Sunderland striker Darren Bent believes the current Arsenal team is as good as the free-wheeling, high-scoring teams that included Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and co.
The Black Cats man, who is preparing to face the Gunners at the Stadium of Light this weekend, has admitted that Arsenal are in devastating form this term and are performing like the Premiership days when Arsene Wenger had them demolishing sides on regular occasions. Click to continue reading...

In my piece yesterday, I discussed all of the reasons that Ireland's potential qualification was better for World Football than France's would be. I detailed my reasoning without any mention that a group of hard working custodians of the game should not be denied by a group of talented but unsporting cheats.

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Former Arsenal star Robert Pires has his fingers crossed that the Gunners can overcome their usual ‘November curse'.
Generally, Arsenal are struck down by poor form and injuries in November which goes a long way to wrecking their title hopes and it hasn't begun too well this time around either with the injury to key striker Robin van Persie and the absence of fellow strike man Nicklas Bendtner. Click to continue reading...

Like sex, football sells. For the good, but usually for that bad as you will see in 10 swift steps. Please take into consideration that there are thousands more, but for now there is one question I need to ask you� What's the� French for Va, Va Voom?

10.

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Diego Perotti didn't know what he was in for when he decided to join Kanoute and Fabulousooo in their celebratory group hug! Anyway, Los palanganas fought hard in their 3-2 victory over Villarreal last night and Manolo Jimenez thinks it's all down to the fans.

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The Offside's Main Page decided to compile a list of the "100 Best Players of the Decade." I thought it might be of some interest to you, especially since Arsenal is out of action for a couple of weeks. It was voted on by all of the Offside's bloggers, as well as readers. I will say that I thought the criteria was a little vague it was simply to name the 20 best players who played in the decade.

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Benfica handed Everton another painful lesson at Goodison Park. The two-goal margin of victory could actually have been larger, the Portuguese side missing several chances to increase the embarrassment for Moyes's men. In the event, Benfica settled for two second half goals, one from Saviola and one from Cardozo. Click to continue reading...

February 2nd 2002 was a pretty non-descript day in the History of Football, or indeed the history of anything Prince Willem -Alexander of Orange, heir to the Dutch throne got married, Euro-Monarchy Fans will tell you (and, er... wikipedia) but that aside, Manchester United stayed atop of the Premier League with a 4-1 win against Sunderland, with Newcastle just behind after beating Bolton, and Arsenal dropped seemingly crucial points at home against Southampton, 1-1.

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These guys may be nearer to drawing their pensions than most, but boy they still have the power to amaze.

We've done the young whippersnappers and we've done the ode to Britain the 25 and over squad, so it's time to pay homage to experienced, the wily, the cunning: the Viagra crowd.

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Arsenal's free-spirited style has seen them score 27 goals in 9 matches so far how long will it be before they set their sights on the magic century?
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In 2005, Johan Cruyff took a private jet along with golfer Ian Poulter to Amsterdam to watch Arsenal's 2-1 Champions League win against Ajax.

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The decision of the French national team officials to appoint Raymond Domenech as Jacques Santini's successor will prove to be one of the worst in history. The colourful coach has done wonders with one of the best European sides, transforming them into the team that struggles against Faroe Islands.

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Some would say that Arsenal's Robert Pires had a tendency to go down easily or that Steven Gerrard isn't averse to falling to the floor with relative ease. Of course Cristiano Ronaldo made a name for himself at Man United for his theatrics as has Didier Drogba at Chelsea, but take a look at these beauties!

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Yes, it's another Wayne Rooney dive!
Sol Cambell's foot brushed Rooney's shin-padded leg and the United striker went down like he'd been hit by a car. Pathetic.
I would include Rooney's infamous dive against Villareal in this series but, alas, there is no video footage of it anywhere. Click to continue reading...

Premiership, 24.10.04, Manchester United 2 - 0 Arsenal

Six minutes after Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the penalty, Ashley Cole brought Cristiano Ronaldo down in the box. Arsenal fans always forget that. (BBC: United could have had another penalty when Cole brought down Ronaldo.

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Kolo Toure told the BBC that Arsenal have sold their leaders

Listen Kolo so tell me something we didn't know.

"When you look at Arsenal you see all the great players have left and are now in the past,"

"Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour have gone.

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Morning from a very wet Dublin. Come back summer, I forgive you.

We'll start this morning with news of Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh, a name that has become familiar to many in the last few weeks. After the game against Barnet on Saturday the manager admitted that the Moroccan was someone we were keeping an eye on, should we decide to bring in a striker.

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Barnet gave Arsenal a stern workout in their first pre-season game with Tomas Rosicky given the captain's armband after his comeback from injury.
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Barnet 2-2 Arsenal

Not much should be read into the first pre-season game except the assuring comeback of Tomas Rosicky.

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Ex-Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires spoke exclusively to setanta.com about Emmanuel Adebayor's future with the Gunners, saying the North London should keep the African as he brings a lot to the side.

The Frenchman said:

He has compared Milan to Beyonce? Has he [laughs]? As far as I am concerned, I think that he is a talented player with interesting characteristics, and the fact that Milan are after him shows how good he is.

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There was 55 minutes on the Old Trafford clock when Freddie Ljungberg'a shot was spilled by Fabien Barthez. The first player to react was Sylvain Wiltord, Arsenal's then record signing, to slot the ball home with minimum fuss to put Arsenal 1-0 up and ultimately wrap up the Premier League title.

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Arsenal fans love to speak of Arsene Wenger's shrewd and miserly eye for talent.� Up until a few years ago, Wenger's net spending in the transfer market was something around ten million pounds, extraordinary when you consider the amount of trophies Arsenal have won since his arrival.� Of course, much of Wenger's bottom-line performance can be attributed solely to selling Nicolas Anelka, who's sale managed to pay for everyone else on the France squad, including Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires.

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13 years. I'd say that's how long I've supported Arsenal actively. Maybe twelve. We'll call it twelve and a half.
And yet, I'm not sure I've ever been more up for a game - or a two-legged tie at any rate. Both Barcelona and Galatasary were huge games, but there was no antipathy for the opposition: there was only the possibility of a glorious Arsenal victory. Click to continue reading...

Last week amongst all the Arshavin news, Arsene Wenger announced that we will not be seeing Rosicky in an Arsenal shirt this season.

This is very sad and disappointing news for all Arsenal fans.� Rosicky joined us as a replacement for Pires who was a goal scoring and goal-creating midfielder.

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Assuming he even cares that he missed! 1. Peter Devine 2. Francesco Totti 3. William 4. Diana Ross 5. Robert Pires Share on Facebook Click to continue reading...

Following a great second half display in Spain in which we had Villarreal pinned in their own half and got the vital away goal, Arsenal turned in a great performance last night to progress to the semi-final of the Champions League where they will face Manchester United.

� Arsenal are not the team of old where with Adams, Bould, Dixon and Winterburn we can hold out for 90 minutes without conceding, the new Arsenal only knows how to attack.

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Ex-Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires was touched by the reception he got at the Emirates and wishes all the luck in the world to his ex-colleagues.

He said:

On a personal level, it was very nice and very inspiring. Honestly, I did not expect it. Although I know that Arsenal players never forget their old colleagues, it still touched my heart.

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Arsenal swept into the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-0 victory over Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium.� Theo Walcott broke the deadock after 10 minutes before Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie, from the penalty spot, scored in the second-half to complete a 4-1 aggregate success.

The visitors had Sebastian Eguren sent-off for protesting the spot kick award and the Liga outfit were helpless to prevent the Gunners setting up an all-Premier League last four meeting with Manchester United.

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Arsenal must not let Villarreal settle if they are to leave themselves with the greatest chance of victory against the Spanish side while the returning Van Persie should have a big part to play in the outcome of the tie.
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Without doubt, Arsenal already have the psychological advantage over Villarreal, not just because of the away goal but the injury to talisman Marcos Senna.

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Team news is the logical place to start this morning and there are no real surprises. Djourou's absence was confirmed, as yet we don't know how long he'll be out for, but Diaby and Eduardo return to add some depth to the squad.

In his pre-match press conference Arsene emphasised our attacking approach to tonight.

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Autor: Equipo Premierfever
Volvemos al ruedo ahora con nueva formación y con mas ganas que nunca, desde ahora el Staff de Premier Fever es: Germán González (Administrador), Miguel Meléndez (Colaborador interno y encargado de publicidad),
Juan Figueroa (Coordinador) y Jorge Rubio (Editor). Click to continue reading...

Arsenal looked at sea in the first half and it was a wave of yellow jerseys that swamped their half with crisp, aggressive, and adventurous matchplay. Ibazaga and Cani ran up the possession stats as Rossi and Llorente softened up the Arsenal defense. The backpedaling Gunners were unprepared for Senna's thunderous shot which reverse swung its way into goal.

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The legend that is Robert Pires will face Arsenal for the first time since leaving the London for tonight's opposition - Villareal CF. The Frenchman's last game for the Gunners was the 2005/06 Champions League final, when he was substituted off early in the match after Jens Lehmann was sent off.

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Only two more nights (for me in Oz, that is) and we can set our alarm clock at 4.00 am (yes my friends, this is the type of sacrifice I go through for you....)... And we get some good CL action. Arsene Wenger called his old buddy Robert Pires, who plays his Click to continue reading...

The last time Robert Pires played for the Gunners was in the 2006 CL semi-final against Villareal.

He was substituted by Wenger following Lehmann's red card. It was a defining moment in his career. Now he faces fans that remember him fondly from those wonderful seasons of sublime football that he gave to the club that he still loves.

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Away goals, away goals, away goals. That's the name of the game tomorrow as we take on Villareal at tiny El Madrigal stadium. You'd have to have to love our chances if we grabbed a goal or two and forced Villareal to run up and down the pitch at Emirates Stadium with us next week.

Villareal have had an up and down year so far.

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(All times - UK)
Monday 6th April
19:45 Burton Albion v Torquay United, Blue Square Premier, Setanta Sports 1
Top-of-the-table Burton suffered a shock 4-0 defeat to Crawley Town on Saturday. Still, if you're going to crash and burn, best do it when (a) you're nine points clear at the top, and (b) your nearest rivals - Cambridge and Histon - lose at the same time. Click to continue reading...