Arsenal -1.5 (vs newcastle) @ 2.03 samvo (3.5/10)
Want to make an early start, cos i think these odds will drop below 2.0 come saturday.
I dont want to take this too high, as you all know, Arsenal had an awesome game last sunday against liverpool, but one good game, doesnt mean they are world beaters. The Emirates stadium has yet to convince me as being a place teams dont like going to because the fans and the team overwhelm and dominate their opponents...not yet anyways.
Ive been waiting to make a pick for this game on Arsenal all day yesterday, but needed to see how long most of the internationals at Arsenal had played last nite and if there were any obvious injuries, which i dont think there are at the time of posting. Fabregas played for 45mins, Henry & Gallas 90 mins, Eboue & Toure (not too sure).
Once again, I dont think its wise to get too carried away with Arsenals recent win, as i still think Arsenal haven't grown into their new stadium as well as they'd have liked. Maybe its the size of the pitch compared to Highbury where it was smaller and tighter, almost hugging the crowd because of its compactness, therefore the bigger pitch requires that much more longer passes to each player which often see's the opposition intercepting the ball. If they played like they did at Highbury, short and fast, they fail to cover the same amount of ground en route to goal and the opposition are able to hurry back in numbers to defend as well as affording to give more attention to Fabregas and stop his passing game.
Newcastle on the other hand have massive defensive problems, babayaro & bernard are out, carr is a doubt, bramble & moore are back which is good news, as bramble has been horrendous but Roeder has no choice. Emre is suspended, and Ameobi will play his last game (probably for the season) before he goes under the knife for surgery on his hip, but Ameobi has looked awful of late, and just cannot keep up with the pace of their recent games.
As well as being probably the best counter attacking team in the land, the likelyhood that Newcastle will try to defend throughout to try come away a satisfactory draw will probably be the plan, but with a depleted defence who at full strength is poor regardless, it will be tough.
Arsenal should win this easily on paper, and have won every game they have scored first in this season, so all i can see is once Arsenal make the break through, it will only be a matter of time before they add another and probably end this game 3 or 4-0 (2-0 will do fine), but like i said, they still have to strongly convince at home otherwise i'd be on this game with much higher stakes.
gl
wuntun
Want to make an early start, cos i think these odds will drop below 2.0 come saturday.
I dont want to take this too high, as you all know, Arsenal had an awesome game last sunday against liverpool, but one good game, doesnt mean they are world beaters. The Emirates stadium has yet to convince me as being a place teams dont like going to because the fans and the team overwhelm and dominate their opponents...not yet anyways.
Ive been waiting to make a pick for this game on Arsenal all day yesterday, but needed to see how long most of the internationals at Arsenal had played last nite and if there were any obvious injuries, which i dont think there are at the time of posting. Fabregas played for 45mins, Henry & Gallas 90 mins, Eboue & Toure (not too sure).
Once again, I dont think its wise to get too carried away with Arsenals recent win, as i still think Arsenal haven't grown into their new stadium as well as they'd have liked. Maybe its the size of the pitch compared to Highbury where it was smaller and tighter, almost hugging the crowd because of its compactness, therefore the bigger pitch requires that much more longer passes to each player which often see's the opposition intercepting the ball. If they played like they did at Highbury, short and fast, they fail to cover the same amount of ground en route to goal and the opposition are able to hurry back in numbers to defend as well as affording to give more attention to Fabregas and stop his passing game.
Newcastle on the other hand have massive defensive problems, babayaro & bernard are out, carr is a doubt, bramble & moore are back which is good news, as bramble has been horrendous but Roeder has no choice. Emre is suspended, and Ameobi will play his last game (probably for the season) before he goes under the knife for surgery on his hip, but Ameobi has looked awful of late, and just cannot keep up with the pace of their recent games.
As well as being probably the best counter attacking team in the land, the likelyhood that Newcastle will try to defend throughout to try come away a satisfactory draw will probably be the plan, but with a depleted defence who at full strength is poor regardless, it will be tough.
Arsenal should win this easily on paper, and have won every game they have scored first in this season, so all i can see is once Arsenal make the break through, it will only be a matter of time before they add another and probably end this game 3 or 4-0 (2-0 will do fine), but like i said, they still have to strongly convince at home otherwise i'd be on this game with much higher stakes.
gl
wuntun
