Match Preview: Arsenal v Wigan; EPL Match Day 13

This season trips up to the northwest haven’t been good to Arsenal, with the nightmares at Manchester United and Blackburn in the distance but still in the memory. Additionally, trips up to the DW have only yielded Arsenal 1 point in the last 2 years. In fact Arsenal have conceded 5 points from winning positions on their last two trips up to DW.  But this is a different Arsenal and they are chasing their 3rd successive win on the road this season.

Road form is going to have to be great over the next few weeks as Arsenal take to the road for their next 3 matches. This match against Wigan is followed up by a trip to Greece for the Champion’s League and then next weekend’s return to the northwest for a trip to the Etihad for the airline derby.

The good news for Arsenal is that many of the things we’ve been critical of them for seems to have been done away with. For instance, long chided for being the team that concedes the last goal and eventually the lead, Arsenal lead the league in turning the momentum of games in actually taking 7 points from losing positions. Additionally, out of 18 points available from their last 6 matches the Gunners have taken 16. Only City and Spurs have been as good.

At early pass this looks like a walk in the park for the Gunners but Wigan will have been bouyed by their impressive win over Sunderland (which subsequently got Steve Bruce fired). Wgian will be looking to press the home field advantage and see that the Gunners results up to the northwest are maintained. And considering their upcoming fixture list, Wigan will hope they can get something here with Chelsea, Liverpool and United in their immediate future.

The Gunners will likely roll out with at least 8 or 9 players different from the squad that took the pitch for the Carling Cup. Both Theo Walcott and Gervihno should start on the wings and give the Gunners the needed pace that was missing from the likes of Andrei Arshavin. The attack of Gervinho, Walcott and Gervinho reminds me quite strongly of the likes of Cavani, Lavezzi, and Hamsik at Napoli. Both groups play well with pace, have players that are prolific in front of the goal (and wanted by Man City) and have players who are skilled at setting up plays. All in all it could venture to be too strong for relegation struggling Wigan.

How the Match Should Play Out.

Its not any secret that the Gunners are going to want to take out the DW crowd before it has a chance to be the 12th man to Wigan. While Arsenal have proved deft at snatching late winners and equalizers they should come out looking to take care of the early chances that have been aplenty for them.

Players to Watch:

Arsenal: Robin Van Persie. He tried very hard to score against Fulham but didn’t net one. Hardly a cold spell. He’ll look to get back on trackat the DW.

Wigan: Roberto Matinez. Yeah I know he’s the manager. But he is one a lot of people have an affinity for. So do I. A good manager with a team with very limited resources. Would be nice to see how he would fare with a bigger club. Wigan haven’t been able to handle the pace of Arsenal and in the last two matches (Carling Cup and EPL) they have had two players sent off. They will have to mount a solid smart defence in order to make sure they don’t do it again. Since Martinez will be at home he doesn’t have the pleasure of sitting back for a defencive struggle which means he is likely to with a variant of the 4-3-3 with either Sammon or Rodaellga up front. Still, the Gunners are going to want to put this bed with a big match coming next week. Arsenal take their third in a row on the road.

Probable Starting XI:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Wilshere (ankle)  Sagna (ankle) Gibbs (hernia) Jenkinson (back fracture) Diaby (hamstring) Rosicky (hamstring)

Wigan: Kirkland (back) Alcaraz (suspended)

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal:  Van Persie 18 (13 league)

Wigan: DiSanto 4 (4 league)

Last Meeting (EPL):

Arsenal: 3

Wigan: 0

Goals For:

Arsenal (away): 2.2

Wigan (home): 1.3

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 3

Wigan: (home): 1.8

Last Five:
Arsenal: DWWWW

Wigan: WDLLL

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 3

Wigan: -12

Match Official:
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Matches 8, R3 Y25)

Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer.Tv 1000AM EST

UK: BBC 1 1500 BST

GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!

www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Wigan: 0

The Final Word:

It is time for Andrei Arshavin to go. After another lacklustre performance I can no longer see the sense of keeping the Russian on this squad. During the 60 or so minutes he played against Fulham he created nothing and offered us nothing down the left side. I am not of the mind that it has anything to do with playing out of position. That’s an excuse for those people who would rather find fault with the manager than the player.

The thing is Andrei’s disappearing act isn’t limited to just Arsenal. He has been chastized in the Russian press for disappearing for large chunks of games. One russian paper went so far as to think it was time to either drop him completely or remove him from the national team completely. I’ve got a few Russian followers on twitter and they still can’t figure out why he is with us as he has only ever had 3 or 4 real good games for the national team.

A lot of people argue on his behalf that Andrei should be kept because he is the kind of player who can offer you that moment of magic. In nearly 3 years with the club Andrei has offered that magic to Arsenal exactly 3 times, – Liverpool away, Manchester United away and last year’s Champion’s League match against Barca. If we are keen to get rid of the likes of Denilson, Rosicky, Diaby and others who showed promise early but it never materialized consistently then it is time to three the bath water out the window. It’s time for Andrei to go.

If Andrei goes who comes in? Well, that’s a good question. John Cross lead his weekly Arsenal pieces with an exclusive that Arsenal intended to make a £30 million bid to Dortmund for Mario Gotze. The offer was intended to go with a high enough bid to entice Dortmund to act who continue to stress they won’t part with Gotze. It was also supposed to act as an enticement for Robin Van Persie that the Gunners are serious about maintaining their past level of competitiveness. And let’s be real, if they are serious about Gotze it is also intended to bring in a like for like replacement for Cesc Fabregas as he is the closest thing to our former Spanish captain out there in Europe.

Personally, I don’t think even if we bid we will get him. The thing about German clubs they are hardly in the financial nightmare that find other clubs often selling their talent. Even with Dortmund out of the Champion’s League they don’t need the cash.. Gotze though has had his head turned. And I see him either at Arsenal or Bayern to start next season.

The more interesting transfer rumour is the the one that has us linked to Lukasz Podolski. More so because he has been talking up Arsenal lately and how they play. I think this one has a better chance of going through in January than any other deal. Should Arsenal offload both Arshavin and Chamakh for say £15 million then the cost for Podolski would be only £5 million of the club’s money. This is the one to watch for folks. Especially given today’s news that Podolski has sworn there has been no contact with Arsenal.

That’s it for now. Well see you on the flip side. Until then, Stay Goonerish!!!

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