Eight red cards, thirty two goals and more talking points than a Peter Andre exclusive, Gameweek
11 had everything. Even by the implausibly high standards set in Fantasy Football, this week was a
bit special.
Whether you winced as Shay Given batted away James McFadden's penalty, rejoiced as Jamie
Carragher finally got his comeuppance, or sat indifferently as Phil Brown's tenure at Hull
approached its conclusion, chances are you will have had an exciting last seven days in the world
of Fantasy Football.
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.
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...
When Robin Van Persie scored Arsenal's third in the North London derby against Spurs, it
prompted me to draw comparisons with the Real Madrid legend Raul. He has scored seven goals in the
league and been given the role of the top of the Gunners attack. He has previously been compared to
Dennis Bergkamp who was a genius at linking up attacks with the rest of his teammates.
Happy Monday to you. It's always good starting a new week when Arsenal won. It's even better
when that happens against Tottenham. After 2 consecutive draws, Arsenal maintains their 100%
winning record at Ashburton Grove with a comprehensive victory against a side who started the week
mouthing off about how great their team are, but has now gone home with their heads firmly between
their legs.
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.
For a football fan, there can be few things as satisfying as an epic goal bundle.
In order to achieve optimum conditions for bundles, several key elements need to be in place.
Surprise is definitely one. Scoring against your old rivals is another.
Arsenal's use of the whole pitch created space and angles to open up the Spurs defence as two
goals inside a minute set-up a comfortable win. _______________________________________________________________________________
Arsenal 3 (Van Persie 42, 60, Fabregas 43) Tottenham 0 (Premiership)
A victory that was as satisfying as it was ultimately comfortable guaranteed that the
'noughties' would be completed without a single Spurs victory over Arsenal in the league, a run now
stretching to an impressive twenty games.
"Welcome to my nightmare, welcome to my breakdown."
Alice Cooper's 1975 campy anthem sums up the last five minutes of the first half for Spurs.
Harry Redknapp probably regrets starting a clearly unfit Ledley King who has struggled with
injuries this season. Sagna on the right whips in a cross which Van Persie reacts to more quickly,
outmaneuvering King to turn the ball past Heurelho Gomes for the first goal in the 42nd minute.
Arsenal continued to have the upper hand over their North London rivals as we convincingly won
3-0 at Ashburton Grove. Many will say that up to the first goal, Spurs have matched Arsenal stride
for stride but that cannot be further away from the truth.
As an Arsenal fan, today is the day we wait with abated breath. This is the first fixture I look
for whenever the new season kicks-off. For Gooners, it comes no bigger than the North London Derby.
Spurs visit Ashburton Grove looking to find the first league victory over Wenger.
This week and continuing from the close of the summer transfer window Arsenal have been linkedÂ
with many players, the majority being more young possible acquisitions. However today I have set
out to attempt to reveal what players are realistic signings in January.
Eden Hazard
Hazard is an attacking midfielder currently playing for Lille in French Ligue 1.
1. A 2 Goal cushion is totally enough to kill off the game. We simply must stop letting teams
think they have a chance even when they're two down.
2. We need to buy a goal keeper. Almunia is inadequate, Mannone is too young, Fabianski is
scary and Sczesczny cannot get a jersey because the Nike cannot spell his name.
Arsenal threw away the chance of a fifth straight Premier League win as West Ham battled back to
earn a 2-2 draw at Upton Park on Sunday. The Gunners had looked in complete control following first-half goals from Robin van Persie and
William Gallas. However, Carlton Cole pulled a goal back before substitute Alessandro Diamanti netted a late
penalty. Click to continue reading...
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.
A big thank you to all who took part in the poll. I really needed your help as I couldn't decide
who our best player was. At best I could have narrowed it down to 3 but no further.
The Poll is now closed and I have the results. (I sound like an X factor presenter!). The player
you voted as our man of the match is.
Well, well, well, yesterday was fun, and then it wasn't and then it was. At half-time we were
all sitting wondering how we weren't at least six goals clear, Van Persie and Diaby had given us a
two-goal lead within the space of two minutes and a rout looked on. Rosicky missed three glorious
opportunities but spurned them all, probably because I had money on him to score.
Andrey Arshavin wrapped up a late win for Arsenal but Lee Bowyer's goal ensured the Gunners had
to work hard to earn the three points. _______________________________________________________________________________
Only two points were dropped last season by Manchester United against teams outside the 'big
four' in comparison to Arsenal's fifteen and it seems manager Arsene Wenger is going some way in
correcting that stat this campaign.
A lot has been said about today's meeting with Birmingham being the first since that fateful
day Eduardo had his leg shattered by Martin Taylor. Some say we owe them a hammering, which is true
from the point of view that we threw away three points after playing against ten men for 87
minutes, but less so for the 'tackle' itself.
Players report back to London today, and hopefully by the end of today or early tomorrow we'll
have an inventory of who picked up knocks playing in internationals. At the moment, the only one
I've heard is Gael Clichy, who injured his thigh playing for France yesterday. This must have
frustrated Wenger, who was actually commentating on the match for French television, noted that
Clichy was hurt and should be substituted, only to watch him struggle through to the end of the
game.
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.
Yeah I probably just jinxed the team, because since I said that they'll probably all get injuries
playing for their international teams. So if Fabregas, Sagna, Gallas, Song, Theo, and Arshy all
come back with injuries, you know where you can point the blame. Right here. But really, think
about it. Click to continue reading...
For various reasons, I had to pass on my ticket to the match on Sunday. Tragic, that is. Truly
tragic. Because I missed one of our best performances for many a moon. And it highlighted an important point. Keep Fabregas, Rosicky, Arshavin and RVP fit, and we have a
brilliant team. A big, fat 6 in the 'for' column is testament to this. Click to continue reading...
it's Blackburn today and if Blackburn were never my favourite team before - the fact that
they're now managed by that Walrus looking cunt Allardyce has definitely secured their status as
one of the top 19 Premier League teams that I hate.
We know old Walrus's teams like the physical approach and with their 8'7 centre-half promising
more of the same today it could well be a bit of a battle.
An Arsenal side which completely dominated Olympiacos eased past the Greeks and are alone at the
top of their Champions League group in a game which could have easily ended with a much bigger
scoreline if it wasn't for Nikopolidis who produced a number of fine saves.
Twenty two shots at goal for the Gunners with Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy back to their best
and Robin Van Persie again crucial in front of goal.
Click here for last night's match video highlights.
The Game
An Arsenal side which completely dominated Olympiacos eased past the Greeks and are alone at the
top of their Champions League group in a game which could have easily ended with a much bigger
scoreline if it wasn't for Nikopolidis who produced a number of fine saves.
With Chelsea losing away at Wigan, we simply HAD to win this afternoon and so we did. It could
have easily ended in a draw or worse if it wasn't for Vito Mannone, the Italian goalkeeper who many
including myself thought he was there just to make numbers. Instead, he played full of confidence,
excellent in leaving his goal and incredible in denying the home side.
With Chelsea losing away at Wigan, we simply HAD to win this afternoon and so we did. It could
have easily ended in a draw or worse if it wasn't for Vito Mannone, the Italian goalkeeper who many
including myself thought he was there just to make numbers. Instead, he played full of confidence,
excellent in leaving his goal and incredible in denying the home side.
