Hipster Gooner: Preview: Birmingham City v. Arsenal

Arsene Wenger was very disappointed in Birmingham's late equalizer in March. Pic via Daily Mail.

St. Andrew's, Birmingham

Saturday, January 1

5:30 p.m. GMT, 12:30 EST

Predicted Line-Up

guesses in red

Fabianski

Sagna - Koscielny - Djourou - Clichy

Song - Wilshere

Walcott - Fabregas - Nasri

van Persie

Subs from: Szczesny, Squillaci, Denilson, Rosicky, Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh

Out: Diaby (calf), Gibbs (ankle), Almunia (ankle), Vermaelen (Achilles)

Arsenal News and Notes

There are only two changes from the side that was available for Arsene Wenger on Wednesday.
Cesc Fabregas returns from his one match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.
On the other hand, perpetually injured Abou Diaby injured his calf on Wednesday and will be out for at least three weeks.
Kieran Gibbs should return in about a week or two. Manuel Almunia will be out possibly forever, at least in terms of his Arsenal career. It's still late January, at best, for Thomas Vermaelen.
Wednesday's draw at Wigan was the fourth time this year Arsenal has dropped points in a match it was winning at one point (Sunderland away, Spurs at home, and Shakhtar Donetsk away in the Champions League were the other three.) That happened eight times last year, but never at home.
Arsenal have not dropped points in consecutive league fixtures since late September to early October, a stretch that included a draw at Sunderland, a loss to West Brom, and a loss at Chelsea.

Birmingham News and Notes

Birmingham, as they stood in October, have only one injury: James McFadden is out with an ACL injury.
Alexander Hleb (never heard of him...) returned from a hamstring injury off the bench in Birmingham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Tuesday.
Only Everton has won at St. Andrew's this year. Only Aston Villa and Bolton won there last year.
Birmingham have only won three matches in the league this year, all at home, in 18 total played.

Match Facts

Samir Nasri had what looked like the winner in the 81st minute of this fixture last year, but Kevin Phillips had Birmingham's equalizer in added time.
Arsenal won the reverse fixture 2-1 in October. Birmingham scored first against the run of play, but Marouane Chamakh drew a penalty (converted by Nasri) then scored the winner on a beautiful move just after halftime.
Birmingham have not beaten Arsenal in seven tries, though they have drawn three. Two of those draws have come at St. Andrew's and both Blues equalizers came in added time.
Arsenal's last loss at St. Andrew's was a 2-1 defeat on May 15, 2005. Dennis Bergkamp equalized for the Gunners in the 88th, but Emile Heskey scored the winner in injury time.

The Referee

The referee is Northamptonshire-based Peter Walton.
This is Walton's first Arsenal match of the season. The last time Walton took charge of an Arsenal match, the Gunners won 3-1 at Stoke. Some bad things happened that day. Walton showed someone who may or may not be that type of player, depending on who you ask, a red card.
He has not taken charge of any Birmingham matches this year either; the last Blues match he worked was their 2-1 win over Burnley in May.
In 13 matches this year (11 Premier League, 2 Championship,) Walton has shown 41 yellow cards and 5 reds.

Around the League

Saturday: West Bromwich Albion v. Manchester United; The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
Saturday: Liverpool v. Bolton Wanderers; Anfield, Liverpool
Saturday: Manchester City v. Blackpool; City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Saturday: Stoke City v. Everton; Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
Saturday: Sunderland v. Blackburn Rovers; Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Saturday: Tottenham Hotspur v. Fulham; White Hart Lane, London
Saturday: West Ham United v. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Boleyn Ground, London
Sunday: Chelsea v. Aston Villa; Stamford Bridge, London
Sunday: Wigan Athletic v. Newcastle United; DW Stadium, Wigan

Hipster Gooner