Arsenal vs Aston Villa FA Cup Preview

Having come so far this new year without a single league point, we are back where we started at the beginning of the season. Injuries to key players and poor form of many of our players have resulted in disastrous results leading to three successive league defeats. Morale is yet again low after our less than impressive performances in 2012. 

The FA Cup provides us the opportunity to make right some of our shortcomings and with the gradual return of our first team players, we may yet finish the season strongly. Hopefully, we can build a good momentum and claim a spot for the Champions League.

Francis Coquelin is back from injury and he is avaiable to deputise at right back. Lukasz Fabianski has been handed a start and I hope he does well. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has maintained his place and it will be seen how he continues his development. Thierry Henry is back on the subs bench for this one, as are Mikel Arteta and bacary Sagna.

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-3-3): Lukasz Fabianski, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Francis Coquelin, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott.

Substitutes: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin, Ju Young Park, Thierry Henry.

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Aston Villa: Shay Given, Alan Hutton, Carlos Cuellar, Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Ireland, Martin Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Robbie Keane, Darren Bent.

Substitutes: Brad Guzan, Barry Bannan, Eric Lichaj, Gary Gardner, Andreas Wiemann, Nathan Baker, Emile Heskey.

Manager: Alex McLeish.

Arsenal vs Manchester United 2011-12 Preview

Match Preview:

This is a match which couldn't have come at a worse time for us Arsenal fans. Our team have been crippled by injuries and we have subsequently lost our last two league matches. Add to it two players who have departed for the African Cup of Nations and we are without Arteta, Sagna, Jenkinson, Santos, Gibbs, Gervinho, Chamakh, Diaby, Coquelin, Wilshere and Thierry Henry for the game.

With so many injuries, we have had to play on the backfoot in recent games. The absence of all our regular fullbacks have forced us to make do with players players playing out of position in the full back areas and hence our game has lacked width which is such a vital aspect of our game to stretch the opposition. Add to it the absence of our most consistent midfielder this season in Mikel Arteta, we have really suffered in our possession play and his absence was clearly felt against Swansea where we were simply outpassed and the midfield overrun.

And I still remember not so fondly the last time we met those scums. Even though I would dearly love us to give them a thrashing, I don't see it happening but I hope we put in a much better performance than on that forgettable day. At this moment, even a draw would be a good result (though I'd hate to draw after being in a winning position!).

COME ON ARSENAL!

Team Line Ups:

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

Substitutes: Manuel Almunia, Sebastian Squillaci, Ignasi Miquel, Nico Yennaris, Yossi Benyoun, Andrey Arshavin, Ju Young Park.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Manchester United(4-4-2): Anders Lindegaard, Patrice Evra, Johnny Evans, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Nani, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.

Substitutes: David De Gea, Fabio, Rafael, Paul Scholes, Ji Sung Park, Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov.

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson.

Swansea City vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

Arsenal are up against Swansea today as we look to catch up with the teams ahead of us. Swansea have a very good home record this season and they have conceded just four goals at their home ground.

And with Arsenal missing our pass master Mkel Arteta from the midfield, it is crucial that we take our chances today. This looks like a tight and a low scoring affair, and we should look to be disciplined from set pieces.

Our goalscoring hero from the midweek game, Thierry Henry is on the bench and I hope to see him again, though I'd like him to consolidating score a goal rather than a winning goal(not that I would mind him scoring the winner a la Leeds).


Team Line Ups:

Swansea(4-5-1): Michael Vorm, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams, Steven Caulker, Angel Rangel, Scott Sinclair, Joe Allen, Leon Britton, Kenny Agustein, Nathan Dyer, Danny Graham.

Substitutes: Gerhard Tremmel, Ashley Richards, Gilfy Sigurdsson, Gary Monk, Wayne Routledge, Luke Moore, Leroy Lita.

Manager: Brendan Rodgers.


Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Ignasi Miquel Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Johan Djourou, Yossi Benayoun, Alex Song, Aaron Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott.

Substitutes: Manuel Almunia, Sebastian Squillaci, Nico Yennaris, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ju Young Park, Thierry Henry.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal vs Leeds FA Cup Preview

The Return of the King

I really don't think anything more needs to be said about this.

Thierry Henry is back. He's back where he started it all and I hope he puts in a decent performance when called upon tonight. He's on the bench for this one but let's hope that he is fit and sharp enough for this one.

Apart from that, Arsene has announced a strong playing eleven, even though Robin van Persie has been given the day off. The other talking point is that Arsene has retained the first choice midfield and whether they are fit enough to last the entire ninety minutes remains to be seen.

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny, Ignasi Miquel, Laurent Koscielny, Sebastian Squillaci, Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Song, Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Substitutes: Damian Martinez, Nico Yennaris, Yossi Benayoun, Ryo Miyaichi, Theo Walcott, Ju Young Park, Thierry Henry.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Leeds United: Lonergan, Thompson, lees, O'Dea, White, Townsend, Clayton, Vayrynen, Pugh, Nunez, Becchio.

Substitutes: Bruce, Brown ,Sam, Forssell,, Taylor, Parker, McCormack.

Manager: Simon Grayson.