Arsenal's Premier League Game With Manchester United Previewed.

Arsenal have to get back up on the proverbial horse, after their latest set back in the Premier League, when they play league leaders Manchester United this Sunday afternoon. While there is still a mathematical chance of Arsenal winning the title this season, I don't think there is a single person who actually believes they will do it. Even if Arsenal won all of their remaining four games there is virtually no hope of United losing two of their remaining three games after this one, and Chelsea losing a game as well. In my opinion Arsenal should have won the league from the position they had in late January, but when the going got tough they didn't rise to the occasion.

If Arsenal lose against United it will probably wrap the league title up for them, and it would not be a sight I would like to see happen at The Emirates. Arsenal have gone to Old Trafford and won the league in the past, as they have done at Anfield and White Hart Lane, but it would be a very different feeling if Arsenal were to see another team wrap up a title on their ground. I suppose the title cannot be mathematically won on Sunday, regardless of other results, but it can be effectively won.

All that's left for Arsenal is the hope of finishing second, but that task looks to be beyond them as well, with Chelsea in a much better position to do so. I'm sure Champions League football will be obtained for next season, but if Arsenal were to slip to fourth in the table it would be a disastrous end to the campaign in my opinion. Man City have the chance to inflict that embarrassment on Arsenal if they can keep winning, and Arsenal have to ensure it does not happen.

It won't be easy for the Arsenal players to pick themselves up after last week's defeat to Bolton, and a game against the league leaders is hardly an ideal game to try to do it in. However, Arsenal have a very talented team, and they have to find the will to want to win this game from somewhere. Their mental toughness has been questioned recently, and quite rightly so, but they have the chance to show everybody that they are not as weak as they are perceived.

I honestly don't know how the Arsenal players will react, but if they are not up to scratch it could be a long hard day for all of their loyal fans. United may not have their most talented team at the moment, but they have shown the will to win which has been absent in Arsenal all too often. They are not afraid to get stuck in, and vary their style of play, as long as they can get a result, and Arsenal and Arsene Wenger could learn a lesson from that.

I would be surprised to see too many changes from the team which lost 2-1 to Bolton last week, as it was the strongest team available to Arsenal on the day. The only different player who might make a start is Andrey Arshavin, but I think the boss will stick with the same team. If he were to bring in any of the other subs I think it would weaken the team, and Arsenal need their strongest possible team for such a big game.

It says a lot about the strength of the Arsenal squad that the starting 11 almost picks itself, even with almost every single player available for selection. The boss needs to add a few players this summer, so that he has real selection headaches for next season. For this game though, he needs to pick a team that can genuinely have a chance of winning, and regaining just a little bit of pride for the team and the fans too.

In recent seasons Arsenal have played well against United, but with absolutely no success, as they have been out thought tactically. United are perfectly happy to let Arsenal make all the play, as they sit back and defend in depth, and then they take their chance to pick Arsenal off on the break. It's a sight which Arsenal fans have got all too used to seeing, and it's probably the most likely outcome in this game too.

I had hoped United would have a very tough Champions League semi final last Tuesday night against Schalke 04, but sadly the German team were simply not up to the task of performing at that level. United's 2-0 win away from home has set them up for a probable final with Barcelona, and it's virtually impossible to imagine them letting a two goal lead slip in the home leg on Wednesday night. My hope had been that their players would be suffering from fatigue, and needing to keep something back for a tough second leg, but they should be able to put everything they have into their game against Arsenal now.


The injury news for Arsenal is again very positive with only Abu Diaby, Lukasz Fabianski, and Thomas Vermaelen unavailable from the entire first team squad. Fabianski won't play again until next season because of his shoulder injury, and Diaby has not recovered from his calf injury in time to play. The big news was of course Vermaelen turning out for Arsenal's reserves on Thursday when they drew 0-0 away to the same opponents that Arsenal will face on Sunday. Arsene Wenger said he won't be available for Sunday, but I suspect he will get to play before the season ends. His absence has been sorely felt at the heart of the Arsenal defence since he picked up an injury on international duty early last September.

I am hoping Arsenal can find it within themselves to put in a performance that their fans deserve, and do enough to prolong United's wait to be crowned champions for another week or two at least. I'm predicting a 2-1 win, and I think both Cesc Fabregas, and Robin Van Persie will be the players to score for Arsenal. As long as the players give the game their all I will be happy, but a win would be very sweet at this late stage in the season despite the fact that it's too late to matter.

The club announced the other three participants in this year's Emirates Cup, and to be honest it's not exactly the strongest line up. Arsenal will be joined by New York Red Bulls, Paris Saint-Germain, and Boca Juniors for the tournament, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday July 30th and 31st. The Red Bulls will of course have Arsenal legend Thierry Henry among their ranks, and it will be good to see the great man back at The Emirates, even if he is more than a little past his best.

That's it for today.

Here's the Arsenal goals from their last league victory over United.

See You Tomorrow.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 35.

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcome of the Premier League games for the coming week.Last week I managed one correct score, five correct outcomes, and six incorrect outcomes, which gave me a total of 85 points in my predictions league. Unfortunately that wasn't enough to keep my team in fourth place, and I have now dropped to fifth.

 

	1 (1)			_Bradley08	1575	+10	10
	2 (3)			essexgooner1965	1415	+105	5
	3 (2)			preetgreet	1365	+50	10
	4 (5)			Nickmc1980	1160	+170	5
	5 (4)			aranmichael	1110	+85	15
	6 (6)			COSGOONER	1010	+25	15
	7 (7)			Imjola	1000	+105	0
	8 (8)			billygooner_29	975	+160	0
	9 (11)			oakhamgooner	835	+160	0
	10 (9)			Sinesladael	820	+15	0

 
SATURDAY
 
Blackburn v Bolton

Blackburn find themselves only one point above the relegation zone, and in desperate need of a win to make sure their season doesn't end in disaster. They have a fairly good home record, and they should have every chance of getting all three points against a Bolton team that don't travel too well.

Bolton managed a great win at home to Arsenal last week, but they have only managed two wins away from home all season. If they could sort out their away form they would be higher than their current eighth place. 

I think Blackburn will get the win they need to give them a great chance of staying in the Premier League, but it won't be easy.
 
Prediction:2-1
 
Blackpool v Stoke

Blackpool have the worst home record in the Premier League, and they won't be looking forward to playing a Stoke team that are still on a high after reaching the FA Cup final. Blackpool's remaining fixtures look very difficult, and at this stage I would have to say they are favourites for relegation. If they are to have any chance of staying up they will need a win in this game, but their defence won't make that easy.

Stoke are up to 10th in the table, and they will be looking to move even further up before their FA Cup final appearance against Man City. They may have only three away wins so far this season, but they will target this game as a real opportunity to get another one.

I think Blackpool's woes will continue, as Stoke manage a narrow victory over them.
 
Prediction:1-2
 
Sunderland v Fulham

Sunderland managed a good victory against Wigan last week, after going 1-0 down. It halted their terrible run in the league, and they will be hoping to put a couple of wins together to guarantee Premier League survival for another season. Despite their recent poor run they are still very difficult to beat at home.

Fulham beat Bolton 3-0 on Wednesday to more or less guarantee Premier League survival for another season, and despite their inability to win away from home they are not easily beaten. They have drawn nine times away from home this season, and they will hope for at least another point from this game.

I think this game will end up all square, which should suit both teams very nicely.
 
Prediction: 1-1
 
 
West Brom v Aston Villa
West Brom have turned their season around since Roy Hodgson took the reins, and they are safe for another season. They will be looking to give their fans the boost of a home win over their local rivals in this game, and their home record suggests they should be up to the task.

Aston Villa have also turned things around in the last few weeks, and it looks like they will be safe for another season as well. They tend to concede a lot of goals away from home, and I think it could be the case in this game as well.

I think West Brom will just about manage a narrow victory in this game.
 
Prediction: 3-2
 
Wigan v Everton

Wigan are only in the bottom three by one goal on goal difference, and a win in this game would see that change. They are not easy to beat, but after leading 1-0 at Sunderland last week they slipped to a 4-2 defeat. They play West Ham at home in two weeks, and if they can win this game and that one I think they will be safe for another season

Everton's recent good run was halted at league leaders Man Utd last week, and they will be looking to get it going again against a team in the bottom three. Only Fulham have drawn more games than Everton, and if they had turned a few of their draws into wins they might still be challenging for European football now.

I think this game has a draw written all over it.
 
Prediction: 1-1
 
Chelsea v Tottenham

Chelsea have to win to put some pressure on Man Utd before they travel to Arsenal tomorrow. If they can win this game and Arsenal win tomorrow it will see a title deciding game next week between Man Utd and Chelsea. That may seemnunlikely, but Chelsea will do all they can to make it happen.
 

Tottenham can see their hopes of a Champions League slot for next season fading fast, and they really need three points from this game to give themselves any chance of qualifying. They have to play two games next week, and one of those is against Man City, which could possibly decide their fate for this season. Until then they just have to get to that game with a chance of finishing fourth.
I think Chelsea should just about have enough to continue their impressive home record with a win.
 
Prediction: 2-0
 
SUNDAY
Birmingham v Wolves

Birmingham were well and truly beaten by Liverpool last week, but that will mean nothing if they win this local derby. Three points should see them safe for another season, and they will feel their home form is good enough to beat the team with the worst away record in the league.
 

Wolves played twice last week, and they only managed one point. Their chances of gaining enough points to stay up are running out, and their terrible away form is a real hindrance to them. They will do very well to get anything out of this game, and their return of 12 goals from 17 away games suggests they will come away empty handed again.

I think Birmingham will get the three points they need to make themselves safe for another season.
 
Prediction: 2-0
 
Liverpool v Newcastle

Liverpool have a pretty impressive home record, and they brushed Birmingham aside last week with quite a few players absent. They have every chance of catching Tottenham in fifth place if they can keep winning, and I have a feeling they will do just that.
 

Newcastle look to have secured their Premier League survival for another season, and they will be happy to have achieved their pre-season target. Their away record is not much worse than the league leaders, and if they get a chance to collect any points in this game, they might make life awkward for Liverpool.

I think Liverpool will continue their recent good run with another three points to put some real pressure on Spurs.
 
Prediction: 2-0
 
Arsenal v Man Utd

Arsenal's season has fallen apart in the last two months, but this is a real opportunity for them to restore some pride against the team that look almost certain to win the Premier League. A win for Arsenal would almost certainly guarantee Champions League football for next season, but that's scant consolation in a season when they should have been challenging for the title.
 

Man Utd did a very professional job away to Schalke on Tuesday night, and a similar result in this game will almost certainly guarantee a record 19th league title. They may not be the best United team ever, but their ability to get results when they are needed has to be admired.

I'm an Arsenal fan, and I'm predicting a win for them, but it won't be easy, and many would say I'm a fool to do so.
 
Prediction:2-1
 

Man City v West Ham

Man City have an FA Cup final to look forward to, and they are clear favourites to win it, as well as finishing fourth in the league. That would be a successful season for a team that has not won a trophy in almost 40 years, and has never played in the Champions League. If they play at their attacking best, they should have far too much for a weak West Ham defence.

West Ham are again on the bottom of the table, but it's so tight down there that a win could see them move out of the bottom three. Unfortunately their away form would suggest that task is beyond them, and they are running out of games to save their Premier League status. Better West Ham teams have been relegated in the past, and this one looks destined for the same fate in my opinion.

I think City will get the three points they need to make them clear favourites to qualify for the Champions League next season.
 
Prediction: 2-0

That's it for today.

See You Tomorrow.