EPL Preview: Predicting the Arsenal Starting XI vs. Fulham

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Arsenal will aim to secure their 11th win in 13 games and their sixth consecutive English Premier League victory when they take on Fulham Saturday at the Emirates.

The match follows an emphatic 2-1 victory over German champions Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League which confirmed the Gunners’ place in the next round of Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Arsene Wenger’s men have been in blistering form since October and have revitalized their campaign after a horrific start to 2011/2012. The names Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are no longer taunts, with Arsenal well on track to secure a top-four finish.

However, London neighbours Fulham will provide a stern test for the North London giants despite the Cottagers’ lack of form. Martin Jol’s men sit 16th, two points outside the drop zone, with a mere two victories; however the Cottagers have endured five draws.

Fulham have lacked consistency since the season began but have at times showed a fluent attack that is capable of scoring many goals. Jol’s men thrashed six past the impressive Queens Park Rangers whilst also holding top of the table Manchester City to a two-all draw.

Nonetheless they encounter a confident Arsenal side who are led by arguably the best player in World Football at the moment, Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman boasts 38 goals in 41 appearances for 2011. The Gunners appear to have fluidity in attack and for once composure and consistency in defence.

There is certainly a newfound patience and resilience about Wenger’s squad and there is no denying the new maturity that is so evident in their recent performances. It is hard to envision anything less than an Arsenal win.

Goalkeeper

Polish keeper Wojcieh Szczesny has enjoyed fine form in 2011 and is certain to start against the Cottagers. However deputy Lukasz Fabianski is certain to feature in the Carling Cup quarterfinal against Manchester City next week. Nonetheless the Polish international will deputize come the weekend.

Veteran Manuel Almunia and Italian youngster Vito Mannone await January for the opportunity to depart and take up a loan deal.

Defence

Arsene Wenger is still faced with a right back dilemma as routine full backs Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson are both nursing injuries. French international Laurent Koscielny has impressed at right back in Arsenal’s last two matches and is likely to continue the run.

This ensures defensive leader Thomas Vermaelen continues as always in the centre half and will be partnered by under-fire German Per Mertesacker. Imposing Swiss Johan Djourou is likely to receive a bench role.

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England international Kieran Gibbs is expected to return from a hernia in a month which ensures Brazilian international Andre Santos will continue at left back. French veteran Sebastien Squillaci and Spanish teenager Igansi Miquel are unlikely to feature but are set to play in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Midfield

Arsene Wenger is likely to deploy the same trio that performed against Dortmund andNorwich City, despite chances of fatigue. With the Carling Cup next week, young guns Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong will receive chances alongside Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun.

This ensures Wales captain Aaron Ramsey and Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta will start as the attacking midfielders, with Alexandre Song as always the defensive midfielder and leader.

However, imposing Frenchman Abou Diaby could start ahead of Arteta; the 25-year-old made his comeback from a lengthy ankle injury against Dortmund.

Czech pla maker Tomas Rosicky has suffered a thigh strain and is unlikely to feature whilst the 2010/2011 PFA Young Player of the Year Jack Wilshere continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Forwards

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie just cannot stop scoring and the Dutchman will be the key to a Gunners’ victory. Van Persie will lead the front line as the lone striker and don the armband too.

England international Theo Walcott has been in blistering form in recent weeks and is certain to start on the right wing.

Russian dynamo Andrei Arshavin is set to start ahead of Gervinho on the left wing as the Ivorian receives a deserved break. Imposing Moroccan Marouane Chamakh will deputize van Persie from the bench but is likely to start against City in the Carling Cup.

South Korean captain Chu-Young Park is set to miss out on the matchday squad but is also likely to start against Manchester City.

The same can be said for teenage sensation Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Japanese teenager Ryo Miyaichi has an ankle injury and is set to return in December whilst English youngster Sanchez Watt has joined League One side Sheffield Wednesday.

Substitutes

With seven places on Arsene Wenger’s bench, Lukasz Fabianski will be the emergency keeper whilst Johan Djourou is the likely emergency defender. Emmanuel Frimpong, Abou Diaby and Yossi Benayoun are set to be the midfield substitutes whilst Marouane Camakh and Gervinho impact attackers.

MESSI ARRIVES AT THE 25

For any other player, scored 25 goals on the season overall figure represents a more than satisfactory, a bright line on the resume, an excellent card. But Leo Messioperates under different rules. The numbers used to measure the performance of the players fall short to measure the presence of the Argentine, who last night returned to San Siro to keep your appointment with a goal: it adds 25 this year, in the 20 games he has played, has not yet begun when the month of December.
The data multiplies the figure of the ‘crack’ Argentine, who continues in his attempt to become the top scorer in the history of the club.It will sooner or later: for now, accumulating 205 goals and is 30 of the legendary record of Caesar, who still heads the list of historic 235.
This season, Messi can claim to have scored more goals than the games he has played in both League and the Champions. In European competition remains the leading scorer, tied with Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez. Both have scored six goals in five matches so far and their teams have already qualified for the knockout stages as group winners.
The Milan was almost round match for Leo, who beat another personal best, never had marked an Italian team (although he had scored in Italy, in a special match like the Champions League final in Rome, before the Manchester United in 2009) and yesterday, from the penalty spot, removed the thorn but the referee spun fine and passed the `paradinha what was removed from the sleeve to deceive the Milan goal. The goal from the spot also became the best scorer in the history of South America European competitions, tied with Claudio Pizarro, both with 44 goals in UEFA tournaments.
Each party, Messi insatiable insists on another record, another brand, another record. Last night, in a scene so iconic as San Siro, scored win number 200 as a Barcaplayer in 289 games. With 25 goals in 20 games he has played this season (no less than an average of 1.25 goals per game), Messi is ready to beat his best scorer, corresponding to the last year, when total competition reached the 53 goals. The current season has not yet come to Ecuador, or the League or the Champions, and Messi and presented a card with 25 notches. If you keep your progression, could rub the 60 goals and even reach the 235 this year many of Caesar.
In just three months of competition, Messi has matched the best figure in the overall scoring a season which was his great reference when it came to the first team. Ronaldinho, Barcelona and Milan’s ex signed 25 goals in the 2005-06 season, his best year as a player Blaugrana, which won the Champions League and in Paris.
Against Milan, Messi also drew a walk his role as assistant. He started the play of the first goal, putting an inside pass to Keita that ended in the own goal from Mark van Bommel. It marked the second and was instrumental in the third, when he leaked a great pass into space to Xavi input from the balcony of the area. Terrassa midfielder sealed the game for the club and multiplied the value of the assistance of Leo, who has given ten assists this season. Besides leading scorer, Messi is also the most decisive pin Barca this season.

THE BARCA 1X1

VALDES: 6 Irregular. I miss game of Victor did a concert with the ball at his feet, but in tackling the ball was so successful, especially in a move that lost the ball and ended innocently for a corner. In the goal was not guilty.

Puyol: 6 Desperate. It certainly went wrong when the captain to defend the right wing because Ibra fell in your area and is anticipated to almost all their actions. Fortunately, there was room and ended the game in style.

MASCHERANO: 7 Leader. Barça defense came out with a three and Argentina took her galvanizing role in the game. Always very attentive to all the courts, was used to fund when it was necessary. The jefecito `do you still maintain its high level.

ABIDAL: 6 Flashing. The French defender had many problems in his band, reaching to lose balls incomprehensible. Fortunately, his game improved in the second half and gave much more packaging and safety on defense.

Sergio Busquets: 7 Ready. The Ciutat Badia is a real crack. He converted his private preserve area, dividing always the best option and retrieving balls everywhere. She sewed for kicks, but is so chaste and never throw in the towel followed.

XAVI: 10 Keynote. A party to frame the egarense who took all the excellences of his game: possession, control, intelligence, continuity, pressure, clear and on top of a goal by crack. Joaquim and Maria Merce Thanks for everything!

Keita: 9 Awesome. It took all the air balls have or might have, eventually winning the game at this point a whole Ibrahimovic. If we add to this that unfolded as he wanted with the ball, we can only say great match.

THIAGO: 8 Virtuoso. Seeing this guy do what he did yesterday in San Siro is something unique. No one plays like angels but also tactically worth a Potosi. We are talking about someone who is called to do great quotes.

CESC: Relentless 7. A combination of him with Leo Messi penalty led to the play of Xavi Hernandez.The Arenys was one of the most pressured and rushed, ending bottomless. Guardiola rested, releasing Peter.

MESSI: 9 omnipresent. He opened the pass to Keita’s band to focus and ended up in goal, the penalty that led to turning over and gave assistance to Xavi in the third. Need I say more of this great crack?

VILLA: 6 jinxed. No luck in front of goal, although he tried in every way. Especially one that finished off at close range and repulsed Abbiati does not know how. In any case their contribution is vital to the team for their dedication and claw.

ALEXIS: 8 Valiente. He entered the field and threw himself into the line of fire, fighting with all the defenses.

PEDRO: 7 Electric. He began to run around the field to hinder the ball out of the opposing defense.

DOS SANTOS: sc Testimonial. The youth was released in the last minutes paa give strength in midfield

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Manchester United vs Benfica: Breathtaking Moments (PHOTOS)

It was a day of delight for the Benfica fans and Coach Jorge Jesus as they heldManchester United to a 2-2 draw in the Champions League Group C matches on Tuesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team now needs a draw in Basel to qualify for the knockout stages.

Manchester United had its worst start when defender Phil Jones turned Nicolas Gaitan’s left-foot cross into his own net in the third minute. A series of defensive blunders followed.

Benfica is now on top of the group with nine points. Though Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Fletcher could lead Manchester United ahead to a better position, Benfica’s Pablo Aimar and Oscar Cardozo were at their best to stop any attempt of Manchester United to score the game.

Berbatov and Fletcher scored the two goals for Manchester United, while Jones and Aimar scored for Benfica.

The teams are as follows:
Manchester United: De Gea, Fabio, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick; Valencia, Young, Nani, Berbatov.
Substitutes: Lindegaard, Giggs, Smalling, Park, Hernandez, R. Da Silva, Gibson.
Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Emerson, Witsel, Javi Garcia, Bruno Cesar, Aimar, Rodrigo Moreno, Gaitan.
Substitutes: Eduardo, Amorim, Cardozo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira, Matic,
Miguel Vitor.

Tottenham’s Luka Modric is ‘In a League of His Own’

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric is the finest player of his type in the Premier League and Spurs are reaping the benefit of rejecting the advances of Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp.

Modric looked on the cusp of leaving Tottenham following a spate of lucrative bids from Chelsea, and reported interest from Sir Alex Ferguson but the north London club’s chairman Daniel Levy maintained an admirable defiance and Spurs have barely looked back since.

The diminutive Croatian was instrumental against Aston Villa on Monday, as he has been all season, and Jamie Redknapp, the son of Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry, believes the pint-sized playmaker is the finest creative midfielder in the entire division and patently worthy of the attentions of Andre Villas-Boas and Manchester United.

Chelsea and Manchester United have both been credited with reviving their mutual interests in Modric in January, but the aforementioned Sky Sports pundit believes the Tottenham Hotspur star is irreplaceable for Spurs, and “central to their run of form”.

“Luka Modric is in a league of his own as a central midfielder of his type in the Barclays Premier League right now.” Redknapp told

“Modric is central to their run of form. Yes, he has Scott Parker as his firefighter to cover and sit but Luka can play in a four because he’s not afraid to put in a shift.

“His hard work and his ball retention mean he does not get exposed to opponents breaking behind him, even though he is not a modern-day powerhouse.

“I really thought he would leave in the summer when Chelsea were making their move and he was clearly distracted.

“But Spurs – and especially the chairman, Daniel Levy – held strong. The chairman said he wouldn’t go and he didn’t. Levy stood up to Chelsea, held his ground and now Spurs are seeing the rewards.”

Tottenham are believed to be in talks with Modric in regards to a lucrative new contract which could make him the highest paid player in the club’s history, as they endeavour to thwart Chelsea and Manchester United.

Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Set to Receive Bold £30M Bid from Barcelona for Theo Walcott

If rumors are to be believed, Spanish champions Barcelona have added English club Arsenal’s winger Theo Walcott to the list of players the club would like to bring to the Nou Camp. The European champions will, therefore, submit a bid to acquire the 22-year-old Englishman’s services.

Barcelona, who previously targeted Tottenham’s midfielder Gareth Bale, has now declared that the club will be making a £30 million move for Walcott; a figure that may be hard for Arsenal to resist. It is believed that Barca boss Pep Guardiola is looking for young players to add to the squad, to play alongside those advancing through the club’s youth ranks.

The Englishman has less than 18 months to run on his current contract and that may prove an advantage to the Catalan club. In addition, Walcott, a former Southmapton player, may feel the urge to look for a future elsewhere if Arsenal yet again fail to win a trophy or even finish in the top four of the Premier League, come May.

The English club, however, will be understandably reluctant to let Walcott go. He is considered one of the key members in the current Gunners’ squad and the club’s manager, Arsene Wenger, has already lost two other key players, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, to Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively.

The Spanish champions’ rumored bid of £30m could be seen as a trifle high for someone who has yet to demonstrate excellence on the same scale as Barcelona. However, give that the club’s other new signing, Chilean Alexis Sanchez, for example, has also yet to truly prove his worth to the team and front-man David Villa is still to regain form and looks off the pace, a gamble on Walcott may be worth Barcelona’s while.

Arsenal are currently 12 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City and are in seventh position in the table.

Arsenal €50m Playmaker Target Eden Hazard Set to Leave Lille

Lille president Michel Seydoux has placed a €50 million price tag on Eden Hazard, with the club admitting that no player is irreplaceable as the playmaker considers his future.

Hazard has been the subject of a great deal of transfer interest over the past year, and while Lille have fought hard to hold on to their star, Seydoux is now open to the idea of a deal if the price is right.

Chelsea have recently shown interest in Hazard, along with Real Madrid, but Arsenalhave been connected to the 20 year old for the long term, though a price as high as €50 million doesn’t even come close to the record that Wenger has spent on a player in his 15 years at the club.

“There is a real chance that he will stay at Lille if we have a good season and he still sees challenges here,” Seydoux told RTL.

“If we don’t do well, it’s probable that he will leave the club after this season as there’s plenty of interest.

“Will €50 million be enough? Nobody is irreplaceable and there are solutions for that kind of money.”

Arsenal will no doubt be unable to afford such a top price, but if the club are willing to bargain, Wenger could be set to make the biggest marquee signing for years with the Gunners.

But Lille may not be so willing to let Hazard head to the northLondon side, with the club still reeling from losing out on Park Chu Young at the last minute to Arsenal in the summer.

Park had already agreed to a deal in France, according to Seydoux, before he made the move to London, and the president described Wenger’s conduct in the matter as not very ‘elegant’.

Meanwhile, Lille currently still have Joe Cole on loan from Liverpool, and Seydouz has hinted that he may decide to keep the 30-year-old on a permanent basis if a deal with the Reds can be agreed to.

“It is not a certainty that he will leave us again at the end his contract. If he has a certain good feeling with Lille and we can make him an interesting offer… This is something that we will look into,” he said.