Gooner Daily

Remember, Remember the month of November.

The month that’s always filled up with mixed results for Arsenal Football Club. It was the month where Robin Van Persie suffered a five-month injury layoff in a meaningless international friendlybetween the Netherlands and Italy thanks to that Capo called Giorgio.

In the 2008/09 campaign, Arsenal lost away to Stoke City thanks to two throwing line-to-goal missiles by their pelter-in-chief, Rory Delap. Arsenal then recorded a bore draw against Fenerbahce in the Champions League before Samir Nasri scored a brace in the 2-1 win over Manchester United. Shortly after the elation of defeating the defending champions, Arsenal secured back-to-back defeats against Aston Villa and Manchester City before ending the month on a high with a 2-1 victory against Chelsea.

In the 2009/10 campaign, the month was a lot happier for Arsene Wenger’s men but the club was stunned by an incisive Sunderland at the Stadium of Light before two Didier Drogba goals and a Thomas Vermaelen own goal saw Chelsea run out as 3-0 wins at the Emirates.

Last season, Gael Clichy’s studipity at the left flank made Darijo Srna steal the ball from him before giving Eduardo a pass and the rest was history in a 2-1 loss to Shakhtar. Andy Carroll in a Newcastle shirt compounded Arsenal’s misery with a header that was enough to hand Alan Pardew’s side all three points.

Lukasz Fabianski inspired the side to two away victories on the trot against Everton and Wolves but Tottenham inflicted the worst possible injury to the Gunners that month after coming back from two goals down to win the game. SC Braga received a whooping in their visit to the Emirates in August but they came up against a surprisingly lack luster Arsenal and a brace from Matheus put Arsenal’s Champions Leagues hopes on a thin thread.

A league victory over Aston Villa followed by a Carling Cup quarterfinal win over Wigan was enough to end the month on a positive note.

This season, Arsenal starts November with a game tonight against Olympique Marseille before hosting West Brom on the 5th of November and it’s well worth noting that West Brom stunned Arsenal at the Emirates last season in a game that cost Manuel Almunia his jersey. He was equally shambolic in the second leg in March.

After the West Brom tie, Arsenal will visit newbies Norwich City before an all-important clash against German Bundesliga champions, Borussia Dortmund. Fulham comes up next before  ending the month with a spicy Carling Cup quarterfinal fixture with high-flyers Manchester City.

For tonight’s fixture, I expect Wojciech Szczesny to be between the sticks while Carl Jenkinson and Andre Santos will provide ammunition from the full back positions. Thomas Vermaelen is fully fit again so I expect him to partner the in-form Laurent Koscielny in the heart of Arsenal’s defense.

The midfield will belong to the impressive trio of Alex Song, Mikel Arteta and the resurgent Aaron Ramsey. These men have been ever-present in Arsenal’s squad this season and their performances have been top-notch.

The attack will be led by the man on fire, Robin van Persie and he’ll have the trickery of Gervinho and the raw pace of Theo Walcott to support him.

Enjoy the match wherever you are.

Sayonara

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