1886 Previews

Goonersphere's match preview page covering all first team matches. Previews include up to date injury lists, match facts, interesting stats, opposition analysis, head to head records as well as line-up and score predictions.

Jon writes weekend match previews for Goonersphere but you can catch his excellent regular blogging on http://woolwich1886.blogspot.com

@woolwich_1886

Midweek matches are written by Goonersphere collaborators. Please get in touch if you would be interested in writing midweek match previews.

Gunners Out On A Foxhunt

Written by Jon Shay on 13 February 2016. Posted in 1886 Previews

Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Leicester – Premier League 07.02.2016

When the fixture-list first came out to start the season, we all looked ahead to this late-season match, one that could very well decide the winner of the Premier League. Coming so late in the season, and between two such presumptive favorites, this clash shone like a beacon over all preceding weeks as well as the precious few that would follow: City. The boys in blue. The Foxes. Those—hold the phone. If anyone had suggested that it would Leicester to whom we would refer as City, and it would be this matchday and not #37 that might decide who wins the Prem, they'd've been carted off. And yet here we are.

It's Time For Alexis & Özil To Do Their Thing

Written by Jon Shay on 05 February 2016. Posted in 1886 Previews

Match Preview: Bournemouth vs. Arsenal – Premier League 07.02.2016

This would be comedic if it weren't so tragic. Maybe it's just ironic. Just as we've finally started to reassemble a full-strength squad, surviving—or so it seemed—an injury-crisis to dwarf all injury-crises, we've stumbled to four consecutive depressing results. A last-second equaliser at Anfield. A stubborn foe at the Britannia. Another red-card assisted win for Chelsea. A blinder turned in by Southampton's keeper. Add them all together, and we've now dropped nine points from our last four outings. If we can't get back to winning ways, well, we can write off any chance of winning the Prem.

It's Time For Elneny To Start & Theo To Shine

Written by Jon Shay on 29 January 2016. Posted in 1886 Previews

Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Burnley – FA Cup 30.01.2016

After three disappointing results in the Prem, the FA Cup offers a welcome break as we host Burnley on Saturday with a golden chance at advancing to the fifth round proper. The Clarets did make a cameo in the Prem last season only to rejoin the Championship, where they currently sit third behind Hull and Middlesbrough, each of whom has featured in our recent FA Cup winning runs. Saturday will also reunite us with an old friend in Joey Barton, who I'm sure relishes a chance to play the cartoonish villain yet again. We'd do best to ignore his antics; he's just as likely to get sent off as to get someone sent off.