Attitude Everything For Arsenal At Wigan
Apr 10th, 2009 by 'holic
Happy Easter to you all.
The Good Friday weather here is typical bank holiday stuff, grey and miserable! An improvement is forecast though, and that will be welcomed by Arsenal’s walking wounded at Wigan. Just when it looked as though everybody was getting fit at the same time we find ourselves missing Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Gael Clichy, probably Abou Diaby and Eduardo, and possiby Robin van Persie.
Lukasz Fabianski and Johan Djourou will step into the back five and could be joined by fit again Mikael Silvestre. The former United defender’s experience could be preferred to the raw pace and enthusiasm of Kieran Gibbs at left-back.
The midfield and attacking options remain plentiful and one assumes that Arsene Wenger will have an eye on the two huge games that follow this trip. Andrey Arshavin must be the only definite starter as he can play no part against Villareal on Wednesday. I would not be too surprised if Emmanuel Eboue and Nicklas Bendtner also get starting berths.
We would be wise to err on the side of caution when rotating. Wigan may not be one of the big name sides in the Premiership, but they have enjoyed an excellent season under Steve Bruce. They sit in the top eight, having lost just four of fifteen home games, and are looking for a strong finish to claim a place in Europe next season.
They lost a couple of key performers at Christmas when Heskey moved up to challenge for our top four place with Aston Villa, and Palacios opted to drop a level to the under-achieving twitchers at the Lane. With Zaki currently being left out for disciplinary reasons you could say this is a good time to be facing the Latics.
Nonetheless I would expect Bruce’s side to make life very difficult by hunting in packs and closing any space enthusiastically. We may need to show a degree of patience and just one moment of genius could ensure the points.
Under the circumstances the ‘holic pound is already punted on 1-0 to the Arsenal. Sorry Paddy Power, but your fives was a miserable offer, so Stan James has my money at 6/1. I’m quietly confident, as they say.
So that’s it, those of you heading for the pier on Saturday, I’m told the tide is out, yet again. Have a great day. The rest of us will be praying for a half decent stream from somewhere. I’m keeping everything crossed we don’t pick up any more knocks.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
19 Responses to “Attitude Everything For Arsenal At Wigan”
Heh, ‘holic. Your knowledge of Wigan has us in awe… well me at any rate.
I hope we nick it by more than one goal though. I think they will be tough opponents, but they only seem to perform against us when the big cameras are on them in a live fixture. That’s where my theory lies anyway.
Seeing that it is Friday, I shall have a large glass of Wine with my Pepperami Hot.
Cheers.
dude..third paragraph. we play villarael not valencia. ok post otherwise
Not only will Arshavin be missing agsinst Valencia, but the rest of the team as well. Hopefully they will all be up the road at Villarreal!
OK? One typo does not an “OK” post make. It was great, as usual. Cheers, ‘holic.
And for the record, I’d much prefer to see “the raw pace and enthusiasm of Kieran Gibbs at left-back.”
Of course, it’s unlikely I’ll get to see the game at all, due to a televising glitch over here. Nevada’s isn’t even showing it. A Prem match, FFS. I hope to jebus there’s a stream available.
If Bruce is on his game he will do what every manager (of a vastly inferior group of players) that has experienced some level of success against arsenal do.
Go with a 4-5-1
Deny Arsenal any time on the ball and space
Hunt in packs
Tough with the tackle
Rely on quick counter attacks when in possession
I think Wigan will walk away with a point
This weeks ‘spot the deliberate mistake’ competition hasn’t lasted long. Congratulations to Anuj who wins a years free subscription to the blog.
You were so close, renoogami. Come back next week when the prize may be equally valuable 😉
Hey, Danks. I am honoured. Keep your eyes peeled ‘you know where’. We’ll share the links.
renoo, I’m hoping the boys will be at the Grove, as we just played in villareal on tuesday.
Pint o’ Broadside please, ‘Holic!
»»Arsene Knows««
Another good post ‘holic.
As a side-note, I think Arsene said that Gibbs will play against Wigan, and based on that performance, he will determine if he will play in the CL.
One of the great things to come out of the unexpected departures and heavy injury load incurred this season has been the essential need to introduce new blood, possibly earlier than would otherwise have been judged desirable. This has seen Djourou, Song, Theo, Bendtner, Denilson, Vela and Ramsey progress wonderfully; Nasri and Arshavin settle to PL life faster than most; and now throws up some golden moments for Gibbs and Fabianski.
I had begun to think that all of this would only present a magnificent platform for next year’s winning squad. In truth we’ve enjoyed all of this growth and our prospects are still better than most THIS season. In this spirit then, it’s got to be Gibbs at left back. I still don’t see any wisdom in playing Silvestre unless as a last resort.
My broken crystal ball was saying 2-1 in favour of the away team. I’m glad I became aware of its flaws and so one nil to the Gunners it is, “Holic.
No panel game audience this weekend then, Snail? Missing out on David Jacobs and “Juke Box Jury” are you? Pity, he’s a good turn old Jacobs is.
Barman, a Guinness please to go with my Easter Egg, boiled hard and a picture of Old Red Nose Fergie painted on, just right for rolling down a steep and very lumpy slope on Sunday.
I can always rely on you to come and do a better piece than me BtM 🙂
You are in luck with the Guinness. I couldn’t quite finish it all today, but I had a bloody good go at it before attacking some of Mr Gloag’s finest…
I thought I sensed an air of Egg chaser about you BtM. 🙂
Jacobs? Nah, it’s Ask The Family this weekend. Robert Robertson.
Heh!
Open The Box 😉
Yep, I’m agreeing with what appears to be the considered opinion in that I’d much prefer to see Kieran Gibbs at left back in preference to [a not match fit surely??] Silvestre. Gibbs seems to me to be carved from the same granite that produced the slightly older Gael and will benefit further from the first team playing experience!
As far as the score is concerned, I think we’ll probably leak a goal although will more than likely prevail in midfield with the craft and cunning of Cesc and Arshavin. Ade’ seems to have at last found his shooting boots and perhaps there’s a goal with Bendtners name on it too. So I’m shouting a 1-2 win for the visitors.
C’mon the Gunners!!!!!
Ooh and no drinks of the alcoholic assortment for me please ‘holic. Mrs Don and I went to my local for a ‘coffee’ which quickly progressed onto a few large glasses of Shiraz, washed down (in my case) by a pint or two of Staropramen, so I really best leave it right there!!!
Put simply……my consitution is not what it once was 🙁
I agree with the Gibbs followers but feel that with Gallas and Almunia already missing from what was starting to look like a settled back four, I think that Silvestre will get the nod.
With some of the fixtures we have remaining this is a game we have to win. Wigan do have their own problems but I can see us coming out on top quite convincingly. Arshavin I feel holds the key in these types of games. He has the ability to unlock sides like Wigan.
A pint of Palmers if you don’t mind. My constitution is fine since I started on those stool softening yogurts.
Keep the faith….
At this business end of the season, I can’t be abstemious so whatever is available will be most gratefully received! Two pints of Cider, ta ‘holic!
Well in ‘holic
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
1-4 to the Arsenal. That’ll do nicely. It’s a lager night in the House of Shell. So a pint of whichever one is least likely to run out.
Cheers.
Arshavin rocks!!!
I know it’s just Wigan, but I’m so bloody happy right now.