Time To Stop Moaning – Birmingham preview

Hopefully Arsenal has had enough time to recover from their visit to Holland. So far there is no news of any new injuries, however it is unlikely that Bergkamp will be fit, but there is a chance that Gilberto will be. Senderos is still injured.

However Wenger could be tempted to keep the midfield duo of Fabregas and Flamini and give Gilberto more time to recover. It will also give Flamini more time to gel with the team; there is no doubt that against Ajax he played one of his finest games to date. If he is fit of Wenger has the option of giving him another start.

Wenger believes that since the game against FC Thun that the team is beginning to hit a rich vein of form. Much of the press were derisory about the two one victory against FC Thun but since then the Swiss have defeated Sparta Prague. It seems to me that the victory with 10 men deserves far more respect from the pundits, and even some fans.

The result against Ajax was even better, with so many senior players missing, the press sensed blood before the game, and thought that Arsenal were heading for a fall. The next day they were full of praise of the Gunners’ well-controlled victory over the Dutch. Surprisingly many Arsenal supporters were less fulsome in their praise, preferring to moan about the imagined failures of Pires and Fabregas. This was Arsenal's first victory in six Champion League games away from home, it is never easy to win away from home in the Champions League, as even Chelsea and Real Madrid both know.

Pires was clearly asked to play deep by Wenger and played the role very effectively, including a near goal line clearance. His presence just in front of left defence insured that we could clear our lines without being trapped too deep.

Some Arsenal fans have been calling for plan B for a long while, yet whenever Wenger uses it they proceed to moan. We won two -one. So what's the complaint? I assume it can only be because there wasn't enough silky football, tens of goals and Ajax lying down and taking it all without resistance. But they were the home team and they needed three points; so in the second half they put up hell of a struggle, the first half had been reasonably easy but we could not expect that for 90 minutes; besides it made for entertaining and nail biting finish. It’s only the second defeat Ajax have suffered against a Premiership team in the CL, but there is no pleasing some people.

The defence was magnificent, the midfield provided enough passes to create goals, Reyes and Freddie conjured up two goals between them, what more can you want? Well I suppose a performance just as good against Birmingham will do nicely. And hopefully the team will lift itself after the excitement of midweek, we are not always at our best after an European game, but we do have van Persie to freshen up the attack. Clichy and Quincy are fit and should be well rested if needed.

Meanwhile Birmingham will be parading a whole list of ex Arsenal Academy players, of which Pennant, Upson and Gray are the most famous. No doubt they may feel they have something to prove, and I wish them well, but not on Sunday.

It will be a tough match Birmingham are desperate for points, but another clean sheet would be welcome.