Preview Arsenal vs Portsmouth Preview Arsenal vs Portsmouth

Preview Arsenal vs Portsmouth Preview Arsenal vs Portsmouth

Yesterday I was enjoying a nice replay of the Aston Villa vs Arsenal game unaware of the full time scores I saw Andrew Van Ginkel Jersey the Gunners go 2-0 up before happerly heading off to a local game(A-League).After a thrilling game of local football a fellow Melbourne fan also a Villa fan alerted me to the score a 2-2 draw away to Villa it was there and then that I knew our title hopes were basically over.I will not go into the game as it has already been covered but the aftermarth of the result.Arsenal have been reduced to a club not currently worthy of the top four with injuries and suspensions and an extremely young group well and truely taking its toll.Arsenals goal is still the title in the eyes of the players, owners and manager but a more realistic view is a top 4 finish that guides them to the Champions League.This is why the clash with Portsmouth is so important?A mid table team against a top 4 heavyweight that needs to get a win to put its season back Emmanuel Ogbah Jersey on track ahead of the new year and transfer window.A win that will help Arsenal stablize their league position by staying in 5th place keeping as close to the top 4 as po sible while keeping away from the 5-10 ladder scrap that goes on each season. For the match against Pompey I have summed up what I think will be some of the key match ups of the game.Goalkeeper v Goalkeeper: Manuel Almunia v David JamesA key battle in any game the power of the goalkeeper. Both keepers have had reasonable seasons with Almunia statisticly on top due to being at the stronger club with James having much more pure ability just lacking some form. Almunia has not been great in goals showing a lack of willingne s to dive for the ball or position Jevon Holland Jersey himself correctly throughout the season which is why I think they should show him the door but he Austin Jackson Jersey is what we have at the moment and he is the stand in captain so lets hope that makes him step up to the world cla s stage set by keepers like Cech, Schwarzer and co.Central Midfield: Denilson v Papa Bouba DiopWith the absence of Fabregas Denilson is going to have to step up against a bigger defensive minded opponent in Diop. It will be a key clash as the Gunners were lacking depth in the middle of the park with Fabregas playing so without him it will be quite a challenge which Denilson showed he could handle in attack by scoring a goal against Villa but Diop may cause a few more problems.It will be a fasinating fight for po se sion in the middle of the park with the smaller sized Denilson really going to need to outsmart the bigger Diop.Strikers vs Ex Gunner: Emmanuel Adebayor v Sol CampbellAdebayor makes his return from suspension against Sol Campbell a proven campaigner it will be a tight battle with the outcome probably leading to a goal or a clean sheet in one way or another.Adebayor should have the pace and a sistance of Van Zach Thomas Jersey Persie to give him the edge but an experienced Campbell could cause some major headaches for a weakened Arsenal team.Prediction: Arsenal 3 Portsmouth 1

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