Arsenal vs. Tottenham

5-2, Premier League, Emirates, 26-02-2012
Sagna 40,
van Persie 43,
Rosicky 50,
Walcott 65, 68

It was a battle that looked to be over before it had even begun, but we managed to find the true Arsenal spirit and turned it all around!! We have regained North London!!

Tottenham started the game slightly better than us, however, we find ourselves behind due to bad luck as Saha's shot was deflected and went over an unprepared Szczesny. After roundabouts five minutes the game was in our hands and we dominated the game for pretty much the entire eighty five remaining minutes. But we fell behind once again through some tough luck as Bale went down easily in the box. The ref gave them the penalty and of all people Adebayor just had to go and score from the penalty spot. But we showed them all before long.

Five minutes from half-time we took the lead. And what a class example it was. van Persie hit the post, and then the ball eventually came to Arteta, who crossed the ball into the box and Sagna met the ball with his run and a powerful header! This rallied the team and merely three minutes later we were back on equal terms. Robin van Persie twisted and turned the entire Tottenham defence inside out before firing with his left foot, an amazing shot and a potential goal of the season I dare say.

Tottenham made two substitutes at half-time, like that would change a thing! We kept our momentum going right from the start and the atmosphere became euphoric when Tomas Rosicky started the move and graciously ended it when he flicked the ball over the Tottenham 'keeper from a cross from Sagna! It was quite an occasion for the midfielder to score, it's been a while since he last did and he was our man of the match by far throughout the game. A goal very well deserved!

Our next and last goalscorer was a deserved one as well. Theo Walcott had had a dismal first half and was heavily criticised by the fans after that first half. But he came out to the second half as a man possessed! Right from the beginning did he start to look at his best as he tormented the Tottenham defenders. And within the span of three minutes he would secure the lead for us. Robin van Persie held off many defenders when he alone led the line, waiting for back-up. And it came, fast. Theo Walcott came racing into the picture and the skipper timed the pass perfectly to the young English winger, and the finish was nothing short of perfect itself. Another gracious flick over the keeper, and we were starting to truly humiliate Tottenham, which I can't say I didn't enjoy to the fullest! Three minutes later the humiliation was complete and Theo had his redemption for the display of the first half. Song's passing ability is often underestimated, he makes amazing passes every now and then, but it is rarely put into the spotlight. Well, take a bow Alexandre Song, for that pass to Walcott's second was nothing short of majestic! (So please, be sure to take an extra careful look at the assist to the last goal!) Theo Walcott made (as he often does) a brilliant run that Song spotted with his brilliant pass and the final scoreline was fulfilled. It was a well located shot that went past the keeper and in by the far post.

The atmosphere at the Emirates was (I said it before, but it can stand being repeated) euphoric! It reminded me to the night of the Barcelona game last year, when we did a comeback of a slightly different sort. It feels like ages ago since I was this proud of being an Arsenal fan. I mean, I can't be the only one to have felt the full effect of the recent dark times (and a pretty dark season over all). Now we look ahead to the Anfield game next weekend with confidence and form.

Injury Update;
-Gibbs started the game and did it well, same goes for Koscielny. Jenkinson was also brought on for the latter stages of the game, and did a really good job as well.
-Vermaelen and Rosicky have both picked up injuries, an ankle and a back problem.

Sunderland vs. Arsenal

0-2, The FA-cup, Stadium of Light, 2012-02-21

We are having some grim times at the moment. We were very poor in this game and now we'll just have to focus on the league.

Injury Update;
-Ramsey, Coquelin and Squillaci all got injured in this game.

AC Milan vs. Arsenal

0-4, Champions League, San Siro, 2012-02-15

We were horrific in this game. There really is nothing more to say concerning our performance. I'm not saying this is to blame, because we were just lame all game through, but what had happened to the pitch..? It was just plain awful, both flanks were basically just made of chunks of dirt... A disgrace of a football pitch, especially for a stadium such as the San Siro.

What's worse is that this was Henry's last game for us, he has gone back to America now, and I fell asleep during the last half of the second half... I've had a really busy week and seeing that game was just too depressing.. At least I got to see his final goodbye right before he left the pitch.

Sunderland vs. Arsenal

2-1, Premier League, Stadium of Light, 2012-02-11
Ramsey 75,
Henry 90

Thierry Henry... His return to us has been a true fairytale story! Twice has he won us the game in the final minutes! It's quite unbelievable and just shows how much of a Legend this man is! I don't think I'm the only one who will be sad to see him go this week..

We started the game brilliantly and with complete control but Sunderland got back in the game gradually. The first half was a rather quite one with an equal amount of opportunities.

The second half started like the first one, but then horror struck as Mertesacker got tangled up in the pitch (the pitch was in horrible condition, and this situation would never have surfaced at the Emirates). However, he got tangled up in the pitch and fell down, writhing in agony. Sunderland took the opportunity to score. Mertesacker was stretched off. Just plain horror.
Wenger put on Ramsey instead of the German centre-half, and Wenger Knows. It didn't take too long for the young Welshman to make an impact. Just three minutes after being brought on Aaron Ramsey scored as the ball reached his feet through a deflected shot from Arteta. A vital strike to get us back in the game.

Then it was time for the King to enter the fray. In the 91st minute Arshavin provided a great cross that Thierry Henry managed to get at the end of. He put the ball into the back of the net and the atmosphere became euphoric! (that is, amongst the away fans).

These were three vital points in the pursue of that 4th spot! Sadly, the away clash against Milan on Wednesday will be Henry's last game for us.. Most likely the last game ever for us... But at least we'll always have amazing memories, such as these! I am especially grateful as I began supporting Arsenal after he'd left! So these past weeks have been such a special time for me!

Injury Update:
-There is no news yet as to the situation with Mertesacker.
-Gibbs returned to the bench today! Hopefully he'll be ready for the midweek clash, so we'll be able to move Vermaelen into centre-half now that Mertesacker is injured.

Arsenal vs. Blackburn

7-1, Premier League, Emirates Stadium, 2012-02-04
van Persie 2, 38, 62,
Oxlade-Chamberlain 40, 54,
Arteta 51,
Henry 90

What a game!! Can't recall the last time we scored this many!! It was thoroughly enjoyed!! It was exactly what we needed after the recent weeks, a real confidence booster.

We dominated this game from start to finish and the fact that Givet was shown a red card in the first half certainly didn't make things easier for Blackburn. In the second minute Walcott provided the perfect cross for Robin van Persie to tap in! And the Dutchman's second goal came in likewise fashion, only he scored it with his right foot! Walcott ran down the right-hand side and once again provided the perfect cross for van Persie to tap in! Oxlade-Chamberlain had shown his qualities early on, and just two minutes after Robin's second he managed to get around the 'keeper and slot his first Premier League goal into the net!

The second half continued in likewise fashion, and about six minutes into the half Arteta smashed the ball into the back of the net (through a deflection) from a corner. Just minutes later Oxlade-Chamberlain was at it again when Walcott made great strides from the right-hand side and brilliantly passed the ball to the other young English winger, who smashed it home! Robin van Persie completed his hat-trick after a stunning cross from Coquelin, who filled in as fullback today as well.

There was a moment of true fairytale characteristics in the last minute of the game as the skipper provided an assist for Thierry Henry, who scored with grace in what was the last minute of (most likely) his last game in front of the home fans. The next two game are away games (Sunderland and Milan) and the contract ends in the middle of February (unless Wenger somehow manages to sign him for longer).

This is a rather interesting fact from the game: Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie either scored or assisted all the goals of the game. Quite remarkable but there were several other players (well, more or less everyone) who had outstanding games today, especially Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Bolton vs. Arsenal

0-0, Premier League, Reebok Stadium, 01-02-2012

Unbelievably frustrating game. We can't afford to drop anymore points and now we've dropped points in a game where we had complete dominition for most parts of the game, hit the post once, hit the crossbar once, missed several one-on-one chances and tons of more chances.

The first half in perticular was amazing. Both teams had plenty of good opportunities, we had the slightly better ones though. Then came the second half and we never quite reached the same level as in the first. We never built up good enough pressure and even though Robin hit both the post and the crossbar we didn't score.

Two good things to emerge from this game was that both Arteta and Sagna completed the full ninety minutes and played well!

Injury Update;
- Jack Wilshere will be out for longer, as he has picked up a stress fracture.