What Arsenal Need: Firstly, they must put Portsmouth under pressure whenever they get the ball and not allow their midfield to pass the ball around. Secondly, they must use the width of the Grove's pristine pitch to get in behind the visiting full backs. Thirdly, Fabregas must look for the opportunity to slot passes through for the strikers to run on to. Finally, Arsenal must back up attacks by following in on the far post 'a la Robert Pires' just in case the ball makes it across the box as it so often does.
Things To Watch Out For: It will be interesting to see how well Campbell plays in his first trip to the Grove and I hope van Persie and Adebayor get him twisting and turning like the waltzers as I see this as his weakness. I believe Kanu will miss the game through injury.
Hopes For The Match: I hope Arsenal are ruthless enough to take a higher percentage of their goal-scoring opportunities than they have at home so far this season. One goal from twenty shots is poor finishing and its a figure more like 5:1 that they should be aiming for.
I hope Arsene uses his full compliment of substitutes at around the 70 minute mark and if so, I see Walcott, Baptista and Flamini getting a run out.
I hope the Arsenal old-boys get a good reception as both served the club well, eventhough Campbell was realeased by Wenger as he'd intimated that he wanted to end his career in the sun on the continent somewhere. He didn't get far before he put his roots down in Portsmouth on the south coast... not very continental and not very sunny either!
Team Selection: I hope Wenger plays with a 4-4-2 formation tomorrow. It would send out such negative vibes to the fans and the team for the Frenchman to feel he needs to persist with the 4-5-1 at home. I do concede that Portsmouth are the surprise outfit this season and are as dangerous as any team outside of the top three but we must play to our strengths not succumb to the strengths of others.
I would play Ljungberg and Hleb on the wings and keep Walcott to make an impact off the bench. Van Persie and Adebayor should play up front as they create space for eachother but also put pressure on the opposing back four and allow Arsenal to play higher up the pitch.
| My team selection for this game: van Persie, Adebayor Ljungberg, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb Clichy, Djourou, Toure, Eboue Lehmann Subs: Almunia, Senderos, Walcott, Flamini, Baptista |
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Unavailable:
Rosicky - Apparently match fit but will not be used tomorrow. Still needs match fitness I presume and may turn out for the reserves at some point in the week.
Henry - Still out with a sciatic nerve injury. No time for return has been given as yet.
Gallas - Injured his quadriceps taking free kicks in training and will be out for another ten days.
Diaby - On course to return in January after suffering a fracture-dislocated ankle last season.
Lauren - Played his first football for a year against an obscure Vietnamese team in a behind closed doors match today.
Long-term issues: It will be a shame if Wenger sells Lupoli as I've only seen him say he'd not sell Stokes or Bendtner, which means the little Italian may be expendable in his eyes. Sadly, players at the age of 18 and 19 refuse to bide their time and work their way into the first team squad. Instead they'd rather be big fish in a little pond at clubs like Birmingham. Take comfort though, in the knowledge that as yet Wenger hasn't sold any youngsters that have come back to haunt us. The likes of Pennant, Bentley and Volz play well for the likes of Liverpool, Blackburn and Fulham but they aren't Arsenal calibre.
Prediction: Arsenal 2 Portsmouth 0
