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Anderlecht vs Arsenal Preview: Time to step up
By Brian Wong
The theme for this week should be the title of this post, it is time for Arsenal to step up. This season has been painful to watch and the game against Hull City was a perfect picture of Arsenal’s season so far.
There have been sporadic moments where we all see Arsenal’s attack clicking and moments of sheer beauty. Yet there have also been moments where the Arsenal defense might as well just stand there cause it wouldn’t have made a difference.
Watching Arsenal play is both lovely and heart breaking, I honestly don’t know what is going to happen this game, so like the majority of games Arsenal has played this year I’m going for a tie away from home.
Prediction: Anderlecht 1-1 Arsenal
1) Emiliano Martinez at goal
Stories around the internet claim that Martinez is very talented and has a great future ahead of him. But goalkeepers can’t only be talented, they need to have great control over their box, and I see that being a problem for Arsenal this game. Martinez is going to make some nice saves but he will definitely concede at least one goal, most likely on a corner or when Anderlecht counters. Those are moments where a vocal, demanding goalkeeper would be able to position the defense correctly and I doubt the young Martinez would be able to do so in such a big game.
Jun 29, 2014; Recife, Pernambuco, BRAZIL; Greece defender Socratis Papastathopoulos (19) and Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell (9) battle for the ball during the first half of a World Cup game at Arena Pernambuco. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
2) Injuries on top of injuries
Before the season started I was very positive about Arsenal’s improved depth and trainers. But it hasn’t even been Christmas yet and already we have seen every single star on the team get hurt. Jack Wilshere is the latest of those who is picking up injuries and I really hope he’s fine. We don’t need more injuries, and it is because of these injuries that players now have to play more minutes and risk getting injured too!
3) Possible breakout game
Joel Campbell played well in his short cameo against Hull City. Campbell’s work rate was amazing and he looks like he is working hard to impress Wenger. I hope I get to see him play some minutes in the second half, and if he does, don’t you just feel like he is going to score another incredible Champions League goal?