The Game

This is not an easy moment for Arsenal Football Club and the news that Alex Song and Gervinho will miss three English Premier League game adds more uncertainty to a difficult month ahead.

Today, we host Italy’s Udinese, one of the most unpredictable teams in Europe. As I said in the preview, they can battle past any opposition if they want although I feel that their objective will today be not to concede any goals and if possible, to score one themselves on the counter.

With Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri suspended, Cesc Fabregas no longer an Arsenal player and Jack Wilshere out injured you have to wonder who will be our creative brain in the squad with manager Arsene Wenger revealing on Monday that he could give Nicklas Bendtner a start as the Denmark International is yet to find a new home despite publicly saying that he will leave the Gunners.

The other option, of course, is Marouane Chamakh with the Morocco International failing to impress in pre-season as he’s yet to recover from whatever problems he was having in the last part of last season. Having said that, his Champions League record is phenomenal so hopefully the smell of Europe will wake him up once and for all.

Anyway, the more the game edges closer the more I realise how important today’s game is so let’s hope in a positive result as the last thing we need ahead of the Liverpool game is to add more questions on an already turbulent future.

And, until you wait for kick-off, check out Arsene Wenger’s reaction after Cesc Fabregas joined Barcelona, how he intends to use the money generated from the deal and also why he believes one or two players are needed before the end of the summer transfer window.

As always, please do join the discussion in our chat room which will also be active after the full time whistle. You will be glad to know that from this season, to provide a better chat experience to our readers, users can be banned if they post offensive comments.

Streaming Links

For those who don’t know where to watch the game, maybe we can help, follow this link for streaming options. Links are updated before and during the match.

The Line-Ups

Arsenal

Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Walcott, Song, Rosicky, Ramsey, Gervinho, Chamakh

Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Djourou, Frimpong, Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Bendtner

Udinese

Coming Soon

Subs: Coming Soon

Half-Time Thoughts and Analysis

As the chat room has grown in popularity, my half-time thoughts as well as the comments of other Arsenal fans are now being discussed in the Arsenal Interactive chat room to which you can find a link at the bottom of this page. Please feel free to join the fun and share your point of view.