Posts Tagged ‘Arsene Wenger’

Today in Premier League

October 4th, 2009

It was all blues at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0 and regained the top spot in the league table. Though Chelsea had a better side on paper than Liverpool, it took Chelsea 60 minutes to actually prove that they were better than the reds on the pitch.

Drogba probably settled the debate for now, regarding who is the best striker in the Premier League. Both goals that Chelsea scored this afternoon were assisted by Drogba. Anelka scored the first and the second was added in the last minute by substitute Malouda. Liverpool hardly troubled the South Londoners as their star player Torres failed miserably.

Arsene Wenger got the perfect gift for completing 13 years as Arsenal’s boss in England’s Premier League. The North Londoners defeated Blackburn Rovers 6-2 at the Emirates. Fans were shocked when Zonzi scored the first goal for Blackburn inside 4 minutes. Vermaelen equalized in the 17th minute but Blackburn took the lead again in the 30th minute with a goal from Dunn.

Arsenal seemed in no mood of giving up as the last hour of the game saw 5 different Arsenal players getting on the score sheet. Persie and Arshavin scored before half time making sure that they go into break with a lead. Fabregas, Walcott and Bendtner did their bit for the afternoon in the second half.

Everton and West Ham managed to score a point at home this afternoon after a draw against Stoke City and Fulham respectively. The hammers equalized in the last minute against 10 men Fulham as Stanislas made sure that his club scored a point.

League Cup Updates

September 23rd, 2009

The third round of the League cup saw the big England teams, Arsenal, and Liverpool, going through to the next round. Arsenal defeated West Brom 2-0 at the Emirates stadium. Ex gunner, Jerome Thomas of West Brom was shown a red card by referee L Mason in the 37th minute for slapping Jack Wilshere of Arsenal. This left West Brom with 10 men to play the remaining 53 minutes.

The score at half time remained 0-0 but the outnumbered West Brom squad were not able to hold the gunners for long. A goal each from Sanchez Watt, and Carlos Vela made sure that Arsenal goes through the next round. Arsene Wenger had promised a young Arsenal team would start for the League cup encounter, and accordingly the average age of the team for the night was 20 years.

Elsewhere, Leeds United was hosting Liverpool. The match ended with a 0-1 win for Liverpool. 20 year old French striker David Ngog scored the only goal of the game in the 66th minute. Newly demoted Newcastle United lost against Peterborough United 2-0. The Newcastle fans faced a big question of whether their side will again play in the Premier League next season. Sunderland defeated newly promoted side Birmingham City 2-0 in an encounter which saw two Premier League clubs clashing for a place in the next round. Elsewhere, Bolton Wanderers defeated West Ham 3-1.

Other matches of the night saw Barnsley defeating Burnley 3-2, Carlisle United losing 1-3 against Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest losing 0-1 against Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City defeating Blackpool 4-3, and Scunthorpe United winning 2-0 against Port Vale.

Manchester City v Arsenal

September 10th, 2009

With the resumption of the English Premier League after the international break, Manchester City face their first major test of their new-found status as genuine top four challengers when Arsenal come to town on Saturday afternoon. City have started the season positively and have recorded three victories from their first three games so far.

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Arsenal on the other hand had started the season in rampant style, knocking in ten goals in their first two games, but the reversal at City’s bitter rivals United last time out, albeit rather unluckily, may have taken the wind out of their sails. Nevertheless, the game is eagerly anticipated by not only the fans of the two teams involved, but also fans from the rest of the country so they can gauge for themselves just how high City’s credentials are this season under Mark Hughes.

Manchester City and their team of superstars in the making couldn’t have asked for a better start to the new campaign. They have played three games so far and won each of them – one at home and two away, all without conceding a single goal. Saturday’s game though will be the sternest test they have faced so far, with all due respect to Portsmouth, Wolves and Blackburn who have all tried to match City and failed this season.

For their part, Arsenal were flying until they played at Old Trafford last time out. Despite playing well enough, they ended up losing the game to Manchester United by 2-1 and it remains to be seen what affect this will have on team spirit ahead of this Saturday’s game at Eastland’s.

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Manchester United v Arsenal

August 28th, 2009

This season’s first big four clash takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, when Man Utd play host to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. Fresh from Champions League qualification to the group stages thanks to a two-legged victory over Scottish side Celtic, Arsenal travel to Manchester in fine fettle, happy in the knowledge they are playing well and at the same time pouring scorn on those who doubted them at the beginning of the season.

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Before last weekend’s rout of Wigan at the DW (formerly JJB) Stadium, United hadn’t been playing with their usual pizzazz or verve, with many footballing “experts” questioning the wisdom of selling both Ronaldo and Tevez.

When they lost the Charity Shield to Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, the doom-mongers where predicting all sorts to go wrong for the Red Devils, and the first couple of games of the new Premier League season seemed to give credence to these mutterings. But cometh the hour, cometh the team and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men put on a devastating second half performance against Wigan to not only prove all the doubters wrong, but to also give Arsenal something to ponder.

Arsene Wenger’s side, fresh from Champions League success, head to the north-west intent on resurrecting the Manchester United doom theories, and if any team can accomplish this, then surely it has to be the Gunners?
One thing is for sure though, the game promises to be one to savour, so all those who can sit and watch it on TV on Saturday evening, should.

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Arsenal v Celtic – Champions League Play-off 2nd Leg

August 24th, 2009

Arsenal host Scottish Premier League giants Celtic at the Emirates Stadium this coming Wednesday evening for the second leg of their Champions League play-off match, with the Gunners enjoying a two goal advantage from the first leg.

This so-called “Battle of Britain” play-off tie had all the ingredients laid out for a tasty treat, but the first leg at Celtic Park in Glasgow last week turned out anything but. Although it took two rather fortuitous goals for the London side to earn their victory, the Scots never really offered anything in return, bar a couple of half-hearted chances.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was rightly delighted with the way his team coped with the intimidating Celtic Park atmosphere at the start of the match, reducing the Glasgow din to a mere murmur the longer the game progressed.

In the lead up to this coming Wednesday evening’s game, both Arsenal and Celtic enjoyed convincing victories in their domestic league campaigns – Arsenal dispatching Portsmouth 4-1 at the Emirates, while Celtic saw off hapless St. Johnstone 5-2 at Celtic Park. With Arsenal also facing Manchester United in the league next weekend, Arsene Wenger will be sweating over the fitness of captain Cesc Fabregas who failed to return for the second half of the Pompey game due to a hamstring problem.

His participation on Wednesday evening’s game against Celtic is in serious doubt but apart from that the team have no other worries. Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has no injury worries ahead of the game in London.

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Will Adebayor Exit Emirates Stadium?

August 13th, 2009

Will Adebayor Exit Emirates Stadium?

After the acquisition of Roque Santa Cruz and former Man-U’s forward striker Carlos Tevez, Mark Hughes, Manchester City’s manager seems to be on a roll and unstoppable as he seeks to revolutionize the club by signing on Arsenal’s ‘hit man’ Emmanuel Adebayor.

After his 30 goal spree in the 2007 – 2008 season, the Togolese international player became the most in-demand striker with clubs such as AC Milan and Barcelona offering bids as high as £30 million!! His failure this past season to perform an encore with such goals may see him exiting the Emirates Stadium.
Reports claim that Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger is more than willing to let the striker join the Manchester City club, proving that Arsenal might be more receptive to selling him now (before summer) than would have been in the 2008 – 2009 season.

Mark Hughes seems highly in demand for the £22 million-rated striker’s services as he sees a lot of potential in the 25-year old targetman. The Daily Mail speculates that the temperamental aspect of the former African player as well as his unruly behavior both on the pitch and in the dressing room might have resulted to his downfall and faded goodwill he once held in the fans.

All the same, his transfer to City would result in a great hope for him and the Man-City revolution.
Arsene Wenger would be able to use the price tag to acquire some of his new selection resulting in a
win-win situation if you may.

The deal is almost sealed!

Walcott out with Knee injury

March 20th, 2009

Arsenal Star, Theo Walcott, is all set for another break following an injury to his knee, which has also ruled him out of the English Under-21 squad.

Although there were hopes that Walcott would be back in the Under-21 team, who were to play against France and Norway, Gunners Manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that the forward will need some rest.

Wenger said, ‘Bad news for us and the English national side is that Walcott has got injured during training.’

‘He is going to have a scan on his knees and we will wait for the reports to comment further.’

‘At this moment, we are worried, as he was playing exceeding well since he arrived from an injury.’

‘It is too early to predict on his state to rule him out for the rest of this season. Still, this is confirmed that he is not going to be a part of our side for the Newcastle game and even be out of the England squad for their forthcoming matches.’

‘He is going to be scanned in the afternoon and we are going to assess the situation tonight.’

On being asked about the nature of this injury, Wenger said: ‘After seeing Theo locking his knee while walking back, I feel that it could be the cartilage.’

‘He was playing normally during the training, but seemed uneasy after that. So, it has to be something that happened during the training session.’

‘At this moment, we are just hoping that the injury is not serious and he recovers in time for the important legs of the current season.’

Ronaldo: Defenders never hurt me

March 6th, 2009

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United winger, insists that no defenders are playing the game having ill intentions of injuring him on purpose.

The challenge made by Newcastle United’s Steven Taylor on the Portuguese International just before the stroke of half time sparked an altercation that carried on during the break in the tunnel.

Even though Red Devils came on top with a 2-1 win at St. James Park, there were lots of questions that needed to be answered.

Following the tackle made on Ronaldo, there is a debate in the world of football over the playing style of the winger. Some believe that the Man U Star style is the factor that incites aggressive tackling from defenders.

According to Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Boss, Ronaldo requires protection from the Premier League referees, in case no one wishes to see a repeat of the event that took place on Wednesday.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Ronaldo dispelled the fact that defenders are always out there for roughening him up. Still, they do not wish to see him injured at any stage of the game. According to him, injuries were a part of playing in the Premier League and it cannot be completely avoided.

He said, ‘On the football pitch, I am the target for many defenders, so it is difficult for avoiding certain things.’

‘However, I do not believe that defenders are tackling on purpose. I respect the feeling that is spread through the game across the globe and I cannot expect people to compete with such an attitude and intention.’

Wenger: Spot for Champions League is on the cards

February 28th, 2009

Arsene Wenger has no doubt that Arsenal is going to end the season on a high with a spot in the next year’s Champions League.

With Arsenal 6 points adrift of the fourth placed Aston Villa and the final berth in the Champions League, Wenger is going to take his side’s Saturday home clash to be a make of break game. He knows that his London outfit can afford very few, if any, wrong moves in the game that are remaining in the season.

In recent week, Gunners have found it difficult for finding the net with there of their previous four games ending in a 0-0 draw. What disappointed fans more were that two of the games were in the Emirates Stadium.

In spite of the woes surrounding the club, Wenger is adamant that his club has what it takes for booking a place in the elite completion in Europe.

Arsene Wenger said, ‘I know that nothing can be predicted in football. Still, there is a feeling inside of me that gives me the right notion for my side.’

‘We still have 12 games in our hand. With consistent performance and a slight attitude adjustment, we can make it.’

‘There are some impressive young players in the club, who have been the prime factor for our unbeaten streak. All they need, at this moment, is a proper guidance and some good results in the coming games.’

With their game against Fulham on the cards, Wenger will be looking forward for his side to come up with great efforts and change their fortune.

Wenger: There is no pressure on our strikers

February 27th, 2009

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager, maintained that there ‘no major problem’ in regards to the goal scoring form of his club and backed them to perform in the coming games.

Gunners, who are going to host Fulham on Saturday, will be looking to extend their 14-match unbeaten streak following their 1-0 victory over Roma in the Champions League.

However, Wenger’s men are also yet to scored a goal for three games, with the last time being against Bolton going as far back as January 10.

This inability to convert opportunities has proved to be quite costly for them, as they have slipped to the fifth position on the table. Now, they have a long way (6 points) to cover the gap from the side immediate above them.

However, Wenger insists that there is no reason for them to hit the panic button as of yet.

Wenger said, ‘We never put pressure on players missing out on goal scoring opportunities. We know that if we force them to perform, they may break due to pressure. All we do is keep reminding them of their quality.’

‘I know teams, who have conceded goals in final few minutes of the game on a regular basis, after their manager kept pressing them to improve their defense.’

‘So, what I feel the best situation in such a scenario is to be spontaneous and natural. Sometimes, you’ve got to take the decision from the problem and think of playing to the best of our ability.’

‘There have been periods where we decimated our opponents. Now, we’ve happened to hit a slump where we are scoring less. But, this is how the game always folds up. Like other sports, football is a great leveler and our recent performance is an example of that!’