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

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Formation view:

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                                                  Howard

Neville                   Jagielka                              Distin                  Baines

Coleman                Arteta                              Heitinga                 Pienaar
                                                  Cahill

                                                   Saha

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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

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Formation view:

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                                                             Fabiansky

Sagna                       Djourou                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                     Wilshere

     Nasri                                       Fabregas                                        Arshavin

                                                         Chamakh

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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

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Formation view:

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                                                  Hahnemann

Foley                   Stearman                              Berra                  Ward

Edwards              Mancienne             Henry                 Milijas           Jarvis

                                                  Doyle  
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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

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Formation view:

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                                                             Fabiansky

Sagna                       Djourou                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                     Wilshere

     Rosicky                                       Fabregas                                        Arshavin

                                                         Chamakh

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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

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Formation view:

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                                                       Fabiansky

Sagna                      Koscielny                                       Squillaci                   Clichy

                                          Song                    Wilshere
     Nasri                                         Fabregas                                       Arshavin

                                                      Chamakh

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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

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Formation view:

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                                                         Krul

Simpson                    Collocini                                   Williamson                    Sanchez

Barton                        Tiote                                     Nolan                            Gutierrez

                                    Carroll                                Ameobi
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Tactics:

Subs: My choice is Rosicky, Bendtner and van Persie

Final Prediction:

A 2-1 win for Arsenal.