talkingOfArsenal.com

A quick update after the Sheffield Utd Carling Cup game. Fundamentally, the Championship side set up to play their usual physical game and it was clear from the first few exchanges that it could turn out to be a long night. Fabianski, the goal keeping captain for the night, did well to save a long ball in which was turned goalward by Utd's Sharp. However, on seven minutes, a three-pass move deep out of Arsenal's defence saw Eduardo, the Brazilian-born Croatian, let rip a...

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The game of football ought to have road signs. If it did, my favourite sign would be: Warning: Expectation Is Dangerous. This would be much in the same vein as the 'Tiredness Kills' signs we see on motorways up and down the country. Let's take a look at this season. After spending close to £50million, everyone and their dog took it for granted that Tottenham would break into the top four. Even hard core gooner mates of mine had started to consider the unthinkable. The Tottenham players were clearly pleased with...

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We had a really good game at Anfield, one which, had I been offered the final result before the game started, I'd've had bitten the offering hand off. We started out badly enough, conceding a goal within the first seven minutes. Gallas and Almunia need to drum into any Arsenal wall, that they need to stand still, and stand strong when the ball is taken. They need to require, they need to force the free-kick taker to do all the hard work - taking a freekick and getting the ball over or around the wall, and then back under the crossbar or back inside the post is...

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David Dein must be wondering what on God's Earth is going on? As an Arsenal fan, he's always wanted the best for the club. Seeing the investment in Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool along with some short term results, he comes to the conclusion that Arsenal are sooner or later going to be left behind, and slip back into mid-table mediocrity. So what's a fan to do? Well, first he ejects himself out of office "by mutual consent" for allegedly getting into the proverbial bed with...

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In truth, I've always preferred to keep my postings mainly Arsenal-related, however after fighting to keep my mind off the recent happenings down the Lane all day today, I've given in to temptation and turned to my keyboard - I've got too much to write, not to write about it. Whichever way I look at it, I just can't see any positives for Tottenham, much as as an Arsenal fan, I wouldn't want to. To quote a phrase, it's all gone proper...

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Now I'm not one who takes criticising my own team lightly, however in the last couple of seasons, when things were not going so well, I often looked to the positives in the team to keep things in perspective. Seeing that things are going well so far (touch wood!), and in order to keep some balance, I thought I'd take the liberty and do the exact opposite - hence I pose a mildly philosophical question which might involve looking at one of our players in a not-so-bright light. Is Arsenal doing well as a result of fielding the striker Adebayor, or are we...

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And what a birthday present it has been! I've just witnessed a thorough 'dismantlisation' (is that a Wengerism?) of a team and just like the TV commentators, I'm finding it hard to conjure up appropriate words to describe the spectacle. The problem is - where do I even begin to start to describe such a scintillating match? Would it be with the skill and poise of...

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So Jens Lehman reckons he'll be strolling back into the first team with Almunia giving way, now that his mysterious elbow injury is behind him. According to the BBC website, Lehman said: "I am fully fit and expect to be back against Bolton. Arsene Wenger has not told me anything but I am here now and I expect him to play me, so no worries". Lehman is, and I'm not joking when I say this, possibly the maddest keeper in the Premier League. Does anyone remember the "Laurel and Hardy" clip between...

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It would appear that everytime I forget that Paul Merson isn't the brightest spark plug in the engine, up he pops, and reminds me again. Now don't get me wrong - I love the man. I had a real soft spot for him when he played for us, and I sympathised with, and had great admiration for him when he announced, and then sorted out his personal problems. But... And this is a big but... I've lost count of the number of plain silly things I've heard...

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I'm not sure how or when this happened, however Usmanov's original intentions to purchase Arsenal stock as a result of the attractiveness of the brand seems to have now morphed into some kind of prolonged takeover. This might well be self-denial on...

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