Arnett chase JPL pinnacle, Cavalier look to recover

THE LEAD atop the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) standings could change hands again this afternoon when the in-form Arnett Gardens entertain defending and Caribbean Cup Champions Cavalier in a rescheduled match at the Anthony Spaulding Complex at 7 p.m.

The ‘Junglists’ have been in red-hot form with six victories on the trot and are unbeaten in nine games.

They currently have 27 points, one less than leaders Mount Pleasant, and a win this evening could put them back atop the table.

However, Arnett coach Xavier Gilbert expects a difficult battle and said they have to be able to contain their opponents on the transition. Cavalier, Gilbert says, are ‘extremely good at transitioning from defence to attack.

“As usual, Cavalier is a very difficult opposition. They are in good form. They have been doing well. We have managed to get some good results as well. So this should be one of the most exciting games of the Premier League this season. We hope both teams can come out and thrill the spectators with exciting football,” he commented.

“They are very good at their transitional game. They are one of the best. They are extremely good at what they do and hence why they are Caribbean Cup Champions.

“We are mindful of that and will have to curtail that. Hopefully, on the day, any weaknesss or anything we can exploit, we will. But we will have to stop their transitional play and counterattacks. They are very good at it, and we have to curtail them as much as we can.”

Nevertheless, Gilbert is encouraged by his forwards’ form with Warner Brown, joint top scorer in the league with Mount Pleasant’s Kimoni Bailey, on eight, and Kimani Arbouine, with big goal contributions in his last two outings, and Shai Smith, all performing very well in recent weeks.

Although he believes his forwards will play their part in the attacking third, Gilbert is concerned about his defending.

“They have stepped up to the plate on a few occasions, and defensively, we have not been bad. We have only conceded one goal in the last four games, and we want to keep that going.

“Cavalier have managed a goal in every game except one. So we know offensively how threatening they can be, and we just have to prepare ourselves mentally, physically, and tactically to curtail that,” he said.

Despite thrashing Molynes 5-1 on their return to the local league on Sunday after a two-week absence due to their involvement and eventual success in the Caribbean Cup, Cavalier boss Rudolph Speid noted that their margin of victory was a surprise as they are still recovering physically and psychologically from their Caribbean Cup exploits.

Cavalier also have three outstanding games from the first round and will have to play in midweek as well as on weekends for the next two weeks, and Speid said they have to prepare with this in mind as well.

Nevertheless, he promised that they would be prepared enough to compete for the points.

“We are still kind of tired. But we are going to turn up and give the best we can. We have some concerns (about Arnett). They are really in form. Unbeaten in nine games, we see what they are doin, and we will come up with a plan,” he said.

“But we have a packed schedule of games. So we are running the gauntlet. We were surprised at the score (against Molynes), but we will not lie down although we know we are not back at a hundred per cent.”

Cavalier are sixth in the table on 19 points, five clear of seventh-place Dunbeholden and three behind fifth-place Portmore. They have just one defeat to their name this season and have registered five wins and four draws.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com