The final international break of the year is over. How good does that sound?
Real football returns tomorrow, and unlike many Premiership weekends, it is Saturday that looks
the tastier of the days. Liverpool and City play each other at lunchtime, United face Everton in
the evening, Chelsea are involved and we have a very tricky trip to Sunderland to negotiate.
After years of waiting for a promising young player to develop, Wales have perhaps discovered
that young players, just like buses, often come all at once. Their 3-0 victory over Scotland was
ample demonstration of the burgeoning potential of players coming through for the Welsh, and while
there is a long way to go, as with any journey, the hope must be that Saturday can be a starting
point for something special.
by JAMES CURTIS It would seem the November injury curse stretches beyond just Arsenal playing
staff. This dreaded plague is now spreading among Arsenal fans too as I write this with a fractured
leg, sustained over the same weekend as Van Persie ruptured his ankle ligaments playing for the
Dutch against Italy.
Ramsey was incandescent in Wales 3-0 victory over a disjointed Scotland side. The third goal
reminded me of the way Fabregas took off against Spurs for his goal. And now George Burley faces
the axe.
Past one, past two, past another defender and three nil to Wales. Young Aaron Ramsey wasted no time
to emulate Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas who scored a similar goal against Spurs in the North
London ... Click to continue reading...
Past one, past two, past another defender and three nil to Wales. Young Aaron Ramsey wasted no time
to emulate Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas who scored a similar goal against Spurs in the North
London ...
As ever, we cross our fingers in the hope that our players and especially our key players emerge
from the pointlessness of international friendly week unscathed.
If I'd asked you before the break which players are absolutely crucial to Arsenal's resurgence
and form, you'd have given me a shortlist with 3 or 4 names on it.
by AKSHAY Before the start of the season, Arsene Wenger had said in an interview that youngster
Aaron Ramsey was very close to breaking through into the first team and that he had a set him a
target of 15-20 games this season. Before the match against Wolves, barring his two starts in the
league cup he had made only cameo appearances as a substitute in the league and Champions League,
mostly replacing Fabragas and he had also scored his first Emirates and league goal for Arsenal
vs.
Many raised an eyebrow or two when last Saturday's line-up was announced with Aaron Ramsey
replacing in-form Alex Song in central midfield. But after the game, the Welshman was one of the
best for the Gunners ... Click to continue reading...
Many raised an eyebrow or two when last Saturday's line-up was announced with Aaron Ramsey
replacing in-form Alex Song in central midfield. But after the game, the Welshman was one of the
best for the Gunners ...
Wolves 1 (Craddock 89) Arsenal 4 (Zubar og 28, Craddock og 36, Fabregas 45, Arshavin
66) (Premiership)
Moving house and blogging is a tricky combination. Phone companies tend to ensure that you
haven't got a hope of getting online during the first few weeks in the new place, and trying to
write anything meaningful from a mobile is nigh on impossible.
Two own goals helped Arsenal on their way to an ultimately comfortable victory as Wolves tired
from their early pressing to relinquish control. ______________________________________________________________________________
Alex Song gave a reminder of what is to be missed in January when he leaves for the African Cup
of Nations as his introduction gave Arsenal renewed spark in the midfield.
Arsenal emphatically crushed Wolves and cruised into second place, a position I expect us to
easily maintain. I don't see the mancs as a threat, there are only small pockets of the manc loving
media who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the fact that not only do Arsenal have a better first
team but they have a better squad.
It's funny how when you're playing well and in good form you find things going your way, little
bits of luck that can help decide a game.
I think it's fair to say we got a bit of that yesterday against Wolves. You certainly wouldn't
have put too much money on the final scoreline after the first twenty minutes.
Shortly after Wolves scored their consolation goal, their fans chanted rather ironically "4 nil
and you cocked it all up". Or something along those lines. It is good to know they have a sense of
humour. Not that the supporters needed to illustrate that for me again.
When Doritos sponsored Wolves (the last time they were in the Premiership back in 2003) my
History teacher at the time, a die hard Wolves fan, suggested an acronym for the tortilla chips
brand.
An own goal by Ronald Zubar gets things rolling. A fine steal by Song puts Aaron Ramsey through
as he and Eduardo race ahead. Ramsey passes to Eduardo as they cut off Josh Craddock and then waits
for the return because of his clear look at goal. Instead, Eduardo chips the ball over and it
deflects of Craddock and loops over Wayne Henessey for the second goal.
Today was a great result for us, it was, but...nah, I'm only messing. There is no but, I don't even
care that we conceded late on. I knew we would, who didn't? We can concede as many as we like for
all I care as long as we end up winning by three clear goals.
Wolves can bemoan their luck all they want, but if they hadn't have helped the ball on for the
first two and if the ref hadn't blocked them off for the third we'd just have found a different way
to score as we did sublimely with the fourth.
4-1 is may have been the final result but judging from the opening 20 minutes of the game, it
would be rather hard to envisaged that scoreline. Credit to Wolves and McCarthy for their game plan
as they came out firing on all cylinders and chose to take the game to us rather than just contend
to defend.
Or should I saw Wolves 3-Arsenal 2? We come away with 3 points on a scoreline which flatters us
a little bit, on the back of 2 early Wolves own goals which put us up 2-0, a vantage point from
which we never looked back.
Wolves strategy was pretty obvious, and wasn't a bad one as far as these things go.
Four more from the Arsenal. The first half ended 3-0. Arsenal Captain Francesc Fabregas is in a rich vein of form, and he rounded out the first-half
scoring. Here are the Goals: 28' Eduardo/Wolves Own Goal 35' Eduardo/Wolves Own Goal 45' Cesc 66' Arshavin Craddock scored a header from a corner to get an 88' consolation. Click to continue reading...
Aaron Ramsey has been rewarded for his superb Carling Cup performance against Liverpool — by
being handed a start against Wolves this evening. Gunners striker Eduardo is also given a chance
upfront alongside the in-form Robin van Persie, while Kieran Gibbs continues at left back due to
Gael Clichy's stress fracture. Click to continue reading...
Friday has arrived, only one day to get through until we play again.
I am just glad November 5th is now over for another year – I don't like Fireworks!!
Sadly though, nowadays November 5th seems to go on for about a week, so I anticipate more
tonight and over the weekend Few odd bits of gossip around late yesterday evening and early today.
Last week after the fantastic win in the Carling Cup, Fran Merida told afc.com that he wanted to
stay at Arsenal and that he hoped his contract would be sorted out very soon. Sadly for Fran, his
agent Joseba Diaz hasn't seen the interview or possibly not even bothered to speak to Merida. Diaz
has said he has an illness, well a love for Atletico Madrid which all started when he slept on red
and white sheets when he was young!
Phew, writing something vaguely interesting (even for me) at this time of the night here is
hard enough. Where do I start? I know, I'll start with a Lithuanian most of you have forgotten
about.
I was watching (albeit very briefly) Inter at Livorno the other day. It finished 2-0 to Inter
btw.
Yes, a couple of names in the list below are intriguing. However this poll is all about the
player who made your October special. So if for instance, its Ramsey with his playmaking
goodness against Liverpool, then vote for him. You can also add your own suggestions, either in the
poll itself and/or leaving a comment.
So the big game is here at last and oh how lovely it would be to give these spuds a damn good
mashing, we haven't done so for a while and it would make it rather sweet.
You may think I'm wrong in calling the 4-4 game a defeat, but after getting so close to beating
them only to see them haul it back, it felt like a defeat.
A much earlier blog than usual as I'm heading Londonwards this morning for the game.
There's nothing new to report in terms of the team. Wenger confirmed Fabianski's injury and said
he'd be missing for "three to four" weeks, which is no doubt a blow to him. He was giving nothing
away when pressed about who would play today.
So Liverpool were seen off in the week, an entertaining game and overall a deserved victory. Ramsey
has taken a lot of plaudits, as has Fran Merida. Fabianski has apparently picked up a muscular
strain which means that Arsene cannot hide from the Almunia question. Will Manuel start against the
spuds? Click to continue reading...
Maddy's Note: Our man Felipe is back, bringing you a great take on thhe
Carling Cup encounter which he was THERE for. Who would expect a team of kids to beat a very
experienced and solid Liverpool? One one would say Arsenal were favourites, but I just have to
confess I didn't think that way until the kick-off yesterday. Click to continue reading...
Arsenal 2 (Merida 19, Bendtner 50) Liverpool 1 (Insua 26) (Carling Cup)
A mix of experience and youth was enough to see off the challenge of Liverpool in an
entertaining game, made all the more fun by the visitor's admirable attacking intent. In the end,
we sneaked home in one of the most enjoyable games I've seen all season.
I'm still half dying from Swine Flu here, its horrible I tell you, absolutely bloody horrible.
Anyway, it didnt stop me from watching the lads the other night and what a great game it was, I
really enjoyed it. It was entertaining and you got that feeling that anything could happen at any
time.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed what young Aaron Ramsey declared earlier this month, that
the Welshman's target for this season is to play between 15 and 20 games for the regular side.
However, the Frenchman has ...
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed what young Aaron Ramsey declared earlier this month, that
the Welshman's target for this season is to play between 15 and 20 games for the regular side.
However, the Frenchman has ... Click to continue reading...
