A Transfer Window to Forget? Fingers Crossed... by DG
In recent years, the summer transfer window has often been a frustrating and disappointing time for Arsenal fans. While the rest of the top four worry about who might be coming in, Arsenal are far more concerned about who might be leaving.
A tactic the boss seems to be using increasingly over recent weeks is playing Santi Cazorla wide left. When Cazorla first signed for Arsenal I didn't expect him to play through the middle as often as he did during the first half of the season.
The story of Cesc Fábregas was that he had the DNA of Barcelona in his blood.
Well some of his blood anyway. Red blood cells don't have DNA in them, which is a statement I would have used had Barcelona employed me as a copywriter, during the [.
The former Arsenal midfielder and captain had to sit on the bench again last night as his Barcelona team were brutally demolished by Barcelona. Fabregas has always said that he was sad to leave Arsenal and that he could return one day. He has more than the love of the Gunners to tempt him back to London, though, as his super hot girlfriend Daniella Semaan lives in the capital.
The ex-Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has thrown Arsenal fans into confusion as most of us believed that Arsene Wenger was totally in charge of transfer dealings at the club. The French international has revealed that Wenger didn't expect him to leave after the captain Cesc Fabregas was returned to Barcelona, but Silent Stan forced the sale upon him.
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is stirring up some controversy today, saying that Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke forced Gunners manager Arsene Wenger to sell Nasri to City in 2011.
In an interview with beIN SPORT, Nasri said "Wenger told me that, if Cesc [Fbregas] left, I would stay but Kroenke wanted the money.
Arsenal really missed the play and influence of their dynamic and skilful midfielder Jack Wilshere after he was injured during pre-season game in 2011 against the New York Red Bulls. The ankle fracture was supposed to keep him out for around four months, but further problems meant that he missed the whole season, and the start of this one.
The decline of our team and the failure to win trophies since 2005 is explained by the growth in the disparity of resources that are available for our competitors and ourselves (*see article below as footnote). In addition to this critical economic fact of life I believe that another significant factor was the loss of Cesc and the subsequent impacts of his departure on the team.
Following the match on Saturday, and during this week, we have seen a lot of chat about the wisdom of appointing Vermaelen as captain. If you had asked me at the end of the 2010-11 season who should captain the side if Cesc left I would probably have nominated Tommy.
Arsène chose instead Brave Sir Robin and whilst during the season it seemed an inspired choice the end of season events and his statement tore apart all the good work.
Following the match on Saturday, and during this week, we have seen a lot of chat about the wisdom of appointing Vermaelen as captain. If you had asked me at the end of the 2010-11 season who should captain the side if Cesc left I would probably have nominated Tommy.
Arsène chose instead Brave Sir Robin and whilst during the season it seemed an inspired choice the end of season events and his statement tore apart all the good work.
Poor Cesc: torn between the love for his adopted family in London and his birth family
in Catalonia, he decided last summer to return to his original home, only to find himself not
fitting in properly there anymore.
Poor Cesc: torn between the love for his adopted family in London and his birth family
in Catalonia, he decided last summer to return to his original home, only to find himself not
fitting in properly there anymore.
That win was too good to just let go after a couple of days; we have been waiting all summer
long for that feeling so this post is unashamedly designed to prolong the crowing.
Yes indeed and why you may ask has the Arsenal laundry service has been cancelled? Because of
all the clean sheets, of course.
That win was too good to just let go after a couple of days; we have been waiting all summer
long for that feeling so this post is unashamedly designed to prolong the crowing.
Yes indeed and why you may ask has the Arsenal laundry service has been cancelled? Because of
all the clean sheets, of course.
Hmmm, well that didn't go exactly as planned. My score prediction would about as wrong as Wayne
Rooney saying he is a fashion icon. Arsenal really did put in the effort on Saturday considering we
had over 70% possession, set up play well (thank you newboy Cazorla), and had a few very juicy
chances.
Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has completed his £15million switch to Barcelona and immediately been
praised by the Catalan giants for his lack of fat. The Cameroon international was widely expected
to move to Camp Nou subject to a medical. Not only did he pass that formality with flying colours,
Barca's quacks were impressed by Song's [.
Santi Cazorla player profile by KJ As I mentioned in an earlier article, it is starting to look
likely that this Euro 2012 winning Spaniard will be playing for Arsenal soon. Hence, I want to
analyse his background and how he would be utilised at Arsenal. The 27 year old had an extremely
good season [.
Now what I mean by "bendy" is "rubbery", "elastic" or "flexible".
You see, shit happens. Last term, we had Santos/Gibbs at LB, Verm, Kos, JD and Mert for the two
CB slots and Sagna/Jenks at RB. And yet, within seven minutes of the season kicking off, we had the
Assistant Groundsman at RB.
Also, I'm convinced Arteta was bought as a Nasri/Cesc AM replacement.
Now what I mean by "bendy" is "rubbery", "elastic" or "flexible".
You see, shit happens. Last term, we had Santos/Gibbs at LB, Verm, Kos, JD and Mert for the two
CB slots and Sagna/Jenks at RB. And yet, within seven minutes of the season kicking off, we had the
Assistant Groundsman at RB.
Also, I'm convinced Arteta was bought as a Nasri/Cesc AM replacement.
A provocative headline designed to grab your attention? Yes, guilty but I believe there is a
quite a lot of truth in it.
The change of direction that I am talking about is reflected in the kind of player that Podolski
and Giroud are. These footballers are big powerful no nonsense types, they signal a change in
style, perhaps even a return to the days when Arsenal fielded big strong powerful teams which
included the likes of Vieira, Petit, Adams, Bould and Campbell; when those players took to the
field the opposition were scared.
A provocative headline designed to grab your attention? Yes, guilty but I believe there is a
quite a lot of truth in it.
The change of direction that I am talking about is reflected in the kind of player that Podolski
and Giroud are. These footballers are big powerful no nonsense types, they signal a change in
style, perhaps even a return to the days when Arsenal fielded big strong powerful teams which
included the likes of Vieira, Petit, Adams, Bould and Campbell; when those players took to the
field the opposition were scared.
FC Barcelona geared up for the return leg against PSG in spectacular fashion by thrashing Mallorac 5-0 at the Camp Nou. With this win we are able to maintain our 13 point lead with just eight games to go. The team which missed majority of it's stars produced a brilliant show to win the match. The goals which were scored were simply brilliant but the moment of the match was to watch Eric Abidal coming back to action with the fans applauding him at every occasion.
Cesc and Daniella hit up London restaurant, Zuma, for a meal tonight. And from the looks of it, the
food was so good Daniella didn't want to leave. Why does this couple's exit strategy look like an
uncomfortable struggle? Better question: will our readers play nice in the comments about these
two, or do we [.
El Real Madrid y el Barcelona aportan más de la mitad de sus plantillas a las selecciones ya que entre ambos equipos suman 29 futbolistas: 16 cede el conjunto madrileño y 13 el equipo catalán. Del total de jugadores que aportan ambos clubes, 13 vestirán la camiseta de la selección española en los choques frente a Bielorrusia y Francia.
07.10.2012 - Con goles de Lionel Messi (´30 y ´60) y Cristiano Ronaldo (´22 y ´65), Barcelona y Real Madrid empataron (2-2) en el Camp Nou por la 7º jornada de la Liga española.
Real Madrid golpeó primero y casi dos veces en el primer tiempo. Fue un breve lapso en que tuvo grogui al Barcelona.
Slap bang in the middle of UEFA's 32-man shortlist for the Best Player in Europe award, amidst a
sea of iconic superstars such as Lionel Messi, Xavi and Cristiano Ronaldo, lies the rather less
well-known Leslie Davies.
Well, it appears as though the final night is to be Spanish for the third time in three unless
Italy can get their act together quite quickly, that is. One brilliant pass-back and header from
Cesc to Silva (obviously) and a brilliant ball onto the newly-minty Jordi Alba from one Xavi is
enough for a 2-0 lead heading into the half.
After four relatively disappointing quarterfinal matches, we hoped the two semifinal matches
would live up to high expectations. Here is Sid Lowe writing right after the quarterfinals ended
and the semifinal matchups were set:
Spain versus Portugal, Germany versus Italy. The semi-finals couldn't be better.
As a new season is almost upon us, wwelcome to a new feature on Arseblog, The
Tactics Column from Anam Hassan, better known on his blog and Twitter as Arsenal Column.
Each week he'll provide a tactical view of what Arsenal are doing, or not doing, and he starts this
week with a look at how we've been shaping up during pre-season.
There's been another massive blank slot in my blogging compendium, but you'll forgive me: I
didn't want to endure the daily pains of the transfer window, so I didn't. Well that's an element
of it – another is the Olympics, the viewing of which I could safely win an Olympic gold in.
Canoeing? I can now watch it and whoop.
Andres Iniesta may not be able to tan, but the man can play some football. He is, of course,
your Player of the Tournament, Spain's predetermined choice for the award were they to emerge with
the spoils (Andrea Pirlo being Italy's choice). Oh, and it helps that he was brilliant in the final
too.
We'll start with the Euros and Spain made history last night by becoming the first team ever to
retain the European Championships. It was kinda funny that in the build up to the game there was
much focus on how 'boring' they were, and even Arsene Wenger had his say:
They have betrayed their philosophy and turned it into something more negative.
España e Italia estarán en la final de la Eurocopa este domingo, los primeros buscando su
tercer tÃtulo en la historia para igualar a Alemania como los máximos ganadores y los segundos
tratarán de ganar por segunda vez el torneo.
Las claves para que ambos llegaran vienen de sus sistemas de juego principalmente, de cierta dosis
de determinación al triunfo y suerte, mucha suerte en momentos cruciales de los partidos.
His match-winning penalty yesterday was excellent, a true midfielder's side-footed stroke off
the post and in. The type of stuff Andrea Pirlo and Sergio Ramos...well, nevermind.
But his method of extracting the most magic from his chance at glory boils down to something
which took Tom Hanks several months on a deserted island to succumb to: talking to a toy made by
underpaid children in Southeast Asia.
Barcelona v Levante Highlights: Cesc Fabregas scored in the 83rd minute to give Barcelona a 1-0 victory over Levante and three more crucial points in La Liga. The victory keeps Barcelona 13 points clear of Real Madrid on top of La Liga. David Villa missed a penalty in the first half but Fabregas was able to make up for the chance after he combined with Alexis Sanchez and found the back of the net himself.
The first Clasico of 2013 ended in a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernebeu in the first leg of Cop Del rey. Early in the first half Cesc put us ahead at the start of second half but Varane equalised for Madrid with ten minutes left on the clock. We do go into the second leg at home with an advantage of an away goal.
It's a footballer baby boom, Kickettes. They're everywhere.Luckily, they're genetically superior and smell like high interest savings accounts and strawberry yoghurt. Thus, we're all happy. The latest installment in this ongoing news: according to Cesc himself as reported by El Mundo Deportivo,he andhis girlfriend of a year and a half are expecting the first child [.
It's back, baby. Whilst the rumblings of the transfer window continue to, errr, rumble, it is
very good to have some on pitch action to ruminate over again. Even if the result on the opening
day wasn't quite what we wanted, frankly I'm still happier than Andre Santos on half a gram of
MDMA. That said, as I alluded in the opening sentence, the spectre of the transfer window still
dominates conversation and that's a symptom of our ducks not quite being lined up yet.
