please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Team News: (To Be Updated) Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Tottenham Hotspur: Played: 170 Wins: 72 Draws: 44 Losses: 54 For: 267 Against: 231 GD: 36 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 5 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal 5 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 3 Arsenal please log in to view this image Manager's Views: (To Be Updated) My Team: please log in to view this image
Definitely agree about seeing Gnarby play, Walcott probably is due a little break, and he's always impressed when he has come on so I bet he'll be champing on the bit. In regards to the rest of the team, seeing as it's the scum I wouldn't change too much about, hopefully gibbs will be back to deal with the pace of lennon (I think he might murder Monreal with it), Vermaelen in for Kos, and maybe jenkinson for Sagna, he's getting on and all these games must be rough on him. Looks like Podolski will be starting again, and the only change in midfield for me would be rosicky in for arteta (who I'm not sure can handle 3 ganes in 7 days), with wilshere slotting back beside flamini, despite his impressive (MOTM imo) performance yesterday. Interesting stat, apparently Bendtner has scored more goals from open play than Soldado has in the league this season (2v1), make what you will from that...
I'd play Walcott from the start, he's bang on form so he'll be an asset going into this game. Also, we looked a bit uncertain of what to do without Giroud up front. Podolski doesn't play the same sort of game and if he's going to be our CF for a while then we need to adapt our style a bit to suit him. So overall we don't want to be changing too much personnel wise up front.
I have a feeling that this game will go down as one of the games of the season. Sherwood is making Spurs play a lot more attacking and they won't sit back in our back yard, they will have a proper go. This will be going back and forth and we will need to be defensively sound to take this one. We are fortunate that Ade is injured, as he is hitting some serious form. Looking forward to this game, it'll be a proper tear up.
Happy new year . I think home advantage is a major plus for you . Enjoy the game and let the spirit of friendship be our aim.
Happy new year. Home advantage will be a small one and I can see Sherwood telling his squad to go out and attack and not think about it too much. Realistically, his priorities are not with the FA cup but top 4, so he'll try and win it but won't bust a gut or pull out with a cagey defensive style game. It will be a free flowing attacking game from both sides.
Tottenham have hit some form, therefore I think this game will be too close to call. We certainly cannot play as we played yesterday, the only saving grace is that Tottenham will not put 11 men behind the ball as Cardiff did, and hopefully we would have Ozil back.
I was thinking the same thing. Better to have a full blooded NLD than a nice friendly one with players patting each others arses...
Meh hard to get excited for this round of the FA cup. Even if it is against the Spuds. The league is going soo well ATM. I just dread Injuries in these sorts of games.
I think that makes it a bit more exciting, we've done on our job in the league for now, so can really enjoy this one in a different competition. Finally something other than the pressures of the league week in week out.
Plus we have a 9 day gap before a winnable VIlla match so we have a cushion for the players to deal with the recoil of the match. And Ox would be back in full training
