Arsenal’s Premiership campaign kicks of this afternoon when the Gunners travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton. The trip represents a tough opening fixture for Arsene Wenger’s side, who are gunning for their first piece of silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2005. Both sides will have cast aside the highs and lows of last season, instead doing their best to get their current campaign off to a winning start.
Arsenal will be without six first-team players for today’s clash. Theo Walcott is out with a back strain despite being on the bench for England midweek, while Johan Djourou is still suffering from the knee complaint that ruled him out of Switzerland’s clash with Italy. Abou Diaby and Lukasz Fabianski have have groin and knee issues respectively, while Tomas Rosicky (groin) and Samir Nasri (broken leg) remain sidelined.
With the amount of injuries that have piled up this week, and Arsene’s recent penchant for a 4-3-3, there is little question over how we will line up this afternoon. Arshavin, Bendtner and van Persie will make up a dangerous three-pronged attack with Denilson and Cesc Fabregas providing support. A first-choice backline of Clichy, Gallas, new boy Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna will be protected by Alex Song, with Manuel Almunia in goal.
Arshavin – van Persie – Bendtner
Denilson – Song – Fabregas
Clichy – Gallas – Vermaelen – Sagna
Almunia
BENCH: Mannone, Silvestre, Eboue, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Eduardo.
There are a few questions over who Arsene will opt for on the bench, with Wojciech Szczesny also having a good chance of backing up Manuel Almunia. Eduardo may also start after his goal for Croatia midweek, especially since Nicklas Bendtner may also be carrying a knock after being replaced at half time while on duty for Denmark. Jack Wilshere may fail to make the bench if Arsene Wenger decides to include Carlos Vela.
Everton boss David Moyes has a few first teamers out of today’s clash with injury. The Toffees will be missing playmaker Mikel Arteta and Nigerian strike duo Victor Anichebe and Yakubu. Phil Jagielka is yet to recover from his knee injury suffered last season while doubts surround the fitness of Brazilian striker Jo and midfielder Stephen Pienaar.
Regardless, Arsenal will still have a lot of work to do to claim a win. Talismanic attacking midfielder Tim Cahill will pose a massive threat to Arsenal, in fine form after singlehandedly destroying the Republic of Ireland through the week. Marouane Fellaini can also hand out plenty of damage, and Alex Song and Denilson will need to be on top of their game if they want to subdue the combative midfielder.
In my view, today’s game is one we should win. Our squad is far the stronger on paper despite a lack of signings and a growing injury list. Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas will be the players most likely to provide the difference between the two sides. If Tim Cahill and Louis Sahacan be looked after then Everton’s attacking options are extremely limited. We’ll have to put one or two away early, and looking at Arsenal’s formation I think that is very likely.
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As an Australian, Timmy Cahill is as close to God as it comes, but I would sure love him to have a quiet game in the air tonight.
Bendtner and Song were pivotal in this thrashing and will always be assets to the cause. In fact only Robin, despite some wonderful set-pieces, was slightly below normal standard. Everyone, bar RvP, played better than we would hope to expect against a team hoping to put pressure on the CL places. If this level of performance continues then there’s no way we’ll not be challenging for the title in May, or representing England in the CL final.
Despite feeling more satisfied with the squad than I was pre-season, I still believe that we need more cover at CB. One injury, or Gallas having a mental relapse, and we’ll really struggle in that area.