Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Schwarzer Not Coming and We're Going to Try and Win the Title with a Keeper Who Knows He's Not Wanted.


I knew it. I knew it as soon as I read that Given was staying at Manchester City (to vie for starting position during the Carling Cup?). And with their backup goalie injured, I knew there was no way Fulham would let their Number One come to Arsenal. Not even with his transfer request and a reported last ditch 4 million pound offer. Well, at least Mark gets to play in the Europa League. Small consolation to him, to us...and to Almunia.

Let's talk about Manuel. Manuel now is our Number One. We have a Number One who knows he's not what we wanted. He knows that he was second (third, fourth?) choice. How's that for a confidence booster? A few weeks ago when Almunia stated he was feeling unsettled with all the transfer rumors regarding Mark (I refuse to type his last name anymore), Wenger remarked that he could understand Almunia feeling that way but, essentially, he would have to deal with it as Arsenal was a big club under immense scrutiny and rumor at all times. Well, he dealt with it by having a solid game against the Walrus. And then,reportedly, he promptly threw his Captain's armband into the stands following the win. In other words, he did not expect to be the starting goalie for the season. He may have even thought he would be transferring elsewhere. And what about January? Almunia knows there is another transfer window opening up in a little over three months. Will he be able to play his best wondering if his position is up for grabs come winter? Lots of questions folks, and no answers from this disappointed Yank. I will say that I might find myself pulling for the Spaniard more than previously just for the sheer unwinnable position that he is in. Maybe it's not unwinnable. Maybe Manuel will respond by kicking "arse" in his position. Maybe he'll organize the back four like no one before him. Maybe he'll have the gumption to show Wenger and all of us how wrong we were to count him out. Maybe. But if you're asking me to lay money on That Maybe? I'm feeling a bit stingy at the moment. I hope Almunia feels that way when it comes to letting goals in this season. Keep your heads up Gooners.

P.S.(Before I forget, Traore went to Juventus on loan and Nacer Barazite did the same in the Eredivisie for Vitesse Arnhem. Good luck to both of them). Sigh.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Weekend Round Up and Could Transfers Still Happen?

Well, of course the big news this weekend is that we beat Blackburn at Enwood on Saturday 2-1. I wouldn't say we beat them soundly, but I came away with a good feeling about where this team could go this season. There were mistakes, but there was growth also.

The biggest growth seen again was with Theo Walcott. The boy is infused with confidence. I was surprised a bit that he started against the Rovers. Not that he didn't have a great game against Blackpool, but 'Burn is tad more physical and Theo has been known to get injured. I thought the more muscular Eboue might get the nod with Theo coming off the bench after the opposition tired. But I was wrong (shocking, I know) and Walcott started. I'd say Eboue - barring injury to our wingers - is now competing only for right back. Theo got a perfect pass from RVP and buried it - breaking the net in the process. It's so nice to see him happy with himself. The second goal came from our Russian Magician who finished a tough shot after the shot from Cesc bounced off of Theo's bottom right to a crowd of Rovers and Andrey. He took the shot calmly, hopping over a Rover to finish it.

Blackburn played their game - sort of. They kicked a lot of long balls into the box trying to get the second kick into the goal. And I have to say, Almunia did pretty well against them. Overall, Manuel had a solid game. He commanded his area on the set pieces and even recovered after pushing a ball away and knocking his head against the goal post. I thought for sure there would be blood. I think playing against the idiot who played a very late tackle on him last season might have given him incentive (as well as wanting to prove something to Wenger). He got nose-to-nose with Diouf #1 which probably sent a message to Blackburn and our team. Don't take nothin' from nobody. Well done Almunia. This stance seemed contagious as Song also got into someone's face on the pitch (I can't remember who). The "boys" aren't taking crap from people this year. We have a bit of an attitude which is welcome. Back to our keeper, I'm not saying he should be our Number One. One game does not merit that, and I don't think we can win things with him. But credit to him for that performance on that day. As far as the keeper situation goes, supposedly Fulham are trying to get Given on loan so Schwar..owww...Mark can come to Arsenal. Sparky knows it's not great hanging onto a player who doesn't want to stay and so is trying to find a solution. There's only two shopping days left people!!


Sorry about the digression there. More about players' performances. Koz made a mistake which, despite a lot of criticism out there on the web, I'm sort of okay with. We all know it takes a new player, especially one from outside the Premier League, about six months to settle in. He's got a lot to learn but we have two things going for us. One is that there is competition for his place so I'm betting he's going to feel even more an urgency to improve. The second is that we have scoring power that can potentially make up for small mistakes. I say the error was small as it wasn't all his fault. Clichy didn't seem to know there was someone behind him and I think Sagna might have been out of position. Yes, herding Diouf #1 to the side would have been a better decision, but I think the kid's learning curve is going to be pretty quick.

And now for the biggest revelation of the match: Blackburn did not play dirty! They played long balls and long throw-ins (and isn't that Samba a beast?) but no bad tackles save one that was carded. Hmmm. Did Wenger's talk to the press about Stoke playing "rugby" against the Spuds' goalie make a difference to Sam or the referee? And speaking of Stoke...Tony Pulis goal when he woke up Sunday morning must have been to become Phil Brown II. Making a formal complaint to the FA about Wenger's comments regarding The Legbreaker's rugby performance against Gomes? I really didn't have a poor opinion of Pulis until now. Before this incident, I rather admired him for bringing Stoke up from Championship and making them a force to be reckoned with. No more. Phil II it is. See if his quote isn't just a tad contradictory:

"The club is desperately disappointed with the comments which Wenger has come out with, especially the comments about Shawcross," said Pulis. "We think they are out of order and you don't expect it from a person of Wenger's esteem.

"The club will deal with it in the right and proper manner."

"He's entitled to his opinion. We've fought two world wars to be a free country. We've all got different opinions and we must let people say what they say. Whether you agree with it or disagree with it, that's a different matter."


So it's okay to have free speech as long as one agrees with what the other person stated? We fought a war over here for free speech too, and it's a right that sometimes can be down right irritating as one has to put up with the yammerings of someone one considers a total idiot. Perhaps because of Wenger's position, Pulis thinks his remarks should be less pointed. On the contrary, he has influence, he knows it, and he used it. Plus, Wenger was right. Isn't that more important than ego? Phil II, when you get that much pull (and pain as most of Le Boss's experience with the press is), then you can point fingers. Just take the Leg Breaker and go back under your rock. Seriously.

Wow, I guess I had a bit of a rant in me today. Before I go, just one more thing. Apparently, some were insinuating that Cesc played half heartedly. Oh ye faint of heart. He' not match fit yet! He looked as if he was just getting into a rhythm hooking up with Chamakh and Arshavin when he was taken off. If he's still playing like that at the end of Septmeber, then we can panic. Otherwise, get off his back please. Wow, was that another rant?

That's all for now. No games for us until the 11th (which means fragile RVP can heal up as I'm sure the Dutch wouldn't even think to use him for international play). Have a good 'un Gooners.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Finally!! Squillaci Arrives In Time For Whopping the Walrus...Goalie Next?/ Champions League Draw


I'm so happy!! Not just about finally signing Squillaci but just to have something to write about. It's been odd the lack of proper news whether real or created. And all in one day, we get news of our new defender, Wenger's press conference, and we had the Champions League draw. Where to begin?

How about with Sebastian who I am sure will soon come to be known as Squid Man or something equally catchy. Big Z comes up with some good ones, so we'll wait and see. What can I say about him that has not been said all week? I'll let Le Boss do the talking:

"He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well.

"I believe he will be suited to the English game.


Sounds good to me. He's 30 and has Champions League experience, so that's another plus in his favor. What I'm wondering now is - of course- Where. Is. The. New. Goalie???

Onto the Champions League Draw held today in Monaco and we are in Group H along with Dudu's new team and last year's champions of the Ukrainian league Shakhtar Donetsk. Also in the group are Sporting Braga from Portugal and Partizan Belgrade from the Serbian League. Braga came in second place last season in the Portugese League and Belgrade were champions of their league which is a feat considering they haven't qualified for the CL in seven years even though they were national champions the last three years running. So does that mean they suddenly got a burst of talent and desire last year, or did they then bomb out in the early qualifications rounds? Either way, the fact that they won their league last year after having a dry spell is disturbingly surreal. They could be at the same place developmentally as Arsenal - or even a year ahead. Of course, it is the Serbian League after all. I just jinxed it there, didn't I? Overall, I'd say we got the second easiest draw (see, I did it again - JINX) with some travel involved.

Our first match is against Braga on September 15th at the Emirates following the Saturday match against Bolton. Hopefully no one will be injured from clashing with the Wanderers. We then play Sunderland away, West Brom at home before flying off to Serbia on the 28th. I don't like what happens next. After the longest leg of travel (if I'm looking at my map correctly), we then play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the following Sunday. I hope we have a lot of momentum coming out of the Belgrade match to give us some extra energy. But then we have a whole week off before playing again. Oh did I mention there's a Carling Cup match stuck between Sunderland and WBA as well? To be frank, the Carling Cup still confuses me as I'm not sure what stage we start playing in. By that time, the CC is in its third round so I guess that may include us. Anyway, after September 11th, there's not much time to catch one's breath. That's a lot of football. Love it.

Wenger's press conference also informed us that Denilson is back in the squad and that Bendnter is expected back at the end of September when he'll have to do battle with Chamakh for his spot I'm sure. Nasri is going to "battle" to beat Nick into the squad as he's healing quite quickly.

That's it for now. Hopefully, we'll have news on a new goalie soon. I don't know if I can take all the new signings. Three in one summer? Come on Schwarzer (there goes my pinkie again...painful spasm) sign already! Until tomorrow...

P.S. (Did anyone else laugh when they saw that the Spuds drew Inter Milan in their group? Lovely).

Saturday, August 21, 2010

6 - 0 Spanking for Blackpool and a Hat Trick for Theo!


Well, that's more like it. Our first home game of the 2010-2011 season starts off with a sound beating of a newly promoted team. There were no surprise losses, we kept a clean sheet, and no one was carried off on a stretcher (Van Persie went down but was back on the pitch - fingers crossed and all that). On top of all that, Theo Walcott had a great match rounding it off with a hat trick before being taken off in the second half. His critics will retort with "Well, that was against Blackpool and they went down to 10 men". That may be true, but Theo could have blown every pass and shot and then people would have accused him of not being able to show up to even the easy games. He really does have a hard time getting a break from fans and critics alike (sometimes those are the same people). I say well done Theo. He looked full of confidence and even showed some leadership on the field asking for a pass and directing others. He even looked as though he was having some fun. Capello was in the stands watching, and I don't think he was disappointed.

Overall, everyone played well. Arshavin showed up and had some nice passes and link up play. He didn't score, or shoot enough in my opinion, but had a nice impact on the game. The same can be said of Rosicky who I was hoping would score as I thought he deserved a goal for all his work. Song filled in for Koz, I guess because he was in better form than Djourou who was on the bench but didn't get to play. I hope Song does not end up with any nigglies after this as he played the whole match with no prior game time under his belt. He performed okay, but one can see how the holding midfielder role is so instilled in him as he chose to try and pass out of trouble instead of just clearing the ball. Still, no damage done. Diaby was back in Song's position and had a great goal from an equally great pass from Sagna (yes, I was shocked as well). The pass was right to his foot, but a little high and Diaby timed his shot perfectly. His goal abated my irritation at him for not knowing how to receive and then pass immediately. Diaby seems to want to hold onto the ball, slowing things down whilst going in circles. Does he not know the meaning of a one/two hookup? When we have our center backs back, and Song back at his regular position, Diaby is going to have to develop his timing and passing or he could be out of the starting 11, especially when Ramsey and Nasri get healthy.

What else? Chamakh was much more involved in play today also, earning our penalty shot, missing one header but scoring another. What a beauty of a goal that was, too. Is it his long neck that allows him to turn his head perfectly for those headers? You have to wonder. Maybe he gets more force on it because of it. His build I think has to have something to do with it. He again showed fearlessness in several occasions taking on the goalie for shots. I think he's going to be wonderful.

Cesc and Van Persie came on for Arshavin and Diaby. Even though they both looked expectantly rusty, it was fun to see them on the pitch. Think of what we can achieve when all the cogs of the wheel are turning. Both also looked happy to be playing.

I guess that's about it. Frog man had a pretty quiet game with Blackpool only getting three shots on goal and two corners. I will say he did have a couple of passes to the center backs that I thought were dangerously close to being picked off. But like I said before, no harm done.

We are at Blackburn next Saturday for a match that will challenge us more as the Rovers will, in true Walrus tradition, sit behind the ball and try to kick our shins off. Koz should be back. The rest of the squad is up in the air as I'm sure someone will have a pulled something or other after today. Yes, I am a cynic these days (in some areas). Have a great day Gooners and enjoy the win.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Frogman is Joined by Mr. Potato Head/Wenger's Pre-Game Interview/ Blackpool Preview.


Frog Man...Monkey Man...otherwise known as Almunia. The signing of a new keeper has yet to happen so that means our current Number One will probably be in goal. Of course Wenger could put Fumbling in goal as Blackpool could be considered (crossing toes and fingers while subsequently rubbing rabbit's foot and throwing a pinch of salt over my shoulder)an easy win for us. I know all of us are sick to death of writing and reading about the Schwarzer soap opera but apparently we put in another bid for him this week...for the same amount we put forth in May? Really? How weird is that? How are bids communicated? Email? Is the mail boy/assistant at Arsenal bored and pranking Hughes for fun? Well, that would be kind of funny...Anyway, it was promptly rejected and Sparky had a thing to say about that accusing our club of trying to unsettle their Number One. I think Hughes is just blowing smoke and buying time as he's trying to line up a replacement for Schwarzer (I just realized how much I hate typing his name - it makes my left pinkie spasm). I have to admit I did not know what to think of Mark after the World Cup. He didn't have the best showing (nor the best defenders in front of him). But teammate Danny Murphy has come out to speak about the loss that would be felt if Schwarzer left and went on to say:

"It's a difficult one because, for me, he's been one of the best two or three keepers in the Premier League for the past few seasons and he's a fantastic guy," said Murphy."

"He's a good leader on the pitch and a wonderful goalkeeper. I didn't realise how good he was until I played with him."

Isn't that what we need? Someone in whom the players can place their trust. Someone to look to who has experience. And it sounds as if he's been kept a secret if I, Murphy, and most of the Gooners I talk to didn't seem to have an opinion before the Cup. Let's hope this secret was kept for all the good reasons. So in the end, it's more of the Wait and See Game. Wenger himself, of course, could not be drawn into answering a question about bidding on Schwarer stating:

"I am not responsible for the Fulham statements," said the Frenchman.

"I never speak about the transfers, the offers, anything made about the players, because we have so many talks in football that are never concluded.

"It is always simple if you want to buy a player and the club doesn't agree: they say no so there is not a lot to talk about."


Arsene"s statement comes from his his pregame interview today. He also spoke about injuries (Frimpong out for 6-9 months, Nasri out a month, DJ and Song are back, Cesc may start, etc) and about Gallas signing for the Spuds. Wenger is Mr. Class and only wishes Gallas well. I try to emulate class as often as possible but find it trying in this instance. Gallas is now officially Mr. Potato Head which I think out trumps Almunia's Frogman nickname in terms of sheer shamefulness.

Other than that, the only other item Wenger discussed was his maybe-I-will or maybe-I-won't - buy more players. He did admit he's short on center backs and says that he's monitoring Squillaci but no close to signing yet. Like I said...wait and see.

Before I close I wanted to direct you all to the FanShare project that Arsenal have begun. I really am a fan of a club that invents and creates with class and vision. Here is an opportunity for an everyday run of the mill fan to own stock in Arsenal...if you have a U.K. bank account. This of course means that we fans Stateside - or any fan overseas - do not have the opportunity to invest...yet. If you want to find out more go to www.arsenalfanshare.com or listen to 'Blogger's Arsecast for this week as he has an interview wtih Tim Payton from the AST.

I guess that's all for now. I don't really know a whole bunch about Blackpool other than they spanked Wigan 4-0 which means they need a spanking in return. That's my logic and I'm sticking to it. I guess that's my preview,too. You all have a great night 'cause tomorrow's Gunner Time. 'Night.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Welcome to the EPL Koz andThanks to Pepe We Draw Liverpool 1-1


Okay, we got the first match over with thank goodness. We earned a point at a tough away game and it didn't leave a totally bad taste in my mouth but of course the usual worries remain. We had most of the possession in the first half, and I thought our defense handled themselves well. Then I had a small heart attack as Cole scissored Koz's legs causing him to be stretchered off. I - and I'm sure the rest of you - thought "Not Again!". And then more panic ensued as my mind raced to name our back up central defenders...Song? Halftime was spent cursing our lack of depth in that position until miraculously, Koz jogged out of the tunnel for the second without even a limp! Reports were that Koz was taken in for xrays as they thought he had broken his shin. Cole was kicked off with a red card.

"He had a big knock on his shin and fortunately his shin pad protected him well. We were scared that it was broken. When they moved him off the pitch the physio told me it could be broken."

Well, it wasn't broken, thank goodness. And he played the rest of the match with an egg-sized lump on his shin. That must have been uncomfortable. I think the boy's rather tougher than he looks. His first match was his baptism into the EPL and it was a baptism of fire. There was plenty of physicality and I thought he did well. He shows great promise, winning headers, and heading off players (he kept a not-so-in-form Torres in check). He did get beat once or twice, but I am looking forward to seeing him develop the rest of his game.

After the second half presumed with Koz on the pitch, I relaxed a bit. Big mistake as Shavy and Jack both let a pass go astray at the Liverpool end which N'gog booted home past Almunia. It was a nice shot, and I can't say if Almunia should have saved it as I am prejudiced against the guy in the first place. We all want a new goalie and when I see Almunia ball watching and frog jumping onto his own players during corners, it's hard for me to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Anyway, we seemed to come a bit undone after that goal and we struggled against a 10-man Liverpool. Shavy continued to do nothing, Nasri seemed to disappear after having a good first half, Diaby kept trying to hang onto the ball instead of mopping up and dishing out which is his job as Song's fill-in, and Almunia kept making Jeane hide her eyes during all corners. Theo and Tommy came on in the 59th minute for Sami and Shavy. Tommy seemed to have an immediate impact running around passing and creating, and had a great shot on goal that Reina had to get a finger on it to tip it over the bar. Tommy, in my opinion, was the spark plug that got us going again. Theo had a great free kick that just missed and then finally, Chamakh dove in for a header that knocked off the post, into Pepe's hands, and into the net. I have to say two things about the goal. First, Chamakh has a touch of fearlessness about him that is going to scare goalies and two - Pepe, that's what you get for partaking in Cesc-gate when it was none of your damn business.

Some drawbacks were that Koz earned two yellows in the second half with a kick to Kuyt's ummm...privates and a handball. The handball looked incidental and that last yellow seemed harsh.

So we take on newly promoted Blackpool next Saturday with one defender down anyway, despite his resiliency. I don't want to think about that right now. Blackpool will be coming off of a 4-0 win over Wigan and will be full of confidence. Anyway, I think overall, we did okay considering we were missing three starters and still have a frog/monkey for a goalie. I'm not giving up hope as Wenger is still behind the scenes, trying to make things happen. I think. That's all for now. Enjoy the day.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Fasten Your Seatbelts - The New 2010-2011 EPL Season is Here!

So here we are -perched on the edge of the 2010-2011 Premier League Season. After months of summer lull, Cesc-gate,World Cup, and transfer hopes, we're back! Arsenal are not starting off the season easy by any means. We're at Liverpool and we are several men down due to injury or match fitness. We also are going to face the Mugmashers with either Almunia or Fabianski in goal as no one has been signed so as to wrench the position away from them. Wenger has stated that the goalie who starts Sunday is the team's No.1. I'm not looking forward to the unveiling. You all know that Fulham's Mark Schwarzer was the main rumor this summer, and he has put in a transfer request to Ol' Sparky who is reluctant (shock) to help us out. And, Schwarzer made even more of a case today for fitting into Arsenal as he did not play due to injury. His back to be specific. I say, let's go for Given who I'm sure is ticked to the core on losing his starting position to young Joe Hart - no matter how cute he is. Seriously, I can't see Given sitting the sidelines happily. He's the right age - let make an offer the scarfed Italian cannot refuse.

Back to our own injuries. DJ, of course if out so there is no back up for our centre backs other than our reserve player Havard Nordtveit. Diaby, Denilson, and Song are all back training after being out injured. I doubt they will start as they have not played one second of preseason ball. Our World Cup finalists are both healthy (even RVP!) but as they are supposedly not match fit yet, Wenger is waiting until the last minute to see if or how much they will play. That means that Ping-pong and Jack could get a start.

So I'm thinking our lineup could look a bit like this:
Fumbling

Sagna Koz Vermie Clichy

PingPong
Theo Jack Nasri Shavy

Chak-attak


My first soccer diagram. No idea if it's totally correct, but it's close. I figure Wenger will pick Theo over Tommy as Theo had a great game for England against Hungary and he probably wants to build on that confidence. Jack and Pingpong play only when Cesc and Song don't. Nasri has had such a tremendous preseason that I can't see him not playing every single minute. I think he's going to be our Man of the Match tomorrow.

As far as those Mugmashers go, Gerrard also had a great game against Hungary and will be facing our baby faced new defender Koz. Sagna will have to keep tabs on Joe Cole. Luckily, Torres is out injured but David Ngog will still try and give us problems.

One other note is that we are starting this season with knowing our manager has signed a three year extension to his contract. Yep - Wenger is ours until 2014. There's also a free video on the club site that has Wenger interviewed about his staying on four more years. It's clear he loves Arsenal and the players that he has nurtured and developed the last five years. He's hoping he'll get to see his vision come to fruition. I'm ecstatic he's staying. We know he's had offers from other clubs (Real Madrid) because he's a special manager. This is my eighth season as a Gooner and I can't imagine cheering for a team sans Wenger. Don't get me wrong, he does drive me crazy sometimes, and I know he has his weak points as a tactician, but he is also a football genius wrapped up inside a little boy who still loves the game. Let's see where he takes us this season...and let's go get those Mugmashers. GO YOU REDS!!! (Sigh...it feels so good to be able to say that again, doesn't it?)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Fire Hold the Red Bulls 0-0 as Former Fellow Invincibles Meet!

I kept pinching myself as Jeane and I traveled to Toyota Park to see the Fire play the Red Bulls. Titi vs Freddie. Even while log jammed on 94 for half an hour because of Chicagoans heading home after a weekend on Lake Michigan, I was still ecstatic. Jeane and I couldn't believe our luck! We had bought tickets to the game in order to see Henry play. But then, Freddie joined the Fire and our excitement doubled! Plus, I was curious to see how professional soccer looked live and hoped the MLS wouldn't let us down. Let's face it. Trying to get hooked on the MLS after becoming addicted to the English Premier League is a bit like driving in city after earning your license on the Autobahn. So I guess there was a small amount of trepidation riding sidecar with the excitement. Upon arrival, my trepidation evaporated. Toyota Park is accessible, clean - and best of all- an intimate setting. It only seats around 22,000 so you can see how there would not a bad seat in the house. Jeane and I cheated just a little after warm ups started by moving down six rows. It was a great view. Another pregame bonus was that the match programs were free and Jeane got a free poster of Freddie to boot. Thierry came out first for warmups. I couldn't believe he was right there in front of me! One of the best footballers in the world and an Arsenal legend. Then Freddie came out and Jeane almost leaped over the railing when she saw him. I'm kidding...sort of. I have pictures, but the footage I was hoping to get of the game is incredibly amateurish. I have included a few original shots for you all though. The game did not disappoint. Don't get me wrong, we weren't zooming through German countryside at 200 mph or anything (I'm staying with the Autobahn metaphor here), but we were definitely entertained. One of the reasons Freddie was bought was to add some attack to the offense - something they've been missing since Blanco left. I'd say Freddie fits the bill. He was all over the place playing more of the creative midfield position rather than out on the wing, but he hooked up nicely with Brian McBride several times. Henry made a couple of decent runs and had a niced shot at the net at the 20th minute, but Fire goalie - 21 year old Johnson - made a good stop. He actually made seven fine saves. And then my heart got broken. The crowd began to boo Henry every time he touched the ball. He ended up leaving the pitch right before halftime because of a groin pull, and got jeered off the field. One idiot yelled "Can't even last a half Henry!" It's his preseason you moron! Anyway, the rest of the game was a bit heavy hearted for me. Freddie had a chance to score right before the half ended. A nice one/two played between him and McBride should have resulted in the Fire going up one-nil but Freddie ended up miskicking it which almost resulted in a goofy pirouette while missing most of the ball. In all fairness though, it looked to me as though the ball took a bad bounce. It was the best chance of the night. Hmmm. Chicago's best chance came from an ex-Arsenal player. Red Bulls' best chance came from an ex-Arsenal player. Conclusion...Arsenal Rocks of course! I also got to see Marco Pappa play (I had a great time yelling "Pappa" all game - who wouldn't?), and he is someone to keep an eye on. He's almost EPL fast with a good first touch and likes to be direct to the goal. He also sees the field well and had some nice passing. He and Freddy were on the pitch at the same time, surprisingly, and did not get in each other's way. The last 15 minutes of the match were a snooze fest, and I'm guessing the players tired quickly due to the intense humidity. That or the Fire were happy with a draw. The last 15 minutes also allowed newly acquired (on loan) Mexican international Nery Castillas to make his debut for The Fire. Considering Chicago's huge Mexican population, you can imagine his reception. He looked a little ill at ease as demonstrated by three offsides call. I'm sure he'll warm up for the last half of the MLS season. All in all, a great time was had by all and I can now say I've seen professional soccer played live. I have to admit as well that I'm looking forward to following the Fire until October. I've included the only good video footage I shot. It's not bad in that you get to see Freddie try a back heel and dive for a foul. Plus, if you listen closely you can hear Jeane scream "Don't you hurt him!" at the offending Red Bull. Hilarious. That's it for now. Tomorrow will bring Arsenal news - exciting I hope (Given signs, perhaps?) Until then...

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Frightening Fabianski at Pre-Season Legia Warsaw and Chicago Fire vs Red Bulls Preview


Arsenal traveled to Poland for their last pre-season game against Legia Warsaw. We won 6-5 after rallying back in the second half. We went into halftime down 3-0 with Fumbling in goal. No, I did not get to watch the match, but looked at highlights. Did we all see Fumbling trip on his own player's leg during a set piece which led to goal? Did Blackburn call over to Poland and give tips on how to push him around? Actually, it looks like he was trying to do his own share of pushing as well. Chesney started in goal for the second half and allowed two in, but in not the same fashion. And, he was not bullied, which makes my joke about EPL teams sharing tips to beat Fumbling seem even more on target. I felt bad for him last year, but after this last performance, my sympathy is at an end...and that's saying something. Put him on loan. The defense in general was in shambles. Ugh. You can' tell me that lack of confidence in the goalie had no bearing on that. If my Vermie isn't performing well - there's a reason. Legia's last goal was due to Rozicky getting a touch on the ball and then just watching the Legia player put it in goal. Was he waiting for Chesney to grab it? Anyway, offensively, we did come back from a three goal deficit with Eboue scoring a beautiful brace (bravo), Chamak-atak scored a heck of a header, JET, Gibbsey, and of course Mr. Swivel Hips Nasri all scored in the second half. I just want to quit leaking in the back. From what I read also, Pongo did not provide the protection for the back four that was needed. It's totally expected for the 18 year old to have an off game. I'm glad that it was a friendly. Let's see if he learns from it. I included highlights below, but brace yourselves. I'm just saying.

Wenger of course, says not to give the pre-season performances much weight. Ahem...we have Liverpool in a week. Even if we get new signings this week, they won't be ready for the Mugmashers. But Wenger being Wenger, he will not criticize his players in public nor run from the room screaming like a little girl in sheer panic - unlike me.

Speaking of Wenger and new signings...don't think that he's not trying to sign. We know by now that Schwarzer won't happen as Sparky was put in charge of Fulham and will never do anything to lend a hand to Arsenal. Marchetti is seemingly still a possibility. If that transfer does not happen, it's going to be Almunia as Number One. Excuse me as I run from the room screaming like a little girl yet again.

Okay, I'm back. Other news is that Sagna has backed the signing of Spahic stating he is good enough for Arsenal. Apparently, Sagna is familiar with him from the French League. Look at the picture on the website. Doesn't he look tough? He's got a scar on his face and everything! I get the feeling he would not put up with much on the pitch. He's not well known, but older and could provide coverage while the younger players are developing.

Last on the Arsenal front is a great article by Amy Lawrence who had a chance to interview Le Boss. If you have read my blog before you know that Amy is my favorite British sports columnist. Have a look - it's an in depth interview.

That's all the Arsenal news today - well sort of. Today is the day Jeane and I get to see two ex-Arsenal players in person! It's the Fire vs the Red Bulls tonight and we have tickets. True- they are nose-bleed seats, but we do not care. We're going early hoping to catch warmups and maybe autographs. Plus, we're looking to find some empty, closer seats once the game starts although Chicago's site is saying the game is nearly sold out. Which I gather is a somewhat unusual occurrence. I bet it's all due to the American Arsenal fans. I'm hoping to tape a good portion of the game and insert in tomorrow's post. It'll be my first home-made highlight video so we'll see how successful the attempt is. Freddy was interviewed about playing in Chicago and against Henry. Apparently tonight, Freddy will be playing in the creative midfield position which I have not seen him do so that should be interesting. Usually the player in that position for Chicago is Marco Pappas. I can't find any news that he is out injured so maybe he's just being rested. A shame in that I wanted to see him play that position but I'll take Freddy. Chicago's game plan is going to be shutting down (surprise) Henry and Angel. Chicago recently got rid of my least favorite defensive man RB Tim Ward who went to San Jose. I don't see this transfer as a loss as he constantly prompted me to yell at him via the television. Slow and a bean pole, he just did not seem like a passionate soccer player to me. I don't know who's going to be playing in his place, but they gotta be better than Tim.

I guess that's all for now. The post is long but there's a lot to talk about. I'll be back tomorrow with my review of the game and (hopefully) my own highlights. Until then, have a good 'un Gooners.



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Friday, August 6, 2010

Finally!! Cesc's Official Statement after Members Day 2010


It's finally over. The mouthpieces can bark all they want now, but it will be meaningless. Cesc put out his official statement today putting to rest the rumours of his leaving after showing up at Members Day yesterday. From what I read (particularly an uncharasteristiaclly optimistic LeGrove posting), Cesc not only showed up but was announced as Captain and World Cup Winner to mad applause. Apparently, the fans gave him quite a roar when he came out. Considering his statement only came out today, the fans' reactions could have been unpredictable. Thankfully, those who showed up were a class act and cheered him on. Reports also say that he looked happy to be there which is reflected in the statement on the club site:

"Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment.

"I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me. This was the club where I learnt my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing. There are not many players in this world who would not want to play for Barcelona.

"I have had many conversations with Arsène Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal.

"I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me.

"I owe a lot to the Club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.

"I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 percent focused on playing for Arsenal.

"I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about.

"I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me."


I know you could have just read this on the site, but I love it and wanted to quote it in its entirety. The first words out of his mouth is an apology to us fans. He must know how tortuous the past few months have been for us. Thank you Cesc. Apology accepted. Was there any doubt we would not forgive him? Really I think the media should apologize more than Cesc. As I've stated before, his statement of interest in moving to Barcelona this season did not catch me by surprise. We all know his roots (also pointed out in the statement)and that he is close to being good enough to make the starting squad. Plus - and I think this was a determining. factor for Cesc - our season ended miserably. He ended his season by sacrificing a limb while others failed to track back on defense or look as if they gave a whit about being on the field. I think Cesc gave Wenger a warning about bolstering the team in places (defense) and having competition for places on the squad so everyone would feel they'd have to earn their spot (Denilson anyone?). All in all the first part of the statement I found to be forthright, honest and caring.

The last part of the statement also highlights Cesc's maturity as a professional. He recognizes that the transfer possibility is null and void and is ready to focus on Arsenal winning trophies. I love it. As fan who will never think to boo an Arsenal player, I applaud your focus and dedication to the Beautiful Game Cesc. Let's hope we can repay his professionalism with some silverware. We're getting close, you Gooners - get ready.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Tired Legs Win the Emirates Cup/Chicago Wins 3-2 Over Galaxy with Freddie


So we win the Emirates Cup again and have Almunia as Captain lifting the trophy? No, no, no! Vermie went off in the second half so we could see the DJ and Koz combination, so I guess Almunia was the second choice for Captain, but that just rubbed me the wrong way.

Blech.

The game was fun to watch, which is what an invitational really is for, I guess. I mean, how often do we get so see Sagna running around with his tongue hanging out celebrating a goal? Priceless. I'm still not putting to much stock into regarding the rest of the season. Wilshere and Frimpong do deserve a shot this year, though. And we really need more back up at CB and Goalie. But I'm not saying anything you all haven't said a million times over. And Wenger states we're still in the hunt for both, but being the wily Frenchman that he is, won't give us a hint so as not to raise the price of said player.

Journalist -"Are you still looking at signing anyone before the window closes?"
Wenger - "Yes, but we are not close to a deal yet. We are still looking at buying one or two players."
Jounralist - "Who would those be?"
Wenger -"I do not want to say as ze price will zoom through ze ceiling then"
Journalist - "Hmmm...can you give us a hint, then? Nationality perhaps?"
Wenger - "No, I zink zat would be too much. Ummm...How about this? His first initial is third in the alphabet."
Journalist - "You're looking at signing someone whose name starts with a C? Wait - first or last name?"
Wenger - "I'm not telling. Ze better question is...which alphabet?"


Anyway, the point is, it's a wait and see type of thing - as it is every year.

As a final Arsenal note - I have a bone to pick with the official website. After all the Cesc crappola that has been going on all summer, I was ecstatic to see Cesc running with the rest of the squad in the picture on today's site (see above photo). The headline was "Watch Live Video of Arsenal training session". This isn't our first video of summer training. And the videos have been presented with the picture accurately depicting the workout. I saw Cesc and thought "He's come to his senses. He's smiling as he's working out with his teammates. He must have come back from his vacation earlier than expected." I can't describe to you the sigh of relief that escaped me...until I realized the photo was from Membership Day 2009. I'd say that was a cruel trick. Not happy. Am I the only one who fell for it?

Onto Chicago...they beat the Galaxy 3-2 with Freddie coming on in the 58th minute. I didn't get to watch the match as there was a change in mine and Jeane's plans, but from what I read, Freddie didn't make much of an impact. It's his first game. I'm not that worried - just pumped to see him and Henry on the 8th (only 5 more shopping days kids!).

That's all for now. Reminder that our last preseason match is against Legia Warsaw on the 7th. Have a good one!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Entertaining Emirates Cup and Freddie Comes to Chicago!


Ahh...a chance to see Arsenal play without having to try and find a free online stream! The Emirates Cup kicked off yesterday with Celtic playing Lyon first before our Gunners played AC Milan. Lyon went ahead 2-0 but the Hoops fought back to tie 2-2. With the rules of the Cup (points for wins and draws AND goals), Celtic and Lyon left the first round with 3 points each. And then our boys came on.

With Song out injured, Emmanuel Frimpong got his start at holding midfield alongside Jackie. Emmanuel stated he didn't know he'd get that much playing time else he would have had his parents come to watch which makes me think Song's injury was last minute. I know he's only 18 years old, but having him as a back up for Song makes me feel more at ease than when Denilson plays the role. He's built like Song and has some fearlessness that is needed in the Premier League. With the second leg of the Cup today, Wenger will mix up his squad, but I hope to see more of Pongo (?) - Ping-Pong (?). Hmmm...we'll have to work on that one.

Fabianski started in goal and had a few good saves and decisive moments. I'm not sure if the header in by Milan was his mistake at the time (Vermie seemed to have made a mistake...gasp!) but other than that, he looked solid and confident. Yay. I hope just because he's young (with gorgeous eyes) that he can come back from last year's fiasco of a season. HOWEVER, more than that, I am hoping for a new goalie.

Let's talk about our new signings. I thought they were wonderful. Chamakh was everywhere involved in everything. My only criticism of him is he needs a stylist (just like Cesc did way back when) to do something with the hair. Ugh! But what a player. His link up play was awesome, he had a ton of energy, and his goal (what a great set-up by Shavy, 'eh?) was calm and collected in front of the box. He was subbed late in the second half, and his absence was noted as our momentum and directness suffered.

Koz surprised me. He was quick and decisive, covering his area and filling in for his teammates. He broke down several of Milan's attempts with precise tackling - and he's fast! He is a beanpole of course and as Milan is not Stoke (or Drogba-esque) it's difficult to say how he'll do in EPL games. He needs to eat lots of protein and hit the weights (which he has already admitted he needs).

All in all the match was entertaining, and I thought we looked pretty sharp for pre-season. As it is preseason however, I'm not using it as a litmus test for the 2010-2011 trial ahead. Today we take on Celtic (commentators better not bring up Eduardo, or I swear...) and Wenger stated in his post-game interview that Almunia will be starting in goal. Sigh. Why hasn't he signed for Osasuna (not 'Suna enough for me) yet? Oh right, they can't afford what is left on his contract. Can't we put him on blue-light special? I'd rather get a look at Chesney to see if his confidence matches his ability at this level. I suspect as well that DJ will start at center back after getting some time in Pongo's spot yesterday (seems I've decided on the nickname) and give Vermie a rest. Speaking of Vermie - how great is it to see that intensity and seriousness again? Just love him. I do.

Talking of love, Freddie Ljungberg has signed with the Chicago Fire! Jeane and I have landed tickets for the Fire vs Red Bulls game on the 8th. We bought the tickets in order to see Titi play, but now we get to see Titi and Freddie! Freddie is Jeane's absolute crush, and she is beside herself. I think he's cute, of course, but a bit too short for me. We're checking the Fire out today after the Emirates Cup match as they take on the LA Galaxy on Fox Soccer. We're hoping to see Freddie at least come on as a sub.

Okay, off to church, then to Jeane's for two doses of the Beautiful Game today. Does it get much better than this? Take care.