Arsenal V Chelsea Odds

Arsenal – 2.6

Draw – 3.2

Chelsea – 2.8

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The betting sites seem to have Arsenal as the favorites right now and even though Chelsea do suck at the moment I’m not sure the book has been drawn up correctly. Even so it’s nice to go into the game knowing that we have a very real chance of beating Chelsea and pushing on towwards winning the title. A win on Boxing Day could really be the launch pad we need to get going and push for the top spot.

Fingers crossed and Merry Christmas to all!

Anyway, on to tonights game. We are the clear favorites to win the match and at the Coral bookmakers we are priced at 1.66 [Source]. Not a bad price for a game we should win but given our current form and the performances Wolves have put in over the last three games it might be one to leave alone. We will have fabregas back tonight however and that should make a big differance.

Arsene Wenger was quoted on the BBC website saying “We have to pick ourselves up. We are ambitious, and that is why we have to get our spirit on this game, focus again and come back with points”. I think even though we are slipping a little things are still calm in the camp and a win tonight should right the balance a little.

The only worrying bit of pre match news it that Fabregas has been ruled of the game with a strain injury. Wenger expects him to be back for the home game against Newcastle on Saturday but there’s no chance he’ll feature in tonights Champions League tie.

Other players ruled out through injury include Denilson, Arshavin and Song.

We managed to be Shakhtar 5-1 in the home leg of this tie but tonight looks set to be a lot closer. I think still think we’ve got what it takes to win the match and VC bet have us priced up at 7/4 for the win which looks good value to me.

I’m expecting to see some majic from Theo Walcott tonight and it’s starting to look like he’s finally found the form we knew he was capable of when we signed him. His two goals against Newcastle last week should mean he’s coming into tonights game on a high note. He’ll be on the score sheet tonight!

Come on the GUNNERS!

Premier League Odds – 8/1

FA Cup Odds – 8/1

League Cup Odds – 5/2

Champions League Odds – 10/1

By the looks of things the bookies at Victor Chandler don’t much fancy Arsenal to lift a major trophy this year. Personally I don’t think we’ll win the Premier League, Chelsea just look too good as much as I hate to admit it! The FA Cup looks like good value at 8/1 as does the League Cup at 5/2. Champions League at 10/1 doesn’t look like a good price given the standard of the top teams in Europe at the moment, it’s hard to see anyone getting past Barcelona and Real Madrid this time around.

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It was nice to Wenger come forward after the game and say that it was a red card and that he’ll be having a word with Wilkshire to make sure he realizes that kind of play is unacceptable. If only the likes of Mick McCarthy would follow suit!

Birmingham were lucky to keep Stephen Carr on the pitch during the first half of the game. He went flying in studs up and stamping which really should have been a straight red card as well. Consistency please Ref’s!

Aside from that we looked pretty good, the beautiful passing game looked very good and three points is three points!

Wenger was keen not to use injuries as an excuse for the result against West Brom on Saturday but when you see who’s out and who’s available it isn’t pretty!

Current Injured Players

Cesc Fabregas – Hamstring
Theo Walcott – Ankle
Robin Van Persie – Ankle
Nicolas Bendtner – Groin
Kieran Gibbs – Foot
Maneul Almunia – Elbow
Thomas Vermaelen – Achilles
Aaron Ramsey – Broken Leg
Emmanuel Frimpong – Knee Ligament

As you can see we have potentially seven first team players out injured and not only that but four players in Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott and Bendtnar who make up the core of our first team week in week out.

It does however look like Almunia, who dropped a bit of a clanger at the weekend, will be replaced by Fabianski who was described in The Sun today as Lukasx Flappianski. Fabregas, Walcott and Van Persie are all still out injured.

Partizan are currently leading the Serbian Championship but even so should pose little threat to Arsenal tonight. Conditions might not be great but I’m fully expecting to see Arsenal come out on top with relative ease.

How on eath we allowed West Brom to go 3 – 0 up I’ll never know but they just cruised through us like we wern’t even there at times. We’re used to seeing the Gunners hit teams on the break, not the other way around! The defending for the third goal was nothing short of shocking and if it hadn’t been for Nasri getting us a couple it could have looked seriously embarissing.

Nasri’s second goal of the game was a peach after a slick drag back he banged the ball into the bottom left of the goal but even then it felt all like a little bit to late.

Fortunitly Chelsea lost at Man City this weekend and Manchester United could only manage a 2-2 draw with Bolton. It leaves us in 2nd place on goal difference with Chelsea top of the League on 15 points, us on 11 in 2nd, Manchester United in 3rd with 11 and Man City 4th with 11. Man United do however have a game in hand over everyone.

Spurs actually didn’t look too bad once they’d recovered from going 1-0 down in the first half. Robbie Keane scored a decent goal from about 20 yards out and for a while they looked like they might come right back into it.

Two penalties in extra time soon put pay to that, both of which were slotted home by the in form Sami Nasri may I add and once we went two clear they were never coming back.

The only disapointing thing about tonights game is that Wenger was serving a one match ban from the touchline and couldn’t enjoy the victory with the players at pitch level. It once again shows the quality we’ve got waiting in the wings at the Emirates. Times ahead look bright!

It looks like one of the best draws we could have hoped for and somehow we’ve managed to avoid most of the bigger teams in this years competition. Nothing short of qualification for the next stage will do looking at the quality of the teams in the group.

Our biggest test will likely come with the away game against Shakhtar Donetsk. They’ve always been a decent outfit and play some good attatcking football. I’d still expect Arsenal to beat them, even away from home but if there was a stumbling block in the group then that would have to be it.

Hopefully the easy draw we’ve been given should allow Wenger to rest players up towards the later stages of the groups meaning we can mount a serious challenge this season in Europe.