SearchTags: carling cupPortsmouth Vs Arsenal. The final previewjason 11th May 2007
Portsmouth Vs Arsenal. The final preview
Well what can we say? The last game of the season; where at the beginning it promised so much but in the end delivered so little. We expected that after what was termed a transitional season, Arsenal will challenge for honours again. As is its want. But we should have known better. The process from breaking up a team and then creating a new one that will challenge for the top does not happen within the same season. It takes a summer to break it up, get new players in, another season to blood them in and the next one to seriously challenge. That's a long process and it assumes of course that the new signings brought in proved to be successful! We all know that Arsenal need to get in new signings this summer again! The speed with which they settle in will, we feel, determine how successful Arsenal is in the coming season. In the grand scheme of things described above there is little significance on this Sunday's game. Apart from trying to finish third. This will be achieved by getting a better result than Liverpool who is at home against a relegated Charlton side. Or by matching Liverpool's result but overturning a goal difference of two. Portsmouth's aspiration for Europe not only depends on beating Arsenal but also on both Reading and Bolton slipping up in their games. That's a tall order. Only Kanu from the ex Arsenal old boys will feature. Campell and Lauren are out injured. As the game is not that significant for Arsenal we would like Wenger to take this opportunity to blood in some youngsters. We would leave Baptista out for obvious reasons and play a lad from the reserves, like Simpson for example or even Bentdner if possible! Play Almunia in goals and Traore and Dlourou and Senderos and Matthew Connolly. Lets see a Carling Cup side! The result is difficult to predict as it will depend on what side Wenger plays. But does it matter? by Arsenal Analysis Arsenal Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of VictroyDavid 25th January 2006
Arsenal 2 v Wigan 1 Carling Cup 2nd Leg A.E.T
Wigan win on away goals. A last minute Jason Roberts strike sends Wigan to Cardiff. This is a game we should have won.....Even with a penalty miss in the first half and the Wigan keeper Pollit saving everything we threw at him. We were only 1 minute from victory after goals from Henry in the 65th Minute and a great 25 yard free kick from Van Persie with only 8 Minutes of extra time to go. This seemed to be, and should have been, enough. To be fair to Wigan, they did not come to Highbury to defend the lead they had from the 1st leg. They played with 2 strikers and it made for an entertaining game, but I still can't quite believe we have lost. Perhaps tommorow when I don't feel so gutted I can look at the game with a clearer perspective. Right now I'm off for a drink. Van Persie and The Ice Man in Arsenal Squad for Wigan game.David 23rd January 2006
The Boss seems to be putting out a side that means business for the 2nd leg of the Carling Cup. Only mentalist Jens Lehmann gets a breather from the side that lost at Everton Saturday.
“We have no injuries from Saturday,” said Wenger on Monday lunchtime. “But then nobody really comes back apart from Dennis Bergkamp, who will be involved in the squad tomorrow, and Robin van Persie. “You will certainly see the same defence [as Saturday]. We have not much choice especially with the left-footed players out plus Toure and Eboue being out for the African Nations Cup.” “Lehmann will not play, Alumnia is in. But Campbell will play and Henry will certainly play. Pires is in the squad but I don’t know whether he'll start or not.” more on the Arsenal website. Fancy a punt on the result ? here is the latest betting Arsenal to win 2/5 Bet Draw 10/3 to win Bet Wigan 13/2 to win Bet
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