Arsenal are on a roll and getting better at defeating stubborn sides like City, while Pompey are improving but much like Reading, still unpredictable in how they will fight or collapse. They could give Arsenal a scare, at most, but that’s not going to change the course of the match too much.
We are going into this game with a good record, Two wins and a draw that should have really been a win for us, While Pompey have a draw against Man U, Another draw a win and a lost.
Hleb is out ill though, And he has been possible with Fabregas our best player so far this campaign and him not playing on sunday is a real low for us, But whether we use our new signing Diarra remains to be a mystery.
Pompey have some good solid players in the likes of Ex-Gunners Sol Campbell, Kanu, Lauren and with the addition of new signing David Nugent they are certainly no push-over, and can suprise some (Well, Let’s be fair, Suprise a lot) by winning against us, But as of right now and I don’t this will change, We will not end our unbeaten start to the season by them getting the 3 points, If they get 1 point I will be quite suprised and from a Gooners point-of-view, Pretty disapointed.
As I said last week against Man City, If Manuel Almunia plays well in goals it should be Bye-Bye Jens, And should Almunia keep a clean sheet and saves well and we win by 2 or so goals, the Lehmann leaving “fiasco” will be all but over.
They have real quality,†said Wenger. “Portsmouth are a very shrewd club with Harry Redknapp in charge. He always buys good players. He came to Arsenal and took a few from us!” “They have a very strong spine. Sylvain Distin, Sol Campbell and David James at the back. Kanu and Lauren too. They are very intelligent and I feel those former Arsenal players means when they come to us they are always highly motivated.
“Portsmouth are a team with physical strength, tactical strength and lots of experience. “Their last performance against Chelsea was very good. On the evidence of what we saw they could have taken a point.
“There is quality that is we must be very careful against this side. We just want to continue our run and be on our toes.†added Wenger.
My GoonerBlog Prediction for the game, Unsuprisingly an Arsenal win at the Emirates, A 3-0 win and Van Persie to get a double and Fabregas or Gallas to net one.