Arsenal 2 - 2 Everton
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Saturday, 9 January 2010, Kick-off: 2300
Emirates Stadium, LondonAfter the late postponement of their midweek fixture at home to Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal remain a game in hand on the two sides above them, Manchester United and Chelsea. But the vagaries of this particular English winter are such that Saturday's scheduled clash against Everton will, like every other fixture in the country, be at the mercy of the weather. If it proceeds, the Gunners will be anxious to maintain the pressure on leaders Chelsea by taking all three points off the Toffees.
FORM GUIDE
Arsenal
03 Jan: West Ham 1 Arsenal 2 (FA Cup)
30 Dec: Portsmouth 1 Arsenal 4
27 Dec: Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 0
19 Dec: Arsenal 3 Hull City 0
16 Dec: Burnley 1 Arsenal 1
13 Dec: Liverpool 1 Arsenal 2
Everton
02 Jan: Everton 3 Carlisle Utd 1
28 Dec: Everton 3 Burnley 0
26 Dec: Sunderland 1 Everton 1
20 Dec: Everton 1 Birmingham 1
17 Dec: Everton 0 BATE 1 (Europa League)
12 Dec: Chelsea 3 Everton 3PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal - Eduardo
Brazil-born Croatian international striker Eduardo is easing back to form after his horrendous injury problems. He has probably not lost his predatory instincts, but has lacked some of his old sharpness in front of goal following his lengthy lay-off and struggle to regain full fitness. So Gunners fans will be encouraged that he is now back among the goals, having struck three times in his last four games, including a well-placed winning header from Carlos Vela's cross at West Ham in last Sunday's FA Cup tie.
Everton - Landon Donova
Landon Donovan, who has started a 10-week loan stint at Goodison, has declared himself fully fit for the Toffees despite not having played a match for more than a month. Moyes may be tempted to give him his English debut with other strikers unavailable. The US international, on loan from LA Galaxy, was quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "Arsenal are a very good team playing very well right now... I would hope to play and it would be a great experience but I'm here to help this team win, whatever that takes."
PREDICTION
In-form Arsenal have every incentive to win, and the confidence of having done well against Everton in recent seasons. The improving Merseysiders can be expected to offer stout resistance, but the Gunners, even with a depleted squad, should have enough at home to maintain their push towards the top of the table.
Arsenal 3-1 Everton -
LIVE on Starhub's Football Channel 27, at 2300.
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I'm thawing out in the press lounge of The Emirates right now after my trek to the stadium. It is bitterly cold here in North London and there's a vicious arctic wind ripping around the stadium, so this isn't going to be a pleasant afternoon. The pitch is absolutely fine, thanks mainly to the marvels of undersoil-heating, but there's still a heavy coating of ice and snow on the streets outside. Most of the fans seem cheerful enough, though I did pass a platoon of drunken Everton fans who were screaming Heysel songs at the stewards. Such a shame, most Everton fans are brilliant. Anyway, if you want regular updates, you can find me on Twitter on 'iainmacintosh'. I'll be updating a lot today, mainly in an effort to stop my fingers freezing!
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What's your take on this match, Iain? Predicted scorelines, etc?
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I've got a lot of time for Everton, I think they're well organised, hard-working and determined, but this will surely be too much for them. Arsenal are in superb form at the moment, they're practically invincible here and they're nice and fresh after being saved a night's work on Wednesday. If I had money left in my bank account after Xmas, I'd put it on Arsenal to win 2-0.
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Well, Arsenal can tear apart most teams on a good day.....
Wish I could be there at the stadium itself! Enjoy the match!
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hey iainmacintosh, are you working for the BBC?
I hope to work in England, do you have any jobs for me there in your company lol
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hey Iain, me too.
can you get me rafael's job at liverpool?
i'll make you my agent, no worries.
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Pah! Why would I want to work for the BBC when I can work for TNP?! I'll keep you both posted on Rafa's job though. I don't want that one. I'm holding out for the Southend job when Steve Tilson leaves....
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Rooney9 is aiming for Sir Alex's hotseat after his retirement
as for me, i aiming for rafael's.
you will get your comission once i get my job at liverpool
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Originally posted by Iain Macintosh:
Pah! Why would I want to work for the BBC when I can work for TNP?!
I’ll keep you both posted on Rafa’s job though. I don’t want that one. I’m holding out for the Southend job when Steve Tilson leaves….
no no. I am looking for a job in england, not the managerial hotseat lol. you got vacancies for TNP?
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Originally posted by Iain Macintosh:
Pah! Why would I want to work for the BBC when I can work for TNP?!
I’ll keep you both posted on Rafa’s job though. I don’t want that one. I’m holding out for the Southend job when Steve Tilson leaves….
on a serious note, dont mind i just ask
TNP pay for your everything while working there?
and you fly to england and back to singapore regularly?
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Hi Iain, can i just be your assistant? I do not need much, just 10K pounds per week.
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Originally posted by gasband:
Hi Iain, can i just be your assistant? I do not need much, just 10K pounds per week.
ya right, slowly wait
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Originally posted by gasband:
Hi Iain, can i just be your assistant? I do not need much, just 10K pounds per week.
hahaha. you think he is well paid at TNP? some more he is paid in SG dollars, not pounds.
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Iain is ang moh in singapore, he must be very well paid. HAHAHA!
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I'll get on the phone to the Yanks, Poignant. Give me a couple of days to sweet talk them and you can expect a call from Tom Hicks soon. As for TNP Rooney9, I reckon my job will be vacant if I don't get round to doing some work soon!* * - On a serious note, if you are interested in a career in journalism, the best thing you can do is to apply to newspapers direct with examples of your writing and offer to do work experience. It's an incredibly competitive industry, but that's no reason not to give it a go. Good luck!
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Originally posted by Iain Macintosh:
I’ll get on the phone to the Yanks, Poignant. Give me a couple of days to sweet talk them and you can expect a call from Tom Hicks soon.
As for TNP Rooney9, I reckon my job will be vacant if I don’t get round to doing some work soon!*
- - On a serious note, if you are interested in a career in journalism, the best thing you can do is to apply to newspapers direct with examples of your writing and offer to do work experience. It’s an incredibly competitive industry, but that’s no reason not to give it a go. Good luck!
Pls do blast the Yanks for me if you can get them on the phone.
tell them they're hurting liverpool just as much as rafael do.
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I live and work in the UK, though I've been to Singapore a couple of times in the last few years to meet everyone and explore the city. I'd love to come over more often, it's a fantastic place, but duty calls! As for money, I can only say that you earn a lot more for playing football than you do for writing about it!
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oh, so which city you stay at?
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donova seems good
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67 min still 1-1. haiz
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It's too cold & snowing now. not good... 83min still 1-1
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1-2 to everton
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jialat....