After our excellent win in midweek over Olympiacos, a quick four hour flight in first class and we are back to Premier League action at home to Everton.
With the shock news that Man City have bought their way to the top (who’d have thought it?!) and the subsequent ban they picked up it now seems as though a top FIVE finish will be enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Seeing as next season will be the SIXTIETH anniversary of when Spurs last were actual champions, it’s only right, they get in to the competition to celebrate and we’d be hoping to join them.
If we’re going to qualify, we basically need to get three points week in week out from here on in, and the way Arteta has been stringing results together, this is by no means impossible but we need to be consistent, starting Sunday afternoon.
Everton also have a new manager installed, Carlo Ancelotti took over on the same day as Mikel Arteta joined us and has overturned their fortunes in a similar fashion to Arteta at The Emirates, so this game will be no walk in the park for Arsenal.
We already know that Chambers, Soares and Tierney are out of the game. It looks like Sokratis will miss out after picking up a knee injury in Greece on Thursday along with a bottle of Ouzo, some olives and some fresh fish.
Mesut Ozil may also miss the game due to his wife being about to drop Ozil Junior, while there’s going to be late fitness tests on Lucas Torreira and Pablo Mari.
Old boy Theo Walcott also faces a late fitness test which he’ll need to pass if he’s to face his old club, i.e. us.
Another three points could really put the pressure on the teams above us, and it’s a good chance to make up some ground as Chelsea are playing Tottenham at lunchtime today, so we have a chance to make up some ground on one of them.
COYG.
