Arsenal vs Newcastle: An Early Preview

This is not going to be an easy match for the Gunners. Although we just thrashed Newcastle 4 – 0 in the Carling Cup, both sides peppered the squad with bench players for that match. In the Premiership, you can expect the teams to line-up their strongest side. 

We have already been punished once for talking teams too lightly this season, and I don’t think Arsene Wenger will make the same mistake again. He rested Cesc, Song, Denilson and Arshavin against Shakhtar as these players were carrying minor injuries. I expect to see most of them back at the Emirates on Sunday. We will also welcome back Jack Wilshere after his 3 game suspension for the red card against Birmingham. Although he may not be among the biggest lot, young Wilshere’s positioning makes him an asset when covering in defense as well. With the trio of Wilshere, Cesc and Song, our midfield play become less predictable as each can cover for the other in all part of the field.

I also expect to see Theo Walcott given a starting line-up. He seems to be back to his best and have shown maturity in his performances. His first goal in Ukraine was all down to his calmness in finishing while his speed was constant menace to the opposition defense. Personally, I feel he plays better when he starts rather than coming off the bench. It would be good to pit him against the Newcastle defense not knowing for speed.

The Gunners have not lost to Newcastle since 2005 and the last time they were in the Premiership we thrashed 3-0 at home. We certainly cannot afford to give up any more points at home so a victory on Sunday is the minimum we need to kick off our November campaign this year.

Arsenal vs West Ham: An Early Preview

Since the defeat by Chelsea, Arsenal has gone on a four match unbeaten run in all competitions and scoring fourteen goals and only conceding two in those matches. Arsene Wenger’s side is growing from strength to strength with players returning from injuries to give the manager a selection headache. Both  Walcott and Bendtner will be pushing for a start in this match after the fine showing at St James Park but Bendtner will probably start on the bench again with Chamakh retaining his spot as the lone striker. Lauren Koscielny will return to partner Sebastian Squillaci in the heart of the defense where the Gunners have been shaky all season and especially in the last few matches as young defender Johan Djourou started in place of the injured Vermaelen and Koscielny.

On the other hand, West Ham is still struggling to find a foothold in this season’s campaign. The Hammers just narrowly missed relegation last season but this time around looked favourites to go down with only six points from the first nine games. Supporters were chanting for Avram Grant’s head during last weekend’s home lost to Newcastle. Although they managed to beat Stoke City 3-1 to progress in the Carling Cup, the pressure of the manager is unlikely to get better unless they can managed a win at the Emirates.  To make things even harder for Grant, key players Matthew Upson and Frederic Piquionne will be not available for the match.

Arsenal have not lost to West Ham in over five years and things are unlikely to be any different this time around

Manchester City vs Arsenal: It's time for PAYBACK

Flashback to September 12, 2009 and one of the most sickening moments for an Arsenal fan. The sight of Bloodybayor running the length of the field to celebrate his goal in front of the Arsenal fans was just purely sickening. Really, I felt so bad after watching the match that I nearly gave up my dinner.

Today we have the chance to make amends. Although I thought he would not be playing but it seems that the greedy Togolese have snatched a place in the starting line-up for tomorrow’s match. As far as I am concerned, this is bloody good news for Arsenal. With him in Manchester City’s line-up, our chances of winning have improved dramatically.

Why you ask? The answer is very simple. With him in the team, it takes away one spot from a more talented player from the wealth of City players to choose from. Either Silva or Johnson or Milner will have to make way for him. If Mancini thinks that scoring three goals against third rated opponents would give him a boost against the Gunners, I thank him for that. I want the chance for the team to really pour salt into his wound when we beat him at Eastlands.

Frankly I don’t think there is a more hated person on the Arsenal’s supporters’ lists than him. It is good riddance that we got rid of him given his performances for his team since joining them. He wouldn’t care much because he is getting £125,000 every week for strutting on the field. We certainly do not need such a player in our squad.

Chamakh has shown us what a target man should be. Powerful in the air and pressuring from the front, things which you don’t see BloodyBayor doing. Also at least our new striker doesn’t need 10 chances to score 1 goal.

I have a good feeling about tomorrow’s game. The Manchester City team now has a more European feel to it. With players like Tevez, Silva and Toure, they play a more open passing game which suits the Arsenal game plan. We have always been more successful against European type teams that British type game plans, which undoubtedly Mark Hughes version of Manchester City was last year.

So Gunners, please do me a favour and repay the man from Togo for the agony he caused us last year.

Manchester City vs Arsenal: An Early Preview

Everybody is talking about how this match is a big test for Arsenal’s title ambitions. While, I would agree that this is definitely a major match, I don’t think we should take it harder than a match against any of the big teams. Manchester City is definitely on the up and looking very much like real title challenges. To be realistic, after spending close to £300 million to assemble the team, you would expect City to be right up there. It is therefore a pleasant surprise that they are not fully developed as a team and it can only mean good news for the Gunners. 

It has not been happy visits for the Gunners to Eastlands since the Gulf owner took over. Last year we were beaten on both our matches there, the infamous 4-2 defeat in the League and another 3-0 reversal in the quarterfinals for the Carling Cup. However, we are on a roll with two victories on the trot and should go into the game full of confidence, whereas when we visited City in the league last year, we were still wondering what went wrong after being robbed the weekend before at Old Trafford.

It is also good news on the team front for the Gunners. Skipper and talisman Cesc Fabregas completed 60 minutes in the Champions League rout of Shakhtar Donestsk and looked in control of proceedings. He should again start in midfield together with Samir Nasri and Alex Song. Jack Wilshere will be missing through suspension and his place should be taken by Theo Walcott, who himself is just returning from injury. Even though Rosicky had a good game on Tuesday night, I believe Arsene Wenger will reinstate Andrei Arshavin to his spot in right midfield. The are no defenders returning from injury so that same back four should be playing their third successive game together.

As for City, I don’t think we will see BloodyBayor in the team or even on the bench given his insipid performance against Blackpool. Mancini would probably start with the formation that ended the game against the Seasiders with Silva playing just behind Tevez. There might be a place on the bench for Barlotelli whom we have not seen in the Premiership since his transfer from Inter Milan.

All in all, this top of the table clash is surely going to be an open contest, with both team aiming to stake their championship credentials over the other. Everybody can remember how explosive the situation was the last time both team met at Eastland. Although the plot isn’t so complicated this time, I don’t think the atmosphere would be any less fiery. 

Match Preview 

by  Prashavin

Arsenal vs Birmingham: An Early Preview

The Gunners are looking to bounce back from the back to back defeats against West Bromwich Albion (3-2) and Chelsea (2-0) with a home win against Birmingham this weekend. Arsenal currently trail leaders Chelsea by 7 points after 8 matches and sit in fourth place, behind the two Manchester sides. 

Arsene Wenger received a boost  as Cesc Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner and possibly Theo Walcott will be available for the match. However, Bacary Sagna was injured during France’s international victory over Romania and will be missing for at least 3 weeks. Long term injury victims like Van Persie and Vermaelen also look set to be re-joining the team soon although they will not be available at the Emirates for the weekend.

Birmingham’s start to this year Premiership season is not as spectacular as last year where they remained in the top half of the league throughout the season. Like Arsenal, they also suffered a poor home defeat at the hands of Everton, leaving them near the bottom of the league table at 17^th place with only 7 points from 7 matches.

Alex McLeish does not have any major injury problems and looks set to call upon former Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb to provide the creativity that will hopefully unlock his former club. Besides Hleb, Sebastian Larrson is another ex-Gunner who will relish the feeling of getting one over his former club.

Last season’s match at the Emirates ended 3-1 in favour of the Gunners. However, in the return fixture at St. Andrews, Kevin Phillips popped up in the final seconds of the match to score an equalizer for Birmingham in a 1-1 draw that effectively put paid to Arsenal’s already slim chances of winning the league last season.  The Gunners will definitely not want a repeat of the episode this time around.

Preview

By Guest Kid

4 things we need to do for victory on Sunday

First and foremost, my condolences to Carlo Ancelotti on the demise of this father. I think he has been a welcomed adversary for the Gunners and gone towards rebuilding the relationship between both clubs after animosity created during the Mourinho era. I don't begrudge the two victories Chelsea got over us last year as I thought they were worthy winners and champions of the league

We have not beaten Chelsea home or away since 2008 when RVP's double brought us victory at the Bridge. Since then it has been heartbreak after heartbreak for us culminating in last year's embarrassing 3-0 capitulation at the Emirates. It was not so much that Chelsea were brilliant that day but more a case of the Gunners being poor.

So on Sunday we have to chance to make amends and break the trend or continue to face brickbats about how we have not learned anything from the past defeats. I may not be a coach but these are a couple of things that I feel to do in order to get a victory. Here goes:

Defence: Contain the Drog!

Definitely this guy is Arsenal's nemesis. He never fails to score against us and always helps the team to victory. It is not surprising in the 2008 defeat to us, Drogba was not in the team. We really have to contain the threat the he poses. I think everyone know this but we have not managed to do anything about it. Arsene always put a single defender on him but so far none of Toure, Gallas, Vermaelen, Campbell is able to do the job. Clearly it will be a big task for either Squillaci or Koscielny to handle. There I think it is important for one of the defensive midfielders to always help in marking him. Song and Wilshere must also get in position to help the lone defender in containing the Drog, rather than patrolling the area in front of the defenders like they usually do. If we can really neutralize the Ivorian, our chances would increase by 50% at least.

Midfield: Keep the Focus and Remain Patient

I have noticed this season our midfielders have been very patient with the ball look for the right opening before going in for the kill. Although I have levelled criticism to the team about the slow build-up play, I admit this game needs a patient approach.. Last year we were very cavalier in our attacking leaving all kinds of gap is between midfield and defence. The goals conceded against Chelsea and Man U at home is a direct result of us pushing the midfield to far forward leaving the defense expose. I hope Arsene looks back at both the matches last year and close the gap. Even in our last game, this thing occurred again when the Partizan attackers were one on one with the defenders. We were not really been punished but with Chelsea, we wouldn't be so lucky.

Attack: Get to the First Ball

Again, look back at last year's game, it is a worry how our passes failed to reach the attacker and easily cut out by the defense. Of course, we had a midget in Arshavin coming up against Terry and Carvalho last year. This year it should be a different story with Chamakh in the center. This guy has the potential to trouble Terry and Alex with his heading abilities. Also we are getting better now at offensive set-pieces. John Terry has not been in good form since he came back from the World Cup and the Blues can be vulnerable at set-pieces. It is high time we make them pay.

Team: Stick to the basics

In the last two matches, we were very poor in doing the basic things like passing and maintaining the ball. We cannot afford to give away the ball anywhere in the park because the Blues will deploy the counter attack. Our midfielders must also keep the ball and not lose the physical battle. In the game against Partizan, Song and Denilson, were easily brushed aside by the opposing midfielders. They have to toughen up cause on Sunday they will come up against the Bison, Mikael Essien. He has been playing further up front in the absense of Lampard so Song will have his hands up getting the better of the Ghanaian.

Overall, I think we do stand a chance against the champions. They have made a good start to the season but when  faced with the first real challenge at Eastlands, they floundered. Now it is our time to pour salt into their wounds. If we show the passion and desire for the victory, we can do it.

Arsenal vs the Drog: Saga continues with new faces

The legendary Arsenal injury curse seems to be working again as we would be without several first choice players for the big match against champions Chelsea.

We know long term victims like Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey will not be partaking in this match but news have filtered out that Captain Cesc Fabregas and defensive lynchpin Thomas Vermaelen will also miss out on the match. Goalkeeper Manual Almunia has not recovered from this shoulder injury and will be deputised by Lukaz Fabianski.

Cesc is still trying to make the team but Arsene has come out to tamper the expectation of the fans and saying his captain has "little chance" of making it. It will be a major loss of the team and hopes will rest on the shoulders of Nasri and Wilshere to gain control of the midfield against, the Bison Mikael Essien.

In defense we will have a completely new central partnership to face Didier Drogba. Of course, Squillaci and Koscielny have played together but it will be the first time they are coming up against the Drog. In previous season, Senderos, Gallas, Toure, Campbell, Vermaelen have all come up against the Ivorian and have lost the battle.

It is difficult to predict what will happen with the two French man as they could be brilliant one game (against Sunderland) and absolutely crap in the other (against WBA). I with both of them the best of luck.

However it is in goal which I have the most worry. I have already said my piece about Fabianksi in my last post so I won't dwell on it anymore. Let's just say, I hope the Pole make me eat my words and have a blistering game on Sunday.

Match preview to follow.

Nothing less than three points and another win will do for this weekend

This Saturday we are back at fortress Emirtates to face West Bromwich Albion. Roberto di Matteo's team has been a surefire candidate for relegation since they came up and it sure didn'th elp their cause with the 0-6 opening day defeat to Chelsea. However, since then they have managed to surprise some cynics with good results notably last weekend 3-1 win against Birmingham and tossing Manchester City out of the League Cup on Wednesday.

Nonetheless this is a game which I expect nothing less than another win and three points from our boys. In fact, I am pretty sure we will get blast in another 4 goals to add to our already healthy season tally for goals scored. And with our defense finally looking good, a clean sheet is definitely not of the chart.

We lost three players to injury during the Carling Cup victory over Spurs: Gibbs, Eboue, and Rosicky and we have no players coming back from injury with the probable exception of Diaby. He faces a late fitness test tomorrow while Song will also be available as he returns from suspension.

So the team sort of picks itself from what we have available at the moment: Al, Bac, Squillaci, Kos, Clichy,Song,Denilson, Wilshere,Nasri, Arshavin and Chamakh. I reckon this would be the line-up Arsene would go with although I wouldn't mind seeing Lansbury retain his place in the team at the expense of Denilson.

Whatever the team Arsene plays, games like this are a must win if we are going to be challenging for title. As I said earlier, it was not defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea that cost us the title last year but rather the dropped points at Burnley, Birmingham, Wigan etc.. We cannot let it happen again.

Technorati Tags: Arsenal,, Premiership

Match Preview - Sunderland v Arsenal

Last year, we came into this match at the Stadium of Light on good form, winning all our matches since the early season defeats to both Manchester clubs. However, Sunderland stop us dead in our tracks and we lose 0-1 with Darren Bent scoring the only goal. This was also the first game of the season where we failed to score, a testament to the team that Steve Bruce has built since he came into the job.

This weekend we return to Sunderland in similar circumstances. We are in good form, second in the table unbeaten so far in the season and off  to a brilliant start in the Champions League.  So, I am hoping that history do not repeat itself and we can maintain carry on our unbeaten streak.

This match will again be another test of character for the boys and in particular the defense, which has stood up so far. As TV4 is still fighting to be fit for the match, I reckon Arsene will again go with the all French defense he employed in mid-week. Gael Clichy who has come in for some early season criticism for his lacklustre start was brilliant in the game against Braga.

We don't have any new injuries at the moment so we can field an unchanged side for the match. However I do foresee some changes. I predict Denilson will come in for Wilshere while possible Rosicky on for Arshavin. The Russian did not have a great game on Wednesday but he somehow managed a goal and two assists in 70 minutes.

Under Steve Bruce, Sunderland was become a tenacious side, playing impressive football. Going forward they have the twin threat of Bent and new signing Asamoah Gyan, while the defense marshaled by John Mensah and Titus Bramble has done a good job so far this season, conceding only 4 goals in 4 matches. They have an injury doubt in Mensah while their skipper Lee Cattermole while be missing through suspension.

Last year  was our first away defeat to Sunderland in 10 years so it's time to start a new streak this time around

Blackburn v Arsenal Preview

So, tomorrow we go north for the visit to Big Sam's Blackburn. Well we can expect more of the same old tactics employed by all of Big Sam's teams we have come across, Bolton, Newcastle and now Blackburn.

We have always gotten the better of Blackburn since the Walrus became their manager except for the unfortunate encounter last season where truly saw what potential Fabianski was. A real potential for disaster that is. In truth, last season we were missing 3 quarters of the first team but the defeat really left me a truly frustrated man. There are better team i would love Arsenal to beat than Spurs and Big Sam's teams.

For tomorrow, I am hoping to see the real Arsenal having a blast at Ewood Park. We don't have any serious injuries that we cannot manage and have several players such as Denilson, Koscielny and Cesc back for full first team duty.

Koscielny who will be partnering TV4 in central defense for this match talk about how he relishes the physical side of the Premiership. In this article here, he said:

"I work hard and never give up. On man marking, I don't let the striker breathe.


"I love one-on-one challenges because they are a physical, technical and mental challenge. It is a big battle - part bluff, part judgement.

Kos impressed in the first game against Liverpool, but locking horns with El Hadji Diouf, Jason Roberts and the like will be a different cattle of fish altogether. He will literally be cutting his teeth in this match and let's hope he comes out alright.

The goalkeeping situation is still unchanged, which means Almunia will be in goal. It's really not the ideal situation but he has proven a safer pair of hands than Fabianski. At least he doesn't stumble over his defender's legs.

All in all, it is an important match to our title aspirations as winning against these mid and lower table teams can actually win us the title. If you recall, you were unbeaten against the lower placed teams and lead the table at some point last season. Our failure to be win the title last season did not come from the defeat to Chelsea or Man United but in the points conceded to teams like Burnley, Sunderland, Wigan and Blackburn.


Technorati Tags: Arsenal,Blackburn,Koscielny,Premiership,EPL,BOL,Almunia,Fabianski

Weekend Preview

Arsenal v Blackpool Preview

If this game is gonna end up like the Hull game 2 years ago, I swear I will give up being an Arsenal fan. I can still remember feeling sick after that game.

This season's our team has not shown that they have learned anything from that game or even the games at the end of last season ( Birmingham, Wigan, Blackburn) which is why I am so worried going into this weekend at the Emirates.

The reinforcements that were supposed to take place as at today, not happened yet so I don't think we will be seeing any new faces on the field today. Almunia will probably start  again in goal, and judging by his performance last weekend, it really give me the chills.

We have Kos, Nasri, and Frimpong out definitely and waiting news on Song and Denilson. I hope the boss plays Cesc and RVP cause he has gone on record to say that he will ease them back in after their prolonged absense due to the WC.

I am saying we need Cesc and RVP, possibly also Rosicky because although they are one year older, the team itself has not aged mentally at all. They were completed lost after Liverpool scored last weekend. They were not leadership and everybody just zombied around, chasing after red shirts and losing the ball when we got it back. If would have been different if someone were there to authoritatively command the plays as was shown by Rosicky when he came on. I was not too impressed with him last season so I am hoping for our Czech midfield general to show what he is capable off. Also, we  would definitely need our little Russian to gain back his form which he admitted is "very bad".

I think a good result this weekend would raise everybody's morale (i know mine definitely need some boosting) and for Arsene to prove that this season will be better that last.