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.

Goliath Arsenal Must Be Wary of David Brighton

Written by Jon Shay on 24 January 2015. Posted in 1886 Previews

Match Preview: Brighton vs. Arsenal – FA Cup 4th Round 25.01.2015

Sunday’s clash reunites us with an old friend while continuing a run of favorable draws, especially by contrast with a season ago when it seemed we had to face every Premier League side available on our way to winning the FA Cup (and getting dumped from the League Cup and Champions League as well…). Two years ago, almost to the day, we eked out a narrow, narrow, 2-3 win over Brighton to advance to the fifth round…only to crash out in the following round to Blackburn. There’s something about B’s, isn’t there?

African Cup Of Nations Could Help Arsenal Beat City

Written by Jon Shay on 17 January 2015. Posted in 1886 Previews

Match Preview: Manchester City vs. Arsenal - Premier League - 18.01.15

It’s hard to find a more-fitting symbol for our season than City’s recent acquisition of Wilfried Bony, reportedly for a £28m transfer-fee. Already bursting at the seams with scoring options, it hardly seems as if they’d need another scorer. Meanwhile, we continue to inch our way closer and closer to a £2.4m signing of a 17-year old defensive midfielder who may or may not be ready to step into the first team. If there’s any silver lining to this, it’s in the fact that Bony is away at the Africa Cup of Nations and won’t be available on Sunday…

Arsenal Hoping To Pay Back Stoke's Stranglers

Written by Jon Shay on 10 January 2015. Posted in 1886 Previews

Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Stoke - Premier League 11.01.2015

Our loss at the Britannia played out as a parody of our worst weaknesses—Stoke scored three goals from crosses into the box while we struggled to break down a stubborn, physical defense that refused us any space. It was perhaps the worst 45 minutes we’ve seen since last spring when we capitulated almost as completely at Anfield, Stamford Bridge, or Goodison Park. We fought back bravely enough but came up short—a man short, as it were, when Chambers was sent off for a second yellow.