Despite getting off to a start that has gone beyond all expectations, the football pundits
continue to dig around for any reason to stick to their idiotic pre-season predictions of Arsenal's
impending doom and gloom. The club is 15-2-2 overall having scored 55 goals, 10-0 at home having
scored 33 goals at the Emirates.
This is what happen last time we have Wolves in the EPL
Arsenal visit Molineux Stadium tonight and it's a good oppourtunity to continue the good run
that we are currently going through. This is no walk in the park for Arsenal as both Fulham and
Aston Villa have came and gone home with only a point.
Arsenal came into its own with crisp, free flowing football. Cesc with a brace, Nasri with a
very welcome contribution on his return, and Diaby rounded up the scoring. But Arshavin was the
source having a hand in three of the goals. And Wenger singled him out.
Wenger highlighted Andrey Arshavin - who had a hand in three of the goals - for special
praise, saying: "He was outstanding.
I'm sure you're all like me out there in the Gooner Nation. Still luxuriating in the warm glow
of the derby win last Saturday over the Forces of Darkness. The cod DVD cover doing the email
rounds with Spurs releasing a highlights video of the first forty-two minutes of the game is
absolutely delicious.
Last week after the fantastic win in the Carling Cup, Fran Merida told afc.com that he wanted to
stay at Arsenal and that he hoped his contract would be sorted out very soon. Sadly for Fran, his
agent Joseba Diaz hasn't seen the interview or possibly not even bothered to speak to Merida. Diaz
has said he has an illness, well a love for Atletico Madrid which all started when he slept on red
and white sheets when he was young!
A win tonight at Ashburton Grove will see Arsenal qualify for the from the first group stage of
Champions League for the 10th consecutive seasons. Not even the great Barcelonas or Real Madrids or
AC Milans can lay claim to such an impeccable consistency. Tonight sees the return fixture with AZ
Alkmaar who pegged us back at the final minute of the game with an equalizer.
"Welcome to my nightmare, welcome to my breakdown."
Alice Cooper's 1975 campy anthem sums up the last five minutes of the first half for Spurs.
Harry Redknapp probably regrets starting a clearly unfit Ledley King who has struggled with
injuries this season. Sagna on the right whips in a cross which Van Persie reacts to more quickly,
outmaneuvering King to turn the ball past Heurelho Gomes for the first goal in the 42nd minute.
Arsenal continued to have the upper hand over their North London rivals as we convincingly won
3-0 at Ashburton Grove. Many will say that up to the first goal, Spurs have matched Arsenal stride
for stride but that cannot be further away from the truth.
As an Arsenal fan, today is the day we wait with abated breath. This is the first fixture I look
for whenever the new season kicks-off. For Gooners, it comes no bigger than the North London Derby.
Spurs visit Ashburton Grove looking to find the first league victory over Wenger.
Hello Gooners. Hope you are all well this friday. Don't know about you but I am super pumped up
for this north london Derby. Not that I wasn't pumped for it all these years....
..Living in a place about 200 miles from North london, it used to be pretty hard to develop that
aversion for Spurs.
Good Friday to you. Sorry for the late post as I was doing a bit of traveling today.
Most would've expected Fabianski to keep the keeper's jersey for this tomorrow's North London
Derby but unfortunately for the Polish custodian, he is again crocked by injury.
I am still smiling after the wonderful result we 'fought' for the other night. Many 'paps' said
we were lucky as Liverpool should have had a penalty in the last few seconds when Big Phil thought
he was playing netball, and maybe they are right, but I think we should have been awarded one too
when Watt was held back in the penalty area so justice done.
In whose hands is the future of Arsenal? This is the question we have all been asking.
Almunia was the number one, but a mystery "chest" infection which has taken a long time to clear up
ahs given the third choice keeper Mannone a chance, Fabianski is back from injury and should
feature tonight against Liverpool.
Finally, some football to talk about after a few days of bitching and moaning about West Ham.
Tonight's match against Liverpool sees Arsene take charge of his 750th Arsenal game, and it would
be just plain rude if we celebrate that with anything other than a win.
Tonight we are likely to see more than just kids, so we won't have that to use as much as an
excuse, but if Liverpool think their kids can match our kids then they are in for a nasty
surprise.
Let's face it. We all remember Julio Baptista once played for Arsenal on a season long loan from
Real Madrid. Jose Antonio Reyes went the other way in the same deal. I don't know about you but for
the life of me, I can't remember much of his performance during that season bar for one.
что же, спрашивается, Вы говорите о Вас сумасшедший
человек?
I don't understand a word of it either. What I do know is that whilst 'The Emperor' looked sharp
tonight in a hold-up role. However he had plenty of chances to place his name on the scoresheet
that went wanting.
As Wenger ponders on the upcoming Carling Cup fourth round game against Liverpool, he now has a
decision to be made regarding the goalkeeping situation. Vito Mannone has done well since he had to
step in for then injured Manuel Almunia and the boss had no reason to drop him although the
Spaniard custodian has returned, fully recovered from his chest infection.
....and the few after it? Evening Gooners. I hope you are feeling a lot better 24 hours or so
later. My disappointment of our Sunday performance was tangible. So much so that I forgot to talk
about the goalkeeping issue. However after applying some bonjela , following yesterday's write up,
it is time to discuss this.
1. A 2 Goal cushion is totally enough to kill off the game. We simply must stop letting teams
think they have a chance even when they're two down.
2. We need to buy a goal keeper. Almunia is inadequate, Mannone is too young, Fabianski is
scary and Sczesczny cannot get a jersey because the Nike cannot spell his name.
There are draws that seem like wins, and there are draws that seem like defeats. Today's was
both depending which team you support.
Deeply frustrating if you're an Arsenal fan though. Coming back from two goals up might be a
theme of the weekend, but it doesn't make it any less infuriating, does it?
A very good Saturday to all of you. No Arsenal today as they will only be playing tomorrow. So
full preview only on tomorrow's post.
Arsenal held their AGM on Thursday and it was a much relaxed one compared to the one held post
the semifinal lost to Man United. There were no one in the party who questioned Arsene Wenger's
actions or tactics.
Less than a month ago, we approached a Premiership game away at Fulham with the goalkeeping
position in disarray. Almunia had been struck down for over a week with a chest infection, and with
Fabianski also out with a long term injury, young Mannone had been thrown into a Champions League
game in Liege.
What have we done to deserve so many injuries? Is there a curse at The Emirates? Since moving
to the Emirates we have lost too many players for too long, Henry and van Persie ins season one,
Rosicky and Eduardo in our second year and last year's injury list would have been too many to fit
into either ER or Casualty.
A lot has been said about today's meeting with Birmingham being the first since that fateful
day Eduardo had his leg shattered by Martin Taylor. Some say we owe them a hammering, which is true
from the point of view that we threw away three points after playing against ten men for 87
minutes, but less so for the 'tackle' itself.
As per usual Arsene spoke to the media yesterday so there are bits and pieces from that to get
through. More up to date team news sees us without Eduardo, as expected, Carlos Vela, as expected
due to his travel arrangements, Nicklas Bendtner who picked up an injury in training and Gael
Clichy who will be replaced by Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal's goalkeeper stocks have risen with the return from injury of both Manuel Almunia and
Lukasz Fabianski. First-choice shot-stopper Almunia has been out with a chest infection and is only rated a small
chance to return against Birmingham City this weekend but Fabianski, who has not played yet this
season, may be called on after recovering from knee surgery. Click to continue reading...
Liverpool will be without Gerrard and Torres due to injuries.
With the end of the International play it is time to look at injuries sustained by players
during international duty. With a Champions League round next week injuries could be crucial for
some sides.
Managers hate sending their players to play for their country and rightfully so.
Today see the visit of Birmingham to Ashburton Grove. The incident 2 seasons ago at St. Andrew's
will no doubt still rankles in the mind of all Arsenal fans. The Eduardo broken leg incident
brought about sad memories of that particular season. First for the bad injury that the Brazilian
suffered at the hand (or legs) of Martin Taylor but more importantly, it was the start of which
Arsenal lost the impetus for the Premier League title.
Well here we all are again, a little dustier and a trifle older, but here we all are
nevertheless.
I did try to get excited about the internationals. But I couldn't. I missed the Ukraine game
entirely, and though I did watch the Belarus game, it was so inconsequential that I lost interest
faster than I do when I periodically attempt doing some DIY.
Players report back to London today, and hopefully by the end of today or early tomorrow we'll
have an inventory of who picked up knocks playing in internationals. At the moment, the only one
I've heard is Gael Clichy, who injured his thigh playing for France yesterday. This must have
frustrated Wenger, who was actually commentating on the match for French television, noted that
Clichy was hurt and should be substituted, only to watch him struggle through to the end of the
game.
First of all apologies for the lack of posts in the last two days. It is not because I've been
stuck on topics to write about. There are two reasons. A post this week will explain one reason
why I didn't write anything since the end of September.
I did try posting something yesterday, it was going to be mainly images.
Arsenal visited Fulham on Saturday at a floodlit Craven Cottage near the Thames. It was a thrilling
evenly balanced match, as both sides had their chances, but in the end the Gunners made full use of
their chances, as a Robin van Persie strike sealed a win against the Cottagers. This win takes
Arsenal up to 5th in the table, behind 4 teams who have all played one match more than them. Click to continue reading...
Morning, hope your weekend was a good one. An Arsenal win always helps. A birthday also helps.
Helps you lie around all day Sunday going 'Bleurgh' after too much Havana Club the night before,
but I'm not complaining.
Mostly because today is Monday. Tomorrow night sees the second Champions League group stage game
with a home tie against Olymiacos.
