Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andre Santos have struck early for Arsenal to give the home side a
2-1 advantage over the visiting Olympiakos during the first half at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners left skipper Robin van Persie and key playmaker Aaron Ramsey on the bench in
anticipation of Sunday's cracking North London derby but that did not prevent them from dominating
in the early stages of their Group F match.
Tomorrow sees the Arsenal step on the Stade Velodrome and take on the mighty Olympique
Marseille, for what is due to be an exciting clash for 1st place in Group F. With Olympiakos
winless and Dortmund disappointing, the Arsenal-Marseille clashes will likely dictate the final
standings of our group, so it's important to go and get a result out there tomorrow.
The importance of being Carrick is a post from: Just Football
Michael Carrick is a much-maligned figure at Manchester United
these days. Football fans always have at least one silently nominated yet widely acknowledged fall
guy, and at Old Trafford this season that honour appears to have been bestowed upon the quiet
Geordie number 16.
A Tale of Two 5-4s: Lille v Marseille / Santos v Flamengo (VIDEO) is a post from: Just
Football
For every action there's a reaction. Perhaps it was the football gods repaying the world for an
inhibited Copa America (to put it lightly), a tonic to ease the strained jaws of an often
yawn-inducing few weeks in Argentina.
Who wants to give me a helping hand?
Arsenal heads to the south of France to continue our Champions League adventure. This is the
first of 2 back-to-back matches against Marseille. Stade Velodrome will provide the backdrop for
this encounter and this is the same pitch where Dennis Bergkamp scored that immaculate goal for
Holland against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.
Who wants to give me a helping hand?
Arsenal heads to the south of France to continue our Champions League adventure. This is the
first of 2 back-to-back matches against Marseille. Stade Velodrome will provide the backdrop for
this encounter and this is the same pitch where Dennis Bergkamp scored that immaculate goal for
Holland against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.
Aaron Ramsey struck two minutes into added time to give Arsenal an important 1-0 win at
Marseille's Stade Velodrome that puts them in control of Champions League Group F.
After a largely dispiriting 90 minutes in which both sides struggled to create clear-cut
chances, substitute Ramsey controlled an accidental flick-on from Gervinho and placed his shot
low past Steve Mandanda to give Arsene Wenger's side a fifth win in six games in all
competitions.
There are days like this when as a supporter you wonder what's going to happen to you ahead of a
big game. Excitation, tension, explosion.. (and, for OL supporters after a no-match like against
Toulouse last week, frustration and desperation).
And today is one heck of a big game.
Group F: Arsenal – Marseille – Olympiacos – Borussia Dortmund.
That doesn't look like a group of death to me but there is enough in there keep things on edge.
Perhaps part of the reason is also that Arsenal will have to go on a long, consistent run before
most fans regain complete confidence.
Arsenal travel to the Stade Velodrome tonight in a champions league clash against Group F
leaders Marseille. The Gunners go into this match knowing that anything less than a win could
seriously hamper their chances of moving onto the next stage.
However things do not look too good for Arsenal as number of their key players are major doubts
for the fixture.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reminded the team's critics that the Gunners fall in the
unique category of teams such as Real Madrid and Manchester United as the only clubs to have played
Champions League football for fourteen consecutive years.
In preparing for tonight's Group F clash away to Marseille, Wenger responded with confidence
when questioned regarding the credentials of his side.
RvP congratulating Song on a good impression of RvP's celebration at Stamford Bridge
After the euphoria of Saturday's emphatic win at Stamford Bridge, it's time for the players to
take their mind of that and concentrate on the next game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this
is just as big a game as the last match.
RvP congratulating Song on a good impression of RvP's celebration at Stamford Bridge
After the euphoria of Saturday's emphatic win at Stamford Bridge, it's time for the players to
take their mind of that and concentrate on the next game. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, this
is just as big a game as the last match.
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Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates,
comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and
off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general....Also Follow:
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QPR's Adel Taarabt is one of the ten finalists for African Footballer of the
year.
By Alan Duffy
Gervinho and Yaya Touré celebrate
Four Premier League stars have made the shortlist for the 2011 CAF African Player Of The Year
awards, with the Ivorian trio of powerhouse Yaya Touré, fleet-footed wideman Gervinho and veteran
hitman Didier Drogba all getting the nod along with QPR's Moroccan schemer Adel Taarabt
However, they'll be up against four-time winner Samuel Eto'o (FC New Russian Money & Cameroon),
Kevin-Prince Boateng (Milan & Ghana), Seydou Keita (Barcelona & Mali), Asamoah Gyan (FC New Dubai
Money & Ghana), Andre Ayew (Marseille & Ghana) and Moussa Sow (Lille & Senegal).
The Confederation of African Football has released its short list for 2011 CAF African Player of
the year. The list includes usual suspects Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon
and Seydou Keita of Mali.
Other players short listed for the prestigious award include: Asamoah Gyan, Yaya Toure, Kevin
Prince-Boateng, Moussa Sow, Gervinho, Adel Taarabt and Andre Ayew.
City are proving to be a strong contender for the Premier League title this season and one
player who has been instrumental in the Club's unbeaten run and fantastic form is Yaya Toure.
Toure who joined City last summer after a misunderstanding with his former club FC
Barcelona,has proved to be one of the club's most important signings with the 28 year old defensive
midfielder going on to become a key player in Mancini's line up.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
From almost out of the UEFA Champions League to topping Group E, it's been a crazy first
campaign for Chelsea manager Andres Villas-Boas.
Talks of crisis at Stamford Bridge seem to be dissipating after Chelsea routed Valencia 3-0 to
advance to the knockout round for the ninth consecutive season.
Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure was yesterday named African Player of the
Year 2011 in a lavish gala ceremony in Accra Ghana. The 28 year old who has had a fantastic start
to the EPL this season, beat Mali's Seydou Keita and Ghana's Andre Ayew who finished second and
third respectively to win the award and become only the second Ivorian since Didier Drogba to win
the award.
Yaya Toure was named the CAF Player of the Year for being awesome in 2011, and rightly so.
Possibly for his sartorial abilities.
Actually, he showed up in different dress, which makes one think that massive robe is a prize
for winning the prize. A prize which immediately turns its wearer into a spiritual healer?
STARTERS
Jamie Trecker of Fox Soccer traveled to London and sat down for a video interview with Clint
Dempsey.
-There really isn't anything new here for us diehards, but its great to see the words come out of
Clint's mouth. What a talent!
-More great stuff with Clint and members of his family.
