Wish we don't play Arsenal now. I think we still need more time to gel as a team. All the new players will need to play more in order to get used to each other. Can see this being a tough match for us. Despite their problems, Arsenal always tend to play their best against us. After the way we lost our last 2 matches there, to get a win somehow will be a sweet revenge. But considering we have so many new players, a draw will be a great result for us.
Players like Van Der Vaart and Bale used to be our heroes against Arsenal in the recent past. They have scored some important goals against Arsenal. Now, without both of them, we need to find a new hero to step up against Arsenal. Hope Soldado will become one. He has been been scoring goals without being outstanding so far for us. Disappointingly both his goals in the league have been through penalties. What a perfect time it will be if he can score his first goal from open play against Arsenal ! But if Soldado can't do it, hope any other new players like Paulinho, Capoue, Chadli or even Lamela can score ! Defoe never seems to score against Arsenal as his only goal against them came 9 years ago. But won't mind if Defoe can somehow score in this match.
I think this match will be won or lost in midfield. Can expect a tight battle in midfield as both midfield look very strong. Arsenal's midfield looks more creative than ours, so we will need to stop their attacks there. We have so many new players in midfield that not sure how our formation will be. Regardless of who play there, hope they will step up their game. We just cannot let Arsenal win the midfield battle. Will be great if any one of Paulinho, Capoue, Lamela or Eriksen can score a goal or two as well. Paulinho lookes very determined to score. Hope he manages to do that in this match.
Our defence have done really well to keep clean sheets in all the 4 league and Cup matches so far. It will be great if we can keep another clean sheet here. But it is not going to be easy as we have not stopped Arsenal scoring there since 1998 ! But if we want to achieve something this season, we need to prepare to break all records. Hope the new players will bring a strong and positive mentality to the club. Hope Lloris will be able to extend the clean sheet run in this match.
Wish we can beat them and keep our perfect start to the season. But a draw will be acceptable considering all the situations. Hope we can go into the 2-week break with a positive result.