LONDON – ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has brushed off recent speculation linking him with a move back to Spain, saying he is determined to play a role in the Gunners’ future successes.

Reports from Spain last week said Real Madrid and European champions Barcelona will battle to sign Fabregas at the end of the season.

However the Spaniard has reiterated his commitment to the Gunners and says he is fully behind the long-term strategy put in place by French manager Arsene Wenger.

‘I am so happy here,’ Fabregas told the Daily Mail. ‘And I want to continue to be part of what is happening here. Definitely. If not I would have left when I had the opportunity, three years ago, two years ago or last year.

‘I believe in this team and I feel we can achieve things. The boss believes in us more than anyone, and I feel I am part of it. He makes me see that as well. And I don’t want to fail here.’ Arsenal welcome league leaders Chelsea to the Emirates stadium on Sunday, where a win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side would move them 11 points clear of the Gunners.

Arsenal have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks and Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner, Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby will all miss the weekend clash. — AFP

Source: Straits Times, 2009

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Gameweek 14 reaches us as we start the middle third of the season. Week 13 saw few surprises though we did get the highest ever individual score. I made the error of having Fabregas as captain which I didn’t especially feel comfortable with but didn’t have many other options with Lampard and Drogba out injured, and Rooney out of form.

I did have David Dunn but didn’t fancy him due to two away games. In the event he proved me wrong. I regret not bringing in Bullard or Dempsey as I was looking at both pre-deadline. Sometimes it’s better to take the four point hit for the rewards it can bring. Don’t even get me started on having Thomas Sorensen’s 14 points left on the bench…

Gameweek 13 Top Gun (aka Tom Cruise Approves):

When I was looking back over the top scores from last week, I had a moment of panic when I thought there was a three-way 18 point tie for 1^st and I’d have to find another Top Gun character to join Maverick and Goose.

Then I remembered that someone called Jermain Defoe scored five goals against Wigan. Yes, the pint-sized striker scored a full handful of goals and picked up three bonus points. It might just be me but it almost feels like 25 points isn’t enough reward for such a feat. I guess that’s what happens with just four points for a striker’s goal. I’m sure the people who had him as captain weren’t complaining – 50 points was only two off my whole total for the week. Anyway, it’s the highest score ever from one game, even Ronaldo never got that.

As mentioned previously, following Defoe you had Dempsey Hunt and Lennon all with 18 points. The former two took advantage of playing twice while Lennon was the provider of three Defoe goals as well as getting one for himself in that 9-1 victory. A mention too for Michael Essien who scored 16 via two goals and his third man of the match award of the season.

Maverick should really be using all five hand digits to approve of Defoe's performance.

Three Captain Choices:

1. Adebayor/Man City – Every run has to come to an end and I think Man City might finally stop their run of six consecutive draws and beat Hull at home. Hull have picked up since Bullard’s return with two wins and a draw but they’re still leaky at the back while Adebayor scored his first goal in two months against Liverpool. He tends to feast on weaker defences, get bonus points when City play well and thus is a good shout for captain this weekend.

2. Drogba/Chelsea – The best defence faces the best attack this weekend as Chelsea face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday. Normally I wouldn’t suggest picking someone from this fixture but Drogba loves playing Arsenal and has terrorised them down the years. What scares me even more is that due to Gallas being doubtful, there’s a tiny, tiny chance we might see Big Phil Senderos make an appearance. I’m shuddering at the thought, Drogba owns him.

3. Rooney/Man Utd – Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Slightly trickier now that Pompey have Avram Grant newly installed but Rooney and Man Utd should still have more than enough to beat Portsmouth.

Gets a Captain's tick.

Three suggested transfers in:

1. Evra/Man Utd - The French left back has been putting together a good season and in his last few games has picked up and assist and three bonus points. Man Utd should be good for a clean sheet against Portsmouth and after that Man Utd face West Ham, Villa, Wolves and Fulham which should provide a few more opportunities.

2. Johnson or Dann/Birmingham - I’m sure many of you already Joe Hart in your team but why not add Roger Johnson or Scott Dann to your side too? The two centre backs were a newly formed partnership at the start of the season having both been signed from Championship clubs but have adapted to the Premier League well. Johnson is the pricier of the two and more likely to get bonus points but Dann is just £3.9m leaving you plenty of case for elsewhere.

3. Hunt/Hull - Some people’s form rating is skewed by one massive week whereas others are a bit more consistent. If Bullard is out of your price range then Stephen Hunt is a good option having scored five points or more in four of the last five gameweeks.

Might be worth a pick.

Three to avoid:

1. Everton players - They were woeful against Hull and have generally struggled this season. There have been bright spots like Baines and Saha but they have a tough three games (Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea) coming up and then no fixture in week 17. Avoid for now.

2. Gibbs/Arsenal – Just as soon as he was becoming a cheap option while Clichy was out, he breaks a metatarsal and is now out for three months.

3. Owen/Man Utd - Just 24 points so far. The goal against Man City is literally the single good thing he’s done this season. Diouf, N’Gog and Ghilas all have more points. Having said that, what better opponent than Portsmouth to prove me wrong.

Are you taking the mick?

T.

Arsenal got into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the tenth straight year with a 2-0 win against Standard Liege. There were injury problems though after the match with Gibbs being sidelined for close to 3 months with a fractured metatarsal and this after he came back from a minor injury to feature in this match. Gallas had a clash of head with Arshavin and was subed midway. Wenger though in his post match interview has said

Gallas has a slight ankle problem and a swollen eye. I think he will recover from the eye and the ankle soon.

Though he didn’t mention by when, I assume he meant before the weekend match. Gibbs he said was more serious.

Nasri capitalised on a defensive slip up and slotted in the first goal. He along with Fabregas controlled the midfield throughout the match. The second came from a Denilson long ranger. Playing in his 100th match, Denilson took his chance and drilled a wonderf ul shot from outside the penalty box high into the box.

Fabregas earned a unnecessary yellow card in the fag end of the match which resulted in the Standard player being sent off for a “headbutt”.

So now all set for the season-defining sunday thriller against Chelsea.

There seems to be two types of match report to do these days. We played well but we lacked concentration and we let in a late equalizer or we simply just played well.
Last nights game was an example of just what a fine line it is between the two.
We started really brightly full of training ground flicks culminating in an unbelievable passage of play on fifteen minutes when the Standard goal was comparable to an Iraqi stronghold with a Cobra gunship peppering it with shots on the first day of the Gulf war. Thanks AA (your forgiven)..

But as the half wore on Liege managed a shot that cannoned of Almunia’s bar.. Then we went into sadism mode.. Gallas nutting Arshavin meant we went down to nine men at one stage.
Then when Gallas came back  on he looked as if he had a session with Paul McKenna and looked well out of it, “When I click my fingers give a penalty away” luckily the ref wasn’t a Lilly Livered Pansy and you had to get a death certificate to get a penalty.

Somehow in all the melee Nasri broke through and put us one up. It won’t be this easy against the Chavs.

Just before half time Denilson must have remembered what country it states on his birth certificate (I know two certificates) and tried a Jairzinho type shot that swerved back and forth and totally lost the keeper.. 2-0 to the Arsenal..

The second half was similar except we created a few chances and they just crept the wrong side of the woodwork.
The highlight was when after getting his shirt half removed and falling to a tackle from behind Captain Cesc went to have a quiet word with Carcela-Gonzalez.  Cesc didn’t turn into Ole Gunnar Solskjar and stayed on his feet. The opposing player got sent off. But Cesc got booked, why??

Anyway 2-0 was the result.. but the funniest thing of the night was, the cash strapped Bindippers crash out of the Champions League.. The press’s darlings.. But we didn’t have Torres.. we didn’t have Alonso… haha good.. Their wasn’t much to watch on a Thursday night, now we can watch you lot get beaten.

Almunia.. 6.5 Strange night for him, sort of just watched any decent shots fly by and hit the woodwork.

Eboue.. 6.5.. I suppose he did okay, never had much defending to do, the diving and sprawling on the deck is getting boring and embarrassing now.

Gallas.. 7.5 Was leading by example, didn’t look well when he came back on after the head injury. Hope he is okay for Sunday.. I like a man who wants revenge.

Vermaelen .. 7.. Done as good as he needed to, he worries me slightly when we was two on two and he didn’t mark the spare man.

Gibbs.. 7.5 .. Nice one Gibbsy.. you are going to make the left back position yours soon.
But as I am writing I have read that he has fractured his foot and will have a operation today (Wednesday)..  2 months out ffs.

Song.. .. 9.. WOW!

Denilson. 7.. Looked okay for his first game back.. Super goal, dare I say a bit like that ex Man U cheating scum bag.. more of please.

Fabregas.. 7 .. Yeah not bad, bit wayward on some of his passes but that could be the new guys coming in, perhaps they need to read Cesc better.

Nasri..7.5 . He did okay, I would like to see him step up a gear soon,  hopefully he has settled into the way of life in England. Good finish for his goal, very cool.

Arshavin.. 7.. A pretty good performance, but a lot of his tricks were not going his way. Had a great chance whistle past the post.

Vela.. 6..very similar to Eduardo, lacks that physical presence that we need to lead the line.. Went missing a bit during periods of the game that Nikki B  doesn’t seem to do.

Silvestre.. 7.. There is hope, isn’t there??

Walcott.. 6.. Failed to shine, he should be running the show.

Rosicky.. Came on a bit late to judge him..

I don’t feel that great after a night when we qualify for the knockout stages  top of our CL group, Sunday will be the decider for me. if we win then I will be ecstatic or ..  well we will win..

Have a good day Roadsters..

I woke up to two very good news.

The first won’t be revealed.

The second was rather refreshing. Liverpool out of the Champions’ League. It took quite a while to digest and it was followed by a good laugh.

Truly, I hope they would finally acknowledge that they are nothing but a has been, a good has been but a has been.

I am trying to be as just as I can here, the key word being trying. I sympathise with the players actually. Liverpool had been rather cursed with managers killing of careers. I pitied the likes of Milan Baros, Luis Garcia, Peter Crouch even Robbie Keane. Such potential went wasted in Anfield. My hatred for Liverpool is the hatred of a rivalry, nothing more. In fact during their days of Jamie Redknapp, Steve Mcmanaman and Robbie Fowler, I thought they excelled up to a certain level.

At the moment the current manager is definitely under utilising Yossi Benayoun who in my opinion is a gem for Liverpool. Like how Arsenal is depending on darling Fabregas ( I find him really cute and I’m a woman, we watched football for more than one reasons, deal with it), the same Liverpool is depending on Torres. The man delivers no doubt, but how does one deliver if one is not properly fed? They rose but only on certain occasions which is clearly not enough. This season is not theirs to take. The manager will soon fall out of favour. If things aren’t turned around, Liverpool will no longer be part of the big four especially with Spurs and Villa battling their way through. Liverpool will just be a team who used to be good. As it is, they are sinking in what appears to be a quicksand. Good luck Liverpool or is it good riddance??

Now, I am not saying my darling Manchester United is raring to go in the rhythm of perfection. No, even the devils have got their work cut out for them. Ronaldo is never miss but a gap still needs to be filled. Sir Alex cannot live in denial. I believe in my team but we are still not good enough for the likes of Champions’ League. I still see Berbatov as a liability. He has proven to be a waste of money.

Well here’s to me being wrong (about the Manchester United’s not being good enough that is)

XOXO

He came into his own at the weekend

And gave Everton a bit of a bend

He can only get better and better, coz

He goes by the name of Darren Fletcher!!

Fletcher never ceases to amaze, is a must have in big games, and spurs the team on. Probably next only to Wayne Rooney for his fighting spirit and contribution on the pitch, Fletcher reveals some interesting things in an interview about his affirmations before big games, and life without the Most Expensive Player of the world.

He makes no bones of the fact that he loves propping himself against the best players.

“I love challenging myself against all the best players. I watch how good they are, but when we play them I think to myself  ‘right, I’m going to see how good you really are, Fabregas, Lampard and Gerrard. I’m going to get amongst you and see how you like it’.

And when you’ve not got the ball, I’m still going to get about you and see how you like it.

I’m going to ask you do you fancy it? Do you like getting kicked? Do you like the fact that I’m going to be at you for the whole 90 minutes? As soon as you get the ball I’m going to be in your face.

You’re not going to like it one bit. And when we have the ball, I’m going to run you into the corner and you’re going to have to follow me. Are you ready for that? Because that’s what’s going to happen.

That’s my attitude and I don’t feel I’ve come off second best to anyone this season.”

Considering how under rated he used to be, this really is saying some. But not anymore, as his contributions have been under increasing spotlight and continue to get him much deserved acclaim. The fact that we missed him in the Champions League Final is enough to underline his importance.

On Ronaldo and his move away from OT

Most of the footballing fraternity had been saying that the going will get tough for United after Ronaldo’s departure. Fletcher emphasized that the gap is being plugged and we have already showed signs of adjusting to life without him.

“Any team in the world would miss Cristiano. He’s a fantastic player and a great goalscorer.

He adapted so much when he was here. He went from being a silky winger to being a goalscoring winger and the best player in the world.

Hopefully we can become a more-rounded team and other players will raise their game to cover the gap left by his absence.

We need more goals from midfield and more goals from all the players. That will make us a stronger team, because we won’t be as reliant on one player.

Teams adapt when players leave, much as Cristiano was brilliant for us, the team sacrificed a lot for him too.

As a midfielder, I knew that I couldn’t go bombing forward because Cristiano had gone forward. I knew that I had to cover on the right so that the left-back and left midfielder couldn’t double up on our full-back.

Maybe now we’re a lot more rigid 4-4-2, with everyone knowing their role. There are perhaps more opportunities for midfielders to get in the box and get goals.

Other players will hopefully step up. Wazza springs to mind straight away and he’s already banging the goals in.

You could see at the start of this season that he was really hungry. He was in the shadows of Cristiano and often sacrificed himself for the greater need of the team.

Now it’s his time to become a bit more selfish and score the winning goals, while other players can also do a job, like Berba and Antonio.”

As the original intention of this blog was a footballing discussion between an Arsenal and Spurs fan, I felt it was only appropiate that I posted this goal and asked the question: Bad defending or brilliant individual goal?

I’m also aware how annoying posting this video must be too any Spurs fan, but hey, I’m gonna gloat a bit while I can.  Particulary as certain Tottenham fans won’t stop talking about the 9-1 demolition of Wigan on Sunday for months.

But still, what a goal from Cesc. 

James

I am not going to mention our blip at the weekend, what’s the point? Let’s do what the team should do and move on – I hope they all take it as a kick in the doo daa’s and use it to our advantage.

We have another game tomorrow night, win that one and I am sure we will not only qualify, but also secure top spot in our group.

Only when we have done that can we start thinking about our biggest game of the season so far. The Chavs come to The Emirates, and we don’t to give them anything.

Little bit of sad news in the press this morning, this relates to Cheryl Cole. Apparently her husband is a bit of a k**b and a split is on the cards. I don’t dislike Cheryl Cole, she seemed really sincere on Children in Need and she is always good for a laugh on X Factor. Shame for the girl!

Old King Kolo, now referred to as Toure the T****r has followed in the footsteps of his over paid team mate. Having realised that life is not so good up north and has decided to speak out about his previous employer.
He has suggested that our own Little Willy used to tell tales on him behind his back, encouraging Arson to leave him out of the team!!

Why is it that some players can’t just accept they are past it and that’s why they don’t get in the first team?
Move on Toure, go and cheque your bank balance and stop looking back!!

Back to our team and poor old Robin’s doctor has allegedly done a bunk, so I don’t know where that leaves him with his treatment and recovery; it’s all about tax evasion and dodgy credentials according to the papers.

Hopefully we will know more later!

Arson has started talking about contracts with William Gallas, Tomas Rosicky and Carlos Vela..

Gallas and Rosicky will both be out of contract at the end of the season and Arson wants Vela to sign a long-term deal with the Gunners.

He told The People: “I am optimistic to find a solution for both of them. We’ve had no offers for Carlos, and we are extending his contract at the moment.”

What are you doing talking to The People Arson; you should have had those boys in for a good talking to after the weekend!

Gallas wants a two year contract and the suggestion is that the typical over 30 rule will apply and he will only be offered a one year extension.

Why? Gallas is playing the best he possibly ever has done for us why can’t we just break the rules and give him the two years? Add another top class CH to the squad then we have three great defenders. Oh, and we still have Djourou to come back!

I just have a sneaky feeling that a club in France will come calling and he will be off!

That’s about it folks apart from another player from Barca expressing his desire to play alongside Cesc. Well Mr Messi, have a word with Arson….

I am sure he could fit you into the Arsenal team, somewhere!!!

After 2 weeks wait our team failed us, what went wrong?  I don’t really know, a slight attitude problem I would guess. We need more desire to win.  We need to believe..

If we still need to find a scapegoat  we cannot for a change point the finger at our favourite villains Diaby, Eboue or Bendtner.
If we were the darling buds of  the media we could blame it on our massive injury list.. But only Liverpool have top players out.. Instead we are just bottlers in their eyes.

I think the finger of blame should go to, well at least to some extent to Mr Wenger OBE, it wasn’t fair on Eduardo to be leading a line with Nasri and Rosicky as his strike partners. Now I love all three of these players but to expect them to lead the line was asking too much.
All three are still trying to recover their pre injury form.

Also with Dudu he is not a traditional no 9 type striker and to have him up top on his own is never his natural position, as I said when he was starting to comeback from his leg break, don’t expect too much from him, he wasn’t a world beater before the injury, but we made him up to be the greatest player on earth because we all wanted him to make a full recovery, but perhaps he became better than he really was in our eyes. Or could the media reaction to his definate penalty against Celtic affected him? He was shaping up okay until then..  I would have liked to have seen AA start even if he was a bit tired, just to take some of the scoring burden away from Dudu’s shoulders.

The other disappointment for me was Aaron Ramsey, we all saw the highlights of him playing for Wales against Scotland last week, he ran the game, but we never see him do the same for Arsenal, wouldn’t it be easier to fit into Arsenal’s sleek system rather than the longer ball way of Wales?  Is it that the Premiership is of a far higher level than the international scene or is he overwhelmed by playing next to such quality players?.. Who knows..

One thing is for sure we cannot keep losing games like this.. This is a squad of players that come around every four or five years and we have to make the most of it before they start an exodus one by one, leaving us to rebuild again like we had to when Hleb and Flamini left a few years ago.

But in fairness we were in such control in the first 30 minutes we should have put a chance or two away, the best one going to Eduardo but the ball was too far underneath him and he could not get a clean strike on the bit. But as usual we allowed the opposition to gain confidence and Sunderland were a half decent side in the second half.
Have we heard that before?

Almunia.. 6.. Never had much to do in reality, perhaps he could have come for the corner that lead to the goal, but I doubt if he would have got to it as it was curling away.

Sagna.. 7.. Was our main attacking threat from the flanks, I just wish he would cut inside now and again and do a give and go, his crossing is too predictable.

Gallas 7.5 Our best defender yesterday and he also has the winning mentality, it’s a pity some of our attackers don’t have the same desire.

Vermaelen 6.. A pretty average performance from him for a change, at fault for the goal. He lost a header to Darren Bent then failed to recover when the ball came back in the box.

Traore. 6.5 .. Without knowing it I think he may of put in a transfer request yesterday (Saturday) he isn’t as good as either Clichy or Gibbs so he is probably third in the pecking order unless either of the other two go. He wasn’t terrible (better than Silvestre) but he made some terrible cross field passes in front of our penalty area.

Song.. 7.5.. Played pretty well, The ref didn’t like his style of defending unless the boot was on the other foot and a Sunderland player did the same thing.  Done well not to be booked..

Fabregas.. 7.. Tried to play the captains role but frustratingly started to settle for long-range shots at goal…

Nasri.. 6.5 Tidy, but never really got into the game. He should have been fresh as a daisy after a rest, and with a few matches behind him, looked a little lethargic.

Rosicky.. 6.5.. Same as Nasri.. Never really got into the game as well as he can.

Ramsey. 6.. Forgot he was playing in some parts of the game, it was obvious he was going to be the one coming off first.

Eduardo.. 6. As I said earlier, I don’t think the role suits him leading the line as the sole striker.

Subs..

Arshavin 6.5.. Never really looked too interested after he got dumped on his arse a couple of times, surely it isn’t too cold for him..

Walcott.. 6.5.. Looked lively, but just went through the motions, did a very good ball across the six yard box that no one latched on to.

Vela. 6.. Didn’t really look any different from Eduardo, left footed and a bit lightweight. Sky never managed to show a replay of the penalty shout mmmm.

So all in all a bit of a piss off, I just  hope normal service will be resumed next week.

After what’s seemed like an age since the last Premier League matches, we return to domestic action after the international break. Plenty to consider this gameweek as four teams play twice and a host of stars are injured. More on that later.

Last time round saw an above average score of 52 for myself but this was still quite far off the high score of 107. I was not helped by Drogba and Rooney predictably doing nothing in the big clash between Chelsea and Man Utd; while I also had 13 points marooned on the bench via Joe Hart and Scott Dann, who I hadn’t thought would do much vs Liverpool.

Our captain choices did well, with Fabregas having another big week while RVP and Adebayor also had fair contributions. If you had gone with the suggested transfer of Clint Dempsey, he would have scored you seven points too.

Gameweek 12 Top Gun (aka Tom Cruise Approves):

Maverick thinks John Terry is a fool, but his fantasy score last week was good.

Yep, John Terry was Gameweek 12’s Top Gun with the now ubiquitous defender’s score of 15 points for winning goal, clean sheet and three bonus points. The number of times this has happened is ridiculous but fair play if you’ve reaped the benefit.

But wait I hear you cry, there was someone else who also scored 15 points last week. Yes dear readers, for the first time this season we had a tie for highest score of the week. John Carew almost double his season’s score with a goal, two assists and three bonus points in Aston Villa’s 5-1 destruction of Bolton. This means Maverick needs some help in approving so what better person to have than his co-pilot Goose:

Goose approves of being involved in such silliness.

It was a struggle bringing him back from the dead, but through the powers of Google search and Photoshop I managed to do it. Maybe next time Iceman will muscle his way in on the show… Elsewhere Gomes saved a penalty to score 14 for Spurs while Wright-Phillips and Fabregas both got 13, the latter getting his fifth straight man of the match award.

On to this week.

Three Captain Choices:

With Torres and Drogba very doubtful and Van Persie and Lampard definitely out, the usual field of captain choices is substantially narrowed. In addition to that Hull, Blackburn, Fulham and Everton all play twice so it might be time for some leftfield thinking in terms of captain this week.

1. Bullard/Hull – Feeling brave? Quite the gamble this one but it could well pay off. Bullard is a good player but has been injured pretty much the whole time he’s been at Hull. He made a belated home debut last week and was the key figure in a win over Stoke scoring an assist and three bonus. Now one whole game isn’t much to go on but with Hull having two games at the KC Stadium, one against lowly West Ham you’d assume he would play a part in anything good Hull may do.

2. Anelka/Chelsea - With Drogba doubtful after Jonny Evans’ kung-fu kick to his ribs, and Fat Frank injured after attempting to sprint in England training, it leaves Nicolas Anelka as the most likely source of points for Chelsea this weekend. They face a home tie against Wolves which is as near to a gimme as you can get. I fully expect a comfortable home win with a goal or two from the Frenchman.

3. Fabregas/Arsenal - Fabregas is fast becoming the new Ronaldo of fantasy football. If in doubt for a captain choice, go with him. Sunderland away is the not the easiest place to go this season, but Arsenal have a good record there in recent years and should have enough to win, even without Robin van Persie.

Gets a Captain's tick.

Three Suggested Transfers In:

1. Eduardo/Arsenal - Now that Van Persie is out for several weeks, joining the already injured Bendtner, the onus falls on Eduardo to lead the line for the leading scorers in the team. He has had a very stop start season so far but has still got two goals and two assists in just over 300 minutes of action, which isn’t bad at all. With full fitness and a new contract in the back of his pocket, he should do well over the next couple of months.

2. Etherington/Stoke – He’s kind of slipped beneath my radar but is one of the form players of the last few weeks. In his last five games he has three assists and two goals as well as a few bonus points. Over the next four weeks, only Arsenal is a game which you would class as tough for Stoke.

3. Alexander/Burnley – His price has gone right up now but as long as Burnley keep getting penalties, he’s still worth it I’d say.

Might be worth a pick.

Three To Avoid:

1. Van Persie/Arsenal - Out for a couple of months in case it wasn’t already clear. Let’s hope he doesn’t rush back from injury like he has done in the past.

2. Benayoun/Liverpool - Has been in great from this season but has tweaked his hamstring. Also, knowing Rafa he’ll probably find a way to drop the Israeli now that Aquilani is approaching full fitness.

3. Bolton players – Bottom of the team stats with just 345 points between them.

Are you taking the mick?!

T.

The debate over Fab’s future is not about Fab; it’s about Club identity.  Crucially, Fab gets this.  This is why he has committed to the Arsenal and we are watching him achieve his ridiculous potential.  If not last year, it’s true this year: he knows Barca does not truy want him.  Barca just wants to say they were able to buy him.  But Arsenal (us) love Fab and Fab loves us -you can see it in the passion .  The putrid stench emanating from Old Camp, i.e. Laporte, is about the rise of Arsenal and the fall of Barca. So until Fab rips out my heart and grinds it into the pitch with his cleats, I’ll hear no more about him leaving; I’ll carry no insecurity.  I believe.  And so should you.  Fab is Arsenal, Arsenal is Fab.

Unfortunately, the battle over Fab is less about the man and more about the Clubs. Namely, Club identity and status.  The battle between Arsenal and Barca is not zero-sum; the Arsenal’s gain has been Barca’s loss, and not just Fab, but we’re talking competition for a global brand, culture, and leadership in how to play the game.  The Arsenal’s rise challenges Barca because it’s an English team, with money, organization and a global presence.  This discussion is much bigger than a blog, so lets just focus on the proxy battle of the day: Fantastic Fab.

The signing of Fab speaks to Arsenal’s new identity since the Professor has taken over.  Arsenal is now one of the big boys, not just in Europe, but globally.  Talent from all over the world know Arsenal and want to play for Arsenal.  Indeed, Fab’s story plays far and well to young talent in Brazil, Italy and Ghana.    On the other hand, the rise of the Arsenal didn’t occur in a vacuum.  While other teams also scour the world with global reputations, only Barca, essentially, held a special status for its way of playing the beautiful game.  Thus, while the talent pool has gone global and more teams have joined the elite, this particular war is strictly between A and B.

Over the last 15 years or so, the Arsenal identity has matured in very clear steps: (1) globalize the team, (2) develop young talent, (3) create a global brand and scouting network, (4) now, play beautiful football.  Put in more simple terms: win, win again, start to develop winners, then play how you want.  Fab fit into the latter stages of this plan.  The team was winning, a la the Invincibles, and the Arsenal formed a global brand.  Then, by bringing in a young talent through the ranks the Arsenal showed the opportunity existed for a young player.  An action that has been crucial to defining the Arsenal ability to identify and develop young talent.  Today, young talent choose the Arsenal because they see Fab’s story; and, they see one of truly global elite Clubs.  They also see a team that plays the kind of football they want to play: free-flowing and beautiful.

On other side of the coin, Barca was, well, Barca.  Already one of the global elite, Barca prided itself on developing talent.  This pride was their downfall.  Fab’s class of players was particularly talented.  As a result, the club could afford to ignore him.  Yes, Barca wanted to offer a contract, but football, like life, is about more than money.  Opportunity matters, especially to a young player trying to make his mark.  So Fab left to greener pastures, and this is where everything gets twisted by the Catalans.

Barca lost Fab because of Barca, not the Arsenal.  Barca lost a homegrown talent! to a team that sought to emulate Barca’s skills in developing young players.  But contrary to the whining on Las Ramblas, the Arsenal didn’t steal a player with Barca DNA; the Arsenal saw a diamond on the floor while Barca were too busy staring into their golden mirror.  What’s worse, the diamond doesn’t think the golden mirror is all that special after all.  Every year Fab’s interest in Barca fades and his commitment to the Arsenal grows.  Every year we are witness to a rising passion, a harder hitting player and a kiss of the badge that tells us the Arsenal is Fab’s home.

This puts Barca in a bad position.  Barca must try to prize Fab away; not because they need or want him, but because they lost him and haven’t been able to get him back.  They need to show they didn’t lose a homegrown player, they need to show they can develop talent (hence the DNA claim), they need to show they are a bigger team than the Arsenal; or, somehow, that B comes before A.

I suspect in the last year, Fab has come to realizes this.  In fact, his skill and leadership this year is a direct result of him finally becoming comfortable with himself, as a professional, as an Arsenal player.  Someday Fab may leave, for his swan song in his grandfather’s land, but I doubt that day is soon, nor would I begrudge him a retirement pasture.

Truly, the only threat to Fab leaving is a lack of trophies, not now, but next year.   Should the Arsenal go trophy-less this year, next year would be the big question mark as the pressure would increase.  Really, the question would be whether Arsene makes a big splash for new players and re-hauls the team next summer.  That being said, Fab is committed to at least two years because the Club committed to him.  Not winning trophies would say as much about Fab as about Arsenal.  Arsene built the team around Fab; something Barca, make no mistake, will never do.  At Club B, he’s a trophy to bring back lost glory; at the Arsenal, he is the glory.  And Fab knows it too.

-the student

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba has attracted praise for his decision to donate £3m to charity, but he is not the first footballer to show his generous side. FanHouse takes a look at 10 players who have found it’s good to give.

1 – Didier Drogba intends to donate all the money he will receive for being the “face” of Pepsi. The Ivory Coast striker will finance the building of a hospital in his homeland. A 150-200 bed facility will be set up to treat children and it will also be used as an orphanage.

2 – Cesc Fabregas has convinced his team-mates to give up a day’s salary and a win bonus this season in order to raise up to £1m for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Last year, the Gunners raised an impressive £532,816 for the Teenage Cancer Trust and plan on making their donation an annual event.

3 – Niall Quinn gave nearly £1m – the money raised by his 2002 testimonial game at Sunderland – to a host of charities in the north east and Ireland and also funded the construction of a hospice in India.

4 – Sami Hyypia was at Liverpool last season when heard on a local radio station that a playroom at nearby Arrowe Park Hospital would not be completed because of a shortage of cash. The defender stepped in with a gift of £23,000 to make up the difference and the playroom was finished.

5 – Michael Essien set up the Michael Essien Foundation to help children in his native Ghana. It is believed that Essien will plough as much as £500,000 into the project over the next 12 months.

6 – Gary Kelly, the former Irish international defender, donated 750,000 euros after his Leeds United testimonial in 2002 to a cancer charity that had helped his sister Mandy. She died of cancer in 1998, prompting Kelly’s big-hearted gesture – the equivalent of more than £460,000 at the time – and the Gary Kelly Support Centre opened in 2003.

7 – Craig Bellamy may not be the most popular footballer in the Premier League, but, without wanting publicity, he set up a Sierra Leone charity in 2008. The Craig Bellamy Foundation aims to help youngsters affected by civil war and he pumped in £650,000 of his own cash to get the idea off the ground.

8 – Alan Shearer decided that the profits from his testimonial should split between charities in Newcastle and The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research. Fourteen charities received a healthy share of the money from Shearer’s farewell game.

9 – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer marked histestimonial in front of a packed Old Trafford against Espanyol in 2007 by giving £2m to Unicef so they could finish off school building projects across the world, including Angola and Mozambique.

10 – Rio Ferdinand, the Manchester United defender, has set up a charitable foundation, donating substantial sums to try and get youngsters off the street and more involved in their communities.

Credit: fanhouse.co.uk

So recently we have won the last two games 4-1, against AZ and Wolves.

Fabregas scored 3 goals and Nasri, Diaby and Arshavin scored one each and finally, two Wolves own goals completed our impressive goal scoring form.

They were brilliant performances against ordinary teams. We have played outstanding football and the team seem to be playing for eachother.  Passing the ball, when they have the opportunity to turn and shoot, to a player in a better position to score.  Arshavin was the key man against AZ, with 3 assists.  He often looks very lazy in games, but what he does do with the ball is know exactly when to pass it and exactly who to pass it to.  He can beat a man and he can score goals.  Which is alot better than our last Eastern European wide man *cough* Hleb *cough*

Im not going to talk to much about the games because we played brillaint football and thats what you want to see.  I was impressed with Nasri’s finish against AZ, he showed real composer in his comeback start. Its nice to see we can score goals from all around the team.

However, one person who has been key to putting goals on a plate for other players, is RVP who was recently seen doing this….

Reports are saying 3-4 weeks and others are saying months.  Whatever it is it’s going to be a long time.  We have lost our lanky Dane to injury and god knows where Carlos Vela is.  So we are left with Eduardo anddd ermmmmmm ermmmm…it will give the chance for Sanchez Watt and other young strikers from our reserves.  I guess it could give the chance for Arshavin to play up front and show why he wants to play centrally.  Maybe not that far up the field but you never know with the little Russian he could prove to be a class striker for us.

So yes, if you want reasons for not playing pointless friendlies, look at RVP’s injury against the Italians.

However, saying that yesterday I watched our young Welshman by the name of Aaron Ramsey absolutley destroy the Scots.  He was on a different level to all the players on the field. Saying that all the players on the field were Championship players including Darren Fletcher, he couldnt carry his scottish team by providing an assist, a pre-assist (think Hleb) and a wonderful solo goal.

Thats all really, this post has particularly hard for me to write because I have recently broken my wrist playing football. I just fell over, and didnt realise until I was driving home that my wrist was swelling up at an alarming rate.  So no football for 6 weeks and maybe surgery after I have my cast taken off.  So my post will be short and to the point.

I HATE NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY FOOTBALL. DAMN YOU POWERLEAGUE, DAMN YOU.

A few days later as per usual. I should call my site that. www.fewdayslate.com

Anyways, the game was on at a ungodly hour at 1:30am for me. I did stay up and I thought during the first twenty minutes “shit” my dad was wrong. A bird can shit in the same place TWICE in two years. But the bird missed that spot this time, and actually he wasn’t even in the right country… and then bang bang bang we got three goals in the next 20 minutes. Eduardo taking over Bendtner’s role on the wing forward position put the pressure on Zubar who scored an own goal. At first everyone thought it was an Eduardo style poacher goal but it wasn’t. Not long after, Ramsey drove forward after having been released by Fab, and he layed it off for Eduardo again, who I think was going for the chip into the top corner as the keeps was off his line. Own goal again. It was clearly off target and the head of whoever it was directed it nicely into the goal.

The third goal needs its own paragraph because it was seriously some simple and great football. The kind of goal that I love. Sagna motored down the wing giving it to Fabregas who gave it back to him then a cross into RVP who cushioned the cross with his chocolate foot for the “bursting in the box” midfielder Fabregas to take it completely in his stride and stroke it past the keeper. It really was brilliant. Fabregas and the rest all knew it was too. He instantly looked at Sagna and RVP to acknowledge that they just scored a goal playing the game they want to play. Just a more serious look on his face saying that is how business is done. Work is Fun, when its like that.

Second half was a bit more drab, but Arshavin popped up to get his share of the spoils with a nicely hit volley from outside the area after a clearance. It was hit decently and just the placement of it beat everyone, and mainly the keeper. It wasn’t a hard shot by any means but like I said the placement and the skiddy ground probably made it harder to deal with. Nonetheless it was a good goal. Wolves got a consolation which would have had me rithing as we should have had a cleansheet. A setpiece again not to mention.

I also watched the Chelsea game, and it was more of a game of power and few shots. Second half proved more interesting to watch. Anelka was playing decently, and Drogba was poor poor poor. Mind you poor bastard got a good kick in his chest for being poor too. Evans came out to clear a header but instead of jumping in the traditional sense with your feet pointing to the ground, he but a sole of studs into Drogbas ribcage. It didn’t look like it was a soft impact either. Drogba then got a yellow. Ha. Outrageous. Evans shouldn’t have been on the pitch anymore but now Drogba was on a caution. It didn’t matter for Chelsea as they eventually won by a goal from Terry.

It also came from a setpiece which I am not sure if should have been given or not. Fletcher came in hard against Cole but did get the ball. Its though because it was an odd tackle. Their bodies sort of clanged together parallel like and the ball was picked up straight by Fletcher. Anyhow, freekick, header, goal. United lose, Chelsea consolidate 1st by 5 points from Arsenal who are second with a game in hand. It just makes the game at the end of the month against the Blues all that much more interesting.

Its a fuckin break now, when we’re in full flow again. Do these international teams really need to play friendlies and that sort. Can they not just be included in European Cups and World Cups based on how many players in that country they got playing for top teams…

Oh well.

PES 2010 is finally released today. Seen by many as the last chance for Konami to regain ground lost to main rival FIFA, PES 2010 is a huge release. If you saw my impression pieces last week you won’t be surprised by the review – PES 2010 offers the best on-pitch videogame football experience. But will it sway you from FIFA?

Forget the lack of official licences, restricted online options and occasionally incomprehensible menu – Pro Evolution Soccer has always delivered where it matters most, on the pitch. PES 2010 continues the trend and is simply a joy to play. The action is fast, instinctive and expressive. Aerial through balls are a particular delight but cushioned first-time passes and accurately weighted crosses are all a joy. Headers feel much more realistic now too, with the players responding realistically to your timed button presses.

For the first time players can use 360 degree control when moving players. Initial discomfort soon gives way to a greater feel on the pitch, with plenty of room to improvise as you create space for a cross or shot. The action feels slightly slower than 2009 but is still much faster than main competitor FIFA. A typical PES game is more akin to the recent 4-3 Manchester derby than the continentally paced FIFA.

While the pace of the game is often unrealistic the player models are not. All the big players look the part, particularly facially.

One of the biggest improvements over 2009 is the online play. Yes, it lacks the 10vs10 and player leagues of FIFA 2010 but it is not much easier to set up games, especially 2 vs 2 games with friends. Lag is much improved too.

Offline players will spend most of their time in the Master League mode. Like the rest of the game this has seen a much-needed presentation upgrade and will entertain those looking for a longer term challenge than the Champions League.

Away from the pitch the main improvements are cosmetic. The menu screens and music are finally bought into the 21st Century. The commentary is as appalling as ever although the responsive crowd noise – quiet when you score an away goal, cheering when you make a last ditch tackle – makes up for it. The new card system, that allows you to tweak player and team tactics, is less successful though, primarily because it is hard to notice any difference on the pitch.

Many PES players have moved over to the ever improving FIFA and there’s no doubt that the more realistically paced and fully featured FIFA 2010 is an excellent football package. But performance on the pitch is where it really matters and PES 2010 wins that battle.

So what do you think then? Managed to get a copy of PES 2010 yet? What do you think?

is taken from
theguardian.co.uk

A quick one today as I’m writing this at work as I don’t yet have internet access in my new flat (posts maybe a bit sporadic for the next week or two).

1. It’s interesting to see Arsenal’s attack being lauded after 36 goals in just 11 games but it’s premature to think they’ll definitely break 100 goals. All their home games bar Spurs have been against sides in the bottom eight while it was the first time since the 6-1 against Everton on the opening day that they’d scored more than two away.

That said, they have been pretty awesome and you can only beat what’s put in front of you. The 4-3-3 formation suits Fabregas down to a tee and he already has nearly as many assists as last year as well as the small matter of nine goals in all competitions. Sunderland away is next but the real test comes in three weeks when Chelsea come to the Emirates. The best attack vs the best defence; something will have to give.

2. Surely if you’re 2-0 down in a game you’ll take a draw at the end of it. I jest slightly but Man City once again showed defensive frailty against Burnley and the current back four does not seem up to scratch if City are to be pushing for a Champions League spot. They may have only lost once but drawing all the time is not a recipe for success (just ask Liverpool last season). In the last five drawn games they could have instead won two and lost three but still been better off. Needing time to gel isn’t a good excuse.

3. It’s still only a matter of time before the Tango Man gets the chop at Hull. Jimmy Bullard was inspirational in his home debut (ten months after signing) but Stoke were doing fine until Faye got himself sent off. As luck would have it Hull have two more home games coming up against West Ham and Everton and I’d hazard a guess that if he loses both he’ll be out of a job.

Phil Brown

4. Man Utd were probably marginally the better team but Chelsea still found a way to win the game. That’s usually the mark of champions elect. A five point gap is not insurmountable at this stage of the season but if you take the big four clashes as the main opportunity to make up ground/build a lead, then Man Utd’s habit of losing them (just two wins from nine this season and last) makes life all the more difficult for themselves in terms of catching up.

5. I imagine missing a penalty wasn’t in Darren Bent’s list of ways to show Harry Redknapp the error of this ways.

6. Is the Premier League turning into a three-way race for the title and a four-way race for 4th place? Of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City the latter have the biggest squads but the former two have more experience of being involved in such a race. Villa were very good against a terrible Bolton team and might be better placed this season when they’re having to chase a 4th spot rather than lead from the front and collapse like last year. 

T.

It’s Fabregas, it’s brilliant. Look at the one touch football here, lovely touch from van Persie and a cool finish from Fabregas, typical Arsenal.

7 Nov: Wolverhampton 1-4 Arsenal.

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Arsenal climbed to the second spot in the Premier League beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 away from home. It was not a good first half though the Gunners put in two goals or rather Wolves conceded two own goals. As my friend sent an sms, the way the Wolves set up play in the first half, they were fast becoming lambs for slaughter!!!

The Wolves matched Arsenal attack for attack in the first half and surely had a couple of chances to go ahead. And I think this season Arsenal is enjoying a bit of luck in some matches where one they didnt concede and two scored on the other end when it mattered. Eduardo was lively upfront and was instrumental in pressurising the Wolves defence in making them concede two goals in the first half. Diaby getting substituted with Song (who was rested initially by keeping him in the bench) improved the midfield play.

Ramsey making a rare premier league start was quite impressive and so was Fabregas and Arshavin. Gallas was brave at the back with some impressive tackles and Gibbs at left back was a refreshing presence. van Persie provided a sublime assist to Fabregas for the third goal,coming out of a beautiful Arsenal play and Arshavin rounded off a beautiful goal to finish off in style. We should not have conceded the goal in the last few minutes and Almunia definitely would not have liked it.

Arsenal now have 36 goals from 11 games. Van Persie has 7 goals, Fabregas 6 goals and Arshavin has 4. In terms of assists, Fabregas leads with 10 and van Persie has 7.