Had a bad feeling about this game so went for a 1-2 loss. Arsenal seem to perform when there backs are to the wall, as witnessed by last year's run in after losing to us, or the 5-2 from 2-0 down. Would love to see us keep a clean sheet, and score from open play. Even if it's just a 1-0 er I'd be exstatic.
Arsenal look weak defensively in my opinion, shipping in 3 against Villa, they could've conceded more against Fulham had Fulham been more potent and Fener hit the bar a few times last night. They look good going forward though, Giroud and Walcott have been playing really well and Cazorla can turn on the class in an instant. Last season we went to the Emirates with a poor line up, AVB played Naughton at LB, Hudd started, Gallas was well below par last season too and with Ade's sending off, just resulted in a nightmare. This season, we're bringing a defence that's yet to concede and a powerhouse of a midfield. I don't believe the rumours that Wilshere and Ramsay are doubts, managers always play this game before a derby. Hopefully Capoue can repeat his Swansea performance and Paulinho can continue bossing. It'll be interesting to see who comes out on top in the midfield battle as that could be key to winning the game. Hopefully Lamela will be on the bench, would be amazing if we could bring him on at some point.
The goons fit players for this game Szczesny, Fabianski Sagna, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Gibbs Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Frimpong, Flamini* Walcott, Giroud, Sanogo, Ryo
Seems the likely line ups will be: Szczesny Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs Ramsey, Wilshere Walcott, Rosicky, Cazorla Giroud Chadli, Soldado, Townsend Dembele, Sandro, Paulinho Rose, Vertonghen, Dawson, Walker Lloris
there isn't much wrong with that Arsenal starting XI. They're weak in backup but their first team is still very strong.
As spurm just pointed out, thats still very strong, we have to be careful not to get carried away by their "demise" as Its slightly exaggerated and the beauty of not buying new players every year, is the current team (if you don't change it) gets used to each other, thats why I never write the goons off.
Sometimes i wondered if these "experts" watch the same game us the rest of us: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/8895418
Arsenal's first XI has proved strong against weaker opponents where their extra quality shows - except when the defence goes AWOL, of course - but it's a while since they've looked competitive against the top PL sides, who have greater possession against them and can defend better against them. But the advantage they have over Spurs IMO is that their team is settled whereas Spurs have three new players in the front six (and no Bale) and it remains to be seen how well they will cope with a quality team on their own pitch.
The gypsies of Woolwich v Tottenham from Tottenham. A North London derby......! Who would have thought that those Tottenham boys meeting under that lamp post in 1882 would have dreamt of this?
Very true. They'll be up for the game no question and I think we'd be best served playing smart and on the counter. Arsenal themselves know they're best when they can counter at pace so we need at minimising the space the likes of Walcott have to run in behind our defence. It's not our normal game but if we take them on in an open game it's a more risky approach and we've got the perfect midfield for it.
Lawro has us down to lose 2-1. I must admit I've forgotten what it's like to have a goal scored against us. I don't know about this match but I've said a draw.
Arsenal will field a strong team and be well up for it. Ditto us. I hope Capoue plays instead of Sandro and I expect him to as well. I'd like to see Holtby, if he's fit enough, instead of Dembele, but I assume Moussa will start. I'd like to see JV at LB allowing Kab and Daws to start in the middle, but assume Rose will start, and then I wouldn't like to call which of the three CBs won't make it. I'd play Daws of course, but it'd be hard on Kab or JV to be dropped. Whatever XI we put out it should be very competitive. Incidentally we have got the ball to our new striker, he's scored two goals already via crosses from Chadli and Townsend. Overall, he's scored 4 goals in 3 games a tremendous return given the circumstances of those games, with a tough journey to Georgia, new players, injuries, losing our best player, to name some of them. I predict a draw ATM, and unless something extraordinary happens with the team sheets, I'll be predicting that at 4pm on Sunday too, I reckon.
If the refs hadn't given us penalties we'd only have 2 points and the decision against Swansea was very dubious. We've been lucky in the PL and nobody can be happy with penalties. We have imo still to get going and that will happen when we get a goal in open play.
What about the actual pen vs Swansea that wasn't given, stop posting such an unnecessarily negative take on it. If we hadn't had the pen against palace we would have just pushed on and on until we did, instead of letting them back in it. Ditto Swansea. We were the better teams in both matches, to say we were lucky just because both goals were pens is unfair. We deserved 2 pens in 2 games and we got them
Well said SP, we deserved to win both games. Palace gave us a tougher game than Swansea, but it was a clear penalty there, the ref gave it, and overall we were the better team. We've had a tough start to the season because of all the circumstances, 4 wins in 4 is an absolutely brilliant performance and set of results. We should be able to up our game a bit now some of the new players have settled in somewhat and we can call on Kab, Sandro and Holtby as well. The Arsenal game will surely be our toughest yet, and a draw or win would make it a fantastic start to the season overall. Then beat Norwich at home in the next game, and it's the start of title contenders, not just top 4 contenders.
I wouldn't go that far but it's not beyond the realms of possibility to get a draw at emirates and then beat Norwich and Cardiff (I think Cardiff is after Norwich). Then it's Chelsea, and well, we'll see
Anyone who thinks we're title contenders is either a wum or checks Twitter every 2 minutes {sorry roo)
