Arspective: Preview to Arsenal vs Newcastle

So, Arsenal welcome the magpies tomorrow. Team News for the gooners:

Cesc, Song, Denilson and Arshavin will be back after missing the trip to Shakhtar. Wilshere will be back from domestic suspension. And that is terrific news for us. So, I would expect the following team for tomorrow:

Fabianksi, Clichy, Koscielny, Squilacci, Sagna, Wilshere, Song, Cesc, Nasri, Arshavin, Chamakh.

Vermaelen is “days” away from full fitness according to Wenger.

He says “It is a question of days for him. It is encouraging.”

The last Premier League game that he played for us was in August. While the injury did not look bad in the beginning, this has got to the point where I would start worrying. The sooner he comes back the better, for he is our leader at the back. Remember, the Rosicky injury was similar. We thought he will be back and “days” away and it took him about a year to come back.

Diaby’s injury looks pretty bad. “Assaults” by Robinson and Essien have made sure that the Frenchman is left on the injury table.

The Van Persie situation is starting to get irritating now. The Dutchman has been injured for the last 3 months and now he is yet to full-fitness and the Dutch team has called him for an international friendly. It was in one of these friendlies this time last year, that RVP broke his ankle and was out for 6 months. He came back, in mid-April, played the World cup and got injured again.

“Rambo” Ramsey is also back in training and I dont think it would be realistic to expect him start a match for us in November.

Our performance against Shakhtar was a classic case of losing concentration leading to loss of confidence. Walcott’s goal reminded me of the classic Henry finishes. Side-footing in the bottom corner. Then we lost concentration and allowed Shakhtar to come back. The header against the woodwork should have served as a warning. They eventually came back through goals from Chygrynskiy and our own Dudu. Dudu’s was a classic side-footer finish as well. Except for Wilshere, I dont think any Arsenal player can look back at the match and say he gave is 100%. Bendtner tried the best he could. But, he is more of an impact player for us and we cant expect him to start and play well for 90 minutes. Eboue’s was another weak performance. He got beaten on the right far too many times. While I like Clichy’s intention of keeping the ball, principal on whic our game is based, he is making far too many errors leading to goals. Make no mistake, his galloping runs are amazing and his attacking play is as good as any left-back but the Frenchman needs to take fewer risks at the back. Walcott’s performances have been good since he has come back and it would be hard for Wenger to leave him on the bench. Admittedly, if ever there was a match that we could afford to lose, this was one. Should we win our last two, we will still top the group.

Newcastle come into the match on the back of a 5-1 victory. Combine that with our loss to Shakhtar. I think this would ensure that we will not “pull of another West Brom” and be much more focused on our job despite our victory over Newcastle in Carling cup two weeks back. Andy Carol is an obvious threat along.

Wenger on Carol:“It wouldn’t surprise me if he was in the England squad. I have been highly impressed with him. He has presence, charisma, confidence. He is intelligent on the ball. For me he is a player who I had doubts about one year ago but in the last year he has improved tremendously.”

So, happy Sunday gunners, hoping for a 5-0 victory tomorrow, but if someone gave me a 1-0 for us, I would take it!!