Jan 16, 2011 -
Today we travel to play Arsenal in a televised match. Arsenal is currently 6th in the EPL while we are 1st. Arsenal has a very talented team. Their keeper Manuel Almunia appears to be losing some skills as he ages, and the team has recently acquired young Italian keeper Gianluca Caruso from Milan, but Almunia continues to start. Left fullback Ashley Cole is a top notch player. Centrebacks Joseph Yobo and Philippe Senderos are both high talented players. Right fullback Sonkaya Fatih gets the most out of his talent. Left winger Mark Gonzales is starting in place of Jose Antonio Reyes per our scouting reports, but I still expects Reyes to start this important match. Midfielder Patrick Vieira is a veteran who is still world class. Their other midfielder Luovic Giuly is having a hard time fitting into the team's scheme. Right winger Jermaine Pennant is slowing with age, and is having his worst year ever. Striker Thierry Henry continues to be one of the best in the world. He has 18 goals on the year. Nicolas Anelka has stepped up nicely with Saviola's injury. Anelka has 14 goals in 20 starts. He is playing very well. This will be a tough match.
Arsenal are 6-4 favorites.
It's overcast with tempertures in the mid 30's.
GK: Barthez! (Howard is away on international duty for this important match!!!!
)
DL: Chivu
DC: Lucio
DC: Ferdinand
DR: Brown
ML: Downing
MC: Djemba
MC: Fletcher
MR: Eagles
SC: McFadden
SC: Rooney (he needs to break out of the funk this game. He is physically in superb condition.)
S1: Heaton
S2: van Nistelrooy
S3: O'Shea
S4: Stevanovic (Parker and Duff are both injured)
S5: Saha