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Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous. I don't ask for much. This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up. The last game before Christmas then. We could go top if we win and Villa (as unlikely as it seems) drop points against Sheffield United. The display at home to West Ham was most welcome for the level of purpose and intensity we showed, and more against the Gunners would be just the ticket. Arsenal are again riding high this season, but have been battling for wins rather than blowing teams away with attacking football like they did for most of last season, when they ultimately fell short thanks to City's usual 15-games-on-the-bounce winning sequence. Arsenal added Rice from West Ham for £100m and spent another £70m on Havertz from Chelsea in the summer. Odegaard has become one of the league's best midfielders and Saka one of the most effective threats from out wide. They are dangerous and we must guard against it, but we also have the tools to get after them. Last season's fixture in April resembled a turning point in both clubs' fortunes. Arsenal got an early lead after a kind break of the ball saw Martinelli roll one past a stranded Ali. Martinelli was involved in their second too, racing down the left and crossing the ball to Jesus who buried his header after getting away from Virg. Robbo couldn't get round to cover in time. We were looking flat, and the crowd were unable to rouse the troops. Xhaka decided to help out by needless getting into a tussle with Trent. It galvanised us and we got a goal back when Mo bundled in at the back post when Diogo's cut-back was deflected into his path off Hendo, who had merely stuck a leg out. We had momentum and in the second half, could have sealed the comeback earlier when Diogo was upended in the area. Mo put the ball embarrassingly wide - as poor a penalty miss as the one at Bournemouth. That could have checked our momentum but thanks to a little tactical tweak, we started to pin Arsenal back. That weak was to use Trent in a hybrid full-back/midfield role so he could get on the ball more. As the game entered its latter stages, Trent nutmegged Zinchenko and lifted a teasing cross to the far post. Bobby still had a lot to do, but his header had power and placement and the Gunners couldn't keep it out. 2-2! We thought we'd nicked it at the very end, but Ibou, on his knees just a couple of yards out, could only chest the ball goalward. Ramsdale managed to get back and keep it out on the line. He'd made an excellent save a little earlier from a Mo effort, so could say he'd had a solid game. There was plenty of Arsenal shithousery on display, with players time-wasting on goal kicks, and hitting the deck at the slightest hint of contact and feigning injury. We got a draw, which hampered Arsenal's faltering title challenge and gave us a little boost that we could still claw our way back into the Champions League places. For us, Robbo, Joel, Thiago, Baj, Mac and Diogo are still unavailable. Hopefully Grav has recovered from his minor muscle fatigue issue and is available from the bench. Everyone involved against West Ham has a valid case to start this one, but the manager is likely to shuffle the pack to included some of the midweek subs as starters. Be wary of Arsenal's threat, but use the feeling and energy from the midweek game to take it to them. Maximum concentration, motivation, attitude and application from first minute to last, and go for the positive result to boost our own ambitions. 3 points please. Get it done!