Arsenal to Break their Losing Streak Tonight?

Arsenal hosts Chelsea at the Emirates stadium tonight in a match that is of great importance both to Chelsea and to Arsenal. Arsenal are without a win in three games (including their Champions League loss to Napoli) and if they lose this game, they will spend Christmas Day at fourth place on the log. If they win this game, then Arsenal will stay on first position and increase the gap between them and their London rivals to five points. On the other hand, although Jose Mourinho doesn’t believe this game will define Chelsea’s season, Chelsea need to win this game to prove they are title contenders and also to bounce back from their Capital One loss to Sunderland.

Arsenal will be without; Laurent Koscielny who picked up an injury at the Etihad stadium last week, Midfielder Jack Wilshere who is facing a two match ban following a middle finger gesture at the same game, and midfielders Alex Chamberlain and Abou Diaby who are both nursing knee injuries. It will be interesting to see how Wenger will rotate the squad to cover up for Wilshere and Koscielny. Replacing Wilshere will not be much of a problem having in mind that Walcott is back and the impressive form that Rosicky is in. However, it will be interesting to see how the second choice defender and team captain, Thomas Vermaelen, will team up with the on-form Per Mertesacker. Wenger also has an option of changing his attack with Lucas Podolski back from a three month injury. On the Blues side, there is not much to report only that Mourinho will be without suspended Michael Essien (fifth yellow card) but will get a boost from the return of John Terry. The out of favor left back, Ashley Cole, will most likely start from the bench.

History favors Chelsea, but the last thing the Gunners want is something to distract them. The back to back defeats at Napoli and ManCity have dented the Morale of the young team and Arsene Wenger must do everything to address the task at hand. On his part, Mourinho must have his goal-shy boys scoring once more instead of downplaying the Gunners.

Napoli vs. Arsenal Match Preview – Qualification up for Grabs

The Gunners, playing their best football in many years, need only a draw tonight when they play against Napoli in order to progress to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

Can Olivier Giroud score tonight against Napoli and help Arsenal qualify in first place?

Some interesting facts on both teams:

  • Napoli must win by a 3 goal margin to secure a place in the top sixteen.
  • Napoli must do better than Dortmund against Marseille to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League for the second time in the history of the Club. If Napoli win by a one or two goal margin and Borussia Dortmund beat Marseille, Napoli will be the first side to finish at the 3rd place in a CL group picking up 12 points.
  • The Partenopei haven’t drawn a game over their last 18 fixtures in European competition.
  • Arsenal are on course to reach the knockout stage for the 11th season in a row in the Champions League.
  • Arsene Wenger’s side were defeated 4-0 in their last trip to Italy (vs AC Milan in February 2012).
  • Arsenal have won five of their last six Champions League matches between this and last season.
  • Mesut Özil has only scored once in an away game in the Champions League back in April 2012.
  • Gonzalo Higuaín has never scored against an English team in the Champions League.

Arsenal & Everton Line-up: Arsenal bench Flamini as Giroud, Ozil and Cazorla lead attack

ARSENAL have released the line up to face Everton today in a match which could see the Gunners pull away from the pack with seven points.

Arsene Wenger decided to bench Flamini and have Giroud, Ozil and Cazorla and lead the attack. Everton have no changes in line-ups.

Arsenal line-up against Everton: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere , Giroud, Ozil, Cazorla.

Arsenal v Everton Match Preview – Sunday Dec 8, 2013

The Gunners may want to make changes after maintaining their four-point lead at the top in the Premier League on Wednesday against Hull.
Wenger will be tempted to recall the likes of Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Olivier Giroud while Theo Walcott could start for the first time since September.

Stay tuned for more as the game starts tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium, kick-off 16.00 (GMT).