Arsenal vs. Chelsea

0-3, Premier League, Emirates, 29/11 -09

To be honest I really don't feel like writing, but I expect that won't be to hard to understand, I'm trying to enjoy some football though, El Clasico is on and I got the channel on my own TV, so don't have to endure company.
But we played great in the first 45, even though we were 0-2 down we played the best, but were unlucky as shit.. I can't help but feeling that that has happened before...
Some say that we are definitely out of the title race now, and to be honest at this moment I can't see how we possibly could be in it, right now we are 11 points after Chelsea, even if we win the game in hand we would still be 8 points behind, and I can't see Chelsea dropping 8 points, and I definitely can't see us winning all the remaining fixtures.. So I put my faith in the FA or the CL (by the way, the draw for the FA cup was today, we got away at West Ham! I can't fucking believe it...).

The only good news that I can come up with is that no one got injured, and hopefully we raised lots of money for GOSH, this was the dedicated game to the Charity of the Season.
We didn't have the referee on our side either, at the beginning of the second half we had great pressure on Chelsea, and when the ball just bounced around in the area and eventually Arshavin slammed it in, the referee blew the whistle and said that we had kicked the ball out of Cech's hands, but the replay showed that it was himself who dropped it...
We had like three penalty situations as well, but this was clearly not our game, and let's just hope for more luck in the cups...

Injury Update;
Real bad news, van Persies injury is a lot worse than first thought, he will be out for approximately 5 months.. That's he's season then...
Bendtner closing in on return though, and so is Clichy..

Arsenal vs. Standard Liege

2-0, Champions League, Emirates, 25/11 -09
Nasri 35,
Denilson 47

We have now secured the top spot in group H, as the boss would say, job done.
The first half was all Arsenal, and we had some amazing chances! Song, Fabregas and Vela all finished well, but not well enough, and we were sooooo close in the 15' minute...
Fabregas takes a corner;
-Arshavin's shot is blocked
-Vela hits the post
-Gallas' two shots are blocked
-And Vermaelen's finish goes past everyone, but hits Arshavins head on the goal-line and goes wide...
That pretty much sums up 1 corner, but 5 shots on goal...

After that another amazing chance pops up for Standard(!?) when Mbokani hits the post!
Then another Fabregas corner, but this one was all trouble when Gallas and Arshavin clashed heads and both got off for treatment.
So Arsenal was down to nine men and that made us move, when Vermaelen passed towards Nasri and the defender misses the ball so that Nasri cooly can finish into goal!
When Gallas got on again his eye was really swollen and he was hobbling a bit, Arshavin had a bald patch on his head where he probably had some stitches made before coming back on.

Two minutes into added-time from the first half Denilson, back from injury for his 100th game, settled things when he received the ball from Gibbs and took a typical brazilian shot, straight for goal!! It really was great to see him back in business!!

In the second half we eased off a bit and just played for fun, but it didn't really end so funny...
Fabregas was harshly tackled by Carcela-Gonzalez, and when they got a little bit too close to each other Gonzalez couldn't stop himself and headbutted Fabregas, he was sent-off, but incredibly Fabregas got booked!! If he get's one more he will be unavailable for one game..
And in the dying seconds Gibbs got a injury and hobbled off...

Injury Update;
Since I write this a day after the game I have both good and bad news, the good ones is that Gallas is most likely to return for the Chelsea game, but Gibbs will be out for three months since he has a hole in his leg, and a fractured metatarsal..
But Denilson and Walcott is back, and they mean business... (;



Cesc, Theo, Bac and Andrey starred in an advert for GOSH, and it is quite funny...

Sunderland vs. Arsenal

0-1, Premier League, Stadium of Light, 21/11 -09

What is it with Arsenal after International Breaks?
Our third defeat this season, and it feels like shit, we really shouldn't drop points, certainly not three, in these games..
So now we're eight points after Chelsea but it is far from over, you should keep in mind that we were eight points behind Aston Villa last year, and we got that fourth place with ease! We even got one game in hand, but of course I don't reckon that it will be the same, Villa basically did the damage themselves last year, unfortunally it doesn't feel like Chelsea will drop so many points, therefore it is important to win next weekend!

We really looked in control in the game, and had lots of chances, but we just couldn't deliver properly.. And now we have gone one game without scoring.. Pray that it won't be anymore..

And I'm doing a replay of late August, alone in the dark, but I'm actually getting better, I have turned on the TV and I'm watching last seasons review dvd.

Internationals 18/11 -09

This was a pretty nervous round! As the last play-offs were finished..

France vs. Ireland, 1-1(agg. 2-1), Play-off, France
This was without a doubt the most exciting game of them all, France won the last game 1-0 away, and ahead of the game you thought that France easily would qualify, but Ireland took the lead and kept it until the end, but in the extra halfhour France could finish it off.
Henry got the ball on the hand in the box, but the the referee(who ironically is from Sweden) didn't blow and Henry played it to Gallas who scored from close-range.

Slovenia vs. Russia, 1-0(agg. 2-2, Slovenia qualify on away goals), Play-off, Slovenia
You didn't see that coming, really disappointing for the Russians, who have played some great football and dominated the game, but Slovenia scored and they couldn't match it.
So we won't see Andrey in next years World Cup, I personally think that it is sad because I think that Russia plays great football, and they were really great to watch in Euro 2008.

Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 2-2, Friendly, Germany
Eboue scores for Ivory Coast!! But I can't really say that it was a strong indvidual performance.. Just look below;


Austria vs. Spain, 1-5, Friendly, Austria
Cesc was on target for Spain with the equalizer 2 minutes after Austria surprisingly took the lead, but Spain proved why they are World Cup favourites with a thrilling display.
Fabregas played the entire game and was a vital part in Spains attack play.

Injury Update;
-Denilson is fit again and will travel with the squad to Sunderland on Saturday!
-van Persie will be away for about six weeks.
-Gibbs has picked up a knock playing for the England U21, he will be out for the Sunderland clash, but could be back against Standard Liege on Tuesday next week.

Internationals 14/11-09

This week the play-offs began, and the rest had some friendlies going on, not all so friendly though...

Wales vs. Scotland, 3-0, Friendly, Cardiff Stadium, Wales
This game was Ramsey's game, with two assists and one goal he claimed the man of the match award! It feels so great that he is doing well for his country, the game wasn't showed here but I have read some about the game now afterwards, and it seems like he was the most influential player on the pitch, even though he only played for about an hour!

Russia vs. Slovenia, 2-1, Play-off, Russia
A bit disappointing for the russians as Slovenia grabs a late goal to even things out a bit for the return game on Wednesday.
Arshavin captained Russia and assisted to the second goal, after being booked at the end of the first half.

Republic of Ireland vs. France, 0-1, Play-off, Croke Park, Ireland
An important win for France in this play-off, and we had both Sagna and Gallas in action for this game, keeping it clean for France while Anelka scored a priceless away-goal.
Ireland seemed very much up to it but in the end that wasn't enough, and now they have to score in France if they are to make it to South Africa.

Spain vs. Argentina, 2-1, Friendly, Vicente Calderón, Spain
What a game! If you didn't know better you would think that it was a World Cup Final! I think that half of the Argentina team was booked! But fortunately no injuries.
Xabi Alonso gave Spain the lead after some amazing playing by the European Champions! Spain was in total control of the game when Argentina got a penalty 15 minutes inte the second half, and Messi cooly converted from the spot and it was 1-1, but Spain kept up their good work and Fabregas came in a bit into the half and got a harsh tackle by Tevéz after his first touch of ball, but after that he started to work his magic, and when his corner was nodded away and Alonso took a shot, the ball touched a hand and Spain had a penalty!
Alonso converted from the spot and Spain had their win.

Italy vs. the Netherlands, 0-0, Friendly, Italy
I have saved the worst for you, van Persie started this Friendly against Italy, but only got to play for 10 minutes, Giorgio Chiellini harshly tackled RvP, and it seems to be a serious ankle injury.
He could be away for the entire season if there is a fracture in the ankle, so things aren't looking to good, but if it isn't a fracture he could be away for 2-3 months, he was going to get a proper scan today, so hopefully I can bring some good news on Wednesday..

Cameroon won away against Morocco, and they have now booked their place to South Africa, Song played the entire Game.
Croatia won 5-0 in their friendly against Liechtenstein, Eduardo scored twice.
Vermaelen grabbed a goal in Belgiums friendly against Hungary, which the Belgians won 3-0.

Wolverhampton vs. Arsenal

4-1, Premier League, Molineux Stadium, 7/11 -09
Zubar 28 (og),
Eduardo* 35,
Fabregas 45,
Arshavin 65

This was a really tricky game, in the first 15-20 minutes Wolves kept up a great pace and we didn't come anywhere, everyones focus lay on Wolves set-pieces, but it was actually we who took the lead on a set-piece, Fabregas' corner went for Eduardo, who fought against Zubar, and Zubar got the ball on his thigh and it bounced into goal!
7 minutes later Eduardo was in action again when he got the ball from Ramsey on a counter-attack, his shot bounced off Craddocks head, and into goal!
And just before half-time we punctured the game when Sagna led another counter-attack, he found van Persie who passed it on to Fabregas and he scored easily on close-target.

In the second-half things quieted down a bit, we had 81% of the ball and began to chase a fourth, and it came, once again on a set-piece when Hennessey boxed Fabregas' corner out to Arshavin who took a shot and it went in!
So in the end it was a comfortable victory, but it was quite interesting, in half time, we were 3-0 up, but it said 3-2 on shots on target for Wolves! Of course it was because of the own goal, but still! xD

*Everybody classes the goal as a Craddock own goal, but I really don't think that it was an own goal, merely just a deflection.

Arsenal vs. AZ Alkmaar

4-1, Champions League, Emirates, 4/11 -09

Fabregas 26, 53,

Nasri 43,
Diaby 72

'A brillant performance' was the boss' reaction to this win, and who would be stupid enough to say that he's wrong!

Really a great game and some amazing football (as usual) from us, but we never looked like conceding until we were like 4-0 up, then they had 2 chances or something.

And Nasri got a great goal at his debut back from injury! And our very own Captain Fantastic seems to have found his goalscoring form!

The first from Fabregas was a very well placed shot that rolled in just by the post, and we just kept on playing as brilliant as i'm starting to belive only we can do! the second wasn't long to come and it was a great pass by Arshavin to Nasri who fooled the defence and fired it home!

In the second half we just kept doing our business, and after some great running and passing, Arshavin found Fabregas basically free from his defender, and he cooly fired it home.

Fabregas and van Persie were replaced by, respectively, Ramsey and Eduardo in the 67th minute.

The fourth came when Eduardo brilliantly backheeled the ball to Arshavin who passed to Diaby, and he could easily finish with style.

Ahead of the game though, there was some bad news, Clichy has picked up a similiar injury like the one that kept him sidelined for the end of last season, it isn't a bad replacer though, now Gibbs will have a lot of playing time for Capello to watch.