Tag Archives: She Wore A Yellow Ribbon

Arsenal set to field strong line up for FA Cup

Arsenal are likely to make changes for Saturday’s FA Cup fixture against Hull.

With one eye on a Champions League home tie against Barcelona on Tuesday, followed by 3 Premier League games in 7 days, including key trips to Manchester United and Spurs, Arsene Wenger will use this FA Cup weekend to give some key players a rest.

Despite the expected squad rotation, Arsenal will still field a strong side filled with international regulars and talented youth. It will be more than enough to destroy Hull City, who themselves will field a weak side as they go for promotion.

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So what will Arsenal’s side look like?

David Ospina

Columbian international goal keeper who this time last year became Arsenal’s number 1. Came in for some fair criticism after a Champions League appearance against Olympiakos earlier this season, where he dropped a corner into his own net, but this was merely just an error. A quality keeper with 62 caps for his country, he is a safe pair of hands. Arguably the best number 2 in the league.

Hector Bellerin

With Carl Jenkinson (capped by England) and Mathieu Debuchy (capped by France), it leaves Hector Bellerin, our first choice and only uncapped right back to play right hand side. Despite him being so young – younger than Manchester United’s next big thing Donald Love – he has been 1st choice for a year now. He is our senior right back.

Per Mertesacker

World Cup Winner. 100 Caps for Germany. Vice Captain. Not exactly putting the kids in when he starts is it?

Calum Chambers

With Laurent Koscielny going off against Leicester City at the weekend, and Gabriel currently sunning himself in Brazil, Chambers will play centre back. In my opinion it is his best position, and he is a future England international. He might be young, but he is composed. Already capped by England, he performed terrifically against Leicester and will play again against Hull City

Kieran Gibbs

Another international who is part of our ‘B’ side. 18 months ago, he was first choice, and arguably England’s best left back. The brilliant form shown by Nacho Monreal this season has meant he has been a bit part player, a defensive sub and a few cup appearances. He is a class full back, especially in games we dominate. Not exactly weak.

Mohamed Elneny

Since he signed for Arsenal in January, his appearances have been fleeting. But he performed well in the FA Cup against Sunderland. Inexperienced in the Premier League, he has a wealth of experience on the continent, and has performed well in the Champions League for Basel.

Mathieu Flamini

Another player with vast experience. His days might be numbered at Arsenal, but with a potential carrot of a one year extension, he rarely lets us down.

Alex Iwobi

The only real kid in the side with little experience. He has impressed when he has played. And surrounded by experience, there will be no pressure on him to do anything but play his own game.

Joel Campbell

It shows our strength in depth that having had such an influence at the beginning of the season, Joel Campbell has not been seen since the 62nd minute against Southampton. He will get a run out against Hull City.

Theo Walcott / Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

With Alexis Sanchez certain to be rested, this is one of the only decisions Arsene Wenger has to make. Who to play left wing? It will depend on what is plan is against Barcelona. Whichever one he is not playing to start in the Champions League will get a run out against Hull. My bet is Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Danny Welbeck

Imagine rotating in England’s number 9 as your second choice striker. Regaining fitness, he will be buzzing after the goal against Leicester. Another experienced international. He might be getting rotated in, but is still a strong player.

Ospina
Bellerin Mertesacker Chambers Gibbs
Elneny Flamini
Campbell Iwobi Ox
Welbeck

The side we are set to put out might be a rotate side, but it is a very strong side, one that would do  a job in many Premier League games.

Keenos

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White Knight Danny Welbeck Destroys the Evil Leicester

Cheaters never prosper.

Or at least that is how the old Chinese proverb 骗子永远繁荣昌盛 go’s.

For 94 minutes yesterday, it seemed like the cheats were going to win. Or get a draw. Until White Knight Danny Welbeck rode in from the Arsenal treatment table to become the Arsenal hero of the day. Saving the sides league title challenge. Saving football for all of humanity. Ensuring the dirty horrible Leicester did not win.

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Jamie Vardy, with looks like an evil goblin, was chief cheat. Going down like he was the incarnation of Andy Johnson to cheat his way to a penalty.

We have all complained already about the biased coverage, but in case you have not already seen it, Scouse evil fairy Danny Murphy said something along the lines of:

“It was a blatant penalty. Nacho Monreal planted his foot on the floor. He has no right to plant his foot on the floor. It was an utter disgrace. The way Monreal attacked the ground, causing shockwaves that were felt in Christchurch, New Zealand has no place on a football field. Jamie Vardy was unable to keep his feet. It was a 100% penalty.”

And Jamie Vardy scored that penalty. Celebrating with a face only a mother and people from Stoke could love. And the cheating did not end that there.

Other incidents – not mentioned on MOTD2, include a dive by Riyad Mahrez and a hand ball by N’Golo Kanté, where he was clearly auditioning for the French National Volleyball Team.

And then we come to Danny Simpson.

He spent much of the first half kicking Alexis Sanchez at every opportunity. Eventually he was righty booked. Then early in the second half, he pulled Alexis Sanchez as if he was holding hands on a Valentines Day date. He was given his 2nd booking and sent off. It then took him 4 minutes to leave the field of play – Will the FA extend his ban for failing to leave the field of play?

Probably not.

Evil, the whole lot of them.

Leicester are clearly cursed. It seems like their players are inflicted with a curse that means that when their number go’s up on the 4th official’s board, they lose their ability to walk. It took a life time for each one of their substitutions to take place as they almost crawled to the touch line,

And then we have that challenge by Danny Drinkwater on Aaron Ramsey. It was a red card. Our friend Danny Murphy did not like it at all.

“I hate seeing that”

Of course, he was talking about the disgusting potential leg breaking challenge. Or was he?

So here we have a pundit, an ex-professional football player, saying that Vardy has every right to go down for the penalty, but hate’s seeing a player go down after being on the end of a potential leg breaking challenge. One which Drinkwater felt so bad about himself that he actually apologised to Ramsey at the final whistle.

Maybe the BBC will apologise to tax payers for employing such rubbish pundits?

Danny Murphy, you are a disgrace. Hope when someone hits you with a car, and you role over the bonnet and onto the pavement a few times, the ambulance man says “Oh, I do not like seeing that much” and walks off.

As for the referee. Martin Atkinson, the new Mike Dean? He is a disgraceful referee. The only thing consistent about him was his consistency.

Taking out the penalty and the diving, he seemed to change the hand ball rule as he went along.

At one point penalising Alexis Sanchez for a handball whilst running, he then failed to penalise Vard for the same incident. And then we have the Kante one. His arm was out straight and it was straight infront of the linesman. How a penalty was not given, Atkinson is the only one who can answer. Sadly, refs are answerable to no one.

And then rewinding the incident for the Leicester penalty, some bloke was climbing so on Mesut Ozil’s back it was like he was trying to reach heaven from hell. No free kick given, and luckily for us at the final whistle he was sent back to where he came from.

In the 95th minute, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck combined to save the day. And the world was right again.

Good rose above evil and The Arsenal won 2-1.

Keenos

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Prediction: Arsenal’s title run in

This has been a crazy season. Whether it be Leicester flying away at the top, or Chelsea languishing at the bottom. I guess the only thing we all would have predicted would be Aston Villa to go down.

So maybe, with 13 games to go, it would be a little silly to attempt to predict what is going to happen in Arsenal’s last 13 games. But I am bored at work, so might as well give it a go.

Looking at the league table at the moment, Leicester are on 53 points. If they continue on their average points per game, they will end up with 80 points. In my opinion, 81 points is the least a side will need to win the title. I can not foresee a side getting more than 81. 83 points is near impossibly for anyone bar Leicester.

So we have 81 as our target, can Arsenal reach that magic number?

Arsenal v Leicester

The game that could end this prediction before it has begun. Leicester win, they are 8 points ahead of Arsenal. A gap too large for Arsenal to close.

Personally, I predict a high scoring game, with Arsenal coming out on top. Both teams stream forward aggressively. I just think that the pace of Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny & Hector Bellerin will be able to deal with Vardy, Mahrez et all, better than Leicester can deal with Sanchez, Ozil and Walcott/Ox/Campbell. Arsenal win.

Manchester United v Arsenal

Arsenal have not won at Manchester United in the league since 2006. And only 3 times this century. It was one of those games that, no matter how poor Manchester United have been recently, they have got the result.

Although Arsenal are unbeaten in 3 in all competitions, I can just see Manchester United getting a dodgy decision and the 3 points. Manchester United win.

Arsenal v Swansea

Since returning to the Premier League in 2011, Arsenal’s record at home to Swansea has not been a good one. 4 games played. 1 win, 1 draw, 2 defeats. This season Swansea have been atrocious away from home. Just 2 wins from 12 games. Arsenal win.

Tottenham v Arsenal

The power shift has happened I hear Spurs fans shouting from the roof tops of Edmonton. Yet they have only beaten Arsenal home or away twice in 10 games. Home form only, it is 50% this decade. 4 Spurs wins in 8 games. Arsenal won 3, with 1 draw. I feel this game is due a draw. Draw.

Arsenal v WBA

WBA are awful. Arsenal are not. Easy prediction. 3 points to Arsenal. Arsenal win.

Everton v Arsenal

Everton have been awful at home this season. Just 4 wins from their 13 home games so far. The form guide screams an Arsenal win. Everton have only beaten Arsenal once in 16 games. With Roberto Martinez’s open style of playing. They should be easy to pick off.

The worry is it is a Saturday morning kick off, and we play Barcelona away the Wednesday before. I think fatigue will catch up on Arsenal. Everton win.

Arsenal v Watford

Watford are one of the teams in the Premier League in the worst form – currently 17th in the form table with one win in 5. A lot will change in 2 months. But not enough for Watford to beat us. Troy Deeney and Oscar Ighalo look like they are running out of steam. Arsenal win.

West Ham United v Arsenal

Someone recently said to me “Arsenal always do badly at West Ham”. But it is simply not true. Arsenal have lost twice at Upton Park since 1987. It is a very happy hunting ground for the Gunners.

With Arsenal likely to be out of the Champions League, they will have no mid week distractions before or after the game. However, West Ham are doing well this season, and I can see this fixture being a score draw. Maybe 2-2. Draw.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace

Bottom of the form table. I can not see Crystal Palace causing Arsenal a problem. They might catch us on the break, and Emmanuel Adebayor will be well up for playing against us (I expect he will score the winner against Spurs in the FA Cup). Palace have been better away than at home this season, but Arsenal should still have too much. Arsenal win.

Sunderland v Arsenal

Arsenal are unbeaten in 8 against Sunderland. We will make that 9. Arsenal win.

Arsenal v Norwich

Like WBA. Nice and simple. Arsenal win.

Manchester City v Arsenal

I can foresee 2 scenarios happening at Manchester City. The first (and most likely) is that City will win, ending Arsenal’s title challenge. The 2nd (and lest likely) is that Arsenal secure the league title at the City of Manchester Stadium. Manchester City win.

Arsenal v Aston Villa

The last game of the season. What happens could depend on what Arsenal need. A win to secure the title, and we will win. If the season is over, top 4 secured, but no chance of the title, it will be like a training match. Dull with neither side putting in 100% (I imagine Villa to be down by now). Either way, Arsenal will still win. Arsenal win.

 

So with my prediction, Arsenal will get 26 points from their last 13 games. This will leave the side with 74 points in total, 6 point behind the Champions.

But to take us back to the first point made, predicting this season has been pointless task. Meaning that writing this blog has been pointless. As has you reading it.

Keenos