Arsenal host Portsmouth today in the Gunners’ first home game of the new campaign. Paul Hart’ Pompey side will be searching for their first win of the season after suffering a 1-0 deafeat at home to Fulham on the opening day of the season and losing at Birmingham City midweek. Arsenal will be looking to continue their rich vein of early-season form after flogging Everton 6-1 last weekend and following that up with a 2-0 away win over Celtic in the Champions League.
Portsmouth will be without four players for today’s match. Anti Niemi is sidelined with an elbow injury while Steve Finnan, Hermann Hreidarsson and Papa Bouba Diop are all out with hamstring injuries, with the latter facing six weeks out.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has his own injury woes to contend with following the news that Carlos Vela will be out for a month following an injury sustained on international duty. Vela is joined on the sidelines by Johan Djourou, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky and Lukasz Fabianski.
I’m predicting the same line-up we’ve seen in the first two games of the season, that is:
Arshavin – van Persie – Bendtner
Denilson – Song – Fabregas
Clichy – Gallas – Vermaelen – Sagna
Almunia
BENCH: Mannone, Silvestre, Gibbs, Eboue, Ramsey, Diaby, Eduardo.
Arsene may decide to rest ahead of the Celtic tie, but with a spot in the Champions League group stages almost a certainty at this stage I think a win in the Premiership is more important. That’s exactly what I’m predicting today with Arsenal in great form and Portsmouth looking like they will be facing relegation come the end of the season.
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i got a feeling that van persie will be rested or bendtner will
actually i was hoping to see Eduardo replacing RVP in front while JW is in place for A23 who hasn’t been himself for the past 2 weeks. he may still have fatigue on both of his legs and unable to beat defenders like they way likes, so it’s good to rest him in order to keep him fit during ManU match. anyway, i assume JW will never be in the bench, therefore his only available option will be Diaby whom i believe isn’t suitable playing out wide. i’m curious whether or not Gibbs’ role can, temporarily, be changed into LM. he’s so good at going forward as well as running back; he can be a good cover for Clichy, but then again it’s just a wild idea.
WE WILL MIS MR.ARSENAL ,THAT GAME MOST BE DONE IN FIRST HAVE TO GET A REST FOR OUR PLAYER. AA SUFRING TOO MUTCH HE PLAY AGNIST ARGINTINA 90′ AND ANOTHER 90′ IN GOODISON PARK AND ABOUT 70′ IN CILTIC GAME I SUGGEST AA GET REST FOR THIS GAME AND STARTING WITH E9.
Pompey is so much troubled to face arsenal as regards both teams current forms and injuries-arsenal though has injuries it can keep on going,look out for Pompey s injuries which attacked key players and their performance in the two last games-POMPEY MUST BE WORKED DOWN.
You are spot on. I believe line-up will be the same as at Parkheads.
I think Arsenal is dreaming big this season, with the formation against everton and celtic, pompey will not withstand the gunners.l think the formation is working for the moment. Gooners for LIFE