Sheff Utd preview – the kids look to avenge the seniors

Last season’s Christmas trip to Bramall Lane was one of the poorest displays Arsenal put in last season. Losing 1-0 to a very mediocre side was bad enough, but the performance was what hurt the most – no spark or creativity, even when Jagielka went in goal for the last twenty minutes.

Tonight, revenge is on the cards, and before you think that’s too aggressive a stance, consider Chris Morgan, who has decided to have a pop at the team, having clearly not watched us all season:

“You can’t just be good technically with the ball, which they are.”

“If they are going to win the Premier League, they’ve got to be prepared for the physical side as well.”

“It’s maybe something they don’t come up against week in, week out”

Er, actually it is something we come up against week in, week out, and has been for some time now, after it became the ‘way to play Arsenal’. Everyone goes for the physical approach, and part of the reason for this season’s improvement is that we haven’t backed down.

But then the Mirror slyly puts a sentence together which shows precisely why you shouldn’t take the man seriously.

Morgan was banned for three games for punching Robin van Persie in the ribs during United’s victory and he makes no apology for the Blades’ physical approach.

Quite. There is nothing wrong with a physical approach, there is a lot wrong with going around punching people. In showing no understanding of that line, Morgan displays quite neatly the ability of his brain. Some people just shouldn’t open their mouths.

Anyway, tonight is another welcome opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow, although with every year that passes the ‘reserves’ get stronger and these days, every face is a familiar one to most fans. The exception is Kieran Gibbs, who may fill in at left back as Traore is away with France. Diarra and Bendtner get the starts they desire, and Eduardo will have another taste of the English game.

The bench may contain some of the lesser known (at least to non-Arsenal fans), but prodigiously talented kids, such as Merida and Lansbury, so it’ll be interesting to get a glimpse of them. Despite last season’s result, the hungry players should have too much for Sheff Utd tonight.

Enjoy the game. Unless you’re Chris Morgan, in which case I hope you get humiliated.