Arsenal v. Man City Preview

There’s not a whole lot going on this morning folks, so I’ll just have a quick blog and be off. It’s full of the usual hyperbolic screeching and disconnected from reality musings, just packed into a smaller sphere of insanity today.

The last team to beat Arsenal in the EPL (17 games ago) come to town to face an Arsenal squad which will look nothing like the one they beat back in November — and that’s a good thing. First off, we’ve got a new captain who’s back from a 2 month layoff after suffering a knee injury that nearly ended his career from a deliberate attack by Xavi Alonso.1

That’s right kids and kittens, Cesc Fabregas is mostly ready to play and the boss is including him in the team. There’s some debate as to whether he’ll start given Arsene’s comments about him needing three games to get back to 100%. I’m firmly in the “substitute” camp but I’m always wrong about this sort of stuff so feel free to ignore me.

Similarly, Theo Walgod2 is available and ready to spread his message of love and end runs. Like Cesc, I think he’ll be used as a substitute. In fact, my gut is telling me that 10 players will come on as a sub, in the 12th minute.

Adebayor is scheduled to play and will almost certainly be the lone starter. He will headbutt Shay Givens in the 9th minute, then run over to the bench and kick Robinho in the balls (Robinho and Bellamy are question marks for tomorrow’s game). This will get him a stern ticking off from referee Andre Marriner. You remember Marriner, he refereed the Everton 1-1 Arsenal match: the one where Wenger played Diaby and Song in the middle and Denilson out wide.3

Where was I? Oh yes, Adebayor, Cesc, Walcott, and Arshavin are all healthy and ready to play. Well, Cesc, Walcott, and Arshavin are ready to play; we’re not sure if the Adebayor who’s ready to play will show up or the Adebayor who can’t be arsed will show up. I’m touching wood4 that it’s the latter former.

That’s about it, kickoff is 7am local time and the match is on Setanta. As usual, Doyle’s is showing the match live so come on down for some coffee and a sandwich and cheer on the Arsenal. The other telly will be showing Newcastle’s first completely demoralizing loss under the foolhardy Alan Shearer 8 game caretaker-ship, so if Arsenal gets boring you’ll have that disaster to watch. I’m saying Chelsea 4-1 Newcastle with Toon getting the first goal and then crumbling like a sack of relegation bound turds.

That would be a fantastic result, wouldn’t it?!?

In the mean time, if you want to see something truly fantastical check out a video of Tony Adam’s top 10 goals.

1. Hyperbolic screeching
2. Disconnected from reality
3. Hyperbolic screeching
4. True

0 comments

  1. I reckon Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea. Shearer is a god up there and he might drive them on to a flukey draw. Let’s hope so.

  2. line up for tomorrow

    ———–Almunia———–
    Sagna–Gallas—Toure–Clichy
    Eboue–Denilson–Cesc–Arshavin
    —–Walcott—–Adebayor—–

    Bench:
    Fabianski, Gibbs, Song, Bendtner, Ramsey

    Sub in Ramsey for Cesc after 60-70 min and
    Song for Eboue with Walcott moving to the right and
    Adebayor alone up top after 75 min and Song sitting
    in front of the back four…Bendtner in at 80 min for
    Adebayor if we are tied or down…

  3. Thanks Tim – I survived the G20 riots outside my offices; whether the global economy is going to survive the G20 itself is another issue 🙂

  4. Line up for Arsenal Vs Mancity

    Almunia

    Sagna Toure Galas Clichy

    Walcot Fabregas Denilson Arshavin

    Bentner Adebayor

  5. Eduardo I hope is going to start along side Manu – I think that will be deadly since Manu can draw many defenders to him and give Eduardo a lifetime to tuck it past Given who is playing on the wrong team tomorrow by the way. Fab is probably going to be a sub and come on for maybe 20-30 minutes; don’t be surprised by a Denilson/Song middle simply due to a lack of personnel – thank you internationals for injuring my players. Fab’s obviouslly not match fit or match sharp so he couldn’t start (or could he?). For all we know maybe Wilshere will play?

  6. Also, gang, I’m going to be doing the Good, Bad, and Ugly right after the game rather than on Sunday, so look for an update around 10am PST (6pm GMT).

  7. I think Almunia will be man of the match. He is GOD here in Argentina. Since he speaks spanish, maybe he will play for Argentina instead of for England. We need to get him an Argentina passport.

  8. Ah I didn’t see Eddie is out when I posted, then that means Nicky is probably going ot partner Manu out of lack of options. I still think they could get at least a goal a piece.

  9. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Arshavin on the scoresheet; with Bendtner and Adebayor to worry about there ought to be a fair bit of space in behind the City defence. That said, AA does have a fantastic dead ball delivery so the height of those two guys should reap dividends (even if it does take 3,267 attempts…)

    Bring it on; this international break has been interminable.

  10. Back from vacation only to hear the dreaded international break has robbed us once again of quite a few players.

    Cesc will probably start and play 60-65 minutes. Wenger’s illegitimate son, Denilson, will probably start alongside Cesc with Arshavin and Eboue on the wings. For lack of choices it will be Ade and “twinkle toes” Bendtner up front.

    What’s up with Nasri? A new strain of flu? Knocked out for one week because of flu. Obama has the flu and is infecting everyone at the G20 Summit. This is the new US super weapon.

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