Arsenal set for tough December following loss of defenders
Published:Arsenal may sit top of the Premier League but Arsene Wenger’s side face a battle to stay there throughout December as games against Chelsea and Manchester United loom large.
The ties against the Premier League’s two title favourites may have come at the wrong time for Arsene Wenger with the news that Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny are out of action until the 2011.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League but find Manchester United and Chelsea ahead of them in the Premier League’s winners market, the Gunners are 7/2 whereas Man Utd are 13/8 and Chelsea 7/4.
Up next for Arsenal is a trip to Man Utd in a spell which sees the top three teams face each other over the space of the next 20 days, and Wenger will take a depleted defence to Old Trafford for a game his side are 12/5 to win.
Vermaelen has only featured in three Premier League games for Arsenal this season, but it’s clear that the Arsenal defence has missed the presence of the Belgium centre-back.
In 16 Premier League games this season, Arsenal have kept just four clean sheets, half of Chelsea’s total and two behind Man Utd’s total, and Vermaelen was involved in one of those during his three game spell.
Koscielny’s loss just adds to Wenger’s woes and the Arsenal manager will have to play Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djorou together for the Man Utd game.
The two have been partners in defence in 10 games this season but worrying for Arsenal, in those ten games there have only been two clean sheets and 11 goals conceded, including two defeats in the Champions League.
Containing Man Utd and Chelsea may prove difficult and Arsenal may find themselves back in third place as the Premier League enters January, meaning punters may want to take advantage of the 13/8 and 7/4 for Man Utd or Chelsea to win the Premier League.
A £10 stake on Man Utd beating Arsenal 2-0 would return £80. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.
