Real Madrid wants Robin Van Persie. Look at my face: I am not happy right now.

Rather than just writing one opinion piece, I typically try to gather as much information from around the World Wide Web and condense it with my own commentary added. This week we've got Real Madrid pursuing Van Persie, Mourinho gunning for Arsene's job, Kieran Gibbs returns from a long layoff to strengthen the defense, and a hobbled Jack Wilshere all torn up about England's national team losing its coach just months before the Euro 2012.

I've got to admit, feeling like a loser has become a part of my identity, low self-confidence hard-wired into my DNA by virtue of too many years of hardship. On Saturday morning, as Arsenal destroyed Blackburn 7-1, I got to feel like a winner again. And it felt good. Really good.

In terms of pure bliss, I don't know that I've sincerely enjoyed any weekend of sports more than the past one.

Okay, you can all relax now. Turns out that our hero, Arsenal captain Robin van Persie, will NOT be sanctioned for allegedly throwing an elbow in the face of defender Carlos Cuéllar, after all. Had the Football Association chosen to sanction him, and there certainly seemed to be justification for doing so, the punishment to both Robin as an individual and Arsenal as a cohesive whole would have been severe enough, considering the awful timing, to virtually end the team's season on quite a sour note.

Okay, you can all relax now. Turns out that our hero, Arsenal captain Robin van Persie, will NOT be sanctioned for allegedly throwing an elbow in the face of defender Carlos Cuéllar, after all. Had the Football Association chosen to sanction him, and there certainly seemed to be justification for doing so, the punishment to both Robin as an individual and Arsenal as a cohesive whole would have been severe enough, considering the awful timing, to virtually end the team's season on quite a sour note.

The President of Rwanda wants his buddy Arsene to step down? Robin van Persie is furious with Arsene...Or is he? And, does Real Madrid really want Arsene?

It's been quite an interesting week for the Arsenal so far. If you haven't been following the news as much as I have, allow me to illuminate you.

On Sunday, January 22, 2012, Manchester United will take the pitch against Arsenal at the Emirates. Cognizant of the simple fact that Manchester United handed Arsenal an 8-2 loss that is counted amongst the very worst in a period of 100 years, no one is giving much reason to believe that the Gunners have a chance against the Red Devils.

"If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?" William Shakespeare.
Forget what you think you know about revenge. Sometimes, it's all you've got left. And considering the sorry state in which Arsenal currently finds itself, I would maintain that revenge may just prove to be the last, best option.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has at last re-signed for the Gunners, it has just been announced. The deal was concluded in time for the Frenchman to be eligible to play in Monday's FA Cup clash with Leeds although doubts remain about his match fitness.

Henry has left speculators, pundits and critics undecided about the impact this might have on the Arsenal squad.

Fútbol México - Fútbol MéxicoFútbol México -

Boxing Day en Inglaterra, futbol despues de navidad

Nada dice feliz navidad como una buena jornada de futbol un día después, esto solamente se da en Inglaterra en el marco del "boxing day", pero que es el boxing day porque se celebra?

Remember how yesterday we wrote about our friend that we're aiming to initiate into the cult of football? (No? Read this real quick.)

Well, we emailed that link to him not only did he read the post, when we asked if he clicked through and read the three links we posted (one each for Messi, Balotelli, Dempsey) he replied via email (and gave us permission to blockquote):

i just read them all.

TSG welcomes back Women's World Cup stalwart Maura Gladys with a report on the Barclay's minnows at the direction of Neil Blackmon.

Big Impact: The Norwich City Canary

They're full of spirit, courage and pluck. They're punching above their weight, a trio of little fish in a big pond.

While the city of London and other parts of England burn, the opening weekend of the Premiere League season faces postponement to allow for order to be restored. While your favorite players may fail to appear on television screens for another week, you can be sure that Olivia Godfrey will still feature each and every day on Sky Sports News (simulcast in America on Fox Soccer Channel), much to your heart's delight.

As a recently graduated high school senior, attacking center midfielder Morgan Brian already has career stats that any soccer pro would envy. This past spring season she led her high school, Fredericka Academy in St. Simons, Georgia, to a 17-2-1 record and a fourth straight Georgia Independent School Association Class AA state title.

17.06.2011 - You Tube se mete de lleno en el fútbol y anuncia la transmisión (en vivo) de los 26 partidos de la Copa América 2011 en lo que será la primera experiencia de difusión de un evento deportivo masivo (luego de haber transmitido la Premiere League de cricket en India) de la plataforma online de Google.

First of all let me be a sport and congratulate the Stoke fans to a good team effort and three points that will give your city another season of Premiere League football. You have a very good team! It's not so pleasant being a Wolves supporter right now, though. I had high hopes in the [...]

He originates from East Berlin, but this wall still stands. Robert Huth is the player to pay attention to tonight. Not only for the forward going players of Wolves, but especially the defenders. Huth has scored six goals in the Premiere League for Stoke City this season and three goals in the FA-Cup.

Edinson Cavani is following up his standout season with Palermo and fantastic World Cup with an even better year at Napoli. The only question is, can the club keep him past this summer?

The two thousand pound gorilla at the Stadio San Paolo is surely the Cavani question, and it's not difficult to see why.

Kenny Dalglish, Coach of Liverpool, turned 60 on Friday March 4, 2011, but he couldn't unwrap the gift he most wanted until Sunday when his team beat Manchester United, 3-1, at Anfield. It was a hat trick from Dirk Kuyt that gave Liverpool the win, with United's only goal coming in stoppage time from Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.

The Game Having reached the fifth round of the F.A. Cup on Sunday after battling past Huddersfield Town on Sunday, Arsenal are back in Premiere League action as we host Everton at the Emirates. Samir Nasri is ...

As a self professed comic book nerd I can appreciate the concept of alternate realities and multiple universes. That being said I'm generally not a big fan of sports fiction so this soccer book is a bit of a departure from the other efforts reviewed here. Michael Maddox's "The Ten Shirt" sort of made me feel like I was reading one of the possible alternate reality stories that I encounter after picking up the new weekly stash of reading material on Wednesday afternoons at the local geek store.

Federico Macheda burst onto the scene two years ago for Manchester United, playing an important role as a supersub to lead the club to a Premiere League title. His goal against Aston Villa showed how much skill and promise the young 17 year old had, and in his first appearance for the club, showed just what Lazio fans had missed out on: [read more]