Community Shield

I got the time to watch the remainder of the Community Shield last night. Good to see Manchester United beat RMA (that's Roman's Mercenary Army) for the title. Beyond that, not much of a game. Chelsea looked rather drab and boring. They missed Drogba big time. Michael Essien was on the field, but I'm not sure where he was playing. He usually stands out, but he was a member of the woodwork yesterday.

Speaking of going missing, when I finally saw Frank Lampard take the ball into the Manchester half, I nearly choked, "That's the boy on the milk carton!" But then he passed the ball and went missing again.

Watching the match, I didn't get much confidence that Chelsea would be able to push for the title. Sure, they've got enough talent, but they often don't do much with it. Of course, the Community Shield was developed exactly so that players like Pizarro and Wright-Phillips can see a real pitch in match conditions. And, by the way, the announcers repeated it so often I was beginning to think that Shaun Wright-Phillips real name is No End Product. I doubt the lad will see another game for Chelsea this year. Very disappointing. And at times, he just looked flustered and confused.

Nick Webster with his usual incisive analysis of the match. He's spot on again. And yes, Malouda's goal was sensational, but blame it on Rio, Ferdinand's defending was lackadaisical. Webser doesn't go to it, but those were the three worst consecutive PKs I've seen at that level. Pizarro tipped his shot with an early lean and none of them were beyond Van Der Saar's wingspan, even if he'd stood still. Of course, he didn't. He parsed out each shot correctly. The Red Devils, on the other hand, shot for the posts.

But, speaking of  challenging for the title, Bobby MacMahon begins his annual (and 4-part) dissertation of who will and who won't over at FoxSoccer.com. Arsenal at 3rd. I think that's a compliment given the presumed 1 and 2, and the changes at Emirates. Let's hope the Gunners challenge for first.

And, finally, Celtic. 0-0 with Kilmarnock? Wazz up, Bhoys? First points for Killie at Celtic Park in 52 years. Rangers are going to jump all over a slow start.

Ajax were brutes, according to Arsene Wenger, Arsenal won the Amsterdam Tournament anyhow, beating the kitchen cleanser 1-0. RVN was stretchered off, under a rude challenge, but apparently OK.

"I think some players were a little bit overboard, but we kept our nerve," said the coach.

...he went on to say, of course, it was almost like playing Bolton...

Meanwhile, RVN, eager to try his new, hoped-for role of wise, Yoda-like statesman of the club had a few things to say about former teammate Freddie Ljungberg, calling him weak, and a sissy who lieks to play with dolls. No. I'm just kidding about that. He actually was quite responsible and said Freddie should have some nice things to say about Arsenal after 9 years with the club. Well said, RVN.

I glanced over 10 minutes of the first half of the Community Shield match pitting Reds v. Blues. I'm recording it for later, but curiosity overtook me. Clearly, it's still preseason for both these teams but I do have to say Peter Cech is the man. Hands down best keeper in the world. I'm glad I got to see him play a few years back when Chelsea were in town - it's too bad I had no idea of who he was at the time.

And, I took a run through the DVR to program some EPL matches to record and I didn't see a single Arsenal match televised for the first 2 weeks. Come on, Fox! You must do me better than that.

CL Draws and PreSeason Wins

Arsenal are triumphant against Lazio last night in Amserdam with Newboys Eduardo Da Silva and Nicholas Bendtner netting in the 2-1 win.

The Champions League draw for the 3rd Round puts Arsenal v. Sparta Prague with matches August 14th and 28th. The Gunners have beat Sparta P something like 5-0 in their last CL tilt-up, so if that's any indication, the draw seems favorable.

Celtic is drawn against Spartak Moscow. Don't know much about them, other than they're in the midst of their domestic season, so that has to be an edge for the Russians.

The Professor Speaks

ESPN Soccernet has an interview with Arsene Wenger online. IN it, the gaffer speaks of the upcoming season, Henry's leaving, Anelka's not coming and avoids talking about his future.

ESPNSoccernet: But that is why Thierry Henry left. Because of the
missing promises to bring in any big players.

Arsene Wenger: 'Neither Arsenal nor I make promises to anybody. A
club functions best if everyone sticks to their job. Everybody must stick to their role and a
player cannot intervene. But at the moment of his departure I did not get the
feeling that Henry was unhappy about our recruitment policy. Henry left because
he wanted to leave the club. Besides, I took time to thank him for everything he
did for the club. But the club also did a lot for him. Nobody stays here
forever.'

Well said. And it has to be understood as aimed at current players as well as fans. Stick to your role. Don't try to manage the club.

ESPNSoccernet: You have been a big believer in the return of
Anelka to Arsenal. And he also wants to come back. But he hasn't signed yet. Has
Peter Hill-Wood laid down a veto against this move?

Arsene Wenger: 'The President has not said no. I can get Anelka if
I want. But we chose Eduardo instead because it was easier to work with a player
who had no prior history at the club. Besides, we have plenty of strikers with
Eduardo, Bendtner, Adebayor et Van Persie.'

The bit about "prior history" is the key. In the States we call it baggage.

ESPNSoccernet: It is now two years since Arsenal has won a trophy.
Is that acceptable?

Arsene Wenger: 'What people don't understand is that we played in
a new stadium and my players needed to adapt to that. But of course it was
completely unacceptable that we were 16 points behind the league leaders by the
end of October. This season I want us to compete for the title. We want to be
respected for our style of play. And I will try to apply the tactics that
respects the philosophy of the club. It was very interesting to see what we
accomplished in the Carling Cup. It is a good competition to develop young
players. But it is not a major trophy. What we are interested in is solely the
English title and the Champions League.'

Um, Arsene, there's a simpler, more direct answer: No. This year we will compete for the title like our lives depend on it.

Norman Hubbard also makes the case that Arsenal will miss JAR more than some think. It's a compelling argument, particularly in the point about Arsenal's relative shortage of wing players. However, one cannot overlook the fundamental fact that JAR was too frail and too precious for the EPL, and apparently too sweet to play outside in rainy conditions. As the old saying goes, "and if my grandmother had balls she'd be my grandfather."

Meanwhile, putative Centre-back William Gallass says that Arsenal has to play with some this year:

"In the past we have relied too much on lovely football to see us through," Gallas told The Sun.

"But we have learned from last season. Sometimes you have to fight to achieve success.

Arsenal are Alive!

The Professor likes his side. What can I say? I'm ready to be persuaded. When the season rolls around and Arsenal start beating the likes of the Reds, the Blues and the Devils then I'm convinced. That's what its about, isn't it? We're competing for the EPL title, or we aren't. Second concern is the Champions League.

Meanwhile, over at Arsenal World Chris Parry makes a persuasive and positive argument that Stan Kroenke is getting set to take majority ownership (and bring David Dein back). Both are positive (and apparently interlinked) in my mind. If Kroenke brings better resources to the club, all the better.

On quite the different note...the dead are alive...on the Internet

A Wee Bit of PreSeason Optimism

Wow. Arsenal have just signed Kaka out from under AC Milan!
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Just kidding. We're still in the same straits we were last week. Nonetheless, the Gunners produced a couple of 2-1 wins in the past 48 hours in their Emirates micro-cup, beating  and Inter Milan on successive days.

The Gunners opened the micro-cup with a 2-1 winner over Paris St. Germain with goals from Matthieu (or as Bobby McMahon calls him, "Matty") Flamini and a "Look what I found at my feet, better kick it in the net" game winner from Nicklas Bendtner, his first as a Gunner. Bendtner then proved that scoring was not as easy as it looks by following that with a weakly taken penalty kick in the 83rd minute. The PK came about when intreprid Alexander Hleb was taken down in the box while looking for a lane to the goal.

Against Inter, the boys went down a goal early, but fought back to draw level with a self-putback from Alexander Hleb (is this boy attacking the goal this year or what?) and then the winner from RVP, the man who would be king of Emirates. This season is RVP's to have. If he finds his stride - and keeps his cool (Memo to the gaffer: Keep RVP and Lehmann apart on plane flights) this could be a special year for the young Dutchman.

One item of concern from the news reports:

Despite dominating for long spells Arsenal fell behind to a well-placed header from Inter's Honduras striker David Suazo.

For long periods, it looked as though Arsenal had found no solution to their lack of cutting edge from last season.

Some of the Gunners' approach play and passing was
exquisite, but they failed to carve out many chances against a stubborn
Inter defence.

Yoinks! That sounds troublingly familiar.

Reading the match summaries I'm surprised by the number of names I've never heard before.
Bendtner. Sagna. Kieran Gibbs. Mark Randall. OK. I'm gonna spend a week studying the Arsenal website.

Anyhow, I'm beginning to get excited for the season. Yes, we're still a dark horse team given the lack of
obvious improvements through signings, but I've got faith in the Professor. He will mold this side into a fearsome attacking side with a stingy defense. This season, I believe we will continue to amaze with a passing game that patiently builds until the opposing defense makes a lapse and then we strike. Watch out Chelsea, Manchester U and Liverpool, The Gunners are coming!

Catfights and Dogfights

Gael Clichy responds to Freddie's claims that Arsenal lacks ambition:

"For two years we hear Arsenal are not competitive any more but last season we won both matches against Manchester United, drew both against Chelsea with what is supposed to be a young team, so I don't know what's wrong with that.

Gael. It's that 4th place finish. Gunners don't like that. But, hey, way to stick up for the team.

And in American football....this Michael Vick dogfighting case is just sick. If he's guilty, I hope he spends  long time in hoosegow. People who do this are little better than child molesters in my book.

Ok, it's a real stretch to call Gael Clichy's response to Freddie Ljungberg's comments a catfight, but...with the Michael Vick news, it was too tempting to pass up. I'm weak. I can't help it.