Weekend Report

Well, well, well. What a display from Arsenal with a 5-0 drubbing and clubbing of the woeful grabbers from Darbyshire. Granted, Darby is not exactly an EPL quality side. They probably make a good Championship squad, but clearly not up to Premiership standards. My vote for first team down the chute.

At 32 minutes, the TV announced noted that Arsenal was in total domination. He could've uttered those word 12 minutes in.

Darby's defenders must see a neuro-specialist soon! They suffered extreme fits of narcolepsy throughout the match; a dangerous thing to do around Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togoan striker was outstanding Saturday with a hat trick and I felt he could've easily done more. Ade is now top of the strikers table in the EPL with 6. He did so many things well this week, but one quality that stands out is his ability to control balls in the air. The one goal he took, with a high ball chested down to his feet was just sweetness.

I am engaging myself in a mini-debate over who is benefiting the most from Henry's departure, Adebayor or Fabregas. I'm leaning towards the striker, who is roaming the field further and more creatively without #14, but Fabregas now seems free (and confident) to run the offense from the midfield, rather than from Thierry's jersey. You certainly can't argue that he hasn't felt more freedom to strike the ball. I believe the superb young Spaniard is 4th in the scorer's table.

The rest of the team played very well, despite several prominent starters missing, including Hleb, RVN, and Rosicky (oh, and Gilberto). Diaby, in particular, looked the best I've seen him yet. That first goal was a real cracker! A beaut! Sagna continues to impress me. (Senderos continues to scare me, though. Get well soon, Will!).

Da Silva didn't score, and probably should've. But he was dangerous, quick, and worked hard. I think he's coming in and look for him to continue to improve.

Almunia didn't get the ball enough to really tell us much. He was there when needed. Made 1 or 2 mistakes, though not fatal against this team. I couldn't help but thinking If Lehmann's elbow will ever heal? I hope he's seeing a specialist!

Darby recognized they couldn't compete with Arsenal on the pitch and decided to go the Bolton route. I have not seen this much grabbing since high school prom! Boys, wait until after the match to try to get your heroes' jerseys!

I also watched the MU-Chelsea match. Predictable. Chelsea is done. The only thing keeping them alive is the outstandingly sublime Petr Cech in goal, John Terry and whenever Mr. Drogba returns. The midfield was horrible! I have to think that Mourinho's exit had to do with how poorly Essien played. He was barely even going through the motions. The midfield was static for them all day and they outcome was in doubt, in theory only.

Hate to say it, but I miss the Special One already. BTW, check Nick Webster's Shakespearean interpretation of the Chelsea affair. Fly on the wall stuff, it is.

Oh, and not to rub it in, but Arsenal have revealed their financial results today and they are now one of the most profitable clubs in the freaking world.

And Mr. Dein's takeover ambitions?

'David always sees himself as number
one. He wants to be chairman. The Arsenal board puts Arsenal first. They see
themselves as the custodians of the club. That is the difference'," said Bose.

Here in the states, we call that a verbal bitch-slap.

Gunners Win, Jose Walks

Arsenal triumphed 3-0 over Sevilla in a Champions League match at Emirates. Watching the game report on ESPN Soccernet, it sounded like a much closer game than the final score indicates, but I must say that three to nil does look impressive.


Elsewhere, won't the Special One be all the more special now that he's gone, according to reports out of England? Won't miss him. Not a whit. Hope he coaches somewhere that isn't covered by TV. Despite the team's silverware during his tenure, Chelsea, under JM, was always a boring, uncreative, though very, very expensive side.

Great Gunners!

Over at FSN, Nick Webster hails the great Gunners start and says that perhaps Arsene Wenger is building his third great Gunners side, to rival the 98/99 Doubles Squad and The Invincibles. Having had a chance now to watch the first 70 minutes of the North London Derby ca. 2007 I'm inclined to agree. The Gunners moved the ball with great flair and creativity, all the while getting a veritable feast of chances for their troubles. Three goals? They could've had double that the way they were playing.

Think of what a dreary, dull backstreet the EPL would be without the Arsenal this season. Liverpool would be the next best thing to entertaining, creative football to be found.

Super midfielder Cesc Fabregas also hails the side's great early results, but warns the lads to keep up the effort, as the season has just begun.

Arsenal In Brilliant Win At White Hart Lane

I saw the last 20 minutes of this match on TV. Seeing on Soccernet that the teams were tied onesies in the second half, I got up to the TV to watch the last 20. Good decision. On the 82nd minute, Cesc Fabregas hit an absolute corker from 25-30 yards out to win the game. 5 goals from midfield for the Wunderkind. No doubt, the kid can pass, but when he shoots, there's some feeling behind it.

And then, Adebayor with a goal of almost equal beauty, though needing greater skill; a turn and strike with the right foot, delivering an 18-foot rocket shot that two Paul Robinsons couldn't stop.

Beautiful goals and wonderful spirit showed by the Gunners. The looks on the faces of the men as they celebrated the win show a real spirit to this side and a real conviction in putting Tottenham away.

The strangest part of the game was Gilberto playing defense at the end as if he were Martin Jol's biggest supporter. Perhaps he was playing some cagey psychological trick on Darren Bent. It worked. The Bentster hit that ball as if it might be booby trapped. That's a goal that a Premier level striker will miss one in say, five million times. So, Mr. Bent, the next 4,999,999 times you get one on one with a keeper in the position, you will score. Sleep easy tonight.

I'll watch the rest of the match tonight, but it sounds like from the commentators' words, that this was a London Derby for the ages.

Real Quick Like

Hail Hail the US Women's National Team and the Mighty Abby Wambach, who scored twice despite a bandaged head and bunged up toe, to lead the US to a 2-0 win over hapless Sweden. Wambach has scored something like 80 goals in 93 games for the WNT. Amazing.

I've caught a couple of games so far and they've beene xciting affairs with fast-paced (for the women's game) attacking soccer, and goals coming at the end to salvage wins and/or ties. Good stuff.

Over at Weak Hart Lane
Despite spending monmey like a drunken sailor in the offseason, Martin "It Worked for Mourinho" Jol's Tottenham Spurts are not getting results with only 1 win in 5 games. While it's early, the headhunters are painting a target on Jol's back and the Spurs Chairman has already had to issue a "The manager's Job is Safe" proclamation."

It all makes for an interesting lead up to the Saturday derby with Arsenal.

And because I believe in the positive power of good news, here's a report that says that the Earth may survive the Sun's predicted demise in 5 billion years. You. Not so much.

The Women's World Cup starts tomorrow. Actually, the day after tomorrow, I believe, but because of the time zone difference its really tomorrow. Well, at least my DVR says its going to record games tomorrow. The US and Germany are the favored teams, but, as you know, anything can happen.

There is no EPL soccer this weekend due to the Euro qualifiers. However, there is a smattering of EPL news. David Dein says that Arsene Wenger was weighing whether to quit the club earlier in the year. Dein is making a habit of talking in the press, despite having nothing of value to say. Meanwhile, Arsene tells the press that maybe he will be in a mood to stay with Arsenal beyond his 3-year contract. Wait and see.

The tabloids report that Ballack is a goner...gone to Real Madrid to find Arjen Robben, I suppose. Ah, Madrid where has-been superstars go to rot. You know, if Josey is truly the Special One, splashing millions of pounds to buy Ballack, Shevchenko, SWP and others who haven't worked out, what do you call Arsene Wenger, who has built a team through an eye for incipient talent and the ability to develop those raw youngsters into players like Cesc?

Fortunately, there is soccer this weekend, with my youngest daughter's team playing two games. My middle daughter also debuted with her high school team earlier this week, and that a thrill for the family. The forescast is for plenty of soccer ahead.

It's been a long time since I've been excited about the (American) football team of my alma mater, the University of Washington Huskies, but with yesterday's 24-10 win over Boise State, I'm officially excited!

Wenger's In!

Although much of the suspense had been taken out of this by recent comments by The Professor, the announcement came out today that Arsenal have signed Arsene Wenger to a three-year contract. The long-term stability of the coach will be a relief to many Gunners fans and certainly help us continue to develop international stars like Cesc and see Arsenal to great success over the coming campaigns.

...And Arsenal win! 3-1. With ten men, as Senderos leaves the game at the 60th minute. Looks like Almunia did well at the end as the Pompey outshot Arsenal with a fusillade of shots at goal in an attempt to recoup the deficit...Hmmm, maybe we won't be seeing Jens Lehmann anytime soon?

More From The Professor

Maybe they ought to call this guy the Special One. More from Arsene Wenger on why he rarely flashes the cash like a Russian billionaire.

"I'm not scared to spend big money. If there is a player that I feel we need
then of course I will buy him," he said.

"But at Arsenal we make the superstars.
If you find a special player then fine but I have not seen a number of what you
might call world-class players available.

"Maybe some have a world-class price, but they are not all world-class
players. If you sit down and give me £30million to buy one, could we find one?

"For me, for £60million a guy must take the ball at the kick-off and score
every time he touches the ball.

"I don't know why everybody wants us to buy. We have started the season well,
qualified for the Champions League and are playing in a convincing way.

"We are in the process of turning Cesc Fabregas, Denilson and Abou Diaby into
world-class players and I enjoy doing that. I buy maybe one player but I work
with what is realistic.

The 57-year-old hinted that Henry's presence was hindering the development of
his younger players.

"The young players have to take more responsibility," he said.

"When he was here Thierry took on a lot of responsibility - when we didn't
score he wanted more and more of the ball. The young players always thought he
was the solution."

...and I see by the ticker that Arsenal is up 2-0 on Portsmouth in the 2nd. So, no reason to argue with Wenger this week.

oops. Make that 3-1, with 30 minutes to play. An early penalty from Adebayor, and 2 goals from Cesc and Tomas. Good to see the midfielders bringing the points.