Yes, It Is A Must Win Match. Arsenal v Hull City, Match Preview

Its the Tan Man v the Red and White Army

It’s hard to say that a match in December is a must win. But when Hull City visit the Emirates this Saturday anything less than a win will once again create that doubt that Arsenal can sustain a title challenge this year.

Last season when the well tanned man, Phil Brown brought his newly promoted Hull City to the Emirates they were the league darlings having worked their way up to the top of the league. Even more stunningly they pulled off a 2-1 defeat of the Gunners and had Arsene Wenger’s men on the path to fighting for the Champion’s League lives.

Forward to this season and the story is all together different. While Arsenal are having their difficulties, they look to be better equipped to stay in the league’s elite tier. Hull haven’t seen the top 10 since they were there on Day 1 of the season. Hull are fighting for their Premiership lives at this point with only 1 point keeping them out of the relegation zone.  However, gaining a even point seems a hard task for the Tigers with their key player Jimmy Bullard off due to a knee injury.

Arsenal though are currently in their own rut. The injuries have piled up and scoring has dried up. Prior the injury suffered by Robin Van Persie, the Gunners were scoring on an average of 3.5 goals per match. Since his injury the gunners have managed to average 1.5 games per match. That’s in all competitions folks. If you look at the 5 league games since he has been gone – Arsenal have only managed 5 goals in 5 matches.

In order to keep the pressure on United and Chelsea (and to keep Spurs and Villa in their rightful place – beneath us in the table) Arsenal will need to come out and break Hull’s back early. And breaking their back means two goals not one.  The simple fact of the matter is even with 1 goal leads Arsenal are not safe. Manuel Almunia is an absolute wreck and cannot seem to do whatever it takes to keep the ball out of the net.  While there are keepers aplenty stopping penalty shots, Manuel couldn’t even manage that. In fairness though, fans I think believe PKs are a gimmie and saves are a bonus. So I can’t completely fault him. But the fact remains, he looks tenative playing any ball in the middle of the box. On set pieces he is woeful – he hardly attacks the ball and most times when he does he does poorly and it winds up on the opposition’s foot and likely in the back of the net. Simply put, if Arsenal are going to sustain their title challenge – Almunia either needs a “Come to Jens” moment or Arsene Wenger needs to give Fabianski a run out. (We bought the chest cold before Arsene).

In the draw with Burnley, one of the reasons the attack got stifled was the lack of our “quaterback.” At the start of the 2nd half, lone goal scorer Cesc Fabregas was taken off the field with a thigh injury. When Ramsey comes in the interlinking play is off. I likened to what happens when an NFL team has to bring in a 2nd string QB in the middle of a game. All week leading up to the match the 1st string QB gets all the reps with the first team. The backups all play on the squibb team. The rythm of the attack was completely thrown off when Fabs went out. Not so much I think (its my opinion) because Ramsey is unskilled – I think it had more to do working with the first team in that position. And frankly he seemed more keen for the attack and if that was the case, Nasri should’ve been rotated back as the playmaker.

Fabregas won’t be around for this match again. Which only means that spitgate could happen again – if they win. Who Arsene puts in will say alot. I have to go with my gut and it tells me our mid-field will be made up of Song, Diaby, and Denilson. As much as I’d like to see Ramsey get a runout, I just don’t see it happening. It isn’t Arsene’s style.  So if anything our midfield could be as weak as our keeper which worries me.

But remember this first team squad of Brown’s is the same squad that faced off against the young guns in last seasons Carling Cup and LOST. Now maybe Arsene should give the young guns another run out. Not likely but the point is we SHOULD be able to take care of the business. In 12 matches at the Emirates the Gunners Arsenal are the winners of 10. Each by a two goal margin. Their opponent is ripe for the taking, Hull has only won 1 of their last 22 Premier League away games and are still to win on the road this season.

How The Match Should Play Out:
Last week saw Arsenal score inside of 15 minutes for the first time this season. They will need to build on this and add a 2nd goal not too long after. If they wind up with a draw going into the half – you have to wonder if Arsene’s blow-dryer speech against Liverpool was a 1 and done and quickly left the lads mind. Even this depleted Arsenal side should provide too much pace for the Hull defense. The 4-3-3 will likely resemble a 4-5-1 with Nasri and Walcott on the wings. These two are needed and needed to perform if they want to win this match.

Probable Starting XIs:

I did say they were probable right?

Injuries:Arsenal: Bendtner (hernia), Clichy (back), Djourou (knee), Fabregas (hamstring), Gibbs (foot), Rosicky (groin), Traore (hamstring), van Persie (ankle)

Hull: Bullard (knee) Ashbee (knee)

Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Andrei Arshavin. Again the dimunitive Russian needs to fill the scoring void.l Him and Fabregas have been the only Gunners to net in the last 3 games. He has risen to the challenge each time and needs to get back into it. He has all the qualities of Champion and those need to be on display.

Hull: Jozy Altidore. It’s rare to say watch the sub but as an American I take a sense of pride in watching this kid play. Kudos to him for making it on to a EPL roster even if it is Hull. I don’t want him to score but it will be nice to see him on the Emriates pitch.

Match Officials:
Referee:Steve Bennett