Quick preview of our game later today against the Hammers at Upton Park. Look if there's ever going to be a time nailed-on as Crucial to defeat the team from East London, that time is now. They sit above us in 5th Position at the halfway stage of the season and from the way they have comfortably seen off some notable names in this division, they are definitely not a team to be toyed with. How on earth did they come about being higher than us in the league table you might ask? Well, while we have endured one of the most frustrating first halfs to the season that i can remember, West Ham have gotten off to a flier. Also while we have battled one injury situation to the other to our key figures, they have enjoyed a relatively healthy patch. However, it must be said.. they have been brilliant so far and are deservedly positioned above us.
Arsenal have not been convincing this season and its down to the disjointed team we keep assembling to play time and again. Yes, there is so much you can do as a manager if key players can't stay healthy to play. But its ironic that the area of the team that required the most attention at the start of the season because we were lacking bodies there, has come back full circle to bite us in the ass. Our defensive situation has been a total mess. Funny Combinations like playing a Left-back at Central Defence or a young Right-back at Left-back and so on have all led to dropped points painfully simply because we did not go all out to shore up our central defense in the summer incase of Injuries. Koscielny according to the Boss will be fit to play and that is great news, we have missed him badly.
Other players likely to feature are perpetual West ham killers like Walcott and Podolski. The latter may be given a run out in the wake of Giroud's unfortunate suspension.
West Ham do not have the odds in their favor though, they have not won a game against Arsenal in the last 12 fixtures (D2 L10)..and in our last few visits to West Ham we have at the very least managed to pick a point on the rare occasions we don't take all three.The last time we lost there was in 2006 & the last two games at the Boleyn have ended in 1-3 losses for them.. so on that front we can feel a little confident...just a little. Fat Sam has got some good players in that team, One of which is Sakho Diafra, their Star man with 7goals in his last11 games,which is a very healthy return. Quick, powerful and skilfull he will need to be watched closely. We will also need to keep an eye on Carrol whose prowess in the air is unquestionable. Images of a cowering Per didn't do the Big man much justice against Liverpool but its a reminder of our struggles in the air. At Stoke they battered us arieally for the 1st and 3rd goals they scored and Fat Sam would have taken note of that.
Its a Must win game in my opinion, if we are serious about injecting much needed self-belief and momentum into our camp to propel us on a winning run that we haven't been able to string together all season. With a win and Chelsea doing one over Southampton we could go 4th...Definitely plenty to play for...C'mon Arsenal!!
Other players likely to feature are perpetual West ham killers like Walcott and Podolski. The latter may be given a run out in the wake of Giroud's unfortunate suspension.
West Ham do not have the odds in their favor though, they have not won a game against Arsenal in the last 12 fixtures (D2 L10)..and in our last few visits to West Ham we have at the very least managed to pick a point on the rare occasions we don't take all three.The last time we lost there was in 2006 & the last two games at the Boleyn have ended in 1-3 losses for them.. so on that front we can feel a little confident...just a little. Fat Sam has got some good players in that team, One of which is Sakho Diafra, their Star man with 7goals in his last11 games,which is a very healthy return. Quick, powerful and skilfull he will need to be watched closely. We will also need to keep an eye on Carrol whose prowess in the air is unquestionable. Images of a cowering Per didn't do the Big man much justice against Liverpool but its a reminder of our struggles in the air. At Stoke they battered us arieally for the 1st and 3rd goals they scored and Fat Sam would have taken note of that.
Its a Must win game in my opinion, if we are serious about injecting much needed self-belief and momentum into our camp to propel us on a winning run that we haven't been able to string together all season. With a win and Chelsea doing one over Southampton we could go 4th...Definitely plenty to play for...C'mon Arsenal!!
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