By Myles Palmer

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EVERY TEAM needs a new spark now and then, a new dynamic, something to ignite the group.

If you are winning, you need a spark to stop you going stale, as Chelski have found recently.

If you have lost five of your last nine, like Arsenal, you definitely need a new dynamic.

And that is where Arsene Wenger now has an opportunity.

His Ivory Coast boys are hot.

Toure is a warrior, we know that.

Two months ago Eboue could not get ten minutes in the first team.

Now, after doing well in Egypt as the Ivory Coast's first choice right back, he is a different player.

He has grown in confidence. Bouncy, sparky, beating people, he now plays with belief.

Eboue went to Cairo as a prospect and came back an international. He feels good now. He feels important, qualified, optimistic.

ADEBAYOR had a bad tournament and is finding it hard to play with Henry, as everyone does.Henry is so different,so individualistic, that is hard to build a relationship with him in three weeks when the team is struggling.

STILL, WITH SIX DAYS between Anfield and the Bernabeu, Arsene can use that new dynamic.

He has three fiery Africans and a pumped-up German keeper who wants to win the World Cup.Jens Lehmann will do exactly that if he carries on making electrifying saves like those from Senderos and that Steven Gerrard penalty.

Arsene has to find the best way of using those four players against Real Madrid because they are the four most important players he has right now.

The others cannot be relied on.

Those four, properly supported in an organised side, might be able to achieve a respectable result against Beckham, Zidane and company.

It will have to be 4-4-1-1 and the midfield four must exclude anybody who does not tackle.

The composition of that quartet it vital.If the midfield quartet is carefully balanced, and built round Fabregas pushing up into Deco positions rather than playing as a half back, then Arsenal might make a game of it.

I will write more on that nearer the match.

For the moment : a promising new dynamic.

USE IT ! BUILD ON IT ! Forget the past, forget the old pecking order that has failed and failed and failed again.

Feb 16, 2006