After the dull 0-0 draw at The Emirates, it is time for the FA Cup 5th Round replay at Ewood Park. Despite being knocked out of Europe, Blackburn will be on a high after beating Portsmouth 3-0 at the weekend. Arsenal on the other hand, will be short of confidence after two consecutive defeats against PSV and Chelsea respectively.
The Gunners have almost enough players out to make an injured XI! With Henry, Rosicky, Van Persie and Diaby injured as well as Walcott, Hoyte and Flamini who are major doubts. Plus, Toure and Adebayor will play out their three match bans following the dismissals against Chelsea. Blackburn have Benni McCarthy back, another worrying sign for Arsenal. But with such a small squad avaliable, Arsene Wenger might have to play some almost unknowns on the bench. Mark Randall is likely to be one of a few lucky kids to be in the squad.
Team Prediction:
----------------------------------Almunia------------------------------------
Eboue-------------------Senderos----------Gallas---------------------Clichy
Hleb--------------------Denilson----------Gilberto----------------Ljungberg
-------------------------Aliadiere---------Baptista--------------------------
Score Prediction:
Blackburn 0-1 Arsenal
Scorer: Baptista
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Match Review: Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea
Today, many gooners and Chelski 'fans' witnessed arguably the best game played at The Millenium Stadium. Yes, it ended in defeat but we can be proud of the fantastic spirit of our rising stars, besides the outfield players had an average age of 21! It was a game that had pretty much everything: injuries, red cards, bust-ups and some cracking goals.
The game started well, The Gunners looked comfortable, passing the ball around well, making Chelsea do all the work. The first shot was a Cesc Fabregas effort which was easily saved by Petr Cech. Then, Julio Baptista's stinging shot was well saved by the Czech international as he tipped it round the post. A goal was coming. You could sense it. And after 12 minutes, there was a moment for all gooners to cheer. Theo Walcott picked up a loose ball from a cleared corner, before playing a neat pass to Abou Diaby. The Frenchman then returned the favour, by shrugging off a defender and slipping an exquisite ball through for Walcott to curl past Cech. It was the 17 year-old's first goal for Arsenal, and boy, what a time to score it! Then a few minutes later, Walcott raced down the wing, skipping past Bridge in the process, before cutting it back for Baptista. The Brazilian was brought down in the box by Diarra, but the ref waved away the protests. In all honesty, there wasn't much in it. That was followed by another controversial decision. The in-form Didier Drogba latched onto a through ball, before cooly slotting past Manuel Almunia. But the replays showed that the Ivorian striker was possibly offside. Another tough call but again it was six of one, and half a dozen of another. Chelsea were looking promising. Diarra and Essien were constantly attacking down the right, trying to take advantage of Arsenal left-back, Armand Traore's inexperience. But the young Frenchman coped brilliantly and even started some attcks of his own. Kolo Toure was preventing all attacks from the men in Blue, it was a fantastic, open game.
The second half started brightly too, with Denilson and Diaby bossing the midfield, life was hard for Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas saw his shot, from an acute angle, flash inches past the keeper's post. But then the game turned ugly. The ball was thrown into the Arsenal box and Chelsea skipper, John Terry was ready to nod the ball home. But a super challenge from the star of the show, Diaby prevented the England captain a goal. However, Diaby's boot had caught Terry in the process. The inspirational Chelsea centre back was left unconcious and the unfortunate guilt of Diaby was there for all to see. The Frenchman's foot was high and he had accidently kicked Terry in the face after making the challenge. A touching shot of the distraught Gunners midfielder summed up the sportsmanship in the Arsenal camp. Even Arsenal physio, Gary Lewin was on hand to help the flattened, Terry. So any abuse against Diaby would be extremely unfair as it was clearly an unfortunate accident. Thankfully, the Chelsea defender is now conscious and in good shape.
Then Frank Lampard's 30 yard screamer rattled the crossbar and from then on, Chelsea were dominating. And their patience paid off. Substitue Arjen Robben's cross was sublime and Drogba leaped brilliantly to thump a powerful header past Almunia. This was immediatly followed by Andriy Shevchenko hitting the bar, when the Ukranian probably should have scored. With seven minutes of added time, there was time for a bust-up. Jon Obi Mikel tugged Toure's shirt and war broke out. The ref brandished three red cards, with Toure Mikel and Adebayor all being dismissed. So a bitter end to a great Arsenal performance. But we'll get em next time!
Match Ratings:
Almunia: Could have done better for the first goal but made no clear mistakes. Solid (6)
Hoyte: Fairly quiet down the right. Looked a bit off the pace (5)
Toure: Unlike him to react like he did. Overshadowed another excellent display (7)
Senderos: Solid at the back. Although he scored two goals, he kept Drogba at bay (7)
Traore: Gets better and better. But couldn't cope with Robben (7)
Walcott: So glad he scored. Silenced the doubters with a sublime display (8)
Denilson: It's astonishing the way he has settled in. You'd think he was 28 (7)
Fabregas: Maybe he's burning out? A very average display from the top dog (6)
Diaby: Sensational. Here, there and everywhere. And you could see how upset he was when JT got injured (9) MAN OF THE MATCH
Aliadiere: Didn't see much of the ball but worked very hard for the team (6)
Baptista: Quiet but did well. Could have won a penalty and was only denied a goal by Cech (6)
Eboue: Not enough time (5)
Hleb: Not enough time (5)
Adebayor: I don't know what happened but he must have done something stupid (3)
The game started well, The Gunners looked comfortable, passing the ball around well, making Chelsea do all the work. The first shot was a Cesc Fabregas effort which was easily saved by Petr Cech. Then, Julio Baptista's stinging shot was well saved by the Czech international as he tipped it round the post. A goal was coming. You could sense it. And after 12 minutes, there was a moment for all gooners to cheer. Theo Walcott picked up a loose ball from a cleared corner, before playing a neat pass to Abou Diaby. The Frenchman then returned the favour, by shrugging off a defender and slipping an exquisite ball through for Walcott to curl past Cech. It was the 17 year-old's first goal for Arsenal, and boy, what a time to score it! Then a few minutes later, Walcott raced down the wing, skipping past Bridge in the process, before cutting it back for Baptista. The Brazilian was brought down in the box by Diarra, but the ref waved away the protests. In all honesty, there wasn't much in it. That was followed by another controversial decision. The in-form Didier Drogba latched onto a through ball, before cooly slotting past Manuel Almunia. But the replays showed that the Ivorian striker was possibly offside. Another tough call but again it was six of one, and half a dozen of another. Chelsea were looking promising. Diarra and Essien were constantly attacking down the right, trying to take advantage of Arsenal left-back, Armand Traore's inexperience. But the young Frenchman coped brilliantly and even started some attcks of his own. Kolo Toure was preventing all attacks from the men in Blue, it was a fantastic, open game.
The second half started brightly too, with Denilson and Diaby bossing the midfield, life was hard for Chelsea. Cesc Fabregas saw his shot, from an acute angle, flash inches past the keeper's post. But then the game turned ugly. The ball was thrown into the Arsenal box and Chelsea skipper, John Terry was ready to nod the ball home. But a super challenge from the star of the show, Diaby prevented the England captain a goal. However, Diaby's boot had caught Terry in the process. The inspirational Chelsea centre back was left unconcious and the unfortunate guilt of Diaby was there for all to see. The Frenchman's foot was high and he had accidently kicked Terry in the face after making the challenge. A touching shot of the distraught Gunners midfielder summed up the sportsmanship in the Arsenal camp. Even Arsenal physio, Gary Lewin was on hand to help the flattened, Terry. So any abuse against Diaby would be extremely unfair as it was clearly an unfortunate accident. Thankfully, the Chelsea defender is now conscious and in good shape.
Then Frank Lampard's 30 yard screamer rattled the crossbar and from then on, Chelsea were dominating. And their patience paid off. Substitue Arjen Robben's cross was sublime and Drogba leaped brilliantly to thump a powerful header past Almunia. This was immediatly followed by Andriy Shevchenko hitting the bar, when the Ukranian probably should have scored. With seven minutes of added time, there was time for a bust-up. Jon Obi Mikel tugged Toure's shirt and war broke out. The ref brandished three red cards, with Toure Mikel and Adebayor all being dismissed. So a bitter end to a great Arsenal performance. But we'll get em next time!
Match Ratings:
Almunia: Could have done better for the first goal but made no clear mistakes. Solid (6)
Hoyte: Fairly quiet down the right. Looked a bit off the pace (5)
Toure: Unlike him to react like he did. Overshadowed another excellent display (7)
Senderos: Solid at the back. Although he scored two goals, he kept Drogba at bay (7)
Traore: Gets better and better. But couldn't cope with Robben (7)
Walcott: So glad he scored. Silenced the doubters with a sublime display (8)
Denilson: It's astonishing the way he has settled in. You'd think he was 28 (7)
Fabregas: Maybe he's burning out? A very average display from the top dog (6)
Diaby: Sensational. Here, there and everywhere. And you could see how upset he was when JT got injured (9) MAN OF THE MATCH
Aliadiere: Didn't see much of the ball but worked very hard for the team (6)
Baptista: Quiet but did well. Could have won a penalty and was only denied a goal by Cech (6)
Eboue: Not enough time (5)
Hleb: Not enough time (5)
Adebayor: I don't know what happened but he must have done something stupid (3)
Carling Cup Injury News
There seems to be constant bad news on the injury front for Arsenal, ahead of this afternoon's Carling Cup Final in Cardiff. The news that Chelsea captain John Terry is fit to start, is a real pain as he is arguably the best defender on the planet, meaning it will take a lot of effort from Aliadiere and co to break down the Chelsea defence. Also, there are rumours that today's big cup showdown will be Theo Walcott's last game of the season. The 17 year old has been struggling with a shoulder problem ever since he joined The Gunners, last January. And the News Of The World say that the injury is too big for the English prospect to shake off. Perhaps it does explain the reason for Walcott's recent dip in form. But it would be a huge blow to lose him for the rest of the campaign.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal
So, here we are, the last cup final (we hope) to be played in Cardiff. And what a game it should be. That's right it's Chelsea v Arsenal in the Carling Cup Final. This competition has been known as 'The Worthless Cup' in the past, but suddenly, from an Arsenal point of view at least, it has become an important part of the season. Yep, this is the first League Cup Final to be played under Wenger. But what makes it special, is Le Boss' policy of playing a mixture of youth and fringe players in the competition. And these lads are something special.
The 'Arsenal B Team' have done wonders this season, so let's recap on their journey to The Millennium Stadium. Firstly The Gunners travelled to The Hawthorns, where young French striker, Jeremie Aliadiere netted a brace in a game which Arsenal dominated, finishing in a 2-0 win. Then they went to Goodison Park, the home of Everton. The Young Guns left it late, but deserved the 1-0 win after Emmanuel Adebayor headed home with 5 minutes left on the clock. This was followed by an extraordinary game on the other side of Merseyside. Mr Wenger's side prodced one of the best performances in the club's history, a tremendous 6-3 victory over Liverpool at Anfield. Aliadiere opened the scoring and then went on to play a huge part in the win. Robbie Fowler equalised minutes later, before Julio Baptista's sublime free kick flew past the keeper. Alex Song and Baptista again scored to give the visitors a 4-1 lead at the interval. The Gunners came out strong in the second half, too. Baptista saw his penalty well saved, but did complete his hat-trick by firing past Dudek from 25 yards, after Aliadiere set him up brilliantly. Goals from Gerrard and Hyypia gave the home side some hope, but Baptista netted his fourth and Arsenal's sixth to kill the game off. Then they travelled to White Hart Lane, the home of fierce rivals, Tottenham. An early goal from Berbatov was followed by Baptista putting the ball in his own net, giving Spurs a 2-0 lead and a mountain for Arsenal to climb. But the Brazilian made amends, by netting two at the right end in the second half, to give The Gunners a slight advantage going into the second leg at Ashburton Grove. Emmanuel Adebayor gave Arsenal the lead before a late equaliser from Mido sent the tie into extra time. But goals from Aliadiere and a Chimbonda own goal put them into the final.
So it was a rollercoaster ride to get to the Millenium Stadium, but can The Gunners pull off a win against the Premirship Champions? Well, Arsenal have a boost knowing that John Terry is out and Arjen Robben faces a fitness test. Justin Hoyte also faces a late fitness test afer missing the Champions League defeat at PSV. Chelsea will be playing their strongest possible team, so Arsene Wenger's wonderkids face a really tough test.
Team Predictions:
---------------------------------Cech---------------------------------------
Diarra----------------Carvalho---------Essien-----------------------Bridge
-------------------------------Makelele------------------------------------
----------Mikel----------------Ballack--------------Lampard--------------
--------------------Shevchenko-------Drogba------------------------------
--------------------Aliadiere----------Adebayor---------------------------
------------------------------Baptista-------------------------------------
Diaby------------------------Denilson-----------------------------Walcott
Traore-------------Djourou------------Toure-----------------------Hoyte
------------------------------Almunia-------------------------------------
Score Prediction:
Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Scorer: Walcott
The 'Arsenal B Team' have done wonders this season, so let's recap on their journey to The Millennium Stadium. Firstly The Gunners travelled to The Hawthorns, where young French striker, Jeremie Aliadiere netted a brace in a game which Arsenal dominated, finishing in a 2-0 win. Then they went to Goodison Park, the home of Everton. The Young Guns left it late, but deserved the 1-0 win after Emmanuel Adebayor headed home with 5 minutes left on the clock. This was followed by an extraordinary game on the other side of Merseyside. Mr Wenger's side prodced one of the best performances in the club's history, a tremendous 6-3 victory over Liverpool at Anfield. Aliadiere opened the scoring and then went on to play a huge part in the win. Robbie Fowler equalised minutes later, before Julio Baptista's sublime free kick flew past the keeper. Alex Song and Baptista again scored to give the visitors a 4-1 lead at the interval. The Gunners came out strong in the second half, too. Baptista saw his penalty well saved, but did complete his hat-trick by firing past Dudek from 25 yards, after Aliadiere set him up brilliantly. Goals from Gerrard and Hyypia gave the home side some hope, but Baptista netted his fourth and Arsenal's sixth to kill the game off. Then they travelled to White Hart Lane, the home of fierce rivals, Tottenham. An early goal from Berbatov was followed by Baptista putting the ball in his own net, giving Spurs a 2-0 lead and a mountain for Arsenal to climb. But the Brazilian made amends, by netting two at the right end in the second half, to give The Gunners a slight advantage going into the second leg at Ashburton Grove. Emmanuel Adebayor gave Arsenal the lead before a late equaliser from Mido sent the tie into extra time. But goals from Aliadiere and a Chimbonda own goal put them into the final.
So it was a rollercoaster ride to get to the Millenium Stadium, but can The Gunners pull off a win against the Premirship Champions? Well, Arsenal have a boost knowing that John Terry is out and Arjen Robben faces a fitness test. Justin Hoyte also faces a late fitness test afer missing the Champions League defeat at PSV. Chelsea will be playing their strongest possible team, so Arsene Wenger's wonderkids face a really tough test.
Team Predictions:
---------------------------------Cech---------------------------------------
Diarra----------------Carvalho---------Essien-----------------------Bridge
-------------------------------Makelele------------------------------------
----------Mikel----------------Ballack--------------Lampard--------------
--------------------Shevchenko-------Drogba------------------------------
--------------------Aliadiere----------Adebayor---------------------------
------------------------------Baptista-------------------------------------
Diaby------------------------Denilson-----------------------------Walcott
Traore-------------Djourou------------Toure-----------------------Hoyte
------------------------------Almunia-------------------------------------
Score Prediction:
Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal
Scorer: Walcott
Friday, February 23, 2007
The Mystery of Thierry
Everybody knows that Thierry Henry is the best player in the world (the Ronaldinho fans should be shot). But recently the Arsenal skipper has become inconsistent. Henry started the season slowly, but who can blame him after a marathon of games the previous year. He led The Gunners to the Champions League Final as well as playing a big part in France's journey to the World Cup final. So Arsene Wenger rested the inspirational Frenchman, on the basis that he was tired and supposedly injured
It took Arsenal time to find their feet without Henry but eventually, a stunning burst of form arrived. The impressive Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin Van Persie were scoring goals for fun, making The Gunners look a better team without their skipper. Then the famous no 14 shirt was back in the team and Thierry returned to the explosive form that us gooners have become to expect. Henry scored goals against Charlton, Liverpool and Blackburn and of course that famous late winner at home to Manchester United, that still sends shivers down my spine. Thierry was back. Another late goal, this time at Middlesbrough, proved that the Arsenal captain had not lost his touch.
However, since that game at The Riverside, Henry was back to his 'start of season form'. Poor, frustrating displays against Wigan, Blackburn and PSV had gooners worrying. What had happened? Well, Thierry has responded to these questions: "I've been playing with a bad foot for two weeks now." But I like to go out there even if I'm not 100% fit. It is affecting me but I want to help the team." Apparently the frenchman has ankle ligament damage. But putting this 'brave soldier' attitude aside, why would he carrying on playing with a bad injury like that? Has he not informed Mr Wenger until now? And there will be much debate about this. Some may suggest it is an excuse but as for me, I am behind Henry all the way. I may criticise his performances but still love him as much as the next gooner.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Match Review: PSV 1-0 Arsenal
A night of frustration, pain and embarrassment was experienced in Eindhoven, making it two horrific performances from The Arsenal in just four days. In a game that wasn't a spectacle itself, there were few chances for Arsene Wenger's side to score. The PSV defence was solid. Alex and Da Costa were rocks at the back, and it didn't help Thierry Henry's troops that the Dutch champions had a giant of a keeper that was pretty decent. The keeper, Gomes, was stunning. Making many good saves to deny the gunners.
The game started slowly, and there was no real action until the 12th minute. Tomas Rosicky beautifully exchanged passes with Henry, before firing a low drive on goal, only for it to be saved remarkably by the Brazilian, Gomes. But the ball was still moving and could have gone in, had Carlos Salcido not cleared. Arouna Kone caused havoc with his tireless running and trickery, but never produced a clear-cut chance for the home side. Henry and Rosicky both had close, curling shots before the interval but that was about it.
Arsenal had played fairly well in the first half, dominating and keeping it simple. But it all changed. The gunners came out a different team, looking tired, sloppy and disinterested. PSV looked hungry. Despite being so defensive, they had a brief attacking spell, and for them, it proved to be successful. First, a long ball from the back found Kone, who volleyed a harmless shot wide. But Eindhoven broke through, with Kone not surprisingly at the source of it. The Ivorian striker found Ecuador's Edison Mendez, who fired a low, skidding volley past the helpless Lehmann from 30 yards. The pain was unbearable. But Arsenal responded well, a fierce strike from Cesc Fabregas was well tipped over by Gomes. A tame free kick from Baptista was about the only other chance on a disappointing night for all Gooners.
Match Ratings:
Lehmann: No chance for the goal but was never really called upon (5)
Gallas: Lacks match fitness. Looked way off the pace (5)
Toure: Dealt with the little PSV threat (6)
Senderos: Very poor. Too slow and not strong enough. Cygan II? Let's hope not! (4)
Clichy: Quiet but was so cool on the ball (6)
Hleb: Remarkably quiet. A shadow of the player from The Reebok (5)
Gilberto: Kept the midfield together despite being quiet (6)
Fabregas: Unusually, poor. Not like him. Needs a rest? (5)
Rosicky: The most lively player. In good form at the mo, unlucky not to score (8)
Henry: A few good touches but still not at his best (6)
Adebayor: Was he playing? (5)
Baptista: Unfortunately, just seems to be a Carling Cup player (5)
The game started slowly, and there was no real action until the 12th minute. Tomas Rosicky beautifully exchanged passes with Henry, before firing a low drive on goal, only for it to be saved remarkably by the Brazilian, Gomes. But the ball was still moving and could have gone in, had Carlos Salcido not cleared. Arouna Kone caused havoc with his tireless running and trickery, but never produced a clear-cut chance for the home side. Henry and Rosicky both had close, curling shots before the interval but that was about it.
Arsenal had played fairly well in the first half, dominating and keeping it simple. But it all changed. The gunners came out a different team, looking tired, sloppy and disinterested. PSV looked hungry. Despite being so defensive, they had a brief attacking spell, and for them, it proved to be successful. First, a long ball from the back found Kone, who volleyed a harmless shot wide. But Eindhoven broke through, with Kone not surprisingly at the source of it. The Ivorian striker found Ecuador's Edison Mendez, who fired a low, skidding volley past the helpless Lehmann from 30 yards. The pain was unbearable. But Arsenal responded well, a fierce strike from Cesc Fabregas was well tipped over by Gomes. A tame free kick from Baptista was about the only other chance on a disappointing night for all Gooners.
Match Ratings:
Lehmann: No chance for the goal but was never really called upon (5)
Gallas: Lacks match fitness. Looked way off the pace (5)
Toure: Dealt with the little PSV threat (6)
Senderos: Very poor. Too slow and not strong enough. Cygan II? Let's hope not! (4)
Clichy: Quiet but was so cool on the ball (6)
Hleb: Remarkably quiet. A shadow of the player from The Reebok (5)
Gilberto: Kept the midfield together despite being quiet (6)
Fabregas: Unusually, poor. Not like him. Needs a rest? (5)
Rosicky: The most lively player. In good form at the mo, unlucky not to score (8)
Henry: A few good touches but still not at his best (6)
Adebayor: Was he playing? (5)
Baptista: Unfortunately, just seems to be a Carling Cup player (5)
Monday, February 19, 2007
FA Cup 6th Round Draw
After the dull encouter at The Emirates, Arsenal will have to play Blackburn at Ewood Park in an FA Cup 5th round replay. Should the gunners win however, there is a date with Manchester City waiting in the quarter finals. The Quarter final games will take place on the 10th and 11th of March, squeezed in between the games against PSV and Aston Villa.
Here is the Draw in full:
Middlesbrough/West Brom v Manchester United/Reading
Arsenal/Blackburn v Manchester City
Chelsea v Tottenham
Plymouth v Watford
Here is the Draw in full:
Middlesbrough/West Brom v Manchester United/Reading
Arsenal/Blackburn v Manchester City
Chelsea v Tottenham
Plymouth v Watford
Match Preview: PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
Usually, all gooners would be excited about the return of the Champions League. But this is not the case. Arsenal's hectic fixture list means there are a possibility of 7 matches in 3 weeks! So a big European match is just what Arsenal didn't need.
Arsene Wenger has named an interesting squad for the game, with no recognisable right back included. Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are also not included, maybe to rest them for the Carling Cup Final on Sunday. Here is the 18 man squad:
1 Jens Lehmann
4 Cesc Fabregas
5 Kolo Toure
6 Philippe Senderos
7 Tomas Rosicky
8 Fredrik Ljungberg
9 Julio Baptista
10 William Gallas
13 Alexander Hleb
14 Thierry Henry
15 Denilson
16 Mathieu Flamini
19 Gilberto
20 Johan Djourou
22 Gael Clichy
24 Manuel Almunia
25 Emmanuel Adebayor
30 Jeremie Aliadiere
But there are some possible candidates for the right-back spot. Johan Djourou, Kolo Toure, William Gallas and Mathieu Flamini have all played there in their careers. PSV have injury headaches though, with Michael Reizeger, Patrick Kluivert and a few others missing through injury. But the Dutch champions should not be underrated. The deadly strike partnership of Arouna Kone and Jefferson Farfan will be a big test for the Arsenal defence.
It will be interesting to see what formation Le Boss plays as well. Will he stick with the reliable 4-4-2 or go back to last year's winning combination of 4-5-1? Well that's for him to know and for us to find out...
Team Prediction:
------------------------------Lehmann------------------------------
Djourou----------------Toure---------Gallas------------------Clichy
Hleb------------------Fabregas--------Gilberto--------------Rosicky
----------------------Adebayor---------Henry-----------------------
Score Prediction:
PSV 1-1 Arsenal
Scorers: Kone and Adebayor
Arsene Wenger has named an interesting squad for the game, with no recognisable right back included. Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are also not included, maybe to rest them for the Carling Cup Final on Sunday. Here is the 18 man squad:
1 Jens Lehmann
4 Cesc Fabregas
5 Kolo Toure
6 Philippe Senderos
7 Tomas Rosicky
8 Fredrik Ljungberg
9 Julio Baptista
10 William Gallas
13 Alexander Hleb
14 Thierry Henry
15 Denilson
16 Mathieu Flamini
19 Gilberto
20 Johan Djourou
22 Gael Clichy
24 Manuel Almunia
25 Emmanuel Adebayor
30 Jeremie Aliadiere
But there are some possible candidates for the right-back spot. Johan Djourou, Kolo Toure, William Gallas and Mathieu Flamini have all played there in their careers. PSV have injury headaches though, with Michael Reizeger, Patrick Kluivert and a few others missing through injury. But the Dutch champions should not be underrated. The deadly strike partnership of Arouna Kone and Jefferson Farfan will be a big test for the Arsenal defence.
It will be interesting to see what formation Le Boss plays as well. Will he stick with the reliable 4-4-2 or go back to last year's winning combination of 4-5-1? Well that's for him to know and for us to find out...
Team Prediction:
------------------------------Lehmann------------------------------
Djourou----------------Toure---------Gallas------------------Clichy
Hleb------------------Fabregas--------Gilberto--------------Rosicky
----------------------Adebayor---------Henry-----------------------
Score Prediction:
PSV 1-1 Arsenal
Scorers: Kone and Adebayor
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Match Review: Arsenal 0-0 Blackburn
Another FA Cup replay is required after a frustrating goalless draw at The Emirates. Blackburn came to defend and credit to them, that's exactly what they did. To the delight of the Arsenal faithful, William Gallas returned to the starting XI after almost three months on the sidelines. The versatile defender put in a solid performance before being substituted on 60 minutes. Few chances came Arsenal's way, especially in the first half when the only notable opportunity fell to Thierry Henry, who volleyed over when he probably should have scored. That was about it for the first 45.
The second half was slightly better with Theo Walcott's low drive hitting the side netting before Blackburn substitute, Matt Derbyshire's lob was well tipped over by Manuel Almunia. Then, Jeremie Aliadiere was brought down in the box by Stephen Warnock, but the referee waved play on. Tomas Rosicky came close when his snapshot went narrowly wide of Brad Friedel's post. But then the American keeper would save the day for Blackburn. Adebayor crossed from the left, for Henry to flick up before executing a lofted shot which was majestically saved by Freidel's fingertips. He then managed to block Justin Hoyte’s follow-up with his legs. But all in all it was a dull encounter, and yet another game to add to the already hectic fixture list.
Match Ratings:
Almunia: Did well to tip Derbyshire's lob over but was never troubled (6)
Hoyte: Unlucky not to score at the end (6)
Toure: Had nothing to do but did make some good runs out of defence (6)
Senderos: Made some good tackles, but he wasn't tested (6)
Gallas: Great to have him back. Solid performance (6)
Walcott: Disappointing. No end product to his runs (5)
Fabregas: Almost anonymous. Had very few touches (5)
Flamini: Also very quiet. Did well when called upon (6)
Ljungberg: Worked hard but saw very little of the ball (6)
Aliadiere: Also worked hard. Should have won a penalty as well (6)
Henry: Very quiet but his workrate improved (6)
Clichy: Dealt with the little Blackburn threat well (5)
Rosicky: Looked mostlikely to do anything. Had a couple of shots but nothing big (6)
Adebayor: Very quiet when he came on (5)
The second half was slightly better with Theo Walcott's low drive hitting the side netting before Blackburn substitute, Matt Derbyshire's lob was well tipped over by Manuel Almunia. Then, Jeremie Aliadiere was brought down in the box by Stephen Warnock, but the referee waved play on. Tomas Rosicky came close when his snapshot went narrowly wide of Brad Friedel's post. But then the American keeper would save the day for Blackburn. Adebayor crossed from the left, for Henry to flick up before executing a lofted shot which was majestically saved by Freidel's fingertips. He then managed to block Justin Hoyte’s follow-up with his legs. But all in all it was a dull encounter, and yet another game to add to the already hectic fixture list.
Match Ratings:
Almunia: Did well to tip Derbyshire's lob over but was never troubled (6)
Hoyte: Unlucky not to score at the end (6)
Toure: Had nothing to do but did make some good runs out of defence (6)
Senderos: Made some good tackles, but he wasn't tested (6)
Gallas: Great to have him back. Solid performance (6)
Walcott: Disappointing. No end product to his runs (5)
Fabregas: Almost anonymous. Had very few touches (5)
Flamini: Also very quiet. Did well when called upon (6)
Ljungberg: Worked hard but saw very little of the ball (6)
Aliadiere: Also worked hard. Should have won a penalty as well (6)
Henry: Very quiet but his workrate improved (6)
Clichy: Dealt with the little Blackburn threat well (5)
Rosicky: Looked mostlikely to do anything. Had a couple of shots but nothing big (6)
Adebayor: Very quiet when he came on (5)
Friday, February 16, 2007
Match Preview: Arsenal v Blackburn
After an impressive win at The Reebok, Arsenal entertain Blackburn in the 5th round of The FA Cup. Considering that Blackburn come from oop north, you would think that Arsenal would struggle against the Rovers. But that is not the case. The Gunners have done the 'double' over Blackburn this season in the Premiership, beating them 6-2 at The Emirates and 2-0 at Ewood Park. That said, it will not be an easy game. Gaffer Mark Hughes has created a side with a balance of strength and skill,and their main threat will be the strikeforce of Benni McCarthy and Shabani Nonda.
Arsene Wenger says he will rotate his team a bit and with the depth of the squad at the moment, it will be exciting to see who Le Boss will play.
Team Prediction:
------------------------Lehmann-----------------------------
Hoyte------------Toure--------Senderos---------------Clichy
Walcott---------Gilberto-------Fabregas-----------Ljungberg
-----------------Henry--------Aliadiere-----------------------
Score Prediction:
Arsenal 2-1 Blackburn
Scorers: Aliadiere, Walcott and Pedersen
Arsene Wenger says he will rotate his team a bit and with the depth of the squad at the moment, it will be exciting to see who Le Boss will play.
Team Prediction:
------------------------Lehmann-----------------------------
Hoyte------------Toure--------Senderos---------------Clichy
Walcott---------Gilberto-------Fabregas-----------Ljungberg
-----------------Henry--------Aliadiere-----------------------
Score Prediction:
Arsenal 2-1 Blackburn
Scorers: Aliadiere, Walcott and Pedersen
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Match Review: Bolton 1-3 Arsenal
Firstly, sorry that there was no review for the Wigan game or preview for this one. Anyway, lets cut to the chase, on a classic FA Cup tie at the Reebok.
Everyone knows Bolton are our bogey team and a win at their place comes very rarely. But the win did come. A 3-1 win after extra time - but it should have been over after 90 minutes. Arsenal welcomed back Alex Hleb to the side and what a difference he made. The Belarus international's quick feet and precise passing gave the Gunners the cutting edge and proved how important he is to the team. Mr Wenger decided to rest Jens Lehmann, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry but we proved yet again that we can win without our talismanic striker.
On 13 minutes, Emmanuel Adebayor's deflected shot flew past the helpless Jaaskelainen, to finish a wonderful Arsenal move. Tomas Rosicky gave by far his best performance in an Arsenal shirt. He was cutting inside, making some delightful passes and linking up brilliantly with Gael Clichy down the left flank throughout the match. The makeshift midfield were awesome. Hleb also had one of his best performances and Abou Diaby was as solid as a rock at the heart of the team. As for Denilson, he just gets better. The kid is only 18 but looks the real deal. Strong, quick and fits in perfectly with Arsenal's flowing football. You just wonder how good this lad will be. But throughout the game, The Gunners were in total control, everyone playing their part.
Arsenal did get a wake-up call on the stroke of half time though, a sweet strike form Stelios left the woodwork shaking before the defence got rid of the danger. Bolton looked strong in the second half, until Tal Ben Haim brought down Julio Baptista in the box, penalty! Ben Haim was booked just before stand-in skipper, Gilberto blasted the penalty over the bar. Then with five minutes left, Adebayor dispossessed Campo before rounding the keeper and hitting the post. A golden opportunity to win it went begging. Then in the dying seconds, Diouf's corner was headed down by Campo for Abdoulaye Meite to steer home from close range. UNBELIEVABLE!
So extra time began, and Arsenal had used all their substitutes: Freddie Ljungberg, Justin Hoyte and Jerermie Aliadiere replaced Alex Hleb, Tomas Rosicky and Johan Djourou. And they made a huge impact. Aliadiere went on a magnificent run before releasing Ljungberg who steered a beautiful shot past Jaaskelainen. But there was still more drama. Ben Haim was sent off for a second yellow before Nicolas Anelka fouled Adebayor in the box, another penalty! Baptista stepped up, but like his fellow countryman, blasted the penalty into orbit. And then to end an action packed night, Baptista sprinted towards the goal, rounded Jaaskelainen and let Adebayor roll the ball into the unguarded net, for his second goal.
Match Ratings:
Almunia: Has become a reliable, consistent keeper (8)
Djourou: Fantastic considering he was injured (7)
Toure: Two words: A rock (8)
Gilberto: Quiet, but solid, despite skying a penalty (7)
Clichy: We've got the best left back in the world, CLICHY! (8)
Hleb: Stunning performance, great to see him back (9)
Denilson: Mark my words, this kid will be huge... (9)
Diaby: Looks more like Vieira every game, another great prospect (8)
Rosicky: Majestic display. Here, there and everywhere. (9) MAN OF THE MATCH
Adebayor: Work rate is brilliant and made up for missing that sitter with 2 goals (9)
Baptista: Made good runs but to be honest waasted the ball (6)
SUBS:
Hoyte: Solid in the little time he had on the pitch (7)
Ljungberg: Super sub! Fantastic goal, we still love you Freddie! (8)
Aliadiere: Changed the game. Please keep him Wenger! (8)
Everyone knows Bolton are our bogey team and a win at their place comes very rarely. But the win did come. A 3-1 win after extra time - but it should have been over after 90 minutes. Arsenal welcomed back Alex Hleb to the side and what a difference he made. The Belarus international's quick feet and precise passing gave the Gunners the cutting edge and proved how important he is to the team. Mr Wenger decided to rest Jens Lehmann, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry but we proved yet again that we can win without our talismanic striker.
On 13 minutes, Emmanuel Adebayor's deflected shot flew past the helpless Jaaskelainen, to finish a wonderful Arsenal move. Tomas Rosicky gave by far his best performance in an Arsenal shirt. He was cutting inside, making some delightful passes and linking up brilliantly with Gael Clichy down the left flank throughout the match. The makeshift midfield were awesome. Hleb also had one of his best performances and Abou Diaby was as solid as a rock at the heart of the team. As for Denilson, he just gets better. The kid is only 18 but looks the real deal. Strong, quick and fits in perfectly with Arsenal's flowing football. You just wonder how good this lad will be. But throughout the game, The Gunners were in total control, everyone playing their part.
Arsenal did get a wake-up call on the stroke of half time though, a sweet strike form Stelios left the woodwork shaking before the defence got rid of the danger. Bolton looked strong in the second half, until Tal Ben Haim brought down Julio Baptista in the box, penalty! Ben Haim was booked just before stand-in skipper, Gilberto blasted the penalty over the bar. Then with five minutes left, Adebayor dispossessed Campo before rounding the keeper and hitting the post. A golden opportunity to win it went begging. Then in the dying seconds, Diouf's corner was headed down by Campo for Abdoulaye Meite to steer home from close range. UNBELIEVABLE!
So extra time began, and Arsenal had used all their substitutes: Freddie Ljungberg, Justin Hoyte and Jerermie Aliadiere replaced Alex Hleb, Tomas Rosicky and Johan Djourou. And they made a huge impact. Aliadiere went on a magnificent run before releasing Ljungberg who steered a beautiful shot past Jaaskelainen. But there was still more drama. Ben Haim was sent off for a second yellow before Nicolas Anelka fouled Adebayor in the box, another penalty! Baptista stepped up, but like his fellow countryman, blasted the penalty into orbit. And then to end an action packed night, Baptista sprinted towards the goal, rounded Jaaskelainen and let Adebayor roll the ball into the unguarded net, for his second goal.
Match Ratings:
Almunia: Has become a reliable, consistent keeper (8)
Djourou: Fantastic considering he was injured (7)
Toure: Two words: A rock (8)
Gilberto: Quiet, but solid, despite skying a penalty (7)
Clichy: We've got the best left back in the world, CLICHY! (8)
Hleb: Stunning performance, great to see him back (9)
Denilson: Mark my words, this kid will be huge... (9)
Diaby: Looks more like Vieira every game, another great prospect (8)
Rosicky: Majestic display. Here, there and everywhere. (9) MAN OF THE MATCH
Adebayor: Work rate is brilliant and made up for missing that sitter with 2 goals (9)
Baptista: Made good runs but to be honest waasted the ball (6)
SUBS:
Hoyte: Solid in the little time he had on the pitch (7)
Ljungberg: Super sub! Fantastic goal, we still love you Freddie! (8)
Aliadiere: Changed the game. Please keep him Wenger! (8)
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Match Preview: Arsenal v Wigan
Relegation candidates Wigan travel to the Emirates on Sunday, following a win over Portsmouth. Despite eight consecutive defeats before that match, Wigan will be up for this, to try and extend the gap over West Ham (who lost to Watford) to eight points. But then again, so will Arsenal. With Newcastle beating Liverpool, The Gunners can significantly close the gap on the FA Cup holders, with a win tomorrow. In their previous encounter, back in December, a late Emmanuel Adebayor goal gave Arsenal the 3 points in a dull affair at The JJB Stadium.
Arsenal have some good news on the injury front, Abou Diaby and Julio Baptista are back in the squad as well as Johan Djourou who replaces the suspended Phillipe Senderos. So Freddie Ljungberg, Robin Van Persie, William Gallas, Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue are the only players left on the sidelines and the latter two are very close to a return to action, so it's all good news for Gooners. As for Wigan, they welcome back Chris Kirkland, Leighton Baines and 'The Donkey' (aka Emile Heskey). I know I'm not the gaffer, but this is my prediction for the team line-up:
--------------------------Lehmann--------------------------
Hoyte-------------Toure-----------Djourou-----------Clichy
Walcott-----------Gilberto--------Fabregas----------Rosicky
-------------------Henry---------Adebayor------------------
And I'm going to go for an emphatic 5-0 win.
Goalscorers:
Henry (2), Adebayor, Rosicky, Fabregas
Arsenal have some good news on the injury front, Abou Diaby and Julio Baptista are back in the squad as well as Johan Djourou who replaces the suspended Phillipe Senderos. So Freddie Ljungberg, Robin Van Persie, William Gallas, Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue are the only players left on the sidelines and the latter two are very close to a return to action, so it's all good news for Gooners. As for Wigan, they welcome back Chris Kirkland, Leighton Baines and 'The Donkey' (aka Emile Heskey). I know I'm not the gaffer, but this is my prediction for the team line-up:
--------------------------Lehmann--------------------------
Hoyte-------------Toure-----------Djourou-----------Clichy
Walcott-----------Gilberto--------Fabregas----------Rosicky
-------------------Henry---------Adebayor------------------
And I'm going to go for an emphatic 5-0 win.
Goalscorers:
Henry (2), Adebayor, Rosicky, Fabregas
We've got Cesc Fabregas!
There's no doubt that Cesc Fabregas is a good player. In fact you would be mad to name a better teenager than the Spaniard. Despite being just 19 years old, Fabregas is one of the best players in the whole world. I know I am biased, but for me, he is the complete player. He can tackle, play defence-splitting passes, head, shoot and run and run and run. If he could just score a few more goals then he would get even more praise. Anyway, the reason I am writing this is to congratulate him on his latest award: The Barclays Player of the Month for January.Fabregas has become consistent this season and his stunning displays last month have earned him the award. Cesc put in class performances during January against Charlton, Liverpool, Blackburn, Manchester United, Bolton and Tottenham. But the strange thing about this was that Cesc didn't win the club award but won the Player of the Month for the Premiership! Brazilian, Julio Baptista won the arsenal.com award for his goals in the Carling Cup. With Baptista and Diaby back in the squad, everyone will be confident for tomorrows match with Wigan.
The USA Week
This week has been quite eventful. Is it the mid-week internationals? Which included the embarrassing England defeat to Spain? Well that's not the point of this particular article. It is a week when the USA got involved in 'soccer' a lot more...
Over the last 3 years or so, we have seen Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa, West Ham and Portsmouth all become taken over by foreign investors. And there was a new addition to the 'Investment Club' if that's what you want to call it. The team I am talking about is Liverpool. American duo, George Gillett and Tom Hicks have successfully completed a takeover and vow to make Liverpool one of the biggest clubs on the planet. The Reds' gaffer, Rafa Benitez will be given a huge amount of money for transfers, which the Spaniard is likely to waste, like he did with players such as Jermaine Pennant, Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez etc. This leaves us as the only 'Big 4' team which has not been taken over by foreigners.
Then Arsenal were involved with America. The Mighty Gunners confirmed a technical link with MLS side, Colorado Rapids. The American outfit will train in England during March and the two teams will host an annual tournament consisting of themselves and possibly more MLS clubs. Arsene Wenger has dismissed reports of a possible take over and stated that it was just a link to help both teams financially. Arsenal will become popular in the states and can give young players some experience by loaning them out to Colorado. Arsenal have two other 'Feeder clubs' to help with problems: Belgian side Beveren and Spaniards Celta Vigo. So this link is definitely a positive sign for both teams, as long as it doesn't end in the Club being bought.
Over the last 3 years or so, we have seen Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa, West Ham and Portsmouth all become taken over by foreign investors. And there was a new addition to the 'Investment Club' if that's what you want to call it. The team I am talking about is Liverpool. American duo, George Gillett and Tom Hicks have successfully completed a takeover and vow to make Liverpool one of the biggest clubs on the planet. The Reds' gaffer, Rafa Benitez will be given a huge amount of money for transfers, which the Spaniard is likely to waste, like he did with players such as Jermaine Pennant, Craig Bellamy, Mark Gonzalez etc. This leaves us as the only 'Big 4' team which has not been taken over by foreigners.
Then Arsenal were involved with America. The Mighty Gunners confirmed a technical link with MLS side, Colorado Rapids. The American outfit will train in England during March and the two teams will host an annual tournament consisting of themselves and possibly more MLS clubs. Arsene Wenger has dismissed reports of a possible take over and stated that it was just a link to help both teams financially. Arsenal will become popular in the states and can give young players some experience by loaning them out to Colorado. Arsenal have two other 'Feeder clubs' to help with problems: Belgian side Beveren and Spaniards Celta Vigo. So this link is definitely a positive sign for both teams, as long as it doesn't end in the Club being bought.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Justin time to make an impact
Gooners have seen that many Arsenal players have improved over the season, such as Alex Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor. But perhaps the most improved player at the club is England U21 star Justin Hoyte.
Justin has become a solid defender this season, as well as the perfect understudy for Emmanuel Eboue. With the latter being an explosive attacking threat, Hoyte is quite different. Despite having blistering pace, he is a better defensive option, with his ability to make crucial tackles before starting an attacking move. And his sudden burst of maturity and consistency could not have come at a better time. After the sale of Lauren, a crucial part of our recent success, there are only two natural right-backs: Eboue and Hoyte. And after seeing Eboue getting injured fairly regularly, Justin has slotted into that position perfectly.
Hoyte spent the whole of last season on loan at Sunderland, but it looked like the English youngster would be sold in the summer, following in the footsteps of players such as David Bentley and Jermaine Pennant, who went on loan in the past before demanding first team football and moving on. But this was not the case. A mixture of Hoyte's admirable patience and the faith from Arsene Wenger has kept him at the club.
Justin is a perfect example of an unsung hero. Not noticed by many for his superb attitude and commitment to the club, but in my eyes, Justin is an important part of our team. Sure, I'd still put Eboue ahead of him, but I would be upset to see this lad go. He still has lots to learn as well as being an English player which these days are rare at Arsenal. So Justin broke the 'Loan Curse' and looks like a solid, promising defender, so why let him go? Keep it up, Justin!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Unleash The Beast
Julio Baptista ('The Beast') has recently shown what he is capable of, with 6 goals in his last 2 starts. That is an astonishing achievement, even in the Carling Cup. And with the unfortunate loss of Robin Van Persie, when Baptista returns from injury in the next week or so, surely he must be given a go.
The Brazilian is a natural goalscorer, telling by his record of 50 goals in 2 seasons at Spanish outfit, Seville. And his recent success in front of goal has given the gaffer a real selection headache. Thierry Henry is still the first name on the team sheet, but Mr Wenger now has the 'trouble' of selecting a strike partner for the Frenchman. With Van Persie injured, Emmanuel Adebayor (based on recent form) seems like Wenger's first choice partner for Henry. The other options are Theo Walcott, Jeremie Aliadiere and Julio Baptista. But despite being a fan of Adebayor's work rate and sudden consistency, I think The Beast should be given a run in the side, maybe him and Adebayor could rotate for the privilege of playing with the inspirational Frenchman, until Rockin' Robin returns.
Henry seems to get on well with Adebayor, judging by the pairs' pathetic dance after either of them scores a goal. But The Beast can only be The Beast if he is given an opportunity. He could be the key to some consistency in the team, maybe by scoring another 10 goals before the end of the season will help us push for 2nd place and maybe the even the title...
Monday, February 05, 2007
2006/07: The season so far...
Well, firstly welcome to my blog on the mighty Arsenal. Hopefully you will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.
The Season
Well, what an eventful campaign it has been so far. So many ups and downs throughout these past months that have left all gooners on the edge of their seats. So I suppose we should start at the beginning.
Arsene Wenger opened his cheque book early on in the summer to snap up Czech international playmaker, Tomas Rosicky. He joined the gunners from German side Borussia Dortmund for a fee of around £7m. Rosicky was a hit at the World Cup, scoring 2 wonderful goals for his country in a 3-0 win over USA. So Mr Wenger had done it again. How does he do it?
August 19th 2006 was a big day in Arsenal's history, the first competitive fixture to be played at the brand new Emirates Stadium. Aston Villa were the opponents on the day and it was almost a disastrous start for the Gunners at their new home. Olof Mellberg put the visitors ahead and a poor Arsenal performance made it look like they were heading for defeat. But it was all about to change when 17 year old Theo Walcott came off the bench to make a huge impact. He scared the hell out of the Villa defence with his electric pace and sublime dribbling ability. But his finest moment came 5 minutes from the end when his cross was flicked on for Gilberto to fire past the helpless Sorensen. The rest of August wasn't good either after a defeat to Manchester City and another home draw, this time to Middlesbrough, left the giants from North London in a ridiculous 17th place in the Premiership table. But there was an upside to the month: A Deadline Day Transfer Bonanza. Public enemy Ashley Cole joined Chelsea while French defender, William Gallas went the other way, joining the mighty Gunners. Then Arsenal and Real Madrid were involved in a loan swap: Jose Reyes going to The Bernebeau with Julio 'The Beast' Baptista coming to North London. Pascal Cygan (to the delight of gooners worldwide) joined Villarreal for £2m before Arsenal clinched the signing of Brazilian midfielder, Denilson.
September brought a smile to all Gooners' faces. It all looked over. 2 points from a possible 9, before a game at Old Trafford against in-form Manchester United, surely they were doomed. But no. Step forward Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor. The Gunners controlled the game leaving the home side lost and constantly on the backfoot. Gilberto had a penalty saved early on but still Arsenal kept trying, with United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak making numerous saves. But the moment came. 19 year old Fabregas tackled Cristiano Ronaldo before playing a sublime pass into Adebayor, who cooly placed his shot under Kuszczak's body to win it for Arsenal. The irony of course was that Adebayor had been in awful form and was getting huge stick from Arsenal fans. But now, the hitman from Togo has won us over with a string of tireless performances, sometimes ending in goals. In September the Gunners also notched up wins against Charlton and Sheffield United to send them shooting up the table.
Then the wins were rolling in. Watford, Hamburg, Porto and West Brom all suffered defeats against Arsenal but the best performance was the 4-0 at Reading's Madejski Stadium. The Gunners looked like champions, confidently passing the ball around as well as scoring 4 goals at the place where Chelsea just scraped a win and Manchester United only managed a draw. The goals came from Alex Hleb, Robin Van Persie and two from Henry. After an impressive win over Liverpool at home, Arsenal struggled. Defeats at Bolton and Fulham and a draw at home to Newcastle saw them slip back down the table. But they bounced back with a 3-0 win over Tottenham.
Arsenal's youngsters were looking strong in the Carling Cup and proved themselves in a classic game at Anfield, with the score finishing Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal. Brazilian striker Julio Baptista netted 4 goals, putting an end to the recent criticism he had been recieving. Jeremie Aliadiere and Alex Song grabbed the others in a delightful win. Then the Young Guns travelled to White Hart Lane where they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, both of the goals coming from Baptista. The return leg at the Emirates was another classic encounter. Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners ahead before Mido equalised late on for Spurs. So it went to injury time. But Arsenal were too strong for their neighbours, goals from Aliadiere and Tomas Rosicky giving them a 3-1 win on the night.
Well, as you can see it has been a rollercoaster ride so far and lets hope it ends in success, come May...
The Season
Well, what an eventful campaign it has been so far. So many ups and downs throughout these past months that have left all gooners on the edge of their seats. So I suppose we should start at the beginning.
Arsene Wenger opened his cheque book early on in the summer to snap up Czech international playmaker, Tomas Rosicky. He joined the gunners from German side Borussia Dortmund for a fee of around £7m. Rosicky was a hit at the World Cup, scoring 2 wonderful goals for his country in a 3-0 win over USA. So Mr Wenger had done it again. How does he do it?
August 19th 2006 was a big day in Arsenal's history, the first competitive fixture to be played at the brand new Emirates Stadium. Aston Villa were the opponents on the day and it was almost a disastrous start for the Gunners at their new home. Olof Mellberg put the visitors ahead and a poor Arsenal performance made it look like they were heading for defeat. But it was all about to change when 17 year old Theo Walcott came off the bench to make a huge impact. He scared the hell out of the Villa defence with his electric pace and sublime dribbling ability. But his finest moment came 5 minutes from the end when his cross was flicked on for Gilberto to fire past the helpless Sorensen. The rest of August wasn't good either after a defeat to Manchester City and another home draw, this time to Middlesbrough, left the giants from North London in a ridiculous 17th place in the Premiership table. But there was an upside to the month: A Deadline Day Transfer Bonanza. Public enemy Ashley Cole joined Chelsea while French defender, William Gallas went the other way, joining the mighty Gunners. Then Arsenal and Real Madrid were involved in a loan swap: Jose Reyes going to The Bernebeau with Julio 'The Beast' Baptista coming to North London. Pascal Cygan (to the delight of gooners worldwide) joined Villarreal for £2m before Arsenal clinched the signing of Brazilian midfielder, Denilson.
September brought a smile to all Gooners' faces. It all looked over. 2 points from a possible 9, before a game at Old Trafford against in-form Manchester United, surely they were doomed. But no. Step forward Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor. The Gunners controlled the game leaving the home side lost and constantly on the backfoot. Gilberto had a penalty saved early on but still Arsenal kept trying, with United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak making numerous saves. But the moment came. 19 year old Fabregas tackled Cristiano Ronaldo before playing a sublime pass into Adebayor, who cooly placed his shot under Kuszczak's body to win it for Arsenal. The irony of course was that Adebayor had been in awful form and was getting huge stick from Arsenal fans. But now, the hitman from Togo has won us over with a string of tireless performances, sometimes ending in goals. In September the Gunners also notched up wins against Charlton and Sheffield United to send them shooting up the table.
Then the wins were rolling in. Watford, Hamburg, Porto and West Brom all suffered defeats against Arsenal but the best performance was the 4-0 at Reading's Madejski Stadium. The Gunners looked like champions, confidently passing the ball around as well as scoring 4 goals at the place where Chelsea just scraped a win and Manchester United only managed a draw. The goals came from Alex Hleb, Robin Van Persie and two from Henry. After an impressive win over Liverpool at home, Arsenal struggled. Defeats at Bolton and Fulham and a draw at home to Newcastle saw them slip back down the table. But they bounced back with a 3-0 win over Tottenham.
Arsenal's youngsters were looking strong in the Carling Cup and proved themselves in a classic game at Anfield, with the score finishing Liverpool 3-6 Arsenal. Brazilian striker Julio Baptista netted 4 goals, putting an end to the recent criticism he had been recieving. Jeremie Aliadiere and Alex Song grabbed the others in a delightful win. Then the Young Guns travelled to White Hart Lane where they came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, both of the goals coming from Baptista. The return leg at the Emirates was another classic encounter. Emmanuel Adebayor put the Gunners ahead before Mido equalised late on for Spurs. So it went to injury time. But Arsenal were too strong for their neighbours, goals from Aliadiere and Tomas Rosicky giving them a 3-1 win on the night.
Well, as you can see it has been a rollercoaster ride so far and lets hope it ends in success, come May...
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