While most of us are still celebrating the great victory against Aston Villa at the weekend, it is time for the Gunners to get back to work and travel to a desperate Portsmouth team today.
Portsmouth are bottom of the Premier League, but Pompey manager Avram Grant has already said this week that they will be aggressive against Arsenal. This will be a tough game for the Gunners as Arsenal do not play well away from home against aggressive teams, see the Sunderland game as an example of this.
TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth midfielder Jamie O’Hara is suspended for the game while Pompey could be missing four players, Hassan Yebda, Nadir Belhadj, Kanu and Aruna Dindane due to the Africa Cup of Nations. It is unclear whether these four will play and then travel to meet up with their country or whether they have left already.
Arsenal will be without Cesc Fabregas is reinjured his hamstring in a brilliant match-winning cameo appearance against Aston Villa. Midfielder Denilson (back) is also struggling for fitness, but Czech winger Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) could return. Alex Song is available as he will not join up with Cameroon at the African Nations Cup until January 4, but Emmanuel Eboue is already away with the Ivory Coast.
Nicklas Bendtner (groin), Gael Clichy (back), Kieran Gibbs (foot), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Johan Djourou (knee) remain sidelined.
SQUADS
Portsmouth: Begovic, Ashdown, Finnan, Kaboul, Ben Haim, Hreidarsson, Mullins, Brown, Boateng, Piquionne, Diop, Utaka, Wilson, Yebda, Belhadj, Kanu, Dindane.
Arsenal: Almunia, Traore, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna, Nasri, Diaby, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, Arshavin, Fabianski, Ramsey, Eduardo, Silvestre, Vela, Merida, Senderos, Denilson, Fabregas
PREDICTION
Portsmouth is a tough place to go and win as Liverpool found out recently. But if Arsenal is going to really challenge Chelsea and Man United for the title this year, this is the kind of tough away game that they need to win.
The Gunners failed a month or so ago at Sunderland, which is another tough team to play at home, but I expect the Gunners, who are full of confidence at the moment to get all three points here.
Arsenal have yet to concede a goal in the league this month and I am looking for that streak to continue as they get a hard fought win.
Portsmouth 0-2 Arsenal
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line up will be attacking formation i.e 4-3-3 arsenal play short or long ball
according to they play and arse play for result not for show please arshavin
play well bravo diaby again y’r kick