Aston Villa vs Arsenal Last Minute Preview

After depressing losses against Spurs and Braga in the past week, it's time for Arsenal to set things right. We lost Cesc and Eboue in the midweek game against Braga but the rest of the squad is okay, though we're missing Vermaelen a bit.

We also might come up against Robert Pires who has recently joined the Villains on a free signing. Though Aston Villa have even bigger injury problems than us right now, the Arsenal players MUST ensure we do not take them lightly, not even if we take a 2 goal lead at halftime. Determination and creativity must work hand in hand. If we can do that, we can even top the table despite all the gloom and doom, even if for a short while.

Team news:

Aston Villa(4-4-1-1): Friedel, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Pires, Bannan, Clark, Downing, Young, Carew

Substitutes: Ireland, Delfouneso, Guzan, Beye, Hogg, Lichaj, Herd

Manager: Gerard Houllier

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                  Friedel

L. Young                   Dunne                              Collins                  Warnock

Downing                Clark                              Bannan                  Pires
                                                  A. Young

                                                   Carew

==========================================================================

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Rosicky, Nasri, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin, Chamakh

Substitutes: Szezesny, Djourou, Gibbs, Van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Bendtner

Manager: Arsene Wenger

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                       Fabianski

Sagna                       Koscielny                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                     Wilshere

     Nasri                                         Rosicky                                        Arshavin

                                                      Chamakh

==========================================================================

Tactics:

Goalkeeping/Defence: Aston Villa will look to reach their target man Carew from long balls and set pieces. The centre backs should mark him tightly. Stewart Downing has been scoring important goals and his runs should be checked properly.

Midfield: Our midfield should dominate today. Its the intelligence we have lacked in the recent defeats. When to attack, when to defend, when to increase the tempo. We have lacked that spark in all the games we lost. Hope Nasri and Arshavin can fire today.

Attack: Hope my "wish" is granted again today and Chamakh does not dither from taking his chances.

Subs: I'd bring on Walcott, van Persie and Denilson

Final Prediction:

Looks like we might grind out a 1-2 win today.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Last Minute Preview

It's the big one today, well for most fans. But the fact is, after Chelsea dropped points unexpectedly last week, we really need to capitalize on it and win today. Anything less than that should be a disappointment.

Though Spurs beat us in the last League match(after a decade), it was a much weak Arsenal side on show. But Spurs have since qualified for the Champions League for the first time and have good players in Bale and van der Vaart. Gallas makes his return to the Emirates after joining them in the summer for free and he will not receive the warmest of welcomes from the fans and some of the players.

Team news:

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas, Song, Denilson, Arshavin, Chamakh
Substitutes:  Szczesny, Djourou, Eboue, Walcott, Wilshere, Rosicky, van Persie

Manager: Arsene Wenger

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                       Fabiansky

Sagna                      Koscielny                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                   Denilson
     Nasri                                         Fabregas                                       Arshavin

                                                      Chamakh

==========================================================================


Tottenham(4-4-1-1): Gomes, Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, van der Vaart, Modric, Jenas, Lennon, Pavlyuchenko

Substitutes: Cudicini, Bassong, Corluka, Bentley, Palacios, Crouch, Defoe

Manager: Harry Redknapp

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                         Gomes

Hutton                         Gallas                                  Kaboul                   Assou-Ekotto

Lennon                         Jenas                                   Modric                          Bale
                                           
                                                        van der Vaart
                                                        Pavlyuchenko
==========================================================================


Tactics:

Goalkeeping/Defence: We need to be aware of van der Vaart's presence in the box as he has shown he can feed off the scraps of the strikers pretty well. One of the centre backs should keep an eye on him whenever he comes in the box. We also should deal with the crosses(filled with quality and quantity) from Gareth Bale. Bakary Sagna, who has been one of the most reliable of our defenders, has a game on his hands. Other than that, we should be okay if we perform properly from set pieces.

Midfield: Denilson is in for Wilshere and I think he has been included to mark out van der Vaart in midfield. Hope Cesc is back to his best and Song keeps up his good form.

Attack: Arshavin really needs a goal and though he has been giving the assists, a goal or two would be great today. Nasri has been exceptional and he will be needed to put in another tireless shift today and stop Bale by doubling up on him. Hope Chamakh finds the back of the net today.

Subs: Ideally, I'd bring on Walcott, van Persie and Rosicky.

Final Prediction:

A 2-1 win for Arsenal.

Everton vs Arsenal Last Minute Preview

After a grinding win against Wolves in the midweek, Arsenal are again away from home. This time, we face a determined and hard working Everton side who have as usual, started the season slowly. Last time out we whipped them 6-1 but I don't see that happening again. 

Everton will on the whole, provide us a more all round attacking threat: from open play and from set pieces, from clever passing to long crosses and we really need to be sharp and decisive in defending today.

Everton(4-4-1-1): Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Arteta, Heitinga, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha

Substitutes: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Beckford, Gueye, Yakubu, Rodwell

Manager: David Moyes

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                  Howard

Neville                   Jagielka                              Distin                  Baines

Coleman                Arteta                              Heitinga                 Pienaar
                                                  Cahill

                                                   Saha

==========================================================================

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Arshavin, Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere, Song, Chamakh

Substitutes: Szczesny, Rosicky, van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Eboue, Gibbs

Manager: Arsene Wenger

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                             Fabiansky

Sagna                       Djourou                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                     Wilshere

     Nasri                                       Fabregas                                        Arshavin

                                                         Chamakh

==========================================================================

Tactics:

Goalkeeping/Defence: Again, we need to tackle set pieces properly. Tim Cahill is almost as dangerous as Chamakh in the air and we'd do well to keep him in check. We also need to track the midfield runs from Pienaar and chaeck the creativity and free kicks of Arteta. Hope our defence performs solidly again.

Midfield: Nasri is back in the starting line up in place of Rosicky. Our midfield needs to really tick for this game as Everton can punish our mistakes. Hope Cesc is back to his best form.

Attack: Hope Chamakh gets good service today for his headers. Hope Arshavin fires again today, with some end product. Nasri should look to build on his sparkling form.

Subs: Ideally, I'd bring on Walcott, van Persie and Denilson

Final Prediction:

A tight 1-1 draw.(Might also sneak away with a 1-2 win)

Wish Granted...Signs of a comeback

Finally, I had my wish granted yesterday when Alex Song crossed into the Wolves penalty area and Marouane Chamakh was there to "use his head" and head home. My only grudge was that the goal came so early (after just 40 seconds) that I couldn't load my crappy stream fast enough to see it live. Anyway, a headed goal is a headed goal IS A HEADED GOAL and so I am really happy that at last we were able to use one of Chamakh's best attributes.

Coming to the match, it was indeed great to take the lead so early for once. Too many times we struggle to find the opening goal and that gives the opposing players hope as they wait for us to attack, sit back and defend and hit us on the break from probably the only chance they'll muster in the match. If we can get the opening goal early, it will force all those teams like West Ham and Newcastle United, who just "park the train", to attack and we can get valuable space to exploit.

Fabregas was not in an aesthetic mood yesterday and he showed his physical side of the game. I have no complaints in a match like yesterday but I think he needs to calm down a bit sometimes; he's El Capitan after all.

The other Fab, Lukasz Fabiansky was just fabulous and I hope he continues his good form. He made some outstanding saves last night and he truly deserved the gratitude his teammates showed to him after the match.

Tougher times are coming up with a trip to Everton and welcoming Tottenham at home a week after but I don't think they'll sit back as much as West Ham and Newcastle did. As Arsene Wenger has said, the opening goal will be crucial in these games. Hope our rivals drop points here and there and we can catch up with Chelsea.

That's it for now. Have a great day!

Wolves vs Arsenal Last Minute Preview

After a poor showing at home to Newcastle, Arsenal are looking to bounce back. We lacked fluidity and didn't really trouble the Magpies' goalkeeper at all. This really has to change if we are to get good value from games.

It's damage limitation time and although Chelsea also lost on Sunday, it would have been nice to get 3 points and put pressure on them. Hope we can turn up better against Wolves today.


Wolves(4-5-5): Hahnemann, Foley, Stearman, Berra, Ward, Mancienne, Jarvis, Milijas, Henry, Edwards, Doyle

Substitutes:  Hennessey, Van Damme, Mouyokolo, Elokobi, Hunt, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher


Manager: Mick McCarthy

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                  Hahnemann

Foley                   Stearman                              Berra                  Ward

Edwards              Mancienne             Henry                 Milijas           Jarvis

                                                  Doyle  
==========================================================================



Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Arshavin, Fabregas, Rosicky, Wilshere, Song, Chamakh

Substitutes: Szczesny, Eboue, Walcott, Denilson, Nasri, Bendtner, van Persie

Manager: Arsene Wenger

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                             Fabiansky

Sagna                       Djourou                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                     Wilshere

     Rosicky                                       Fabregas                                        Arshavin

                                                         Chamakh

==========================================================================



Tactics:

Goalkeeping/Defence: We need to tackle set pieces properly. Fabiansky made a mistake and we ended up conceding the only goal in the match against the Barcodes from a free kick. Sagna should look to bomb forward as much as possible. Hope Clichy does not produce any "Clichy" moment.

Midfield: Hope Cesc is fit properly and fires on all cylinders. We all saw the effects of an unfit Fabregas in the last game. Also, discipline will be the key between Song and Wilshere's midfield partnership.

Attack: Chamakh hasn't had much service in the last couple of games. Shame we keep wasting his heading ability. Hope Arshavin brings his A game today. Rosicky gets a well deserved start in a league match after a long time.

Subs: Ideally, I'd bring on Walcott, van Persie and Nasri/Denilson

Final Prediction:

A tight 1-2 win.

Arsenal vs Newcastle United Preview

Well, Dammit! I've missed the first half. And we're down 0-1. Here's the team news:


Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Fabianski, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Walcott, Fabregas, Chamakh
Substitutes:  Szczesny, Djourou, Eboue, Rosicky, Arshavin, van Persie, Bendtner

Manager: Arsene Wenger

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                       Fabiansky

Sagna                      Koscielny                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                    Wilshere
     Nasri                                         Fabregas                                       Arshavin

                                                      Chamakh

==========================================================================


Newcastle United(4-5-1): Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Carroll

Substitutes: Soderberg, Campbell, Taylor, Routledge, Smith, Lovenkrands, Ranger

Manager: Chris Hughton

==========================================================================

Formation view:

==========================================================================

                                                         Krul

Simpson                    Collocini                                   Williamson                    Sanchez

Barton                        Tiote                                     Nolan                            Gutierrez

                                    Carroll                                Ameobi
==========================================================================


Tactics:

Subs: My choice is Rosicky, Bendtner and van Persie

Final Prediction:

A 2-1 win for Arsenal.