I've mentioned in a couple of previous articles that our form at the tail end of last season was incredibly impressive. However, it goes back a little further than that. On the 1st December last year, we welcomed high flyers Swansea to the Emirates.
How Ramsey will be integral for Arsenal in years to come by KJ
Aaron Ramsey has always caused controversy amongst the Gunners fans. Some say he's finished and needs to be sold as soon as possible, others feel he needs to be given a chance as he's only young and the final faction think that he's talented and has handled his first two proper seasons after his injury very well.
I'm sure the only thing going through the mind of all Arsenal fans right now is the second leg of the Champion's League game against Bayern on Wednesday. In the first leg Bayern completely outplayed us at our own home ground, so it is completely understandable why some fans are feeling pessimistic about our visit to Munich on Wednesday.
Arsene Wenger has expressed his concern about how recent results may have affected his Arsenal players, and is using this lengthy break to try to get some confidence and positivity flowing again. Confidence and form are fragile and elusive, but they are absolutely vital for the last quarter of the season.
Oops. Two weeks have zipped past with nary a word. There are mitigating factors, though. Straight after the Blackburn game I took a wrong turn in Chipping Barnet and ended up 6,000 miles away, and as luck wouldn't have it, it was the middle of the day when we played Bayern and I was in a meeting. I now have an increased admiration for any global lunatics who follow the Arsenal before breakfast, after the pubs have closed or in the middle of the night.
It is believed that Arsenal are only willing to offer Bacary Sagna a one year extension to his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2014. The French international is not happy with this, apparently, which means that the Gunners will have to decide whether to keep hold of him and lose him for nothing in 17 months, or sell him this summer and bring in a replacement.
The seemingly never-ending saga of Theo Walcott's contract extension would appear to have been a major factor in Arsenal's inconsistent form in the first half of the season, but now that it has been settled in January the Gunners have shown a new resilience and confidence as a team.
Arsenal have now won four of their last five games, with the other being the hard-fought 2-2 draw against Liverpool, and they are closing in on the coveted Top Four place.
There has been a lot of talk about the possibility of Bacary Sagna leaving Arsenal at the end of the season. Since he returned from his injury lay off in October, the 29-year old right back has not rediscovered the form that made Arsene Wenger describe him as the best right back in the Premier league.
The Wales and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey had a nightmare return from injury last season, and he has hardly improved in this one, despite being given endless opportunities by Arsene Wenger to regain his old form.
It seems that he fully aware that last season wasn't good, but he puts that down to being his first full season in the Premiership, and now he is hoping that he can regain his former glory before the end of this present season, or perhaps the season after.
Ramsey by SV I wrote earlier today about some of the Arsenal-related transfer rumours which have
been circulating recently. One of them concerned the possible sale of Aaron Ramsey, and I said that
Wenger would be reluctant to sell him because of his potential. As I wrote it, I knew that there
would be some [.
After four games in twelve days, nobody would argue with an Arsenal player needing time out of club
football for the international break, but it is pleasing to know that for the majority of them, it
couldn't be more unwelcome. Having collected 19 points out of a possible 21 in their last seven
games, Arsène [.
Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5 ... Yesterday's astounding win against the Blues was arguably Arsenal's most
impressive attacking performance since the defeat of Barcelona in February and, regardless of their
opponents' suspensions, apparent dip in form and Terry's ‘turmoil' behind the scenes, the Gunners
justified Wenger's optimism.
Ahead of the fascinating clash between Chelsea and Arsenal early this afternoon, the latter are
looking to make amends for what has been described as a poor away form against a Blues side that
are unbeaten at Stamford Bridge. Whilst some have already written-off the Gunners for the European
places, let alone a possible chance [.
LONDON, England Roberto Mancini saw Manchester City clinch automatic qualification to the group
stages of the Champions League and immediately demanded a fresh injection of cash. Arsene Wenger
saw his side's season end on a low-key note with a draw against Fulham and promptly heaped more
frustration on Arsenal fans by admitting the club [.
LONDON, England Less than three months ago Arsenal were in sight of an unprecedented quadruple. Now
that number – four – is again within sight but with an entirely different connotation. If
Manchester City win at Bolton on Sunday they will finish third, even if Arsenal win,
simultaneously, against Fulham.
So that week rolled past fast, complete with two excellent days off school. Thankyou banks,
thankyou wedding I could get used to these three-day weeks. I can't believe they moaned about them
in the 70s. OK, so there was crippling industrial strife, high inflation and not enough electricity
to chuck about, but I could handle a bit of candelight here and there so long as someone remembered
to keep the internet meter stocked with 20p pieces.
LEYTON, England Leyton Orient's players will be jetting off to Las Vegas after hitting the FA Cup
jackpot by securing a £1 million replay against Arsenal. Jonathan Tehoue grabbed a dramatic
89th-minute equaliser for the East London club to give Orient a 1-1 draw with Arsenal that earns
them a replay against Arsene Wenger's [.
Frank Lampard reckons the Champions League should be Chelsea's number one aspiration for this
season. The England midfielder knows Chelsea are seemingly out of the Premier League title race
after some poor form that has seen them drop to fifth and sit 12 points behind leaders Manchester
United. Anyone looking to bet on Champions League [.
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has dedicated his sensational winner
against Manchester City to his club's fans. Rooney knows some United supporters have become
disillusioned with the England international since he handed in a transfer request following a row
over the club's perceived lack of ambition.
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If drawing 1-1 at home to Fulham and losing in the Milk Cup with an understrength team can be
described as a blip, then our blip was batted away with that assured win at Wigan.
Nice too that the goals were scored not by one man, but by four. Particularly pleasing too that
Gervinho netted one: I think he's had a big effect on our attacking potency, even if he's not sunk
as many goals as we might have liked – though three league goals in ten starts is hardly a
drought, either.
Another game, another win. I've not dusted that little phrase down for a while now but it looks
nice in print (and in pixels). Since losing at our lovely neighbours on October 2nd, we have
registered seven wins and one draw in eight games fine form indeed.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Nicolas Anelka eased the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti as his double-strike
inspired Chelsea's 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League last 16
tie at the Parken Stadium on Tuesday. Anelka's 15th and 16th goals of the season put Chelsea on
course for the quarter-finals and they [.
FIORENTINA, Italy — Inter Milan kept up their title challenge with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at
Fiorentina on Wednesday. An own goal from Michele Camporese gave the champions the lead before
Manuel Pasquale's cross trickled over the line to restore parity. But Giampaolo Pazzini struck the
winner from close range to keep Leonardo's team in [.
LONDON, England  Last August, at the start of the most eagerly-awaited Manchester season in years,
the respective strengths of dominant United and big-spending City were personalised in the talents
of one-time Old Trafford team-mates Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. Since then both icons of their
respective clubs have endured the turbulence of contract disputes [.
PARIS, France — Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac fired defending champions Marseille back into the
title race on Saturday with the only goal at home to rock bottom Arles. Coach Didier Deschamps had
demanded a massive improvement after a woeful goalless draw last week against struggling neighbours
Monaco and Gignac's third goal of the season brought some [.
MANCHESTER, England Wayne Rooney returned to scoring form with two goals in Manchester United's 3-1
Premier League win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford. Rooney bookended the first half with a goal
after just 48 seconds and another in stoppage time. He came into the game with one goal from open
play since last [.
BOLTON Â Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Ramires were all on target as Chelsea
ended their miserable run of away form with a 4-0 victory at Bolton here on Monday to keep alive
their dim hopes of the Premier League title. Carlo Ancelotti's side had fallen away from contention
for the title with [.
LONDON, England – Ten-man Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League Sunday
after holding Tottenham to a 0-0 draw in a match that failed to live up to expectations. United's
hard-earned point saw them reclaim top spot from Manchester City on goal difference, although Sir
Alex Ferguson's unbeaten side have two games [.
DOHA, Qatar — Three-time Asian Cup winners Saudi Arabia desperately need a winning start in Group
B on Sunday against Syria to convince the doubters they have what it takes to banish the pain of
four years ago. Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro is under huge pressure back home to deliver after he
clung on to [.
MANCHESTER, England  - Wayne Rooney said it was the best goal he had ever scored, and Manchester
United Manager Alex Ferguson called it the greatest strike he had seen in 25 years at Old Trafford.
The opposing goalkeeper did not even budge. Rooney put a troubled season behind him Saturday as his
spectacular bicycle kick [.
Manchester United veteran Gary Neville has announced his retirement from football with immediate
effect. The 35-year-old, who has made only three Premier League starts this season due to fitness
problems and a lack of form, made 602 appearances for United and represented England on 85
occasions. Hailed as "the best English right-back of his generation" by Sir Alex Ferguson, Neville
was a member of the famous side that won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and along with Ryan Giggs and
Paul Scholes, dedicated his entire career to his manager at Old Trafford.
MANCHESTER, England Manchester United ruined Kenny Dalglish's first game back in charge of
Liverpool with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the third round of the FA Cup. Manchester United ruined
Kenny Dalglish's first game back in charge of Liverpool with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the third
round of the [.
LIVERPOOL, England - Manager Roy Hodgson left Liverpool on Saturday and the club appointed former
player and manager Kenny Dalglish until the end of the season to try to turn around a dismal run of
form. Hodgson, who joined England's most successful club from Fulham in July last year, had been
under intense pressure from fans in recent weeks after defeats by Wolverhampton Wanderers and
Blackburn Rovers.
LENS, France Lens overcame Caen 2-0 in Ligue 1 to leapfrog their opponents and move out of the
relegation zone. Lens started the day second bottom in the standings, while fellow strugglers Caen
were in better form after winning two straight games. However, Lens proved too strong at Stade
Felix-Bollaert as they claimed a [.
At the final whistle of Blackpool's third round FA Cup tie against League One highfliers
Southampton, the home fans were ecstatic after all they had just managed to beat one of the Premier
League's form teams when it comes to playing away from home, and book their place in the next
round. But amid [.
France proved yet again that it is a soapbox rival at the 2012 London Olympics with a 2-0 romp over
universe champ Japan on Thursday in Paris. Marie-Laure Delie scored the eventual competition-victor
in theXXIVth Min and defender Wendie Renard added a second goal for France in the 74th Min.
Euro 2012 Team of Matchday 2: Gomez & Torres find their form for Euro 2012 favourites
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