A Chamakh goal would do very nicely

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
23 Feb	7:45 PM	P	Stoke City (H)	1	0	Win

With news emerging yesterday of Robin van Persie picking up a hamstring injury, could we about to see the horribly off-form Marouane Chamakh starting for us in the Carling Cup final?

It's weird to think that in just a few days' time on Sunday evening, we could no longer be trophyless. It's a very exciting thought, but I'm a little less confident now that van Persie and Koscielny are doubts.

After last season in particular, I'm sensitive to bad news on injuries. How many times have we lost a game thinking we played well enough to win but lacked quality in the key areas due to one or two individuals not being good enough? How horrible would it be to lose to Birmingham from a Squillaci mistake? Or Chamakh missing a sitter?

Hopefully, as Wenger says, it's not too serious, but if it is, at least Chamakh has tonight's game to warm up and find his shooting boots again. It's a shame to be writing about him in this way, because he looked so promising at the start of the season, providing predatory instincts, a threat in the air, and of course, like any Wenger player, good link-up play. All of that has deserted him in recent months.

How does it happen? We've seen it with Arshavin, who seems to finally have regained a bit of form now, but why are our clearly talented players so capable of losing form so spectacularly? Once again, the mental strength of some of them seriously has to be questioned. One or two unfortunate games can't get you down like this, there's no time to feel sorry for yourself when you play for a club like Arsenal.

So as we 'welcome' Tony Pulis' thugs to town tonight, as well as the obvious three points, a goal or two for Chamakh would do very nicely, and hopefully no more injuries...easier said than done when Stoke are around.

For those of you going, I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, but if a certain Ryan Shawcross plays, boo. Loudly. Thanks.

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