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2-0 to Arsenal. We have to emphatically break this Wigan hoodoo.!!
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Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 03 December 2011 08:59
After our run of successive victories a draw and a defeat in our last two games almost feels like a mini slump even if the games where in different competitions. It is important that we get back to winning ways as quickly as possible to maintain the positive momentum that the team have worked so hard to get after a difficult start.
Wigan are going through a difficult time right now but we cannot expect an easy game, in fact our record at the DW stadium hasn't been great of late and we have been on the wrong end of some late goals. I am not sure if I can handle that again today unless of course we are coasting at three goals to the good.
Without wanting to speak too soon, you get the sense that this current Arsenal team are less likely to suck the ball into our own net in the latter stages like our teams of previous years.
These games are usually entertaining affairs and I expect no different today. Unlike the McLeish brand of 'football' Wigan set out to play football and try and score goals so hopefully we will have two teams looking to pass the ball and create chances.
After our tired effort against Fulham, Arsene rested most of the troops in the midweek Carling cup game so we can expect a full squad, well at least the available players. Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky miss the game through injury which is a shame as they would have made our bench much stronger, those absentees may open the door for the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who impressed once again in the Carling cup. A regular seat on the Arsenal bench is a great position for an Arsenal youngster to get to and it will be down to Chamberlain to make an impact whenever called upon. A place on the bench is not a certainty as experienced players like Arshavin, Benayoun, Park and Chamakh are all experienced attacking players who will expect a place amongst the substitutes at least.
Robin van Persie has scored one more goal [13] than the entire Wigan team this season but my eyes will be on his team mates. The goal scoring shackles have to be removed at some point and I am hoping that today is the day for others to improve their goal return. Aaron Ramsey has been finding his way into the opponents penalty area much more of late and he should have scored against Fulham following a Walcott cut back. Gervinho needs to find some composure when the whites of the keepers eyes come into vision. He has been lashing at chances instead of guiding the ball into the net whilst Theo Walcott needs to find himself into the positions that Gervinho finds himself into frequently.
When the goals are more equally shared then I expect the team to start winning games more convincingly as long as they can maintain their defensive organisation.
Like at Norwich recently, if our attacking players play well then I expect an Arsenal win. Ramsey, Gervinho, Walcott and van Persie need to be sharp, if they are not then Mertesacker needs to be on his game and avoid mistakes.
Hopefully the midweek rest will have freshened up the squad and we can see the best of our attacking game.
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up:
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03-Dec-2011 12:38 | | richie - Even though a win is a must..............I'd freshen things up a little, I think either Coquelin, Frimfong or AOC could/should get a start. They all need to be bloodied in the prem and todays game I think would be ideal. I'm not a gambler in any way shape or form, I've been known to put a bet on horse only if I'm at the track (over 5 years ago at Ascott) and I've won a few quid backing the winner on a two hourse race (boxing) but thats about it. However we've got an abundance of youthful talent that will bring the very vigors of that youth to the pitch, I'd like to see it used.
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03-Dec-2011 12:54 | | Princeasa 9jaPlease wenger start chamberlein he wil mk gr8t impact.well arsenal is gointo beat wigan by 3 goals to nothin.up goonerz!
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03-Dec-2011 12:56 | | Princeasa 9jaPlease wenger start chamberlein he wil mk gr8t impact.well arsenal is gointo beat wigan by 3 goals to nothin.up goonerz!
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03-Dec-2011 12:57 | | Princeasa 9jaPlease wenger start chamberlein he wil mk gr8t impact.well arsenal is gointo beat wigan by 3 goals to nothin.up goonerz!
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03-Dec-2011 12:58 | | Princeasa 9jaPlease wenger start chamberlein he wil mk gr8t impact.well arsenal is gointo beat wigan by 3 goals to nothin.up goonerz!
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03-Dec-2011 12:59 | | Princeasa 9jaPlease wenger start chamberlein he wil mk gr8t impact.well arsenal is gointo beat wigan by 3 goals to nothin.up goonerz!
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03-Dec-2011 13:56 | | Saheed babatunde bello - Arsenal should sign gorlth and podolski to increasBuy players
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03-Dec-2011 14:02 | | indian gooner forever - djourou should start at right back....It would be better if Vermaelen and Koscielny played in the CB positions with Djourou at RB.....
From what we have seen so far, Djourou seems better attacking wise as compared to Koscielny. Also Vermaelen and Koscielny's CB pairing seems to be the best one for Arsenal. No disrespect to the Big German but Vermaelen and Koscielny is the partnership that I think can become a legendary one for the Arsenal in the years to come....
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03-Dec-2011 16:03 | | MeanLean
Good first half after a slow start. Doing the job whilst not in top gear, that is always good. Fingers crossed for the second half
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03-Dec-2011 16:56 | | Vuja DeGood result, good performance. Glad that Coquelin got some game time. Hopefully Song isn't injured either.
However, I really do feel that we should have won that game by at least 8 or more goals to nil, with the amout of chances that we created and somehow missed. And that doesn't even include the not given penalty for the foul on Ramsey.
The main thing though, is that we won.
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03-Dec-2011 17:02 | | dkgooner - ConfusedI kept thinking I had the wrong stream. It was that green pitch. We're playing Wigan FFS - it can't be a green pitch. But of course - it's only early December and we usually play them up there in March after the cows have spent a fortnight grazing. What? A rugby league team? They SHARE the pitch with a rugby league team. A Premier League footbal team? You must be taking the P.
God knows I want this lot to go down and disappear for ever. Walk down The Road to Wigan Pier and fall off the end. Trouble is, they have a manager who believes in playing football. He deserves a better club and when they go down, he'll get one. I hope he gets the Fulham job.
All hail the one-man team!! Did RvP get 4? What - other players scored? Don't believe it. We're a one-man team. That's going to confuse the hell out of the press - and that's where I came in.
Have a nice weekend all.
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03-Dec-2011 17:04 | | dkgooner - LOLThe not-given penalty? Come on man, he fell over.
Some people are hard to please.
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03-Dec-2011 17:12 | | dkgooner - Yes butInclined to agree with you here about the centre back pairing IGF, but I think Mertesacker deserves a chance. He's a good solid player, especially in matches like today, and I'm happier defensively with Kos at right back than Johan. Personally, I'd like to see Coquelin given a chance at right back with Kos going back in the middle. Bit surprised not to see Pingpong on the bench today, although it's a toss-up between him and Le Coq - Coq is a bit quicker and smoother maybe. Big futures for both of them - hopefully both at AFC.
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03-Dec-2011 17:16 | | dkgooner - Final word(from me anyhow)
ML - yes, it was a bit of a tired performance against Fulham but they came for a point. Negative from the first minute. Murphy was walking over to take the corners from the first one they got - every possibility of wasting time was taken. Which is why I hope Martinez gets the Fulham job and the ex-Spud goes back to Holland/Germany.
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