Test for City Slickers
Collision Not Dive
By Boris Mellor
September 11 2009
"What will happen at City, who knows, who can predict? It depends which team turns up, and I don't mean Arsene's team selection. Arsenal always struggle after International weeks, and this time the injury roll is lengthy." That's what I wrote for last year's fixture, it doesn't need a lot of re - writing, and the injury list is a mile long as usual, perhaps not as bad as back in November.
Back then the Gunners played a back line of Hoyte, Silvestre, Djourou and Clichy. Silvestre was Arsenal Magazine Man of Match! It doesn't come much weaker than that
The rest must have really been poo for Silvestre to be MOM in a 3-0 defeat. Fortunately I can't remember, and no way am I buying the Season Review, that is for masochists.
Denilson, Song and Diaby were the midfield; well it's one way of finding out how much they improved. Nasri, RvP and Bendtner combined to produce a blank.
Arsenal had lost to Villa the week before and won against Chelsea a week after, and then went on a very long unbeaten run. So how will the team react to the defeat by Manchester United? That is very hard to predict, sending the team away for two weeks after a great disappointment must have really helped Wenger to get it all together again.
So back to the injury list - no Arshavin, Nasri, Djourou, Walcott and Vela. Rosicky and Fabregas played for their national teams, but Wenger is not sure if they are fit enough for competitive football.
Russia has kindly wrecked Arshavin for at least the next 3 games, so Arsenal will not be at their strongest against the supercharged sheiks of Mancunia.
Some fans fear that oil money will push City into the top four, that City will be too slick for Arsenal. However Saturday will be the first big test for City. City are yet to face a real top four club, in normal circumstances I would expect Arsenal to win, but if they get the post international break blues it could be a draw. Even if Arsenal lost, I would still expect them to be in the top four come May.
Vermaelen and Gallas are a classy act, Sagna and Clichy are as good, if not better than most. Indeed at Utd a week ago the defence and midfield stifled the Mancunians for the first two thirds of the match.
When Walcott, Arshavin, Rosicky, Eduardo are all super match fit very few teams will be able to live with them. But they could be a little way off the top if they lose again, so a good result will be important, it will also be very important for City prospects. Its test for both teams.
For Gunners it will be a chance to measure Arsenal against the Arsenal team of last year. Has it really improved, this game could tell us far more than the Man Utd game.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:09:13:11:42:01 by Padre Pio.
almunia
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Clichy
Denilson Song Cesc
Eboue Van Persie Bendtner
subs
Mannone, Silvestre, Diaby, Ramsey, Merida, Wilshere, Eduardo
He is sacrificing a lot for the team at the moment, but I am sure he will get his 15-20, with the rest of the team scoring more.
i expect toure to play out of his skin since he is the new city captain as for ade;he would charge around and want to score a goal.
we just have to win this game or the media will go on the overdrive.......
Quote:Padre Pio
But RvP has gone backwards
About 100 times a game, in fact.
And if we meet BArca in CL CUp FInal...
