Stoke City vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

Arsenal travel away to one of the most, shall we say, hostile grounds today. There is no love lost between Stoke and Arsenal, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Fair enough, Stoke can play how they want, as long as they don't break the rules(Ha ha, you've got to be kidding!). The thing is, I just despise them, second only to those Mancs.

And before I get too carried away, I'll resume with those fun bullet points:

• Stoke will be up against our faces from the first whistle. They'll tackle hard, and unfair, and with the blood thirsty crowd backing up those neanderthals on the pitch, we might get a raw deal on all 50-50s in the match. Will today's referee Chris Foy call it down the middle? Let's hope so for our sake.
• Though Stoke's serial-long-ball-thrower Rory Delap is on the bench, they will still continue to use their long ball throw in tactics with Ryan Shotton. Hope Koscielny and Vermaelen are able to deal with all those aerial missiles, and Szczesny can claim the ball if and when our centre backs fail to repel those missiles.
• Talking of Szczesny, this will be a big game for him. Stoke will look to bully him from free kicks, corners and throw ins. We will need him to be at his best today and hopefully he'll come out with flying colours.
• With Walcott out of this game due to injury, Gervinho comes back in the right wing psition, while Benayoun takes the opposite flank. It's been a long time since Gervinho's put in a big performance and he's due one sooner than later.
• Robin van Persie, having recently won both PFA and FWA awards, must get his scoring boots today. Shrek is just a goal away from him now and it would be an  absolute travesty if Robin doesn't win the golden boot for the season.
• A draw would seem a fair result, but it would put pressure on us to win the next two games, especially if Newcastle come up with three points against plucky Wigan. We need three points to tighten our grip on third place. And as a bonus, we get to beat those scumbags.

Team Line Ups:

Stoke City(4-4-2): Asmir Begivic, Marc Wilson, Ryan Shawcross, Robert Huth, Ryan Shotton, Matthew Etherington, Dean Whitehead, Glenn Whelan, Jermaine Pennant, Jonathan Walters, Peter Crouch.

Substitutes: Thomas Sorensen, Matthew Upson, Rory Delap, Wilson Palacios, Cameron Jerome, Ricardo Fuller, Kenwyne Jones.

Manager: Tony Pulis.


Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Rosicky,Gervinho, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Andre Santos, Sebastian Squillaci, Abou Diaby, Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal vs Chelsea 2011-12 Preview

Big game, and not much time for a lengthy preview. Cue bullet points!

• It's a must-win game for Chelsea, while it is not so much a must-win for us as a must-not-lose game. Having said that, I expect Chelsea to play on the counter attack. We really need to be careful if and when we lose possession.
• It was a mad match when we played them earlier at Stamford Bridge, with us getting the better of them with a 5-3 scoreline. I don't see that repeating today.
• Chelsea will be a largely changed side from the one that beat Barca in midweek in the first leg of the Champions League semi final. They'll want to keep their big guns for the second leg, but still the eleven they put out will test us all the same.
• Arsenal, meanwhile are without our most consistent midfielder of the season in Mikel Arteta and the onus is on young Ramsey to step up his play. The Welshman will be vital to our performance today.
• On the plus side, Laurent Koscielny returns having served his two match ban after accumulating ten yellow cards for the season. I hope he provides the defensive solidity we need today.

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Andre Santos, Johan Djourou, Francis Coquelin, Abou Diaby, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Chelsea(4-3-3): Petr Cech, Ryan Bertrand, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Jose Bosingwa, Florent Malouda, Oriol Romeu, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge.

Substitutes: Ross Turnbill, Paulo Ferreira, Ashley Cole, John Obi Mikel, Raul Meireles, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata.

Manager: Roberto di Matteo.

Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic 2011-12 Preview

We face Wigan today knowing that a win will open up an eight point gap over our rivals for third place, though having played a game more. Earlier in the season when both these sides met, we won fairly comfortably. But with Wigan fighting for survival, and having just beaten Man United, will not make it easy for us and we would do well to remember our lessons from the recent QPR defeat.

Laurent Koscielny is still suspended for the game and Djourou continues his role at centre back. Johan has been shaky this season but I have to say he looked quite solid in his performance against Wolves in the previous game. Hope he continues his good form. Tomas Rosicky returns to the staring line up after being rested in the previous game and Yossi Benayoun keeps his place, meaning Ramsey drops to the bench. I would like to see Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain in action later in the game keeping in mind we face Chelsea up next.

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Andre Santos, Thomas Vermaelen, Johan Djourou, Bacary Sagna, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song, Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Kieran Gibbs, Sebastian Squillaci, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Wigan Athletic: Ali Al Habsi, Maynor Figueroa, Gary Caldwell, Antolin Alcaraz, Emmerson Boyce, Jean Beausejour, James McArthur, James McCarthy, Victor Moses, Jordi Gomez, Franco Di Santo.

Substitutes: Michael Pollitt, Ronnie Stam, Mohamed Diame, Conor Sammon, David Jones, Callum McManaman, Ben Watson.

Manager: Roberto Martinez.

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

After that thrilling but deserved win against Man City on Sunday, we travel to relegation threatened Wolves today.

Even if they are bottom of the league, we would do well to remember we last came unstuck against a relegation candidate(in QPR) and also, we were held 1-1 at the Emirates when both sides met last time. That day Wayne Hennesey's heroics denied us a win. We would do really well to come away with three points away from the Molineux today.

A win will also strengthen our grip on third place especially as our noisy neighbours lost at home and Chelsea also could only draw. With just five games to go after tonight's game, opening up a 5 point lead could prove vital in cementing qualification for Champions League.

We are without Koscielny for this game, and for the next one against Wigan too, as the defender serves a two match ban for picking up his tenth booking of the season. Djourou steps in his place and I hope he does well. Gervinho still hasn't recovered from his ankle knock, and Gibbs is ruled out for tonight's game. Jack and Per are still yet to resume first team training.

Team Line Ups:

Wolverhampton Wanderers(4-4-1-1): Wayne Hennessey, Stephen Ward, Richard Stearman, Sebastian Bassong, Ronald Zubar, Michael Kightly, Karl Henry, David Davis, Matthew Jarvis, David Edwards, Kevin Doyle.

Substitutes: Dorus De Vries, Christophe Berra, Roger Johnson, Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, Anthony Forde, Nenad Milijas. Steven Fletcher

Manager: Terry Connor.


Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Andre Santos, Thomas Vermaelen, Johan Djourou, Bacary Sagna, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song, Yossi Benayoun, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Sebastian Squillaci, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ju Young Park, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal vs Manchester City 2011-12 Preview

I haven't been keeping well; I've been bed-ridden for the last three days and I have to say it sucks.

Anyway, Arsenal face off with a stuttering Man City today knowing a draw would not be good enough for both teams. We are a point off our noisy neighbours, while Chelsea and Newcastle have piled the pressure on us with wins to remain just two points below us.

Man City on the other hand, as of now, lie 8 points adrift of Man United and if they have any hopes of winning the league they need to go for it today, unlike the previous time they visited the Emirates when they were playing for a 0-0 and could muster a single shot on goal. Won't it be poetic justice if we do the exact same thing to them today and kill their title hopes? But thankfully Arsene does not play that way and we'll be in for an exiting match.

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Mikel Arteta, Alex Song, Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Andre Santos, Johan Djourou, Carl Jenkinson, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Manchester City(4-2-3-1): Joe Hart, Gael Clichy, Joleon Lescott, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli, Samir Nasri, James Milner, Sergio Aguero.

Substitutes: Costel Pantilimon, Aleksandar Kolarov, Micah Richards, Nigel De Jong, David Pizzaro, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko.

Manager: Roberto Mancini.