This coming Sunday, the battle lines will be clearly ear-marked as the Gunners face the 'Red Dolls' on their own turf i.e. the Emirates. Unlike the last few seasons, when the fixture was of not much consequence, it will be this time, if bare statistics are to be kept in mind. Points or otherwise, this rivalry has been the cream of the lot, right through the noughties, & it shall be no different in two days time. 11G looks forward to the 'big one' with the latest filtering in..
The times that we live in, even the street dogs these days know how big a rage has the James Cameron megalith, Avatar, become. The spectacle that it was, experiencing it in 3D was quiet literally an 'out-of-the-world' experience. Keeping that in mind, just imagine what it would be like for us 'football-fed & bred fans', to see the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin & Wayne Rooney, come up with those pile-drivers time & again in real-time 3D. Wow, is all that comes to mind.
It's official folks, for the very first time ever, a football match, any football match for that matter, from any part of the world, would be telecast Live across 9 centres (read: pubs) in UK, in 3D. This is an initiative by BSkyB, a prominent satellite brodcaster, ahead of it's full-time 3D channel launch this coming April. No better occasion to do a pilot than a 'Arsenal vs Manchster United' showdown. Can't wait to lay my eyes on one of those sometime soon. Till then, an Avatar re-run can fill in!
Getting serious again, the game also marks the re-igniting of a rather famous all-English rivalry, in the form of Sol Campbell & Wayne Rooney. No one has forgotten the unethical dive Rooney won a penalty from, against the Gunners way back in '04, ending their 49 game unbeaten run. Campbell was at the receiving end back then, & those two have been at each other ever since. Although it's circa '10 now, whilst Rooney is at the top of his searing best, having already bolted 20+ goals this term, Sol on the other hand, is slowly easing into his second Arsenal homecoming. After two decent displays against Stoke & Aston Villa, he looks good enough for a start & thus make his 200th league appearance for the Gunners. Injury to Vermaelen might just force Wenger to do that you know. And if that were to happen, it would be his 3rd straight outing in just over a week, something the Professor was quiet apprehensive about in some of the pre-match scribbles that came by. Realistically speaking, it would be Gallas marking the top man, with Sol given charge of the likes of Berba, Giggsy, et al. But you'd bet old-Sol to come to the fore & take command if things go haywire. We know what he is made of alright. Either way you look at it, it will be an intriguing battle, one that might jus live up to the billing ala '04.
It's not just Sol who is bothering Arsene at the moment, the likes of Eduardo & Vermaelen, are both out of this important fixture. Just not what the doctor ordered, but that's how Arsenal's season has been thus far. They have bounced back each time, defying the skeptics, no point why they won't in this one. Sol is tipped to replace the 'Verminator', whereas Bendtner should cover up for Eduardo. Both Nasri & Rosicky have been injury-starved all season, & despite their availibility, one would be a fool to expect miracles from them. So like most games this term, the onus to lead the line falls on the 'out-of-position' shoulders of Arshavin & Fabregas. Let's not forget, Fabregas missed the last encounter against United way back in August, he would be raring for this one. We surely are. And I bet, even the Navi' (from Pandora) would be keeping a tab on this one, after all it's 3D & it's as big as the Premiership gets!