We all have to do things we don't want to. Sometimes I have to fell mighty oak trees to traverse a raging current. Or sacrifice entire villages to appease the Sun God. But all that pales in comparison to the evil Arsenal must commit on Tuesday night.
Annoying
Neither Aston Villa nor Stoke decided to do us any favours this weekend, going ahead early before losing to late goals. Hence, Arsenal MUST win their last two games if they want to play Champions League football next season.
On paper, Wigan and the already-safe Newcastle don't present much of a threat. Wigan have a Cup-Final hangover, but are fighting for their lives. They have to win at Arsenal. And sadly, Arsenal have to win as well.
Lovely, scrappy underdogs Wigan. Their manager is such a nice man... Always struggling and just staying up. But no...they have to go down, for Arsenal to stay at the top of European football. It won't be easy, either.
Wigan 'did' Arsenal at the Emirates, with far less to play for than this time around. They'll come out of the blocks, and Arsenal will have to cope with that, as well as summoning up some attacking fluency to exploit the gaps Wigan leave behind.
If Arsenal can beat Wigan (they really should), Newcastle will be a relative holiday. Down to their third-choice keeper, without key men and nothing to play for, we can only hope Arsenal grind out another result.
After all, if Chelsea and Spurs can, why can't Arsenal?
Quite frankly, if they can't beat 18th and 15th, they don't deserve 4th place and all it entails.
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