Could Derren Brown predict Saturday’s Arsenal line up before kick-off?
On recent evidence, probably not. If you came thinking this was going to be another intense post after the previous one, I’m afraid it won’t. Previewing a Sunderland match just doesn’t have the same amount of appeal as say, previewing, I don’t know a match against Newcastle. Whoops. Cross that out. Call that a freudian slip, shall we?.
Not when Steve Bruce is playing his usual ‘I love Arsene Wenger-can-you-give-me a-player-on-loan’ card. The man is too nice. Born a Geordie, played for Utd. Cardinal sin right? Then he joined Sunderland in the summer and has seemingly won them over. And we Arsenal fans can’t bring ourselves to hate him. Not just yet anyway.
I’d be kidding however if I didn’t say I am excited and a little nervous about our game at Sunderland. The excitement because it is Arsenal, finally, after two weeks. The nerves because it is where we scrapped a 1-1 draw in a largely indifferent performance last year. I remember listening to it on the radio, a 1960′s transistor one at that (I was at my uncle’s place in South London) when I heard Leadbitter score. Later when I got back from an outing, it was 1-1 so we got away a bit.
Sunderland are going to be missing Cattermole and Turner, both were Bruce’s signings. They will also miss Jones who was feared by Liverpool so much they decided to stick 3 central defenders and still couldn’t cope up.
As for us, there is plenty of discussion going about as to who will start tomorrow for us. The only definites for me are Almunia, Fabregas and Vermaelen. The rest can be pick-and-mix from the rest of the squad.
If I was to make my call on the first XI at the Stadium of Light, it would be this team
Almunia
Eboue Gallas Vermaelen Silvestre
Song Fabregas Denilson
Arshavin Eduardo Rosicky
I’d rather go with Eboue instead of Sagna than see Gallas rested and Sagna keeps his place. Can’t bear to see the break up of Gallas and Vermaelen. That partnership has to be there for a while yet.
If you can do better on the team selection, go ahead. Points for being creative, analytic etc. While you’re at it, make your prediction as well. I’ll go with a 2-1 myself.
The starting eleven with few exceptions like Gallas ,Vermaelen, Fabregas and possibly Eduardo is a bit of a lottery I`m more interested on who is fit, who is returning, and what the bench will look like.? Walcott?, Arshavin?, Denilson? Rosicky?, Vela?, Nasri?,Song? Eboue? and Ramsey? (which of these will make up the eleven?)From what we read Rosicky, Vela, Song, Nasri,Eboue and Ramsey are fit there`s some doubt about the other three. So, based on that I would have to guess at Almunia,Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre,Song, Fabregas, Ramsey/Nasri, Vela, Eduardo and Rosicky.
I can hear my critics from here in the Australian bush and with a temperature of 46C maybe the heat has got to me.
Have to say Jack that is a decent team you’ve put. If you say this has been influenced by the heat, I’d love to see your team selection and prediction if the weather Gods were more sympathetic.
The situation is made tricky by the fact that Sagna and Gallas played 120 minutes and Arshavin’s match vs Slovenia was a heated one as well. Nasri might well start ahead of the Russian. Ramsey could play ahead of Song even (the Cameroonian is 1 yellow card from suspension) and Denilson could be the defensive midfielder.
Can we have so many changes to the first XI? Possibly not, but you can see why I was so puzzled in the first place. I’m telling you that Derren Brown guy would have it easier predicting the lottery than this arsenal XI.
Forgot the prediction. NE England is a difficult zone even more so in mid winter so, before the blizzards set in I`ll plug for a 2-1 win to the Gunners and with a very partisan crowd they`re going to have to work for it. Having been born in the north schooled near Highbury and an Arsenal fan for over sixty years I can appreciate the situation.
I have plenty to learn from you sir. How did you end up in the good ol’ Australia? Who are your local team over there?
Arshavin, Gallas and Sagna won’t be playing btw, and Walcott, Denilson, and Wilshere are fit and ready to go.
So, I don’t think Brown can predict the line up, no.
Wilshere? Seriously?
Gallas, Sagna and Arshavin wont be starting. Song might start on the bench and with RVP and Gibbs missing we could see massive changes from the side that beat Wolves.
Almunia
Eboue,Senderos,Vermaele,Silvestre
Fabregas,Denilson,Ramsey
Rosicky,Eduardo,Nasri
SUBs: Mannone, Gallas, Sagna, Wilshire, Song, Walcott, Arshavin
That startin XI will have 7 changes from the last and I agree with gunnerstoday, it’s just unlikely that we’ll have so many changes. I think Wenger might risk Song and Gallas.
Looks a possibility that line up but I still think Gallas will most likely play.
This is what I would like Arsenal to play
Almunia
Eboue Gallas Vermaelen Silvestre
Song Denilson Fabrregas
Arshavin Eduordo Vela
Although Gallas has jast returned, he has the capacity to play this weekend. I think Wenger will rest him against Liege as we are almost through to the knockout stages. Arshavin will also play because it is importantfor arsenal to win. In the absence Van Persie, he and Fabregas along with Eduardo have to lead the attack.
I’d play almost the whole second XI against Liege, we only need a draw against them.
My house overlooks the hotel in Durham where the boys are staying, and they should just be having their breakfast. I’ll nip down and ask for the team sheet, if you like :)
Last year, I had a meaningful conversation with Robin Van Persie in the hotel lobby. ‘Good luck’, I said, to which he replied, ‘Thank you’. Pity he is injured, as I feel sure we could have deepend our friendship this morning.
any idea then Robin, what the team will be? Wait, you’re aren’t going sarky on us are you? Can’t tell.
Just popped down. 3 up front. Eduardo, with Arshavin out wide on the left. You heard it here first!
Apparently, the Boss likes it in Durham. ‘Near the river, helps with his poetry!’, so I was told, sardonically :)
not sure on the usefulness of the latter piece of information, however, thanks for the earlier part – what I will hold as exclusive team news – mainly because I want to believe it.
feel free to give me more um exclusive-ish news..
OK, apologies. Guy in Arsenal sweat shirt I met in hotel not part of club, as he said he was. He was waiting for autographs with his son by the team bus when I nipped down again. Only thing to report there is that Arshavin looked angry. He was on the bench, apparently, because he was ‘disappointed’.
At the game, sitting high up with the mackems over the half way line, I thought we looked tired, obviously missed Van P., and Sunderland were tigerish. Ouclassed often , but tigerish. Bent is not a an internationl centre forward, but not a bad Permiership one. Eduardo was very disappointing. Walcott looked very sharp when he came on. Song was very good. That was about as good as it got.
And we need a world class goalie…
It is alright buddy. Happens to all of us. Yeah, Arshavin would have been determined to do well especially after Russia were knocked out on Wednesday.
Interesting point. First game after Internationals, fatigue is an issue. Perhaps mental fatigue, with the hoo-haa on the Henry issue. Not an excuse mind you.
I don’t think we were outclassed, it was a game of few chances. Wouldn’t blame Almunia as Bent reacted too quickly.
Song was good and his pass to Arshavin was exceptional. Pitty the Russian couldn’t find the target.
Fair play to Bruce, beaten but no controversies! We weren’t good enough on the day, just a bad day at the office that is all.
This will be my last comment! I didn’t mean we were outclaseed. I meant we regularly outclassed Sunderland. Sitting so high up in the stands, everything seems slowed down and you can see class and strategy more readily. Some of our close passing and awareness pf space was breath taking. You miss the feeling of speed and blood and guts from a view lower down in the stadium, but you can see why top class footballers earn their money – too much, maybe, but they are master craftsmen. At such tender ages, too!
oh sorry sir, tiredness caused me to misread it. We weren’t as bad as people made it out to be, but still equally baffling to come away with a defeat.
Thank you for your insight on the game and sharing your experience.