Portsmouth to throw Sol up front for Arsenal

ghimpheng SG

tribalfooball.com - December 11, 2006

Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell could be forced into attack for this weekend's clash with Arsenal.
Portsmouth's entire frontline has been wiped out by injuries after Kanu and £4.1million man Benjani were crocked in Saturday's 2-0 win over Everton.

Kanu had a scan on his right knee yesterday while Benjani has hamstring trouble.

Andy Cole and Lomana LuaLua are already out and Fratton Park boss Harry Redknapp cannot recall Svetoslav Todorov from his loan at Wigan until next month.

That leaves former Gunners and England defender Campbell, 32, as Pompey's only player with experience as a striker - but that was as a schoolboy.

Redknapp said: "When my first-choice strikers are fit I don't need anyone else but it is a problem at the moment.

"Sol is the only other player who has a clue how to play up front.

"We will have to wrap Kanu and Benji in cotton wool all week and hope they're OK for Saturday."

Former Gunner Kanu - the Premiership's top scorer with nine goals - said: "I twisted my knee and it did not feel good. I'm having it assessed to see how bad it is."

ghimpheng SG

why not throw glen johnson up front instead

johnson can be played as a striker for fans who do not know that he could

used SG

i'm available for loan! Very Happy

play w/o pay aso can Cool

Urroh SG

Laughing

Dead_Man_Inc SG

i'm also available Embarassed

nullifi3d SG

lol the team is in disarrsay thanks to injuries.

Maybe Arsenal can pwn them.

ghimpheng SG

Kanu and Benjani seems to be fit for the saturday match

798 SG

campbell will definitely cheered by gunner fans for the contribution he did for them in the past comparing to cashley cole. Very Happy

but i hope campbell dun score. Twisted Evil

ghimpheng SG

Arsenal are without William Gallas (thigh) and Tomas Rosicky (groin/hamstring).

Captain Thierry Henry (hamstring) is unlikely to play again until the new year so Theo Walcott could be handed another run-out.

Portsmouth have midfielder Pedro Mendes back from suspension but Kanu faces a late fitness test on a knee injury.

Andy Cole (Achilles), Lomana LuaLua (thigh) and Benjani Mwaruwari (hamstring) are all out.

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Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Djourou, Toure, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Baptista, Van Persie, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Adebayor, Almunia, Hleb, Hoyte, Flamini, Song, Senderos.

Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamarot, O'Neil, Pedro Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kranjcar, Kanu, Thompson, Hughes, Griffin, Douala, Koroman, O'Brien, Ashdown.