Arsenal vs Portsmouth preview- English Premier League
Posted on | December 27, 2008 | No Comments
Game : Arsenal (5th-32 points) vs Portsmouth ( 11th-23 points)
Venue : Ashburton Grove, London, England
Date : December 28, 2008 ( Sunday)
Competition : English Premier League
Kickoff : 14.00 GMT
Tony Adams returns to the club where he spent most of his playing career when he takes his Portsmouth side to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Portsmouth have been in poor form recently, and were at the receiving end of a 4-1 thrashing from West Ham on Boxing Day, although fans will argue that Jermain Defoe missing the half time penalty saw the game snatched away from Pompey. Given their recent results, it will be tough to expect Portsmouth to get a win from this game.
Portsmouth last five games- all competitions, Pompey scorers in brackets.
Portsmouth 1-4 West Ham ( Nadir Belhadj)
Bolton 2-1 Portsmouth ( Peter Crouch)
Portsmouth 3-0 Heerenveen ( Peter Crouch*2, Hreidarsson)
Portsmouth 0-3 Newcastle
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Portsmouth ( Peter Crouch)
Crouch has scored four times in the last five games for Pompey, and once scored a hat trick when Liverpool beat the Gunners in the Premier League in March 2007.
Arsenal were denied by a last gasp Zatyiah Knight equaliser on Thursday night, but the result was a fair one given how Villa outplayed the Gunners in the first half. Midfielder Alexandre Song limped off against Villa, and he is unlikely to play this game. This further stretches Wenger’s resources in midfield, with skipper Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott already out. On Thursday, Arsenal played a 4-4-1-1, with Diaby playing off Robin Van Persie, but on Sunday, they will welcome back Adebayor from suspension. Left back Gael Clichy is expected to play on Sunday after missing the Villa game. Johan Djorou is also a doubt with a hamstring problem.
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa ( Denilson, Abou Diaby)
Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool ( Robin Van Persie)
Middlesbrough 1-1 Arsenal ( Emmanuel Adebayor)
FC Porto 2-0 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-0 Wigan Athletic ( Emmanuel Adebayor)
Corresponding fixture last season :-
Arsenal 3-1 Portsmouth ( Adebayor, Fabregas, Rosicky/Kanu)
Pompey have been dreadful recently, and I don’t think much will change against Arsenal. Arsenal to win 2-1, with Van Persie, Adebayor and Crouch to score.
Related posts:
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Portsmouth preview
- Stoke City vs Arsenal preview- Premier League
- Portsmouth vs Aston Villa preview
- Portsmouth vs Manchester City preview
- Portsmouth vs Manchester City preview-February 14, 2009
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