Gooner Talk

Premier League leaders Arsenal take on surprise package Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Gunners are flying high at the top of the Premiership and take on top-flight debutantes Hull on the back of a 6-0 destruction of Championship side Sheffield United by their youngsters in the Carling Cup, but expect manager Arsene Wenger to bring back senior players for the visit of the Tigers.

Tigers boss Phil Brown faces his toughest task yet in the Premiership in trying to come away from the Emirates with something to show, but his Yorkshire side are unbeaten in their travels away from the KC Stadium this season and continue to surprise the many people who tipped them for relegation straight back down to the Championship.

Wenger is set to recall senior players like Cesc Fabregas and top-scorer Emmanuel Adebayor for the clash at the Emirates, but is still without long-term absentees Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Eduardo (broken leg) along with Abou Diaby (thigh). However, Arsenal could welcome back French International Samir Nasri from a knee injury, with new signing Mikael Silvestre possibly in line to make his Gunners debut.

Hull’s only injuries are to striker Craig Fagan (broken leg), and Anthony Gardner (thigh), with Daniel Cousin set to partner Marlon King in attack again for the Tigers at Arsenal.

Predicted Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas – Denilson – Walcott
Adebayor – van Persie

Match Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Hull City

Catch all the post-match reaction and player ratings here on Gooner Talk seconds after the final whistle.

Leave your views and predictions of tomorrows game in the comments section below.

It’s late, I’m hungry and the thought of waking up early tomorrow morning (more like later today) for school, along with all the mandatory responsibilities that goes with it, just won’t go away. And it’s not an appealing thought, by the way. It’s like a little scratch on the roof of your mouth that definitely would heal if you could just resist the temptation of exploring it with your tongue; it’s just there, mocking you, and its’ only purpose is to annoy you. These habits of mine (never sleeping when I should and drinking coffee when I shouldn’t – perhaps they’re somehow related?) will drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the only time of the day where I can isolate myself from the outside world and escape to my desolate hideout and place of meditation – my room – and get my thinking done. And I like thinking. I tend to think alot about Arsenal, as well as football in general, and sooner rather than later I usually convert my train of thoughts into articles for this very site, so hopefully you like my thinking as much as I do. It’d be more convenient for everyone that way.

Tonight my topic of careful consideration has been moving on and leaving your once haunting ghosts behind you; dispelling old myths that were once thoroughly attached to the club in question, like an umbilical cord to a newborn, through sheer will and actual accomplishment. We’ve seen it happen right before our eyes these last weeks. We witnessed it when Liverpool finally beat Manchester United for the first time since the invention of the wheel. But they’re not the only ones that have sampled the sweet ambrosia of progression and development during the recent weeks. Arsenal have successfully put the myth of being easily intimidated by the northern, more physical sides to bed. Hopefully once and for all, but, considering the current media treatment of Arsenal, I doubt it. But there’s more to it than that. There is another generally accepted “truth” about Arsenal that have been – still only hopefully though – successfully disposed of. We have travelled up north with remarkable regularity with our young, fragile and frail squad and we’ve beaten the ghosts of our past – and doing it in style, despite missing a handful of chances every game – while, at the same time, carrying the weight of our ridiculously long injury list, meaning that our squad isn’t lacking in depth. At least not to the extent that it has been depicted by the, so called, football experts.

Imagine Manchester United, or any other team with a manager that instantly will be declared a genius for not failing after spending big money, having the same impressive goal difference we currently have after the very same fixtures with their equivalents of Rosicky, Nasri, Diaby and Eduardo on the treatment table. No Ronaldo, no Nani, no Carrick and no Tevez. I for one can see the headlines in front of me as soon as I close my eyes and merely think about it: “Admirable team spirit and collective performances will win United the title for a third consecutive year. And boy their manager is mighty smart.” They’d be getting the headlines we’re currently not getting. Now, I know that I exaggerated a bit, I do know that only 5 games have been played so far (and only 4 for United) – but hopefully you get my point.

It hit me like an atomic bomb, and I do mean that in the most positive way imaginable, whatever that might be, when Wenger, on his post-Bolton press conference, reminded the world that “we still have alot of quality at home”, despite playing football that commentators and neutral onlookers described as “awe-inspiring” throughout the remainder of the day – with half our first team squad. The lesser (at least in terms of quality) part of our squad, too. The same chunk of players had even endured an extremely busy playing schedule the recent weeks, involving several difficult physical challenges on the road as well as international duty.

Who would’ve expected someone like Eboue to, in the void of Rosicky, step up in the way that he has done? He’s been one of our most consistent performers this season, and that’s not even debatable. When I look at the lineup and see his name on the right wing I can actually visualize him running past defenders – with the ball, I might add – and doing something useful with it. I might even go a little bit crazy and assume that he will score. No, wait, just kidding. That’d be blasphemy. But Denilson is coming of age and is already putting in PFA Young Player Of The Year-Performances whenever he pleases, Walcott is turning into what we all thought, or at least hoped, that he could be and Almunia has definitely impressed me so far. The squad doesn’t look that bad after all, does it? Arsenal seem to be breaking their old bad habits without breaking a sweat – perhaps I should too. Good night.

Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy has NOT broken his leg during this evening’s Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers after the official website confirmed that the Frenchman only suffered “shin bruising”.

The 22-year-old had be taken to hospital following a challenge from Trotters striker Kevin Davies, who was booked for the tackle, and Cesc Fabregas claimed after the full time whistle that his side had come in for unwarranted special attention.

“We know every time we come here it’s going to be a tough game, very physical, they only look for corners, free kicks and throw-ins,” Fabregas told Setanta Sports.

“The tackle on Gael Clichy, I remember last year Abou Diaby was sent off for even less than that.

“But we know we are Arsenal. When we come to the North we know something like that is going to happen, and we have to cope with that.”

Gael was able to join up the rest of the Arsenal squad for the coach journey back to London Colney and will be avaliable for next Saturday’s game at home to Hull City.

Arsenal will be looking to shoot down the white’s in a tough looking clash at the Reebok tomorrow afternoon.

Gary Megson’s side don’t have a very good record against Arsene Wenger’s boys, and pundits are already writing them off despite Arsenal’s draw against Kiev in midweek.

Games between the two sides usually create plenty of goals, and Bolton fans may be tempted by the 9-1 on offer for the in-form Kevin Davies to bag the opener.

He has already netted two goals in the four opening games of the season and could prove a real handful for the Arsenal defence.

Injury News

Arsenal will again be without midfielder Samir Nasri (knee).

Recent signing Mikael Silvestre remains out with a muscular problem but there were no fresh injury worries from the midweek Champions League trip to Kiev.

Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Amaury Bischoff (groin) and striker Eduardo (leg) all remain in recovery.

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas – Denilson – Vela
Adebayor – van Persie

As for Bolton, Megson is still without defender Gary Cahill who completes his three-match ban tomorrow following his Carling Cup sending off against Northampton.

Matty Taylor is still unavailable through a broken toe while Portuguese striker Ricardo Vaz Te kept himself in the manager’s thoughts with a goal in the reserves’ 3-0 victory over Newcastle.

Match Prediction: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Arsenal

Bolton v Arsenal build-up starts at 4pm tomorrow afternoon and will be broadcasted live on Setanta Sports 1with kick-off at 5:30.

Catch all the post-match reaction and player ratings here on Gooner Talk seconds after the final whistle.

Leave your views and predictions of tomorrows game in the comments section below.

The article I’m currently writing in this very moment was originally spawned a few minutes before the final whistle had gone at that poor, to say the least, away game at Fulham last Saturday, just before one of the worst Arsenal performances I’ve ever been unlucky enough to witness became an ugly fact. I got exactly the reaction I expected, not the one I’d hoped for, from the fans; we’re in big trouble, we’ve never had a squad this weak before and if we don’t buy some experienced, quality players we will be looking at a team in crisis that, at best, can hope for a spot in the top4.

Now, I could’ve written this article back then, but, just in case, I wanted to wait. I didn’t want to look like a complete moron in case we came out with yet another crappy performance against Twente. It may sound like I had my doubts, but the the 2nd Champions League qualifier leg turned out to be exactly what I expected; Arsenal, reinforced by our unpenetrable fort (except for West Ham), Emirates Stadium, utterly picking poor little Twente to pieces in a high-scoring spectacle.

I could’ve written this article back then too, but, still just in case, I wanted to wait. Now, after one of the most enjoyable games in modern times (exaggerations are tricky things) I can, after an entire week of patiently waiting, finally say: Shame on you! Shame on you for doubting Arsene – he always knows what he’s doing. Shame on you for doubting our squad and shame on you for not seeing through the “Arsenal in crisis”-opinions for what they are. Rubbish, is what they are.

After that game away to Fulham I was devastated, frustrated and pissed off. But I took a while to just sit quietly, not really doing anything, and think. It worked. My conclusion? I came to the conclusion that we still, despite how poorly I just witnessed them play, have the best squad in the Premier League. Not the biggest, not with the most depth – but the best. I really do believe that our first choice starting XI is the best in the world. The evidence is right in front of you; no other team could’ve played like we just played. Newcastle wasn’t bad, not bad at all. Still 7-0 would not be an unfair scoreline. I mean, we can all agree that there is no better guarantee of quality in football than hand-picking by Wenger. There have been some misses over the years, that is true, but even the sun has its’ spots. Up untill the start of this season, not counting the pre-season, with the horrible displays of the previous season still burned into my retina, I thought Eboue was one of those mistakes. He was actually good today. Really good. Practically every player in the squad either is a world class player (and I really mean world class, like top 5 in their position) or they probably will be. Song, Diaby, Denilson, Walcott, Vela, Bendtner, Ramsey, Wilshere, Merida – need I say more? I really could double that list. They all have bad games now and then, but who didn’t have a few bad games in the beginning of their careers? Compare that pool of talent to our rivals and you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.

I wish we wouldn’t get carried away now though and then unmercifully come crashing down on Wenger and the team as soon as we don’t perform as expected. I even understand the angriest of the angry Arsenal fans after the Fulham game. It’s not acceptable for a team of our standard to play like that and the criticism was definitely justified – well, some of it atleast. Every bad thing said about that particular performance was probably 100% true, but the inference’s and the conclusions made about our future were not.

I, for one, expect us to continue playing like this throughout the season and I can’t see why that is not a reasonable expectation considering the squad we have, assuming the vital players remain healthy. Of course I don’t expect us to dissect Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and win by a significant margin the way we did today, but you get my point. I hope. We could do with another addition to the squad, but who needs a defensive midfielder when we play like we did today?

We have the players needed to win the Premier League and to conquer Europe, but our biggest opponents aren’t the other teams, it’s ourselves and our bad habbit of having not scoring when we should. 3-0 today might seem like a satisfactory result. Point-wise it certainly was and the performance in itself was brilliant, but imagine if we would’ve scored as many goals as you’d expect to score when you have like 25 shots on goal. 3-0 is nothing. Bolton can beat people 3-0. A good old mega thrashing á la Prague in the Champions League last season would’ve been absolutely perfect. Increase our efficiency and we’ll be the best.

Former Manchester City starlet Ishmael Miller insists West Brom will not be phased by the high-standards of the Premier League when they take on Arsenal this weekend.

Tony Mowbray’s promoted side could hardly have been given a tougher test than the clash at the Emirates Stadium.

The Saturday lunchtime televised clash will launch the Premier League season but Miller has insisted that manager Mowbray’s side are determined to keep their focus.

The 21-year-old said: “It is a great arena and I can’t wait.

“Players could become star-struck but it is football at the end of the day and 11 versus 11. Anything can happen and hopefully we can give it our all and get something out of the game.

“If I could score a goal at the Emirates it would top any other goal that I have scored. My debut goal for Albion was special because it was my first in professional football. But to score at Arsenal would be a great feeling and hopefully it will happen.”

Manchester-born Miller also paid tribute to Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor and hopes to receive some tips off the Togolese international.

“I like the way that he plays.

“He is a great player with great strengths. There are a lot of players in the Premier League that you can take tips off and hopefully I will be able to become one of those top strikers.”

Kolo Toure (hip) and Samir Nasri (knee/thigh) are hopeful of returning in time but Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Eduardo (leg) have all been ruled out of the greatly-anticipated encounter.