First Defeat This Year A Whopper

3-1 to FC Sevilla in Spain yesterday. That's a tough one. From the Gamecast report it does not appear that Arsenal played well at all. I am probably at fault on this one. I totally forgot there was a game and forgot to wear my jersey - bad luck all around. This makes it much tougher to advance to the next round for the Gunners...

Sifting the Arsenal News

Kolo salutes Captain Bill and well he should. I felt the Cap pulled that victory out of his own boots by sheer force of will.

"Both on and off the pitch, William is a really good captain. He is
loud in the dressing-room, he has a big heart, and everything he says
and does is for the team and that is the most important quality in a
captain."

The reason Ashley Cole will never captain a side is that it's all about Ashley.

On this occasion he is determined to confront his demons, knowing a cauldron of hate awaits should he be fit and selected.

"Compared to what happened to the England guys, I am sure I will get much worse when I go back to Arsenal," Cole said.

The fans at Emirates may give him some stick, but I for one believe Arsenal are beyond Cole. He's insignificant at this point...and not nearly the left back he thinks he is (or used to be).

Oh, yes, and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, after the shock loss at Bolton, maintained that the Red Devils were clearly the better side and if it weren't for that goal they allowed they would've won. Oh, and the referee was a large giraffe with pink polka dots.

Last Minutes Arsenal Brace Down Wigan

For 83 minutes, the most interesting thing about Arsenal was Captain Bill's new Travis Bickle 'do. Then, it was the way the ball squirts off the do into the back of the net off a a brilliant Bacary Sagna cross. Shortly thereafter, the Gunners countered in rampant fashion to find Tomas Rosicky open on the flank for a nicely placed doinker off the inside of the post for the 2-0 victory. With Manchester United's inexplicable loss to Bolton, the Boys for Arsenal FC go 3 points clear at the top.

Not bad for a game that was frustrating, indeed, maddening to watch for long stretch. With Wigan packing midfielders like little fish in a can, Arsenal's madly revised lineup (sans Cesc, Alex & Flamini) had trouble finding purpose.

All it took, however, was 3 minutes of Gunner Glory to erase the frustration and leave the Arsenal faithful delirious, yet again. What is that now, 28 games without defeat?

Delayed Posting on Der Lemon

Once-Upon-A-Time-Ago Arsenal keeper Jens Lehman (aka Der Lemon), is now in hot water for reportedly making an obscene gesture at Germany fans

Lehmann said he scratched his temple with his index finger in the 58th
minute, a gesture interpreted differently by some of the 50,000 fans in
Hannover for Saturday's European qualifier.

While the big-mouthed German denied the accusations and Germany officials were quick to defend him, Lehman did follow up that gesture by adjusting the waistband of his shorts and mooning the crowd.

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who witnessed the event, described the keeper's actions as "a beautiful pink pony prancing in a field of peonies."

Fabregas To Stay A Gunner

Totally alright with me, Cesc. Keep steering the Gunners to victory!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says he is satisfied at the club and is not considering a move back to Spain. "I am not even thinking about returning to Spain," said Fabregas. "I do not even listen to the offers that come in for me because I do not need anything that I haven't already got at Arsenal." The 20-year-old has scored 11 times this season help his side move to the top of the Premier League and reach the last 16 of the Champions League. "It's nothing to do with money - if it was I would have gone to Real Madrid last summer," he added. "I am playing and I am happy. Being a Gunner is very special, something that I am proud of. "This is a small club on the inside, like a family, but it's huge on the outside."

Back On Top of the Heap

A (reportedly) convincing win at Reading puts the Gunners back on top, by goal difference, of the Premiership table. Manuel "I'm Not Lehmann" Almunia said the Gunners have got to win ugly. That'll have to wait for another game as this one sounded like a pretty tidy affair for the red and whiters.

Reading packed in the defence and let the Gunners have at 'em, a strategy that worked for precisely 43 minutes. At which point, Matty popped in a low Hleb cross. Shortly after the restart Adebayor got some more to put the game out of range. Alex decided that insurance was a good thing to have and dropped a solo shot in before Reading pulled one back. The 3-1 victory puts the Gunners back above Manchester United, but oh, just barely. This may be a tight, neck and neck affair for the rest of the way. I believe this fantastic season will just continue to provide thrills all the way to the final game.

Fabregas: Gunner for Life?

Now, that's a story to warm the cockles of any Gunner's heart!

clipped from msn.foxsports.com Spain and Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas insists he is keen to see out the rest of his career at the Emirates Stadium. "When I first came to England my idea was to go back to Spain one day," Fabregas said in The Sun. "But the truth is that now I'm happier every day and I love London, the people and the club. "I'm going to say the truth - every day I have more desire to stay here for a long time, for the rest of my career. "I haven't had the fortune of playing in the Spanish league and right now I really identify with football in the Premier League because it's so passionate, fast, attacking and vibrant. It's the football that I like the most."

No Rest for Wenger

Wenger imitates Warren Zevon: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. Whatever you're doing, Arsene. It's working. Keep it up!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he relishes his side's hectic schedule. Wenger says he relishes his side's hectic schedule. The Gunners, who have just played six games in 19 days, enjoy a 12-day break after Monday's trip to Reading because of international matches. Wenger said: "I am not scared to rest some players, it gives them mental refreshment. But I don't need it - I am a marathon runner. "I am quite lost on holiday. When you are in sport, you are in sport. I like to keep in the zone, keep focused." Wenger rested Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb for Wednesday's Champions League draw with Slavia Prague and will do the same with two other senior players when the Gunners play Sevilla on 27 November. But he will resist the temptation to recharge his own batteries this month, saying: "I will get a natural break because my team doesn't play but I am always busy. "There is a lot of work I cannot do when we play that I can do - watching DVDs, paperwork, contacts.

MLS Soccer in Seattle

Ok. This is somewhat interesting. It could provide me with a reason to see some MLS soccer. However. And it's a big however. Soccer should not be played on FieldTurf. Yes, my team plays on FieldTurf, but we're a bunch of guys out for fun. Real football is played on grass.

clipped from seattlepi.nwsource.com Major League Soccer is coming to Seattle. The expansion team will play its home games at Qwest Field beginning in 2009 and will be owned partly by Paul Allen's Vulcan Enterprises, with Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer and Hollywood mogul Joe Roth also in the ownership group. Gary Wright, a spokesman for First and Goal, Inc., which operates Qwest Field, said Allen will be one of the team's owners. Allen also owns the Seahawks, who play at Qwest Field, and the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Qwest, which has a synthetic Field Turf playing surface, was designed for both football and soccer, a selling point in securing $300 million in public money to fund the construction. The expansion ends a long courtship between MLS and Seattle, and specifically Hanauer, who has been a vocal advocate for soccer in Seattle since buying the Sounders in 2002.

Adebayor Says His Best Is Showing

It's a thrill to watch Ade and other Gunners emerge this season. What a team to watch!

clipped from msn.foxsports.com Emmanuel Adebayor believes Arsenal fans are now "seeing the best" of him - and says the table-topping Gunners are "ready for the title fight". Adebayor has been a hero for Arsene Wenger's troops, netting six goals in the Premier League this term as Arsenal have confounded the critics by going unbeaten so far this season. "People are seeing the best of me this season because I play more and I have more opportunities," Adebayor told skysports.com. Adebayor feels Arsenal's recent performances against Liverpool and Manchester United prove they are not just pretenders to the throne - but are serious title contenders this season. "We are ready for the title fight, we are a very young team, however we think we can win it with style and resilience," added Adebayor.

Arsenal Musings

Alrightey, then...it's early in the wee hours, the caffeine is beginning to work its way through the bloodstream. Let's look at the tea leaves...

Arsenal avoided the shock 8-0 upset at Slavia Prague and advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Manchester United also advanced with a 4-0 drubbing of Dynamo Kiev. Midfielder Owen Hargreaves was pleased with the victory, though he did describe it as a cricket match, and the opposing players as striped dromedaries with large purple noses.  Team physicians are still trying to determine what drugs he is using...

Gilberto continues to deny being rift-wise with Wenger and continues to toe the consummate professional line.

The Professor will not be a future England man.

"If I'm England manager and I play France, what national anthem do I sing?"

Very good point. Did this situation every come up with SGE?

Wenger
again defended his use of foreign players and criticised FIFA proposals
which would restrict the number of foreign players a team would be able
to field, an idea that drew support from Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I find them utter rubbish," Wenger continued. "I think that sport is just because it rewards the best.

"You could be my son but if you're not good enough then you don't play at Arsenal.

Hear hear! And another point is that the EPL is not a domestic league. Sorry, chaps. It's an International brand. When you've got Yanks like me watching EPL matches, it's not because you've got the best British players. It's because you've got the best players in the world.

Owen, Please Come Down

Arsenal tilts against Slavia Prague in Pragueland tomorrow. Can they avoid giving up 7 goals? Probably.
Arsene Wenger referred to the home side of the match-up as a complete display of football. I'll have to agree with the Professor. I don't know what else you could call it - an ass-kicking for enormous proportions? Doesn't sound quite as Wengeresque.

This just in, Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has refused to reveal what hallucinegenics he used to inspire his post-match analysis of the weekend game with Arsenal. Nor, did the Canucklehead reveal what his defensive strategy was in slacking off William Gallas to allow room for the Gunnerman to score the equalizer. Perhaps he was too busy dominating to play defense?

Meanwhile, Arsene issued his weekly shout-out to young Gunner Theo Walcott, who is continuing to improve, will one day cause defenders to commit suicide, and other positive things. I'm all for boosting up the young buck, but Arsene, every week with this? Can't you kick his ass one week, just for fun? Is his temperament that fragile?

And the bossman is going to keep riding the Almunia Train, despite a creaky performance against the demons of Manchester. Of course, I only saw highlights, so Almunia's mistakes were perhaps, emphasized out of proportion to his entire game. But...his action on the last goal was pretty bad...Almost made me forget how irritating the whining of Der Lemon can be...

While the Manchester United-Arsenal tilt did not produce a KO, it did perhaps give use the referee "decision of the season" in  AR Darren Cann's spot of the last Arsenal goal.

"It is nice to talk about positives in such a match that is so high profile.

"It's all right seeing it in slow motion, but seeing it at normal speed it's a phenomenal spot.

"He has got in the perfect position and made the right judgement, it's tremendous."

I'll have to agree, and not just because it was a goal to my side. That's not an easy spot to make and the Cann was in the right place - just where he should be - and did not hesitate in signaling the goal. Afterwards, Manchester United midfielder described the AR as a four-legged "giraffe-like creature with pink polka dots." Team trainers are still trying to bring him down...

What's He Smoking?

Hargreaves opines on the quality of Manchester's offense and defense. Last time I looked, Arsenal scored 3 goals (it is a bit churlish to call an own goal a beautiful piece of play) and MU 1. The box line showed that Arsenal outshot the Red Devils as well. It's a draw, Owen. You'll have a chance to talk more around Christmas time...

clipped from msn.foxsports.com Owen Hargreaves felt Manchester United controlled Arsenal's "so-called beautiful football" with ease in Saturday's 2-2 draw at the Emirates. "Arsenal kept the ball and had a lot of possession, but they were never really threatening. Football is about scoring goals and winning games," said Hargreaves, now fit again following a niggling knee problem. Hargreaves added: "They keep the ball and try to play that way, but when a team is as good defensively as ours, you can keep them at bay because we played very tight together. "Both of our goals were from really beautiful pieces of play and theirs were a bit more scrappy."

Gilberto, Consummate Professional

Brazilian midfielder Gilberto responding to reports that he had a bust-up with The Professor over playing time. The man is a true professional.

clipped from msn.foxsports.com Arsenal midfielder Gilberto has denied falling out with manager Arsene Wenger over his recent exclusion from the Gunners' side. Gilberto said in the Observer: "It was strange, this thing that I had a fight with Arsene. "I never did that. We have a mutual respect for each other and although I'm not happy to be on the bench, and he and everyone knows that, I always respect his decision about what he thinks is best for the team. "I'm being very professional, so I don't understand how these things come out when we don't have any problem. I'm not the kind of person who would refuse to play."

Arsenal Win

Great efforts by Arsenal to come from behind and grab a point in a match-up of top EPL teams Saturday.

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk William Gallas equalised in injury-time to salvage a draw and keep Arsenal on top of the Premier League after an absorbing clash with Manchester United.

What a Game!!

A last minute equalizer from Captain Bill for a dramatic 2-2 tie between the teams! Who was the idiot who didn't ensure this game was televised? Rupert, fire the man.

Oh, and Gallass also scored for MU. Busy man, he is....Cesc, another goal!!

The Big One: Arsenal and Manchester United

Let me just start off by repeating how frustrating it is not to have this game televised. Both teams are in top form and everything says this will be one of the best games of the year...and yet, no telly. RRRRgggh.
I just got up. I'm sucking down some caffeine and its near the end of the first half. 0-0.

Gamecast suggests that Arsenal have the advantage in the game with more posession, more purpose going forward and more shots. However, it's still 0-0....and there you go. Red Devils score before half. 1-0. There goes the appearance of advantage. Alright, Gunners get it together in the half time.

Prior to the game, there's all sorts of yakking about the match and whose team is more favored to win the trophy, yada yada yada. Fergie says Arsenal's kids are nice kids but don't have any silverware.

Arsene says that he was interested in Tevez...until he saw Fergie chasing him. ? Almunia says that he'll keep Lehmann on the bench (that is, if Der Lemon's mouth doesn't do it for him!). He may want to keep out a few more Manchester shots today in order to do that...Almunia shows that he knows how to play the newspaper game with this it-ain't-a-swipe swipe at Der Lemon:

"The coach decides who is the keeper. I always accept the choice and never made comments when I was on the bench.

And Der Fergermeister (No idea why I'm germanizing the Scot; not enough caffeine, yet) says that Henry's time with the London club was done and Wenger was right to sell him. He then added that Fabregas is looking a bit long in the tooth and should probably go, too...