It's early November and we're still another seventh months until the tournament starts but I must admit that the injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are beginning to worry me. According to Radio 5, Gerrard hasn't trained for two weeks and Ferdinand's overall fitness this season may have contributed to some of his indifferent performances when he has appeared for Manchester United.

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Two days until the Galaxy-Chivas USA Western Conference semifinal from Carson's Home Depot Center (4:30 p.m. ESPN2) and the Galaxy blog reports tickets are going fast and the club is considering opening up the grass berm.

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Suggested reading/listening/viewing:
*Reporter Phil Collin has more on the game here.

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Franco should be a hero in Mexico/PA Sports Image

I understand this is a website dedicated to MLS and US Soccer, but please indulge me in this moment of personal privilege about our neighbors to the south and our neighbors to the north.

Guille Franco opened his Premier League account yesterday, playing for a less competitive West Ham side than former Mexican striker Jared Borgetti did in Bolton a few years back.

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With Lukasz Fabianski's injury, it is pretty unlikely that a single one of the players involved in Wednesday's Carling Cup match will start the North London Derby tomorrow. As such, it is very difficult to draw any great conclusions from the Liverpool match.
In terms of momentum, it will mean nothing - maybe it will inspire the players for the next round but no more than that. Click to continue reading...

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.

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Chelsea continued to hammer their opponents. After a 4-0 triumph over Athletico Madrid, the Blues annihilated Blackburn Rovers 5-0 at Stamford Bridge. Things started on the wrong foot for the Rovers, as the home side went into the lead with an own goal from Gael Givet in the 19th minute. Ever since that, the game took [. Click to continue reading...

A good result finally. The men from Stamford Bridge raised their game to pick up a handsome 4-0 win against Athletico Madrid. Chelsea had proved their progress to the semi-finals of Champions League last season was no fluke. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea came out of a disappointing weekend in the Premier League at Villa Park with an emphatic 4-0 over Athletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge. The attack from the Londoners in their Group D encounter was relentless, as Ivory Coast International, Salomon Kalou scored in both the halves. Lampard scored one of the other goals, whereas Luis [. Click to continue reading...

The fifth week of La Liga action would bring some of the best storylines and most thrilling drama.� Only one match was decided by more then one goal easily making this week the best so far this season.� One unbeaten team remains as one more powerhouse has� fallen.� Who was it?� Let's starts this weeks review.

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Well its been quite the couple of weeks. Sorry about the lack of posting. The Offside did a update and it wasnt agreeing with my computer. But now all is well and you can expect to read my enlightened and grandious opinion once again from week to week.

So how was the week that past.

I guess that it started off sour and then turned out sweet.

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Back in my prime, there was one method of scoring I never mastered, the heel-flick. I pulled the move off in training many times, but in matches I made a fool of myself by whiffing on multiple occassions. I really want to score on a heel flick in a meaningful match because it's just so cool.

This week in the Champions League, three goals were scored on heel flicks.

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Fortune and poor Portsmouth finishing rather contributed to Everton's three point haul.� With one genuine shot at goal and nothing much else to discuss on the long drive home, I wonder why Moyes chooses to restrain the plethora of attacking options now available to him.

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Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Prior to today's match there were talks that both Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique were going to be rested against Santander. Messi would receive rest because of a busy week ahead and Pique for a knock he suffered over the weekend against Athletico Madrid. But when the starting lineups were announced both players appeared.

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Since when do we play Liga matches in the middle of the week? It's mad and the tight match schedule is killing us, but what can be done... we're gonna have close-packed matches all season to make room for the World Cup in the summer. All there is left is to hope that fatigue/traveling issues can be overcome and Pep can have the lads good and ready to play. Click to continue reading...

This week there is sure to be a few match-ups that will make you want to flip.� (Sorry for that terrible pun)� Anyway let's take a look at this weekends upcoming matches and try and predict who will win and who will lose.�

Deportivo La Coruna has shown early in the year a competitive fire that should make them a contender for a top five finisher this season.

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How busy will this weekend be for soccer on TV?

Colorado and San Jose get things under way at 8 p.m. on ESPN2 in a rare Friday evening game.

Oh, and last night the UCLA men beat their Cal State Fullerton counterparts, 2-1. Game story.

For an exhaustive listing of every available game click the live soccer TV link to the right.

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Barcelona- Athletico Madrid

Barcelona has been as good as expected so far this season cruising to two easy wins to start off their 2009 campaign.� Athletico Madrid, a club that is usually a top five finisher, has started off the year on a sour note with a 3-0 season debut loss to Malaga and a draw last week at home against Racing Santander.

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- Barca coach Pep Guardiola stars in a new book entitled "Paraula Pep", or "The World of Pep". The book is the result of the success of a television program by TV3 under the same name, which was broadcasted in the week before Barca's CL victory in Roma. Editor Ernest Floch was quick to take the initiative to commision the book, which records the phrases that have been considered outstanding in the path of Guardiola on the bench of FC Barcelona, and that define his philosophy. Click to continue reading...

There have been various reports in the press this morning over a few of Arsenal's transfer dealings, as i shall tell you about below:

Marouane Chamakh

The Daily Mirror reports that Arsene will make a final move for the Moroccan international after his £5 million bid was rejected earlier this summer, they report the bid will be around £8.

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I am happy to announce that it is time for the Yank's Weekly Picks.� � And you know what that means, right?� That means it is also time for the start of La Liga football.� And with all the action going on in La Liga this off-season it feels like an eternity since� last� season finished.�

In the first match of the season fans of La Liga will get to see what they have been waiting for.

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When Michel Platini drew up a new structure for Champions League qualifying, more shocks and more big games looked to be on the cards. As was so often the case in Platini's playing career, the Frenchman's tactic has come up with the goods, as Arsenal and Celtic will testify to, when they do battle tonight.

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Days away from a new Premier League season and reporter Oscar Chamberlain takes a closer look at the up and coming stars ready to make their mark this term.

Jack Wilshire (Arsenal)

You only need to speak his name around an Arsenal fan and they will tell you how much is expected of him in the coming season.

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On Friday UEFA conducted the draws for the Champions League and Europa League play-off rounds.� In the Champions League, Vfb Stuttgart will be matched against FC Timisoara of Romania's Liga 1.� Timisoara finished as runners-up in last year's Romanian Championship, and boast the likes of Costa Rican international striker Winston Parks.

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In Nyon, Switzerland this morning the Champions League draw for the play off qualifying round has created some interesting combinations.

Draw in Full

Non Champions Path

Celtic v Arsenal

Anderlecht v Olympic Lyonnais,

Athletico Madrid v Panathinaikos

Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina

Timisoara v Stuggart

Ties to be played 18/9 August and 25/26 August

There are thoughts that Arsenal's intentions in the transfer market was dependent upon this draw.

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In Nyon, Switzerland this morning the Champions League draw for the play off qualifying round has created some interesting combinations.

Draw in Full

Non Champions Path

Celtic v Arsenal

Olympic Lyonnais v Anderlecht

Panathinaikos v Athletico Madrid

Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina

Timisoara v Stuggart

Ties to be played 18/9 August and 25/26 August

There are thoughts that Arsenal's intentions in the transfer market was dependent upon this draw.

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The Club are due to confirm the existence and severity of any injury suffered by Tomas Rosicky at the pre-season press conference today. If this is a simple hamstring confirmed on scanning, then he will be out for 4 to 6 weeks but should be able to return to full fitness. His desire to join the Czech National squad has been derailed, but these setbacks need not be considered a major problem unless he fails to return on time.

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The Club are due to confirm the existence and severity of any injury suffered by Tomas Rosicky at the pre-season press conference today. If this is a simple hamstring confirmed on scanning, then he will be out for 4 to 6 weeks but should be able to return to full fitness. His desire to join the Czech National squad has been derailed, but these setbacks need not be considered a major problem unless he fails to return on time.

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The Emirates Cup has signaled a change in formation for the coming campaign as manager Arsene Wenger looks to maximise Arsenal's creative potential.
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Arsene Wenger has lost his religion. Or make that, devoting more time to what had made his previous sides a joy to watch.

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Ok, Ok, I know, there was no blog yesterday. Blame the internet pixies for spreading their love in the form of viruses (or should we blame me for downloading stuff I just should have left alone? Nah, let's not do that). By the time I got my laptop cleared yesterday it was bedtime and then I had work first thing today, and then it was late afternoon and there seemed no point as it would have put me all out of whack for today's blog, and blah blah blah.

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Super sub Andrei Arshavin scored two fantastic goals for Arsenal to send the home side top of the Emirates cup after a 2-1 victory over Athletico Madrid.

The Russian playmaker looked to have won the game after breaking the deadlock five minutes from time. But their Spanish opponents replied instantly through Pacheco before Arshavin sealed the win with a last gasp strike from an impossible angle.

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Andrei Arshavin scored two goals yesterday as Arsenal beat Athletico Madrid 2-1 in the first game of the Emirates Cup.
After giving them the lead, Arsenal were pegged back with a goal from Pachelo only for the Russian to latch onto a poor back header, and take the ball past the goalkeeper and somehow scoop the ball in on the slide when the ball had just about reached the touchline. Click to continue reading...

The real ‘fireworks' of our pre-season will kick off tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will entertain Athletico Madrid and Rangers on Saturday and Sunday respectively in order to retain the Emirates Cup.

This year's competition will kick off with Paris Saint Germain against Rangers but then the host will play Spanish outfit Athletico Madrid in what is to believe going to be an entertaining encounter.

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When "B" teams face off it's tough to make determinations about things. Today's game at Giants Stadium is sold out and is a Continental Championship match. But the fact is Mexico and the United States are both fielding "B" teams.

Mexico has a roster that includes just 7 of 23 players chosen by Javier Aguirre for the most recent World Cup qualifiers.

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Sunday's papers is awash with loads of transfer news this morning which hasn't been the norm for quite a time now; I will digress.

Eboue to Fiorentina

I haven't posted this story on Arsenal-highlights this week because I was unsure of it's roots but it seems now that there is firm proof that Fiorentina among other clubs will bid for Eboue, although personally I can't deem it to be the £8 million which the media have reported.

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The build up had been going on for weeks, with the first teasers of the new kit advertised on the hoardings surrounding the pitch during Spurs' final home League game against Manchester City. "Glory Comes In Three Colours" read the tagline, and Spurs fans collectively shrugged at the thought of having another 3 kits� for the fourth season in a row.

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