With nothing better to do, I decided to peruse Arsenal’s old fixture lists from seasons past. The 2007-08 season was one of the first on my mind: a season we really could, and should, have won the title.

On that fateful day, February 23, a mentally battered Arsenal succumbed late-on to draw 2-2 away at Birmingham. We followed this up with a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa, at home, then after our AC Milan heroics, drew 0-0 with Wigan away, 1-1 with Boro at home, and eventually 1-1 against Liverpool at home.

Compare those run of fixtures (which also had a loss at Chelsea and a win at Bolton), with the ones we have coming up.

The trips to Wigan and Birmingham are coming soon, just as they were in 2008. For Boro at home, sub in Wolves in April. For Aston Villa’s trip to the Emirates, in come West Ham instead. A stern trip to Bolton two years ago can be seen as ferocious decider at White Hart Lane. Or perhaps, even tonight’s game at KC Stadium, against Hull.

A bit of poetic licence used here and there, but hopefully you get the picture. It’s all to reiterate that no fixture in the league is ever easy. Alex Ferguson will make sure to remind us when the mind-games come thick and fast. It’s better to just already think that, and pump up the determination factor.

We’re short of a number of players tonight, with Cesc and Gallas still out, plus Rosicky, Campbell, Sagna suffering niggles. Song sits out with the last game of suspension, too.

If anything, this should hopefully ensure against any complacency – we’re without some of our leading lights, so it’s time to roll up the sleeves, get in there and do the business. If Arshavin plays half as well as he did against Porto, Hull will be weeping, and young Theo must keep mixing it up as he was trying to do mid-week.

Bendtner does not necessarily have to keep his scoring streak going (though it would be nice!) but if he holds the line as well as he has for the past few, we’re in with a shout. Nasri will do the playmaker thing, Diaby box-to-box, and Denilson better have his running shoes on, as there’s ground to cover.

I have full confidence in the improving Clichy and Almunia as well as an in-form Eboue, and Silvestre is a good centreback when used sparingly, as he has been over the course of the season. He should deputise alongside the always-awesome Vermaelen.

So as I said earlier in the piece, history shows that we can really screw up ‘easy’ fixtures. At the business end of the season, there is no such thing, and despite the handbags they’ve been flailing near little old ladies, Hull will be up for this relegation scrap.

Let’s get more of those early goals, force them to come at us, and pepper old Boaz with lots of shots on the counter.

It’s all about efficiency and getting the job done. Are our boys up for it?

Filed under: Arsenal, English Premier League