Arsenal Matches
Another defeat and its doom and gloom from all circles. Every time we concede a goal, there is
an inquisition as to our ability to defend. If we look a little bit closer we can see that luck has
deserted us and we have a tendency to self-destruct.
Game one against Newcastle saw both Gervinho and Song pick up three match bans which affected us
for the next three games.
We have a torrid start to the season, let's not get deluded we have lost 3 games and are now
languishing at the bottom of the table. This is not acceptable for the fans nor is it acceptable
for Wenger. His comments after Saturday clearly show his frustration with what is happening at
the moment, more so is his inability to do anything about what is happening.
As Arsenal prepare for a crucial Champions League encounter in Italy, Wenger needs to throw away
the blueprint for Arsenal games and get Arsenal to play ugly.
Arsenal's cavalier style of football will not work in Italy, Udinese are team that will play on
the counter-attack and from the first leg experience, and they have the ability to tear us
apart.
It's now or never for Wenger. The squad is the weakest since Arsene's reign started that there
is no doubt. Suspensions and injuries are mounting and we have only played three games. Our
squad for today included two players who are outward bound and contained 8 youngsters.
Whilst we could see the potential in both Frimpong and Miguel today, trophies are not won with
potential, but as Wenger told us in May with experience.
Arsene Wenger has announced the Samir Nasri is in the squad for tomorrow's game against
Liverpool. Â This will be a very interesting game for Nasri, he will play in the playmaker position
that he has wanted to play in for some time, yet the fans will not forgive him nor will they greet
him with  the adulation that they showed last season.
The next three matches are the most important matches in Arsene's time at Arsenal. Never has an
Arsenal team been so short of quality players and never has our season hung on thread so early.Â
Three defeats and the fans will be calling for Arsene's head, three undefeated games and Arsene
will have bought time to restructure the squad.
Arsenal beat Udinese 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League play-off. Ramsey looked good
in midfield, Gervinho ran his heart out, Vermaelen was solid and Szczesny showed why we do need
another goalkeeper.
The game started well for Arsenal, with Theo given us the lead after four minutes, after that
though it was backs to the wall as Udinese caused us many problems.
The first game is way to Newcastle followed by a home game with Liverpool sandwiched in
between our Champions League qualifier, then just to round off August we travel to Old
Trafford.
The away game to Newcaslte gives the opportunity to bury that nightmare game of last season when
we let a 4 goal lead slip and the game that probably saw us start to slip away in the title
race.
Arsenal face Liverpool tonight in the Carling Cup, a competition that Wenger has religiously
used to give reserves, youth players and first team squad players a run-out. Â We have had some
success over the years, reaching one final and three semi-finals, so the policy has its merits. Â I
would like Wenger to take the competition a little more seriously and start to use more experienced
players the closer got to the final.
Too often in European away ties we play with an inbuilt fear, a fear of making a mistake and not
being able to recover. Last night saw a very indifferent performance from Arsenal, a performance
that the Sky TV team of Parry and Smith.
Within five minutes all Arsenal fans were wondering what had gone wrong.
The international break is over and we resume with the real football. I have stated before
FIFA needs to address the international football calendar. We cannot have a stop start season,
any rhythm that teams have is disrupted. I would prefer a break in October or 2-3 weeks and
another in March, allowing all internationals to be crammed into these periods.
Arsene Wenger has decided to take a different tact. He has sold Adebayor and Toure and Eboue
is due to follow. That is three of Arsenal's four Africans. The move can be explained as a
massive u-turn by Arsene.
A few years ago Arsenal set-up an agreement with Beveren in Belgium, whereby the Belgian club
brought players over from the Ivory Coast and Arsenal were to be given first refusal once the
players acquired a Belgian passport.
This is the third season the Emirates Cup will be held at Arsenal. The first was a novelty and
sold out within weeks, last season had the big clubs, Real Madrid and Juventus to ensure it as a
box office sell out. This season it is a different story.
There are plenty of tickets still available for this season's tournament despite the fact that
Rangers have been given 9,000 tickets for each day.
Arsenal get their pre-season friendlies underway tomorrow with the traditional curtain raiser at
Underhill when they face Barnet.
Wenger will take a mixed squad of first team players and reserves. Saturday could see the
return of Rosicky as well as a welcome return from injury for Eduardo and Gallas.
Arsenal has announced all their pre-season friendly games.Â
The curtain raiser is the trip to Underhill to face Barnet on 18 July. The squad then flies
off to Austria for our traditional summer training camp. This could be the last Austrian training
camp as the club is moving into the 21st Century and is contemplating a Far East or American tour
for future years.
This morning the fixtures for the forthcoming season have been released. Arsenal have been
given a real baptism of fire with an opening day fixture agaisnt Everton followed by the visit of
Portsmouth on 22 August and then to test our mettle an away trip to Old Trafford on 29 August. Â
We then enter a period of September, October and November where we have many winnable matches,
with the first North London derby set for 31 October at the Emirates and Chelsea visit us on 28
November.
Arsenal have announced a friendly on 29 July against Hannover 96. The game will take place in
Hannover's AWD Arena. Â Hannover are a mid table Bundesliga team.
 Arsenal will get back to pre-season training on 6 July with our traditional curtain raiser
against Barnet on 18 July. Â Arsenal have not yet announced any other friendlies, but traditionally
we go to Austria and have two games against minor opposition, before stepping up the process.
Sunday's game was frustrating to say the least. It was a perfect summary of our season, our
strengths, weaknesses and failings.
 Wenger insists for some unknown reason in persisting with a 4-2-3-1 formation. He then
proceeds and plays our players out of position. Diaby on the wing and Nasri as a central
midfielder.
A disappointing result and a very disappointing performance saw Arsenal los to Chelsea in the
semi-final of the F Cup semi-final.
Eyebrows were raised when Wenger opted to leave Nasri and Arshavin on the bench and replaced
Song with Denilson. Song in recent games has been our rock in midfield and Denilson failed to
match his work-rate.
Following a great second half display in Spain in which we had Villarreal pinned in their own
half and got the vital away goal, Arsenal turned in a great performance last night to progress to
the semi-final of the Champions League where they will face Manchester United.
 Arsenal are not the team of old where with Adams, Bould, Dixon and Winterburn we can hold out
for 90 minutes without conceding, the new Arsenal only knows how to attack.
Another great second half display in Spain has left Arsenal in a strong position to progress to
the next stage of the Champions League.Â
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Arsenal were on the back foot in the first half and fell behind when Matters started badly as
Senna put Villarreal ahead early in the game after Song failed to close him down.
Another win and we extend our lead over Aston Villa, whilst also reducing Chelsea's lead to six
points. We have not had a good record at St James' Park, usually drawing games we should
win. Today we started well, looking composed at the back and appearing to be able to create chances
at will. It was [.
It was a great weekend. We took Blackburn apart; with a bit of composure the score should have been
7-0 or 8-0. To cap it all Aston Villa lost at home to the enemy and now Champions League
qualification is in our hands. The game started in mo0st unfashionable Arsenal style, with Arshavin
getting on [.
What drama at the Stadio Olimpico, Arsenal did not perform well, the attack was blunt but the team
pulled through in dramatic fashion. Arsenal fell behind after 9 minutes. Poor defending by
Toure and Gallas and Bendtner failing to track back allowed Juan to give Roma the lead. They had to
weather the storm in the [.
Arsenal visited bottom of the table WBA looking for goals and points. Wenger made four changes
after the lacklustre performance against Fulham. Out went van Persie, Vela and Diaby and Gallas was
ruled out with an injury. Things started well when Bendtner, the player who could not
control a ball never mind score, picked the ball [.
The match started with anticipation that today was going to be the day we turned our season around,
Wenger had chosen Nasri, Arshavin and Vela to play behind van Persie, whilst Diaby was fit to
play. Everton had just closed the gap on us to one point. Surely we would put Fulham to
the sword. The [.
Well we are still i n the cup. It was never going to be an easy game at Ninian Park, Cardiff
are a good team and Ninian Park a hostile ground to visit. Cardiff came at us in the first 10-15
minutes and we survived several scares where Cardiff could have taken the lead. Ramsey had
[...]
The trip to Villa was important for our season, a victory and we will be in with a remote chance of
the title, anything else and it's a straight fight fro 4th place. Injuries to Fabregas,
Djourou and long term absentees Walcott, Eduardo and Rosicky meant we entered the tie with
trepidation. Villa should have [.
Arsenal drew with Liverpool, a result that suited Liverpool more than Arsenal and leaves Arsenal in
a very precarious position, not only as far the title is concerned but our attempt at securing a
top four finish. Liverpool stated well and played the ball around, but Arsenal soon got into
their groove.
Arsenal travelled to Chelsea with the world on our backs, another defeat and it would be the end of
Arsenal's small title hopes. Three players returned for the clash, Sagna, Nasri and Adebayor, but
more significantly, Djourou was chosen ahead of Silvestre by Wenger for his speed and height. The
game started with Chelsea fastest out [.
The Rest
Having seen all our rivals win in the last 10 minutes, it was no surprise that despite starting
later and the pressure being on Arsenal took all three points at the KC Stadium. Arsenal
overcame the early Hull pressure and then started to dominate the game. Nasri was industrious,
Diaby and Denilson commanded the midfield, and [.