Arsenal vs Queens Park Rangers Preview

After a brief sabbatical, I have just now got the time and the resources to write. And unfortunately, this is an extremely short preview of the game to take place in a few minutes time.

Having dropped two points against Wolves in the midweek(owing to their goalkeeper Wayne Hennesey's heroics), we are in real need of getting our momentum going again. It was disappointing that we could not capitalize on the slip up by our rivals for a top four place. Nevertheless, we need to buckle up and get the job done today.

There has been news of a loan move for club legend Thierry Henry. At the moment it's not official yet but the deal looks almost done, as reported by the media and corroborated by Arsene Wenger.

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Johan Djourou, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott.

Substitutes: Manuel Almunia, Francis Coquelin, Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Brnayoun, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Queens Park Rangers(4-2-3-1): Radek Cerny, Armand Traore, Daniel Gabbidon, Matthew Connolly, Luke Young, Joey Barton, Alejandro Faurlin, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Adel Taarabt, Jamie Mackie, Jay Bothroyd.

Substitutes: Brian Murphy, Heidar Helguson, Bradley Orr, Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Tommy Smith, D.J. Campbell.

Manager: Neil Warnock.

Arsenal vs Everton 2011-12 Preview

It's a big occasion today as we celebrate 125 years of Arsenal's existence. Three statues of Gunners legends, of Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry have been made for the event and the match official ( Howard Webb) will toss the coin using a sixpence coin as a symbolic gesture.

It was moving to see Thierry tear up a bit during the statue presentation and it rolled back memories of recent glory when he was in top form and was one of the most feared and admired footballers on the planet. Of the three legends who have been honoured, I confess I have only seen Henry in action as I am a relatively new Gooner( though I have followed up the history of our club since and read about the exploits of Tony Adams and the vision and management skills of the late Herbert Chapman). I have been lucky to see Henry in full pomp and I hope some of the current players can reach the heights that he scaled.

Coming back to the game, our opponents Everton have started the season slowly like us. Still, they have always proved to be a big thorn in our path and I hope the players are focused for the match and don't get too carried away by the celebratory atmosphere. Everton will come with a game plan and it will be crucial for us to carry on our league form. We can only hope those in front of us slip up somehow and when that happens, we need to be picking up points ourselves.

With Andre Santos getting injured in the midweek defeat in the dead rubber against Olympiacos, we now do not have a fit full back for the match. Thomas Vermaelen is set to take up the position at left back while Djourou mans the right back and Koscielny returns at the centre to join Mertesacker. It will also be an emotional game for Mikel Arteta as he faces his former club.

Apparently, the broadcasters here have thought the Man United and Liverpool games are more important to show live. F*** those people I say. The internet connection is proving to be very unreliable at the moment and I think I have to do with the 11:30 pm repeat telecast of the match. I'll have to somehow survive three hours without looking at any football sites during that time. Woe is me!

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Johan Djourou, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Gervinho, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott.

Substitutes: Manuel Almunia, Ignasi Miquel, Emmanuel Frimpong, Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Everon(4-4-1-1): Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, John Heitinga, Tony Hibbert, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Marouane Fellaini, Phil Neville, Seamus Coleman, Tim Cahill, Louis Saha.

Substitutes: Jan Mucha, Sylvain Distin, Conor McAleny, Denis Stracqualursi, Magaye Gueye, Ross Barkley, Apostolos Vellios.

Manager: David Moyes.

Olympiacos Piraeus vs Arsenal Preview

Quick Wigan Review:

Well that was awesome wasn't it? We totally dominated the game and this time, unlike the previous two occasions at the DW stadium, we didn't flatter to deceive. We put in a thoroughly professional performance and came away with three points and a clean sheet. All our goals were well taken and I have to say the build up play leading to our third goal was mesmerizing. We strung 33 passes before we hit the back of the net.

What was also pleasing was how we controlled the tempo and witheld the little firepower the home side could muster. Wigan started strongly in both halfs and had it been earlier this season, we would most probably had made a mess of it and put ourselves in trouble. Kudos to the team for working hard and standing firm when we might have buckled under pressure.

Match Preview:

Having secured qualification into the knock out rounds as group leaders, we can afford to rest key players ( eat shit Man United, Chelsea and Man City!) for the rough and tumble of the Premier League. Even then, Arsene Wenger has put out a side that will give the home side a good run for their money. The players who are out on the field should look to impress the Boss and push for a first team spot.

And with Thomas Vermaelen in the team as the captain for the match, I would not expect any slackness from anybody...well apart from the little Russian! Still, even Arshavin should be geared up for this and I hope he comes good because 1) his form has been poor this season and he is due a big performance and 2) he is the only experienced replacement we have for Gervinho when he will be off on national duty for the ACN in January.

Team Line Ups:

Olympiakos Piraeus(4-3-2-1): Balazs Megyeri, Ivan Marcano, Olof Mellberg, Avraam Papadopoulos, Vasileios Torosidis, Francois Modesto, David Fuster, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas, Kevin Mirallas, Rafik Djebbour.

Substitutes: Franco Costanzo, Djamel Abdoun, Ioannis Potouridis, Pablo Orbaiz, Ioannis Fetfatzidis, Tasos Papazoglou, Marko Pantelic.

Manager: Erneste Valverde.


Arsenal(4-3-3): Lukasz Fabianski, Andre Santos, Thomas Vermaelen, Sebastian Squillaci, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Frimpong, Francis Coquelin, Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Substitutes: Vito Mannone, Ignasi Miquel, Nico Yennaris, Craig Eastmond, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Tomas Rosicky, Ju Young Park.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.

Wigan Atheletic vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

After a narrow defeat by our reserves in the Carling Cup to Man City in the midweek(which, alas, I coudn't watch), we resume Premier League action with a trip to Wigan today.

Wigan have proved to be tricky customers in our last two visits and we Gooners won't remember those games too fondly. We contrived to drop 5 points in those games from winning positions and I hope we have learnt our lesson and not underestimate them. And that is why, it is vital that we take our chances in the game. And so, I won't complain whoever scores for us (even if van Persie alone scores ten goals in this one and no one else even has a shot on goal), as long as we win.

We need to get back our winning momentum and December may prove vital to our Champions League qualification hopes.

The team news is that Rosicky and Diaby are unavailable for the game. And apart from the long term injuries, we are good to go.

Team Line Ups:

Wigan Athletic(4-4-2): Ali Al Habsi,  Maynor Figueroa, Gary Caldwell, Steve Gohouri, Ronnie Stam, James McCarthy, Jordi Gomez, David Jones, Mohamed Diame, Conor Sammon, Victor Moses.

Substitutes: Michael Pollitt, Piscu, James McArthur, Ben Watson, Albert Crusat, Hugo Rodallega, Franco Di Santo.

Manager: Roberto Martinez.


Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Andre Santos, Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Alex Song, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Gervinho, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.