I felt that recently we had quite good performances but did not get the results. Today we got the performance and the result, which is ideally what you want.

- Arsene Wenger, post-match wibbling session

Arsenal's January has been like the ice-skating learning curve from hell.

Not pictured: Him tapping the tips of his fingers together and/or petting a white cat.

Don't sweat yet another defeat in the biggest game on Earth, Mr. Mourinho. We've got ten ideas for how to win the return leg that will appeal to your evil genius side.1. Get Carvalho back and once again play Pepe as a rearmost midfield destroyer, hoping his physicality can throw off the Barca rhythm just as Real's pressing did in the opening minutes.

It is a good problem to have, namely more starting-calibre talent than starting spots, and this is the problem that the Sounders already appear to have in their crowded midfield for 2012.

With Mauro Rosales, Alvaro Fernandez, and Osvaldo Alonso all seeming to be virtual locks in any "best XI", Lamar Neagle, Erik Friberg, and Brad Evans all having proven themselves capable of starting a match, and Steve Zakuani looking to recover from his horrific injury last April and re-join the fray, it becomes pretty clear that the 2012 Sounders already have a logjam of talent at midfield.

Rumours, rumours, every where; nor any drop to drink. Oh, wait, there's some bourbon. Which must mean it's time to dip into the sordid world of transfer rumours to see who's being linked to Liverpool to replace you-know-who, as focus shifts from talk of luxury acquisitions and South American starlets to Liverpool's sudden need for a bit of steel in midfield.

There seems little point in doing a usual chalkboard review. I'd end up focusing on Lucas Leiva's marvelous performance, and you can just as easily head to the Guardian or Stats Zone app and see them for yourself. Each is a beautiful, unique snowflake worthy of admiration, and I recommend doing so.
I thought I'd display his statistics somewhat differently.

Nike has released a special Zlatan Ibrahimovic edition of its Destroyer Jacket. Similar in design to the Arsenal 125th Anniversary NSW Destroyer Jacket, the new piece of outerwear features stitched designs of the Sweden and AC Milan striker's many tattoos. The brand new Nike video spot below gives a good look at what the sportswear [.

Captain Carles Puyol leads FC Barcelona into Belarus to take on FC BATE (Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images)

FC Barcelona go into their 400th match in a UEFA competition facing the brilliant news that Pique and Puyol are likely to start together for the first time since the 2-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu in last seasons Champions League semi-final first leg.

The Arsenal 125 NSW Destroyer Jacket is the most premium offering from ‘Forever Forward' – a Nike Sportswear collection celebrating the 125th anniversary of Arsenal F.C. It's a piece that offers all the luxe features that characterise the iconic Destroyer jacket, enhanced by a selection of symbolic motifs from Arsenal F.

Busy couple of weeks, busy weekend. All conspiring to keep my post production low, and that means...Grab Bag time.

Better Up Top

Those damnable "local blackouts" applied, leaving me with only the Match Day Live condensed version of the United vs. Quakes tilt. Obviously, I feel pretty unqualified to deal in minutiae as a result, but that won't keep me from making the one obvious observation: De Rosario needs to be up top.

Written by Total Arsenal

Seldom have I seen a football player like Abou Diaby. On the one hand he oozes class and potential, a beautiful athlete: a modern day gladiator. On the other hand he seems to struggle badly at times with being able to focus on the field, and achieving consistency in his performance.

For the last three matches, the New England Revolution have made a tactical switch to a 4-4-2 formation. Previously, Steve Nicol and his coaching staff had experimented with a possession-oriented 4-3-3. The formation had its moments and, for the first time in years, seemed to be on the right track to curing New England's issues with maintaining possession.

TSG's Jay Bell and I started riffing on email and Jay suggested that we take our talents to TSG for a PTI-esque discussion on US-Panama fallout and more. So here you have it.

German engineering has not been precise for the Yanks so far in the Gold Cup.

Jay, TSG: What is the biggest concern coming out of the Panama match?

Justin Braun, destroyer of Red Bulls last week.
Once again, I must start this latest edition with a grovelling apology - just when I think I've got my schedule under control, it all falls apart and I'm desperately hunting for more minutes in the day to get everything done. I've found a slither of time to talk to you from here in the UK, and I've got plenty to say from recent weeks.

The rain and gloom lifted for both Columbus and the USWNT on Saturday night. The weather was sublime and the play on the field encouraging for the home side, who beat Japan by a score of 2-0. The next morning, bad news returned with the rain in the form of Lindsay Tarpley's ruptured ACL, but for a brief period fans could be forgiven of they found some rays of hope in the run-up to the Women's World Cup.

Real Salt Lake have had to slay a number of demons that have plagued Major League Soccer teams in the CONCACAF club competitions. First, they have had to navigate a home-and-away group stage against teams in three countries (albeit one of them was a fellow MLS side) and finish top of their group. Next, they had to master the subtleties of the two-leg playoff format.

Back to join us during this international week of Euro 2012 qualifers is Giancarlo Rinaldi. The panel discuss the Prandelli revolution or evolution, depending how you see things. Topics include, Born in Brazil but with roots in Rovigo What are Oriundi, Giancarlo? Midfield footing Age of the ‘destroyer' is over New partnerships Players of interest include, Stefano Mauri, Giampaolo Pazzini,.

(In pre-season....sigh)
Just a roundup of some thoughts in the aftermath of DC United's retention of the Carolina Challenge Cup, in no particular order.
• • •
The McCarty-Boskovic combination isn't one that works in isolation. I think they can do well in central midfield together, but only if they have a holder/destroyer behind them.

(In pre-season....sigh)
Just a roundup of some thoughts in the aftermath of DC United's retention of the Carolina Challenge Cup, in no particular order.
• • •
The McCarty-Boskovic combination isn't one that works in isolation. I think they can do well in central midfield together, but only if they have a holder/destroyer behind them.