Monday, January 31, 2011

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01-02-2011 20:45 Arsenal - Everton

Gunners On A Roll

Arsenal have had a fantastic month, barring a minor blip against Ipswich Town in the first leg of the semi-finals of the League Cup. But to their credit, the Gunners managed to trump the Championship side in the second leg to book a place in the final of the domestic cup tournament.

With silverware well within reach and the prospect of breaking a drought that has lasted six years, the north London club’s players are likely to be filled with positivity when looking back on their recent exploits. But the job is by no means done, as they still have to go on and win the final.

For now, however, the focus shifts to the Premier League, where Arsene Wenger’s men sit in second place – five points behind Manchester United.

Samir Nasri will be missing owing to a hamstring injury, while Sebastien Squillaci begins his suspension after seeing a red against Huddersfield.

The north London side will have to continue their positive run of results and get the three points against Everton, since the Red Devils could open up a huge gap if points are dropped at the Emirates.

Stuttering Strike Force

Everton have actually managed to play a good brand of football this season, attacking with purpose and intent and creating enough chances to win many games where they dropped points. The only real worry for manager David Moyes has been his strike force.

The Toffees' forwards have been unable to put away their chances on several occasions, which is arguably why they find themselves in 14th place. That they have lost fewer games than every other team outside the top six is in itself a reflection of their strength.

But much like their Merseyside rivals Liverpool, questions have been asked as to whether the team can actually manage to put together a protracted positive run of results and qualify for Europe.

At the present, 10 points stand between the Toffees and sixth-placed Sunderland, who have thus far amassed 37 points. But the Black Cats have played a game more than Moyes’ charges, which could potentially cut short the difference in points between the two sides.

But ifs, buts and maybes aside, Everton will have to snatch something from this game to continue to hope for a turnaround and secure European football when the curtain comes down on their current campaign.

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

Samir Nasri (hamstring) is sidelined after falling prey to injury during Sunday's FA Cup game against Huddersfield, while Sebastien Squillaci saw a red during the same game and will begin his ban by sitting this one out.

Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remains sidelined, while Bacary Sagna (concussion) is a doubt for this game.

Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) is another player who is doubtful of making this fixture.

Possible starting line-up: Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny Clichy; Walcott, Song, Wilshere; Arshavin, Fabregas, Van Persie.

Everton

Phil Jagielka was on the bench throughout Saturday's FA Cup encounter against Chelsea, and should likely be fit enough to make his comeback against Arsenal. Victor Anichebe (groin) is a doubt for the trip to north London.

Louis Saha scored for his side and earned a few positive words from manager David Moyes, in a season in which the Scot has been generally unhappy with his strike force. The former Manchester United man should likely start the game despite having played against the west London club.

Possible starting line-up: Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Arteta, Fellaini, Osman; Beckford, Saha.

Prediction
Arsenal have the home advantage and should grab the three points on offer, but not before some stiff resistance from Everton.

Arsenal 3-2 Everton

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01-02-2011 21:00 Manchester United - Aston Villa

Comeback Kings

Manchester United have made life difficult for themselves in recent fixtures, having to come from behind to beat both Blackpool and Southampton, which may just evoke memories of their last fixture against Aston Villa.

In November, goals by Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton had given the Midlanders a two-goal lead which they maintained until the 81st minute when Federico Macheda popped up to grab one back before Nemanja Vidic completed the recovery to snatch a point.

Whether the league leaders will be quite so generous again remains to be seen. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have conceded just seven goals at home so far this season, the best record in the top flight, and only West Brom have managed to deprive them of all three points on their own turf.

Hat-Trick Houllier

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are showing signs of improvement having eased away from the drop zone with important wins over Manchester City and Wigan Athletic before making it three on the bounce by knocking Blackburn Rovers out of the FA Cup.

Yet to take anything from Old Trafford they will need to improve their away form which has seen them win just twice so far this season at struggling Wigan and Wolves.

Indeed a win at Old Trafford will make it a hat-trick of away wins for the season and they will fancy their chances having won at United last season when a first-half goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor was enough to secure victory.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that he will revert back to his usual defence after changing his entire back five for the FA Cup win over Southampton.

Rafael has recovered from concussion suffered at Blackpool, Patrice Evra will also return having missed the FA Cup clash due to a family bereavement while key trio Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar are also expected to feature.

Up front Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney are both expected to start after being left on the bench against Southampton, although Javier Hernandez’s recent goals mean the Mexican is pushing hard for a first-team place.

Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney.

Aston Villa

Record signing Darren Bent will return to the Villa team having been ineligible for their FA Cup win over Blackburn Rovers.

Defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins should also return after missing the cup tie, while Villa’s other new recruit, Jean Makoun, may partner Stiliyan Petrov in midfield.

Possible starting XI: Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Clark; Albrighton, Petrov, Makoun, Downing; Bent, Agbonlahor.

Prediction
The league leaders continue to win without looking at their best but will surely need to improve on recent displays if they are to despatch an improving Aston Villa.

Villa were a little unlucky not to beat United at Villa Park back in November but the hosts’ formidable home record means anything other than a win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will be considered a shock.

Man Utd. 2-1 Aston Villa

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31-01-2011 21:00 Racing Santander - Valencia

Uncertainty In The Air

Five matches without a victory, Racing Santander are a side quickly being brought back into the heart of the relegation battle. At the other end of the league, Valencia are putting together a sequence of hard-fought victories to maintain their Champions League challenge, and los Che will be hopeful of increasing their hosts’ misery on Monday evening.

Virtually since the start of the season, los Verdiblancos have been embroiled in a fight against the drop. The fixture computer certainly hasn’t been kind to Miguel Angel Portugal’s side, who found themselves having to play Spain’s top outfits in quick succession at the beginning of the campaign and now find themselves with an equally testing run as the second half of the season gets started.

Barcelona, unsurprisingly, proved to be too good for los Racinguistas at Camp Nou last weekend, though there was not too much to be ashamed of regarding the 3-0 final score. “It’s what everybody expected,” conceded a resigned Portugal at the end of last weekend’s fixture. “It’s difficult to stop Barca currently.”

Indian businessman Syed Ali Ashan’s takeover of the club remains clouded in doubt, giving this fixture an uncertain backdrop for a side desperate to push into the middle of the table and afford themselves some breathing space when the easier fixtures arrive in the spring.

Leaving It Late

Valencia are starting to become a team who specialise in the last 10 minutes of matches. In each of their last five matches, they’ve scored vital late goals, with last minute or stoppage time winners recorded against Real Sociedad, Espanyol and Malaga.

Unai Emery’s side are not playing especially smoothly, but when the results are coming as they are at present, even the notoriously fickle crowd at the Mestalla cannot complain to vehemently.

Last weekend’s encounter with Malaga could be considered something of an exception. Playing against 10 men since the 15th minute, los Che allowed their guests to take a 2-1 lead, and even though that was overturned, los Boquerones again hit back to 3-3 once they had lost another man due to an expulsion. Against nine men, Valencia toiled before eventually finding the winner through Aritz Aduriz.

Still, Valencia managed to record their fifth successive Liga victory, carrying them to within a whisker of Espanyol in fourth place once more. Three points on Monday night are again important, but a convincing performance would help silence some of the critics, who maintain that los Che have been getting lucky a little too often lately.

TEAM NEWS

Racing

Pablo Pinillos is back involved after overcoming knee problems. Alexandros Tziolis, Oscar Serrano and Papa Kouli Diop are all still injured, while Pedro Munitis serves the second of a two-match suspension.

Valencia

Juan Mata has been omitted from the squad as he is suffering from left ankle problems. David Albelda, Vicente Rodriguez, Miguel Moya and Cesar Sanchez continue to be sidelined.

Prediction
Valencia’s habit of winning tight games may well be brought to an end on Monday evening. Not since September have Racing Santander tasted defeat at home, though it’s unlikely they will have to power to overcome Unai Emery’s somewhat unpredictable outfit.
 
Racing 1-1 Valencia