Arsenal vs West Ham United

1/1- This tie would be a perfect new year starter for both the teams, it was last week’s West Ham performance against Man U that gifted back the top position to Arsenal and now the Gunners would be hosting the same team that beat Man U. Both the teams have shown good form in this premiership season but while Arsenal occupy the top spot, West Ham are comparatively lagging at the ninth spot. While West Ham bettered Man U in a home tie, the league leaders thrashed Everton 1-4 in an away tie in their last match. Both these clubs have faced each other nearly 25 times in the last 15 years and the Gunners have been winners on 14 occasions while there have been 5 draws. Arsenal have only lost one match in this entire premiership season and have a 90% win record at home and this would work in their favor once again.

Arsenal would surely be careful about their moves against West Ham and would not like to have the fate of Man U, with their full squad looking fit and available for selection, Arsene Wenger should not be facing much problems in terms of selection and execution. Also with a 2 point lead the Gunners would be hoping that they can further open up the gap at the top of the table and looking at the injury list Man U would be carrying against Birmingham, this stands a good chance as well.

West Ham have sort of revived their season’s campaign and have won 4 of their last 10 matches, while 4 have been draws. They also have strength away from home and have been the 6th best team while playing away from home. The biggest problem for them would be missing Bellamy and Bowyer, it would be really difficult for the side to upset a side like Arsenal with a second string attack.

Prediction: 2-0 Arsenal win

Everton vs Arsenal

Everton vs Arsenal

 

29/12- On the eve of the new year, Everton face a tough task of managing the Gunners who have been just dethroned of their top position in the league by Man U, last week. Arsene Wenger’s team would be waiting to make a statement and a trip to Everton might just be the place they do so. Though Everton have been one of the better teams this season facing a roaring Arsenal team would be a huge challenge for the club. Arsenal have lost just one match this season and enter this match after an away draw against Portsmouth and hence would be eager to score 3 points here where as Everton beat Bolton 2-0 at home on the 26^th. Looking at the history of the clubs of the last 28 games played after 1993-94 Arsenal have managed to win 16 times while 7 have been draws and out of the 16 Arsenal wins 10 have come against Everton in Everton and hence the Gunners have an upper hand.

 

Arsenal have Adebayor and Fabregas on their side, two of the best strikers in the premiership and their injury list also seems to be empty hence Wenger would have the entire squad ready to choose from. The difference between them and Man U is just a point and if the red devils loose or tie at West Ham Arsenal have a great chance to regain their lost position, even if Man U win it is important that the Gunners can keep up pace with them.

 

Everton, on the other hand are fighting for the UEFA cup spot and know that only a few wins can help them achieve their goals With Manchester City having to host Liverpool this weekend a win could take Everton to the 5^th spot and if Yakubu and Cahill can score a few we would have a game on hand. But as of now it looks as if the Gunners might just take home a good 3 points.

 

Prediction: 1-3, Arsenal win

Portsmouth vs Arsenal

26/12- Just a day after Christmas the league leaders travel to face the 8th placed Portsmouth. If we look at the history between the two clubs Arsenal stand out to be clear winners as they have won 4 out of the 9 matches played between the clubs while the other 5 have been draws. Arsenal have been in great form this season and that is why they are seen at the top and also in the recent games they have played it reflects as they have won the last 3 games before this match and looked convincing in their victory against Tottenham last week. Portsmouth on the other hand have been slipping away after a bright start to the premiership this season and have lost their last two matches and the last one being a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool.

 

Portsmouth have struggled to earn points at home this season and a tie against the best team in the league and that too after 2 consecutive defeats could be quite difficult to handle. Mwaruwari and Muntari have been their top goal scorers but Kanu has also shown touches of brilliance. The home crowd would like all three to fire if they are hoping to earn some points against the visiting Gunners. Portsmouth are just a point above Newcastle and Blackburn and this would be disconcerting as a slip in a game could potentially knock them off the top half of the table as West Han are not that far behind either.

 

Arsenal would want to get this one in the kitty as their first position is under constant threat from arch rivals Manchester United. Adebayor, Fabregas and Van Persie are the super threesome and they would be expected to deliver the goods yet again.

 

Prediction: 0-2, Arsenal win

Arsenal vs Tottenham

22/12- The league leaders, the Gunners, will be a confident unit after their last week triumph over Chelsea that helped them not only to maintain the top spot in the points table but also fade away the questions raised after their loss to Middlesbrough a couple of weeks ago, which was their first loss in the premiership this season. And facing Tottenham at home would not be a great issue but the only concerning fact for the Gunners is that the spurs have struck form and are visiting the Emirates stadium after two consecutive wins over Portsmouth and Manchester City, two teams which have been performing quite well in the premiership.

 

The spurs will enter this match on a positive note as they had done last week against Portsmouth and beat them 1-0 in their backyard. However the problem for them is that their most prolific striker stands suspended and cannot participate in the tie and this absence of striker Keane can be a huge loss to the spurs in such an important tie. But they can take heart from the fact that they have won the last two games without him. The spurs are placed on the 12^th spot and are 4 points behind West Ham, so they would be hoping to make some ground so that the spurs can come close to the top half of the table.

 

Arsenal on the other hand are a fairly non-depleted side, most of their major players are in form and fit as well, they have been great in the centre and at the front end. Their defense was also well organized against the Blues in the last game and the home support should be able to drive them to a 3rd consecutive victory.

 

Prediction: 2-0, Arsenal win

Arsenal vs Chelsea

16/12- The Gunners take on the blues as Arsenal host Chelsea, this one is set to be a blockbuster. The Gunners have just suffered their first defeat of the season last week and what seemed impossible till then was made possible by a recovering Middlesbrough and this is something Chelsea would look to pounce upon. The tie would be very interesting in terms of the outcome it might have and the impact on the positions the teams hold on the premiership points table. Arsenal are the leaders followed by Man U and then Chelsea followed by Liverpool and all 4 teams are pitted against each other, the matches will be evenly matched and if any of the teams are able to pull of a victory they will possibly march ahead.

 

In terms of confidence Chelsea should hold an upper hand as they are coming off a 2-0 win against Sunderland last week and they held Valencia to a draw in Champions League action mid week. While Arsenal did beat Steaua Bucharest at home in the Champions League they would be jolted by their first premiership defeat this season against Middlesbrough last week and will come out eager to make a statement and this is something Chelsea need to be careful of. The match will be evenly contested on and off the field, while Lampard and company hope to see Ballack in good shape and form on field, Jose Murinho would be definitely taking a leaf of Gareth Southgate’s book and instructing his players.

 

Arsen Wenger on the other hand would try and see to it that his force of Adebayor, Van persie and a recovering Fabregas  would be on the field and the home crowd would steer them on to get back to winning ways in the premiership. Most importantly Arsenal would not like to give away their top spot.

 

Prediction: 1-1

Middlesbrough vs Arsenal

9/12- There is very little a team can do when the Gunners are in form and this is something that is clearly known to Middlesborough boss Garett Southgate but he is not ready to accept the fact. He has asked his players to take an aggressive approach towards the league leaders and try to beat them rather than thinking of a draw or a just a good performance. Arsene Wenger’s side however looks unstoppable though their week’s performance is not that great as they could only manage a draw against Newcastle in their away tie. Another reason Arsenal have to work hard and get the maximum out of this game is that Man U are just a point behind them and  a couple of weak performances could see them slip away from their top spot.

 

The only word that can describe Middlesbrough performance this season is struggling. They have not managed anything special and hence find themselves in the relegation zone. They can probably take a leaf out of Newcastle United’s book of how grit and determination can at least help you to save games if not win them. And this seems to be their best chance as Arsenal would be handicapped with the omission of Fabregas, Flamini, van Persie and Hleb due to injury. But something that is still in the league leader’s favour is the presence of the phenomenal Adebayor who has been consistently hitting the net this season. He has scored 9 of the 32 Arsenal goals this season which is more than 1/4^th of the side’s success.

 

Though the match would not win the title for Arsenal or get Middlebrough a safer spot on the points table but can surely be a pivot that could catapult the future performances for both the sides. Arsenal will not be satisfied with anything less than a win while Boro will be happy even if they can hold the Gunners for a draw.

 

Prediction: 2-1, Arsenal win

Newcastle vs Arsenal

On Dec 5, when Newcastle play hosts to Arsenal at St. James Park, a lot will be at stake. Arsenal would be looking to continue their unbeaten run while Newcastle would like to get full points off this game after losing the last two home ties. While Arsenal are coming off a successful away win last week, Newcastle will still be trying to get over their drubbing at the hands of Blackburn, last week. A win could take Newcastle to the 10^th position on the table but a draw or loss may see them slipping after the week’s draw are completed.

Another important issue under the scanner is the players of Newcastle publicly announcing their support to the team boss Allardyce after there were reports of discrepancies within the team. If history is recollected, Allardyce, the once Bolton manager was a pain for the Gunners and had helped Bolton get better of the Gunners several times. Arsenal will surely miss the services of Fabregas and Diaby, both are out due to injuries. However Gilberto and Denilson can prove as worthy replacements. The Gunners will also be expecting their lead scorer and striker, Adebayor to delier with the foot once again.

Newcastle on the other hand can expect from Martins, what he has been doing all this season, scoring goals. Having lost 6 of their last 10 premiership encounters there is no ways but looking upwards for Newcastle now. Viduka is another player that can deliver the goods for Newcastle and the charisma of Michael Owen cannot be ignored as well but the problem for Newcastle is their form and fitness. With the crowd behind them the Newcastle would be looking to revive their messy campaign and beating the top team would be the best start and so there will be all to play for once the whistle blows.

Prediction: 2-2

    

Champions league: Sevilla vs. Arsenal

Sevilla play hosts to Group H leaders Arsenal hoping their unfortunate league form won’t follow them to the Champions League. The Spanish side are out for revenge after losing in London on the opening day of the competition by three goals to nil, and being made to look like complete novices in the process. Since that game Sevilla have improved, but are still having some unlucky games. They aren’t playing that badly but seem to have problems concentrating at key points. The home defeat at the hands of Mallorca at the weekend is a perfect example. They should have won, as they are the better team in front of their home crowd, and for the better part of the game did play better. But they ended up losing by two goals to one and slipped even further away form the top of La Liga.

Arsenal aren’t having any of those problems, however. Their form is becoming increasingly solid, and this was proved by another victory on Saturday. This time the victims were Wigan and Arsenal didn’t really have to change out of first gear to beat them by two goals to nil. That victory made it twenty eight games without losing and I can’t see Sevilla altering this fact come Tuesday night.

Sevilla can field a full strength side in this match and will probably need it. Arsenal o the other hand, will have some important absentees, most notably Van Persie, Gilberto and Walcott. The real soul of the team - Cesc Fábregas- will be there on the night though, and will want to impress on his return to his country.

Sevilla will probably be hoping Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger leaves his most talented players at home and gives the younger players some experience, as the London club have already qualified for the next round. I doubt this will happen though, as Wenger is too cautious a man to do that.

I’m going for an Arsenal win here. Sevilla have the players and the talent, but just don’t have the puff or the confidence to win. Watch out for Fábregas having a huge game and will probably be the deciding factor.

Prediction: Away win (1-2)  

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