Keano Blasts The Waggers

This is why I love Roy Keane. It's going to be great having him back in the Premiership.

Gunners Open 2007 With More Drama

Yes, I'd like to see Arsenal putting away the likes of Fulham with ease, but a win is a win. Arsenal took Fulham 2-1 with a shocking last of regulation winner from Alexand Hleb. I saw the game on replay and while they should've never been down to Fulham, they did well to get the win.

They were in the position of coming from behind thanks to the idiotics of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

The veteran had earlier made a complete hash of an attempted return pass to the defence, striking the ball against his left leg and gifting possession to Healy, who slotted into an empty net for a first top flight goal.

Wenger said: "First of all, I was surprised he had made the mistake.

"He's an experienced keeper and you want to deal with your first ball.

"Jens changed his mind, but wasn't quick enough to respond to his brain. He lost his co-ordination."

Wenger added: "Every goalkeeper can make a mistake. He made one. If you are an outfield player you are not punished, but you are in goal."

The Professor is being careful because Lehman is his guy for the season and he's a tempermental sort, but he's got to know that the standards for keepers are different. If Jens were a Red Devil, he'd be done with this sort of muck-up.

Alexander Hleb. Wow. He looked like someone spiked his oatmeal. He played with real pepper and looked to get some shots. His game-winner was outstanding; a real effort to receive the ball and then turn and fire in space. Cesc was great as usual. He really missed having Gilberto, who I hear we won't see until September!

We didn't get enough of RVP, but Jesus, that PK was hit with a bit of pace. Wouldn't have been surprised to see it go through the back of the net. I believe flames were coming off the ball, it was hit so hard. And yes, the PK was rightly called. Arsenal should've had one other, and maybe a third, but that's the way it goes.

I liked Nicholas Bendtner. Didn't kill me with flash and flair, but the boy looks like he knows where the goal is. All in all, a good start. Theo showed a little, in the few minutes he was in. I love his pace. But he's still clearly maturing. If he'd cut inside the defender on his run, he would've had only the keep to shoot on.

Alright, the season's on. The Gunners got the right start. I'm excited to see more Arsenal matches.

Sounders, Racist Sounds, and Gunners. (Oh My)

Good news for the local USL Sounders who piled 5 goals on the MSL Colorado Rapids en route to a 5-0 quarterfinal victory in the US Open Cup. Well done, Sounders. Well done. They've now beaten two MSL squads and a Championship side in Preston North End.

Over in the SPL, our Bhoys are getting warned to stay away from the racist and sectarian chants. The SPL is instituting a new rule that will result in points being deducted if a squad's fans are engaging in verboten chanting. Good on 'em, I say. There's just no room for racism or Catholics V. Protestants in football. Insult a player's talent, his work rate, his need for a boatload of Viagra. That sort of abuse is more of a loving tribute. But don't be a dork. Stay away from the real hate.

Mr. McMahon chimes in with Part 3 of his prognostications. Manchester United second? Who will he pick for tops?

And, finally, a Gunners moment; With the preseason player predictions and musings streaming forth, Arsenal back William Gallass opines that the Gunners are ready to shed their effete Gentlemen's Passing Club image and brawl for the ball. Well said, Will. I hope that you are right. There's nothing worse than watching your superior talented team get beat up on like a punk by some inferior club full of knuckle-draggers. Sometimes you have to kick a little ass - sort things out that way - before you kick the ball.

Wenger tips RVP

Arsene Wenger is tipping Robin Van Persie to have a breakout season and help replace the goal scoring prowess of departed thierry Henry. This strikes me as one where the boss could've taken the day off and allowed me to make the observation for him. Duh! The last two seasons, the Dutchman has been coming on, showing signs of great skill and growing knowledge, and yes, growing patience. With Henry gone, he is the natural player to fill the void.

With the first match of the season Sunday against Fulham, I can think of no better time to get started on a goal-scoring binge. Too bad, FSN does not have this televised.

While I'm not happy with the schedulers over at FSN, I'm always interested in what Bobby MacMahon has to say or write about football. Today, he's got part 2 of his EPL predictions and prognostications. Bobby likes Liverpool as the bottom clinger of the Big Four, which makes sense to me. I like Fernando Torres and thought Liverpool's buy of him was a brilliant move. However, don't think it's enough to leapfrog the Gunners, Chelsea and the Red Devils.

Bobby also picks newly-promoted Sunderland to stay up, just barely. I like that. I don't know enough about Sunderland under Roy Keane - haven't watched many Championship matches - but they're my sentimental favorite. I always like Keano as a player, even though I detested him for playing for Manchester United and always being a thorn in Arsenal's side. I was waiting for him to move on so that I could out and out cheer for him.

Moving to Celtic was a dream move in that regard, but alas, his days were already over. So, it is as a coach, that I'll root for Keane. You have to like what he's done so far - taking the Black Cats from supposed-to-drops to promotion Surprise. I'm looking forward to catching some of their televised matches this season.

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.