Sol Campbell hasn't officially signed for Arsenal yet but you'd expect the deal to go through. He has been speaking a lot of Arsenal.com and here's a quote worth taking a second look at:
"Yes [I wish I had never left]
Sometimes when you go away you realise what a top club Arsenal is. Slowly but surely everyone moves on but sometimes you move away and you re-think things."
Don't think he'll be saying anything about Sp*rs. Don't think anyone would feel that way about Sp*rs with the exception of Robbie Keane. Maybe it was because he went to Liverpool.
...that is a club in shambles at the moment and I'll get to that later.
I think Arsene Wenger is awesome. He normally gets the best out of his players before letting them go and this has been the case for almost everyone who has came his way. Campbell may prove to be a little blip to their record but I believe in Arsene Wenger and Arsene knows. There's been much talk about Flamini's return to England and here's a player we would welcome back. He might actually be happier here and partner Cesc again in midfield but Song owns as the anchorman.
On to pool. Ahahaha. srsly. I didn't expect this after the Reading draw and the FA cup replay being held at Anfield. But oh. It did. And now all Liverpool have to play for is 4th spot and a chance to win the first ever Europa League. Rafa Benitez has guaranteed 4th spot. Even Arsene Wenger did not do that last season. And this is probably KARMA for their fans who laughed at our quest for 4th spot. Sheesh man. Karma stings. Won't want to mess with karma.
So Man Utd and Liverpool are out of the FA Cup in the first round they played in. Arsenal have Stoke in the way but it's not too shabby to get both teams out of the way. If the FA Cup wasn't that important at all, it sure is a good indication of how the big 4 clubs are doing so far. Man Utd are still challenging for the title and in the Champion's League as well as the semi-finals of the Carling Cup but they've been far from impressive. Liverpool is just, well, Liverpool. They can blame all their troubles on off-pitch shenanigans but truly, they've been poor and the faster they accept it the faster they'll get back on track.
Arsenal always make things tough for themselves but if they manage to produce that something extra they can pose a real threat. The West Ham game is testament to that.
Lastly, Chelsea always have it easy.
Arsenal are the true underdogs here.Labels: Arsene Wenger, Big 4, FA Cup, Sol Campbell
A Little Drunken Madness @ 10:14 PM
There is only one Aaron Ramsey.
This dude has the fans singing the Arsene Wenger chant with his name in it, and quite rightly so.
It's a classic example of taking chances. The opportunities for him in the first team came and so far he has taken them in style, showing everyone what a big player he is going to be for us.
He became the darling of the team when he first arrived when Alex Ferguson and United legend Welshman Ryan Giggs couldn't convince him to join them and he chose us instead.
Look at how far he has come, this time, popping up at the right time to score the equaliser to set up a grand stand finish for Eduardo's header, which was nothing short of fantastic.
The game was pretty evenly matched from the start. Both sides created very little but eventually, West Ham got the goal they deserved for all their hard work. I'm not sure we needed to give a game to Silvestre who really isn't the player he was at United. He was slow to react and Diamanti managed to keep onside thanks to him and got the goal. I don't see why Traore couldn't continue in the first team since Wenger chose to keep 3/4 of his back four intact.
He shuffled the pack in front of the defence somewhat but Song kept his place to play one last game for us before catching the plane to Angola. Ramsey kept his place too with Merida completing the midfield trio. Up front Wenger brought in Vela and Wilshere but chose to play Vela in the centre and dudu on the left. I think Eduardo should be primarily deployed in the centre. He's not new to playing centre forward and is a natural striker while Vela has been mostly deployed on the wings. If Vela's in the centre because of height then there is not much case for that since there isn't a very great height difference between the 2. Overall, before Diaby and Nasri were brought on, we struggled to get behind their defence to create anything.
West Ham came out after the break and started to settle in a little more. At 1-0 against any Arsenal side there is simply no time to sit back. Behrami and Kovac continued to match us like for like in midfield and were doing a good job at that. Then Wenger, who has been really smart with his substitutes as of late, brought on Diaby and Nasri for Merida and Wilshere. I think before, if you mentioned Diaby as a sub late on to change the game, I would have laughed it off and expected things to stay status quo. But he came on and did really well and if he manages to stay injury free and consistent, he can make a difference this term.
So the draw for the 4th round has happened and looks like we'll be travelling to Stoke City. It's so early in the Cup and we're facing all the premier league sides already.
Sp*rs entertain Leeds United. Heh. I'm wondering if they'll learn from United's lesson or simply be Sp*rs.
So, this was quite the eventful 3rd round of the FA Cup. Man Utd crashed out to Leeds at mighty Old Trafford and Hull City, who created all that drama from nothing last season are out as well.
Ferguson has declared that the peeps who took the pitch tonight are not fit to face City in the Carling Cup semi final coming up in midweek. I think that'll do the youngsters' confidence a world of good. So much for youth development.Labels: Aaron Ramsey, Abou Diaby, Carlos Vela, Eduardo Da Silva, FA Cup, Man Utd
A Little Drunken Madness @ 2:20 AM
I can only assume that meeting Chelsea in the final of the FA Cup wasn't motivation enough for Man Utd to win it.
I can't really decide who was the better side in this game since they both had flashes of dominance yet it didn't result in goals. If United thought keeping it 0-0 till the end or on level terms and going down to penalties would get them through, they should figure out that they only can do it against Sp*rs and of course, Chelsea, whom they nicked the Champion's League trophy from.
The repercussions from United's loss means that they have narrowed down their possible trophy collection to 2 - the League title and the European crown.
Their league hopes could hinge on the result they get against us in May, where I hope 4th spot should be all but secured when Villa drew with West Ham. We still have to try and win every game still and Liverpool's next. 7 points all but separate us.
Then there's that Champion's League semi final.
It is scary thinking of it, but you just hope against all hope that in one and a half week's time, we can get rid of Silvestre entirely with the return of Djourou.
So it'll be an all blue Wembley final. I hate the colour blue. Nothing personal, just don't like that primary colour and every other colour derived from it. I love red. But I hate Liverpool red which is too much on the bright side. It's like chili red.
I like our white stripe. And then I think I'm a little late watching the special program on football rivalries between Arsenal and Sp*rs and Herbert Chapman who was from Sp*rs and how he added that white stripe to our jersey when he was at helm, apparently injection some of Sp*rs' apparent 'purity' into us. I thought that was funny really. Sp*rs and purity?
They all go for the same girl Danielle Lloyd. First up, Teddy Sheringham, then Jermaine Defoe and now Jamie O'Hara. They sure like passing the baton. And this girl is like the sluttiest tramp you can find out there who has a preference for footballers. She likes to be enroled permanently in the WAGs club. And then three dumbasses from across the street fall prey.
Perfect.
Any club with a bloody bird in their emblem is just no good. Like Charles Itandje and his monkeying around at a memorial service.
Did I mention I hate birds too? Nasty flying thinggys with abundance of shit and no toilet.
There are bigger games coming up. We already knew going into this week that at the end of it, we'll know exactly how our season will shape up. It's rather like if we have anything left to play for. Thankfully to the higher being up there, we are still in one competition. There was a potential to be in none. And if we had to choose which trophy we want to still be playing for, eyes closed, hands down, it's the Champion's League.
And hopefully, against all hope, we'll stay till the final and beat whoever comes our way.Labels: Champion's League, Chelsea, FA Cup, Liverpool, Man Utd, Sp*rs
A Little Drunken Madness @ 1:46 AM
It is hard to admit, but Chelsea were the better side...
..in terms of how they play their long balls? Teams with no balls play long balls 99% of the time. That is like Liverpool. And some dumbass Chelsea fan can declare that his team plays beautiful football. He is definitely 99% vision compromised.
The blame or 'reason for losing' should not lie with the other team. They do what they can (and srsly, what they only can) to win the game. Now take a good look at our Arsenal team.
Before the game, we knew we were horribly short defensively. For a team in this state, the cliche of attack being the best defense was the key to winning the game. In a cup game like this, the damned purpose is to outscore your opponent, even if it's 10-9, you still win. And look at the team being put out there.
So much for having all the attacking options in the world.
ARSHAVIN ON THE BENCH?!
That fucked me up when they flashed the line-ups. And I see Diaby playing in his place, Diaby who wants to be the next Vieira, Diaby whose position is more central that anything, playing on the left wing where Arshavin is fully adept in. You know, the Arshavin who didn't feature midweek. The fresh Arshavin with that one week break. The dangerous Arshavin who can torment the Chelsea defence.
And then Denilson. When he wasn't named in the starting line-up against Villarreal with Song partnering Cesc, you don't know how happy I was. And then suddenly Song loses his place? Song who most definitely is fantastic as of late. Denilson and all his sideways and back passing. Denilson who got owned by every player in the Chelsea midfield. Denilson who let 80% of his man get past him. And you have Diaby who likes to show off how skillful he is, by attempting a turn but loses the ball. Where he loses the ball is another issue altogether. Like in our own penalty area to Anelka. With Denilson partnering Cesc, you will never see Cesc being freed from defensive duties and getting balls up front more.
How many times must we go through these midfield problems? Finally, Song hits his best ever and is doing the job right - and then he gets dropped, ahead of Denilson whom the manager says isn't getting enough credit from the fans. Quite rightly so? Does he deserve credit?
Theo was amazing. He was doing his thing and causing Cashley all sorts of problems. The Arse fans never fail to boo his every touch which I thought was funny and this loss all but removed all gloating there for the taking when Walcott's goal came off a deflection off Cashley's hand. And I don't think it's ever the factor where when Theo scores we go on to lose to Drogba's winner. In the Carling Cup, what people conveniently forget (dumb Chelsea fans in particular) was that Drogba's equaliser came from an offside position. If it weren't for the official's visual impairment, there wouldn't be a winning goal.
This time, fucking Malouda that cock sucking faggot pushed Cesc in the penalty area and gestured to the ref that it was a dive. Ha?
This is precisely why Chelsea is a team of cunts. And so are their fans.
Silvestre's apparent handball would not escape me yeah. It was up against Drogba's shoulder, which raised and propped his arm up against the ball. Not that I forgive this idiot of a defender. He just totally gave up when the long ball came from Chelshite, exposing birthday boy Fabianski, who evidently, isn't ready. How soon can we get Almunia back? And the rest of our defence?
I'm not even citing our defensive issues as a 'reason for losing'. It's the attacking options all wrong.
CLEARLY.
On the plus side, Gibbs was fantastic. He stood his ground many a times and I can't recall if he ever let his man get past him.
TAKE THAT DENILSON.
SELL HIM.
He had so many chances and Wenger fancies this little fucker ahead of Song who has had fewer chances that him but took them so well JUST TO SIT ON THE BENCH.
Diaby is also a big mess. Before his injury, he was fantastic. After he has came back from injury, he's shit. So, are we supposed to flip a coin and hope for the best?
Forgive me for being pissed but tonight, everything was wrong. Nothing went wrong. Things were induced by these circumstances to be wrong. Things which could beforehand, be influenced to get things right on the night when it freakin matters.
ARSHAVIN ON THE BENCH FOR 75 MINUTES? BIG HUGE ASS GRAVE MISTAKE EVER.
DIABY AND DENILSON ALLOWED TO SCREW UP OUR SECOND LAST TROPHY HOPE?
DIABOLICAL.
And now I look to the next game at Anfield and I wish it'll never come. Will our season always end after an FA Cup defeat? We'll be finding out soon enough. We've got to thank West Ham for drawing with Villa though. We still have 7 points over them.
P.S. anyone recovering from a virus should be in bed and not at WembleyLabels: Alex Song, Arshavin, Chelsea, Denilson, Diaby, FA Cup
A Little Drunken Madness @ 2:22 AM
The job is done. The team will be heading to Wembley.
It wasn't as straight forward as Blackburn but yea, it still feels soooo damn good.
First things first, Hull goalkeeper Myhill. Time wasting tactics was his undoing. And twice in a row he decides to crash into his own player, only the first, Bendtner screwed up yet another shot. I hate time wasters. This shits can go to hell. And they always get bitten in the butt.
Bendtner. His persistence led to the equaliser. I think his physical presence up front really makes a difference in the league. He's getting better even though his shots are either blocked or well wide but he's trying. If he didn't come on I don't think we could have had this turnaround.
Eboue was hoping to snatch someone else's goal again when Bendtner had a shot saved by Myhill. He was all ready to stab in the rebound but didn't manage to. Hah. He came on for Walcott who was kept pretty quiet throughout.
Hull rode their luck for a while. They came to the Emirates with the belief that they could come away with a win the same way in September. Then their stroke of luck came soon enough courtesy of Johan Djourou. As a defender, if you plan on committing to the challenge, it's important to be 100% committed. Don't just stick out a stray leg which then gets punished with a deflection. In all honesty, I think Fabianski had it covered because it did look like a shot straight at the keeper. Nonetheless, that early goal gave Hull the cushion to start their negative tactics + time wasting.
Like that ever works. Did no one tell them that the Arsenal bombardment increases with time? Did no alarm bells ring when two fresh attackers took the pitch? Guess not. We were going for the win and that made the difference. Besides, Hull suffered tired legs. Can't ever play like that against a sublime Arsenal.
Not that we were fantastic. I could say we won ugly but who cares. Arshavin got another assist. He cooly laid the ball for Van Persie to smash home. Robin knew just where the goal was. Captain Robin 1 Hull 1.
The winning goal was kinda scrappy but I really can't tell if the ball came off Myhill's arm or Djourou's head. Whatever it is, good for Gallas to put the ball into the back of the net. Another crucial goal from him. He's been dry as of late.
That's it for now. I think Phil Brown is an idiot. At least in front of the camera when Hull 'scores' and he misses either the whistle or the flag. Ha ha ha. I bet he'll be whining after the match about being robbed yada yada whatever. After beating Arsenal there was talk about European qualification and I look at the table now and laugh my fuckin ass off.
P.S. Manucho look better the last game at Hull after he crashed into Djourou and got a larger face. I almost didn't recognise him today.
Time to sleep? It's 6a.m..Labels: Bendtner, Eboue, FA Cup, Hull City
A Little Drunken Madness @ 5:48 AM
Ahem. I just came across some jaw-dropping stuff.
Who'd expect the following:
That's our Russian compared to Adebayor and Bendtner. Andrey is 172cm. Now seriously. I can't imagine my 1.6m self next to Adebayor or Bendtner.
Our crafty players are midgets but that's fine, as long as they're crafty! Giant tall strikers are more predictable in their runs and easier to mark since they're not as quick. Adebayor's rather skilled but he has gotten lazy and his suffering from itchy feet hasn't got any better. Bentdner's work rate is up a lot and he is putting in decent performances albeit the misses. Still a player to watch for the future.
Whatever it is, however we finish, trophy or no trophy, I hope the squad stays together at least. New additions are welcomed but I want this entire squad fit for the next season. Wenger has worked too long with this bunch to let them move on to other clubs.
I'll welcome Flamini back too. Sp*rs and all their homecoming. Not a bad thing if it's Flam coming back.
FA Cup game tonight against Hull. It's at home. Hull have beaten us at home. They could count themselves very luck that time or we were just very poor. A bit of both. Anyhow, I expect us to take the game and meet Chelsea next at Wembley for the semi-finals. Arshavin is dying to play despite having 8 stitches to his foot thanks to some Blackburn foot slicing. I can't imagine a team who goes all out to injure, subtly and blatently. Sick bastards. Anyway if I had stitches I'll be moaning in bed. This is why I don't play football or anything close.
I think Van Persie should start, along with Vela, Gibbs and Fabianski. Maybe Gallas too in place of Toure. I wonder if Eboue will be given a place at right back in order to rest Sagna.
So YAAAY for football tonight. The squad does have the depth to cope with matches coming thick and fast. After Newcastle it'll be the international break and we'll have both Cesc and Adebayor back. Hopefully the competition for places will give Ade a challenge and heal his itchy feet since we're more than capable when the attitute of the whole team is right. We're not a team short on quality.Labels: Andrei Arshavin, Emmanuel Adebayor, FA Cup, Nicklas Bendtner
A Little Drunken Madness @ 4:38 PM
On a night when...
EBOUE SCORES.
Song was on song.
Vela and Eduardo did the cheeky cheeky.
Arshavin got another 90 minutes and another assist.
...and many other things.
It's just happy happy happy. With Walcott and Eduardo featuring, the two dudes out injured. When players come back from injury it's a cause for celebration. And dudu is just fantastic. He is such a natural finisher. I love his left foot.
Before the game Mr Owen Coyle and co. were talking up their own team's ability to whack Arsenal since they did it earlier in the Carling Cup. Somehow, when the game is at the Emirates, they probably lost their chance to get anything but creamed.
Song was outstanding. He went forward and was whipping in cross after cross and he got 2 assists. This fellow needs to start being consistent because he's capable. On days when he shakes off the attitude he's fantastic. He needs to keep it up. And it was nice to not see Denilson anywhere even though he has been a hardworking servant all this while. His sideways passing really pisses the hell out of me.
I think there isn't much to say other than to enjoy the win and hopefully take the game to Roma. Cicinho will miss the clash, so will De Rossi, with the latter due to suspension. They are a quality side but I'm sure us at our best can beat anybody.
Eboue has taken another step towards redemption so he should try no to blow it or try anything funny.
Lastly, Drogba scares me.Labels: Eboue, Eduardo, FA Cup, Roma
A Little Drunken Madness @ 11:44 PM
I marched to my TV at 3.41am and I turned it on and saw Eduardo coming out of the tunnel.
Indescribable.
And it took just over 20 minutes to open his account for the season. But it took all of a few seconds to make his presence felt.
You need to be an Arse fan to understand how it feels like when Wenger said (before Arshavin came) that Eduardo, Cesc and Theo will be like new signings. Now we know why he said that. Eduardo practically revived everyone's spirts. How often do you see Toure going all the way forward and getting a shot of target and then Gallas marking his man all the way to the opponent's goal?
It's like we could do without Arshavin.
Doesn't it finally feel like our season is finally starting?
We're also not going to miss Adebayor one bit.
So full time and Arsenal won 4-0. I can't recall the last time we won 4-0. RVP wrapped up the game while dudu got a brace on his comeback.
As it stands, it's
Arsenal or Burnley v Sheffield United or Hull City
It's nice to be playing both at home, and it's sort of like a chance for revenge. First to Burnley, and then to Hull if they manage to beat Sheffield United.
What a fantastic day at the office.Labels: Cardiff, Eduardo, FA Cup
A Little Drunken Madness @ 4:38 AM
So we do know who's coming up in the next round of the FA Cup before we play Cardiff to progress.
Blackburn Rovers or Coventry City v Chelsea
Swansea City or Fulham v Manchester United
(Cardiff City or Arsenal) or Burnley v Sheffield United or Hull City
Everton v West Ham United or Middlesbrough
Looking at the draw, it looks like we do have a good chance at progressing to the semi finals. The only thing is that this season where results are rather erratic, we have to pray that we can pick out lesser teams more easily. We do have a good youth squad making up our depth but I don't know if it's enough. The Carling Cup is one thing, and we were knocked out by Burnley. If we beat Cardiff we'll meet Burnley again.
Have to use the 'if's because it's better to not count chickens before they hatch.
When there's Eboue in the team you know you can't assume.Labels: FA Cup
A Little Drunken Madness @ 2:49 AM
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