Is this Arsenal’s back four against Everton? Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Vermaelen?
After the injury to Andre Santos during Tuesday night’s game against Olympiacos, we now have no first choice fullbacks fit for action. They’ll be more news about the team tomorrow as usual, but here’s a look at the key games this weekend.
After our win against Wigan and Chelsea beating Newcastle, here’s the state of play:
4 Chelsea 14 14 28
5 Arsenal 14 7 26
6 Newcastle 14 4 26
7 Liverpool 14 4 23
(played,GD,points)
Slightly less tight after Fulham sneaked a win against Liverpool on Monday night, but still a real contest. So what are the games that matter?
Saturday
Arsenal v Everton
Liverpool v QPR
Norwich v Newcastle
Monday
Chelsea v Manchester City
Arsenal v Everton
Apart from the fullback issue, everyone’s fit apart from the usual suspects so no big team changes for Arsenal. Everton will be a tougher test than some we’ve had recently but we should be good enough to win. Here’s the form:
Arsenal: WWWWDW
Everton: WLLWWL
This won’t be an easy game but, with the team playing to go fourth, I think we can do it.
Liverpool v QPR
Liverpool are starting to look a bit rocky, QPR have been rocky all season.
Liverpool: DWDWDL
QPR: WLLWLD
Liverpool ought to have enough to do this and the motivation of needing a win to stay in touch with the fight for top four status. Of course the need to stay in touch could equally make for a nervous performance, but I would pencil this one in as a home win.
Norwich v Newcastle
Is this just the right game for Newcastle to get back on track after dropping points in three matches?
Norwich: DDLLWL
Newcastle: WWWLDL
Newcastle should win this, but with the injuries to Taylor and Coloccini, they won’t be as secure at the back so I don’t see them running away with it.
Chelsea v Manchester City
The crunch game of the weekend is on Monday evening.
Chelsea: LLWLWW
Man City: WWWWDW
Chelsea looked more organised and professional against Newcastle last Saturday and held their nerve to beat Valencia on Tuesday. Can they make it three vital wins in a row on Monday?
This one is hard to predict. Chelsea gave given good signs that they have weathered the storm, but City’s league form is hard to bet against. There has to be a good chance of dropped points here. A draw keeps them in fourth, lose and the weekend belongs to us.
If Arsenal get the win on Saturday we will go fourth and could just finish the weekend there too.
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