The first two months of the season were awful, the atmosphere was angry, unsettled and going to watch the team wasn't at all pleasant. The atmosphere eased after a good run of results, putting us well back into contention for the Champions League places.

A new year run that has yet to see us win in the league has heralded the return of that atmosphere, a portion of the fanbase have been very forward with their views on the manager and a few of the players an injury crisis has not helped matters either all in all, being an Arsenal fan in the past few weeks has not been the most pleasant of experiences.

Crashing out in the FA Cup against their bitter rival, Liverpool, obviously left a bitter taste for Manchester United especially since they were not actually outplayed in the match but lose out due to a defensive error.

The club's manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was the one who voived out his disappointment and disbeliefs with the Red Devils' failure in advancing from the competition especially since the tactician believes that his team played better than their opponent.

Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger, remains confident in his believes that splashing more money on the winter market isn't the best solution for his team, despite admitting that the current injury crisis are the reasons for their poor results in the last three league matches.

Speaking after his team's 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, Wenger stated that the results won't pushed him to commit in the market as he preferred to wait for the injured ones returning to action again.

Old head's experience to lead is crucial to the cause

The papers are going crazy with this fixture and all the focus is on Arsenal and how the mighty have fallen. How this is no longer the plum tie of the Premier League season (somehow, I think the numbers tells a different story), why there's no pizza or pastries being thrown at each other and why there's no more fights between the two sets of players.

Ducky's Note: Starting with this post, and hopefully not dying a premature death, BigFourZa will feature interviews with other football fans from around the world under the 'Fanboyism' section. The topics will range from match previews, reviews, transfer discussions, referee rants and a lot more.

Paul Scholes made a surprise return to the Manchester United line up on Sunday. The player had made his last appearance as a professional player for Manchester United in the Champions League final loss of 2011 against Barcelona, where he featured as a late substitute.

The fiery midfielder, renowned for his passing, technical ability and clinical finishing, had retired at the end of the previous season citing his lack of ability to make an impact in the bigger matches and his deteriorating fitness as the main reasons.

I was surprised when I read in the morning about Scholes coming out of his retirement and rejoining United as a player. That made me wonder whether Scholes is the new Henrik Larsson that Sir Alex is trying to create to see-off an injury crisis at Old Trafford. If you remember, Sir Alex signed Henrik Larsson on loan from January - March in 2007.

Spurs were already in the midst of an injury crisis when Brazilian midfielder Sandro limped out of action on the half hour mark of yesterday's win over West Brom. The news got worse as Sandro's replacement Jake Livermore left proceedings after a clash of heads with Younes Kaboul.

The situation has left the club with few right sided options in midfield with Scott Parker nursing a knee injury and Tom Huddlestone a long term absentee.

The Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, recently accosted the Manchester City player Wayne Bridge for, apparently, seeming to be happy and content at being nothing more than a paid squad member at the Manchester club. Wayne Bridge never features, is rarely even on the bench, and is not highly valued by his coach.

Arsene Wenger's worse fear regarding one of his Arsenal's players health condition turns out to be true after the manager found out that his defender, Kieran Gibbs, will still be out for at least another month after suffering a setback.

Gibbs has actually been sidelined since October due to a hernia removal surgery but the player has started training not long ago and scheduled to return around this Christmas period, but unfortunately there's still a problem with his health condition.

Laurent Koscielny has no problem helping ease Arsenal's injury crisis by playing at full-back, claiminghis friends have grown so accustomed to seeing him in the position that they have started calling him the "white Cafu".

Arsenal head to Aston Villa without any recognised full-backs after a spate of injuries denied Arsene Wenger the services of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson.

Laurent Koscielny has no problem helping ease Arsenal's injury crisis by playing at full-back, claiminghis friends have grown so accustomed to seeing him in the position that they have started calling him the "white Cafu".

Arsenal head to Aston Villa without any recognised full-backs after a spate of injuries denied Arsene Wenger the services of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson.

Laurent Koscielny has no problem helping ease Arsenal's injury crisis by playing at full-back, claiminghis friends have grown so accustomed to seeing him in the position that they have started calling him the "white Cafu".

Arsenal head to Aston Villa without any recognised full-backs after a spate of injuries denied Arsene Wenger the services of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson.

Laurent Koscielny has no problem helping ease Arsenal's injury crisis by playing at full-back, claiminghis friends have grown so accustomed to seeing him in the position that they have started calling him the "white Cafu".

Arsenal head to Aston Villa without any recognised full-backs after a spate of injuries denied Arsene Wenger the services of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson.

Premier League half-term fans' reports: Arsenal to Manchester United

Part one of the Observer fans' network's review of the 2011-12 season so far ARSENAL: 6/10 Bernard Azulay, GoonersDiary.blogspot.com It feels as if the mettle we've displayed in our recent run of form was forged in the debacle of the opening weeks of our campaign, when we struggled to cope with the departures of Fábregas and Nasri, together with the absence of Vermaelen and Wilshere.

Modric and Sneijder should be top of Fergie's shopping list

Gutted for Darren Fletcher, who looks like missing the rest of the season with a bowel disorder. I think he's seriously under-rated as a big-game player for Manchester United and Scotland. What I, and I'm sure millions of United fans would like to see now is Sir Alex Ferguson responding to his side's injury crisis by throwing his transfer beliefs out of the window for this January only.

Newcastle fans probably have a nasty feeling this sign doesn't only refer to Sports Direct but also to the Sports Direct Arena. Photo via @BryanRoberts72

Seattle Sounders FC clearly wanted one player in today's Re-Entry Draft Stage Two when they made a last minute trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the number one pick. Moments later they selected MLS veteran and former D.C. United player Marc Burch. Burch's 2011 salary is reported to be 97.5k, but is subject to renegotiation per the RED rules.

It was all going so well, Newcastle United had just earned a fantastic point at Old Trafford and were in confident mood ahead of their clash with Chelsea.

However, things change quickly in Football and Alan Pardew's side are now facing an injury crisis that threatens to derail their fine start to the Premier League season after Chelsea ran out 3-0 winners at St James' Park, a score line which very much flattered Andre Villas-Boas' charges.

Mike Williamson is about two weeks away from his return to full training at Newcastle. Mike Williamson -- back in two weeks Alan Pardew is facing up to a mini injury crisis at Newcastle with Steven Taylor out for the season and Fab Coloccini missing the next game at Norwich City this Saturday.

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South American football blog: How hooligan turf war is threatening to overshadow Boca Juniors' season

For the new season, MirrorFootball is teaming up with some of the blogosphere's best new writers to bring you even more great football reads every single day. Saturday is South America day, and here's Valderramarama's Ed Malyon with his take on the week's big issues in Argentina.

Sporting KC are back to business with a quick turnaround as they take on the Colorado Rapids in the second leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see how Colorado comes out for this game. Three players that started the game in Colorado are now done for the season, Drew Moor, Caleb Folan, and Kosuke Kimura all left the game with injuries.

Alves celebrates amazing goal in 5-0 Barça victory (Photo: JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona returned to their winning ways, running riot over Mallorca in the Camp Nou and dispatching their island visitors with a convincing 5-0 victory.

With the mid-week press in Spain centering on the goal-scoring drought of Barcelona and its brightest star, Leo Messi, the match against Mallorca offered a true litmus test for the Catalans.

An injury crisis stripped the club of William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Ledley King and Vedran Corluka leaving us to field what was practically our only available back four yesterday, but two-goal Rafael van der Vaart was quick to praise our defence's contribution.

"When you score you're always in the headlines, but I think the defenders were amazing today.

The year is 2018, Italy is a nation in chaos, shaken to it's foundations by the leaking of documents proving that for the past twelve years Leonardo Araujo has been single-handedly running the FIGC. The national team, under the stewardship of the controversial yet well-liked coach Massimiliano Allegri, has embarked in a state of disorder to Russia, as a result of their dramatic securation of qualification for the World Cup on a windy december night in Zagreb, courtesy of a late goal scored by Azzurri icon Alberto Paloschi.

Brazilian ace Robinho has recovered from injury and could make his first Serie A appearance for the season against Palermo this weekend. Milan have not been in good form during his absence and his return will come as a welcome boost for Max Allegri who has had to deal with an early season injury crisis.

There are many reasons why Milan have struggled so far this campaign. Amongst others, one of them has been the injury crisis that has exposed our team's lack of depth. But, there are six reasons to be optimistic ahead of this weekend's clash with Palermo. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alessandro Nesta, Kevin Prince Boateng, Robinho, Gianluca Zambrotta and [.

Arsenal's injury crisis worsens. Right Back Bacary Sagna has broken his leg and he is set for a 3-4 month spell on the sidelines. Carl Jenkinson at 5.5M is the Fantasy Premier League 'add' but I wouldn't expect too many ... Continue reading →

Barcelona and Arsenal picked up their first Champions League victories of the season while Marseille made it two wins out of two after thrashing Dortmund.

Winners of the competition in three of the last six seasons, Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw by AC Milan on matchday one, but turned in a clinical performance to win 5-0 at BATE.

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is facing a mini injury crisis ahead of his side's clash with Basle in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

The Scot is without eight senior players ahead of the visit of the Swiss champions, in particular with the absence of strikers Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez.

Talk of crisis has avoided Milan despite the club sitting in a lowly 16th position. This is because rather than fingers being pointed at the players or coach Max Allegri for the Champions' poor start to the campaign, the significant injury crisis has been viewed as the main reason why Milan have so far failed [.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com

The Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas have a couple of things in common these days.

Both 2010 MLS Cup finalists are looking to avoid backing into the playoffs after recent dips in form, and both are seeking CONCACAF Champions League victories Wednesday night that would set them up in a decent position heading into the final games of the group stage.

Limbering up for the next challenge

Normally that would mean that the team is flying. Not necessarily in a physical form but in terms of form, confidence and results. A good continuous run of positive results would probably equate to a team in flying condition. In this instance, I'm referring "full flight" to the numbers and quantity.

Revealed: The truth about Arsenal's injury woes

There is a league table which puts North London back on the map. Sadly, for Arsenal and Tottenham, it's not exactly the Premier League. But, reassuringly, Manchester United are in the top three. The Physio Room is a fascinating website and it goes into detail about every Premier League team's injury list.

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side are already facing a major injury crisis, only three matches into the Premier League season. Last night it was revealed that center back Thomas Vermaelen underwent an achilles operation in Sweden, ruling out the influential Belgian for at least a month.

The injury, combined with Jack Wilshere's persistent injury problems, means that the struggling Gunners will continue to be without some of their key players.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Danny Welbeck of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on August 22, 2011 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (Bleacher Report)Manchester United currently are joint top of the table as they look to keep their streak going against an Arsenal team that is experiencing loads of change this season.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images(Bleacher Report)The second full weekend of matches in the new English Premier League season is already quickly approaching.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal were all held to disappointing draws by Sunderland, Stoke City and Newcastle United. Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City got a not so warm welcome to the EPL, while Norwich City held their own against Wigan, showing their intent to fight for the 17th spot this season to stay up.

Jake Livermore will earn a lot of praise after his all round display was capped off with Spurs' third goal in their 5-0 demolition of Hearts. The 21 year old defender found himself thrust into the team after a midfield injury crisis and took his chance well. After cropping up with some useful goals in pre-season games of the past, he sealed his performance with his first competitive goal for the club.

Before the game I was a bit apprehensive about our away form, the lack of match practice, the pressure and atmosphere that Redknapp and Jordan had been talking up and the injury crisis in our midfield. All of those worries, much like Hearts, were exposed as utter bollocks within the first 5 minutes.