Does Wenger just need his injury room cleared up?
There’s no doubting the fact that Arsene Wenger is having to fight for everything he can at the moment, both on the pitch with his players and off the pitch with the media and now the club’s fans.
However, the one place where he seems to be fighting a losing battle week after week is the injury room at the Emirates Stadium.
With Wenger forced to witness almost every single one of his star players experience at least a short spell of time on the sidelines since the start of the season, the Frenchman must be wondering what he needs to do to ensure his players maintain a clean bill of health for the rest of the campaign. Fans of soccer online betting need to remember this.
Even though the Arsenal manager has apparently worked tirelessly to identify a cause for the injury record plaguing the North London club, Wenger hasn’t had much luck pinpointing any solutions to a problem that has dragged on for some years now.
With neutrals and football pundits suggesting that injuries to key players have proved the difference between Arsenal winning a trophy and the Gunners remaining in top four mediocrity, Wenger will be all too aware of the need to get his stars fully fit as soon as possible or else risk having to splash the cash on bringing in covering players rather than investing in the long term future of the club.
No doubt one small benefit of the lengthy injury list has been found in the fact that Wenger has been forced to blood a number of inexperienced youngsters this season, but despite the success stories of the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, for some of the Arsenal youngsters their foray into the first team seems to have come far too early in their development, perhaps destroying their potential to enjoy long careers at the club.
Whatever the outcome of the next few games in the league, the difference between Wenger having a job at the end of the season and being out of work could simply come down to how many first team players he can name in his line-up.
January 24, 2012
Posted in: Premier League 
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Chelsea must improve in front of goal to compete
Chelsea are in danger of slipping out of the Premier League title race due to their overall inconsistency, while manager Andre Villas-Boas reckons they can get back in the race if they improve in front of goal.
The Blues have suffered too many draws and defeats for their fans and, as a result, they are now facing a fight for just a Premier League top four places rather than challenging the likes of Manchester City and United for the overall trophy. People who bet on Premier League weekend games should remember this.
Villas-Boas seems to be under massive pressure only months into his tenure at Stamford Bridge and he is saddled with an ageing side seemingly devoid of ideas of inspiration.
With Fernando Torres still firing blanks, Didier Drogba a pale shadow of his former self, Daniel Sturridge having to settle for a place on the wing and Nicolas Anelka having followed the money to China, Chelsea are short of goals and that is wreaking havoc on any title ambitions they have.
AVB has backed Torres, stating he has been doing “excellent things” for the team, but he has also called for all the Chelsea players to become more clinical to ensure they do not drop out of the battle for honours. Those betting on football need to bear this in mind.
The Portuguese boss said: “We are in the top three teams for creating chances, but the efficiency was not there and this represents where we are in the table.
“We have to find the consistency for us to get on a winning run which can make this title challenge a little bit more, that is the reality.”
Chelsea do remain in the Champions League this season, but fans will hope their European exertions do not negatively affect them as they look to ensure a Premier League top four finish and another season in the competition.
January 23, 2012
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FA Cup 2011-12: Derby County vs. Stoke City (Fourth Round match preview)
This First Round of the FA Cup got underway on the 11th of November 2011. We are currently in the Fourth Round of the tournament with 32 teams remaining in the prestigious competition. This article will focus on the matchup between Championship outfit Derby County and Premier League side Stoke City. It will describe both sides’ form in their respective leagues; both teams’ star individuals; and will finish with a brief match prediction.
County’s current standing in the second tier of English football is quite respectable. After a wondrous start to the season Nigel Clough – the Rams’ current manager – has guided his team to a reasonable position of 11th; a mere 2-points behind a play-off spot. Clough will unquestionably be hoping that Tony Pulis – Stoke’s reigning manager – will field a weakened team to give Derby the best chance of qualifying into the Fifth Round of this season’s FA Cup. The Rams’ greatest asset at the moment has to be their top-goal-scorer this season Theo Robinson. He will pose the biggest threat in the up-and-coming matchup against their strong Premier League opponents. Those placing FA Cup bets should remember this.
Since the Potters arrived in the Premier League some 5-seasons ago, success at the formidable club has certainly risen. Their current standing in the prestigious league is 8th with a 6-point difference between them and 5th positioned Arsenal. Pulis has proven he is a worthy manager and has really improved Stoke City as a footballing club. Shrewd signings like Peter Crouch have done the world of good for the Potters whose performances in the league have been extraordinary. Anyone looking at the FA Cup betting should bear this in mind.
My match prediction for this particular matchup would have to be a 1-3 away win to the Potters. Even with the Rams playing at home, I can still see Pulis’ side defeating their Championship opponents. Pulis is likely to field his strongest team in the hope of finishing in a similar position to last season where they lost to Manchester City 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup.
January 23, 2012
Posted in: FA Cup No Comments