What a big win, and a big loss! Conceding the goal in that manner added another chapter to the special Arsenal edition of 101 Extraordinary Ways To Concede A Goal. While the remarkable comeback in extremely trying circumstances completely countered the impact of that goal in the short term, the injury to Mertesacker will make the future games all the more challenging.

In a way this was a fairy tale return for Thierry Henry. Wenger acknowledged as much in his post-match press conference when he said,

It was like a dream when he scored, it was the story you would tell a kid. It is not often like that in our game.

But one could as well say there was an air of predictability about the football and the result.

If you carefully select portions of this game you can make a video highlighting many of Arsenal's major problems. With another selection you could also show the reasons that make the Gunners such a great team to watch and support. It was a classic Cup tie and one that will remain in fans' memories for years to come if it can spark a run of form.

Sometimes, when you've suffered so much through bad luck, such a win is immensely enjoyable despite all the frustrations. Pure delight!

That's how I felt after the win at Anfield. It wasn't a great performance but it was a terrific result. The effort was there but it wasn't predictably as well structured as needed and thus resulted in an inefficient game that was, ironically, capped by super efficient supply and finishes.

This game was anti-climatic in some ways. As discussed in the preview, the fighting spirit of a relegation candidate could have been the only factor that made this a compelling contest. It was nowhere to be seen. Wolves started in a somewhat diffident manner and the events of the opening 10 odd minutes virtually killed the contest.

We knew Arsenal will have to fight for the points in this one. They did respectably and came back with one. That point puts some daylight between the Gunners and Newcastle who lost against Wigan. There isn't much in it but it's clear virtually every team is having to battle for every single point.

Last Saturday, in the game against Norwich, Vermaelen won possession around the halfway line in the 26th minute and proceeded on a run towards the opposition box. Arsenal did manage to get enough bodies forward but Sagna's cross was easily cleared leading to a counter-attack that resulted in the visitors' second goal.

Mail: Newspaper review: Luis Suarez could quit England

Luis Suarez is ready to walk out on English football. Harry Redknapp is preparing to offer Blackburn Rovers £15million for Christopher Samba and Junior Hoilett in and attempt to bolster the Barclays Premier League title challenge of Tottenham Hotspur.

Many fans were hoping for early activity from the Gunners in the transfer market, especially to bolster the defence, but things have largely been quiet. Given that Ferguson had to go back to Paul Scholes and Chelsea are taking so long over the Cahill deal, one can assume this is going to be, at best, a tricky month for football business.

The big win over Blackburn was immensely enjoyable and has lifted the mood in the Gooner camp to a great extent after an eminently forgettable January. A lot has already been said about the match and I don't want to revisit it in detail but there were two goals in that game that caught my eye.

Both the goals started from the back but were scored in a markedly different manner, each a delight in its own way.

The Gunners take on hosts Liverpool in Saturday's early kickoff in a game that will pitch two sides on a high; Arsenal on the back of that remarkable comeback against Tottenham and Liverpool bubbling from their Carling Cup triumph.

In recent years these two sides have produced some fascinating battles but Arsenal fans will be worried about their side's tendency to throw away leads late in the game.

Wow! What a finish. What a feeling. Arsene, as usual, summed it up with an insightful nugget,

...the pleasure is even more intense when you win in the final minute of the game where you have given everything.

There is something about scoring the winner so, so late in the game.

"Super" Mario Balotelli is always an accident waiting to happen. I thought that he had matured quite a bit this season. Unfortunately the talented Italian is still a ticking timebomb on the football pitch. Much of his goalscoring genius stems from that right-brain thinking which also courts disaster by the busloads.

When Luis Suarez was accused of racially abusing Patrice Evra, he retorted with the quote,

"I go to the field with the maximum illusion of a little child who enjoys what he does."

I finally understood what he meant by that last Saturday against Norwich.

Pat Rice wanted to call it a day at the end of last season. Arsene, perhaps with a premonition of the tumultuous summer, persuaded him to stay one more year. With all the changes in the squad, another vital one in the backroom staff might have been too difficult to manage. This summer will hopefully be a more stable one as far as departures are concerned and that should give the new man some breathing space as he learns the ropes and establishes his own identity.

Ox Delighted With Euro Call-Up

Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has said that his selection in England's European Championship squad is a bit surreal for him but is confident that he can help the national team without being intimidated by the stage.

Normal service was resumed for 10-man Manchester City as they once again put daylight between themselves and rivals Manchester United at the top of the Barclays Premier League table with victory over Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.
After just one point and no goals from two matches, they were given an easy ride on their way to opening up a three-point cushion over their neighbours, who will try to reduce the gap again at Newcastle.

It's a question that can make some people uncomfortable but I think it deserves some consideration.

Many seem to agree that last season crashing out of all three Cups in a short span of time flung the squad into a confidence depriving free fall that the manager could not curtail. It had a massive impact on the players' psyche, Arsenal's league position at the end of the season, and quite possibly played a part in some of the summer's transfers.

Who was your sporting hero growing up?

My hero was Denis Law; as a player I loved Denis Law even though he is only a couple of years older than me. He epitomised to me everything about a Scotsman. He could start a row in an empty house, fight his own shadow, unbelievable courage, electric pace, exciting and dynamic to watch – I always loved Denis as a player.

A family event at a nearby city took me out of town for the last couple of days and is the cause for the lateness of this post. It really was unavoidable but I don't want to trouble you with the details.

The result of the game, more so the manner in which the goals were conceded, was quite upsetting but after having a day to think it over I find there were a lot of talking points from the game.

Arsenal FC: Where EXACTLY Are We Now? by Lorenzo Sallows Lying 5th In the Barclays Premier League, level on points with a distinctly average Newcastle United outfit, this season has been one of marked disappointed and frustration for all those who support Arsenal. Goals have become a priceless commodity with only Robin van Persie willingly [.

The time has finally come to play out the reverse fixture of the 8-2 defeat that Arsenal suffered at the hands of Manchester United on that horrific August evening at Old Trafford. The memories of that mauling are fresh on the minds of not only the Gunners fans but also European bookies like Champions League betting, which is why Arsenal have been priced as the underdogs even though this Sunday's match is taking place in the North Londoners' own backyard.

Players on both teams involved in this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash between Manchester United and Arsenal have committed to Nike's "Make It Count" campaign, pledging to make 2012 the year in which they give everything in pursuit of perfection. Rio Ferdinand, Wojciech Szczesny and Theo Walcott will be amongst the players sporting boots embroidered with "#makeitcount" and the active

There is a glimmer of hope amidst the sea of negativity that Arsenal have been swimming in recently. Some players are close to making their return after serious injuries. Of course, as we have seen with Wilshere recently and with others in the past, getting hopes up when it comes to injuries and Arsenal is not a smart choice.

Well, we kind of had an idea that Arsenal were playing well but not getting the results. It was a matter of details according to Arteta, Wenger, and others. It all came good in this one as Blackburn were the hapless victims of a rampant Arsenal side.

Chance conversion was another issue which was put to bed, at least temporarily, with 7 out of 8 shot on target registering on the scoreboard.

All the talk was about the thrilling 3-3 draw between Chelsea and Manchester United. The Red Devils' powers of recovery were once again apparent when they had looked down and out following a four-minute blitz by Chelsea.
Everyone remarked that only Manchester United is capable of coming back and clinching a draw from the jaws of defeat.

Arsenal have travelled from one disastrous pitch to another this week losing two centre-backs in the process, albeit to entirely different injuries and are now back at the scene of that inspirational win last Saturday that has been washed away from most Gooner minds by the midweek mayhem in Milan.

To say the Gunners were woeful in defence against Milan will be an understatement. It was a shocking performance. The 8-2 debacle at United earlier in the season didn't occur completely by accident either and we can be fairly certain this isn't the last time Wenger's side have crumbled defensively.

Given the way Arsenal were playing in recent games, Spurs were always going to score a couple of goals. The first half-hour or so was ominously miserable for the Gunners but the script had a twist! To be fair and honest, the best I expected was a 2-2 draw but Wenger and his players have put me over the moon.

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the resilience of his Manchester United team after admitting they had been second best to Norwich for large parts of their 2-1 victory at Carrow Road, where Ryan Giggs netted a stoppage-time winner on his 900th appearance.
After falling behind to a close-range header from Paul Scholes on seven minutes, the Canaries rallied and forced David de Gea into a string of fine saves.

After Tuesday's terrific but ultimately futile victory over Il Rossoneri it's back to the bread and butter of the Barclays Premier League. Only now there is a realistic chance of some jam to go on the bread.

With an unbeaten run of Premiership games stretching back to the February 1st goalless draw with Bolton, wins over Blackburn (7 1), Sunderland (1 2), Totteringham (5 2) and Liverpool (1 2) Arsenal have moved into the top four, three points clear of fifth placed and stuttering Chelsea, ten points clear of seventh placed Liverpool and five points clear of tonight's opponents sixth placed Newcastle United.

Arsenal host Newcastle on Monday with a chance to go within a point of 3rd. The weekend's fixtures, barring the Chelsea win, have been kind to the Gunners and now it's up to them to make the most of it. They haven't always taken their opportunities in the recent past so the doubts are still there in many Gooner minds for sure.

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has hailed the consistency of Newcastle United this season, suggesting that Magpies have demonstrated their credentials to finish in the Barclays Premier League's top six.

Newcastle arrived at the Emirates Stadium for this evening's highly anticipated match against the Gunners but according to RvP, who leads the league in scoring, Alan Pardew's men have also arrived at the highest level of the English top flight.

Steve Bruce has claimed that of all the players to have graced the Premier League, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes stand out from the rest.

"The achievement of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, to play 900 and 700-odd games respectively for Manchester United is remarkable," he said. "To still have the hunger and desire to be as good as they are is remarkable.

That was easy then. Arsenal completely outplayed Aston Villa and won comfortably while cruising through the second half in second gear. The macro-level stats provide a good picture of the game. Arsenal completed 534 or their 608 passes that led to 72 percent possession as against Villa's 152/226 passes and 28 percent possession.

Manchester United went back to the top of the Barclays Premier League on Monday night thanks to a late first-half goal by Wayne Rooney. This very important league fixture ended in controversy, when Fulham were denied what looked like a certain penalty in the dying moments, after referee Michael Oliver gave Michael Carrick the benefit of doubt following his clumsy challenge on Danny Murphy inside

It is a known fact that Roman Abramovich goes into panic mode when his Chelsea team stumbles either in the Premier League or in the Champions League. He has done so in numerous occasions during his ownership of the Blues. With the inevitable departure of Andre Villas Boas, Roberto Di Matteo was entrusted with the task of seeing the current Chelsea players through the season.

The run had to end sometime and to me the result wasn't as much a surprise as it might have been to some people. Games at this level are very tight and often decided by minor details. Since this is a late post I don't want to dwell on too many aspects of the game that would have been difficult to take for many.

Manchester City have not won away to Arsenal since October 1975, scoring just 9 times in 26 subsequent visits. But that will count for nothing when the game kicks off this Sunday. Arsenal have failed to score in 5 of their last 6 meetings with City in all competitions. That is a more relevant stat as it reflects the quality, especially defensive, that the visitors have bought in recent years.

Even with City's dodgy away form in recent weeks this game was always going to be a test of Arsenal's abilities. Was the QPR result a blip or the beginning of yet another slump? On the back of that performance there can be no arguments. The macro-level stats in the following tweet make the case quite clearly.