4 Points From 2 Games. Am I Happy or Sad?

I really don't know the answer. Color me red, white & ambivalent.

There I was, Friday, Boxing Day, bedecked in my new Arsenal scarf and "Property of..." tee that Santa had brought me, all ready for the injury-depleted, character-challenged Arsenal 08-09 to get its rear kicked by Aston Villa. The game started out much as I thought, with a Cesc-deprived midfield unable to do much in terms of possession against a well-organized, purposeful Villa team.

The Gunners really should've been down 3-0 by half, as Villa hit an incredible 3 sure goals off the post. early on Sidwell had a wide open, unmarked header off a corner that epitomized this Arsenal squad's woeful set piece defense. Gallass and Song were having a bit of a discussion about defensive philosophies when the corner was taken and Sidwell marched off goalward while the conversation continued. Sad stuff there.

As it turned out, though, the Gunners were a lucky squad, on offense as well as defense, as Denilson got a late first half goal that was equal parts brave fortune and good work. The Arsenal doubled that nearly an hour in with an absolutely brilliant string of work between Abou Diaby and Emanuel Ay-Boo-Ay (sorry. Nice to see him get the assist).

But, most Arsenal fans knew what was coming. William Gallass saves the day for Villa with a shocking foul in the box (why, Billy, why?!) and more shocking defense (or lack thereof) at the death afforded Villa a 2-2 draw, despite having outplayed Arsenal for much of the game.

Today's match against Portsmouth (and former Gunner great Tony Adams) was not televised and it sounds like that was a good thing. The Gunners eked out a much-needed 1-0 win (with Gallass scoring the winner - this guy drives me crazy. I think he's given up as many winning or equalizing goals as he's scored for us) at home but failed to score until late, late in the day despite playing Portsmouth. Need I repeat they were playing Portsmouth!

From a numbers standpoint, I guess 4 goals in 2 games is decent enough. They're still within 10 of league leaders Liverpool and are very much alive in the battle for what's becoming Arsenal's historical fourth place slot in the league. However, the most recent games underscore everything that's wrong with Arsenal today: crap defense (2 excellent fullbacks, tho), a midfield (again, injury-depleted, I know) that probably is better suited for the Champions League, and strikers (with the exception of the outstanding RVP) who seem to be playing for a different team and on a different pitch, than the rest of the team.

Oh, yeah. And a manager who either doesn't see what's gone wrong with his decisions, or is so busy spinning the fans about how the team is coming together, that he is losing his ability to detect reality from his spin.

Next up is Plymouth in the FA Cup on Jan. 3rd and Bolton the following Saturday. Go Arsenal!

Fabregas Out Four...Who's In?

Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas is out for 3-4 months, the club revealed today. With the disappearance of Fabregas as he rehabs ruptured knee tendons, the club will have to find a new source of creativity and playmaking in a midfield depleted of well, midfielders. Tomas Rosicky is out. Theo Walcott is out. (neither of whom are central mids)

Denilson has played the holding role this season, before the injuries piled up. Can he play up the line? I don't think so. He still gives posession away an astounding number of times for a first-teamer.

In the past, people have hailed lanky Abou Diaby as the 2nd coming of Patrick Vieira. Recently, one fan commented that while he certainly looked like the 6'5" Arsenal great, it was a shame he didn't play like him.

Which is all a way of saying that Arsene must check his pockets for spare change and get out there and buy some players. Yet, he still contends that options abound.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted he could now make a move for new players in the January transfer window.

"It is more likely but we also have internal solutions and we are not desperate," said Wenger.

Who? Jack Wilshere? Aaron Ramsey? Maybe, maybe two years from now, but not today.

And lest anyone think that the championship hangs in the balance, this is all about 4th Place. Positions 1-3 have been claimed and Villa is setting up the flag over 4th. With our results so far, and our leaky defense, we will do well from this point forward to fight for and capture 4th.

And I have to be a realist, we're not going to surpass Villa without a legitimate replacement for Fabregas. Even with a healthy Cesc, we were definitely having trouble.

And let's not forget that we still need a legit holding mid (perhaps Goklan Inler), and one or two tall, physical center backs. Amid the Arsenal transfer rumours, are whispers that Arsene is close to snagging Zenit St. Petersburg Midfielder Andrei Arshavin  and ludicrous hallucinations about a swoop for ManUre striker Carlos Tevez (Fergie'd never allow that, unless he'd tucked a time bomb underneath Carlito's jersey on the way out Old Trafford). The Ribery rumours are rife again. This time, with the added bonus of sending Bendtner to Germany (he may score there; I hear the goalposts are farther apart or some such thing).

Inexplicably, Milan, Juventus and PSG are among the clubs seeking the services of The Player Formerly Known As Captain. Let's get those papers signed quickly before they can get their hands on some game film!

I would hate to see Kolo Toure go, but Man City could use a top, athletic defender who occasionally forgets to mark his man and have the money to buy him.

Lee Dixon has an instructive analysis of Arsenal's defensive mistakes against Liverpool.

Costly Draw for Gunners

The Gunners nicked a point against the league leaders
Sunday at the Emirates with a thrilling, infuriating 1-1 draw. Despite a
positive result against table toppers

Liverpool

,
this one really felt like 2 dropped points, though I know I should view it differently.

 

Arsenal went up a goal off a simply brilliant strike by
Robin Van Persie. The Dutch striker made a brilliant run between the Reds’
center backs. Samir Nasri played a smart ball in, which RVP took out of the air
with his chest, directing the ball into the one place it could possible create
a chance, and slashed a right-footed shot past the diving boot of Carragher and
finding net before Pepe Reina figured out what was happening.

While they should've held the lead, it looked to me all the while that the back line was willing to see a Liverpool score. Sleepy? Somnambulent was more like it. Several times Keano got behind the napping Gallass and Djorou. Finally, with a minute to play in the first half Arsenal was made to pay as the out-of-form Liverpudlian striker got in form in a hurry.

I hate to say this about our defense, but it's true: We made Robbie Keane look like Fernando Torres!

Injury was added to insult as Captain Cesc was injured in the closing minutes of the half and looks to be out 2-3 weeks. Not what we needed to see. At the restart, our midfield looked, well, it's unfair  to say they looked like a Champsionship side midline but they certainly weren't the quality Arsenal fans have come to expect. Without Cesc on the pitch, they were shorn of creativity, out of ideas.

Before Gunners faithful had a chance to really worry about that, Howard Webb decided it was time to remind everyone who was in charge of the game, and what a travesty that was for all. Following a quite softer first half yellow to Ade, at around 55 minutes, Webbo gave him a second soft, yellow and ejected the baffled striker. (needless to say, the gaffer was not amused)

Webbhead then entertained the crowd by allowing Liverpool's fullback to continue crash into Arsenal players like a drunk at a New Year's Eve party before issuing his first yellow at 80 minutes. Amusing stuff, old man. Keep it up!

As so often is the case, the indignity of unfairly being reduced to 10 brought the team to a fever that had them looking more likely to notch another goal. The Reds seemed fearful of losing the points and never really re-oriented the lineup or the attach until much too late.

So, 10 men down, napping defense, Cesc gone, and a point is OK. But, this is another Big 4 match we should've prevailed in.

Oh, and now we're going into Aston Villa without Fabregas and Adebayor (and Walcott, Rosicky etc...)

Ljungberg Out Before Season Begins

Man, he hasn't even touched the pitch in a match and he's already out with an injury. I love Freddie for his Arsenal days but 'fragile' is an understatement.

Seattle Sounders FC's run of good news and high-profile

announcements stalled with the news that designated player Freddie

Ljungberg is expected to miss at least part of training camp and

possibly the team's inaugural game March 19 after undergoing surgery to

repair a hip condition.

The 31-year-old midfielder is expected to miss 10 to 12 weeks of

training, the team announced Friday, but is also expected to make a

full recovery. Ljungberg also had a previous hamstring problem

addressed.

Get better quickly, Freddie. I want to see you on the pitch!

Did I say Porto?

Damn American. Can't tell the furr-eneers apart. Of course, I meant Roma. But, I do know they're from different countries!

Aston Villa in a Lucky Win

Villa preemptively kept Arsenal at bay with a 1-0 win at Upton Park. This was an enjoyable game to watch, with great running around on both sides, though little to show in the goalbox. Even the game winner, was an unlikely and unlucky (for West Ham) matter of physics, as James Milner's desperation cross bounced off Lucas Neill and rainbowed over Keeper Robert Green and just under the far upper corner of the West Ham goal.

Really harsh stuff on the Hammers, I thought, as they had outplayed A.V. and looked the more likely to score. But fortune favors the fortunate, doesn't it?

Hopefully, the power stays on over night and I'm watching Arsenal beat Liverpool in the morning, regardless of the impact this game has on the table.

Arsenal Slated to Meet Porto

The final round of 16 (you'd say Sweet 16, if you were a Yank) is set and Arsenal have drawn FC Porto

And Gunner E-Boo-boy Emmanuel Eboue is dedicating himself to getting back on the pitch and winning over the Arsenal fans, including the knuckleheaded dipsticks that booed him off the field in what was admittedly one of the worst performances by an Arsenal player the Woolrich Arsenal factory was open.

sayeth the lad:

He told Arsenal TV Online ahead of Sunday's home game against
Liverpool: "I do not know why the fans did not back me, but that is
football and you cannot do anything about it.

"They pay money to watch Arsenal to win. Then when we do not
play well, not give our best performances on the pitch, they are very
angry.

"I do not blame them, and I hope they will all come out to
support us on Sunday, when we will try to do our best and try to win
the game for them.

It's hard not to like his spirit!

The Long Nightmare Is Over!

Fat Sam is back! Fat Sam is back!

Ferdinand: Gunners Out

ManUre hairstyle fashion victim and sometime centerback, Rio Ferdinand, today called the Arsenal EPL quest over. Shortly after, he noted that the EPL has 20 teams, of which, he expects about 3 to be relegated to a lower league. Seemingly emboldened with each prognostication, the lanky, languid, sometimes conscious defender predicted that football would continue to use a round-shaped ball the coming season, David Beckham still had hairstyles to discover, and ManUre Manager Alex Ferguson might have a bottle of wine before the end of the season...

Rosicky Perma-Crocked!

Cue the transfer window. We need a midfielder (actually 2).

Yank to Arsenal BooBirds: Show More Class!

Yeah, Emanuel Eboue was crap today. But the Arsenal fans at the Emirates who gave him stick at the end of the game and loudly applauded his substitution should go trade their tickets for seats at White Hart Lane. That lack of class doesn't belong on the Arsenal side. Even from my side of the ocean, watching the match on cable, I was embarrassed. Y'all sounded like a bunch of Americans. Really. Pathetic stuff.

I'm not Eboue's biggest fan, and if I'd been at the game, I'd have been muttering to myself about his disastrous play - and yes, I think Wenger was right to sub him off as he was liable to cost us 2 points - but still, he's a Gunner. Show him support not derision. Give him a reason to come back in the next game and kick some ass. Otherwise, as I said before, go cheer for the Tots. Wankers.

Rant off.

There was also a game today, which Arsenal won 1-0, grabbing a desperately needed 3 points. It wasn't a bad game at all, but the Gunners continued to have difficulty scoring. Ade's goal was equal parts blind fortune and graft and we hit the freakin' woodwork twice! Wigan played a very good game, particularly that pesky, hardworking Lee Cattermole. Arsenal had little time to settle and posess in the first half. The game opened up for both sides in the 2nd half and the final ten minutes were nervy, nervy moments for Arsenal fans as Wigan pressed and Arsenal was rocking on their heels.

Over at SoccerNet, the assessment of Arsenal continues to be severe. I can't say I like it. Can't say I disagree, either:

ARSENAL VERDICT: Soccernet's Insider may not be popular with
Arsenal fans again as this was the sort of display that confirms all
the doubts stated in my previous article are justified. Nervous under
set-plays, ready to crack as they clung onto a lead late on and guilty
of missing chances galore, Wenger must know he has major problems on
his hands.

Nonetheless, all's well that end's well. Next up is Port in the CL. Go Gunners!

Gunners Break Chelsea's Will (and Heart)!

The soap opera that is Arsenal 2008 took yet another twist at Stamford Bridge where the injury-plagued Gunners scored 3 goals in the once-intimidating Chelsea home pitch. Fortunately, for the Arsenal faithful, 2 of the goals Arsenal scored were against Chelsea. The 2-1 victory leaves Arsenal still in 4th place, but revives their title hopes and blows a sufficient amount of air back into deflated hopes of Gunners fans.

Manuel Almunia showed why he is not the Arsenal's long-term keeper with an unwise and poorly executed throw that resulted in the ball being shoved back down the defense's throat. Johan Djorou was the unfortunate owner of the own goal that resulted, but really, the goal was on Almunia's shoulders. Arsenal's keeper needs to be much sharper than that.

Down 1-0, though, the boys kept at it and made a game of it for the remainder of the half. When the 2nd half restarted, Arsenal found themselves getting kicked around the pitch, with the Chelsea midfield doing their imitation of Napoleon's march across Europe. Just as I was saying to myself that the 2nd goal was coming, RVP - looking to be merely a yard offside - blasted a shot to the upper right of the net, notching an improbably equalizer. I had just finished my celebratory run around the living room when RVN bagged his 2nd on a very impressive turn and left-footed shot that just kissed Peter Cech's outstretched left hand as it rolled into the goal.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is looking ever more mortal. Liverpool must've been absolutely soaking this up. If there were a season for Benitez's boys to lay legitimate claim to the EPL beer stein, ths is it. Not only have Chelsea lost at home, they've done it twice. And surrendered 12 points there in 8 games.

Great win for The Arsenal!

Crisis? What Crisis?

So, the question has to be asked, is Arsenal a Crisis Club? The evidence sure doesn't look good.

The team has dropped 5 games so far (with 24 games to play) this season. One more than they lost all last season.

They're on a skid right now. During that skid, we've seen losses to Aston Villa in which they weren't even in the game, a blow-out by Man City (Man Freakin' City!) in which they weren't even in the stadium, apparently. Players losing their cool on the field (Paging RVN. Paging RVN).

And the Player formerly known as Captain Bill spilling his guts and venting spleen to the media, thusly being relinquished of the burden of being captain (which he had spent the last 2 seasons demonstrating that he couldn't shoulder) and relegated to the practice team.

The team has not had any silverware since the 2004 FA Cup. They're still in contention in the Champs League, but they're also dealing with a raft of injuries to key players.

All the while, Arsene Wenger's policy of develop the kids and don't buy big players has been studiously observed, despite the fact that everyone else in the EPL knew that Arsenal needed a big time center back (and that Un-Captain BIll was not that). On top of that, Wenger has never replaced Patrick Vieira. I'm sorry Flamster, but you were a hard-working, over-achieving little bugger (who always had his heart set on a nice patch of pine in the Serie A). Gilberto. Denilson. Diaby. Imitations, baby. But not the real thing. Hence, this team has no spine. No football spine and no constitutional spine.

I love Arsenal, but face facts, they're missing some key parts if you want to challenge for the league and European title.

But how they respond from here on out will tell us if this squad is a crisis or a contender. Wenger has rightly named Cesc Fabregas the Captain. He's put the most talented player in the leadership role and probably short-circuited the doings of some mega-clubs that'd like to snatch him away to Spain, Italy or wherever. If Cesc can rally the troops, this is still one of the most talented sides in Europe. On their day they can move the ball at will against any team in the world.

They still have a hole in the center of the field, but heart and passion can make up for talent. If they can put together a string of victories and build some momentum and belief, the Gunners can still challenge for the EPL title, as well as the European Championship. The race isn't over yet.

Can You Say Freefall?

The Gunners can...

Gallass Gone

Bollocks my earlier post. Gallass is gone.

Gallass Goner?

No, says former Arsenal great Nigel Winterburn. It's neither the time nor the place...nor the Wenger way to sack the un-gallant Captain. Meanwhile, football fans have a go at the question.

My vote: you can't shoot the horse in the middle of the
race, especially without a replacement center back. But come transfer season, I'd get out the Arsenal bank account and see what I could buy. If not then, after this disaster of a season is over. As quickly as possible.

The Pot Called the Kettle What?!

Well, well, well.  Cap'n Bill says some Gunners just aren't strong enough, and that's why the Good Ship Arsenal is floundering...I agree, but suggest the good Captain look at his defensive performance as a start. If I'd been run over by Gabby Agbonlahor on the way to the goal, I probably wouldn't have got up and called out the rest of the team, as a starting point.

Read the story further and it sounds like friction is building internally. Not a good sign for a team that is struggling.

In even worse news, the human lightning bolt, Theo Walcott, is out for several months, after surgery on his shoulder. He received the injury while training for the incredibly underperforming English team. Go 3 Lions!

Young Gunners Run Rampant, Part Deux!

Arsenal's Carling Cup Teen Team (average age: 19) took Wigan for a run around the park last night, finally dropping three impressively worked goals on their laps around the pitch, winning 3-0. THe youngsters booked themselves a seat at the Quarterfinals table. And The Gaffer says he'll continue to play the kids all the way.

Everyone now realizes that Arsene Wenger actually is the savior of English Football, not the Coyote El Supremo they'd supposed last season.

Meanwhile, permacrocked senior citizen (at 28) Tomas Rosicky has had surgery on his cranky hamstring and doctors say he'll return in two months. A quick check with Vegas bookmakers spot a 2-month return at 750 to 1. Retun next season is spotted at 500 to 1. And eventually return to play in the Czech Republich at 1 to 1.

Arsenal in Vital Win Over Red Devils at the Emirates!

Yesterday, they were speculating about Arsene Wenger quitting Arsenal. Today, I'm sure he's back as a genius after Samir Nasri's brace takes the piss out of ManUre. Here's the game commentary and a report from the Arsenal FC website. Wow, it sounds like the match of the season, so far.

Perhaps it's time for some perspective? Sayeth the Cesc:

''It has been frustrating, with the results we have had - and to win a game
like that is vital, to get back on track,'' said the Spaniard.

''But because we have beaten Manchester United, we are not better than we were
last week - and last week we were not rubbish, as everybody was saying.''

Well said, young man. The only problem I see, is that still puts us in line with where we were last year: potent enough to beat any team - including any of our fellow Big 4 - but fragile enough to lose to any team as well (Hello, Stoke City, Hull, Middlesbrough, etc.)

Anyway, good win for the Gunners today. Let's keep it rolling, lads.

More DI\issection of What Ails Arsenal

Phil McNulty is right on target with his analysis of the softness of the Arsenal midsection. I've been saying for awhile now that the future hinges on replacing William Gallass with a true, physical center back, one that can deal with a ball that is sent in by air mail. A true replacement for Patrick Vieira would be sweet icing on the cake, as well.

Stoke Shocker

Arsene acknowledges what the rest of the EPL has known for several seasons: Arsenal are soft in the backline, particularly when it comes to aerial attacks. Surrendering two goals off Rory DeLapp throw-ins is just embarrassing. Insult to injury, RVP melts down and both Ade and Walcott leave due to injury.

Most cases I'd say it's too early in the season for a crisis, but this smells like a crisis to me.

Adebayor Said What?!

Just the truth as we know it: you don't win silverware by transforming a 4-2 lead into stoppage time (against Tottenham, Tottenham, for God's sake!) into a 4-4 tie...or by losing at the Em to newly promoted jailbreakers Hull (Chelsea seemed to figure them out)...or by snatching a last gasp, deperation drive point at the Stadium of Losses.

At 9 games in, it's already looking like another year without a trophy case addition...

Captain Bill Caught Smoking

Honestly, sometimes I think the Furraneers just don't get it. Billy Gallass was photographed coming out of a nightclub with an unlit cig in his mouth? Yeah? Take a few weeks following your average American NBA or NFL team and then let me know if you still think that's shocking.

Frankly, I'm more concerned with whether Captain Bill can defend the long balls over the backline than I am with his off-duty activities...

Get Off the Gunners Says the Gaffer

Arsene tells the fairweather fans to cut the kids some slack. (But he still needs a better center back than Captain Bill).

The Latest

A muted week in which a Eastern European Champions League trip ended with another disappointing Eastern European result - a 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kiev. The Boss railed against DK's tactics when it came to young Mr. Walcott, but Theo reportedly handled himself well.

My disappointment with the CL result was mitigated by a surprise arrival - a new No. 8 Gunners jersey that arrived with a friend returning from an England trip. It's a beautiful shirt. I'll be wearing it tomorrow as I watch the Gunners dismantle (I hope) Bolton at Reebok Stadium (though, I'll be at home watching on TV, of course.).

Recap Thoughts On Newcastle

Yea, I know I'm a week late - I've been busy!

So, I'm glad I called the suicide hotline after the Fulham game and they talked me into choosing life. I got to stick around and see a resurgent Arsenal demolish Newcastle. Everything I love about Arsenal was on display: flowing, intricate passing that boggles the mind, spirited defense, a midfield that owns more Emirates real estate than Stan Kroenke, two of the best fullbacks in the game heading so far into the attack you thought they might be rushing off the pitch to catch a cab outside...and Cesc! Good to see that young man back on the pitch. He played great, working hard defensively and showing his great vision and passing touch. I take back everything I said about Denilson. Having Cesc back made him a different player. While he lost a few too many passes for a regular first-teamer, he was awesome in defense. The play in which he scored was a beaut, too.

While Ade didn't score, he worked like a Calvinist on speed. RVN was great. Nice to see him bag a brace, though the injury had me thinking he just isn't durable enough for the English game. As one commentator said, he could sprain his ankle tying his shoelace.

Eboue redeemed himself. If keeps playing like this, I take it back; he can stay.

And the new kid, Nasri, is the real deal. He runs at defenders, great vision and ball skills. He's got nuts, too. I loved his response to Punky Brewster (aka Barton). He plays on the first team like he's been there for years. I think he's only going to get better.

Arsenal Lay Big Stinky Egg At Craven Cottage

If you were an Arsenal fan, today's game at Craven Cottage was a game that could put you off football for life; or make you a devout Buddhist, seeing nothing but suffering all around you; or, you could start to think that Arsene has been living too lucky a life with his coupon-clipping transfer policy, and we are now about to witness the chickens coming home to roost with a long season of bad football.

Not me. No, the glass is half-full. Despite today's horrible, awful imitation of an Arsenal football match, there are only better days ahead. How, I ask you, could we not improve on today's match? No, it's only upward from here on out.

A couple of random thoughts from the day's embarrassing 0-1 loss: Arsenal can't win with Toure and Gallass as the heart of the defense and Gallass proved that with his poor imitation of defending a corner, leaving that massive beanpole of a Fullhamster wide open for the easiest goal of his career.

I know Toure has been ill, but man, he looks like he has gained considerable weight. I know I said we needed big central defenders, but not this way.

Is the Theo Walcott experiment over? Pace is a great commodity but you have to bring something else to the pitch. While watching Theo today, I found myself repeatedly thinking wistfully of his high-octane run up the pitch against Liverpool last season. Sadly, I'm beginning to think that's the last excitement he'll give us...

Denilson. He has left me underwhelmed before, but today he was awful. How bad a central midfielder was he? Well, he led the Fullham team in passes to white jerseys. Seriously. He gave away so many balls today, I thought it was some sort of promotional scheme.

Which leads me to...the midfield duo of Denilson and Eboue. You might as well just play 2 men down. On that note, isn't Eboue a fullback? He certainly isn't a midfielder.

I have never seen an Arsenal midfield so thoroughly outplayed. Fullham made quick work of our mids, with the exception of Samir Nasri. Fabregas and Rosicky can't get back quick enough.

Bright spots: Adebayor played reasonbly well in the absence of anything remotely resembling good service. Nasri looks to be the real deal. Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy were mostly outstanding, as usual. Almunia had nothing to do with the goal. Other than that he seemed reasonably ready for service. The hairdo, it's got to go.

Arsene Wenger has quite the challenge in front of him bringing the club back after this debacle...

More On Today's Win

Footymad has a game day report on the West Bromwich Albion match today.

Top of the Table on the First Day!

Well, it may be early, early days, and the Gunners may indeed have a long wait for silverware ahead, but gosh darn it, I woke up this morning and the Gunners were top of the table after a 1-0 victory over the Baggies. That's a good thing worth celebrating.

The goal winner came from newcomer Samir Nasri (nice duck breakage on the first match, Sammi)
and there were plenty of other chances created. However, the match sounded like a bit of a tale of two halves as the 2nd half Arsenal took their collective foot off the petrol pedal (or plain tired out?) and let the Bagsters control much of the action.

Whatever, it's a first match win.

Yoinks! Arsenal Squeak Past FC Alexander Hamilton

In a game that's sure to press the anxious-buttons on many a worry-wart Gooner, Arsenal were lucky to get past Dutch side FC Twente in the Netherlands. It sounds like the defense - still absent Kolo Toure, to be sure - was the worry that I've been harping on for months. Maybe Gallass and Toure can work miracles, but I'm not going to be surprised if we leak goals this year.

It sounds like Arsene's New Youth Crew was less stellar than last year's gang of youngsters, but it's early yet, and there are plenty of first teamers, like Cesc Fabregas, who weren't in the line-up. Still, I'm guessing we're going to need to score goals by the bucketful to have any hope of winning league. I hope I'm wrong on that point.

Gunners Victorious in Netherlands

Maybe Emanuel Adebayor will start winning the hearts of Gooners again. Against Ajax in the Amerstam Cup, the lanky Togolese started the late 2nd half comeback from a 2-0 deficit, with a header to start the scoring and an insurance goal near the end of time. With the Almonst Great Dane, Nicklas Bendtner, scoring in between, Arsenal emerged 3-2 winners.

Good stuff, but we've got to fix the leaky defense before Wednesday's CL qualifier.

Gunners Gearing Up

Ahead of the upcoming season, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists that the team is focused and prepared to win at least two trophies.

Wenger has maintained he is out to win both the title and the Champions League this season.Having reached the last eight of the European Cup, the Gunners eventually finished only four points behind Premier League champions Manchester United and two from Chelsea, which was certainly a step in the right direction.

However, the last trophy won under Wenger was the FA Cup back in 2005 - and the French coach has made it perfectly clear where priorities lie this time around.

"But it is clear there are two trophies we are focused on - the Premier League and the Champions League.

"After that, the FA Cup, but we will never go seriously for the Carling Cup, again this year we will have the same philosophy on the Carling Cup.

"The Premier League and Champions League are the trophies we will fight for."

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott, supports the boss' notion of silverware for the season.

"If we all believe in ourselves, all believe in our team, I am sure

we can do anything," he told Sky Sports News. "All you have to do is

put your mind to it.

"Considering we haven't got a big squad, I

think it is quite good in a way that everyone can gel together, we know

how we play and it is easier when only a couple of players come in,

they can just settle in."

Gallass Retains The Captaincy

Wenger has retained defender WIlliam Gallass as captain for the upcoming season. I thought Gallass did a good job as captain in the first half of the season, but after the Birmingham debacle, he seemed to fall apart...much like the team. Give him another season to prove himself and if he fails, off goes the armband.

"You know I learnt a lot (last season)," Gallas told Arsenal TV. "You

want to be the best captain and give good advice to your players, but

sometimes you can make mistakes as well.

"This season I know what I'm going to do and I know I am ready to change my way of speaking to the players."

Adebayor To Remain A Gunner

Emanuel Adebayor and Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger say speculation about the lanky, Togolese striker leaving were just hot air. Ade says he is and will remain a Gunner.

This is great news, providing certainty up front. Ade has just been getting better and I think 2008-2009 will be another top season for him. Now, if we can just get a stud central defender...though I think that is not on the Professor's list.

Arsenal Sign Another Youngster

The Professor has signed a midfielder, but not the big name we're expecting; a kid I've never heard of before.

Arsenal have signed Portugal Under-21 midfielder Amaury Bischoff from Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old made just one appearance for the Budesliga side Bremen

last season and he can play in the centre or right of midfield.

Ok. I agree we need someone to plug Flamini's role (I'm not sold that Diaby is the answer, yet), but the biggest wish on my list is a big, strong central defender. Toure and Gallas are great defenders, but they're not the answer in the middle. Take one of them and pair with a dominant, physical player. Our biggest weakness last year was the center of the defense and Arsene hasn't done anything to address that.

Hleb is Going, Going, Gone

Crazy-legs is on his way out the door. This has been coming for awhile, but I'm beginning to grow nervous about the midfield. Two of the starters are gone, with Flamini already shifting out. The center has softened with his departure. And Hleb often played a roving, linking role with Adebayor (who, also, may be gone in the NDF). Arsene, what are your plans, sir?

Puppy Uppers & Doggy Downers

Gone are the days when an old pet was a pet to be put down. Now, not only can we (and do we!) lavish expensive medical care on our pets, we can also buy them the best pharmacologicals that money can buy - and they're chewable, too!

clipped from www.nytimes.com The practice of prescribing medications designed for humans to animals has grown substantially over the past decade and a half, and pharmaceutical companies have recently begun experimenting with a more direct strategy: marketing behavior-modification and “lifestyle” drugs specifically for pets. America’s animals, it seems, have very American health problems. More than 20 percent of our dogs are overweight; Pfizer’s Slentrol was approved by the F.D.A. last year as the country’s first canine anti-obesity medication. Dogs live 13 years on average, considerably longer than they did in the past; Pfizer’s Anipryl treats cognitive dysfunction so that absent-minded pets can remember the location of the supper bowl or doggy door. For lonely dogs with separation anxiety, Eli Lilly brought to market its own drug Reconcile last year. The only difference between it and Prozac is that Reconcile is chewable and tastes like beef.

Super-Spain Wins European Championship

What a tournament Euro 2008 has been! And an exciting, if not out and out beautiful, final game. In the end, a lone Fernando Torres goal was the difference maker, but Spain were the true class of the tournament and deserved to hoist the trophy. Germany, towards the end of the game, looked tired and out of ideas. Turkey outclassed them in every way but goals in their semi-final game, so it would've been hard to see Germany as the cup holder.

I'm going to rest my soccer eyes for a couple of days after all the Euro games. I've got six weeks of youth soccer coming up and then the EPL openers. I can't wait.

Euros

I've finally had a chance to catch up with some European Cup soccer, with some quarters action, taped and delay-viewed. After the Netherlands looked so vital and dangerous in the first 2 games of the group stage, Russia demolishes them in convincing fashion. Did Spain really beat this team 4-1?

Germany looks powerful and monstrous in the first 25 minutes, then rests on its laurels for a nervy 30-40 minutes, until re-asserting itself. Portugal's defense couldn't keep a clean sheet in the MSL, it appears. And CRon, for as wonderful a talent as he is, looks like Portugal's only real player. And even he isn't that dangerous against the Joymans. Good to see Der Lemon playing well for the Big G Machine.

Man, I Love Little Buggy Science

The Human Microbiome Project - hands down, the coolest science jinkery I've heard of this week. Let's find out what all those bacteria are doing on - and in - us. It's kind of weird, though, isn't it, to think of yourself as a minority member of your superorganism...

Thierry Henry Rumours

Wow. The Champions League just concluded and the rumour season has already hit full throttle. Consider this the silliest, most wild-ass rumour about American soccer you'll hear this season...however, if it turns out to be true I'll stand in line for the season tickets.

Movie Review

Iron Man = Awesome!

This Just In....

The Black Bottom Pie at Marlene's Market and Deli is the best pie I have ever had anywhere. You must get some.

And, it's 90 degrees in the Seattle-Tacoma area and all across the region people are being blinded and confused by the bright orb in the sky...and the explosion of albino-pale white legs and torsos on display everywhere.

Oh, and I have some parenting advice over the the Mirror.

The Season Is Over...

Finally, the season that began with such promise and excitement for an Arsenal team of young, talented Gunners, has slunk to a close with 3rd place in hand after a 1-0 win over Sunderland's Black Cats. Talk about anti-climactic. The championship was ours to lose and lose it we did, with a string of draws and losses that was enough put Gooners everywhere on suicide watch.

Flamini is gone. Though not as big a loss, Jens is done. Who else might be gone over the summer and who might arrive? We have a couple of months to speculate.

On the topic of little Matty, the boy has revealed himself a right git.

Midfielder Mathieu Flamini has revealed he would have signed a new deal
with Arsenal last summer but the 'pain' of missing out on the 'Premier
League title influenced his decision to leave the Emirates.

Twits take their tail between their legs, cash in and go off to Italy, Matt. Champions take disappointment to heart and come back fired up to win. It's best we see the back of you, then.

The only silver lining, and it is the slimmest of glimmers, is that SAF's boys kept the RMA from taking a trophy, and hopefully, will do the same next week in Moscow.

Arsenal Wins. Jury Out On Comcast

The ref just blew his whistle on an Arsenal 1-0 victory over Everton. The Nick scored the only goal of the game in the 77th minute. That's about all I know because this game was not televised and I'm going from the ESPN Gamecast. Still, a win's a win. Way to go, lads. One more game to go and then we can stop thinking about Arsenal for a day or two and the immediately get back to chasing the title.

My previous post on Comcast brought an almost immediate response from the people who troll the Internet looking for such postings. While that was promising, the second stage of follow-up has not occurred. I gave them my information but have not heard from the local support staff, which was really where I was at when I posted originally.

Hot Word Love
I love words. I've got a new love interest. Thinko. It's the mental equivalent of the typo. Boy howdy, with the number of thinkos (thinkoes?) I suffer a day, I'm going to be using that word nonstop.

Why Comcast Cable Sucks This Morning

Comcast sucks? When did this become news? I've been satisfied with their cable Internet service (don't have phone), but the cable TV blows chunks of ineptitude.

some time after I upgraded to digital cable, Comcast replaced the Microsoft-based DVR programming (which had its issues, but largely worked, was intuitive, and even intelligent.) So, they replaced it with their in-house programming that is incredibly bad. How bad? So bad that it deserves to have a little janitor and 2 homemade robots appear down in the right-hand corner of the screen commenting on the ongoing futility associated with trying to operate it.)

First of all, it freezes, big time. When you are trying to run through a list of programs, or try to program a recording, it just freezes for  several seconds - for no obvious reason - then unfreezes. Of course, in this time I've punched several buttons, which it now exectues, so I get the program canceled and end up going back several menus or exiting entirely so tha tI have to repeat everything. Fun!

One of the most annoying things is that you can't program a recording of just one showing of a program. It will allow you to only record new episodes or repeats, but what it doesn't do is probably the most important thing of all. Take the MSNBC show Countdown; I like to record and watch the 5 O'Clock program every night. So, now I also have to hand delete scheduled recordings for every showing of Countdown that day (3 programs I have to erase every day). When I forget, I end up with a list of Coundtown a screen and a half long.

Overall, the new DVR service is irritatingly buggy. It's a crap product. I've complained to Comcast customer service and received automated responses that don't do anything.

It's too bad. Comcast Internet has been great, but the Cable TV is making me long for a satellite dish...

Might As Well Talk About Thierry Henry

With the season quickly deflating like an old discarded balloon, it's time to turn to wild stories and rumours and tales of Gunners past. Our friend Thierry Henry is not having the best of times at Barca. I have to believe the former Gunner great still has plenty to give soccer. I just don't believe Barcelona's the place. NOnetheless, he nixes rumours of a Barca exit and says Arsenal is the only EPL team he'd return to England for...Uh, we've all moved Thierry. Thanks for the memories, though. The only worse thing that could happen to him than his present straits, perhaps, is a move to the LA Galaxy

Implosion

Implode. intransitive verb1 a: to burst inward <a blow causing a vacuum tube to implode> b: to undergo violent compression <massive stars which implode>2: to collapse inward as if from external pressure; also : to become greatly reduced as if from collapsing3: to break down or fall apart from within : self-destruct

I'll choose 2 & 3...

Well, At Least It Wasn't 1-1

I'm kidding, of course. Heartbreaking game at Anfield. The 4-2 scoreline is not indicative of how close this game was. Arsene is unhappy with the penalty call, and there could be an argument there. But let's face it it, Arsenal lost a game they had by the throat. The proverbial snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Blame the ref if you want, but the only word for our defense is shoddy. And there were stretches in which our midfield was just being dominated.

There were also stretches, particularly in the first half, in which Arsenal played some of the most brilliant, most fluent and potent football I've seen from anyone this year. And Theo Walcott? His effort on the equalizer was flat out amazing. From box to box, through 4 defenders and delivers the pass on the money. That should've been game, set, match right there.

This will be another year without silverware...depressing

Tied At Emirates

Look, I realize Arsenal does not deserve to win any silverware this year. The long slump. Losing to lesser teams. Giving up the lead to Didier Drogba (I think there some other men in blue shirts there, as well, but I'm not sure they were playing) at Stamford Sludge. And the defense. The Defense! barely two minutes after taking the lead, the back four breaks down like a '67 Volkswagen Bus on a mountain highway. You can't win championships acting like that!

I love Arsenal. I will root for them to defy the odds they've created and win the EPL Trophty and the CL Trophy. But, baby, do they need some new people in defense, and some dudes on the bench, as well. Kolo Toure dives in and checks on too many plays per game to be playing for a front line team. He did it again on Gerrard on the drive that tied the game. And William Gallas for all his skill and fire is a little dude when compared to the Drogba's of the world. (The fullbacks are top notch, of course.)

Oh, and someone tell me when Emanuel Eboue was replaced with a petulant 11-year-old? What happened to him?

Too. Depressed. To. Blog.

Hail Hail Arsenal!

An enervating game at the San Siro ends with Arsenal deservedly winning 2-0 with a late wondergoal from Cesc Fabregas and an insurance piece from Adebayor. As exciting as Cesc's goal was, I was delighted by Theo Walcott's blinding speed, hustle and moxie to win a ball that at first appeared a wasted deep ball, then round the defender and pretty as you like, square up the oncoming Adebayor freight train.

It was a thrilling match from the whistle (and there was plenty of those), with plenty of back and forth and lots of chances for both sides. In the end, though, the better team moved on. Hail Arsenal!!

Spuds Help Out (sort of)

Arsenal stays top of the table as the Red Devils dropped 2 points at Faint Heart Lane. It would've been a full 3 points had not the Spuds conceded the equalizer on the last bloody play of the game...and with an own goal.

Anyways, Arsenal gets the full 3 and the Mancs and RMA only draw 1s. Good enough.

Arsenal Spank The Citizens

This one was all over by the time I got out of bed, but the Gunners beat Man City 3-1 in the EPL early game. Adebayor scored two and assisted Eduardo on the 3rd as Arsenal busted the cherry on Manchester City, becoming the first EPL team to beat the Citizens at the Eastlands this season..

...And while I'm writing this, The Mancs are down a goal at White Hart Lane. Is it too much to ask for, to get a Tottenham win or will the Spud defense let us down, as they've let down the Tottenhamsters all season (er, except for that 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal in the cup...)

End of That Streak

Tottenham and Arsenal. I don't want to talk about it.

Starting the New Year Right

Well, well it's a brand spanking New Year and Arsenal remain atop the EPL table after what appears to have been a comfortable 2-0 win over the Red Devil killers, West Ham.

Chelsea stays within range on a couple of gift-wrapped decisions from refs and their assistants.

Over at Old Trafford, something strange is going with Fergie. He defends the American squadrillionaire owner, Malcolm Glazer (Rafa Benitez, are you taking notes?), blasts the fans and players, warns the players to stop committing physical assaults on young ladies, and

Meanwhile, the fans shoot back at the Old Trafford police state. Oh my.

Avram Grant pines for Nick Anelka and Dimitar Berbatov. Oh, please let it be Anelka.

I saw a couple of brilliant games over the break. The Liverpool-Man. City game was a knuckle biter to the end, with Liverpool attacking in tsunami-like waves and Richard Dunne single-handedly, it seemed, keeping the Citizens level. Sheer brilliance in defending from that man.

Also, quite good was the Aston Villa-Tottenham match. The Villans were organized and forward-thinking in the first half. It was almost unjust that they only mustered a score from a central defender's header off a corner. They had created several good opportunities from patient build-ups, but all for nought.

In the 2nd half, Juande Ramos made a couple of changes to the Tottenham side, most importantly, bringing on leading scorer Keane. It was mand the ramparts for the Villans after that. The equalizer was no surprise. It was only a matter of time they notched a winner (and likely an insurance goal or two). And then, contrary to the run of play, Aston Villa got an 84th minute winner, off a corner, headed in by another tall central Defender (Laursson this time; Mellberg in the 1st). Why the Spuds had mighty midget O'Hara marking (and not very well, mind you) the much taller Laursson, I'll never know. Good stuff. Exciting football.

Being the new year, we can expect that we'll see the diminishing in the distance backsides of Messrs. Lehman (Der Lemon: we miss you already), Gilberto (a real class character; the anti-Lehman) and Diarra (we hardly knew ye, lad).

Over at the Arsenal website, the coach waxes...well, coachlike. BTW, on the replays, Eduardo's goal against West Ham was spectacularly good, all the more so, because he took it so calmly. The kid's coming on. 3 goals in 2 Premiership games.

Oh, and Adebayor's bagger against the Hammers. How did he make that? You know it's going to be a good year when you start it scoring like that.