SoccerBlogs

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.

Opta users now more likely to wear a manager's jacket than an anorak

Premier League clubs are increasingly relying on statistics to shape their transfer policy Here is something you probably did not know: only 13 players across Europe's top five divisions created more goal-scoring chances last season than Chris Brunt, with the West Bromwich Albion midfielder's tally of 86 putting him 11 clear of Barcelona's tormentor-in-chief, Xavi.

By Chris Wright

The world of Yank sport (according to Martin Keown)...

If you're sat there wondering what the hell is going on, it's a reference to this little humdinger a pure nugget of gilded Keown co-commentary from the Portugal-Czech Republic game t'other night.

Last Minute Talk

Orlando, Fl Today's objective. Get back to our team identity of possession and pressure. During yesterday's victories the standard of play left a lot to be desired. I don't do excuses so the message is clear, refocus and get back to our bread and butter.

We will be playing El Temporal Azul.

Even with the sticks-and-stones footballing knowledge at my disposal, I can confidently opine that winning runs are good for a team. The warm, fuzzy feeling that you get after pocketing three points slowly snowballs into a huge-ass bear hug as it is superseded by more and more victories. Arsenal aren't quite in bear hug territory yet, but a 3-0 over Bolton and the 2-1 usurping of Olympiakos means that the warm, happy tumour is definitely throbbing and eager to grow.

July 10th 2005: "It was great to get the shirt back on and hopefully in the coming season I can hit top form and deliver a trophy. Hopefully I can go on and win that medal that I'm craving for, which is the Premiership, because that's the one I'm missing. Hopefully it will be this year, but if not it will happen in the four years that I've signed for.

We've talked a fair bit about Steven Caulker this week but it's worth looking at the player's most recent comments as to where he feels his future lies. It's been a big week for our centre half, currently on loan at Swansea and he marked his 4th under 21 cap with his first goal for England in the week.

Another international break has come and gone, time to focus on the bread and butter stuff. If you watched England labour to three points against Wales at Wembley this week, as a Villa fan, the line-up may have looked a lot like the image below. It probably stung quite a bit for most of us.

There has been quite a lot written over the last few days on the subject of the Olympic Games and its various interactions with association football. A lot of this in particular the hand- wringing chip wrapper fodder about how the behaviour of competitors over last couple of weeks has somehow 'shamed' our national game but there is perhaps a grain of a point to be made about the different feeling that Olympic football has had about it in comparison with the standard, bread and butter that we usually imbibe to the point of intoxication.

Orlando, FL My day began early. Â Scouting the entire field was my number one objective so I was at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at 7:45 am to see group A matches. Â Barcelona-USA was scheduled to play at 9:30 am and 3:30 pm. Â There were games at every hour and a half intervals with the last game ending at 7:30 pm.

Well that was not a match to write home about. It happens in every sport, not every game is great and while last night's nil-nil draw between the Houston Dynamo and the Portland Timbers will not make any highlight reels, it wasn't the worst match we've ever seen. It's a little disappointing to leave points on the table against a struggling Timbers side but considering the lineup changes and the insanely busy schedule the Dynamo are facing right now, a point is a point.

Match report By the numbers Video

So, after the couple of weeks we've had we find ourselves 2-0 down at home. To them. Not a good place to be at any time, least of all following our cup exits and so on.

The Saha goal was a bit worrying, so much space for him to run into, but the finish was pure luck.