Arsenal vs. Aston Villa: Match Review

Arsenal managed to stay at the top of the Premier League table after a nail-biting draw with Aston Villa which was settled in stoppage time by a late equalizer from Nicklas Bendtner. The Gunners have only taken two points from their last two games and are now only one point ahead of last season's Premier League Champions, Manchester United.

An own goal from Philippe Senderos gave Aston Villa the lead after 27 minutes, and with Arsenal lacking a decisive touch in the final third it looked as though the Gunners would suffer their first defeat at the Emirates this season. However, young Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner showed some of the fighting spirit for which Arsenal has become renowned, denying Villa at the death with one of the last actions of the game.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna; Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb; Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor

Aston Villa: Scott Carson; Martin Laursen, Wilfred Bouma, Curtis Davies, Shaun Maloney; Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Craig Gardner; John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor

The game started with a frenetic pace more typical of a match between Manchester United and Arsenal than one between the Gunners and the Villans.

The first decent opening came for Arsenal in the seventh minute when Emmanuel Adebayor flicked a long pass to Theo Walcott on the edge of the area. The England international, who had scored a brace against Birmingham a week earlier, took the ball on his chest and turned towards goal before firing a low shot which Scott Carson was forced to turn around the post at full stretch.

It had been a positive opening for the league leaders, but Martin O'Neills' Aston Villa are far from walkovers, and created a chance of their own when a sprint from the speedy Gabriel Agbonlahor saw the Villa striker almost alone in the area. An incredible saving tackle from William Gallas spared Manuel Almunia from making a save.

18-year-old Walcott was the source of inspiration for Arsenal in the early exchanges, as his pace saw him run past three defenders before sending a cross too far into the area and out for a goal kick.

Philippe Senderos had a chance in the Villa box after Carson had spilled a corner, but the Swiss international defender could only poke a shot horribly wide after being surprised by the gift of an opportunity.

The central defender, standing in for the injured Kolo Toure, put one in goal in the 27th minute though, after a cross from Agbonlahor saw Senderos divert the ball past his own wrong-footed keeper to give Aston Villa the lead.

The home side were stunned by the mistake and it showed as Villa almost doubled their lead only for Manuel Almunia to acrobatically push an effort from Shaun Maloney onto the frame of the goal.

Arsenal regrouped, but were unable to penetrate the Villa defense, going into halftime 1-0 down after a disappointing showing.

The home side were strong in the opening minutes of the first half, with Walcott forcing another good save out of Carson after a neat one-two with Cesc Fabregas. Space opened up for Alex Hleb about twenty yards out from goal, but the Belorussian, not known for his shooting skills, hit a tame effort well wide.

Villa were strong on the counterattack though, and Agbonlahor forced another full-stretch save from Manuel Almunia after a shot from the edge of the eighteen-yard-box.

Substitute Marlon Harewood almost grabbed the second for Villa after brushing off the ineffective Philippe Senderos, but was denied by yet another fine save from Almunia.

As the ninety minute mark approached it looked as though Arsenal were going to be subject to their first home defeat of the season. However, a good spell of possession for the Gunners finally resulted in a last-gasp goal as Nicklas Bendtner stabbed home from close range to give the Gunners a valuable point.

Arsenal vs. Blackburn: Match Preview

Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers travel to the Emirates this Monday to face off against league leaders Arsenal. Blackburn, who are currently in 8th place in the Premier League, have already faced Arsenal twice this season, taking two points off of the Gunners in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, and losing 2-3 at home after taking a Carling Cup tie into extra time.

Arsenal's recent form is impeccable, with the Gunners having scored three goals in each of their last four Premier League matches. Arsene Wenger's squad has responded very well to a 5-1 Carling Cup loss to arch-rivals Tottenham, winning their next three matches in a row.

Blackburn, on the other hand, have not won in their last three games, instead drawing against Everton, Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough. With injuries to defender Andre Ooijer and midfielder Steven Reid, a Blackburn victory seems improbable. Manager Mark Hughes will be fielding a relatively inexperienced squad as key midfielders Morten Gamst Pederson and David Dunn and center-back Christopher Samba are also set to miss the match due to suspensions.

Arsenal are facing there own injury crisis as well, though. Phillipe Senderos, Mathieu Flamini, and Manuel Almunia are all doubts, while none of Johan Djourou, Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby, and Neves Denilson are going to feature due to injury. Alex Song will be playing in the finals of the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, and Ivorian defensive pair Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure are both likely to feature for their country on Saturday in the 3rd/4th place playoff game.

Jens Lehman is ready to replace Almunia in goal if necessary, and injury-free defenders Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy will be full of energy up and down the flanks. However, Wenger is facing a crisis in the center of defense.

William Gallas is Arsenal's only fit center-back, and Arsene Wenger has claimed that he may even attempt to get Toure back in London for the game against Blackburn. The other options are to play the inexperienced Justin Hoyte or holding midfielder Gilberto, who may be needed to replace Mathieu Flamini. No matter who Wenger decides to field, we will have our hands full for a full 90 minutes against Roque Santa Cruz.

Cesc Fabregas and Alex Hleb are certainties in the midfield, and if Mathieu Flamini is unable to feature he will likely be covered by the aging Gilberto. Tomas Rosicky will be more difficult to replace with Abou Diaby and Neves Denilson out. This leaves just Theo Walcott or Eduardo to play on the left wing, although Eduardo has finally been getting used to playing up front alongside Emmanuel Adebayor.

Adebayor is sure to feature in the Arsenal strikeforce, although his partner will be more difficult to predict. Eduardo has been starting in the absence of Robin van Persie, but his guile might be needed on the left flank with Rosicky injured. This would leave Adebayor with another tall frontman, Nicklas Bendtner.

Arsenal's injuries are disturbing, but I feel that the Gunners will prevail against a Blackburn squad with a similar amount of absentees. I predict a 3-1 home victory, moving Arsenal five points ahead of title rivals Manchester United.

Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

Second-placed Arsenal take on sixth-placed Manchester City this Saturday in the day's early fixture. Arsene Wenger will be hoping to become the first manager to win at the City of Manchester Stadium this season, as City look to break back into the European spots.

The stadium has become a fortress for City this season, seeing the Citizens drop only 6 points in 12 home games. Sven-Göran Eriksson's side has yet to lose at home, but could be facing their toughest test of the season against a determined Arsenal side.

Traveling to a stadium in which the home team is undefeated is always a tough task, but an Arsenal team full of belief will still be full of confidence. The team are also provided continuity by the fact that Arsene Wenger's squad on Saturday will be the same as the squad that defeated Newcastle 3-0 on Tuesday.

Robin van Persie has returned to training but will not be fit in time for the match. Tomas Rosicky is expected to be back in contention before next weekend's game against Blackburn, and Johan Djourou is expected to be out for three more weeks. Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure, and Alex Song are all on international duty at the African Cup of Nations.

Manchester City are relatively injury free with only Danny Mills, Michael Johnson, and loanee Nery Castillo likely to miss the match due to injury. Eriksson's side will be low on confidence though, having dropped two points to Premier League whipping boys Derby on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger will likely field the starting XI from the Newcastle game again, with Manuel Almunia in goal. Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Gael Clichy, and the vastly improving Philippe Senderos will make up the back four.

In the midfield Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb, and Abou Diaby will try to provide for their forwards. Mathieu Flamini will have a tough time bossing around Blumer Elano and Martin Petrov, but after an incredible performance on Tuesday, the Frenchman will feel up to anything.

Emmanuel Adebayor will most likely start alongside Eduardo again, although Nicklas Bendtner may feature due to his height. Even Adebayor won't be winning too many headers against the huge backline of Manchester City which includes giants Richard Dunne and Vedran Corluka.

Although Micah Richards and the City defense have done an impressive job this season, Arsenal always seem to find a way through, and are likely to do so again this Saturday. Eriksson's squad lacks attacking power up front, and Arsenal's impressive midfield lineup should be able to stifle the contributions of City's top scorer Blumer Elano. This advantage should be enough to keep Arsenal at least level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. I predict a 2-0 win for the visitors.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Review

Arsenal will be at the top of the Premier League for at least 24 hours after defeating Newcastle United 3-0 for the second successive time in only four days. The Gunners, who also beat Newcastle 3-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday, are now three points ahead of Manchester United, who face Portsmouth at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Arsenal went ahead in the 40th minute when Emmanuel Adebayor scored his 9th goal in 7 games to go within one goal of Cristiano Ronaldo's total of 17. Mathieu Flamini bagged Arsenal's second with a fabulous strike from 25 yards out and Cesc Fabregas put the game beyond doubt with a goal in the 80th.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos, Bacary Sagna; Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb; Emmanuel Adebayor, Eduardo

Newcastle: Shay Given; Claudio Cacapa, Stephen Carr, Steven Taylor, David Rozenhal; Nicky Butt, James Milner, Charles N'Zogbia, Damien Duff; Michael Owen, Alan Smith

Arsenal were in control right from the start and almost got an early lead when a quick exchange between Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas was halted on the edge of the penalty box by a fine tackle from Steven Taylor.

In the 17th minute Arsenal had another great chance when Abou Diaby got his head to a cross from Alex Hleb. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, Diaby was put off just enough by a challenge from Nicky Butt, and his diving header went far off the mark.

Shay Given nearly scored an own goal a few minutes later as Adebayor pressured the keeper into a cheeky backheel from only a few yards in front of his own goal. Kevin Keegan was irate, but Given got away with it, controlling the ball well enough to give away a corner rather than a goal.

Arsenal finally got on the scoreboard in the 40th minute when Adebayor got his head onto a cross from Mathieu Flamini. The perfectly weighted cross was turned into the net by the prolific Togolese striker, as déjà vu began to hit the Newcastle fans.

The goal ensured that Arsenal went into halftime with a lead, and Kevin Keegan's side seemed well-beaten after having only managed one shot on goal in the first half.

Newcastle came out far stronger in the second half though, refusing to die down despite being a goal behind at the Emirates. Good work up the flanks was undone by a failure to find the correct final pass, and all of Newcastle's early possession in the second half barely even won the Magpies a shot on goal.

Given was tested again in the 66th minute when he showed fine reactions to get down to the ground and save a low drive from Flamini.

A few minutes later, Nicklas Bendtner came on for Eduardo, pairing the young Dane with Adebayor for the first time since their argument at White Heart Lane. There was no conflict between the two players though, as the bust-up seems to have been worked out.

A strong performance by Flamini was rewarded only minutes after the substitution when the Frenchman released an incredible drive from 25 yards out to double Arsenal's lead. The 72nd minute strike was even better than Flamini's cross for the first goal, and cemented the 23 year-old as the man of the match.

Cesc Fabregas provided a third for Arsenal after reaching a centering pass from Nicklas Bendtner. The midfield maestro looks to be getting back into the form that he showed in the beginning of the season.

Newcastle almost got a late consolation goal when Nicky Butt crashed a free-kick onto Almunia's crossbar, but the game was already lost for the Magpies as Arsenal hit the top of the Premiership.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Preview

Arsenal face off against Newcastle for the second time in four days this Tuesday as they look to record yet another win against the Magpies.

The Gunners have already defeated the Magpies twice this season, although they were held to a 1-1 draw in the league in early December. The latest match between the two sides was a 3-0 home win for Arsenal as the Gunners progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Arsenal's FA Cup win, which saw Newcastle defeated by an under-strength Arsenal side, will instill the young Gunners with confidence. Kolo Toure, Alex Song, and Emmanuel Eboue are all on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. Arsene Wenger will also be missing Johan Djourou, Neves Denilson, and Robin van Persie due to injury, but a nearly full-strength Arsenal side should be able to handle the off-color Magpies.

Newcastle on the other hand have not won in their last six Premier League outings, and although manager Kevin Keegan will be looking to improve on that record, he openly admits that his players are low on confidence. Injuries to Tim Krul and Peter Ramage will do nothing to help Keegan's cause, although the absences Nigeria's Obafemi Martins, Cameroon's Geremi, and Sengal duo Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye will be more conspicuous.

Manuel Almunia will return in Arsenal's goal after Jens Lehmann took up the gloves in the FA Cup.

The back four is likely to see only one change from the side which faced Newcastle on Saturday, with Justin Hoyte likely to be replaced by the more experienced Bacary Sagna. Captain William Gallas, the vastly improved Philippe Senderos, and the ever-impressive Gael Clichy will complete an Arsenal defense that will be happy with no less than a clean sheet.

Tomas Rosicky looks to have recovered from the injury which saw him limp off of the field in the FA Cup, so he should rejoin Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini in the midfield. Alex Hleb, who made a late substitute appearance on Saturday should take the place of ball-hog Abou Diaby for the more important League fixture.

Up front Emmanuel Adebayor is a sure-shot starter, after bagging 8 goals in his last 6 games, including a brace against Newcastle. Eduardo is the most likely candidate to join the tall Togolese striker, although Nicklas Bendtner could feature if, as Adebayor has suggested, the two have reconciled from an argument at White Heart Lane.

Kevin Keegan may do a great job at Newcastle, but I doubt that he will start winning at the Emirates, a ground where Arsenal have only lost once. I predict a 2-0 victory for the Gunners.

Arsenal vs. Newcastle: Match Preview

Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United will travel to the Emirates this Saturday to face Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup. The 12th placed Magpies will be hopeful of pulling off an unlikely victory after Arsenal crashed out of the Carling Cup in a 6-2 aggregate loss to Tottenham Hotspur.

Keegan would like to get his second managerial spell at Newcastle off to a winning start, but he faces tough opposition in the Gunners who will see the returns from injury of Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will still be missing Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou, and Neves Denilson, who featured against Tottenham midweek, is a late addition to the injury list after straining his muscle in the 5-1 loss.

Newcastle will have nearly their full complement of players available, with only Mark Viduka and Peter Ramage likely to be absent. The Magpies will also be full of energy, trying to prove themselves to their new manager.

Arsenal will also be looking to prove themselves after the embarassment at White Heart Lane a few nights ago, but the Gunners will also be facing some tough conditions after reports of a bust-up between strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner.

Arsene Wenger has assured Arsenal fans that he will rotate the squad from the one which faced Tottenham on Tuesday, although the manager is likely to rest some of his key players ahead of a Premier League game against Newcastle only three days after this match.

Jens Lehmann may start in goal as he did in the third round of the FA Cup against Burnley as Manuel Almunia gets a deserved rest.

In the defense, Armand Traore, Philippe Senderos, William Gallas, and Justin Hoyte are likely to feature as Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna rest for the more important league fixture.

In the midfield, Gilberto Silva and Abou Diaby should be the only survivors from the side that started against Tottenham on Tuesday. The pair will most likely be joined by Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas who will bring some creative impetus into the side. The battle may be won or lost in the center of the pitch, as an impressive force of Charles N'Zogbia, Damien Duff, James Milner and Nicky Butt is likely to line up against the Gunners.

Up front Nicklas Bendtner may start up front alongside Eduardo, although Emmanuel Adebayor may also feature if he has sorted out his episode with the Danish youngster.

This game is not too important in and of itself, but Wenger would like to continue blooding his youngsters in the cup, and the winners will have a decisive advantage in the Premier League game between the two next Tuesday.

A mixed Arsenal side will face a tough challenge against Newcastle, but the players will want to prove themselves after a huge defeat, and should manage to win even against a full strength Newcastle side. I predict a 2-1 win for the home side.

Blackburn vs. Arsenal: Match Review

Ten-man Arsenal defeated Blackburn 3-2 in extra time, after a tense 120 minutes at Ewood Park. The Gunners gained an early lead thanks to Abou Diaby and Eduardo, but Blackburn came back through a Roque Santa Cruz brace. Neves Denilson was sent off during second half stoppage time, but Arsenal's youngsters showed great character as Eduardo bagged his second during the first half of extra time to propel the Gunners to victory after a titanic clash.

Arsenal will now have to face either Tottenham, Everton, or the winner of Chelsea and Liverpool as Arsene Wenger's fringe players try to reach the finals of the competition for the second year running.

Lineups:
Blackburn: Brad Friedel; Ryan Nelsen, Christopher Samba, Steven Warnock, Steven Reid; David Bentley, David Dunn, Morten Gamst Pederson, Robbie Savage; Matt Derbyshire, Roque Santa Cruz

Arsenal: Lukasz Fabianski; Justin Hoyte, Alex Song, Philippe Senderos, Armand Traore; Neves Denilson, Lassana Diarra, Abou Diaby, Mark Randall ;Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo

The away team looked like a full senior squad, rather than a group of youngsters. A brilliant interplay of passes saw Arsenal on top after only 6 minutes when Abou Diaby's first-touch shot beat Brad Friedel at close range.

The traveling fans almost had more to cheer for only 3 minutes later when Nicklas Bendtner, who made a good case for his inclusion in Arsenal's senior side today, saw a shot rattle off the crossbar after a neat one-two with Diaby.

After a long period of Arsenal domination, Blackburn rallied back and twice tested 22 year-old Lukasz Fabianski in goal. The Pole made two good looking saves before Arsenal doubled their lead in the 29th minute.

Christopher Samba should have cleared away Neves Denilson's smart pass, but completely missed the ball instead. The Blackburn defender could only watch on in horror as Eduardo latched on to the pass and calmly slotted home to give Arsenal a two goal lead.

Blackburn rallied back though, giving Arsenal a tough time towards the end of the first half, and grabbed their first goal through Roque Santa Cruz in the 42nd minute, when the Paraguayan striker met Matt Derbyshire's cross in the penalty box.

The strike set the tone for the second half, which saw some desperate Arsenal defending.

With Blackburn on the ascendancy, it looked to be only a matter of time before the Rovers came up with an equalizer.

Mark Randall was booked for a tackle on Stephen Warnock around the hour mark, as David Bentley set up a free kick. The former Arsenal boy's ball was once again met by Santa Cruz who scored his second of the night with his head.

With half an hour left to play, the game could have gone either way, but despite a large number of chances on both sides, neither could break the deadlock, and to the pleasure of the onlookers the game looked destined for extra time.

Neves Denilson was sent off on the stroke of full time after a two-footed tackle on David Dunn, leaving a dejected Arsenal squad happy to hear the whistle.

Extra time started badly for Arsenal as substitute Nacer Barazite fell awkwardly and had to be taken off in a stretcher with a dislocated shoulder. The Dutchman was replaced by the much-hyped Fran Merida in the 100th minute.

Arsenal's luck got better soon after.

In the 104th minute of extra time a brilliant pass from an unlikely source reached Eduardo in the penalty box. Despite being fatigued, the Croatian striker beat Brad Friedel from 16 yards out, giving Arsenal scapegoat Alex Song an unlikely assist to top off an excellent performance from the center back.

Soon after Eduardo's goal, the former Dinamo Zagreb man was taken off after both of his legs cramped up at once. It was a good move, as he was so tired he could barely celebrate after his goal.

Kieran Gibbs played the last 20 minutes of the match, but nothing mattered any more, as Arsenal once again weathered a flurry of Blackburn attacks before finally hearing the final whistle.

The match was one of the most entertaining games I've seen in quite a while, and bodes well for Arsenal's future. These kids could well beat Chelsea or Liverpool to the Carling Cup title.

A Most Unlikely Situation At Arsenal

Arsenal have what is arguably the best midfield lineup in the Premier League (and maybe even all of Europe).

A 20 year-old Cesc Fabregas leads a midfield which is so strong that even Brazil captain Gilberto Silva cannot break in to the lineup this season. Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini have undergone incredible changes this season to become two of the best in the Premiership and Tomas Rosicky can be brilliant on his day.

Behind this first-choice four the incredible Gilberto has to fight for a spot with young talents Neves Denilson and Lassana Diarra. Abou Diaby can also play in any offensive spot across the midfield, and even Alex Song has been getting better this season even though he is not Arsenal quality yet and his best game came in the center of defense.

With such a talented and deep midfield lineup, one would think that Arsenal would dominate the middle of the park against any team in the Premiership.

Football, though, is a game of many variables, and it seems that Arsenal's luck has run out.

First, Cesc Fabregas picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in a 3-1 victory over Reading. No big deal. We're playing against Wigan at home.

Then the French senior and U21 sides played. Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby were ruled out for the Wigan match due to injury. Diaby was likely to deputize as Fabregas served out his suspension, but with Tomas Rosicky and Alex Hleb in the side, we wouldn't be lacking in creativity. Gilberto, of course, is the perfect like-for-like substitute for Flamini, and as a Brazil international with almost 60 caps his quality is undeniable.

But the stream of injuries did not stop there. Belarus played the Netherlands in a European Qualifier in which the outcome meant nothing (the Netherlands had already qualified and Belarus was already out) and Alex Hleb was substituted out at half-time due to injury.

Now that was bad news. Hleb has undergone an incredible transformation since last season, and has been one of the best, if not the best, player at the club during this campaign. We could deal with it though. It is Wigan we're playing.

Then the news comes that Gilberto won't be playing due to fatigue. Not due to arrive until Friday evening, the Brazilian would be too fatigued to play the next afternoon.

So, it seems that a most unlikely situation has ocurred at Arsenal - a midfield crisis.

But will a Carling Cup midfield be enough to defeat a Premiership side?

19 year-old Neves Denilson and 22 year-old Lassana Diarra will have to answer that question for us on Saturday, as they are likely to start at the Emirates. It will be Diarra's first Premier League start since moving to Arsenal. It will be Denilson's 16th appearance.

But this is not how Arsene Wenger likes to expose his youngsters to first-team football. Fans will be expecting an emphatic win against a manager-less side, and the team may have trouble conjuring up enough offensive firepower without Fabregas, Hleb, Diaby, and Robin van Persie.

It shouldn't be too difficult to win three points though, especially considering the Latics abysmal form (one point in the last six games). However, staying on top of the table will be far more challenging.

Manchester United play third-from-bottom Bolton Wanderers and are almost surely going to improve their goal differential and pick up a full three points. Even against a second-from-bottom Wigan side, a depleted Arsenal squad will have difficulty winning by the same margin that United are likely to defeat Bolton by.

Arsenal fans are expecting a major trophy this season, but before we get too carried away let's get real. More than two-thirds of the Premiership season are yet to be played. The knockout rounds of the Champions league have yet to start. Winning a trophy is quite possible given the incredible talent of our team, but the lesson to be learned from this all this madness is quite simple: nothing in football can be taken for granted.

Video: Top 10 Arsenal Goals This Season

Here's a video of Arsenal's top 10 goals this season, courtesy of www.footytube.com

Update: I'm working on getting the film back up and running

Goals number eight and six are pure Arsenal class, while Adebayor's cracker for number one is probably the finest strike ever by the lanky Togolese striker.

Another thing to note is that last season a similar video would have been dominated by Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry. Now, though, we have Fabregas, Toure, van Persie, Walcott, Diaby, Denilson, Eduardo, and Adebayor all making the list. 10 goals, 8 players.

That's the new Arsenal. The goals come from everywhere. That's the Arsenal that can challenge for the Premiership.

Slavia Prague vs. Arsenal: Match Review

Arsenal qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League today, despite a disappointingly boring show against Slavia Prague in the Czech capitol.

An undermanned Arsenal squad failed to hit the heights of their 7-0 drubbing of Slavia Prague two weeks ago at the Emirates in what proved to be by far the least entertaining of Arsenal's games this season. It was also the first goalless match played by the as yet undefeated Gunners - but the rest of their displays this season were in a completely different league than today's.

Lineups:
Slavia Prague: Michal Vorel; Erich Brabec, Frantisek Drizdal, David Hubacek, Marek Suchy, Matej Krajcik; Daniel Pudil, Vladimir Smicer, Michal Svec, Mikael Tavares; Zdenek Senkerik

Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Lassana Diarra, William Gallas, Alex Song, Gael Clichy; Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby, Gilberto, Denilson, Eduardo; Bendtner

As you can see, Arsene Wenger opted to play what was essentially a Carling Cup side, with Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, and Gael Clichy the only players who remained from the weekend's 2-2 draw with English giants Manchester United.

The Arsenal manager also chose an unorthodox 4-5-1, despite the fact that neither of Arsenal's top two strikers were playing. Eduardo and Theo Walcott, who both regularly play as strikers, were played on the left and right wing respectively, where both failed to have much of an impact.
This was the gaffer's 100th Champions League game at Arsenal, but the play was far from the usual flowing football Arsenal fans have been spoiled by during the Frenchman's tenure at the head of the club.

The first chance of the night fell to the home side after 15 minutes, when Mickael Tavares met a corner in the box, but failed to steer the ball on target. It would foreshadow the rest of the night - a night during which the Arsenal and Slavia goalies were forced into action only once and twice, respectively.

After 36 minutes the hosts got their second chance of the match, and their first shot on target as Zdenek Senkerik forced Almunia to tip his shot acrobatically over the bar.

The rain was pouring down in Prague as the teams went into the tunnel after a disappointing half and neither the downpour nor the low level of play changed for the better after the break.

Slavia had a penalty appeal in the 50th minute when Lassana Diarra hauled down Senkerik in the box, but the diminutive Frenchman got away with what TV replays showed to be a clear penalty.

The Czech team once again had the next chance, as a pass from substitute David Kalivoda appeared to catch the entire Arsenal defense wrong-footed. Almunia rushed out of his goal to make another crucial save though, denying Slavia a win at home.

Arsene Wenger brought on Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue in the 77th and 81st minutes but it was too little, too late. Adebayor latched onto a corner soon after his introduction, but his tame header was easily saved by Michal Vorel as Arsenal undeservedly extended their undefeated streak to 26 games.

Sheffield United vs. Arsenal: Match Review

Match Preview

Arsenal's youngsters came out 3-0 winners at Bramall Lane, following an impressive performance from the club's up-and-coming stars. A brace from Eduardo and a goal from Neves Denilson wrapped up a Carling Cup game which had been completely one-sided.

Arsenal had sixteen shots to United's six, and had an equally lopsided share of possession, controlling the ball for no less than 68% of the game.

The Gunners have booked themselves a berth in the next round of the competition where they could end up playing the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton, or cross-town rivals Tottenham.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Lukasz Fabianski; Justin Hoyte, Alex Song, Kieran Gibbs, Lassana Diarra; Neves Denilson, Gilberto Silva, Abou Diaby; Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo da Silva, Theo Walcott

Sheffield United: Ian Bennett; Chris Armstrong, Leigh Bromby, Chris Lucketti, Chris Morgan; David Carney, Nick Montgomery, Steven Quinn, Michael Tonge; Billy Sharp, Jonathan Stead

The first five minutes of the game started relatively slowly, with neither side troubling the other's goalkeeper. That all changed, though, as Nicklas Bendtner played Eduardo into the box in the eighth minute.

The Croatian goal machine launched an unstoppable drive into Bennett's top left corner, showing some of the finishing that prompted Arsene Wenger to pick him up in the Summer.

Arsenal almost picked up a second soon after when Theo Walcott passed to Nicklas Bendtner who teed up the ball for Denilson. The Brazilian midfielder completely botched his shot though, sending the ball into the stands.

Lukasz Fabianski was rarely troubled in goal, but the young Polish keeper looked less than convincing as he punched at a ball that it seemed he could easily have caught. Nonetheless, the Blades couldn't put one past the Pole, and it was once again Arsenal who were the biggest threat in the second half.

Some slack defending was taken advantage of by the young Kieran Gibbs who's splitting pass fell perfectly into the path of Eduardo. The Croatian striker once again finished clinically, putting Arsenal 2-0 ahead after fifty minutes.

Theo Walcott almost grabbed a goal when his pace took him around Bennett, but the young England international could only hit the post from a tight angle.

It wouldn't be too long before Arsenal's third though, as Denilson made up for his earlier mistake, scoring from 25 yards out. The shot took a deflection and looped over the head of Bennett who could only look on in horror as Arsenal hit the back of the net for the last time of the night in the sixty-ninth minute.

Arsenal still pressed forwards and Eduardo was denied a hattrick by Bennett before being taken off in favor of Nacer Barazite. Henri Lansbury and Fran Merida also came on as late substitutes but the game was already over as the current table-toppers put away Sheffield United's Carling Cup hopes.

Sheffield United vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

Premier League leaders Arsenal take on the Championships nineteenth placed team, Sheffield United, this Wednesday in the fourth round of the Carling Cup. The Premiership giants were lucky to avoid drawing against the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, but the Blades will not be nearly so happy to have to face Arsenal.

Arsenal played twice against United during the Blades brief one season stint in the Premiership, and while Arsenal demolished United 3-0 at the Emirates, the Blades will take some solace in the fact that they were able to defeat Arsenal 1-0 at Bramall Lane - the locale of Wednesday's fixture.

On current form though, Arsenal are far superior. Arsenal's first team is on a run of unbeaten games dating back to last April against West Ham. This season, Arsene Wenger's young guns went on a streak of twelve straight wins which was broken on Sunday in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. Arsenal are at the head of the Premiership table with eight wins, two draws, and no losses so far this season.

Sheffield are not faring nearly as well in their return to the Championship. The Blades have won only three of their thirteen games this season, the other ten consisting of five draws and an equal number of losses. United have conceded twenty-one goals this season, the second highest in the Championship, and will have to play extremely well to defeat Arsenal's young side.

Sheffield United will be given some encouragement by the fact that Arsene Wenger always plays young sides in the Carling Cup, but Arsenal's youngsters are as good as any team outside the top four, as seen in 3-1 and 6-3 victories over Liverpool last season.

This season, Arsenal's young players have managed to defeat Newcastle 2-0 in the Carling Cup third round, following impressive periods of dominance from the young gunners.

Wenger will most likely field a lineup completely different from the one which played against Newcastle, due to injuries to Philippe Senderos and Eduardo da Silva. Emmanuel Eboue is also unlikely to play on Wednesday, although he may be injected into Arsenal's depleted defense.

Lukasz Fabianksi will almost surely start in goal, as Arsene Wenger is keen on giving the promising youngster a few starts this season.

In front of the Pole will most likely be Justin Hoyte, Alex Song, Armand Traore, and Kolo Toure. Toure may have to feature in the place of the injured Philippe Senderos, although Arsene Wenger may choose to play Lassana Diarra in the defense as well. Because of the Senderos injury, Wenger may even choose to give promising young Norwegian Havard Nordtveit his senior Arsenal debut.

In the midfield Neves Denilson will likely play alongside Abou Diaby. Depending on how much Arsene Wenger trusts his youth, these two could be complimented by any number of their peers. I would love to see Kieran Gibbs and Fran Merida or even Henri Lansbury or Mark Randall feature, but I feel that Wenger will be keen on making it through to the next round so his young players can get some more experience. For that reason, the likes of Mathieu Flamini or even Gilberto may be brought in to add some experience to the young Arsenal side.

Up front, Arsene Wenger's obvious choice would be to start Nicklas Bendtner alongside the electric Theo Walcott. Walcott could soon break into the Arsenal first team following his impressive performance in the 7-0 drubbing of Slavia Prague. If he can play well on Wednesday he may even start against Manchester United next Saturday instead of leaving Emmanuel Adebayor as the lone striker.

With an impressive midfield and attacking lineup, I can't see Arsenal losing this game. I'm not going to predict any scores because they could vary greatly depending on the team that Arsene Wenger decides to field, but I think it is safe to say that Arsenal are heavy favorites in this fixture and it would be very disheartening to see them drop out at this stage of the competition.

I would be disappointed by anything less than a comprehensive victory.

Arsenal vs. Slavia Prague: Match Preview

Match Review

Group H leaders Arsenal take on third-placed Slavia Prague at the Emirates this coming Tuesday. Arsenal will be confident coming into this match, having won eleven straight games in all competitions. A 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers this past Saturday will do nothing to ruin their morale.

Arsenal would do well not to underestimate the Czech team though. Slavia currently top the table in the Czech league, having collected 25 points out of a possible 30 this season. Slavia are 9 points ahead of Sparta Prague, the team that Arsenal defeated 3-0 to qualify for the Champions League group stage. While they may have lost their last Champions League game (a 4-2 defeat at Sevilla) Slavia do have a bit of pedigree as giant-killers. The Prague team defeated Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam home and away to qualify for the tournament.

However, the Czechs will have to play very well to defeat a nearly full-strength Arsenal squad. Arsenal's only missing players will be Phillipe Senderos and Robin van Persie, and while the loss of the Dutch striker will be lamented, Senderos was unlikely to start anyways, due to the return of William Gallas.

Arsene Wenger's lineup is likely to be nearly the same as that which played Bolton, with only one switch likely - Tomas Rosicky may start over Emmanuel Eboue.

That means that Manuel Almunia will probably start in goal, with the benched goalie being either Jens Lehmann or Lukasz Fabianski.

In front of Almunia will be Arsenal's starting backline of Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, William Gallas, and Gael Clichy. I can't foresee our defense having any difficulty in keeping the Slavia strikers at bay, and if Kolo Toure can strike a free kick against Slavia the same way he did against Bolton, we may not even miss Robin van Persie.

The most likely midfield lineup (and the best in my opinion) would be Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini in the middle, with Tomas Rosicky and Alex Hleb on the flanks. The Czech national team captain is likely to start over Emmanuel Eboue who struggled to have an impact on Saturday and seems to be losing his place in the Arsenal side. Other options in the midfield include Abou Diaby, Gilberto, and Lassana Diarra; but while Diaby and Gilberto may get some time as substitutes I don't see either of them starting.

Arsenal's impressive midfield lineup should boss around Slavia's midfielders, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some goals coming from the midfield. More likely to score though, would be our front line.

Up front Arsene Wenger still has many options despite the loss of Robin van Persie due to injury. Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo started against Bolton on Saturday, and are the most likely candidates to start on Tuesday as well. However, Arsenal's young starlet Theo Walcott has been pushing for a starting berth as a striker, and Nicklas Bendtner will be looking for some action up front as well. No matter who plays, if Sevilla was able to put four past them, we should be able to score a few of our own...

While I urge Arsenal fans not to be too overconfident in this fixture, I do feel that we are heavy favorites both to win this game, and head the group in qualifying for the knockout stages. I'd guess we win this one 2-0.

Arsenal Internationals: Who's Playing Where

Gael Clichy, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna - Five Arsenal players have been selected to play for France in important qualifying fixtures against the Faroe Islands on October 13th and Lithuania on October 17th. Flamini received his first call-up to the national side, thanks in large part to his impressive club form of late. This is also Clichy's first call-up to the senior national team, but the young left-back is unlikely to feature. Gallas and Sagna both missed the last round of internationals due to injury, but Sagna has been playing for the club recently and Gallas has also returned to club training, making it likely that both will play during the international break.

Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure - Arsenal center-back Kolo Toure and right-back Emmanuel Eboue have both been called up to play in the Ivory Coast's October 17th friendly against Austria.

Emmanuel Adebayor - Prolific striker Emmanuel Adebayor will travel to play with Togo against Mali on October 12th. Togo's hopes may rest on the head of Adebayor, who is currently the Premier League's top scorer.

Nicklas Bendtner - The 19 year-old Dane has been selected to represent his country against teammate Cesc Fabregas' Spain on the 13th and Latvia on the 17th.

Eduardo - The Brazilian-born Croat has been selected to play for Croatia against Israel and Slovakia on the 13th and 16th respectively. However, he is unlikely to feature due to a groin strain. He is, though, likely to be back in time for Arsenal's Premier League match against Bolton Wanderers next weekend.

Cesc Fabregas - Arsenal's in-form midfield maestro will take on teammate Nicklas Bendtner in Spain's match against Denmark on October 13, after which he will travel to Finland to take on the Finnish national team.

Gilberto - Arsenal's out-of-favor holding midfielder was still called up to Dunga's Brazil team for their matches against Colombia and Ecuador on the 14th and 17th of this month. The Brazil captain is likely to start for his home country, despite the fact that he has been sitting on the bench lately at the club.

Alex Hleb - Balarussian midfielder Alex Hleb will feature for his country against Luxembourg and Israel on the 13th and 17th, and will hope that his recent scoring touch with Arsenal will break through into his national game.

Jens Lehmann - Under pressure goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will make his return from injury for Germany against the Republic of Ireland on October 13th, before facing Tomas Rosicky's Czech side on the 17th. The goalie will be hoping for two impressive performances to keep Manuel Almunia out of the Arsenal goal.

Tomas Rosicky - Tomas Rosicky will do his best to prevent Jens Lehmann from registering a clean sheet as he plays for the Czech Republic against Germany on the 17th.

Phillipe Senderos - The Swiss defender, who has been standing in for the injured William Gallas at Arsenal lately, has been called up to face Austria and the USA in two friendlies on the 13th and 17th of October.

Robin van Persie - Robin van Persie is set to return to Romania and play against Slovenia as the Netherlands attempt to qualify for the 2008 European Championships. The Dutchman, who has been forming a great partnership with Emmanuel Adebayor will hope to aid his country in the qualification process.

Theo Walcott - Arsenal's only British player was called up to represent the England U21's, who are set to face Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland on October 12 and 16 respectively.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland: Match Review

Match Preview

Arsenal went back on top of the Premier League table, beating Sunderland 3-0 to make it 10 straight wins. A Robin van Persie double inspired the hosts to a late victory over Roy Keane's stubborn Sunderland side.

Lineups:
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia; Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy; Alex Hleb, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Abou Diaby; Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie

Sunderland: Craig Gordon; Danny Higginbotham, Paul McShane, Nyron Nosworthy, Danny Collins; Grant Leadbitter, Liam Miller, Ross Wallace, Michael Chopra, Dwight Yorke; Kenwyne Jones

The hosts started the game brightly, with Robin van Persie feeding Emmanuel Adebayor through in the first minute. The Togolese striker, who is the top scorer in the Premier League with 6 goals, shot over the bar in what was a warning of the Arsenal onslaught to come.

In the 7th minute, Cesc Fabregas was taken down just outside the 18 yard box, and Abou Diaby's strike (the first of 5 Arsenal balls to hit the back of the Sunderland net) was ruled out because the referee had already blown his whistle. Amends were made though when van Persie powered the resulting free kick into Craig Gordon's goal. It was a true Robin van Persie strike, a powerful left-footed shot, which couldn't be kept out of the net.

Only 7 minutes later, Arsenal added a second after a badly cleared corner kick fell to Philippe Senderos, who made no mistake from close range. Roy Keane was (rightly) furious with his team's defending, but his fury wouldn't last too long.

In the 20th minute, Arsenal looked to have added a third when Abou Diaby shot into the roof of the net, but the referee's assistant flagged for a dubious offsides call.

Five minutes later Sunderland got a break from the previously tight Arsenal defense. A long ball to Kenwyne Jones who outpowered Gael Clichy and got off a shot. Almunia saved well, but the rebound fell to Ross Wallace who calmly slotted home.

Arsenal had two great chances to go two goals up again before the halftime whistle, but a good save from Robin van Persie's 25 yard screamer kept the margin to one. Philippe Senderos had the last clear chance of the game, as he headed wide from three or four yards out after losing his marker.

It was Sunderland who made the best of their chances after the break though. Liam Miller crossed the ball to Kenwyne Jones, who headed it past Manuel Almunia. The keeper did not react well, and I would have thought that Jens Lehmann would have saved the shot. I can't wait for Crazy Jens to get back.

Arsenal nearly took the lead after an incredibly powerful 30 yard shot from Kolo Toure came off of Gordon's goalpost.

Theo Walcott, who had come on for Diaby in the 57th minute, then missed his kick from 4 yards after a cut back from Alex Hleb. He did better in the 80th minute though, as he played in van Persie who controlled the ball well and slotted home with his second touch, granting Arsenal the full 3 points.

Paul McShane was shown a straight red card just before stoppage time for a nasty tackle on Alex Hleb, and the man advantage showed immediately.

Theo Walcott once again did well with an angled drive, but his shot hit Gordon's post in injury time. It didn't matter though, as Arsene Wenger's young side had already claimed their 10th straight victory.

Although they didn't look as assured in this match, I am proud of our side. They are showing the spirit of champions, and if they continue to play like this on their bad days, Arsenal will surely win the title.

Does Eboue Have A Place At Arsenal?

Emmanuel Eboue played 35 games for Arsenal last season, taking the first-choice right-back position from Lauren (who transferred to Portsmouth due to his lack of first-team play). The Ivorian was criticized for his defending, but put in some brilliant crosses, prompting some to propose playing him on the right wing.

During the Summer transfer window, Arsene Wenger brought in the fabulous Frenchman Bacary Sagna. Sagna has been a rock at right-back, defending and attacking well. Along with Gael Clichy he provided width in an otherwise narrow Arsenal side, and his defending has been as good as any right-back at Arsenal.

Having lost his place at right-back, Arsene Wenger (and many Arsenal fans) thought that now was a good time to test him out in the midfield. He played a few pre-season games at right-mid, and failed to have much influence. Following an injury, he came back to play against Newcastle in our 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Big Sam's side. He featured again in the 1-0 victory over West Ham after Alex Hleb was taken off, and then started in the 1-0 defeat of Steaua Bucharest. However, he once again failed to have much impact in any of these games, making it unlikely for him to start tomorrow against Sunderland.

If he is second choice to Hleb and Diaby in the midfield, and to Sagna in the defense, do we really need him at the club? We have another capable right-back in 22 year-old Justin Hoyte, which means that Eboue will have limited chances in any competition other than the Carling Cup. Will he even want to stay under these conditions?

Of all of our players, Emmanuel Eboue is the only one that I would not mind selling in the January transfer window. He is surplus to Arsenal's requirements, and would likely command a fair sum of cash. Let's not hang on to him for too long.

Arsenal vs. Sunderland: Match Preview

Match Review

Arsenal will look to extend their 9 game winning streak even further this Sunday as they take on newly-promoted Sunderland at the Emirates. Roy Keane's fifteenth place team will be lucky to get any points out of this game, and will likely play with many men behind the ball.

Arsenal's physio room had a nice day on Wednesday as nobody was injured in the 1-0 win over Steau Bucharest, and only the long term injury sufferers are still out. Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue returned in the midweek, and Jens Lehmann, William Gallas, Tomas Rosicky, and Alex Song have all returned to training, although none of them are match-fit yet, and they are therefore unlikely to feature on Sunday. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has only one injured player this match. Eduardo, who is out with an ankle injury, would have been unlikely to feature anyways thanks to the fine form of Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie.

The back line will probably be the same that we have seen in the past few games, with Manuel Almunia in goal behind Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, and Gael Clichy. I can't see our defenders having any real problems against Kenwyne Jones and Michael Chopra, although they will have to watch out for Sunderland's promising young attacking midfielder, Grant Leadbitter.

In the center of the field, Wenger will likely opt to play Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini in the central midfield positions, despite Gilberto fighting for a place. The in-form midfielders will probably be assisted by Alex Hleb, although the last spot is more contested. Wenger may choose Emmanuel Eboue as he did against Steaua Bucharest, but he might also opt to play Abou Diaby or Theo Walcott. Even against the likes of Leadbitter, I expect our midfield to boss around the Black Cats, and we are likely to see most of the possession.

Up front, Wenger will not want to tamper with his fine striking pair of Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie. The Togo and Netherlands internationals will be expected to find the back of the net in what may end up being a high scoring game for Arsenal.

I have been predicting high scorelines recently (and I was wrong about West Ham and Steaua) but I'm going to have to go high again and say that we will win this game 3-0. Down with Roy Keane, up with Arsenal!

Four Players Doubts For Arsenal Champions League Clash

Arsenal have four players who are doubts for tomorrow's Champions League game against Steaua Bucharest.

Alex Hleb, Mathieu Flamini, Abou Diaby, and Emmanuel Adebayor are awaiting late fitness tests before Arsene Wenger names his squad for the away tie. All four have made the trip to Romania, but it is yet to be seen if any or all of them will play tomorrow.

"Alex Hleb will travel," Wenger told Arsenal.com. "We tested him for a check on his bone and a decision will be made tomorrow over whether he will play or not.

"Emmanuel Adebayor will travel but we will make a decision on him as well. It looks a little less good than it did. Mathieu Flamini has a knock on his groin. Abou Diaby has a knock on his ankle so we need to check on them.

The injuries to Hleb, Flamini, and Diaby will leave Arsenal light in the midfield, with Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto the only fit midfielders who usually receive spots in the starting 11. If none of the three are fit for tomorrow's game, Wenger may be forced to start Eboue and Denilson alongside Fabregas and Gilberto.

Walcott could be another option on the wing, but with Eduardo and Adebayor out he may start the game up front with Robin van Persie. Another option (since )it is unlikely that Nicklas Bendtner will start) would be to play van Persie as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 including Walcott on the flank.

The 1-0 win over West Ham had quite a toll on our players, but I am optimistic about winning this match even with a depleted squad.

Steaua Bucharest vs. Arsenal: Champions League Match Preview

Match Review

This Tuesday Premier League table-toppers Arsenal face off with Romania's second place team Steaua Bucharest. Arsene Wenger's young guns will go into the match full of confidence, riding a streak of 8 straight wins in all competitions.

The Gunners are first in Group H, following a convincing 3-0 victory over Spanish side Sevilla. Steaua are on the other side of the table, having lost their opening match to Slavia Prague 0-1. They will face a tough challenge against the talented Gunners, who have yet to lose a game this season.

Arsenal are heavy favorites to win both Tuesday's match against Steaua and Champions League Group H. However, their task will be made a bit more difficult due to the absence of Alex Hleb, who was injured in the 1-0 win over West Ham yesterday. Other players who will miss the match are William Gallas, Tomas Rosicky, and Jens Lehmann, although all are set to come back some time soon, after their long-term injuries.

Edit: Hleb, Adebayor, Flamini and Diaby are all doubts for the Steaua game

Although Arsenal are very likely to win this match, Arsene Wenger is still likely to play some of his big names on Tuesday.

The Arsenal backline will probably consist of Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, and Gael Clichy; with Manuel Almunia between the sticks. The talented Arsenal midfield will most likely feature Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Abou Diaby, and Emmanuel Eboue; although the recently out-of-favor Gilberto may also see some action. Theo Walcott, who was rested against West Ham, may also feature on the left-wing.

Up front, Wenger may choose to play Eduardo da Silva rather than risk Emmanuel Adebayor, although if Adebayor is fit, he will probably start alongside Robin van Persie in a strong Arsenal attack.

The attack, which has scored 16 goals in 7 Premiership games this season, will likely be Arsenal's source of inspiration, with goals coming from midfield as well. Fabregas will be the mastermind behind all of Arsenal's moves as usual, supplying pinpoint passes to the attack, and maybe even adding to his impressive haul of 6 goals this season.

Steaua on the other hand will get most of their inspiration from Nicolae Dica, the impressive Romanian attacking midfielder who has scored 48 goals in 101 league games for Steaua Bucharest. He will have a hard time scoring against Arsenal's defense which has only let in 2 goals since Jens Lehmann's injury.

I expect that Arsenal will dominate the game, although wastefulness may keep the scoreline lower than it could be. I predict a 2-0 win which will keep Arsenal at the top of Group H, extending our winning streak to 9 games.

West Ham vs. Arsenal: Match Preview

Arsenal are set to play an exciting match on Saturday as they take on West Ham, the only team ever to beat Arsenal at the Emirates. West Ham are something of a bogey team for the Gunners, having won their last 4 Premiership meetings, and Arsenal will not be happy if they lose to recently departed Freddy Ljungberb. However, Arsene Wenger's boys will be heavy favorites to win this match, especially considering form that sees them undefeated in 17 games (since the loss to West Ham last season). Both teams have been performing well recently though, as Arsenal are in first, and West Ham not too far behind in seventh.

Arsene Wenger has told Arsenal.com that Alex Hleb may or may not be ready in time for Saturday. In other injury news, Emmanuel Eboue returned from injury against Newcastle, but probably won't feature on Saturday, as he is not match fit. Alex Song has also been added to the injury list, although he probably wouldn't have featured anyway. The other injured players are all still out, although Wenger did put something of a time frame on their returns.

Edit: Hleb is now fit but Eduardo is injured and Theo Walcott is set to be rested

“William Gallas is maybe a week or 10 days away,” said Wenger. “But I would not like to set a time on it really. As for Rosicky you can probably fix the date for Sunderland [next Sunday]. Jens Lehmann will be another week.”

Arsenal come off of the 5-0 defeat of Derby County last weekend and a 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Carling Cup on Tuesday. They will therefore be high in confidence - especially Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas, who have each scored 6 goals this season. Fabregas has scored a goal in each of his last 4 Premier League games and Adebayor recorded a hat-trick in the win over Derby.

Other starters will most likely include Bacary Sagna, Philippe Senderos, Kolo Toure, and Gael Clichy in the back line. It will be interesting to see who Wenger opts to play in the midfield, although Fabregas, Gilberto, Flamini, and Diaby are the most likely candidates if Hleb doesn't manage to return in time. Up front Arsene will most likely start Adebayor and van Persie, although Eduardo and Theo Walcott are also possibilities. Maybe we'll even see Nicklas Bendtner come off the bench.

Whoever we start, we should certainly be playing for a win, even against a bogey team. Craig Bellamy and Dean Ashton have been on decent form for the Hammers this season, but our defense shouldn't have too much trouble handling them if there are no errors from Senderos. We should get another clean sheet, and I expect a few goals from our side as well. I don't want to be too optimistic by predicting 3-0, so I'll go ahead and say that we should win 2-0, to stay at the top of the table.

Match Review