Carlos Vela
Originally uploaded by fudailah Victoria de los gunners en la Carling CupCon un gol del mexicano Carlos Vela, Arsenal derroto este martes 2-0 a la escuadra West Bromwich Albion en el Emirates Stadium.
Vela entro de cambio y al notar fue su primer gol del joven mexicano en la temporada, con el cual logró que Arsenal pasara a Octavos de Final de la Carling.

There was big movement in the rankings this week as both England and Argentina reached a point in their schedules from which last season's numbers have been discarded. This hurts Arsenal, primarily, though we expect to see them return to the rankings before too long. Currently, only three of the top ten domestic leagues in the world have yet to play enough matches to have last season's statistics drop off: Portugal, Italy and Spain.

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

For the Americans Abroad, Wednesday was a decent day in terms of performance.

Kenny Cooper scored his third goal in European competition, netting in the 50th minute of 1860 Munich's match vs. Hertha Berlin. Cooper's goal gave 1860 Munich a 2-0 lead at the time, but Hertha Berlin would pull level and force penalties.

It took over an hour for Wenger's young side to overcome Championship leaders West Brom but goals from Sanchez Watt and Carlos Vela lead the north London side through to the next round.

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The News of The World reported on Sunday that brewing giants Carlsberg have shown interest in the naming-rights for the mythical new Liverpool Stadium.The paper claims that the Beer Company has offered £100 million in a ten-year deal which would be another small step in raising the £500 million needed to build the new ground.

A slightly subdued transfer window for the Emirates has seemingly unearthed one very decent acquisition and one very important bit off damage limitation exorcised!

In

Thomas Vermaelen

The former Ajax captain has fitted in just perfectly.

This time last year, I think during another dull international break, I had a look at the reserves and which players will make an impact, albeit in the Carling, on the First Team this season. I thought I would do that again as the only news out of the club at the moment is the scheduled injury to an important back up centre back (Johan Djourou for those who are unaware)

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U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley played his first club match in almost a month, starting and going the full 90 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 1-0 victory vs. Duisburg in the German League Cup action on Tuesday.

Bradley, who had not played for Moenchengladbach since being subbed out at halftime of a loss to Werder Bremen on Aug.

The English Carling Cup continued on Wednesday with several of the Premier League clubs playing each other in crucial matches including Manchester City v Fulham, Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United v Wolverhampton. Here's a recap of these matches along with video highlights.

Chelsea edges Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Video Highlights

Chelsea rested several of their regular starters as they struggled in the first half to get a lead on Queens Park Rangers.

Danny Welbeck's calm and clinical finish ensured Manchester United's passage into Carling Cup fourth round.

I was a bit disappointed to see Fabio da Silva sent off against Wolves in midweek. The Carling Cup has been a platform for our young players to show their mettle and prove themselves. So I was really keen to see them line up against Wolves and put on a performance. So, being reduced to 10 men wasn't going to help them prove their worth was a shame Macheda had to be sacrificed as a result, but I digress.

Rafa should trust more to youth.

Liverpool youngster Daniel Ayala is hungry for more opportunities after a brief taste of Premier League football.

The Spanish defender played in Liverpool's first two games of the season after Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger were struck down by injuries.

I've said elsewhere: there's something about old top flight stalwarts. I'm excited to see Wolves and Burnley up in the top flight again. (Birmingham have come up every other season since I've been watching so that seems too routine to be thrilling.) I'd love to see a club like Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace or Sheffield Wednesday climb up the Championship table and come back up for old time's sake.

Tonights Liverpool team to face Leeds United: Cavalieri, Degen, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Aurelio, Spearing, Mascherano, Riera, Babel, Ngog. Subs: Reina, Gerrard, Torres, Skrtel, Voronin, Plessis, Johnson.

So today, about the only news of note is the squad for the Carling Cup which is as we expected. As usual, Butternut is throwing everything out of whack, as without him the average age of the squad would be approximately 13 and three quarters, but with him in the mix he ratchets it up to 63.

Jack Wilshere and Carlos Vela have done it again. And is anyone surprised? Wilshere controlled the match and was, by far, the best player on the pitch in last night's 2-nil victory over joint-leaders of the Championship, West Bromwich Albion, in the third round of the Carling Cup. The youngsters' Carling Cup campaign opened at the Emirates and though not sold out, there was a sizeable crowd there as always eagerly anticipating a look at the Arsenal starlets.

The media has been castigating Arsene Wenger since he came to England over the lack of English players that have come through the Arsenal ranks during his spell at Arsenal.

In fact during this period both Ashley Cole and Kieran Gibbs have played regularly for Arsenal, in the same period there have been players coming through the ranks at Liverpool, Tottenham or Chelsea and Manchester United have Wes Brown to show for their great English academy.

Well, thanks to the fact that Sky Sports are a bunch of wankers and wanted to be able to show the goals from all the Carling Cup matches first, Arsenal fans globally were denied the chance to see the next generation dispatch West Brom (with a little help from a moment of madness from ex-Gunner Jerome Thomas - who elbowed Jack as well as slapping him - more on that later).

A look ahead at this weekends games in the Premier League. Last weekend I went 7 out of 10, when brings me up to 76% for the season.

Portsmouth v Everton
It looks like David Moyes side has turned the corner after a tough start to the season. In their last three games, all wins, Everton have scored 11 goals with none conceded.

Apparently the injured Everton defender was arm-chairing his side's 4-0 Carling Cup 3rd round victory over Hull Wednesday when a team of three armed men invaded his home.

Editor's Note: Geoff Reid appears on WVHooligan each week. Today he's back with his weekly look at the life of a Liverpool fan living in American. Feel free to leave Geoff your thoughts below.

This week has been a pretty slow week in football compared to previous weeks. Over in England, matches last weekend in the Premiership followed by Carling Cup during the week where most clubs gave their reserves and younger players a chance to prove themselves to the manager of their respective clubs.

Week 3 would bring more outstanding football action to your favorite football league. Chelsea would continue their dominant ways and prove not to go down the same negative path as they did last year in the Carling Cup with a 3-0 victory over Burnley. Chelsea's offense is clicking on all cylinders and looks like it might be the best in the league this season.

On 22 September Arsenal host West Bromwich Albion in the Carling Cup. This competition has been used by Wenger as breeding ground for youngsters and for fringe first team players to make a claim for a first team start.

Despite treating the competition with some disdain, Arsenal have reached the final once and the semi-final on three other occasions.

Obviously the news has been a little slow this weekend due to the international break.
First off lets catch up with our Wanderers who were playing for their country:

Gretar Steinsson featured for Iceland in a 1 all draw with Norway in a Qualifier. Steinsson made the cross which resulted in Iceland's goal.

This is by no means a gimme!

Liverpool welcome back Javier Mascherano after he missed the win over Burnley with a pelvic injury suffered on international duty.

Manager Rafael Benitez does not have any other injury problems apart from long term absentees Daniel Agger and Alberto Aquilani.

Burned his Villa bridges?

Nigel Reo-Coker has been told to stay away from Villa Park this weekend after Martin O'Neill sent the player home from training yesterday and dropped him for Aston Villa's Barclays Premier League home game against Portsmouth today because the pair had a confrontation.

Carling Cup Third Round Draw: Manchester United Away To Leeds - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Chelsea host Fulham in one of several all-Premier League ties in the third round of the Carling Cup. Manchester United are away to Leeds while Liverpool, who seem to be taking the Carling Cup very seriously this season, are away to Brighton.

So easy to hate in real life, so easy to love in the fantasy world
Here's what I know:
Ashley Cole has 2 goals this season in 6 matches.
In 2008-2009, he scored 1 goal the whole season.In 2007-2008, he scored 1 goal the whole season.In 2006-2007, he scored 0 goals the whole season.

The Game

It's the first game of Arsenal's Carling Cup campaign. As always, Arsene Wenger opts to start with a young side although Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre will provide experience at the back. Although on the bench, Carlos Vela makes his first appearance of the season after the Gold Cup injury and it's great news for the Gunners to have him back.

Last night we saw the Arsenal past and Arsenal future, with a good stark warning for all of our youth players who think that they are bigger than the club...

Jerome Thomas of West Bromich Albion began his Arsenal career having joined the Arsenal from his schoolboy appointment at Luton Town Football Club in 2001.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was not surprised by the impact of Mexican striker Carlos Vela on yesterday's game against West Brom in the Carling Cup.

On Vela's performance, the Frenchman said:

When he came on straight away he made a difference because he is dangerous in his control and in his movement.

Cuando se presagiaba que la calificación de México al Mundial de Sudáfrica 2010 ya navegaba por aguas mas que tranquilas, hubo algo que medio volvió esas aguas turbulentas. Giovanni Dos Santos sufrió de una lesión en la pierna izquierda cuando disputaba un partido de visitante contra el Preston, dentro de la Carling Cup.

England defender latest victim of the Merseyside footballer's curse Everton defender Phil Jagielka was held at knifepoint and forced to hand over jewellery in a raid on his Cheshire home. It is suspected the daft robbers struck at 8pm last night because they thought the player would be on Carling Cup duty against Hull, but they [.

Mark Hughes heaped on the praise following last night's 2-1 victory over Fulham:

"It was a difficult night. Fulham scoring first was exactly what they wanted. They were very well organised, with plenty of players behind the ball and difficult to break down.

"We had to be patient, keep the ball moving and create things, because with Craig, Carlos and Shaun up front knocking high balls into their penalty box isn't an option.

There was a full schedule of matches in the top European leagues in the midweek with the English Carling Cup, German DFB-Pokal, Serie A, and La Liga all in action. Kenny Cooper played for 1860 Munich and continues to impress as he scored a goal while Tim Howard remains a solid goalkeeper for Everton.

Hull striker Jozy Altidore scored against Southend United during a Carling Cup fixture and in the process helped the Tigers punch their ticket to the next round.
The Rest

Liverpool starlet Daniel Ayala has spoken of his delight at breaking into the Reds' first-team squad and is eager to get more playing time as soon as possible.
The 18-year-old Spaniard took full advantage of injuries to Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger and came on as a substitute in the opening game of the season against Tottenham Hotspur before starting at Anfield as Rafael Benitez's men comfortably beat Stoke City 4-0.

The Hull City Tigers have all the odds against them. This off-season they discovered that most players with the talent to play for the club would prefer to be role players for more historically successful clubs. Take Michael Owen for example. He spurned the Tigers for a sub spot on Manchester United.

Kop flop Philipp Degen has been dumped from Liverpool's Champions League campaign.
The injury-prone right-back is not in the provisional 28-man squad submitted to UEFA in midweek.
The Swiss international has so far, in his 157-minute first-team career, cost the Reds £15,000 per minute.

Mexican with a bright future.

Despite being highly regarded at former club Barcelona, Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos has so far been unable to break into Tottenham Hotspur's first XI and was even loaned out to lower league club Ipswich Town last season. However, Spurs' manager Harry Redknapp insists the player still has a future at White Hart Lane.