BOUNCE BACK!! Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview

Was so broken by our loss to Wigan at HOME!! On Monday, a shocking defeat it was like the coach himself admitted, the Gunners surely need to respond with a big performance in today’s London derby. It’s a game with so much at stake for both teams; a win for Arsenal will tremendously improve their chances of cementing themselves into third place and hence moving closer to guaranteeing automatic qualification to the Champions League next season. With Arteta out for the season a man without whom Arsenal have not won a single game this season, the midfield selection will most likely determine Arsenal’s chances in this game, Aaron Ramsey who has been really low on confidence for most parts of this season is expected to fill the boots of the big man, a move that might most likely polarize fan bases in and outside the stadium. Abou Diaby and Francis Coquelin have both been announced fit and up for selection and hence either of them is expected to feature at some point in the game.

Gunning For The fans: Arsenal are expected to place themselves in pole position to finish 3rd

With an eye on the Champions league finals after winning the first leg of the semifinal tie at Stamford bridge, Chelsea are expected to lineup a pretty altered side from what many saw midweek against Barcelona, game plan might however stay the same with the blues opting to sit back, invite all the pressure from an Arsenal side that will predictably be comfortable with the passing game on home turf, and wait for their chance to pounce on any counter attacks. It should therefore be upon Arsenal to determine right away what they want to get from this game, close up all the spaces by making sure the defense & defensive midfield stays disciplined enough not to make risky forward runs that might make the team vulnerable to conceding from counter attacks.

Predicted starting XI

Arsenal:

Szcsesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscienly, Santos. Song, Ramsey, Rosicky. Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho.

                                Formation:  4 – 2 – 3 - 1

Chelsea:

Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Cahill, Cole. Essien, Lampard, Mireless, Mata, Sturridge. Torres

                                Formation: 4 – 5 - 1

Proof of resurgence: Arsenal v Wigan preview

Tactics: Brain power will rule this!

Arsenal might have established themselves as the best passing team of the ball in the Barclays Premiership over seasons, but this season every time they’ve been matched up against opponents that aspire to play the same game, they have honestly come second. Memories of Fullham away in second half, and Swansea both legs still run fresh in the minds of ardent fans.  Arsenal made Fullham look like Barcelona in the second half of the away game, and the same happened when they played Swansea especially at the Liberty stadium where the gunners were second to almost everything, especially when it came to ball play. Now gearing up to face a wigan side very good at their passing game as the champions Manchester united can attest, and a side that is giving their whole to fight against the drop zone, Arsenal who have not lost a single league game on a Monday for over a DECADE are faced with a task of trying to convince the home fans that they’re a team that has turned the corner, no more giving away of vital points unnecessarily against lesser opponents, they will do their best to triumph over a fighting Wigan that just managed to  convincingly beat the league leaders in their most recent game having been hard done by by two offside goals in the game against Chelsea.

Tactics Rule:

As anticipated by many, this is a game that is most likely gonna be won by the best tactician of the night between the coaches, both teams have quality enough to surpass the other, hence team selection will determine the fluidity of either side which most likely will swing the results accordingly. Arsenal are expected to be welcoming back two players from injury, Gervinho who has been nursing a knock on his ankle and Kieran Gibbs who was taken off in the game against Manchester city with what is believed to have been a groin injury. The return of these will definitely boost a team that has been riding on its best form of the season.

Predicted starting XI:

Arsenal: Sczsesny, Sagna, Djourour, Vermaelen, Santos. Song, Arteta. Rosicky, Theo, Van Persie, Chamberlain.

                                                Formation: 4-2-3-1

Wigan: Alhabsi, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce. McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Moses. Di Santo, Maloney.

                                                Formation: 4-4-2

No Pushovers at This Stage: Wolves V Arsenal Preview

I like how Arteta put it 

“We have some good examples this year when we have dropped points against teams near the bottom. We have to go there with the right mentality and the right approach and sense of pride. When you are playing away from home, there are no easy games in the premier league.”

I said this against Aston villa and as well against QPR, Arsenal’s biggest undoing in the past couple of seasons has been complacency against seemingly minor teams. In the past two seasons, the gooners have actually missed out on winning the championship due to losing focus and stumbled against “second paged” premiership teams, all the fans are now hoping though, that the team has turned a corner, through such a turbulent season, for them to finally string up a series of consecutive wins, it has been such a great achievement. Team has managed to win 7 of their last 8 games and is hoping to capitalize on their fierce rivals’ slip up in the battle for 3^rd position as they visit molineux to take on bottom side Wolverhampton wanderers. 

Since sacking their manager Mick McCarthy in February of this year, wolves have only managed to muster 1 point out of their last 8games, things are really looking bleak for Terry Connor and yet he has to do all his best to help the team keep in top flight football something that is really proving so hard for wolves. However its teams like these, struggling and battling to hang on to dear lives that have always given Arsenal the hardest of times, last season, right after victory over the mighty Barcelona, Arsenal could only muster a 2-2 draw against Wigan in their next outing.

The gunners’ team is once again faced with injury issues to their key men, with choice left back Gibbs ruled out, Sagna probably facing a late fitness test and Gervinho still not expected to start because of the ankle injury that ruled him out of the game against Manchester city. As if this is not enough, Arsenal are also to travel without their current on-form and arguably the best center back in the league currently, Laurent Koscienly as he has to serve a two games ban following his double figures yellow cards accumulation. The Arsenal is however expected to build on their form and resilience to employ whatever it takes to realize the three points needed for this fixture.

Predicted starting XI:

Wolves : Hennessey; Zubar, Johnson, Bassong, Ward; Kightly, Henry, Davis, Milijas, Jarvis; Fletcher.

                                                                Formation:  4-4-2

Arsenal: Szscesny; Jenkinson, Djorou, Vermealen, Santos; Song, Arteta, Rosicky; Theo, Chamberlain; Van Persie

                                                                Formation: 4-3-2-1

Now Or Never: Arsenal V Manchester City game preview

I predict the shortest ever post in the history of this blog site for the game coming up between Arsenal and Manchester City, the two teams are both geared for bragging rights. Arsenal, the hosts have sights on the third position as they fight to defy suffering the biggest upset in the club's history of allowing their rowdy North London neighbors Tottenham hotspurs from finishing above them for the first time in the history of both clubs! City on the other hand want to prove a point as to why they spent in excess of 200M leading up to this season when the club owners wrote a check for clubs of every player their manager pointed a finger at.

No Chance: Arsenal look to stop the biggest spenders in the league

Reality Check:
In all honesty, Manchester city have looked a club dealing with fatigue in their recent couple of games, winning just one of their last four and collecting a mere 5 out the 12 available points which has seen them fall off the top of the league table and are now going to be a possible 8points adrift of the summit if they lose against Arsenal and their challengers to the title, Manchester United win against QPR as expected. which will more or less make it impossible for them to lift the title with just 6games to go. City are however going to be boosted by the return of their key men to the squad in Julian Lescott, Samir Nasri and Kun Aguero who all missed out on their last thrilling encounter against Sunderland, a game in which the team stared right into the face of defeat but escaped narrowly when they managed to come from 2goals down and leveled before Fulltime to come out with 3-3 draw.

Arsenal on the other hand have been a fighting and re-surging side from the team that started the season. managing to win a whooping 7 of their last 8 games and are only referring to the loss against QPR as a small blip that they are determined to get over in this must win clash. with both teams having sights on the position above them, this Arsenal team is seeing Manchester City as another "enemy" that they have to confront with full might and in all fairness Arsenal are leading up to this one as the favorites. The Gunners home form has been nothing far from impeccable having lost only twice in the league, better matched by only today's visitors Manchester city, who are yet to lose a game on their home turf! But the hosts here will definitely be wary of complacency which is believed to have cost them a relatively easier win against QPR, hence the team is expected to be resilient on all fronts and with the backing of the home support, the lads will most likely work hard not to disappoint not only their families in the stands, but also their their ever loyal fan base. No fresh injuries have been reported in the squad since their last game, and so the same team that started against QPR save for maybe a change or two on the left wing is expected to start this after noon.

Predicted Starting XI:
Arsenal:
Sczsesny, Sagna, Koscienly, Vermalean, Santos. Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Gervinho, Van Persie, Theo
                                           Formation: 4-3-2-1
Manchester City:
Hart, Richards, Kompany, Kolo, Clichy. De jong, Yaya, Silva, Nasri. Balotelli, Aguero
                                           Formation: 4-4-2