Last season, the media titled the meeting of the big 4 four teams, Chelsea vs Arsenal & Liverpool vs Man Utd, as Super Sunday. This season, three of those teams are involved in two very enticing city derbies on sunday.

Man City vs Man Utd will have a different flavour from last season when the Blues completed an unlikely double over Utd. However, despite being awash in money and having Robinho in their squad, things have not gone as smoothly as City’s new owners would have hoped. But a thumping win over Arsenal might give City some belief in their encounter against Man Utd. And it is against Utd that City can truly test their credentials to establish themselves as an emerging force in Manchester.

Over the years, the Chelsea vs Arsenal games have contained enough talking points. And this year’s encounter should prove no different with Chelsea currently holding a 10 point lead over the Gunners. There will be no Drogba for tomorrow’s game because the league didn’t quite understand Drogba’s kind gesture to help a troubled home owner with his mortgage payments by throwing a coin in his direction. Drogba wanted to prove a point that by saving a coin at a time the fan might be able to improve his financial situation but the league took a different stand and banned Didier for 3 league games. Although Anelka will be present and he would be keen to score against Arsenal, yet again.

In the past, Terry and Lampard have not been afraid to either push or kick at Cesc. So it will be interesting to see how that dynamic changes with Cesc wearing the captain’s armband as he takes on the twin Chelsea bullies. The game also marks the occasion when Arsene Wenger will pit battles against the newest foreign manager during Chelsea’s Russian ownership. Big Phil would be the 4th international manager to take charge of Chelsea against Arsenal during Roman’s reign. In total, since Wenger arrived in England, Scolari would be the 6th international manager that Wenger has faced at Chelsea.

Even though both derbies are physically taking place in Manchester and London respectively, they will have a huge international flavor to them, not only because of the players, owners and managers associated with the teams but because of the fans watching these games across the globe. It is for games like these that the Premier League started dreaming of a 39th league game. Hopefully, the games live up to expectation.

Arsenal can put their domestic worries temporarily on hold as they look to seal qualification for the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Progress will be assured with a home win over Kiev. Ofcourse, an Arsenal win isn’t the only way the Gunners could progress but not winning against Kiev would usher in some complicated scenarios. And given the current group standings there is still a possibility that Arsenal could find themselves out of the top 2 spots on the final day if they threw everything away and lost their last two fixtures and Porto plus Kiev won both their final two games.

So an Arsenal win on Tuesday would make things simpler for everyone and give some much needed sighs of relief both for the players and the fans. Progressing to the next round is crucial not only for the team’s morale but also for continued financial success. Also, if there is a chance that Arsene wants to recruit experienced players (who are not cup tied) in the January transfer window, the promise of Champions league football would be a good incentive.

After failing to find the net in their last two domestic games and also blanking out in their last Champions league home fixture, here’s hoping that Arsenal can make some progress and can end their goal drought by putting the ball in the opponents net.

Tis the Season to give thanks.
Okay, so there are a few minor problems:
- the wars
- the potential wars
- 8 years of constitutional abuse
- uncontrolled rising health care costs
- failing educational system
- failing manufacturing structure
- failing banking and financial institutions
- failing real estate market
- home equity losses
- decaying infrastructure
- rise in poverty
- rise of unemployment
- loss of 401k and pension wealth
- climate change
- oil addiction
and worst
- ARSENAL MELT DOWN

Yes, just like AIG, Freddie & Fannie, Citigroup, and the U.S. auto industry, Arsenal need a bailout!

Yet, with all this downside, I am forcing myself to have hope.

Regarding Arsenal, I believe the season to date has revealed inner problems that would have eventually surfaced. Optimistically, its better (for all of us) to deal with these sooner vs. later.
I do believe our Manager has his faults, but that is okay – he is human. The other top clubs aren’t breezing through their matches.

On a positive note, after 3 months of play, Arsenal has taken over the tabloid lead – at least by 12 points.

From all of your posts, I have given each comment serious consideration and derived at my own list:

1) Arsene see a psychologist – someone that will reassure him that it is okay to admit your mistakes, okay to sign players taller than 5’5″, and sign players who don’t speak French.
2) Sign a physically commanding experienced DM (over 25)
3) Sign 1 (maybe 2) tall – physically commanding experienced CBs (over 25)
4) Rosicky – full recovery
5) Eduardo – full recovery
6) Fabianski take over 1st team GKing duties
7) RVP – recover from his amnesia and recall he can be an effective striker Ade – develop humility
9) Clichy – regain his mojo
9) Resign Hleb
10) Vela, Ramsey, and Wilshire are the future of our program – more playing time

I like playing the role of underdog, IT WILL TAKE MUCH PRESSURE OFF THESE YOUNGSTERS.