To be blunt, this is a game we should win, and in fact a game we need to win. It may sound silly that after only one game in the premier league, we encounter a must-win game, but it is so. ManUre lost midweek against Burnley (good old Burnley). Our next match in the league, after this one, is against Man Utd, therefore we must maintain a 3 point gap in case (heaven forbid) we lose against them. Portsmouth haven't got a point yet, and more importantly, haven't scored yet in the new premier league season. Coming to the Grove can't be doing much for the confidence. Nevertheless, we musn't let it slip, not that our defence have looked beatable yet this year.
In terms of Arsenal news, the usual suspects are still injured: Nasri, Fabianski, Djourou, Rosicky and Walcott. Eduardo has recovered from a scare mid-week to be available for todays match. Whether he'll start or not remains to be seen. The Guardian team predictors have plumped for Arsenal's strongest eleven for this match, in other words, the starting line-ups of the last two games. However, in my opinion, it's better that we rest a couple of players sooner rather than later when they may start suffering from fatigue. Cesc and Denilson for example, both came back from slight strains to play a full 90 minutes midweek. Perhaps Wenger would seize the opportunity of playing Portsmouth at home to rest these two. This would be a danger, as they have both been pivotal so far in the new season, so he may wish to bring them off when the points are safe. Whatever.....as long as he doesn't play Diaby and Denilson together in the centre of midfield.
Speaking of the Guardian, last week Dara O'Briain became the new guest columnist for Guardian Sport, and he happens to be an Arsenal season-ticket holder (yeah, cause he doesn't make it obvious). His second column is in todays Guardian, and I very much recommend it. Gael Clichy has also been interviewed in the Guardian, but it's all stuff we've heard before about the team wanting to win trophies, and why Arsenal are performing better without Kolo and Adewantssomemore etc. etc...
Elsewhere, there's some drivel about Patrick Vieira, and how Wenger still hasn't ruled a move out for him. I can't help but feel this is Wenger stringing along the press for a laugh, a point shown by the fact AW can hardly keep a straight face when someone asks him about it at a press conference. "Yes-snigger, yes we're definately-snigger-not ruling out a move-snigger-for Patrick Vieira-snigger." If this is so, I find it quite endearing that our manager is so nerdy, that he finds that to be amusing.
Right, well it may be a belated Match Report tomorrow, but the win will make up for that.
'Til later Gooners.
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