By Alan Duffy

Sunderland 1-2 Arsenal Premier League 11th February 2012

Some wondered if Thierry Henry's brief return to Arsenal would damage his iconic status with the north Londoners, however, in netting his second winner (and third goal) of his loan spell against an impressive Sunderland side, the Frenchman has entered the realm of the God-like for Gooners all over the world.

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill admits that the Black Cats will have their hands full when they entertain Arsenal at the Stadium of Light today, particularly given the dexterity of Gunners youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The teenage sensation has quickly become a fan favorite at Arsenal, setting up Robin van Persie's equalizer in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United and then displaying his scoring abilities by netting twice in last weekend's 7-1 destruction of Blackburn.

As Arsenal head towards the business end of the season, their manager Arsene Wenger has said that the Gunners should be optimistic about their chances.

The North Londoners will face Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light, with their aim being to keep pace with their city rivals Chelsea.

The big win over Blackburn was immensely enjoyable and has lifted the mood in the Gooner camp to a great extent after an eminently forgettable January. A lot has already been said about the match and I don't want to revisit it in detail but there were two goals in that game that caught my eye.

Both the goals started from the back but were scored in a markedly different manner, each a delight in its own way.

Written by TotalArsenal

Arsenal does not really do transitional seasons, or does it? Somehow, through the magic of Wenger, we have been able to rebuild squads and first teams without losing sight of silverware and European football in every single season the Frenchman has been at the helm.

Former Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka left Chelsea for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in January, and for a brief period prior to signing, the Frenchman was dubiously linked with an improbable return to Anfield. Anelka could've also joined Carlo Ancelotti at Paris St Germain, but as he now reveals, the move held no interest for him.

I don't think I exaggerate when I say that people were surprised by the Le Toux trade to Vancouver.

People understood why Le Toux might want to move to EPL club Bolton and many supported the decision even if they were sad about the possibility of losing our favorite Frenchman (I will post more thoughts on it in my second part of evaluating the Union off-season when the dust finally settles).

Hughes refuses to Mark Cisse's card QPR boss Mark Hughes defended new signing Djibril Cisse after his sending off against Wolves. The Frenchman was dismissed for putting his hands around the throat of Wolves centre-back Roger Johnson after the defender went through the back of him. Hughes said the response was understandable given Cisse's two [.

Hughes refuses to Mark Cisse's card QPR boss Mark Hughes defended new signing Djibril Cisse after his sending off against Wolves. The Frenchman was dismissed for putting his hands around the throat of Wolves centre-back Roger Johnson after the defender went through the back of him. Hughes said the response was understandable given Cisse's two [.

Arsenal's massive 7-1 victory was highlighted with another special performance from Robin Van Persie, who bagged a hat-trick on the night, but it was youngster, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The youngsters scored two goals on the match and once again provides an important contribution for his club, leaving his manager, Arsene Wenger in awe with Oxlade-Chamberlain speedy development.

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-Perhaps the most positive item of the day: Chairman Tony Fernandes tweeted today would stay with QPR even If relegated:
- "If it happens I will be here and I'm sure all the other will. Its a project. RT @QPRReport: @tonyfernandes @Amit_Bhatia99 @Ruben_E_G What Fans Would REALLY Like to Hear: That IF #QPR Do Go Down - You'll Still be With Us Next Season - Tony Fernandes February 5 Tweet
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- For comprehensive and latest QPR news-related pieces and discussion, visit the football-only, somewhat-different QPR Report Messageboard.

In this week's Philly Soccer Show podcast, your co-hosts KYW's Greg Orlandini and PSP's Eli Pearlman-Storch are joined by Philadelphia Union and USMNT U-23 midfielder Amobi Okugo and Delco Daily Times journalist Chris Vito.

In part one, Okugo talks with Greg and Eli about the upheaval on the team after the departure of forward Sebastien Le Toux and captain, goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged his players to get their ailing domestic campaign back on track by recapturing the spirit of their famous invincible side of the 2003-04 season.

On Wednesday, Arsenal played out a 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium and although they finally managed to end their point drought after three consecutive defeats, it wasn't a source of joy for the Gunners as they now find themselves at seventh position on the league table, behind the likes of Newcastle United and Liverpool.

Sebastien Le Toux's departure from the Philadelphia Union certainly made headlines. There was much made of the incident after the player came out and spoke his side of the story. It was emotional and troublesome that, according to Le Toux, a professional club in MLS would dismiss a player in such fashion.

After a full week of news both on and off the pitch, Tottenham centre half Younes Kaboul identified the 3-1 win over Wigan as a return to form after some indifferent results of late.

Younes played a full part in the win and was unlucky not to open the scoring on two occasions before Gareth Bale and Luka Modric sealed the win.

Critics may already be writing off Arsenal's chances of a top-four finish after last night's goalless draw at Bolton but manager Arsene Wenger has evidence that his side his actually improving.

In his post-match press conference, Wenger was reminded that earning only a point in their last four fixtures had pushed the Gunners to seventh position in the Premier League standings.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that going four games without a win is frustrating but believes that a top-four finish remains achievable as long as the Gunners make an early impact on their matches.

Last night's goalless draw at Bolton left Wenger's side in seventh place, five points behind fourth-place Chelsea and another seven behind bitter cross-town rivals Tottenham Hotspur in third.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was left furious when Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto was allowed to remain on the pitch despite a high tackle that forced forward Franco Di Santo out of the Latics' 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.

With his side firmly rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, the only positive Martinez could reflect on was the mild nature of Di Santo's injury.

Arsenal starlet Francis Coquelin has hailed the locker room impact of legendary on-loan striker Thierry Henry, insisting that the veteran does not need to be on the pitch all the time to offer his leadership.

Henry's two-month spell at the Emirates began with a bang as his decisive goal knocked Leeds United out of the FA Cup but the Frenchman has since been sidelined with injury concerns.

Some time in December, a story emerged in the papers linking Spurs with a move for Manchester City's Carlos Tevez. In truth, nobody really believed it but at the time, a ‘source' stated that it would be the biggest deal since Klinsmann.

In the end, we got a transfer that was reminiscent of a deadline day deal that happened a few years ago.

With the International Transfer Deadline producing a flurry of player movement and even more rumors and speculation, MLS witnessed a prominent striker of their own swap jerseys.

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced Tuesday afternoon that they have acquired All-Star Sebastien Le Toux from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for allocation money.

Arsenal's newest midfielder Thomas Eisfeld has made it known that he is proud to be chosen as a Gunner, particularly as he aims to strike a partnership with Tomas Rosicky a man he grew up watching at Borussia Dortmund.

The 19-year old Eisfeld arrived from Dortmund yesterday to complete his move to North London ahead of the transfer deadline and after being unveiled, the youngster pledged to make both his current and former club proud.

It seems like anybody who's ever worn an Arsenal shirt is coming out of the woodwork these days to give their opinion on what ails the club. Former Gunners Paul Merson and Stewart Robson are the latest to chime in on the current state of affairs at Emirates Stadium and the performance of the team and manager Arsene Wenger.

It seems like anybody who's ever worn an Arsenal shirt is coming out of the woodwork these days to give their opinion on what ails the club. Former Gunners Paul Merson and Stewart Robson are the latest to chime in on the current state of affairs at Emirates Stadium and the performance of the team and manager Arsene Wenger.

After acquiring Taye Taiwo from Ac Milan, Queens Park Rangers' continue to collect another ex-Serie A base player by completing the signing of Djibril Cisse from Lazio for a fee worth around 5 million Euro.

Cisse, who also had premiership experience with Liverpool few seasons ago, has already talked to the press about his arrival, revealing that coach Mark Hughes and the exciting project that QPR are creating attracted him.

Talk about a 180.

Just a week or so ago it was Sebastien Le Toux on a plane to England to train with Bolton. Now he is back in North America and has been traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

No word yet on what the terms of the deal will be but the Frenchman just tweeted out that it is official.

Sebastien Le Toux will not move to Bolton Wanderers, of the English Premier League, signaling that his time in MLS has not yet ended. However, the Philadelphia Union may not be the club with which Le Toux starts the 2012 MLS season.

A source close to the situation tells the Brotherly Game that the Vancouver Whitecaps have inquired about Le Toux and have emerged as a candidate for a trade.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hinted that Japanese starlet Ryo Miyaichi could be set for a domestic loan spell as the youngster seeks more playing time to further his development.

The emergence of 18-year old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has provided Wenger with more-than-enough options on the wings, which means that the 19-year old Miyaichi will need to look elsewhere to increase his football activity.

Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye has invited trouble after kicking out at Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Adam El-Abd during the Magpies' 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The incident occurred in the second half following a tackle from El-Abd. Unfortunately for the 27-year old defender, the tussle ended with a bloody lip.

Written by fatgingergooner

With 3 defeats in the last 4 games and an unconvincing win against Leeds in the last round of the FA Cup, Arsenal fans were feeling far from optimistic ahead of this 4th round clash against Aston Villa.

Rumour had it that the Gunners injury list was starting to ease, and so it proved with Sagna, Henry and Arteta all named on the bench and also the young Frenchman Coquelin was deputising at right back.

Written by fatgingergooner

With 3 defeats in the last 4 games and an unconvincing win against Leeds in the last round of the FA Cup, Arsenal fans were feeling far from optimistic ahead of this 4th round clash against Aston Villa.

Rumour had it that the Gunners injury list was starting to ease, and so it proved with Sagna, Henry and Arteta all named on the bench and also the young Frenchman Coquelin was deputising at right back.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has alleviated concerns about Arsenal's perennially high injury list, stating that it is about to shorten in the coming days.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a long-awaited return in the goal during yesterday evening's 3-2 FA Cup win at home to Aston Villa and Wenger believes that midfielders Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere are also recovering better than expected.

Arsene Wenger has openly spoken of his delight about Arsenal's thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win to progress to the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of Aston Villa but refuses to discuss the half-time conversation with his players.

The Gunners were 2-0 down heading into the interval following goals from Richard Dunne and Darren Bent but two second-half penalties from Robin van Persie and a deflected goal strike from Theo Walcott completed a memorable triumph.

Despite what a quote attributed to Owen Coyle in Sporting Life says, Sebastien Le Toux is still a transfer target for Bolton Wanderers, if the money is available.

Alan Nixon, of The People and Mirror Football, is reporting that Bolton is focusing mostly upon wingers, but that Le Toux is still on the team's mind.

There are a number of indications from the Arsenal camp that there won't be any major signings arriving at the Emirates Stadium for the remainder of the winder transfer window.

For starters, manager Arsene Wenger has made it clear that the return of Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs to full training diminishes the need to seek a new full-back.

Sebastien Le Toux's return to the Philadelphia area has taken another turn, as yet another media outlet reports of a development concerning his possible transfer across the pond.

English sports news site Sporting Life reports that Le Toux did not impress enough to warrant Bolton Wanderers pursuing a transfer.

There's no doubt that Hatem Ben Arfa is one of the most exiting players that Newcastle have on Tyneside at the moment. A trivia question in the years ahead what has Ben Arfa just achieved? As we all know the Frenchman has had a tough time of things since he arrived in August of 2010, and he was out almost a year with that [.

Sebastien Le Toux's return to Philadelphia truly does appear to be simply a chance to pack his belongings, as the striker's transfer to Bolton Wanderers is set to be completed in the next two days.

MLSsoccer.com's Joe Prince-Wright told TalkSport UK, in an interview, that the Frenchman was "gonna finalize his contract tomorrow with Bolton.

By Alan Duffy

Wenger needs to buy five new players now, and five experienced ones at that...

Where would we be without Twitter? It provides us all with a never-ending conveyor belt of controversy and quirkiness, which us lazy writing types can quickly and easily fashion into a nice little story.

Featured image courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Le Talk

While posing a hypothetical question to the Union Twitterati whether they would accept $2.75 million for Sebastien Le Toux, Jonathan "The Goalkeeper" Tannenwald mentions, "I've been told there has been no offer yet."

Meanwhile, Daily News reporter Kerith Gabriel writes, "It's likely the Union will start the 2012 campaign without Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux.