By Tony Attwood
- Portsmouth v Arsenal: history, progression and injuries
- Portsmouth v Arsenal – past games, the holders out and more on the referee
According to the Sun, there was a huge punch-up among players at the end of the Tottenham / Aston Villa game at the weekend. But then I guess we are only surprised that it got reported, not that it happened. I wonder what the consequence will be – if any.
Back in reality, the fourth round draw for the FA Cup will take place tomorrow before Liverpool’s tie against Barnsley at 7:45pm – but it may be late if Barnsley hold Liverpool to a draw (unlikely I know, but we can always hope).
But such matters need not particularly bother us, and we can move on to the team. The Standard offer
Kepa;
White, Saliba, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly;
Norgaard, Merino, Eze;
Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
and well, blow me down, if much of the media is not just copying the Standard and putting up the same list. Or maybe the Standard copied everyone – but I think not since most outlets are acknowledging the Standard today.
But even so, not everyone goes that way as the Metro offers
Kepa;
White, Saliba, Gabriel Lewis-Skelly;
Nwaneri, Norgaard, Eze;
Madueke, Jesus, Martinelli
So what do we know of the possible newcomer?
Marli Salmon was born 29 August 2009 and plays both right back and centre back. In July he was included in the squad for the tour of Singapore and Hong Kong, when aged just 15. He played six games in the Professional Development League, sometimes known as Premier League 2, last season, and in the Uefa Youth League.
This season he came on as a substitute on 10 December to replace Ben White in the away game against Club Brugge, having previously made his England debut in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification match
And just to give us a spot more variation, Give Me Sport has the same team as most others but with the players in different positions….
Kepa;
White, Salmon, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly;
Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri;
Madueke, Jesus, Eze.
But what we do have to remember here is that Arsenal now have four consecutive away games, for after this one we have Chelsea in the League Cup semi-finals, Nottingham Forest in the League and Inter Milan in the Champions League. So it is still two games a week.
And thus, given the fact that Arsenal have been playing two games a week through most of this season, we can expect a fair amount of changes in the team. Indeed, “wholesale changes” seems to be the “in-phrase” among the journos today, with Ben White, Christian Norgaard, and Eberechi Eze, all being given a chance to show that they really are still able to contribute (which I don’t doubt).
And that still leaves out Kai Havertz, and surely he must be wondering by now if he is ever going to get on the pitch, having been announced as almost ready for quite a while.
Meanwhile, Sports Mole come up with a different goal keeper…
Arrizabalaga;
White, Salmon, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly;
Merino, Norgaard, Eze;
Madeuke, Martinelli, Jesus
but it turns out that Arrizabalaga is actually Kepa’s surname, so not someone we have missed completely in the transfer window. I’m rather glad about that, as not realising Arsenal actually have a player who we have all been missing always gives rise to nasty arguments.
Anyway, everyone thinks we will win. If it is a draw, it goes to extra time and penalties, as there are no replays because, well, there are no replays. And this is the FA, and as they always note, they made up the rules in the first place so they can do what they like.
And indeed that is exactly what they do.
- Liverpool had no shots on target. Will Portsmouth do better?
- Portsmouth v Arsenal: Arsenal are top of the “Last Six” league
- How journalists don’t have a clue what it is like to be a football supporter
