Happy Friday to you and it’s a Friday in which Arsène’s presser has tale easy taken place, he’s given us plenty to talk about, so let’s get to it.

First and foremost, the team news, in which the only real doubt from last weekend is Big Per. I haven’t fully re-watched all of the semi-final back yet (which by the way, I’d urge you to do, if only to see just how awesome Mesut Özil is), but in real time the challenge made on him looked from where I was standing like a nasty one, so I’m not surprised that he’s rated ’50/50′ by the manager. Personally I’d rest him so we can be sure he’s available for the remaining games of the season. We’ve got an able deputy in Gabriel and with Koscienly seeming to be back to his best and only playing one game per week, we can be happier that we have a defence that can cope, so why take any risks?

With the factual stuff completed yesterday, the questioning turned to that record, with Wenger being his usual dismissive self when asked about his history with Mourinho. His assertion that it is not a duel between the two of them may be true in terms of who can actually impact the result on the pitch, but it’s a stretch not to believe in a pattern when the run goes as far back as it does. Whether Arsène believes Jos has the hoodoo over him remains to be seen, but the fact that we already know that Jose will play a certain way to catch us on the counter with a deep-lying defence shows that tactically at least, he knows how to play Wenger teams. I must stress at how much that pains me to say, because he really is a reprehensible man, but he’s one that knows how to pick up points on big games.

This game on Sunday feels like the last garrison of the psychological battle this current team must break down. We’ve already overcome the ‘no silverware’ hurdle, we’ve safely knocked down the ‘can’t beat United/City’ barrier and in doing so in both league and cup, we’ve also successful navigated past the ‘can’t beat a big team away from home’ iceberg. It just feels like an Arsène Wenger win over Jose Mourinho would be a positive step in the preparation for next season and a proper go at the league.

Because let’s face it, everyone has given up on the title this season, with a gap that I don’t even think Arsenal could bugger up if we were ten clear of our rivals with six to go. We’d probably give it a good shot, but I still think we’d see it through if roles were reversed.

I think, if you read and listen to what Arsène is saying, he’s also lost the belief that it could be done. Five points? Maybe. Three points? Definitely. But ten? Nope.

So for us, this weekend feels more about laying the foundations for next year. Everything feels like that’s the case. (Try to) Finish second, (try to) win the FA Cup and then go into summer positive that the team can be title contenders in 15/16. Arsène was asked about Hazard and Alexis and in a similar theme to what I’ve just said, effectively declared ‘if he doesn’t win player of the season this season, he’ll be very close next season. Again, Hazard has had time to adjust to this league, so with a full pre-season and a year under his belt as an Arsenal player Alexis will be better prepared for this league and I believe he’ll only get better. Much like our squad. A couple of tweaks and shuffling of some squad players and we’ll be in good shape I think.