One of the best quirks of football is that in the space of one week, a team can play two games which rest at the complete opposite of the spectrum from one another.
The victory against Barcelona was one which shall be remembered at the Emirates for a very long time, but it does have to be put in context. The chances of Arsenal winning the Champions League are still inferior to success in the F.A. Cup, a tournament that the side has not won for going on six years now. Away to Leyton Orient may well prove to be a tougher challenge that would first be expected, but there is still a great opportunity for Arsenal to get into the quarter-finals, and be knocking on the doors of Wembley.
The Champions League is obviously a competition which is held in greater esteem than the F.A. Cup, but that does not mean the latter is not a tournament worth winning. All the top sides are still in it, and that is a demonstration of how the top sides do want to progress – Manchester United and Arsenal have not won the competition for quite a while, and would appreciate the victory. Therefore, it is of great importance that Arsene Wenger chooses his side for Sunday carefully. It would perhaps be foolish to risk Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri, especially given that the Frenchman was not fully fit on Wednesday evening, but there seems to be no real need for a mass overhaul of personnel.
Momentum is the key, particularly at this stage of the season. In previous years it has been in February when the season has degenerated and gone into a terminal decline, and Wenger shall surely be aware of that. If one were to think back to the 2007-08 season when a vastly changed side lined up against United at Old Trafford, which got beaten 4-0, history has shown us that it does not help the confidence of the side at all, and a poor result can prove to be damaging later on in the season.
Arsenal play in four separate competitions in consecutive matches and each one is of great importance. This is not a team which has won a lot of trophies recently and can afford to throw in the towel in any competition in which it has been entered. Supporters want a trophy of sorts – whether that is capturing the least distinguished of the four, the Carling Cup, or the coveted league title…anything is a start. Chelsea started a reign of dominance with a league cup victory, and that could well be the case with Arsenal this season.
Thus the Leyton Orient clash tomorrow afternoon has to be the Gunners priority for now, whilst beating Stoke City in the Premier League Wednesday night is also vital, keeping the momentum up and maintaining the good form of the club in recent times is just as valuable. The East London side have only been beaten once in the last twenty games, and should provide a stern test for the Gunners. The strength of Arsenal’s team selection will show to what extent Wenger values momentum, whilst protecting his players all the while.
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Wenger should play a reasonably strong side but I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t because the first team did have a tough match against Barca. I think he should play the second team and have the main players on the bench just incase.