Lehmann Out?

As Arsenal prepare for the Emirates leg of the clash with Sparta Prague, Wenger may be opening the door for manuel Almunia to take the #1 spot from Jens Lehmann, who as late has been a prominently bobblehanded keeper. The Professor also hails Fabregas' Ass-kickin' in the midfield.

Over At Celtic Park

During the mid-week lull, I should note that Celtic frosted Hearts 5-0 Saturday. Someday, I'd wish they'd televise a Celtic match or two, but the only thing we get are the rare Champions League matches.
Also, Celtic look prepare to lose a player or three. And they signed some Italian 16-year-old whiz kid.

Red Champions Again?

Nick Webster writes that Liverpool may be the strongest squad vying for the EPL crown this year and the champions may once again be wearing red shirts. Certainly, Manchester United does not look up to it, in the early stages. You can't count Chelsea out. My heart says Arsenal, but my brain...well, it takes the Fifth. Going on the early season match, when Liverpool beat Chelsea (but couldn't beat Rob "Flashback" Styles), you have to concede that the Reds look the top of the class. It's still early days....

Arsenal 1 Man. City 0

I watched the Arsenal-Manchester City game on delay after returning home from a back-to-school shopping trip to the mall with my daughters. Ah, sweet relief to go from the horrors of the mall to some televised Gunner football!

The match started promising enough with Arsenal pressing into a variety of build-ups, but struggling to find a good shot at the end. Manchester City for their part looked very good, and dangerous in the counter. New keeper Kasper Schmiechel had a heck of a game, although he eventually gave up his first Premiership goal and center back Richard Dunne was every bit as good. The two gave the City defense an impenetrable look that belied their true strength.

The match had a good flowing back and forth quality to it, until about the 30th minute, when Arsenal built into a period of posession that can only be faulted for the lack of goals to show. They dominated the ball like a frat boy with the last beer in the fridge. A period of more than ten minutes of this mastery looked to result in the go-aheader when RVP ran onto a pass and sent a cross that beat the defender and keeper to the far side of the goal, which was just waiting to be had. Adebayor, however, had cut off his run leaving the game tied, and RVP somewhat beside himself.

The Togoan had several moments of promise, but looked more rusty than shiny in his 2007 EPL debut. His hard-running work rate from last season was not in evidence and I had to wonder if fitness was to blame. I'm sure Adebayor will get it going once he gets a few more games under him.

The teams broke the half at a 0-0 draw and the 2nd half started up almost where Arsenal left off. But the Gunners soon looked to lose composure as they failed to find a way to unlock the Man City defense. Arsenal's own back four began to shake as an already improvised line (with Gilberto in center back for injured Will Gallas and Senderos) had to contend with losing Bacari Sagna in the first half.

Manchester City had their best chance when Petrov flashed a sharp shot across the far post. Almunia who was excllent when tested (particularly in the 62nd minute when he stuffed an Mpenza shot) was beat, but the accuracy betrayed Petrov and the match remained drawn.

It looked like the Gunners were to have their goal when Hleb flashed a great run in the box and was chopped down by Micah Richards. However, RVP, who I thought otherwise had a strong game, hit an uncharacteristically poor PK shot that Schmeichel saved, though only because RVP shot it into his legs.

Undeterred, the Gunners continued to plug away and work the ball around, finally finding the sweet spot, when Fabregas played a give and get with Hleb, recieving the ball in copious amounts of space and from 8 yards out blasted a rocket over schmeichel's head, that the kid couldn't have had time to stop even if he'd been told it was coming.

All in all, a good win over the once and then table leaders, and a worthy team. I'll have to say that from this impression, I'm wondering whether Svennie G is not the dope I thought he was from the English team's performances. City looks to make some noise this season.

Fabregas was less than brilliant, but still better than most of the players on the pitch. And the game winner was a beaut. Hleb continues to impress. His game in the EPL is still finding its form, and he has got to work out his boundary issues with RVP, but he's showing more attacking instinct, his rubber legged moves with the ball continue to confound defenders (in bunches) and he is developing into a real danger with the quick give and go, particularly with Cesc. Gilberto was solid. What can you say? Old reliable. RVP, I've mentioned. The kid should have a great year. Neither Adebayor, nor Da Silva are making me forget my favorite Barca player (yet). Adebayor will come around. Da Silva is like any other promising foreigner - he's going to take some time before it shows whether he's a bust or not

Almunia. I thought he was good all game long and there when we needed - though to be fair, Manchester City did not rain down shots on him. Given the first 2 games of the season, and the inevitable composure issues, I'm more than comfortable with Manuel being the man.

SAF Applies the Verbal SmackDown

Sir Alex gets the EPL Wordsmith of the Week Award for his verbal bitch-smackin' of Rafa Benitez:

"There was never any chance of Liverpool winning that case, so
Rafa clearly did not read the Premier League rules. It is just churlish."

Churlish! Good Man, SAF!
Meanwhile, Error Apparent, Jens Lehmann, is out for two weeks, aggravating his Achilles tendon in the England-Germany friendly. In comes, back-up Manuel Almunia who starts the year with the horrible blonde dye job that seems to afflict keepers from time to time. Wenger says he has full confidence in the Spaniard, and he still has full confidence in Butterfingers, who has great artistic ability.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal-Manchester City match is on TV Saturday, and I am a happy man.

Lehmann...Lemon?

Today, I sit pondering the wonder that is Jens Lehmann. Two games. Two goals given on two horrendous mistakes. Is this a keeper that a top 4 club can afford to have? Arsenal are lucky enough to have only dropped 2 points on Lehmann's bobble-headed play. If it continues, there'll be more points down the drain.

Arsenal played well enough in the first half of yesterday's game. After RVP's first goal, they looked like they were on verge of unleashing a fusillade of scores. Alas, they didn't. And in the 2nd half, they were entirely outplayed and outworked by the Rovers. Disappointing, since this was the type of backstreet brawl match that Arsenal needed to prove themselves in. They sorely needed to put Blackburn away and show the Rovers, other thugball teams, and themselves that Arsenal 2007 is too tough to be pushed around the pitch.

Thanks to Jens Lehmann, they showed that there is still reward in knocking the Gunners around.

Of course, The Professor slammed the parolees from Blackburn for their "over-violence" - he's got to do that for his team. but he's got to know that teams will continue to do this until Arsenal give 'em a headache for the troubles. As long as it works, why stop?

Newbie Da Silva had a few moments, including some work to create the opening for RVP's goal. But for much of the match, he looked terribly at sea, shooting from distances and angles where players can only dream of goals, wasting balls forward to the big American keeper. It's early. We need to give him more time. I'd say another 3-4 games. I expect more.

On top of that, the Gunnerinos lost William Gallass to a groin yoink. This is a tough one. I think it's big having Bill in the center back for us. He adds skilll and steel where we need it. Senderos played well in his fill, but I've still got my doubts about Philly. Particularly, when I see Chelsea on the sked.

Yikes. What's up with Man U? 0-1 to SGE's Man City? 0-2-1 to start the show? even two games in, it's weird to see the Red Devils in the drop zone.

And Finally...Getting All Political
The difference between this Congress and last? The 105th Congress didn't read/understand/care about the impact of its legislation because of corruption and laziness. The 106th Congress doesn't read/understand/care about the impact of its legislation because of fear and laziness.

Gunners Off to Positive Start

Arsenal got the Champions League campaign off to a positive start with an important 2-0 win away at Sparta Prague. For some d$&m reason, ESPN isn't televising Champions League qualifiers, so I haven't got any film to watch. From the reports, however, it was a smashing game with lots of action at both ends and plenty of pressure from the hosts on the Gunner goal sticks. Goals from Cesc in the 72nd and Alexander Hleb (who apparently woke up last week thinking he was Thierry Henry - 2 goals in 2 games!) in injury time.

I'm starting to think the post-Thierry days may be OK, anyways. Yes, I know its early days, yet, but nothing wrong with being an optimist, is there?

Over at the defending champions club, though, things are looking anything but bright, with a two-draw start to the season and a veritable Greek chorus of injured goal scorers. Drawn again at Portsmouth as both sides play tensies.