Arsenal vs Newcastle United 2011-12 Preview

OPPORTUNITIES + PAYBACK

Arsenal play Newcastle United with Champions League qualification up for grabs. With Tottenham stuttering and Liverpool faltering, it appears as that the three London clubs will battle it out for the third and fourth places for two spots in the Champions League. Newcastle, with 5 points adrift of us at fourth place, are the outsiders and they will be up for it if they want to have a crack at playing European football next season.

Newcastle have surprised many people with their performances this season and they have put in impressive results thanks largely to their Senegalese hitman Demba Ba. Though, it has to be said, they have had key performers in Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa, Coloccini and goalie Tim Krul.

Nevertheless, one cannot help but remember the opening match of the season and how we got wrongfully punished by the inept referee because of Joey Barton's acting skills. And add last season's shocking 4-4 result at their ground, and it is clear we still have some unfinished business with the Magpies.

Hopefully, our players would have been well rested after the physically and emotionally draining 3-0 victory against Milan in the Champions League. Andre Santos makes his return after his injury and he makes it to the bench. Mikel Arteta has been passed fit to start after his injury in the Liverpool match and Aaron Ramsey also makes it to the bench after his brief layoff due to injury.

Team Line Ups:

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

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Andre Santos, Aaron Ramsey, Yossi Benayoun, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


Newcastle United(4-5-1): Timothy Krul, Davide Santon, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Danny Simpson, Gabriel Obertan, Jonas Gutierrez, Yohan Cabaye, Ismael Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba.

Substitutes: Robert Elliot, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic, Danny Guthrie, James Perch, Shola Ameobi, Papiss Demba Cisse.

Manager: Alan Pardew.

Arsenal vs AC Milan Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg Preview

MIRACLES??

Arsenal welcome AC Milan for the return leg of the Round of 16 knock out tie of the Champions League tonight. After our shambolic performance against the Rossoneri at the San Siro in the first leg, we are left facing a mountain to climb needing to win by 5 clear goals(or a penalty shootout win if we win 4-0). Many have termed our task as Mission Impossible, and you can say they are right to say so logically speaking.

But we are the Arsenal and I hope we can come out tonight and give the Milan side the fright of their lives. The manager has drummed up the team and he has sounded the war cry when he announced that we are going to go for it. Despite our injury problems - eight of out ten midfielders are injured - we are not looking for any excuses tonight and in Arsene's own words, "you can tell Milan that tomorrow we'll play on a football pitch, a real football pitch".

How we're going to go about it...I don't know to be frank. An early goal will really set the tone for the game. But this much I know: we're gunning for you Milan!

Team Line Ups:

Arsenal(4-1-2-3/4-0-6!): Wojciech Szczesny, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Alex Song, Tomas Rosicky, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie.

Substitutes: Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou, Ignasi Miquel, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Ju Young Park, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.


AC Milan(4-3-3): Christian Abbiati, Djamel Mesbah, Thiago Silva, Phillipe Mexes, Ignazio Abate, Urby Emmanuelson, mark van Bommel, Antonio Nocerino, Stephan El Shaarawy, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho.

Substitutes: Marco Amelia, Flavio Roma, Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele Bonera, Simone Ganz, Alberto Aquilani, Mario Yepes.

Manager: Massimiliano Allegri.


Whatever happens, let's hold our heads high! COME ON ARSENAL!

Post Liverpool Thoughts

SMASH AND GRAB!

Arsenal went to Anfield and came away with three precious points, effectively killing Liverpool's hopes of securing a Champions League berth. Sweet revenge I would say, after the way they cheated us to grab a last minute equalizer with an undeserved penalty, via a Dirk Kuyt dive, last season. Inspired performance by our goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny(who saved a penalty and produced a stunning double save) and clinical finishing by Robin van Persie(who else!?) helped us grab the spoils.

I will be the first to admit we were far from our best. We struggled in our passing play, were insecure in defending and lacked creativity in attack. However, we(or should I say, van Persie) still took the only chances we had and despite Liverpool's shenanigans and the referee's ineptitude, we came away with a vital win.

To say Liverpool played dirty would be a big understatement. Under Kenny Daglish, Liverpool have shown signs of skulduggery and foul play and they were on full display during the game. These are highlighted as follows:

• Luis Suarez, while being a skilful player ( he dribbled through our entire defence, and only Szczesny's outstretched hand saved a certain goal), showed his full range of acting and diving skills. The way he got down theatrically - as if he got shot by a sniper - and clutched his knees while rolling around the pitch to con the referee into giving the penalty was truly pathetic. I have a new suggestion to add to FIFA's LET'S KICK RACISM OUT OF FOOTBALL quote. And that would be 

 LET'S KICK DIVING, CHEATING LUIS SUAREZ OUT OF FOOTBALL. 

• The remaining Liverpool/Loserpool players were not content to let Suarez take all the spotlight as they pushed, pulled, fouled and bad mouthed the referee(who had been biased to them all day) as they went about playing their ugly brand of football. They really are a shameless and a dirty bunch.
• And to top it off, Jordan Henderson's assault on Mikel Arteta left him unconscious on the pitch and he had to be stretchered off in an oxygen mask to be carried out in an ambulance. Thankfully Mikel has since recovered but it does not absolve Henderson of his thuggish act. Once again, the referee turned a blind eye on this.

The only saving grace about Liverpool throughout the game was the way the crowd applauded Arteta as he was carried off the pitch. It was a nice gesture and it showed there is still hope for the Merseysiders. And maybe if they get rid of Daglish, hire a better manager, play less kick and rush football, show some composure in front of goal and concentrate on their own game instead of diving and cheating all the time, they'll probably rise again.

In the end, justice was served as Wojciech Szczesny thwarted all of Liverpool's attempts and Robin van Persie finished his chances with aplomb thus putting a smile on Arsenal fans' faces.

Liverpool vs Arsenal 2011-12 Preview

TIME FOR REVENGE

Remember this time last year? We were still chasing for the title, we scored in the 108th minute(!!!) and with the last attack of the game, Liverpool get one of the most undeserved of penalties after Dirk Kuyt dived in the most theatrical way possible. That incident ended the career of Emmanuel Eboue at Arsenal and he has left to foreign shores since.

Recap to the previous meeting this season and a depleted Arsenal were manfully going for it and giving the supposed title challengers a game when Frimpong got sent off, then Liverpool scored via an own goal and an offside goal.

It's clear we have some unfinished business to take care of.

And now, with the same Liverpool side grappling frantically as they vie for a Champions League spot(they are 7 points adrift of us in 4th place, though they have a game in hand against their rivals Everton), we have the chance to dump them off for good. It won't be easy. Liverpool will probably set themselves up to play counter attack(even at home). But if we show the same kind of spirit, determination and chance-takeability(!!) as we showed against Spurs last week, we'll be in a great position to grab three precious points today.

Team Line Ups:

Liverpool: Pepe Reina, Jose Enrique, Martin Skrtel, Jamie Carragher, Martin Kelly, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam, Jay Spearing, Jordan Henderson, Dirk Kuyt, Luis Suarez.

Substitutes: Doni, Sebastian Coates, Jonathan Flanagan, Jonjo Shelvey, Maxi Rodriguez, Craig Bellamy, Andy Carroll.

Manager: Kenny Daglish.

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, Carl Jenkinson, Ignasi Miquel, Abou Diaby, Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marouane Chamakh.

Manager: Arsene Wenger.