Pompey v Arsenal

Pompey make a welcome return to Saturday football, and in doing so we are playing the roles of 'the adverts', you know there is an epic film on and then you are watching a little girl with a nervous twitch advertising chocolate, well Pompey have this role, stepping inbetween Arsenal's 2 legs with Man u.

Nigel Winterburn says we can do it, Arsene Wenger probably couldn't care less if we did, but will the management have the courage to attack what will be a weakened if still talented Arsenal from the off?
Arsenal have the privelage along with Chelsea of being the only sides we cannot beat in the Premiership, generally we lose or draw, mainly lose, sometimes its taken a primadonna referee in his last match as official to deny us, sometimes it took a Robert Pires swallow dive, but the fact remains we cannot beat Arsenal in the Premiership. In fact you have to go back to 1958 for any kind of win at all!
One omen on our side however is the amount of hoodoos from the 50's we have smashed in the last couple of years, obviously this was the last time we were a power in the top league, but some of those ghosts have been exorcised.

The home games are coming to a close now though, only Sunderland remain, and for all the talk and denials, after this weekend Pompey will be virtually safe, win, lose or draw, so how about it Hart and Kiddo, maybe we can go out all guns blazing and play for a win?

Kaboul is fit to return, but although he was in great form until his injury against Everton, it has been very much a case of if you are in possesion of a blue shirt and we don't lose, you keep the blue shirt, quite a comendable management ploy really, although some may disagree.
Pennant impressed last week at Newcastle after coming on in the second half for Nugent, but poor old Nuge is playing more of a team role at the moment, he is sacrificing some of his attacking instincts to do a more defensive role on the right or left, and is generally run into the ground after about 70 minutes.

Still revered in North London (well one part) he will be right up for this one against some old mates.

Christ knows who Wenger will play, its obvious this game is more of an irritant with the big one on Wednesday, Arshavin will feature no doubt, he is ineligable for the Champions league, Eboue may play also after playing more of a bit part role of late.
In defence Silvestre has done a groin and won't be risked, likewise Eduardo and Van Persie up front.

Simply whether he plays or not could be crucial to the outcome, Ramsey or Wilshire maybe more likely to start, but after missing a large chunk of the season with a knee injury.

See above, we are due a win

Cathal Smythe

Can we tame the cubs, or are we getting short shrift once more? guess here.

Blackburn in the north

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