Arsenal and Schalke will meet for the final time in this season’s group stages on Tuesday at the grand Arena Auf Schalke.
In some matches, the better team doesn’t win. However, at the Emirates about two weeks ago, the better side won. Schalke wrapped up an excellent 0-2 win over Arsenal thanks to goals from Klaas ‘the Hunter’ Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay. Afellay arrived from Barcelona on loan this season. The goals came in the final fifteen minutes. In truth, they should have come much earlier as Schalke wasted two ‘must-score’ chances.
Arsenal lacked pace in their attacks. Arsenal’s first shot on target took more than ninety minutes to arrive. Gervinho was the only one who somewhat troubled the Schalke back-line. However, all his crosses and passes into the box were off the mark and didn’t find a team-mate. Lars Unnerstall was rarely worked.
Both Arsenal and Schalke are coming into this one on the back of lacklustre performances. Schalke had followed up their wins over Dortmund in the Ruhr derby and Arsenal in the Champions League with two wins over Nürnberg (in the Bundesliga) and Sandhausen (in the German Cup).
The win over Nürnberg was laboured. Nürnberg always gives the opposition a tough time. Schalke broke the deadlock through Jefferson Farfan and won 1-0. The win over Sandhausen was always going to be easy. Schalke won that tie 3-0. They drew Wolfsburg in the next round of the Cup. In the weekend, they lost to TSG Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim deserved to take something from their match against Schalke. Kevin Volland opened the scoring after only 13 minutes. Schalke equalized through a Roman Neustadter header late in the first half. Schalke might feel hard done by as Ibrahim Afellay had a goal disallowed for a foul.
In the second half, Joel Matip was adjudged to have fouled Volland inside the box. Hoffenheim took the lead as Roberto Firmino stepped up to the spot and placed the ball passed Unnerstall. Schalke once again restored parity when Atsuto Uchida scored in the 82nd minute. However, Hoffenheim had the last laugh as Sven Schipplock scored in injury time to give his side all three points.
There was no such drama in Old Trafford in Manchester. The game was extremely one sided despite the fact that Arsenal had more possession than United. United scored early on when Thomas Vermaelen gifted the ball to Arsenal old boy Robin Van Persie. They could have doubled their lead when Santi Cazorla gave away a penalty.
Luckily for them, Wayne Rooney hit the post. However, Arsenal did not use the gift. They instead gifted United a second through slack marking in the box. Patrice Evra scored with his head. Jack Wilshere meanwhile managed to get himself sent off after Evra’s goal. Arsenal scored a goal deep into injury time through Santi Cazorla. Arsene Wenger will not be happy with the performance.
The perfect remedy would be a win over Schalke. However, despite their shock loss to Hoffenheim, Schalke will not let go of their placing in Group B in the Champions League easily. The Arena Auf Schalke is prepared to welcome Arsenal. Only one team has been able to win their so far this season- the almost perfect Bayern.
Once again, Lewis Holtby will orchestrate the attack. Roman Neustadter will be the head of defensive midfield. Huntelaar should be the main threat up front. However, he is not in great form. As a result, Jefferson Farfan, especially after the battering he gave Andre Santos in the first leg, will be the one to mark.
Uchida and Christian Fuchs will look to push forward as much as they can. Lukas Podolski isn’t on form at the moment. Wenger might consider starting Theo Walcott in this one. Olivier Giroud will have to find a way to trouble Schalke’s captain Benedikt Höwedes.
Julian Draxler has returned from injury and might start. Kyriakos Papadopoulos is doubtful and might not feature. Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for Arsenal with a groin injury.
Arsenal is in a crisis at the moment. Wins over QPR and Reading have done little to take away the clouds hanging over Arsenal Football Club. Schalke, despite the loss at the weekend, is in better shape among the two sides.
Prediction: Schalke 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal lacked pace in their attacks. Arsenal’s first shot on target took more than ninety minutes to arrive. Gervinho was the only one who somewhat troubled the Schalke back-line. However, all his crosses and passes into the box were off the mark and didn’t find a team-mate. Lars Unnerstall was rarely worked.
Both Arsenal and Schalke are coming into this one on the back of lacklustre performances. Schalke had followed up their wins over Dortmund in the Ruhr derby and Arsenal in the Champions League with two wins over Nürnberg (in the Bundesliga) and Sandhausen (in the German Cup).
The win over Nürnberg was laboured. Nürnberg always gives the opposition a tough time. Schalke broke the deadlock through Jefferson Farfan and won 1-0. The win over Sandhausen was always going to be easy. Schalke won that tie 3-0. They drew Wolfsburg in the next round of the Cup. In the weekend, they lost to TSG Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim deserved to take something from their match against Schalke. Kevin Volland opened the scoring after only 13 minutes. Schalke equalized through a Roman Neustadter header late in the first half. Schalke might feel hard done by as Ibrahim Afellay had a goal disallowed for a foul.
In the second half, Joel Matip was adjudged to have fouled Volland inside the box. Hoffenheim took the lead as Roberto Firmino stepped up to the spot and placed the ball passed Unnerstall. Schalke once again restored parity when Atsuto Uchida scored in the 82nd minute. However, Hoffenheim had the last laugh as Sven Schipplock scored in injury time to give his side all three points.
There was no such drama in Old Trafford in Manchester. The game was extremely one sided despite the fact that Arsenal had more possession than United. United scored early on when Thomas Vermaelen gifted the ball to Arsenal old boy Robin Van Persie. They could have doubled their lead when Santi Cazorla gave away a penalty.
Luckily for them, Wayne Rooney hit the post. However, Arsenal did not use the gift. They instead gifted United a second through slack marking in the box. Patrice Evra scored with his head. Jack Wilshere meanwhile managed to get himself sent off after Evra’s goal. Arsenal scored a goal deep into injury time through Santi Cazorla. Arsene Wenger will not be happy with the performance.
The perfect remedy would be a win over Schalke. However, despite their shock loss to Hoffenheim, Schalke will not let go of their placing in Group B in the Champions League easily. The Arena Auf Schalke is prepared to welcome Arsenal. Only one team has been able to win their so far this season- the almost perfect Bayern.
Once again, Lewis Holtby will orchestrate the attack. Roman Neustadter will be the head of defensive midfield. Huntelaar should be the main threat up front. However, he is not in great form. As a result, Jefferson Farfan, especially after the battering he gave Andre Santos in the first leg, will be the one to mark.
Uchida and Christian Fuchs will look to push forward as much as they can. Lukas Podolski isn’t on form at the moment. Wenger might consider starting Theo Walcott in this one. Olivier Giroud will have to find a way to trouble Schalke’s captain Benedikt Höwedes.
Julian Draxler has returned from injury and might start. Kyriakos Papadopoulos is doubtful and might not feature. Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for Arsenal with a groin injury.
Arsenal is in a crisis at the moment. Wins over QPR and Reading have done little to take away the clouds hanging over Arsenal Football Club. Schalke, despite the loss at the weekend, is in better shape among the two sides.
Prediction: Schalke 2-1 Arsenal
