If there was any consolation, this was the first time this season we had really deserved to lose: both the defeats to United and City were particularly galling because we were the better team.
Credit Sunderland. While their performance wasn't out of this world, they did what they had to do. Click to continue reading...

Eduardo da Silva is confident of filling the void left by injured Arsenal teammates Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.
Eduardo replaced Bendtner in the 3-0 win over Tottenham and missed a couple of good chances to chalk up a first strike since mid-September.
The Croatian, though, would be entitled to feel somewhat aggrieved not to have been credited with Arsenal's second goal at Wolves, when his chip was deflected in off defender Jody Craddock, and he remains confident the rewards of continued hard work will come. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool are planning a £10 million bid for Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva.
The News of the World says the 26-year-old Croatian forward is unhappy that he has still to be offered improved terms at the Emirates.
His contract has just over 18 months to run and that has alerted Rafa Benitez, who desperately needs to strengthen his attacking options. Click to continue reading...

Coming in late last night, a little tipsy, I noticed a friend had emailed me a link to a Youtube clip of Van Persie going off injured after a tackle by Giorgio Chiellini.
If you watch the video, Chiellini does little wrong. Robin bursts into the box and he comes across to cut it out - whilst my original reaction (below) was to blame him, I don't think this is fair. Click to continue reading...

Croatia were without their injured starters, Luka Modrić, Eduardo da Silva, Mladen Petrić, Stipe Pletikosa, Josip � imunić, Ivan Jurić, and Hrvoje Vejić, but pulled out a 3-2 win over the visitors in Rijeka. Their lineup was as expected and Bilić made at least seven changes throughout the game. Click to continue reading...

Eduardo's two-match ban for diving against Celtic was shockingly overturned by the UEFA Appeals Body on Monday, thus nullifying what was intended to be a harsh example to deter others. While an official explanation about "examining all the evidence" and that the panel had not been "satisfied" that the referee had been deceived, the following is a transcript of what was actually said during the Appeals Body deliberation.

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Arsenal forward Eduardo Da Silva was this evening celebrating after having his 2 match European ban lifted by the regions football governing body UEFA. The Croatian international had previously had the ban imposed upon him after seeming to tumble to the ground all too easily to win a penalty in his side's Champions League qualifying victory over Scottish rivals Celtic at the Emirates Stadium on the 26th of August. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez wants the football authorities to introduce video technology to help referees with marginal decisions.
The Spaniard's comments come after the furore surrounding the two-match ban handed to Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva for diving in the Champions League play-off against Celtic. Click to continue reading...

France 1-1 Romania:
France managed a 1-1 draw in Paris, which means that their hopes of automatic qualification are looking dull. William Gallas and Bacary Sagna started for Les Bleus in defence, and did very well, with Gallas' header even setting up France's first goal.
Spain 5-0 Belgium:
Visitors Belgium were crushed by an in-form Spain, as Thomas Vermaelen in Belgium central defence did not impress. Click to continue reading...

Morning insiders no footie today as the international break takes hold, still plenty to talk about in the media this morning. We have picked some of the best bits for you to discuss below:

The Daily Mirror Arsene Wenger was RIGHT to defend Eduardo dive, says Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Arsene Wenger was RIGHT not to publicly criticise Eduardo during the explosive Champions League diving row.

Click to continue reading...

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that UEFA were right in punishing Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva for his dive in the Champions League game against Celtic. The Croatian international fell dramatically in the box in the second leg at a crucial juncture of the game, and referee Manuel Gonzalez pointed to the [. Click to continue reading...

At 16:44 on transfer deadline day - i.e. when the frequency of transfers is supposed to be at its highest, Uefa announced - presumably trying to bury the story amongst all the transfers - that they were banning Eduardo for two matches for diving.
Of course its ridiculous, but I think a comprehensive analysis is necessary just to show up how preposterous this punishment is. Click to continue reading...

Much has been said about Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva's dive against Celtic during last Wednesday's 2nd leg of the Champions League pre-qualifier. One split-second incident has led to questions about Michael Platini's proposed system of 5 referees, TV technology, retrospective charges and just exactly what is it that constitutes a dive.

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Player simulation is rearing its ugly head once again and no-one is really surprised to learn that Arsenal are the chief culprits. A lot of players dive these days, don't get me wrong, but over the years many have learned to associate this despicable practice with the Woolwich Wanderers' best and brightest. Click to continue reading...

I was sat on the tube into work this morning and some moron opposite me was reading The Daily Mail. Anyway, to cut a long story short there appeared the headline 'The New Fritzl' which apparently referred to Phillip Garrido and his suspected attacks on Jaycee Lee Dugard.
But it struck me, considering the media furore it could be Eduardo. Click to continue reading...

For you night owls and West Coasters, here is video footage of the dive everybody's talking about. It's Arsenal striker Eduardo doing his best Greg Louganis in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League victory vs. Celtic on Wednesday:

(If this video clip is pulled, you can probably find the clip pretty easily)

Is that the worst dive you've seen in a while?

Click to continue reading...

For you night owls and West Coasters, here is video footage of the dive everybody's talking about. It's Arsenal striker Eduardo doing his best Greg Louganis in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League victory vs. Celtic on Wednesday:

(If this video clip is pulled, you can probably find the clip pretty easily)

Is that the worst dive you've seen in a while?

Click to continue reading...

A debut goal from Emmanuel Adebayor helped big-spending Manchester City to a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the Premier League season, while Thomas Vermaelen was among the scorers on his Arsenal bow as the Gunners won 6-1 at Everton.

Dream start
Adebayor, a €29m signing from Arsenal last month, gave Mark Hughes's expensively-assembled outfit the perfect start at Ewood Park, firing the visitors in front after three minutes.

Click to continue reading...

A debut goal from Emmanuel Adebayor helped big-spending Manchester City to a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the Premier League season, while Thomas Vermaelen was among the scorers on his Arsenal bow as the Gunners won 6-1 at Everton.

Dream start
Adebayor, a €29m signing from Arsenal last month, gave Mark Hughes's expensively-assembled outfit the perfect start at Ewood Park, firing the visitors in front after three minutes.

Click to continue reading...

Arsenal put 6 past a hapless Everton to score a thumping away win on the opening day of the 09/10 Premier League season. Denilson, Vermaelen and Gallas made it 3-0 by half-time before a brace by Cesc Fabregas and a late goal by Eduardo Da Silva completed the rout.

Saha got the consolation goal for Everton in the 90th minute, but the only one benefiting from that would be people who picked the Everton striker in their fantasy football team.

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Cesc Fabregas had a monster game with 2 goals and 2 assists. Denilson got the ball rolling and Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, and Eduardo Da Silva also added to the tally. The scoring explosion came despite Arshavin, RVP, and Bendtner failing to get on the scoresheet.

Louis Saha prevented a complete Everton shutout by scoring an injury time goal.

Click to continue reading...

Arsenal players have starred in a Nike Football commercial, pledging to bring back a trophy to the Emirates Stadium this season. Skipper Cesc Fabregas, Eduardo da Silva, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin all appear in the brilliant ad. Check it out below. Click to continue reading...

The return of Eduardo Da Silva lifted the spirits of the Croatia national team, as this particular match weighed heavy on the Croats. With a win, they would be slightly ahead in points for the play-off spot in the group. They were very confident going into the match and after ... Click to continue reading...

Liverpool duo head home

Liverpool's injured duo Martin Skrtel and Nabil El Zhar will fly home from the Far East on Thursday to have potentially serious injuries assessed in the UK.
Both players were injured in Wednesday's 1-1 friendly draw with Thailand in Bangkok.

Click to continue reading...

Which footballers have suffered severe injuries? You'd be hard pressed to identify one who hasn't! But, some are much worse than others. So, which of these freak accidents rate as the most gruesome? Read on to find out.

The most common minor injuries that footballers sustain include hamstring strains, sprained ankles, tears in the knee cartilage, hernias, or damage to the ACL.

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No doubt that it's a big game this morning with a visit from Blackburn. There's no reason to focus or think about Roma now it's over with. Today is a chance to get the three points and put the pressure on Villa for once, as they play Tottenham tomorrow. We all know that Blackburn is a game that we can win, although in recent weeks that's been the problem.

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Continuing to surf on La Gazzetta's "Serie A vs. EPL" wave, here are ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champions League's Arsenal vs. Roma. MANUEL ALMUNIA After the Lehmann-era, the Spanish keeper became a first-team choice almost by accident, without ever doing anything extraordinary to earn the choice of nº1 in one of most prestigious clubs of [. Click to continue reading...

Now would be the time, at least if you're a pundit or journo, that Arsenal find themselves on the brink of a resurgence.. Those doubters out there that bemoaned Arsene Wenger's tunnel-vision and questioned his ability to kee... Click to continue reading...

The Gunners boss has paid tribute to the character of one of his goalscorers today. Arsenal striker Eduardo Da Silva returned from his recent minor injury to score today and prove that he is well on the way to returning to full fitness after his year out due to a very serious ankle injury. He also wore [. Click to continue reading...

Fresh from the great minds of Gazzetta dello Sport, here is a look at ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champion's League Arsenal vs. AS Roma. Enjoy! . . . . . . . . . . . MANUEL ALMUNIA After the Lehmann-era, the Spanish keeper became a first-team choice almost by accident, without ever doing anything extraordinary to earn the choice of nº1 in one of most prestigious [. Click to continue reading...

Continuing to surf on La Gazzetta's "Serie A vs. EPL" wave, here are ALL THE PLAYERS from UEFA Champions League's Arsenal vs. Roma. MANUEL ALMUNIA After the Lehmann-era, the Spanish keeper became a first-team choice almost by accident, without ever doing anything extraordinary to earn the choice of nº1 in one of most prestigious clubs of [. Click to continue reading...

Poco menos de un año ha pasado desde que la terrorífica entrada de Martin Taylor sobre Eduardo Da Silva en el Birmingham - Arsenal apartara a este último de los terrenos de juego por una larga temporada. El croata se perdió casi la mitad de la pasada campaña, más de la mitad de la actual [...] Click to continue reading...

¿Se acuerdan de aquella imagen que pasaban por todos los medios de información/comunicación  de Eduardo da Silva jugador del Arsenal con su tobillo destrozado? Pues ya hace un año de aquella tragedia, en donde el jugador no pudo aguantar la criminal entrada que Martin Taylor, del Birmingham City, le hizo en el minuto 3 del partido [. Click to continue reading...

¿Se acuerdan de aquella imagen que pasaban por todos los medios de información/comunicación  de Eduardo da Silva jugador del Arsenal con su tobillo destrozado? Pues ya hace un año de aquella tragedia, en donde el jugador no pudo aguantar la criminal entrada que Martin Taylor, del Birmingham City, le hizo en el minuto 3 del partido [. Click to continue reading...

¿Se acuerdan de aquella imagen que pasaban por todos los medios de información/comunicación  de Eduardo da Silva jugador del Arsenal con su tobillo destrozado? Pues ya hace un año de aquella tragedia, en donde el jugador no pudo aguantar la criminal entrada que Martin Taylor, del Birmingham City, le hizo en el minuto 3 del partido [. Click to continue reading...