into his old routines.

The Brazil-born striker has three goals in two matches since recovering from his horrific broken leg — he scored twice against Cardiff in the FA Cup fourth round before a hamstring strain brought further injury frustration — and his return has provided Arsenal with the timeliest of fillips.

“Eduardo has been out for a very long time but he’s mentally very strong,” Walcott added. “I have learned from watching him while he has been injured, how well he took everything and how he smiles when he comes in every day.

“His finishing is ridiculous — it is unbelievable to watch in training. He hasn’t lost his touch and he never will. We have missed that, but hopefully he will produce a few more between now and the end of the year.”