please log in to view this image English Premier League 27th Dec 2011 KO: 15:00 Emirates Stadium please log in to view this image Arsenal will face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates in this festive fixture. Arsenal come into this game on the back of an away win against Aston Villa. A late Yossi Benayoun winner sealed all three points for the Gunners. It was a vital win because teams around Arsenal dropped points in the last round of fixtures. Arsenal went two points clear of Liverpool and one closer to Chelsea who currently sit in fourth place. Although not the greatest performance by Arsenal it was enough in the end to get the win. Arsenal showed that they can get an away win when not playing at their best and achieving that is impressive. Wolves travel to the Emirates after failing to beat Norwich at home. They had the better of the game but could not convert enough chances to get the win. Wolves have had yet another season of being in and around the relegation area without ever being in serious trouble of finding themselves cut adrift from the rest of the teams. Wolves have an abysmal record against Arsenal in recent times. They have lost all six of their last meetings against the Gunners. Wolves last won away to Arsenal back in 1968, so if history is anything to go by, Wolves are in for a very testing evening. Wolves are as inconsistent as they come but under Mick Mccarthy they have remained in the top flight for the last two seasons. So he has achieved the target of the Wolves fan. This summer Wolves brought Roger Johnson from Birmingham and Mccarthy made him club captain straight away. Jamie O’Hara became a permanent player for Wolves in the summer. A player that scored key goals which helped keep Wolves up last season. O’Hara was an Arsenal youth team player who moved to Tottenham when he failed to make the grade at Arsenal. Matt Jarvis is also another dangerous player in the Wolves squad. He got his first England cap this year. A winger that can provide crosses with either foot and has plenty of pace to leave full backs for dead. Kevin Doyle is the main man upfront for Wolves. A player that never stops running and makes sure that centre backs never get time on the ball. This is the first of two home games in a row for Arsenal in this festive period. First Wolves then QPR, so it’s a massive chance for Arsenal to get the full six points over these games. Yossi Benayoun and Thomas Rosicky could be in line for rare starts in the league. Benayoun will be in confident mood after scoring the winner for Arsenal against Aston Villa. He has not got many starts this season but has shown what he can do when given the chance. He scored three goals in three different competitions and has by all reports been a positive influence behind the scenes. This season could be Rosicky’s last at Arsenal with reported interest in him coming clubs like Wolfsburg. Rosicky sadly has never fulfilled his potential at Arsenal because of injuries. A player with great technical skills who came to replace Robert Pires back in 2006. It was all going well for him until he picked up a serious knee injury back in 2008. But Rosicky has shown that he can still provide moments of great skills which help the team. The amount of injuries at full back have been well documented and Arsenal have used the likes of Vermaelen, Koscielny, Djourou,Miquel and Coquelin to cover for their injured full backs. Coquelin covered at right back against Villa with mixed results and with Jarvis playing on that side, Wenger will have to use a better defender. Koscielny would be the player I would pick to deal with the threat of Jarvis. Alex Song is back from a one match suspension and his absence was keenly felt at Villa Park. So it comes as a welcome relief to know that Song will miss the African cup of Nations this time. Robin Van Persie is three goals short of beating Alan Shearer’s record of 36 league goals in a calendar year. He has already equalled Henry’s record of 34 goals. Arsenal will be expecting another three points in this game and it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can match the expectations of their fans regarding this fixture. Teams News: Wenger Form Guide: please log in to view this image 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 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Played: 110 Wins: 57 Draws: 25 Losses: 28 For: 214 Against: 159 GD: 55 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 2 - 0 Wolves Wolves 0 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 Wolves Wolves 1 - 4 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 0 Wolves (Fa Cup) Wolves 1 - 3 Arsenal please log in to view this image Mangers Views: Wenger: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Agree with your selections - Rosicky and Benayoun deserve gametime. Although I would start Chamberlain ahead of Walcott for this game. Again, top thread
Could see Oxo starting against QPR because the team only have 2 days to recover before the Fulham game. We will probably see more rotation in that game.
Yeh so ramsey hasn't been up to scratch of late, maybe it would be a good idea to start rosicky, but to be honest i think that wenger will keep faith with ramsey. Also lets say that oxo doesn't start this game, it would be good if he at least came on, why is wenger still bringing on chamakh and arshavin ahead of oxo, because clearly he can influence the game better than those two. Although coquelin had a good game on wednesday miquel will come back in and i think that we really need a convincing performance and victory on monday, it is great that we have been getting the 3 points recently without playing particularly well but i would really like us to go and win this comfortably.
I've no beef with the Welsh. I've lived there for many years, dated their women too - thanks for that! Ramsey shouldn't start. He's looked fatigued and Rosicky has looked sharp when he's played. Gervinho could also probably do with a rest. I'd play Benayoun. He's experienced and confident at present. Play Theo until 2 up after 60 or 70mins, then stick Oxo on
I would love to have the luxury of playing Chamakh or Park upfront, but they're not reliable enough and Van Persie needs his record!
I think Van Persie really wants to break the record, he's given countless media interviews about how its motivated him. He won't be rested for QPR, but if we do bring in Henry or someone else, expect him to be on the bench a lot more.
Knowing the form Robin is in, he will probably bang in 3 against Wolves and then there will be no potential problems about him not starting against QPR.
As for Park, sorry I just can't see it. He has not even got a single sub appearance in the prem to his name. There must be a reason for that in training. I mean 0 minutes in the league. That is pretty bad.
Well it seems like all your "critique" has been focused on Rambo so yes...I think you have an Anti-Rambo agenda BTW I have called for Rambo to be given a cople of games of rest but you just say that he is Sh!t
