Arsenal will look to keep pressure on the league leaders, Manchester United, for the title as the Gunners take on Birmingham City away from home on New Year’s Day.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, made a number of changes in the game against Wigan, which Arsenal ended up drawing 2-2. More changes are in offering for the next match as the Gunners look to go and get all 3 points at St .Andrews.
Team http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Abou-Diaby-c3453 is out for a few weeks with injury following the calf strain he suffered against Wigan. Diaby had just come back from an ankle
problem, but after the recent injury he may be out of action for 3 more weeks. Arsenal also has a number of long term injuries- defenders http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Manuel-Almunia-c23386 are all out.
Birmingham manager, Alex McLeish, on the other hand, does not have any injury concerns. His team would also be on a high after the hard fought draw against Manchester United. The Scot is still expected to make one or two changes to the team that played against
Manchester United. Former Arsenal player http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aliaksandr-Hleb-c5156 played 20 minutes against United, and is expected to line up from the start against Arsenal. The tall striker, Nokla Zigic, who was also a substitute against Manchester United and also a big part of
the controversial goal against United, is also expected to be in the starting line up. The last time these two teams met was at the Emirates; it was Nikola Zigic who scored first (his first goal for Birmingham). Later it was Maroune Chamak who scored twice
to get the win for Arsenal. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/James-McFadden-c17705 is still out with a knee injury, while Enric Valles is suffering from a broken foot.
Birmingham is just out of the drop zone on goal difference, despite having lost just once this season at home. Birmingham has been quite stern at home and did beat Chelsea and held Manchester United and Tottenham to hard fought draws in their last 3 games.
Looking at the table, Arsenal is in the 3rd position, but the Gunners have lost 5 games which is the same as Birmingham. Birmingham has suffered from lack of goals this season, and that is the reason they find themselves in the 17th
spot. In 18 games so far this season they have managed to net in just 18 goals, nine of which came at home and nine away. With 3 wins this season, they have drawn 10 games so far.
The last 2 times that Arsenal visited St Andrews, they went home with just one point. Back in February, 2008, when Arsenal played Birmingham away, they were top of the table and were looking to extend their lead. But a draw was more than just 2 points dropped
for Arsenal- it was the match that saw the infamous one man sit out by Frenchman http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/William-Gallas-c36874. Eduardo also had that ugly leg breaking injury in the same match.
Earlier in 2010, Arsenal once again came to Birmingham and yet again it was a late goal that led to a draw. On that occasion, it was Kevin Philips who messed things up for Arsenal.
Arsenal should be the favourites, but the grit and determination of Birmingham at home should not be underestimated. The last 3 teams from the top 5 (http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786, Tottenham and Manchester United) have not been able to get 3 points, but Arsenal would surely look
to put the game to bed- firstly, due to their own draw against Wigan that saw a late goal, and also after watching the late goal for Birmingham that sealed a draw against Manchester United.
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