Arsenal vs Cardiff Preview: Enjoy it while we are at the top

Ahh, Arsenal: The team that loves to disappoint. The team that loves to make our hair grey. The team that makes us pull our hair out.

I feel privileged to write about the team I love, the infuriating / beautiful North London side. It seems only correct to display shows of biasness, one-sidedness and anti-Tottenham-ness in equal measure when it comes to North London’s finest, but one must control themselves in such times.

I love nothing more than annoying and slating Spuds fans for their evil, dark, fiendish, diabolical, black-hearted, dishonourable team, especially seeing as they love doing it to us whenever we trip over our own feet. However, the way I see it, we need to remember that we are not immortal.

I remember I was abroad a few years ago, and, on seeing the League Table, I was astonished to find that Spurs were in second place, around November/December of that year. The same season, they finished 4th, behind the mighty Arsenal.

Point in saying is this; enjoy it while we are at the top but let’s not get carried away here. Man U. City and Chelsea are all in with a decent shout at the league this season, Man U, Spuds, Everton and SouthHempTown all seem like they are in for the next few spots, so we should tread carefully when it comes to ambitions.

Which brings us nicely to Cardiff Blues or Red or whatever colour they are nowadays. It seems like a kick in the nuts to change the team colours from whatever they have been for the past million years, far worse than cutting off your sleeves anyway. Imagine the Arsenal changing their home strip to pink or something man….

So, after our decent early season form, Cardiff seems like the perfect place to go and slip up. I seem to remember Swansea, Hull and Stoke all got the better of us during their first few seasons in the EPL. Wenger will have drilled mental strength, confidence, concentration and spoon bending techniques into his players mind ever since the Marseille win, so we may be looking for a fine ground-out win.

The majority of the defence, for me, seems to be a shoe-in. Bacary (wasn’t he awesome against Marseille?), Koscielny and Mertesacker will most likely be there, and if Gibbs is fit he may play too. Monreal was another one who was superb there, so we needn’t worry if he is there either.

Midfield provides a rare but welcome headache for the Gaffer, any five of (deep breath) Arteta, Flamini, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Özil, Ramsey, Rosicky and Gnabry would all instill confidence in the fans.
And, of course, Giroud up front, bring the rest into play.

My prediction? 2-0 or 3-1 to the Arsenal. See you guys on Monday.