Date: April 2009

Away to Pompey before next week’s big match

Apr 30, 2009 by

After spending a few months trying to secure a top 4 finish, Arsenal finally head into a league match with some breathing room. With four league matches left, Arsenal sit in 4th place, 10 points ahead of Villa but 6 points behind Chelsea. Even though 3rd place isn’t entirely out of reach yet, considering a home fixture with Chelsea is a week away, the pressure for 4th has been relaxed. While Arsenal’s attention might be on the second leg of the Champions League Semi-Final with Manchester United Tuesday night, there is still a trip away to Pompey. At a minimum, Arsenal need to avoid picking up any more injuries.

Portsmouth, currently 14th in the league with 38 points and 7 points away from the last relegation spot, are almost assured of survival in the Premier League, but another win would seal the deal for them. Even though the stakes for the two teams are a bit more relaxed, Portsmouth may try to ensure a good showing in their second-to-last home match of the season. Pompey’s final home match against Sunderland is sandwiched between their away trips to Blackburn and Wigan, while Arsenal’s remaining three following this are home fixtures against Chelsea and Stoke with an away trip to Old Trafford sandwiched in between the two.

Given the nature of this fixture, old stats mean nothing. For the record, since Pompey joined the Premier League in 2003, Arsenal are unbeaten against them in 11 league contests and one F.A Cup match (a 5-1 away win where Pompey fans still applauded their team), winning 6 and drawing 6. But Arsenal’s most recent three away trips to Pompey resulted in draws, the last two ending 0-0. In part because of Pompey’s decades spent away from top flight English football, their last registered home victory against Arsenal came all the way back in the 1957/58 season with a 5-4 home win.

With the pressure off, Arsenal might just end up producing a good display. Arshavin will certainly start and Bendtner will surely get a run out as well. And what of Vela? Other possible starters?

Your thoughts and comments regarding this game?

Arsenal’s pint glass semi-empty or semi-full?

Apr 30, 2009 by

With Manuel Almunia to thank for keeping yesterday’s Champions League Semi-Final defeat at Old Trafford from being a 4-0 affaire, Arsenal supporters are clinging to a very small scrap of belief that their side can get the job done next week when Manchester United visits the Emirates, for the second leg.

The Gunners got off to a shaky start and while things improved somewhat in the second half, they never really found their rhythm.  Manchester United dominated possession for most of the match, and tested our defense relentlessly.  The consensus amongst pub pundits seem to be that Arsenal is very lucky to still be in this.

We are hearing the usual post-match statements of belief from the players and their manager, but did Arsenal fans really see anything particularly convincing yesterday?

Now that the defeat has sunk in and the hangovers are in full effect, what do you think about yesterday’s result?