On the face of it, we’ve got about as much chance of beating Arsenal on Saturday as I’ve got of boning Jo Guest, one of their ‘famous’ fans.
They’ve barely lost in the league down there since they moved from Highbury, and put it like this…If we did come away with three points at 5pm, I’d be coming away in my pants, just like those halcyon teenage days in my bedroom.
Arsenal won easily at Molineux earlier in the season
Trying to tell you their formation would be fruitless on my part, or who will play where. Doubtless they will be like Maradona’s pet dog: Foreign, spritely, and great to watch on the attack.
Until the month of March, we’d have all predicted defeat at the Emirates, particularly considering their crushing 4-1 win at Molineux before Christmas.
And after their remarkable fight-back against Barcelona this week, what has changed?
Well, quite a lot I’d argue.
For a starter, Fabregas, Arshavin and Gallas are looking decidedly unfit as the weekend approaches, while their goalkeeper Almunia has never instilled me with much confidence, despite his heroics against Barca.
And then there is the most important factor of all…Our absorbing four game unbeaten run, which has offered more hope and cause for optimism than at any other time this season.
The closer this game gets, the more optimistic we should all be.
If our win at West Ham was a beautiful big sponge cake to feast over, our belligerent, battling draw against Everton must have tasted like the icing, as we topped off one of the best weeks we could have imagined.
The ingredients seem to be coming together now, and the recipe is what we’ve all wanted, so what’s to stop us from doing what has been considered unthinkable for so long?
Arsenal won’t relish playing us at the moment surely, despite the obvious gulf in class.
Barring any training ground injuries, we’ll name the same team for the third consecutive game, and if we show the same fight and spirit as we have done of late, then a point isn’t out of the question.
And if we lose, then so what? It’s been a home banker since August!
Theo Walcott’s renaissance is a worry and much of the play will surely rain down on our left-side, while Bendtner’s form at Blues still lives in the memory, and that was before he was any good!
I’m going for a 1-1 draw. Why not? We beat these lot 5-1 a few years ago. Jim McCalliog, Hibbitt, Wagstaffe and a Dougan brace. We beat them all the time back then.
I’ll settle for one off Craddock’s arse on Saturday.
Have you seen Jo Guest these days? Not sure you’d want to given the chance. Unless you cut out a picture of her from 10 years ago and glued it over her face.
It’s a hard one, but not the kind you get from watching Jo nude.
But without Fabregas and Arshavin they are inhibited going forward. I believe it’s all about which team that gets the first goal, really. If Wolves do we can take points from them.
An important question is what players Arsenal will play. Will they rest anyone against Wolves for Barcelona? If they do they may very well end up with losing both CL and PL silverware in my opinion. Losing points against Wolves will make their chance to win the league slim. And their chances to win against Barca are very slim already.
Those facts will of course play in our advantage tomorrow. The pressure is very much on them and if we can wait them out and counter attack we can bring them down. They would very much want two quick goals so they can rest their best and take the tempo down.
Elokobi, Jarvis and Doyle will be key players for Wolves in my opinion, and their matches in the match against Walcott, Sagna and Campbell will decide which team that will take the points.
UP THE WOLVES!!!
I’d say that the firt 30mins will be pivotal (aren’t they always?!).
When we have struggled this season, it is due to sloppy early goals conceded (Blackburn (a); Blues (h); Sunderland (a); etc etc)
If we could keep it tight like we have been, then who knows.
As for Jo Guest…Yes, I saw her recently, looking quite shocking. A modelling version of John Barnes or Neil Ruddock!
UTW
The two sides couldn’t really be in much different shape from the game earlier in the season at Molineux.
Arsenal came into that match full of confidence, with a fully fit squad and playing some outstanding football (as they always do).
Wolves by contrast had no clue what their best eleven was and had the look of a side struggling to find their feet at this level. 4-1 flattered us.
The momentum is now definitely with Wolves and with Arsenal’s injury problems, our chances of causing an upset are significantly improved.
That being said, let’s not forget how good Arsenal actually are. They could put the kids out and stil have every chance of taking us to the cleaners.
It’s up to Wolves to continue doing what we have been, leave absolutely everything on the pitch and hope that’s good enough to cause, what I believe would still be, a great upset.
I’ll be happy if we keep them under 4 goals and no one gets injured.
I cant see us winning by 4!!
Let’s get the 2.0 win I predict.
FOWB
Clive, again, I’m loving this optimism. Brilliant. However, while I don’t think we will win, it doesn’t mean we can’t, and wouldn’t that be fun – “roll over Wolves” scuppering Arsenal’s title dream.
I just think it’s perfect that Wenger may have to rest his players against us!
I think it might be tight, but they’ll score towards the end.
2-1 to arsenal, Jarvis to score.
If either Chelsea or Utd win today, and at the mo it’s 1 – 0 to Chelsea, Wenger will give up!!!
FOWB
Second Wolves player that scumbag has sent off unfairly. So annoyed but we fought very well and frustrated them. Never ever a sending off, tMariner was too weak and listened to the arsenal players.
Heartbreaker.
It’s a cruel game sometimes.
Deserved a point.
I’m so fuckin annoyed…. not at the result….. what was our game plan today, give the Arse the ball & see if they can score against us ???? Hanneman & Mancienne were magnificent…. the rest were shite…. Ok we battled hard, we looked like frightened schoolboys playin against the school bullies…. If we had been anyway positive we should have beaten Arsenal’s second string…. Hull were beaten so no ground lost there, but if we want to be anything other than cannon fodder at this level, we will have to change our attitude when we play “those” teams….. If I hear that we will miss that defensive pratt Henry I will fuckin scream…. He deserved it, it was a stupid challenge & cost us a point…. Can we please bring in a positive player during his suspension…… Hardly likely…..
I blame Keogh!
What was he doing trying to lob the keeper from the half way line with only a couple of minutes to go. He had the time and space to run to the corner flag and run the clock down. Instead, the keeper catches it, hoofs it up field, & the Arse score!
Gutted. Stiil glad our goal diff is still in tact though!
Keogh hopefull “lob” was one of a long list of us giving the opposition the ball back easily… 90 seconds left at that stage !!!!! Our marking on the edge of the box was dreadfull, & thats what did us in the end….. I feel gutted for the supporters who travelled in their numbers today…..
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…………
exeter-because keogh is a braindead failure. i saw him in the week v stoke res… his agent is better than max clifford. at least burnley are unravelling as i type. so its 1 team from 6 now (i think) check out my blog in a day or two when i statisthcally prove beyond reasonable doubt that the prdmier league is more bent than ricky martin. suffice to say i’m not livhng la vida loca at present.
What were the injuries or stoppages in the 2nd half that caused 5 mins extra to be played – at best there was one injury (Rosisky) for 1 minute plus a bit of time wasting so a max of 3 mins, not bloody 5! I knew though as soon as Keogh chipped the ball to their keeper from the half way line that he would rue that decision – I hope MM chewed his ear of for it!
Just got back and sill fuming. Not usually like me to rant but this has really pissed me off!
Yes the ref was bent but what’s new, yes we could have been three down in the first 20 mins because we didnt start, yes there was no cover against Walcott. But what has really angered me is that prat of a manager and his substitutes.
Three games now his subs have or nearly cost us points.
Burnley – we were cruising before the subs came on and we went into defensive panic
Everton – taking Mancienne off allowed them room and heaped pressure on the back four – absolutely no need for it.
Today even worse, backs against the wall and he brings on Keogh and an unfit Dave Edwards. Talk about asking for pressure! What the hell is Keogh going to do against Campbell and co on his own. Well whatever it was he didnt and as a result the ball kept coming back and back and back and eventually we cracked. Someone to hold on to the ball would have been useful Mick!
How did Keogh and Edwards suddenly jump the queue after one reserve game.
We probably didnt deserve anything from it but having defended like lions and put up a decent show it hurts to be shotdown in 94th minute but more so because of our own decisions.
MoM Macienne followed by the goalkeeper.
Well done lads but the manager owes you an apology.