Arsenal vs Wolves-Preview

Arsenal started their busy schedule ahead of new year in which they are due to play 4 games in space of 12 days with a narrow win at villa park with unconvincing performance
wolves were held at home by canaries in a game they were desperate for 3 points
Currently sitting just 1 point ahead of relegation zone now they have earned just 5 points in their last 8 games their form is only better than 3 teams 2 of them relegation candidates (Bolton & Blackburn) and also QPR
Although they lost in matches that they should have lost (on paper)

Last 8 Matches

with such a poor form it is no surprise that they have failed to keep clean sheet in their last 14 games in the league

Last Meeting:



With the likes of Sagna,clichy cesc Fabregas,Djourou and Wilshere starting for Gunners,Robin Van Persie was the man to score a brace and secure 3 points for Red and white outfit.
while wolves traveled to London after beating Man United and ending Red Devils unbeaten run, Hennessey made some decent saves and Stearman cleared the ball of the line in 1st half and and went close to score an own goal in 2nd half it could have been such a heavy Defeat for Mick McCarthy's men

Match facts and key stats:
*Arsenal have not lost on 27 December since a 2-1 defeat at Southampton in 1966, a run of 12 top-flight matches.
*It's now 13 top-flight matches since Wolves beat Arsenal. That win was at Highbury in 1979 under the management of John Barnwell.
*Robin van Persie has scored 34 Premier League goals in 2011, two behind Alan Shearer's record for a calendar year
*Wolves have scored 63.2 % of their goals in second half of thier games and are yet to score in opening 15 minutes of their matches this season
*this season Arsenal have faced teams in bottom half of table 8 times and managed to beat six of them one draw against Fulham and away defeat at Ewood Park gaining 19 points out of 24
*Whilst Wolves have the worst record in the league facing teams in top half of the table getting a mere point in 9 games

Team News:
Jaime O'hara is out and Jody Craddock (hamstring) and David Edwards (groin) are doubtful to make it
Johan Djourou has a little chance to come back
Bacary Sagna(Ankle) has started running and should be back in a month
Carl Jenkinson(Back),Jack Wilshere(Ankle),Andre Santos(Ankle),Abou Diaby(Hamstring),Vito Mannone(Shoulder)are all out
Alex Song is Available yet again after his suspension

Probable Line ups:


At this period rotation is inevitable thing in every squad is some positions there are no other options to pick but some players need a rest.Aaron Ramsey is one of them.also Robin Van Persie needs a Rest and might not play 180 minutes in 2 coming matches before new year
they tend to switch between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1
while playing 4-4-2 provides more bodies up front it would create a big gap between attacking four(wingers+ strikers) and central midfielders.Jamie O'hara's injury is big blow.
when out numbered in the middle they might either switch to 4-5-1 or bypass the midfield by playing long balls
though Mr Wenger praised them last season for playing more positive football than before and having more short passes involved in their build up.they average 51% possession per game

Wing play and Threats down the flanks:



as you can see above 44% of their attacks comes down the left flank
with their strikers winning flick-ons and play it to wingers or to central midfielders to supply the wingers
Mat Jarvis is amongst the best crossers in the league(statistically) as he averages 2.2 successful crosses per game (5th in the league after Larsson, Gower,Baines and Pennant).In fact he has 31% crossing accuracy and add to that his pace and trickery and also he will be up against a center back who is forced to play fullback just like The match against United when he faced Smalling

as can be seen Fletcher has great Aerial ability and can win duels in dangerous positions

Prediction:
without becoming complacent and with all due respect for The West Midlands club ,Wolves at home should be a Routine win.3-0 for the Gunners

Excellent job Sina wow.

RVP to score a Hattrick

I agree he will score a hat-trick at home and get it all over with.

Arsenal 4-0 wolves.

no predictions for me

don't want to jinx

Great preview lets get another win boys

come on you Goooooooners

aleumdance wrote:no predictions for me

don't want to jinx

LOL.

If we cant beat the wolves at home than lol.

Great preview Sina!

Should be easy game unless we rest our key players.

5-0, RVP hattrick?

Hoping that RVP will score..
And should be an easy game if we keep our form..
But Benayoun for Ramsey..? Confused.. Ramsey is inconsistent but he is our future.. But at this point i wont mind giving Benayoun a start.. We play 4 times in 12 days.. So the depth of our squad will surely be tested...

Excellent preview Sina. Superb.

This game is a great opportunity to keep up our good form. Wolves are awful away from home and we have been excellent recently.

I watched Wolves at Old Trafford and they were terrible. We really should be beating them.

I think we will win 2-0, hopefully some other players than RVP get goals this time too! Like Benayoun again.

Sina, your previews are magical

THANK YOU for compliments everyone cheers

Fantastic work

This "should" be a good win but wont be surprised if we are made to work hard to earn the win

Team should be fit and healthy, so i hope we work as hard as ever. Maybe we can rest ramsey for benayoun.

I hope oxlade gets to play some time.

Back 4 should be the same as it was against aston villa. I would start coquelin at RB again if Djourou is unfit

Where do you get these stats, Sina? Amazing work.

I don't care how we win, but we need a win with both Chelsea and ManC dropping points.

League challenge still on

Awesome preview you should have some kinda blog or such.

thanks
sources for stats;

soccerstats,statto,Whoscored,guardian chalkboards

With the pressure on to get the win, it'll be interesting to see how we perform. Hopefully we'll stick a few past them and have a nice, easy win. I'm expecting a tight affair though, with a late goal or two.

The rescheduling of this game, as well as a rescheduling of a doctor's appointment I have, means I will miss the first half. Hopefully we blitz them early and make quick work of them though, with RvP getting a hattrick to put him ahead of Alan Shearer

With a win, we would only be 10 points behind Man City!!

Eman wrote:The rescheduling of this game, as well as a rescheduling of a doctor's appointment I have, means I will miss the first half. Hopefully we blitz them early and make quick work of them though, with RvP getting a hattrick to put him ahead of Alan Shearer

With a win, we would only be 10 points behind Man City!!

*groan*

Great job Sina! Your previews are very informative!

srigooner wrote:

Eman wrote:The rescheduling of this game, as well as a rescheduling of a doctor's appointment I have, means I will miss the first half. Hopefully we blitz them early and make quick work of them though, with RvP getting a hattrick to put him ahead of Alan Shearer

With a win, we would only be 10 points behind Man City!!

*groan*

Great job Sina! Your previews are very informative!

If we had beaten City ... COME ON, HAVE FAITH .

Predicted afc team to play Wolves: Szczesny; Coquelin Koscielny Mertesacker Vermaelen; Song Arteta; Walcott Rosicky Gervinho; Van Persie.

Predicted afc bench: Fabianski Miquel Frimpong Ramsey Benayoun Arshavin Chamakh