Arsenal vs. Bolton

2-1, Carling Cup 4th Round, Emirates, 26/10 -11
Arshavin 53,
Young Park 56

Amazing play from the team to come from behind to win this game, especially turning the game in three minutes! Also really glad for Ju Young Park to score his first goal for us and having a really good game, same goes for Arshavin who looks to be back in better form after a goal and an assist in this game.

We dominated the first half but couldn't find the breakthrough. And then came the second half and straight away we found ourselves trailing even though we had stacked up tons of chances and completely dominated the play!
However, the Bolton lead didn't last for long thanks to a great, quick comeback from the Arsenal! First, Arshavin received the ball from Benayoun and finished superbly in the far corner! Barely three minutes later the Russian playmaker teed up Ju Young Park who made a great run on the left-hand side and placed it past the Bolton 'keeper.

Injury Update;
-Vermaelen made his own comeback in this game and am absolutely delighted to see him back! Meaning that he'll make the Chelsea game on Saturday as well.

Birmingham vs. Arsenal

1-2, the Carling Cup Final, Wembley, 27/2 -11
van Persie 38

I really thought that this would be the one trophy to get us going again, all the talk ahead of the game about this being the chance for us to prove that we can win, well does this then prove that we can't win? Sure we still have a go at all the other competitions, but I don't think anyone feels as confident anymore, and if anyone do they're just fooling themselves...

Especially to lose the game in the 89th minute due to a lack of communication in the defense, I mean, Koscielny had been totally brilliant throughout the entire game, but in the last minute he doesn't hear Szczeny and Szczesny doesn't hear him.....


When I walked home from the game (I watched it at O'Learys), I couldn't stop myself from thinking how stupidly superstitious of me to take my leather jacket that I had when I went to Emirates last spring, it was several degrees below zero and (obviously) freezing...



And the jacket certainly didn't help Arsenal one bit!

Arsenal vs. Ipswich

3-0 (aggregate 3-1), Carling Cup, Emirates, 25/1 -11
Bendtner 61,
Koscielny 64,
Fabregas 77

We are going to Wembley!

A comfortable win in the end but as the players stressed after the game, credit to Ipswich for keeping it level for over an hour. But then we clinched a spot in the final in two and a half minute!

For the first hour of the game the closest we got to scoring was when van Persie hit the bar with a header, but when we were past the hour mark Bendtner scored in style when he received a beautiful pass from Wilshere and then decided to cut inside from the left, and his shot was wonderfully taken!
Just barely two minutes later Koscielny gave us a spot in the final! He scored from a corner by Arshavin, a great header!
With thirteen minutes to go our skipper sealed the game, another pass from Arshavin gave Fabregas a golden opportunity to score, and he placed the ball between the legs of the outrushing Ipswich 'keeper.

So we have a final coming up by the end of next month!

Injury Update;
-18 minutes into the game Sagna got a concussion after clashing heads with Szczesny, but today he could leave the hospital and felt much better!

Ipswich Town vs. Arsenal

0-1, Carling Cup, Portman Road, 12/1 -11

A really poor result, we had lots of chances but just couldn't score and the more time that passed the more Ipswich's confidence grew, and then they get an offside goal when the game is almost over which leaves us with one option, thrashing them at the Emirates on the 25th!

Injury Update;
-As Squillaci has picked up a hamstring problem we are likely to sign another defender in this transfer window, though Vermaelen hasn't had another setback so he might be back within a couple of weeks!

Carling Cup Draw, World Cup vote and Goal of the Month

Yeah, a quite eventful day in the football world, but the major event of the day must have been the World Cup Vote! I'm not going to hold it in anymore, the world cup of 1018 goes to Russia! and the world cup of 2022 goes to Qatar! Disappointment for England as their bid was beaten by Russia's, but at least I got to hear a very good speech by Arshavin, who played a big part in Russia's bid, as he is captain of their national team, but is unfortunately not likely to play in that world cup.

We will face Ipswich Town in the semi finals of the Carling Cup, an exciting two legged final which will begin in Ipswich.

The goal of the month video came out today as it is the start of a new month, and my vote went to Samir's against Tottenham, as I think that it was a sublime finish! But Theo's strike at Donetsk came close as well, have a look yourself:

Arsenal vs. Wigan

2-0, Carling Cup, Emirates, 30/11 -10
Alcaraz 41 (og),
Bendtner 67

We never played truly convincing during the game, we created lots of chances but most of them were wasted, but nevertheless, we're in the semi finals!
Van Persie started this game, the first start for quite some time, and he did well, obviously he's not in top shape yet, but he had some great touches and free kicks during the game, so it looks like he's getting there!

The game started very slow, actually, it was pretty slow all through the 90 minutes, but we had some moments when we played great football and created lots of chances.
We deserved to go ahead before half time, even though it was a Wigan own goal, it was headed in by Alcaraz, from Theo's corner.

Our second goal was a bit better, van Persie started the attack by playing the ball wide to Vela, who's cross found Bendtner, and he managed to get it past the Wigan 'keeper.
So it wasn't our best game ever, but it was enough to get us into the last four in the league cup.

Injury update;
-no news as it is right now.

Newcastle vs. Arsenal

4-0, Premier League, St James' Park, 27/10 -10
Krul 45 (og),
Walcott 53, 88,
Bendtner 82

Really tough game, but thanks to a Newcastle own goal at the end of the first half gave us the upper hand ahead of the second half, which sealed the game in a way, as Newcastle found themselves exposed at the back when pushing forward.
Poor Gibbs picked up another injury after a couple of minutes, and it is likely to keep him out for a few weeks.

The game was very even for long periods of the game, we had a lot of possession, but Newcastle created as many chances as us, it provided with an interesting game that went pretty much backwards and forwards all the time, with plenty of chances for both sides.
And that really sums up the first half, with us having quite some luck to go into halftime as 1-0 leaders.

In the second half we were the better team and everything Newcastle threw at us, either Szczesny or the defense dealt with, and it really must be mentioned that the young Polish 'keeper was outstanding in this game, and sure looks like something for the future.
It didn't take too long for us to take the lead, when Krul kicked the ball across the field, the ball was then nodded back across the field, and there Theo picked up the ball, just ran away from everyone and finished the move off with a cheeky finish!
The game was sealed with eight minutes left, Fabregas (who entered the game in the second half) gave the ball to Bendtner out on the left, he moved to a more central position before unleashing a fierce shot that went straight for the top corner! Surely one of his best goals yet.
And to finish the evening off in fine style Walcott got his brace, when Cesc Fabregas spotted the young Englishman on the move he provided with another breath-taking assist, and Theo did not let us down with the finish!

Injury Update;
-Gibbs looks to be out for a few weeks as a result of the knee injury he picked up in the game
-Both van Persie and Ramsey will return to full training next week, though some fitness training is still necessary
-Almunia is still one or two weeks away, though it is not sure whether he will take the no 1 spot at once when he returns, as Fabianski has done extremely well in his absence, and Szczesny is looking promising.

Tottenham vs. Arsenal

1-1 (ET 4-1), Carling Cup 4th round, White Hart Lane, 21/9 -10
Lansbury 15,
Nasri 91 (pen), 95 (pen),
Arshavin 105

As one of the fans said after the game, "Winning 4-1 at White Hart Lane is like winning silverware itself!", and I can say that I agree, but it is unfortunately not quite at the same level as winning silverware, but let's just enjoy the moment while it lasts!
Wenger served a one-match ban that he picked up at Sunderland in the last game, but after the game Rosicky said with a laugh that he didn't even notice that the boss weren't on the bench until half-time!
It was also revealed after the game that the reason Nasri didn't take the penalty against Sunderland was that he had this superstition that the one who was brought down should not take the penalty, but he got over that and scored two brilliant penalties in extra-time, the first one after he had been brought down himself!

We completely outplayed Tottenham in the first half, and the goal from Lansbury came after some great playing by Rosicky and Wilshere, the young Englishman's cross was easily converted from six yards.
If you wonder the squad was rather mixed, in the starting line-up there were the likes of Nasri, Rosicky, Denilson, Wilshere, Lansbury and Djourou amongst other.
We also had one goal disallowed for offside on Gibbs, when the replay showed that he was by far onside!

And the referees participation wasn't any better at the start of the second half, when Keane scored for Tottenham, from a crystal clear offside position.
After that the second half was very tight, with us having the most possession, but it was in extra time that we showed which team has the stamina for these type of games, Nasri was pulled down in the box and converted the penalty himself, just four minutes later Chamakh was harshly pulled down as well and Nasri converted another penalty, which more or less sealed the game.
Before Arshavin settled the scoring after a fine pass by Wilshire Gibbs hobbled off, and it is still unsure how long he will be away.

Injury Update;
-Cesc Fabregas will miss two - three weeks of action after picking up a hamstring injury against Sunderland, which ultimately means that he may miss the Chelsea trip at the start of October.
-Gibbs' injury wasn't a broken leg as first feared, which means that it will be more short-term, hopefully he will be back before we know it !

Manchester City vs. Arsenal

0-3, Carling Cup, City of Manchester Stadium, 2/12 -09

Like the last game, I don't really think that the score reflected the game, the youngsters played quite well and kept City at bay for 60 minutes or something, but they couldn't keep it up for the entire 90 minutes, but you didn't really expect them to either against City's full squad!
There were nine changes in the squad, and the likes of Vela, Wilshere, Merida, Ramsey & Eastmond replaced players like Arshavin, Fabregas, Denilson, Eduardo and so on.. xD

In the end we lacked a bit of power and efficiency to score and scoring is the only way to win! But they are still young and are mainly playing to mature and get some experience, so next year they'll be back !!
But we were a little unlucky with the goals as well, two distance shots made the difference, and perhaps we passed a bit too much and finished a bit too little, but let's just hope that they'll learn from this game since some of these players will play against Olympiacos next week since we already got the first place in group H!

Injury Update;
-Sagna is back in the squad after picking up a little knock against Chelsea
-Walcott is out for the Stoke game, he has picked up a small hamstring problem, but it is short term
-According to the boss Gibbs and van Persie is recovering fine after their surgeries.
-Neither Clichy, Bendtner or Diaby will be back in the squad.

Arsenal vs. Tottenham

3-0, Premier League, Emirates, 31/10 -09
Van Persie 43, 60,
Fabregas 43

To you who wonders, I haven't written it wrong on the score, Van Persie and Fabregas did score in the same minute, 11 seconds playing time between the two goals, but I will get to that..
Just such a great win in a tense North London Derby, Arsenal were ahead in the league on goaldifference(but with one game less played, by the way, the Bolton game has been rearranged again since we advanced in the Carling Cup, where we are going to travel to the City of Manchester Stadium in the next round), now we could be 6 points ahead of Spurs in the league, I honestly don't think that they will be challenging for a top 4 finish this season.
The atmosphere at Emirates was absolutely brilliant! You could hear all Gunners at all times, and at the end you could hear everybody cheer everytime Arsenal had the ball, and boo each time Tottenham had it.

It looked as though it would be a goal-less first half, but Tottenham didn't have that luck with them, and when Sagna clipped in the ball from his right side, van Persie were sharp and slammed it home! And that was the goal that started a situation that probably is a new record! Cause when Tottenham started the game from the center circle, van Persie got in the way of a Spur pass, the ball bounced to Cesc Fabregas who ran pass the entire Tottenham squad with some amazing tricks and flicks, and he slammed in 2-0!
Two amazing goals in the same minute, you can say that we won the game in 11 seconds!! But Bendtner got a injury in the first half and was replaced by Eduardo, not really a bad replacer but still sad for Bendtner who started the game really well.

After the halftime we slowed things down and had some great chances, Tottenham were really slow and I belive they only got one shot at goal during the entire game, while we were extremely dangerous.
And 3-0 wasn't far away, and that was a pretty interesting one, Eduardo went down on the right side with the ball, and Sagna picked the ball up to keep the attack alive, but everybody stopped playing, looking at the referee, but Mark Clattenburg chose to play advantage and then the pace was back on, Sagna played in to van Persie, who received and delivered!

And after this win we really are the top dogs in North London!

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

2-1, Carling Cup, Emirates, 28/10 -09
Merida 19,
Bendtner 50

A very strong perfomance from a mixed Arsenal side, everyone was great at their position and it was some great individual attacks that brought the goals.
Merida opened the scoring with an amazing strike, the shot from just outside the box bounced in off one of the posts, quite an astonishing first strike for the club!
And on the bench you could see that Cesc Fabregas, a fellow Catalan, was the first on his feet.
A couple of minutes later on Liverpool equalized with another stunning strike, but we remained in firm control of the game, and 5 minutes into the second half they got their richly deserved lead, Merida passed the ball into the box, where Bendtner and Ramsey exchanged ball to give Bendtner the space he needed to finish hard and high.

It was a great game and we got to see some comeback players, Nasri and Fabianski returned, but unfortunately Fabianski will be out for three more weeks after picking up a new thigh injury in the game.
Bendtner and Eduardo also returned, but they hadn't been sidelined for quite as long as Nasri(broken leg) and Fabianski(thigh injury).

Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion

2-0, Carling Cup, 3rd Round, Emirates, 22/9 -09
Watt 68,
Vela 75

A good start for the youngsters, which I unfortunately couldn't see firstly because it wasn't showed on the tv, and secondly because I was riding in Rosersberg, Me and Malin have finally found a new stable where we each have an own horse to ride and care for once a week (I don't know what it is called in english, but in Swedish it is called 'medryttare' which basically means 'withrider'), 'my' horse is called Campino, and is a very nice and cuddly guy.

Back to the game, since I didn't watch the game I don't know too much about how things looked, but with Arsenal, I can say that it must have been a nice show.
It was basically the youth team who played, with two or three more experienced players, and it was Philippe Senderos first game for the team in a great while!

Watt started the goalscoring when he fired the ball in after a Carlos Vela shot, and he would get one himself just a little while later, when Mark Randall's shot hit the bar and Vela picked the ball up from the bounced and put it behind the keeper.