Written by Total Arsenal

Due to a recent spell of bad results in the Premier League and the relentless complaining of our fans, we are now looking for a new Manager.

During the reign of Arsène Wenger, Arsenal won three League Championships, Four FA Cups, achieved the cult-status of the Invincibles for a 49-games spell of not getting beat, reached the CL final, played in the CL for 14 consecutive seasons, played a brand of football envied all over the world, and moved successfully to a brand new stadium, whilst keeping the club in a healthy financial position.

Lionel Messi became Barcelona's second highest ever goalscorer after he netted twice during his sides 5-0 demolition of BATE Borisov. "There is simply no stopping him"; "Messi the record-breaker" were just some of the standout headlines gleaming across the official Barcelona website. And who can disagree?

São Paulo forward, Henrique, who was voted the U-20 World Cup's best player in Colombia

Ney Franco has called up 18 players for the Pan-American games in Mexico. Brazil are in Group B and will kick off their campaign versus Argentina on 19th October. They then face Cuba on 21st and Costa Rica two days later.

Bellamy is Glad to be Back

Following his return to Liverpool last night, Craig Bellamy has admitted that playing for Kenny Daglish – a man who he idolised as a youngster – was the main reason for him coming back. The Welshman reputed offers from other clubs to return to Anfield and he believes that, due to the new ownership in place under FSG, the Reds can begin to fight back to where they belong once more.

Signing for Kenny is 'a massive honour' Bellamy

"To every Liverpool fan, Kenny is probably the best player ever to pull on the red shirt," says Welshman

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-01 11:28:03 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Craig Bellamy: It's an honour to sign for Kenny Dalglish

• 'I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish, this is a massive honour' • Bellamy looks forward to playing with Kuyt, Suarez and Carroll New Liverpool signing Craig Bellamy said that he could not resist the opportunity to sign for boyhood hero Kenny Dalglish.

Craig Bellamy says that Kenny Dalglish was the main reason why he decided to return to Liverpool.

"I've grown up with Kenny Dalglish, now to be signed by him is a massive honour" said Bellamy. "This is an exciting time. When Kenny took over, watching as a fan last season I got the buzz as well and it was great to see Liverpool end the season well.

Distinguished French journalist Julien Laurens has described Arsenal's recent signing Park Chu Young as an extremely intelligent player who is poised to grow further significantly under the guidance of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Laurens, representing Le Parisien, spoke highly of Park throughout a candid interview at Arsenal's official website, insisting that the South Korea skipper will adapt quickly to the challenges of the Premier League, having become Monaco's best player within a short period of time before moving to the Emirates.

So, the unmistakeable chimes of Big Ben bring the craziest few months an Arsenal fan has ever had to endure to a close. We have lost our club captain, we have lost last seasons best player, and we have been humiliated 8-2 by Man United, yet, with that big bell still ringing in my ear (insert your own joke!

In what has to be one of the more frustrating losses in recent memory, the United States fell by a score of 0-1 to an opportunistic Costa Rican side. There were bright spots on the night. Then again, in order to see the light, there must be dark. In this match, American fans were treated to both.
The old adage "it was a tale of two halves" applied well to this match as the US was sharp and threatening during the first forty five.

Jack Wilshere reckons Arsenal must win a trophy this season to prove they are the next best thing to Champions League winners Barcelona. Gunners midfielder reckons it is "unthinkable" that Arsene Wenger's outfit don't finish in the Premier League top four despite a torrid start to the campaign.

Real Madrid centre-back Ricardo Carvalho faces an international suspension of between one and three months, including Champions League matches, after walking out of the Portuguese national team's training camp on Wednesday.

After learning that he was not in the side to play Cyprus on Friday, Carvalho left the Portugal camp and immediately announced he had retired from international football, saying he had been shown "a lack of respect and felt hurt.

Real Madrid centre-back Ricardo Carvalho faces an international suspension of between one and three months, including Champions League matches, after walking out of the Portuguese national team's training camp on Wednesday.

After learning that he was not in the side to play Cyprus on Friday, Carvalho left the Portugal camp and immediately announced he had retired from international football, saying he had been shown "a lack of respect and felt hurt.

FC Barcelona: Fabregas's Exit out of Arsenal and Why Club Contracts Are Broken - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Like a love affair, Arsene Wenger had stated in a pre-season interview posted by The Guardian that he would fight until the last second to keep midfielder Cesc Fabregas by his side.

The starting speed forward for the Rapids All-Time Team is Omar Cummings.
How Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round (31st overall pick) in the 2007 Superdraft.
Years In Colorado: 2007 through present
This was the trickiest pick of the team. I went back and forth between a 4-4-2 and a 3-4-3, but eventually Cummings won out.

The big plus for this weekend as far as I am concerned is that Danny Sturridge is back and available for selection after his three match ban has now run out. Sturridge was by far and away our best player in pre season cutting in from the left hand side and being honest we have missed him.
Of course we now have the option of Juan Mata but I still believe Sturridge WILL command a start against Sunderland which could mean that we see Mata playing on the opposite side of Fernando Torres.

As I posted yesterday, Danny Sturridge is welcomed back into the fold for selection tomorrow at Sunderland and I personally hope he plays up top with Torres and Mata.
Sturridge is featured in The Mirror and has been speaking about our chances this season and firmly believes Chelsea have the firepower up front to regain the title.

Fortune favors the Seattle Sounders as they have the opportunity to put themselves ahead of Real Salt Lake on the first tie breaker with even just a tie. In the last meeting Seattle ended the Utah side's home unbeaten streak, which should be good news when facing a team that is poor on the road (12 points in 11 matches).

Liverpool legend, Ronnie Whelan has brought out his autobiography: "Walk On: My Life in Red".
Its a very good piece of work, from his humble beginnings in Dublin to having a glittering career with the Reds from 1979-1994.
During that time he won six League Titles, one European Cup, three League Cups and two FA Cups.

Italian Football
With the threat of industrial action on the part of the playing staff in Italy now averted, Serie A returns with AC Milan v Lazio at Molino Dorino. What's the betting Milan can repeat?
Let's look at the teams one by one.
Atalanta look like they will come out in a 4-4-2 with a strengthened defence.

If you're a loyal Kopite, today's controversial loss at Stoke probably wasn't the best way to start your weekend. That said, don't hit the panic button. There are plenty of reasons to be thankful if you're a Red, and I'm not talking about the fact that George Gillett and Tom Hicks no longer own the club.

What a Mess Much has been made of the fact that Lionel Messi 'never' dives, especially in comparison to his nearest rival as the world's best player. And now we know why. It turns out he's not very good at it. Messi attempted to win a penalty in Barcelona's 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad on [...]

Who was our best player v Stoke?

Who was our best player at Stoke City on Saturday? Take part in our exclusive vote now

View the full story here: Liverpool FC

A news article on 2011-09-12 11:23:44 from: Liverpool FC

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Tomorrow, Arsenal start their European adventure, the one we're all used to seeing, with a trip to Germany to take on Borussia Dortmund. Borussia, as we all know, won the Bundesliga last year, and were definitely the team to avoid in Pot 4 of the CL Draw. So naturally, we got them..

The thing about Dortmund is that they are, in many ways, the German Arsenal (circa 2009-2010)- a young, determined team with a central attacking midfielder as its' playmaker and fulcrum.

Former Liverpool player John Aldridge believes Craig Bellamy could turn out to be the best bargain buy of the summer.

Bellamy quite a versatile player and can play on one of the wings or as a second striker which will really help with the squad depth.

Aldridge told Liverpoolfc.tv:

"I thought Bellamy was brilliant when he came on at Stoke and in the last 25 minutes he was the best player on the park," said Aldridge.

Liverpool FC has lost out on many great players over the years, but the most regrettable missed opportunity is arguably Danish maestro Michael Laudrup. The club had two chances to sign this footballing magician (1983 and 1989) but failed on both occasions. Why did the club miss out and what impact would Laudrup (theoretically) have had?

Alessandro Nesta and The Classiest Moment at the Camp Nou last night

35 years old. 78 caps for Italy. 19 years of club football calcio in Italy. For Milan fans, for Italians across the world, Alessandro Nesta is a man that makes you proud to be associated with him in any way, shape, or form.

Former Liverpool skipper Phil Thompson believes that the sale of Raul Meireles, who was bought for £11 million, to Chelsea for a fee of around £12m was a "fantastic deal" for all the parties involved.
Meireles, who impressed and became a fan favourite in his one and only season on Merseyside, was sold at the eleventh hour on the final day of the transfer window.

Photo courtesy of West Virginia media relations

By AVI CREDITOR

Remember the name Eric Schoenle. Opposing forwards have a hard time forgetting it.

Like top college centerbacks Tim Ream and A.J. Soares before him, Schoenle (pronounced SHANE-lee), West Virginia's junior centerback is emerging as a top prospect and has the technical and physical tools that should translate to professional success.

While the Europa League continues to be treated as something of a sideshow by Spurs, is there anything we learned from last night's game as far as the playing personnel were concerned? Did anyone stand out enough to be rewarded with a step up to the first team and did the side indicate that they were capable enough to be trusted when the tougher Europa games come around?

Beating Barcelona: A Theoretical Guide With Pretty Pictures - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

So, everyone says that Barcelona are unbeatable, or are least the untouchables. Which is twaddle.

Sure, they have lots of excellent players. (MessiXaviAlvesIniestaPiquePuyolBusquetsVillaSanchezPedroetc.

Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has stuck his proverbial neck out by blasting his boo-boys who he insists are ‘jealous' of him. The world's most expensive player in history came in for a torrent of abuse during Real Madrid's narrow 1-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night but snapped back with some choice words [.

View from the Opposition: Tottenham v Liverpool

With Liverpool set to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday, we talked to journalist and Spurs fan Ben Hardy about the clash. Spurs had a fairly busy transfer window once again, with two of the most notable incoming players being Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor, how do you rate your summer dealings?

Robbie Fowler: 'Rooney is the best player out there'

"Wayne has redefined the role of a centre-forward," says Liverpool hero

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-09-17 22:58:33 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Blackburn 4 (Yakubu 25, 59, Song og 50, Koscielny og 68) Arsenal 3 (Gervinho 10, Arteta 34, Chamakh 85)
(Premiership)

I actually thought we had run out of inventive, hilarious for the rest of the league, ways of losing football matches. Call this Arsenal team what you want they are a creative bunch.

Arsenal's season reached a new low on Saturday as their 4-3 defeat at Blackburn left them just outside the relegation zone and already out the Barclay's Premier League title race.

In spells, Arsenal did look as though the valuable point picked up against Borussia Dortmund in midweek had marked a revival in the Gunners confidence and play, as for periods in the first half against Blackburn they knocked the ball about with ease and looked to be in total control of the match against Steve Kean's men.

By Alan Duffy

Despite spending a fair amount of money on his Sunderland team, Steve Bruce has endured a rather rubbish start to the season. However, at home to Stoke on Sunday, the Black Cats finally marked their territory by weeing all over the Potters.

Not famed for his goalscoring ability, Titus Bramble opened the scoring while summer signings Craig Gardner and Seb Larsson also helped to give the Black Cats their first win of the new season.

A bit of this will not hurt Arsenal

Five matches into the season and a perfect record. An outpouring of 21 goals with just four conceded. And the latest, a win over arch rivals Chelsea by a 3-1 margin. Utd are already separating themselves by their intimidating performances.

His side's effervescent start is still not enough to make Sir Alex happy.

The 2011 fantasy football season already has its first huge story: Jamaal Charles is likely out for the season. Charles, who was drafted in the top three in many fantasy football drafts, likely tore his ACL in Week 2. If that's true, the Kansas City Chiefs running back will be gone until next season.

Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves has not given up hopes of playing for England, after scoring on his debut at Eastlands in the 2-0 victory over Birmingham in the Carling Cup.
The 30-year old has been plagued with injuries in the last four-years, and his career in the Premier League was in doubt when he was released by Manchester United at the end of the last season, after making just four appearances in the last three years for the club.