Gut Feeling: Charlton have not won away from home all season. Whilst the Gunners are undefeated at their new home and today shouldn't be the day for that first loss. This game could go one of two ways. If Arsenal turn up and play as if their lives depend on it like they did in the North London derby, then they'll win with ease. If they turn up like a bunch of over-confident prima donnas then they may struggle to get a point.
As the game turned out it manifested itself somewhere in the middle of my two predictions. Arsenal didn't play liked their lives depended on it but they played with more direction and focus than at Bramall Lane. Equally, they didn't play like prima donnas but they did play with confidence and a certain flair that had been missing in the last game.
In the end, Charlton made it easy for Arsenal by failing to turn up with any fight and there was only ever going to be one winner. The Wenger-Pardew re-match was won within the first half hour, when Sankofa pulled back van Persie as he raced to meet a Fabregas shot rebounding off the bar.
What Arsenal Need: With the top two dropping points Arsenal need to keep the pressure on in the race for third place. The race is made more difficult by Liverpool's recent form and three points are absolutely essential. Arsenal need to bounce back from the most impotent and insipid performance in memory and show some desire.
There was a certain buzz around the stadium before kick off and the team looked rejuvenated by the inclusion of Henry. Things looked positive from the whistle and even before the sending off there seemed to be a lot of space out there. This gave Arsenal time on the ball and they moved it around well, probing for that crucial pass. They tackled back well and looked hungry for the duration of the game.
Arsenal cannot afford to sustain any more injuries. There is no depth at all in certain positions such as up front and on the wings.
It looks like everyone came through the game well and it was good to see Wenger use all three substitutions. Gilberto received a standing ovation when he was replaced by Flamini on 70 minutes. Aliadiere replaced Rosicky and was largely ineffective and Denilson had eight minutes at the end of the match in place of Fabregas.
Things To Watch Out For: I think the fans want to see some spirit and some passion, both traits that Wenger drones on about week in week out, both of which were absent at Bramall Lane. Arsenal played like a headless chicken in that match and some leadership should be evident tonight and I'm looking to Gilberto, Fabregas and Toure to deliver it.
Fabregas and Gilberto controlled the match from the centre of the pitch, whilst Senderos looked the more vocal of the defenders from where I was sitting.
Surprise inclusion Henry looked quite sharp, although some passes were a touch wayward, he played himself into the game and made some excellent runs. His overall contribution on the night was impressive.
Scores the first penalty.
Hit the woodwork.
Assist on Hoyte's goal.
Pulled down for the second penalty.
Had a free-kick saved excellently by Carson.
Had a good goal ruled out for off-side.
All in all it was a vintage Henry performance.
Hopes For The Match: I hope to see Lauren get some time at the end of the match and the standing ovation he deserves. I'll be pleased when he's fit and putting pressure on Eboue and Hoyte.
Lauren wasn't named in the squad but I think I saw him sat with Song on the sideline. Hoyte played well, albeit against a poor team, but he finished with confidence from the Henry pass to score the second.
I hope to see a better performance from Rosicky and van Persie in this game as their creativity is essential to Arsenal. Once again I'm looking for Fabregas to control the match and dictate Arsenal's play. If the young Spaniard plays well then Arsenal should win.
The Dutchman was the best player on the pitch and I'm so pleased Henry gave him the second penalty as he deserved the opportunity to score a second goal. Fabregas was involved in the build up to every Arsenal attack and worked well with the two front men.
Team Selection: The Gunners squad remains decimated by injury and as such it almost picks itself. The latest news is that van Persie has apparently hurt his ankle and could be out tonight. To make matters worse Baptista is out too. Thanks to A Cultured Left Foot for the terrible news. (Good blog by the way).
Thank God the news about van Persie was untrue as he was tremendous. He really is turning into a player that has to be in the starting lineup. He does seem to get a lot of bookings and I wouldn't criticise him too much for this. I like the fact that he fights for every lost ball and that passion should be encouraged but he will now miss the two Liverpool matches as a result of his 8th suspension.
Once everyone is fit could there be a place for all three strikers on the pitch? There is a way to get all three in the starting eleven if Henry and Adebayor play up front, van Persie could play on the left or right wing. At the moment I'd choose him over Hleb and Rosicky, as they aren't proper wingers either.
Can it get any worse? Well it could get worse if Henry comes back too early and hurts himself. I shudder to think of this club sustaining any more injuries.
It looks like he was in great shape playing the whole 90 minutes. It was great to see him back.
Arsenal only have one fit 'winger' and he's not even a real winger! Regardless, Wenger should have played Flamini on the wing and not Baptista, who should be played in his rightful position or sent back to the Bernabeu. Why buy a Range Rover and then try and turn it into a Porsche? Wenger insists in playing the Brazilian out of position and then wonders why he doesn't perform. Wenger should give Baptista a chance to play up front on a football pitch, rather than on the wing on a farm, but I have no idea when he'll be back.
Playing without true wingers requires the full backs to overlap in order to provide any real width. If the full backs do not provide this width Rosicky and Hleb predominantly cut inside, which means the attack is forced down the middle third of the pitch. This is one reason that it looks like Arsenal are trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle. Arsene needs to purchase a pure winger in the January sales.
Aliadiere should not be wearing an Arsenal shirt and I only have him on the pitch in my team selection as Wenger named him in the squad for this match and there is literally no-one else who could play there. Although, you could argue that Bendtner and Stokes could both quite easily replace Aliadiere. We have to assume Arsene knows.
It looks as though both young strikers will stay on loan until the summer, when Wenger will decide their future. Aliadiere looked anonymous again.
Potentially available: Stokes is more deserving of a place on the Arsenal bench than Aliadiere who was sent on loan and unused at Wolves, Celtic and West Ham. Stokes has scored a hatfull of goals and lead the SPL scoring charts before he returned to Arsenal. He has shone in what was a mid-table team in a tough league and that's exactly what Arsene would have hoped from him. What more could Stokes do to get a shot? If Fabregas and Cole were good enough at such a young age, could he be? Yes, he could and I for one would love to see him on the bench tonight.
I wait to hear what Wenger has in store for Stokes. He says that he'll stay on loan, but he's returned from Falkirk, so maybe he'll be sent out to a Charlton or a Watford?
Rumour has it that Henry may be called into the squad tonight and if so that could only make Arsenal stronger. I'll be watching to see if his attitute is right as well as his hamstring.
As I mentioned earlier, he looked sharp and his attitude looked right. He praised passes and his celebration, although a little rehearsed showed his delight at scoring and his relationship with Adebayor.
Unavailable: Hleb (shin) - started on the right wing; Walcott (back); Adebayor and Gallas (thigh); Djourou - one of the five substitutes, Henry - started up front and Ljungberg (hamstring); Baptista, Eboue and Diaby (ankle).
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Charlton 1
Score: Arsenal 4 Charlton 0
