Arsenal v BATE: three possible outcomes – and the reactions that will follow

By Bulldog Drummond

OK – three possible outcomes tonight…

1: We win easily and go through without any worries

This implies a couple of early goals and then a third which means that even if an away goal emerged, it would be of no immediate significance.

The reaction from the media would be Arsenal scrape through, unless we knock in about six.

2: We win, but only just

If we are 2-0 up on aggregate with 20 minutes to go then it is going to be nerve wracking because an away goal would mean we’d go out.   If it ends like this the media is really going to hammer us – lessons we will be told, have not been learned and Arsenal is a fragile entity that is surviving by the skin of its teeth and with pure luck.   Major surgery is needed, and questions will be asked as to whether the manager is the right man for the job.  Discussion of the owner might emerge, but I suspect not.

3: We go out.

Whether it is because we can’t break the 10 man defence down, or because they get an away goal this is going to be a media disaster, with, I suspect, many of the bloggettas tearing into Arsenal and demanding… well whatever they want.

Of course the reality is that Emery is insisting on doing things his way – hence the blow up with Ozil, the resignation of Mislintat, and so on.  And although that is fine, if things really start going wrong, then the media will know that parts of the fan base will be easy picking.

Will the anti-Wengerians really turn up again with Emery Out placards?  Who knows – but the fact is that if he were to leave we’d be hard pressed to find a good manager who really knows how to take the club forward.  Mr Wenger, when he joined, seemed to know about every quality player in the world who could be available at a discount, and with the purchase of Guendouzi and Torreira it seems Mr Emery has the same insight – even in a market where Manchester City’s half a dozen clubs (or so) around the world are able to spend anything they want, whenever they want, however they want on anyone they want.

Really, for a few days peace and quiet we have to win and we have to win well.

As for the team, here is the take of the Independent

Leno

Maitland-Niles, Koscielny, Sokratis, Kolasinac,

Torreira, Xhaka,

Iwobi, Suarez, Mkhitaryan,

Aubameyang

No Ozil we may notice, but a place for the new man Suarez, and Kolasinac at left back but moving forwards – so all the attacks down the left with a sudden swing across the pitch as the move goes forward.  Interesting to have Leno in goal.

The Standard is giving us

Cech,

Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolasinac;

Guendouzi, Xhaka;

Iwobi, Ozil, Mkhitaryan;

Aubameyang

So no Torreira, no Suarez, no Sokratis.  But Ozil is part of the scheme of things in the centre.  An interesting alternative choice.  They also predict 3-0.

As we are preparing to leave the Midlands, the Sun hasn’t yet told us their team selection on line but instead we have The Hard Tackle which give us

Cech,

Maitland-Niles, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolasinac;

Torreira Xhaka

Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Suarez

Aubameyang

and really this sums up such changes as you might find anywhere else.  It is much of a muchness with the same twiddling around the edges.  Hard Tackle has us just creeping through by 2-0 which will mean a nerve wrenching ending.

Right, that’s as far as I can take it without having a nervous breakdown before I even get to London.  A soothing drink is probably going to be needed at some time.

And just think – we’ve got to do it all again on Sunday.