Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 23

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. This week the games will be played on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the next series of games will be at the weekend. It means I'll have a very busy time with my predictions, but such is the lot of a football addict.


I managed one perfect result last week along with three correct outcomes and six incorrect outcomes. Thanks to getting my banker as the perfect outcome I managed to move up three  places to eighth in my predictions league. With 16 rounds of games left I think the league is beyond me, but I can target a top three finish hopefully.

Here's a look at how my predictions league stands.

Pos	Player	Week	Total
1	ahujag	60	1190
2	b_red_devils	-70	1160
3	GGooner	-45	870
4	gooner2194	-5	840
5	DK1247	-35	825
6	nitin004	15	820
7	sanziano	-65	785
8	JamrockRover	85	770
9	Rutland Gooner	-70	745
10	lubu722	-35	720

Swansea City Vs. Chelsea
 
Tuesday January 31, 7.45p.m., BST

Swansea have a very good home record so far with only one defeat in 11 games. No other team has conceded less home goals than Swansea either, and they deserve to stay in the Premier League in my opinion. They won't find it to get a win against Chelsea, but they did beat Arsenal in their last home game.

Michel Vorm and Scott Sinclair are scoring very well, and can still be bought at a good price for fantasy managers.


Chelsea became the first team this season not to score against Norwich in the Premier League in their last away game. Their away form hasn't been bad though, and only Manchester United have conceded less goals on their travels. They have a few injury worries for this game, and they will have to do without both John Terry and Frank Lampard.

With Lampard and Terry injured the best fantasy bet among the Chelsea players is probably Juan Mata, but he has dried up a little recently.

I think Swansea's home form will see them hold Chelsea to a draw.


Prediction 1-1
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Tottenham Hotspur Vs. Wigan Athletic
 
Tuesday January 31, 7.45p.m., BST

Spurs were a little unlucky to lose away to Manchester City in their last game and they need to bounce back against Wigan. Only City have won more home games than Spurs this season, and they still have fond memories of a 9-0 win over Wigan a couple of seasons ago. They have some tough games coming up, and this is a must win game for them.

There are plenty of Spurs players doing very well at the moment with Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor all amassing loads of points for fantasy managers.

Wigan are back on the bottom of the table, and they're now four points away from safety. They have only won three league games so far this season, and they're the lowest scorers in the league too. It's not looking good for them, and relegation looks a real possibility now.

Ali Al-Habsi is still by far the best fantasy buy from Wigan, as long as he continues to save so many penalties.


I think Spurs should win this game comfortably.


Prediction 3-0
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Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs. Liverpool
 
Tuesday January 31, 7.45p.m., BST

Wolves have dropped to second last in the table, and there's some real pressure on them now. They have only taken 11 points in their last 19 league games, and they need to start winning games very soon.


Wayne Hennessey and Steven Fletcher are still probably the best fantasy choices among the Wolves players.


Liverpool have only taken point and scored one goal in their last three league games. During that time they managed to progress in both domestic cup competitions against the two Manchester clubs. They need to find some of their cup form in the league if they are to have any chance of finishing in the top four.

Liverpool's defensive players are their best fantasy performers so far with Jose Reina, Jose Enrique, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson all doing very well. At the other end Craig Bellamy might be a good bet while Luis Suarez is suspended, and Steven Gerrard could start to perform now that he has recovered from injury.

I think Liverpool might just be able to bring some of the cup form into this game and take the three points.


Prediction 1-2
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Everton Vs. Manchester City
 
Tuesday January 31, 8p.m., BST

Everton have only won three of their 11 home games so far this season, and only Wigan have scored less league goals than them. They have only taken two points in their last four games, and that form has seen them drop to 14th in the table.


At a push I would say Leighton Baines is a good fantasy buy from the Everton team, but he costs an awful lot.

City managed their first away victory in five games against Wigan in their last away game. They have struggled on their travels recently, and they won't find it easy to beat an Everton team that need the points. The return of Vincent Kompany after his four game suspension will be a big boost for them though.

There are a lot of City players to choose from for any fantasy manager with Joe Hart, Kompany, Micah Richards, David Silva and Sergio Aguero all scoring really well. 

I think City's away troubles could prove enough to help Everton take a point from them.


Prediction 1-1
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Manchester United Vs. Stoke City
 
Tuesday January 31, 8p.m., BST

United  have conceded an awful lot of goals at home by their standards, and they have lost a couple of times as well. They have managed to win eight times in 11 home games so far though, and they will be looking to win this game to keep up the pressure on City. They have a few injury problems for this game, and they could struggle if some of their star players aren't passed fit.

United's best options for fantasy managers are Nani and Wayne Rooney, but they're both doubtful for this game which could possibly make Danny Welbeck a good bet. Antonio Valencia has been doing very well in recent weeks too.

Stoke have managed to win four of their 11 away games so far despite scoring only eight away goals. Their chances could rest in the strength or lack of it in the United team if their injured players can't play. 
Jonathan Walters is still Stoke's outstanding performer for any fantasy manager.

I think United will have enough to beat Stoke even if they have an under strength team.


Prediction 2-0
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Aston Villa Vs. Queens Park Rangers
 
Wednesday February 1, 7.45p.m., BST

Villa  have won only three of their 11 home games so far this season, and they're struggling to score at home too. They won't be happy with their second half collapse against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday, and they will want to bounce straight back against QPR.

Villa don't seem to have a player capable of scoring well for any fantasy manager at the moment with the possible exception of Robbie Keane for the next few weeks.

QPR managed to beat Wigan in their last game, and it halted a run of only two points in nine games. They're only two points above the relegation zone, and they have last seven of their 11 away games so far. The arrival of Mark Hughes might be what they need to help them avoid relegation, but I'm not so sure.


Heidar Helguson is probably the best fantasy bet among the QPR players, but none of them have done too well for fantasy managers this season.

I think Villa will bounce back from their weekend disappointment and take all three points.


Prediction 2-1
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Blackburn Rovers Vs. Newcastle United
 
Wednesday February 1, 8p.m., BST

Blackburn have only lost one of their last five league games, and they're only one point away from safety in the league. Their home form has been very black and white so far with three wins and eight defeats in 11 games so far. They are scoring freely, but their problems are at the other end where only Bolton have a worse defence than them in the league. 


With Yakubu injured it might not be a bad idea for fantasy managers to give David Goodwillie a chance.

Newcastle are still sixth in the table, but they're starting to leak a lot of goals. The absence of Demba Ba on international duty is a big loss to them, and the sooner he is back the better for them. They have a fairly good away record so far, but they will need to tighten their defence to get something from this game.

With Demba Ba on international duty and Newcastle's defence leaking badly it might be a good idea to avoid Newcastle players at the moment.

I think Blackburn might just come out on top in a high scoring game.


Prediction 3-2
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Bolton Wanderers Vs. Arsenal
 
Wednesday February 1, 8p.m., BST

Bolton have lost eight of their 11 home games in the league so far this season, but they beat Liverpool in their last home game. That result helped them to climb out of the relegation zone, and they will be looking to build on it. They have got the worst home defensive record in the premier league, and that is something they have to remedy to stay in the league.

I can't see any Bolton players that are consistent enough to include in a fantasy team.

Arsenal  have lost their last three league games, and they need to turn things around immediately. Only Manchester City have scored more away goals than them, but they also have the worst defensive record away from home in the league. Their second half comeback against Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday might be just the tonic they need to get their season going again.

Robin van Persie is a must for any fantasy manager, but their defenders should be avoided for away games.

I think Arsenal will be too strong for Bolton and will get all three points.


Prediction 1-3
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Fulham Vs. West Bromwich Albion
 
Wednesday February 1, 8p.m., BST

Fulham seem to have sorted out their home form at last, and it should help them to climb further up the table. They can be very good at home, and Clint Dempsey is a threat to any team when he's on form.


Clint Dempsey is yet again proving to be far and away Fulham's best fantasy player with Danny Murphy doing pretty well too. If Bobby Zamora can keep his place in the team he could be a good bet too.

Albion have won five of their 11 away games so far, and it's their home form that is letting them down. They're finding it hard to score, and only Wigan have scored less goals than them so far. They have a lot of injury problems at the moment, and they will do well to get anything out of this game.

West Brom don't have any players standing out for fantasy managers, as they continue to spread the workload among their squad.

I think Fulham will continue their good home form with a win in this game.


Prediction 3-1
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Sunderland Vs. Norwich City
 
Wednesday February 1, 8p.m., BST

Sunderland have improved greatly since Martin O'Neill became their manager last month, and they're in the top half of the table now. They have taken 13 points in their last six league games, and they're playing some good football too.

At the moment Stephane Sessegnon is in great form and scoring loads of fantasy points, and both James McLean and Simon Mignolet are worth considering too.

Norwich kept their first clean sheet of the season in their last game at home to Chelsea. They play some very good football at times, and they are a threat to any team. Their inability to keep clean sheets could cost them in this game though.


Steve Morison would seem to be the best fantasy bet among the Norwich players, as he is one of the few players to play almost every game for them.

I think Norwich might just manage to get a draw off Sunderland.


Prediction 2-2
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That's it for today.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Beat Aston Villa 3-2 In A Game Of Two Halves

Arsenal faced Aston Villa yesterday in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a trip to either Sunderland or Middlesbrough as the prize for the victor. With Arsenal's chances of winning a trophy this season realistically resting with the FA Cup it was a must win game for them.

With a few of the injured players returning to the squad Arsenal looked like they might be getting some of their strength back. Only Francis Coquelin started the game on his return to the squad, but it was good to see Bacary Sagna, Mikael Arteta and Thierry Henry on the bench.

Coquelin played at right back, and the only other change from last week's defeat to Manchester United was the inclusion of Lukasz Fabianski in goal. Arsene Wenger usually uses his second choice keeper for the domestic cup competitions, and Fabianski needed some game time. It wasn't the strongest team Arsenal have, but it looked good enough to beat Villa.

The game started brightly for Arsenal, but they lost their way after the opening 15 minutes. As Villa grew in confidence their first goal came when Arsenal fell asleep for a Villa corner. It was worked short and Coquelin was left with two players on him outside the box.

Robbie Keane crossed into the box and Richard Dunne rose above the Arsenal defence to put Villa 1-0 up. I thought Dunne climbed on Laurent Koscielny, but the goal was given, and Villa were in the driving seat. Arsenal tried to raise their game and started to push forward, but disaster struck in the last minute of the first half.

Arsenal had a corner but Villa cleared it and broke quickly at the Arsenal defence. Darren Bent was played in on the right of the Villa attack, but his shot was very well saved by Fabianski. He probably should have pushed the ball out for a corner, but he only managed to push it back to Bent who finished very well from a tight angle.

At half time boos echoed around the Emirates, as the Arsenal players made their way to the dressing room. Wenger had 15 minutes to get his players to realise the importance of the game, and the gravity of the position they were in. Whatever he said seemed to work, as Arsenal came out a completely different team in the second half.

They went at Villa with pace and purpose, and the first goal came courtesy of a Robin van Persie penalty after 54 minutes. Richard Dunne had already been booked in the first half and when he took Aaron Ramsey down in the penalty area the referee gave a penalty to Arsenal, but amazingly he didn't give Dunne a second yellow card. RVP stepped up and finished the penalty in some style to get Arsenal back in the game.

Only two minutes later Arsenal were level when Theo Walcott made a great run into the Villa penalty area, and tried a shot from a very tight angle. Alan Hutton tried to clear the ball off the line, but it rebounded off Walcott and went into the net. The ball may have hit Walcott in the arm but it was by no means intentional and the goal stood.

Villa were visibly wilting and Arsenal continued to push forward at every opportunity. They went ahead after 61 minutes when a great run forward by Laurent Koscielny ended in Darren Bent taking him down in the penalty area. RVP stepped up to take the penalty again, and this time he scored in the other side of the net.

In just under eight minutes Arsenal had turned a two goal deficit into a one goal advantage, and taken complete control of the game. Villa were shell shocked and Arsenal came close to adding to their lead. Whatever had happened in the Arsenal half time team talk had obviously worked very well.

Arteta came on for Rosicky with 20 minutes left, and in the last few minutes Sagna and Henry came on too. It was great to see both Arteta and Sagna in the team again, and I hope to see them both start against Bolton on Wednesday night in the Premier League. It's another must win game for Arsenal, but at this stage of the season they all seem to be must win games.

As the game wore on Arsenal eased off their intensity a little and Villa came back into the game, as they looked to gain a replay. There were one or two slightly scary moments for Arsenal, but they saw things out to win their place in the last 16. They will face a trip to the winners of the Middlesbrough and Sunderland game in three weeks time.


RVP was given the man of the match award, but a few other players put in good performances in that second half particularly. After another poor display in the first half from both Walcott and Aaron Ramsey things improved greatly for both players in the second half. Walcott was a little lucky with his goal but hopefully it will be the spur he needs to start scoring more often.

Ramsey seemed to play further forward in the second half, and he was much improved in that role. Tomas Rosicky played well throughout the game, and of course Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was impressive yet again.

In defence Arsenal looked very nervous at times as usual, but the Arsenal defenders all played their part in the second half comeback. They all tried their best to get forward when they could, and that helped to put Villa under a lot of pressure. It was noticeable how little time Villa had in possession during that fabulous spell in the second half, and when they were under pressure they made mistakes.

Arsenal need to keep playing at that tempo and putting teams under pressure if they are going to progress in both the league and the cup. Fourth place is still there for the taking if they can perform like they did in that second half against Villa. There is no more place for the slow moving thoughtful displays of the first half where the tempo is missing from their game.

The returning injured players will help to bring that tempo to the Arsenal team, and I expect to see Sagna and Arteta play against Bolton on Wednesday night. They will probably replace Coquelin and Rosicky who both played well, but they will have to make way for two better players. A little bit of strength on the bench won't go astray either, and a few options for Wenger when a game requires them will be welcome.

A win over Villa in the cup isn't the most thrilling result, but the manner of the comeback shows there is still some hope for the team. The fight and desire shown by them was what is required for the rest of the season, and the fans now know that it exists. Six points in four days against Bolton and Blackburn are now required, and if they are gained things will be looking a lot better for Arsenal.


That's it for today.

Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.


It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's FA Cup Game With Aston Villa Previewed

Arsenal have a long and glorious history in the FA Cup, and only Manchester United have won the competition more often than them. It's been almost seven years since Arsenal last won the FA Cup, and it was also the last trophy they won. The way Arsenal's season is panning out I think the FA Cup has to be seen as their best chance of glory this season.

The draw has been fairly kind to Arsenal so far with two home games against teams they would be expected to beat. In the last round they beat Championship side Leeds United thanks to a goal from the returning Thierry Henry. It was a night that will be remembered for a long time by the Arsenal faithful, but only because of that Henry goal.

Besides that goal Arsenal struggled to beat a team which they should have easily beaten. Since the turn of the year Arsenal have being really struggling, and they followed up that victory over Leeds with three successive Premier League defeats. Their chances of having a say in the title race may be gone, but there is still hope that they can finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.


For them to do that they need to start getting some of their injured players back into the squad. It looks like those players are finally starting to return, and Bacary Sagna, Mikael Arteta, Thierry Henry and Francis Coquelin are all possibilities for the Villa game. However, Arsenal also play away to Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League three days later, and that may mean Arsene Wenger will be a little cautious in his choices.

With Johan Djourou still carrying a slight knock I think Nico Yennaris might well get a start at right back, but otherwise the defence will be the same as it was against Manchester United last week. In midfield it would be great to see Arteta return and bring some shape to the team, but I don't think he will be risked until Wednesday. I would like to see Tomas Rosicky start again too, and maybe Aaron Ramsey should be the player to make way for him.

Ramsey has looked very tired in recent games, and I think he needs a little break. It has been almost two years since his horrific leg break against Stoke City, and he has done remarkably well  to have come so far considering the injury. Only three Arsenal players have started more games than him this season, and it looks to be taking it's toll.
If Arsenal had the use of the services of both Jack Wilshere and Abu Diaby I'm sure Ramsey wouldn't have played quite so often. The injuries to both of those players have made the workload on Ramsey a little too much, and his recent performances have shown that. Of course he's not the only Arsenal player to be performing below his best at the moment.

In attack I would imagine Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will play from the start again, and it's a straight choice between Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin to play on the other side. Both of them are going through very poor runs at the moment, but I think Arshavin is more of a liability than Walcott. The central role is a different matter with Wenger having the option of playing either Henry or Ju Young Park in place of Robin van Persie.

If RVP plays it will show that Arsenal really are taking the FA Cup seriously this season. I would like to see them do so, but Premier League points are very precious at the moment too. The Champions League will be back in a few weeks, and Arsenal have a really tough schedule coming up.

All of the players due to return from injury will be needed if Arsenal are to have any hope of reaching their two main goals. If they finish the season in the top four, reach the last eight of the Champions League and win the FA Cup I think it will be a very successful season. The players have to find a way to put their recent form behind them, and very quickly too.

The workload on the midfield players has been immense so far this season without Wilshere and Diaby. There was bad news about Wilshere, as he suffered a setback in his recovery from his injury and Arsenal might have to do without his services for a while yet. Diaby is a different matter, and it seems nobody knows when or if he will ever return.

Arsenal have had a pretty impressive record at home this season, and their defence has been strong in those games. They may not have played with their old style and strength, but they have continued to get results most of the time.

Villa will see Arsenal as vulnerable at the moment and who can blame them. Robbie Keane scored two quite magnificent goals for them last week, and his loan move from the MLS looks to have been a smart move for them. I hope that Arsenal's loanee can make a similar impact over the next few weeks to help the team he supports.

Villa are the draw specialists of the Premier League so far this season, and I'm sure they would be happy with a draw in this game. Their best chance probably lies in going for a win, but hopefully they won't do so. Their wide players aren't of the same calibre as United's were last week, and Arsenal will hopefully be a little stronger at the back as a result.

The outcome of the game could well rest on how strong a team Arsenal play and what part RVP plays in proceedings too. He's the best striker in the Premier League by a mile this season, and if he plays at some stage Villa will be nervous of him. I hope he gets a 30 minute cameo at the end of the game and does enough to earn Arsenal a trip to the fifth round.

The draw for the fifth round will take place before Arsenal play which means the route to the last eight will be laid out for the players. A win over Villa and a favourable draw could be just the boost the players and fans alike need, and I'm predicting that they will get it. It will be a close game, but I hope the class of a few of the Arsenal players will shine through and get them the victory they so badly need.

I'm looking forward to Chamberlain growing in confidence and influence, as he gets more chances in the team. A goal for him against Villa which wins the game for Arsenal could be just what he needs to show Wenger that he has to be given more game time. He is a player that can make things happen, and Arsenal need more of them in my opinion.

That's it for today.

Here's the penalty shootout from the last time Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2005.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Lose For The Third Game In A Row

Arsenal played at home to Manchester United yesterday in a game that they really needed to take something from. Chelsea had only drawn with Norwich on Saturday, and Spurs were beaten by Manchester City earlier on Sunday. A win would put Arsenal a lot closer to fourth place, but even a draw would have been a good result.

Arsenal had lost their previous two games in the Premier League despite taking the lead in both games. The injuries to all of their full-backs were really harming the overall performance of the team, and the recent injury to Mikael Arteta had made things even worse.

There was some good news when the teams were announced, as Thomas Vermaelen returned from injury to play at left back. He's Arsenal's best centre back, but with Andre Santos and Kieran Gibbs both out he's their current best bet at left-back. Thierry Henry failed his fitness, and wasn't included in the squad.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his full Premier League debut, as Andrey Arshavin was left on the bench. Tomas Rosicky played in the centre of midfield in the absence of Arteta, as Yossi Benayoun didn't do well in the role last week.

It was a weak looking Arsenal team for a game against the reigning Premier League champions. In fact the Arsenal team on the day wasn't really any stronger than the team which was humiliated by United back in August. I feared what might happen if United played to their best, but I hoped that Arsenal could put in a performance to make their fans proud.

Arsenal were dreadful in the first half, and they never once looked like scoring. Time and again United looked to expose Arsenal's makeshift full-backs, and Johan Djourou had a torrid time at right-back. He was left exposed by the rest of the team far too often, and it was clear that he was very uncomfortable in that role.
United eventually made their pressure count in the last minute of the first half when they took the lead.

Djourou stood off Giggs and let him cross the ball where it was met by Antonio Valencia to head home. Vermaelen had his positioning wrong which enabled Valencia to get a run on him and win the header.

Arsenal needed to do something at half time to get themselves back into the game, and Arsene Wenger brought Nico Yennaris for his Premier League debut in place of Djourou. Apparently Djourou picked up a knock, but I suspect he was withdrawn to save him from further punishment. Yennaris definitely did better than Djourou, but he also had a lot more help from his team-mates.

Arsenal gradually got back into the game and should have equalised, but Robin van Persie missed a great chance to do so. United made a mistake at the back when Chris Smalling slipped, and Rosicky pounced on his error. I thought he should have shot himself, but when he passed to RVP it looked easier for Arsenal to score than miss.

Arsenal were still vulnerable at the back, but they were now making chances at the other end too. The equaliser arrived with 20 minutes left when Chamberlain played a pass to RVP in the box, and he turned and shot across the keeper into the far corner. An unlikely victory for Arsenal looked like it might just be on the cards if they could continue to play well.

Soon after the goal Wenger brought Arshavin on for Chamberlain, and the Arsenal fans were far from happy with the decision. Wenger said after the game that Chamberlain wasn't used to playing 90 minutes at this level, and he needed to be taken off. It was a move that was to have consequences later in the game.

With nine minutes left Arshavin turned his back as Valencia feigned to cross the ball, and Valencia went past him into the box. He cut the ball back for Danny Wellbeck to make it 2-1 for United despite Arshavin doing his best to catch Valencia. It was a huge blow for Arsenal, and they didn't look capable of recovering from it.

A few minutes later the ineffectual Aaron Ramsey was withdrawn and he was replaced by Ju Young Park who was also making his Premier League debut. Arsenal pushed Per Mertesacker up to play as an emergency centre forward for the last few minutes, but despite a few crosses into the box they couldn't find the net. The game ended soon afterwards, and Arsenal had lost their third Premier League game in  row.

It's easy to make scapegoats of certain players, but very few Arsenal players emerged from the game with credit. I was impressed with Chamberlain, and I think he has to be given his chance ahead of Arshavin until Gervinho returns at least. RVP took his goal really well, but it's hard to fathom how he missed the other great chance he had.

 Arshavin did nothing when he came on, and his part in United's winning goal was telling. He looks disinterested at best, and I can;t see a place for him in the team at all. I think Arsenal should cut their losses, and sell Arshavin if they can.

At the back Laurent Koscielny looked impressive yet again, but it's unfair to judge both Djourou and Vermaelen on their performances out of position. Ramsey and Theo Walcott were ineffectual at best, and the team looks completely devoid of confidence at the moment. The injured players can't return quickly enough, but if they're not back soon Arsenal's chances of a trophy this season could be gone.

They play Aston Villa in the FA Cup next weekend, and the only player who might be back by then is Arteta. His return would be welcome, but others are needed, and needed urgently. It looks very unlikely that Arsenal will add to the squad in the current transfer window either, and the players they have will have to do the business for them.

United were most definitely the best team on the day, and they deserved their three points. There were no dodgy refereeing decisions against Arsenal for a change, and the referee didn't even buy a dive from Wayne Rooney in the first half. The fact that he chose not to give Rooney a yellow card is another matter, but at least he didn't give him a penalty.

Arsenal have a week to work as a team ahead of the Villa game, and the FA Cup is their only realistic chance of a trophy this season in my opinion. I hope they can put the disappointments of their last three games behind them, but it's only a hope at the moment. After Villa there's two Premier League games in four days, and there's a chance Arsenal will have real full-backs available for those games.

They quite simply have to win away to Bolton and at home to Blackburn in those games, or they could see themselves dropping to seventh rather than chasing for fourth. I would love to see a player to make a genuine difference to the team arrive before any of those games, but I don't think it will happen. I think the arrival of a quality player could be the boost the squad needs at the moment, and might help them to rebound.

It's not a good time to be an Arsenal fan or an Arsenal player either, but hopefully the fans can help the team to turn the corner. 


That's it for today.

Here's Robin van Persie's goal from yesterday.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Game With Manchester United Previewed

Arsenal face a home game against Manchester United this Sunday in the Premier League. The reverse fixture at the end of last August was a very painful game for Arsenal fans, as the club was in crisis going into the game. The fans feared wht might happen in that game, and those fears were realised when they were beaten 8-2.

It was a game that will live long in the memories of Arsenal fans for all the wrong reasons. Arsenal were missing an awful lot of players on the day, but the team that played should have been good enough to perform a lot better. Besides the performance of the team Arsene Wenger made some bad tactical decisions on the day too.

Francis Coquelin started in the defensive midfield role, but he was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with 30 minutes left and the score at 3-1. I found it impossible to fathom how Wenger took off a defensive midfielder, and replaced him with a player who is listed as a striker on the club site. The collapse arrived soon afterwards, and the memories are still painful.

Despite the obvious talent Chamberlain has he was overlooked in every single Premier League game after that until last Sunday. He got to play the last 15 minutes against Swansea last Sunday, as Arsenal desperately tried to claw back a 3-2 deficit. His efforts were in vain, and Arsenal were beaten for the second league game in a row.

Going into Sunday's game Arsenal have even more absent players this time, as their squad is ravaged by injuries. It was hoped that both Mikael Arteta and Thomas Vermaelen would be available, but Arteta is definitely out and Vermaelen is highly doubtful. Added to that Thierry Henry has picked up a knock, and he might not be available either.

I find myself wondering if Arsenal have built their new stadium on an ancient burial ground, as they suffer a series of devastating injuries season after season. Besides the current list of injuries Arsenal are also missing both Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh who are both on international duty. By my estimation Arsenal are missing six of their strongest team, and the team has no balance as a result.

Of course the defensive injuries are worst of all, and the injuries to all of the club's full-backs are almost unbelievable. Even the players who have attempted to fill in for the full-backs are falling like flies at the moment. All of those injuries will probably mean Arsenal have to play a very similar team to the one that lost to Swansea last week.

I can't see the defence being any different unless Vermaelen makes a miraculous recovery, and the chances are the front three will be the same again too. That means the only change in personell might come in midfield where Tomas Rosicky looks likely to start for Yossi Benayoun who seemed unable to get into the game last week.

Aaron Ramsey got quite a lot of stick from some Arsenal fans after last week's game, but I thought he tried harder than most of the other Arsenal players. It was not his fault that the referee gave a penalty against him when he was actually the player fouled. He may have done very little right in the game, but he cannot be blamed for that penalty.

Arsenal have had a bad run of very debatable decisions go against them recently, but surely these things are meant to even out over a season. If that's the case I think Arsenal can expect to get half a dozen penalties in their favour very soon, as well as getting away with a few blatant ones against them. I won't be holding my breath for that scenario though.  

United have a few injury worries of their own, but they can put out an almost full strength team. Their biggest loss is Nemanja Vidic, and I always feel their defence is weaker without him. Hopefully Arsenal will be able to take advantage of United missing their best defender.

United have the best away record in the Premier League with seven victories and only one defeat in 10 games so far. They have only conceded six goals in those games too, but their last away game was a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United. Another performance like that one from United would be ideal for Arsenal.

On the other hand Arsenal have a pretty good home record so far this season, and their only defeat came against Liverpool when they were down to 10 men. Only Manchester City have conceded less goals than Arsenal at home too, and it's a record for the team to be proud of. That record will be put to a severe test by United I would imagine.

On the face of it the team Arsenal will play is very weak at the back, and the game is there for United to go out and win. When teams have attacked Arsenal this season they have opened up their defence too easily, and that should be United's best tactic in this game. Whether they decide to do that or not is another matter altogether.

Added to that Arsenal are missing too many very good goalscoring chances in almost every game, and they will need to be clinical against United. Their chances to score could be few and far between, but if they take the good ones they can get a result in my opinion. If Robin van Persie is at his best he can cause United some real problems.

Unite have Nani and Antonio Valencia in their wide roles, and they can both cause real problems to the fill in full-backs for Arsenal. Both Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin will have to help their full-backs as much as possible, and I hope the two of them can work as hard as they are needed to.

In my opinion Arsenal need to keep the game as tight as possible, and look to frustrate United. Every single Arsenal player has to work as hard as they can, and fight for the cause. A draw would be a good result for Arsenal, but it probably wouldn't be for United considering the team Arsenal have to play.

If United play two players up front they will be leaving themselves short in midfield, and that could play into Arsenal's hands. I would like to see Paul Scholes start for them, as I think he is well past his best and could struggle if Arsenal put him under pressure. He has a nasty side to him, and it would be nice to see him punished by the referee if that side is put on show.  


I think Arsenal have a chance of getting a result if they can keep to their game plan, and every player does all that is asked of them. That certainly hasn't been the case in recent games, but surely the players will know how important it is in this game. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, but then again regular readers will know I always predict an Arsenal win.

That's it for today.

Here's the goal from Aaron Ramsey that won this game for Arsenal last season.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Predictions For Premier League Gameweek 22

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcomes of the upcoming Premier League games. I've being going through a very rough patch with my predictions recently and I find myself outside the top 10 of my own predictions league.

At the moment I'm 45 points behind 10th place, and 545 points behind the overall leader. The best I can hope for is probably something similar to Arsenal, as I would be happy with a fourth place finish. There have been a lot of strange results so far this season, and it looks like I'm suffering from them.

Here's a look at my predictions league table.

Pos	Player	Week	Total
1	b_red_devils	90	1230
2	ahujag	80	1130
3	GGooner	50	910
4	DK1247	45	860
5	sanziano	50	850
6	gooner2194	30	845
7	Rutland Gooner	55	815
8	nitin004	5	805
9	lubu722	45	755
10	ReApEr666	25	730

Norwich City Vs. Chelsea

Saturday January 21, 12.45p.m., BST

Norwich have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season, but they have also scored in all but three of their Premier League games. They have done really well to maintain a mid-table position in the league, and they look good enough to stay there for another season at least.

It's very hard to predict what Norwich players will play from week to week, but Steve Morison is probably the best fantasy bet among them.

Chelsea came through a tough run of no wins in four league games by winning their last two games. They were a little lucky to win those games, but the return of Michael Essien from injury should be a real boost for them. They have a good defensive record away from home, and only Manchester City can better it.

John Terry's ability to score goals from defence always makes him a good option for fantasy manager, and Frank Lampard, Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge are pretty good buys too.

I think this will be a very close game, but Chelsea will just edge it.

Prediction 1-2
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Everton Vs. Blackburn Rovers

Saturday January 21, 3p.m., BST

Everton are still in mid-table, but their inability to score is really hurting them. They have lost five of their 10 home games so far, but they will surely fancy their chances against Blackburn.

Tim Howard and Leighton Baines are probably the best fantasy buys among the Everton players, but Baines costs an awful lot.

Blackburn have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season, but they have also scored in every away league game so far. They did very well to beat Fulham last week with only 10 players for most of the game, but they will miss Yakubu's goals while he is suspended. They are out of the relegation zone for the first time, but only on goal difference.

Blackburn's best fantasy performer is Yakubu, but he is suspended for their next three games.

I think this could be a very tight game, and will end up all square.

Prediction 1-1
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Fulham Vs. Newcastle United

Saturday January 21, 3p.m., BST

Fulham usually depend on their home record to do well in the Premier League, and they have won three of their last four home games. A win in this game could see them move in a comfortable mid-table position which would be a welcome boost for them.

Clint Dempsey is still by far the best fantasy bet among the Fulham players.

Newcastle were a little fortunate to beat QPR in a very drab affair last week. They are missing their star player Demba Ba and a few others too, and they could struggle while they are absent. They have done really well to climb above Liverpool into sixth place, but it won't be easy for them to stay there.

With Ba away on international duty Leon Best could possibly get a chance to shine, but otherwise Tim Krul and Ryan Taylor are pretty good fantasy bets.

I think Fulham might just have a little too much for a Newcastle team missing some of it's better players.

Prediction 2-1
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Queens Park Rangers Vs. Wigan Athletic

Saturday January 21, 3p.m., BST

QPR  have appointed Mark Hughes as their new manager, but he has a tough task unless he adds to his squad in the current transfer window. They have only won at home once this season in the league, and only West Brom have scored less home goals than them. If they are to get out of the relegation zone they will need to win games like this against the bottom club.

At the moment I wouldn't recommend any QPR players for fantasy managers, but that might change if they bring in a few new faces.

Wigan are back on the bottom of the table again, and they haven't won any of their last six games. They continue to try to play good football, but they are the lowest scorers in the league. A win in this game would be a great boost for their chances of avoiding relegation, but a draw wouldn't be a bad result for them either.

Ali Al-Habsi is still the best fantasy bet among the Wigan players.

I can see this game ending up with the spoils shared.

Prediction 1-1
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Stoke City Vs. West Bromwich Albion

Saturday January 21, 3p.m., BST

Stoke  are eighth in the table and looking to put pressure on the teams directly above them. They are never an easy team to beat, and they have only lost twice at home so far this season.

Jonathan Walters and Matthew Etherington are still the best fantasy bets among the Stoke players.

West Brom have a better record away from home than at home so far this season. They hve won four times on the road so far, but they have a lot of injury worries for this game. They have only scored once in their last four games, as they have struggled with those injuries.

A fit again Shane Long is not a bad fantasy buy, but in truth West Brom's players have done very little for fantasy managers this season.

I think the combination of Stoke's style and West  Brom's injuries will see Stoke win.

Prediction 2-0
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Sunderland Vs. Swansea

Saturday January 21, 3p.m., BST

Sunderland have looked very good since Martin O'Neill became their manager, and they were a little unlucky to lose away to Chelsea last week. They had taken 10 points from their previous four games, and they will be looking to get back to winning ways.

Stephane Sessegnon looks to be the form Sunderland player at the moment, but Seb Larsson and Simon Mignolet are looking pretty good too.

Swansea had a great win at home to Arsenal last week, but their away form is far from great. Only Fulham have scored less goals away from home than them, but they will still set out to play good football. Their Premier League survival will probably depend upon their home form though.

Michel Vorm and Scott Sinclair are probably the best fantasy bets among the Swansea players, but most of their defenders are doing well and available at a good price too. 

I think Sunderland should have a little too much for Swansea in this game.

Prediction 2-0
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Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs. Aston Villa
 
Saturday January 21, 3p.m., BST

Wolves haven't won any of their last seven league games, but they did well to get a point at Spurs the last time out. They're very close to the relegation zone, and their season could go either way at this stage. Their fans will be very anxious for a victory in this local derby.

Wayne Hennessey is doing well in goal for Wolves, and Steven Fletcher is scoring quite regularly at the moment.


Villa are a hard team to fathom at the moment, and their only win in their last six games was away to fourth placed Chelsea. They have only lost twice away from home, but they have only won twice as well. They are the current draw specialists in the Premier League with nine draws in 21 games.

There are no outstanding Villa players at the moment, but Stephen Ireland could be a great player for them if he can play regularly and sort his head out.


This is one game I don't think I would like to see, and I think it will end all square.

Prediction 1-1
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Bolton Wanderers Vs. Liverpool
 
Saturday January 21, 5.30p.m., BST

Bolton have only won once in 10 home games so far, and they have the worst defensive record at home too. If they don't change those statistics very soon they will have very little chance of staying in the Premier League. They have lost Gary Cahill to Chelsea, and that might actually have a stabilising effect on the team.

At a push I would say Chris Eagles and Ivan Klasnic are the Bolton players most likely to perform for any fantasy manager, but they probably best avoided.


Liverpool  are hit and miss away from home with five wins and four defeats so far, and they have only won once in their last five league games overall. There have only been 20 goals in their 10 away games, and they tend to be involved in low-scoring affairs. They have dropped back to seventh in the league, and they need to improve very quickly to stay in the race for Champions League places.

Jose Reina, Jose Enrique, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson are all performing well in defence for Liverpool, with Charlie Adam and Steven Gerrard the current best bets at the other end.


Bolton's home form is so poor that Liverpool have to be favourites to win, and I think they will edge a victory.


Prediction 0-1
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Manchester City Vs. Tottenham Hotspur
 
Sunday January 22, 1.30p.m., BST
 
City have a perfect home record with 10 wins in 10 games so far, and they've only conceded four goals in the process. They're on top of the league, and looking like they have a real chance of winning it. They have their problems with injury and suspension though, and they haven't looked quite so effective in recent weeks.

Joe Hart, David Silva and Sergio Aguero are probably the best fantasy bets for fantasy managers at the moment.


Spurs have done really well to win six of their 10 away games so far, and that has only been bettered by United. They are playing good football too, but they are entering a really crucial period of their season. If they are still challenging at the top after their next six games they have to be considered genuine contenders.

So many Sours players are doing well for fantasy managers at the moment, but that might not be the way over the next few weeks. Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are performing well in defence, with Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor all do very well at the other end.


This has the makings of a very good game, but I think City might just get a win with their great home form.

Prediction 2-1
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Arsenal Vs. Manchester United.
 
Sunday January 22, 4p.m., BST

Arsenal have an injury list that is really hurting them at the moment, and it looks like none of those players will return against United. They have a very good home record this season, and only Manchester City have conceded less goals at home. They need to get a result in this game, and they will want to banish the memories of the last time the clubs met.

Robin van Persie is still the must-have Arsenal player for any fantasy manager.


United have the best away record in the league, and the meanest defence on the road too. Their only away defeatso far came in their last away game, and they will be looking to put that right. United will see this game as an ideal opportunity to get a victory away to an understrength Arsenal.

There's quite a few United players to choose for any fantasy manager with Patrice Evra, Nani, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney all looking good.


United have to be clear favourites to win, but I hope Arsenal have enough to get a victory in a very tight game.

Prediction 2-1
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That's it for today.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Can Arsenal Finish Ahead of Spurs This Season

It's been almost 17 years since Arsenal's closest rivals have managed to finish above them in the top flight of English football. Back in 1995 Arsenal finished a lowly 12th in the Premier League, as their efforts were concentrated on retaining their European Cup Winners Cup crown. Spurs managed to finish five places above them that season, and Arsenal lost the Cup Winners Cup final to a last minute goal against Real Zaragoza.

A little over a year later Arsenal welcomed Arsene Wenger to the helm, and they have always looked down on Spurs in the final table since then. Even in the season before Wenger arrived Arsenal managed to finish above Spurs, but it was only by a slight margin. Since Wenger has been in charge Arsenal have managed to finish anywhere from two points to 45 points ahead of Spurs.

What is noticeable is that the gap has been shrinking in recent seasons. For the first nine seasons under Wenger that gap was never less than 20 points, and it even reached 45 points in 2004. That was the season Arsenal went unbeaten in the league, and doubled Spurs points tally for the whole season.

Only once before during all of those years have Spurs looked likely to finish ahead of Arsenal, but thanks to some dodgy lasagna and serious bottling Arsenal overtook them on the final day in 2006. Of course Arsenal had other things on their mind that season, as they made it all the way to the Champions League final before losing to Barcelona. The proper order was restored over the next two seasons, as Arsenal finished well ahead of Spurs again, and celebrated St. Totteringham's Day nice and early.

In the last two seasons the gap has been uncomfortably close for Arsenal, as they fell away badly at the end of each season. Arsenal started this season very badly, but they managed to regroup and looked to be on an upward spiral only a few weeks ago. They have a current injury list that any club would struggle with, and it seems to have caught up on the team.

With the season more than halfway completed Arsenal find themselves fifth in table, and more importantly 10 points behind Spurs. There's no doubt that Spurs are overachieving so far this season, but Arsenal are also underachieving for a club of their stature. Spurs have a very tough schedule coming up over the next few weeks, and their ability to challenge at the top will be severely tested.

I wish I could say that I was confident of Arsenal finishing above Spurs this season, but all the signs at the moment point to the opposite. Certainly the trips to Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as a home game against Manchester United in Spurs next six games will be a real test for them. If they can falter in those games there might just be some light at the end of the tunnel for an Arsenal team which is seriously faltering itself.

The real big difference for Spurs this season has been the loan signing of Manchester City's ex-Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor. City still pay a large portion of Adebayor's wages which is a matter for the Premier League to look into for future loan signings I would imagine. I can't see how it can be considered fair for City to subsidise another Premier League team just because money is no object to them.

Besides Adebayor's loan signing Spurs also made a very shrewd signing at the very end of the transfer window in August 2010. Harry Redknapp has always had a reputation of being a "wheeler-dealer" in the transfer market, but the capture of Rafael van der Vaart was a great move for Spurs. They got him at a price which was almost unbelievable for a player of his proven quality too.

Of course Redknapp's "wheeling-dealing" may come back to haunt him very soon when he faces prosecution next week for tax evasion. His trial is set to last two weeks, and it will be interesting to see how that affects the club on and off the pitch. Obviously I'm hoping for the full force of the law to come crashing down on him, but I have a feeling he will weasel his way out of it somehow.

It certainly promises to be a very eventful few weeks for Spurs on and off the pitch, and their ability to stay the pace will be tested from all angles. I would love Arsenal to be standing by waiting for them to slip, and ready to step in with a  devastating run of form. It's very hard to see that happening at the moment, and until some of the injured players return they will continue to struggle I think.

Ideally I would love to see some genuinely top class players signed before the transfer window closes to give the team the boost it so obviously needs. If that means the chances for some more established players are limited then it doesn't really matter because some of those players are simply not performing at the moment.

If I was told right now that Arsenal would be guaranteed Champions League qualification by winning their final game away to West Brom on May 13th I would be delighted. Even if it meant Arsenal finished behind Spurs I could live with that, as long as Champions League football is obtained for next season.

I am sure that Arsenal will rebuild and regain their former strength, and Spurs will slip back to their rightful position of also-rans. I'm just not sure it will happen this season, but that may be the medicine Arsenal fans have to swallow.


That's it for today. 


It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal Lose To Swansea As Their Defending Lets Them Down Again

Arsenal went to Swansea City yesterday afternoon knowing that a win would put them one point behind fourth placed Chelsea. It would also have opened up a gap of four points over Liverpool who had failed to beat Stoke City the day before.

Early in the day there were rumours that Mikael Arteta had picked up an injury an wouldn't play. When the teams were announced the rumours proved to be true, and Yossi Benayoun took his place im midfield. Johan Djourou returned from injury, and Per Mertesacker played again after his bout of illness.

The only other changes for Arsenal from the team that beat Leeds United on Monday night were the inclusions of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott. It was probably the strongest team available to Arsene Wenger, but there were 11 players unavailable through injury and international duty. Arsenal's squad is stretched to the limit at the moment, and with it Wenger's options are limited too.

The game started with Swansea on the attack from the off, but Arsenal scored from their first real attack. Andrey Arshavin played RVP in, and he finished excellently with his right foot. There were only five mi nutes on the clock, but Arsenal had the lead they wanted.

Swansea continued to press forward and dominate possession, as Arsenal looked to hit them on the break again. In the 16th minute Swansea got their chance to get back into the game when Nathan Dyer fooled the referee into giving him a penalty, and Scott Sinclair drilled it home. It was a terrible decision by the referee, and he was right beside Dyer when he dived.

The standard of refereeing seems to be at an all-time low, and it's not only Arsenal who are suffering from it at the moment. Red cards are being given for challenges in one game when similar challenges go completely unpunished in other games. Poor refereeing decisions seem to have influenced the outcome of almost every Premier League game this weekend.

From an Arsenal perspective it was very disappointing to concede a penalty that should not have been given when Arsenal have had so many legitimate appeals turned down recently. The sooner the better the football authorities wake up and introduce video replays similar to those used in rugby. I would also like to see each manager given a chance to appeal two refereeing decisions per game, similar to the system used in American football.

There might be a slight delay while decisions are made, but at least there would be  lot more correct decisions for all teams. The excuse that these systems cannot be implemented in the lower regions of the game is an old one, and it has become boring at this stage. In the lower regions of the game there is only a referee in charge in some cases, but that doesn't seem to bother the authorities at all.

The game was still tied at 1-1 at half-time, but Swansea were looking the better team. RVP did have a great chance to put Arsenal ahead a few minutes before the break, but his effort was well save by Michel Vorm. He was again set up by Arshavin, and I really expected him to score with only the keeper to beat.

Swansea took the lead 12 minutes into the second half when Aaron Ramsey was dispossessed, and the ball was played to Dyer who finished very well. Arsenal quickly brought on Thierry Henry and Tomas Rosicky for Arshavin and Benayoun, but they still struggled to get a foothold in the game.

They did equalise in the 69th minute when a great ball from Djourou played Walcott in on the right, and he finished excellently over the advancing Vorm. The stage looked set for a strong finish from Arsenal, and the three points seemed to be there for the taking. However, within a minute of equalising Arsenal were behind yet again.
A quick ball behind the Arsenal defence caught out Laurent Koscielny who was trying to play offside, and Danny Graham finished very well past Wojciech Szczesny. He was helped a little by Szczesny advancing and retreating which meant he didn't get his angles quite right. Arsenal now had to battle to try to take a point, and arrest their recent slide.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for Mertesacker soon after the third Swansea goal, but try as they might Arsenal could not equalise. They had good chances, but failed to put them away which meant they fell to their seventh Premier League defeat of the season. A few weeks ago the team looked to be in a very promising position, but now their lack of form is becoming a real worry.

In their last four Premier League games Arsenal have dropped eight points from winning positions, and that simply isn't good enough. The injuries to all of the full-backs in the first team squad are affecting the teams performance in defence as well as attack. It seems Arsenal are no closer to signing even one full-back on loan, and they face the reigning champions next Sunday.

I think at least one full-back should have been signed on January 1st, and even if he was unfit he would be able to play now. Wenger has money in the bank, and the squad simply isn't strong enough to cope with the trials and tribulations of a full season. The simple solution is to use some of that money to attempt to halt the slide.

When the transfer window closed at the end of August I hoped Arsenal's new players could do enough to get the team through to the January window in a healthy state. They just about managed to do so, but now the opportunity is there to add to the squad, and it has to be take. There is no use in hoping the squad can muddle through until all the players are fit again.

Injuries are a fact of life in football, and the club has to ensure they have enough quality to cope when players are missing. At the moment Arsenal do not have that quality in depth, and it is costing them points. If it also costs them an FA Cup exit to Villa the chances of a trophy will be gone for yet another season in my opinion.

I was particularly unhappy with the awarding of the man of the match award to Dyer yesterday, as I felt it was a reward  for him cheating. Surely the TV pundits have enough brains to know you cannot condone players conning a referee. I like to watch Swansea play, but Dyer is one player who will be added to my list of dislikes.

An awful lot can happen in a week in football, and the possible returns of Thomas Vermaelen and Arteta would certainly make Arsenal stronger against United. I worry about that game though, because Swansea's wide players were a handful for our makeshift defence. Imagine what the likes of Nani or Antonio Valencia could do if they get a chance.

I feel Arsenal are very vulnerable to any team that attacks them at the moment, and Swansea showed that yesterday. If United come to Arsenal next Sunday and decide to attack it could be a very tough day for the team and the fans. As long as the team continue to let in a much higher rates of shots against them than they score at the other end Arsenal are going to suffer.

Time after time the opposition score from very few chances while Arsenal miss chance after chance at the other end. It's alright to miss chances as long as the team take a few of them, but only if they can defend properly. With the complete inability to defend properly that the team has at the moment opponents are actually relishing playing Arsenal, and who can blame them.


That's it for today.

Here's the highlights of yesterday's game.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.

I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.

See you tomorrow.

Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Swansea City Previewed.

Arsenal lost their last league game away to Fulham after leading 1-0 at half time. It was a big defeat for the team because they would have moved into fourth place with a win. It would also have left them six points behind second placed Manchester United with almost half of the season to go.

Thankfully the players managed to regroup and beat Leeds in the FA Cup last Monday with a little bit of help from the returning Thierry Henry. It might not have been a great display from Arsenal on the night, but the win and the clean sheet were very important.

Their next task is a trip to Swansea City on Sunday afternoon and it's another game which will be far from easy for Arsenal. Swansea have performed very well since their promotion to the Premier League last summer and they are a very good team to watch. They have struggled away from home, but they have lost only one of their 10 home games so far.

That defeat came against reigning champions Manchester United and Swansea were a little unlucky on the day. They have only conceded four goals in those 10 home games and no team in the Premier League can better that record. They have shown that they can play attractive football at home without opening up too much to the opposition.

Arsenal started the season very poorly and they only took one point in their first four away games. Since then they have improved though and they have now won four out of 10 away games. In the process they have scored 20 goals and only league leaders Manchester City can better that.

However, Arsenal have conceded 22 goals away from home so far and no other team has conceded more on their travels than them. It's not exactly a record for them to be proud of, but it is slightly skewed by the 12 goals United and Blackburn put past them in two games when they were really struggling at the back. Since then Arsenal's defence has gelled a lot more and Fulham were the first team in 10 games to score more than one goal against them.

Arsenal have struggled in their last few games as their team has become far too imbalanced. The current injuries to all of their full-backs have meant they have had to play central defenders in those positions and it is affecting the way they play in my opinion. What's worse is that the players filling in for the full-backs are dropping like flies too.

Arsenal lost Francis Coquelin to a hamstring injury in that match against Leeds, but at least Johan Djourou will be available again after suspension. He's not the ideal candidate to play at right-back, but Arsenal's options are so limited that his return has to be welcomed. Ignasi Miquel will more than likely continue at left-back and he looks more than capable of playing there.

Miquel would probably have gone out on loan this month if he wasn't required to play as an emergency left-back. Coquelin is the only real cover for Alex Song in the squad with Emmanuel Frimpong loaned to Wolves, and it has to be hoped that he will return very soon. Both of them look like they are capable of having a very bright future at Arsenal, but it's still very early in their careers to know for sure.

The options in central defence are now quite limited too and Laurent Koscielny is sure to start, but Per Mertesacker is a doubt with illness. Both Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky missed that game because of illness, and Wenger has to make a decision on their condition before Sunday's game. That would leave Sebastien Squillaci as the only experienced defender available, and he is bound to start if Mertesacker doesn't.


In midfield I would imagine Song, Mikael Arteta and Aaron Ramsey will again play from the start. Those three players have been the first choice trio in Arsenal's midfield for most of the season now, and they will remain so until Jack Wilshere returns from injury next month. What happens then is anybody's guess, but it can't be bad for the team.

Robin van Persie will return from his break in Dubai to lead the attack, and hopefully add to his tally of 17 league goals so far this season. It's almost impossible to overestimate his contribution to the team this season, and hopefully the break will have done him some good. He had looked a little stale in his last few games, but hopefully Swansea will pay the price for him getting a chance to recharge his batteries.

I would be very surprised if Theo Walcott didn't play on the right side of the attack, and I think Andrey Arshavin will probably start on the left. Arshavin tried a lot harder than I have seen him try for a long time, and I think he will keep his place in the team as a result. That would mean Thierry Henry will be on the bench, but I would imagine he will play a part at some stage.

His return against Leeds is something Arsenal fans will remember for the rest of their lives, but he's probably still a little short on fitness to start. I can't wait to hear the traveling Arsenal fans singing his name, and to see their reaction when he does play. The traveling fans are always a credit to the club, and I have no doubt that they will be heard for the entire game yet again.  

I'm sure Swansea will approach the game as they always do, and look to play their own game right from the start. They are very good in possession, and they always look to play football the right way. They are actually quite similar to Arsenal in the way that they play, and it could be a good game for the purists.

Arsenal have being missing a lot of chances in recent games, but I'm hoping that the break for RVP will help to rectify that. To be honest Arsenal haven't played very well for an entire 90 minutes in a while now, but they will get the opportunity to do so against Swansea. I'm hoping the players can take that opportunity and put in a performance to show that they are right in there in the battle for fourth place.

The continued Premier League success for Spurs is becoming an annoyance for Arsenal fans, but the team has to be ready to pounce when Spurs falter. The vast majority of Arsenal fans are still sure that Spurs will falter, but they're not sure what the trigger for their demise will be. It's possible that the trial of their manager on charges of "tax evasion" will be the start of the downfall, or maybe his conviction on those charges will do it.

Spurs have four tough games in their next seven games, and they could be the real test for them. They have to travel to Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as playing at home to Manchester United. I don't believe they will be in the current lofy position by the time those games are finished in early March. 

I think the game with Swansea will be a very tight one, but Arsenal have that little bit of quality that will get them the three points. Whether that quality comes from RVP or off the bench is another matter, but I do believe they will win. I'm predicting a 1-0 win, but as long as it's a win I'm not too bothered how it happens or who scores the goals.

In other news Wenger has said Marouane Chamakh will not be sold in the January transfer window. His last year at Arsenal has been very disappointing, nd he's currently on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. He won't be back at the club until next month, and that would seem to curtail any chance of selling him.

Finally for today Arsenal's Premier League trip to Bolton Wanderers has been switched from Tuesday January 31st to Wednesday February 1st. It's to accommodate the Fa Cup fourth round tie with Aston Villa which has been switched to Sunday January 29th, and will be shown live on TV.


That's it for today.

Here's the highlights of Arsenal's Fa Cup win over Leeds and that Henry goal.

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Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Seven Left-Backs Linked To Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has stated his desire to bring a left-back into the Arsenal squad during the current transfer window. Due to a combination of injuries to all of the club's full-backs Arsenal find themselves having to play central defenders in the wide roles at the moment.

It has affected the team's performance in recent games, as the balance of the team has just not been right. The sooner the better Arsenal can bring in a full-back on a temporary basis, and I would even be happy if they signed one permanently.

The long term fitness of Kieran Gibbs cannot be guaranteed in my opinion and if the right player becomes available I think Arsenal should go for him. The media is obviously awash with transfer rumours at the moment, and I'll attempt to analyse a few of them here.

1: Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge has been frozen out of the picture at Manchester City and he is looking for a new club at the moment. He has 36 caps for England at left-back and he has plenty of Champions League experience too. On the face of it he looks to be the ideal man to help to solve Arsenal's defensive problems.

He has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the current transfer window and if they are actually interested in him I'm sure City would be prepared to do a deal. Arsene Wenger has said he's not too sure about signing a defender who has been out of favour at his own club, as it would take him a few weeks to return to full match fitness. Bridge would fit into that category and it could mean his chances of joining Arsenal are slim.

When Bridge was on loan to West Ham last season he looked far from the player he was a few years ago. He has had problems in his personal life and a permanent transfer could be a risky move for Arsenal. I doubt if Arsenal could match the wages he earns at City, and the only possibility might be for him to join them on loan for the rest of the season.

Bridge might consider his chances to be very limited when Andre Santos returns in a couple of months, but if he has belief in his own ability the prospect of joining Arsenal should appeal to him. I'm not too sure if City would be prepared to loan him to Arsenal, but he is one of the few players actually available at the moment.

After reading what Wenger said about signing a player out of favour at his own club I don't think Arsenal have a genuine interest in Bridge.

2: Eric Abidal

Eric Abidal is currently a Barcelona player, but his appearances this season have been limited to covering for other players who have been injured. He has recently been linked with a move to Arsenal, as they search for a solution to their injury problems in defence.

Abidal is a very good player with loads of experience and he can play at left back or in central defence. He would be a very good buy for Arsenal, but I don't imagine that Barcelona would be prepared to loan him to them.

If Arsenal were to sign him I think he would automatically become first choice at left back and that would not only relegate Santos, but hamper the progress of Gibbs too. Abidal is 32 years old and he looks to have a few good years left in him yet despite his health problems last year.

I would be more than happy if Arsenal managed to sign Abidal on a loan deal or a permanent move, as I think he would improve the team and the squad. That should be one of the most important criteria for Wenger as he continues his search.

3: Kieran Richardson

With the need for a left-back of immediate importance to Arsenal they have been linked with a move for Sunderland's Kieran Richardson despite his club denying the rumours. Richardson signed for Sunderland as a midfielder, but he has spent a lot of his time at the club as a left-back.

He is 27 years old and he has plenty of Premier League experience, as well a s a few English international caps. His ability to attack from a left-back role would be a great asset to an Arsenal team that are missing their attacking full-backs at the moment.

I would be surprised if Sunderland agreed to loan him to Arsenal, as he is a member of their current starting 11. Since Martin O'Neill took over at Sunderland a few weeks ago they have improved greatly and I doubt if O'Neill would like to see him leave.

Arsenal could possibly test Sunderland's resolve with a bid for a permanent move, but otherwise I think he will stay where he is.

4: Taye Taiwo

Taye Taiwo is a 26 year-old left-back who currently plays with AC Milan in Italy. He has recently been linked with a move to Arsenal, as they continue their search for a defender in the January transfer window. He joined Milan last summer from Marseille, but his chances have been very limited since then.

With the player currently out of favour at Milan there is a chance that Arsenal could be able to bring him in on a loan move or even permanently. He's another player who might expect to get a regular place in the Arsenal team, but if he isn't match fit they would have to wait to play him.

The decision whether to move for him or not is Wenger's, but I think Arsenal won't be too interested in a player that probably wouldn't be available before Kieran Gibbs returns.

5: Aymen Abdennour

Another player Arsenal have been linked to in the current transfer window is 22 year-old Toulouse defender Aymen Abdennour. He's a player who can play as a left-winger or a left-back and he looks like he's a real real prospect for the future.

He's also a current member of the Tunisian team that are involved in the African Cup of Nations. His involvement with his national team would surely have to rule out any interest Arsenal have in the player, as he would not be available for at least another month.

I can't imagine that Wenger would buy or loan a player to solve their current difficulties that can't play immediately. If Arsenal are genuinely interested in the player they will have to wait until a later date to make their move.

6: Luke Shaw

Arsenal are in need of a left-back who can step straight into their team, but that hasn't stopped them being linked with Southampton's Luke Shaw. Shaw is a 16 year-old left-back who looks like he has a very bright future in football.

However, Arsenal need a player that can step straight into their first team, but Shaw has not even played for Southampton's first team yet. If Arsenal are actually interested in Shaw it is as a player for the future and he is not the player they need right now.

Southampton have produced some very good players from their academy in recent years, and Shaw could be the latest in a long list. Maybe Arsenal should look at what scouts Southampton are employing, or what methods they are using to nurture the young talent in their academy.

7: Ally Cissokho


Ally Cissokho is a 24 year-old left-back who plays with Lyon in France. He has recently been linked with a move to Arsenal, but Lyon are not keen to loan their player. If Arsenal are to sign Cissokho it looks like they will have to buy him.

He's another player who might have a genuine chance of getting into the Arsenal team if he is signed, but Wenger's unwillingness to sign a player on a permanent deal will probably mean he stays with Lyon. He has played for France on one occasion, and he has been on the fringes of the French team for a couple of years.

I would be very surprised if Arsenal spent close to €10 million on a player when Wenger feels he has adequate cover at left back once the injury crisis is over. He will more than likely attempt to bring somebody in on loan, but I have a feeling Arsenal won't actually sign a left-back at all.

If I had to choose a player out of all those I have profiled I think Abidal might be the best option. He would be match fit which would mean he could play immediately, and he would add some genuine quality to the squad too.


That's it for today.

It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.

To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.

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See you tomorrow.