Surging at the Right Moment

After such a disastrous beginning to the season, Gunner supporters now find their Red and White’s currently tied with Chelsea FC for the ever so vital 4^th spot of the Premier League Champions League qualifying with 49 points. With the Gunner’s with a game in hand at home set to play today later at 2:55 CDT against Champions League seeking Newcastle (44pts), Arsenal are prime to make a surge for the third spot in the league as both Manchester teams have firmly established themselves atop the table with Tottenham Hotspur (not so hot lately) trailing 13 points behind Manchester City (66 pts.) who were surpassed by the Red Devils (67 pts.) as they coasted to victory over West Bromwich Albion over the weekend as Wayne Rooney netted both goals bringing his season total to 20 goals. 2^nd behind Mr. Captain Fantastic himself Robyn Van Persie who has netted an astonishing 25 goals this season in only 27 premier league games.

Manchester City left three points on the table this past weekend as they suffered an away loss to Swansea City as The Swan’s Luke Moore header in the 83^rd minute found the back of the net giving Swansea the late lead and crucial three points in the table.

Arsenal’s matchup against Newcastle is one that has direct influences on the table standings and Champions League qualifying for next year’s competition as Newcastle linger behind Arsenal and Chelsea with 44 points, but it is the 3^rd place team which concerns me the most as Tottenham Hotspurs have not been playing as they were during the beginning of season in earning the points they should in beating teams they should, but as the season has continued Tottehnam have hiccupped here and there allowing Arsenal and Chelsea hope for 3^rd.

Tottenham’s form in their last 5, W-D-W-L-L-L, has been lackluster considering the squad fielded each time out with names of Modric, Bale, Adebayor, Van Der Vaart, and Lennon in the lineup. A team with these 5 attackers and midfielders ought to be displaying results their names show. Class and experience. Spurs is a team filled with talent and experience. They have the players to remain in Champions League qualifying with a finisher and target man in Adebayor, playmaker in Modric, pace, ball skills, and his ever so dangerous left foot in the box in Bale, playmaker and distant shooter in RVDV, and pace and foot skills in Lennon. Harry Redknapp, manager of Tottenham, needs to align his team and let them know if he is fully invested in Tottenham or the English National team as there have been rumors that he is next in line to fulfill the position vacated by Fabio Capello after he resigned due to English’s governing body handling of John Terry’s racism case with Anton Ferdinand of Queens Park Rangers as Terry was stripped of the captaincy position before all details and verdicts were revealed. The questioning and uncertainty behind Redknapp must have an immense impact on the players and their psyche as their manager may not be full invested in their season and interests.