This is what happen last time we have Wolves in the EPL
Arsenal visit Molineux Stadium tonight and it's a good oppourtunity to continue the good run
that we are currently going through. This is no walk in the park for Arsenal as both Fulham and
Aston Villa have came and gone home with only a point.
I have to say I'm quite liking Arsenal's current situation; the team is playign really well
and everyone off the bench also fits in exceptionally, which is great and the first time I
believe this in a while! To add to this the media are not rating us this may be a bit down
heartening for the players but there is currently no pressure on them, unlike Chelsea Man Utd
and Liverpool.
With such blistering pace at just 4.5M, I'd have a silly grin on my face
too Our Funny Feeling Friday this week is Arsenal's left back Kieran Gibbs.
With starting left back Gael Clichy out for a month or more with a stress fracture in his lower
back, Gibbs should take over the starting spot and comes with the price tag (4. Click to continue reading...
The news that Gael Clichy is out for up to two months is unfortunate and may harm Arsenal's
trophy ambitions. When he first started his career at Arsenal, he was very injury prone, with
continuous operations on his broken metatarsals. He always seems to get injured at an awkward time
for The Gunners, and will return in the New Year.
Robin van Persie now delivering the form that we always knew that he could provide as long as he
stayed fit. With a goal in each of the last seven games he is fast becoming a major threat to
defences in the Premier league and Europe with his quick feet and eye for goal. He lacks only the
perfection of his set pieces to truly become the player who alongside Fabregas can fashion a real
charge at the premiership title.
Arsenal verses Alkmaar 2009: this was not a beery, blood and guts affair of Tottenham in the
League or a high energy, alcoho pop fuelled Carling Cup encounter with Liverpool, this Champions
League game was a fine red wine for the football connoisseur.
An excellent selection by Wenger: a blend of player that complemented each with the depth of
Gallas and Vermaelen and the much anticipated combination of Fabregas, Arshavin and Nasri.
A win tonight at Ashburton Grove will see Arsenal qualify for the from the first group stage of
Champions League for the 10th consecutive seasons. Not even the great Barcelonas or Real Madrids or
AC Milans can lay claim to such an impeccable consistency. Tonight sees the return fixture with AZ
Alkmaar who pegged us back at the final minute of the game with an equalizer.
We've all had a bit of time to mull over the not so shocking defeat at the Emirates. It wasn't
so shocking really was it? For a start; on the back of quotes attributed to Robbie Keane; our squad
couldn't stand up to that of Arsenal's. At full strength perhaps we have players who are of a
similar calibre, (Defoe/Van Persie, Modric/Arshavin and Woodgate/Gallas), but with a squad that
seems to change uncontrollably due to the forced hand of Redknapp.
It looks like we have shut the Spuds up for another few months then with a performance that left
even the most hardy Spurs fans noting that they had some way to go to catch up with us.
I had a very good feeling before the game, a feeling I hadn't had since that 5-1 beating we
took. Maybe it was confidence or just a sign of what was to come, whatever it was I liked it and
enjoyed every second of this North London Derby.
Well it will have to if the big city of London has had the rainfall we have had here in
Berkshire!!
The Daily Telegraph, well the Belfast version reports Cesc has signed a pre-contract agreement
with Barca! Worried for a second, but then I saw the word ‘Adeybayor' in the same sentence you
know him, the one who feels he has the right to an opinion about us!
The most glaring difference between this and the last AGM is not the shareholders' attitude. It
is Arsene. His demeanor was completely different this time around, and with good reason. Though
that reason may not be down to results entirely.
Of course, we still get Arsene's standard lines about "belief," the "real spirit in the team,"
etc.
Upton Park is where our focus is today. Gianfranco Zola's West Ham faces exactly the same
turmoil as Arsenal's previous opponent, AZ Alkmaar, financially stuttering that is.They have sold
close to 10 players since last year just to offset some of the monetary difficulties but have kept
virtually the core of the team in Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, David Noble and
Carlton Cole.
A draw against the Dutch champions is no bad thing or that's what I keep telling myself anyway,
but no matter how many times I say it I still feel as though someone has just stolen something out
of my child's pram while I have been forced to look on, helpless to do anything about it.
The frustration that we all feel this morning is surely proof, if we needed any, of just how
much progress has been made this season and just how much we expect.
The European journey continues tonight for Arsenal against the champions of Dutch Eredivise, AZ
Alkmaar. This is the first of back-to-back fixtures against the Ronald Koeman's team. Koeman who
was at Arsenal's 6-2 thrashing of Blackburn, said that he saw some weakness in Arsenal's game
during that game and will look to exploit it.
That was an oddly hard game to find. I had to watch it on tape delay on Arsenal.com. Two quick goals in the first half from Van Persie and Diaby were enough for the points. Walcott started ahead of Arshavin, but Walcott went off injured in the first half, and Arshavin
played the last hour, scoring the third in the 85th minute, I think it was. Click to continue reading...
Lovely bit of footwork by Van Persie in the box and a snappy finish after Song feeds him of a
sloppy clearance by Birmingham. Eboue stretches Birmingham wide before dishing to Rosicky who
centers the ball which evades everyone before Diaby arrives to notch up the Gunners second
goal.
But Arsenal would not be Arsenal if it did not believe in shooting themselves in the foot.
Apologies once again for the lack of blog yesterday. My head has been spinning with ideas for
T-shirts from I went away to Amsterdam and knowing I didn't have to get up at 5 in the morning I
decided to get stuck in yesterday after work. Once I did, I couldn't stop. There's something about
the night time that seems to make me more creative, unfortunately, with aforementioned wakey up
time during the week it doesn't leave much scope for late nights during the week. Click to continue reading...
Arsenal : Mannone, Eboue, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Fabregas, Song Billong, Diaby, Walcott, van
Persie, Rosicky. Subs: Almunia, Sagna, Ramsey, Silvestre, Wilshere, Arshavin, Traore.Good to see
Theo back on the team sheet. Plenty of ammunition on the bench that can be used later on if
neccessary.A high tempo start with Hart' goal peppered early doors, Rosicky looking sharp and goes
close twice. Click to continue reading...
Today see the visit of Birmingham to Ashburton Grove. The incident 2 seasons ago at St. Andrew's
will no doubt still rankles in the mind of all Arsenal fans. The Eduardo broken leg incident
brought about sad memories of that particular season. First for the bad injury that the Brazilian
suffered at the hand (or legs) of Martin Taylor but more importantly, it was the start of which
Arsenal lost the impetus for the Premier League title.
It is true. 7 goals this season and McLeish's Birmingham have scored them all AFTER 75 minutes.
(courtesy of optajoe). When it comes for providing entertainment for value, I've heard that the
Blues fans are now asking for refunds on free Birmingham city tickets.
So if we click and when we do, we should put Birmingham to sleep BEFORE they wake up.
A can of worms has been opened with this list, time for you all to feast on it!
Watch England vs Belarus Live Online!
Four Four Two completed their annual top 100 players in the world list and here
are the top 30 ranking Premier League players, the number stated is where each player figures in
the entire list.
"Serbia secured qualification in style, with Nikola Zigic, Marko Pantelic, Zdravko Kuzmanovic
and Milan Javanovic (2) on target in a 5-0 win over Romania in Group 7."
Ouch.
We were bettered in the group, but we also won 5-0.
Internationals breaks rarely make for interesting viewing. Even this one, which concludes the
group stages in Europe, only has a few games that actually mean anything, and won't be half as
exciting as the playoffs that follow. Those, of course, are being seeded at the last minute because
FIFA panicked at the possibility of two of the big guns facing each other and causing one to miss
the showpiece.
So thats phase one of the international break over and done with and so far it seems we have no
injuries, the Spanish squad has been ravished but Cesc Fabregas' withdrawal is down to serious
family reasons, it is something that may have been affecting him for a while so I really hope its
all going to be alright for him, hes not had the easiest of years has young Cesc.
On a weekend of International football, I am glad that around nine months ago Robin had his oats
and will be at home with his wife while she hopefully gives birth to another little Gooner. At
least we know one player shouldn't be injured for the up and coming game against Birmingham.
Well, the international matches are almost upon us. The official site has a full round-up of all
Gunners who will be participating in internationals this weekend here. No fewer than 20 Arsenal
players are listed on international rosters for tomorrow's matches.
There's no point in covering every match, but some of the highlights:
Clichy, Diaby, Gallas, and Sagna look to get France into at least a playoff match for the World
Cup in what should be a romp against Faroe Islands and a mid-week home match against Austria.
Arsène Wenger of Arsenal, the prestigious London club has an on his eye on two jewels
of the defense of Bari: Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Ranocchia.
"At San Siro Arsenal scouts were present to watch Bari hold AC Milan to a goalless draw"
(Corriere del mezzogiorno)
The young Italian centre back pairing of Bonucci and Ranocchia has been very effective this
season, conceding just four goals in the first seven Serie A games of this season.
