Hull Preview: Transfer talk stops for the weekend 16 January, 2009

The madness of the short January transfer window stops for the weekend and it’s time to concentrate on the football. Tomorrow we take the trip up to Hull. Everyone remembers the humiliating defeat to them at home this season so there is an extra incentive to take all this points this time around.

Back when we lost to them in September, Hull were on a great run. They went on to beat a lot top sides and pushed their way into the top four. Now though, they’re on a different kind of run; they haven’t won since the beginning of December against ‘Boro, and have lost every game in the league since drawing with Liverpool on the 13th December.

Our fortunes have taken a turn around since September too, but gone the opposite way. We’re on our best run of form this season – unbeaten in the league since losing to City on the 22nd of November.

It might not feel like we’re back to our best but we are grinding out the results and results are what matter. A win tomorrow in any style is all we need.

This is a game we should definitely we winning. I said this last time and we were awful, this time we should be making right those wrongs. We need a win to keep up with Aston Villa, I’d be worried if they opened a gap on us – at the moment they are three points clear of us, they play Sunderland this weekend.

The team news isn’t that different from last weekend. The only possible return is Alex Song who I don’t think will get in the side anyway. I’m expecting the same team as last weekend:

Almunia
Sagna – Toure (c) -Djourou – Clichy
Eboue – Diaby – Denilson – Nasri
Adebayor – van Persie

I don’t know, maybe Song will come in for Diaby who didn’t look great last weekend. In fact now I think about it, if Song is fit I think he will play.

The front two should be the original van Persie & Adebayor. The Dutchman’s been on great form recently but the same can’t be said for his strike partner. Adebayor’s been pretty anonymous recently and with Eduardo’s return only two to three weeks away his starting position could be in threat. However Wenger insists that he is working hard to improve and re-find that form from last season. I think his lapse may be down to a lack of competition for his place, I’m betting once Eduardo Da Silva is back in fold he’ll pick his game up.

As for Hull, George Boateng picked up a bad injury in the week, other than that they have pretty much all their best players available. Geovanni is fit and the defensive will have to watch out for his long-range screamers this time.

We play in the late, 5.30pm kick off and it’s live on Setanta over here. I’ll probably watch this in the pub, can’t make the trip unfortunately but I bet it’ll be a good one for those going up north.

Better go now, I’ve got important TV to watch. Speak to you later, enjoy the game.