Arsenal FC @ Emirates All Gunner fans fall in

[Abel047zv]

On life’s earnest battle they only prevail, who daily march onward and never say fail.

[loverboy789]

Oxlade-Chamberlain looks good against Olympiakos. This guy got a big future ahead of him.

[chatlovers]

Originally Posted by loverboy789

Oxlade-Chamberlain looks good against Olympiakos. This guy got a big future ahead of him.

I do agree that he looked good confident player... but wait... all british players are over hyped and over priced.

Walcott, Ramsey, Penant, Bentley were all praised to be great but none of them have achieved the heights they were expected of. I am only listing Arsenal youth players coz its Arsenal thread.

I do not want to include Wilshere in this list coz I do feel he is one of the best young player arsenal has ever produced.

[loverboy789]

Originally Posted by chatlovers

I do agree that he looked good confident player... but wait... all british players are over hyped and over priced.

Walcott, Ramsey, Penant, Bentley were all praised to be great but none of them have achieved the heights they were expected of. I am only listing Arsenal youth players coz its Arsenal thread.

I do not want to include Wilshere in this list coz I do feel he is one of the best young player arsenal has ever produced.

Interesting comments above and absolutely spot-on as well. Potential remains, just potential. If they remain down-to-earth and continue to work hard and display good attitude, then their chances of success will be higher. It is worth noting that foreign youngsters tend to be more successful than locals at Arsenal. I think the young Englishman got lots of distraction, especially woman.

[joew2005]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/300920...re-decide.html

Premier League - Kroenke: Wenger future his to decide
Fri, 30 Sep

Arsene Wenger is 1 of the world's greatest managers & his future @ Arsenal is assured 4 as long as he 1s 2 stay, according 2 the club's owner Stan Kroenke.

The 64-year-old American billionaire, whose portfolio of teams includes the St Louis Rams in the NFL, the Denver Nuggets in the NBA & the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, has also been Arsenal's majority shareholder since earlier tis year.

Nicknamed "Silent Stan" by the British media, he has finally spoken in depth 4 the 1st time since he started buying in2 Arsenal 4 years ago with an interview in the Daily Telegraph.

Despite the club's poorest start 2 a season since 1953, & some fans calling 4 the 61-year-old Wenger 2 leave, Kroenke gave the Frenchman a stunning endorsement, 15 years 2 the day he was appointed manager.

"Arsene is 1 of my fav ppl I hv met in the last 20 years. He is a great person & I love the way he handles himself. He is 1 of the great managers," he said.

Asked if he could stay @ the club 4 another decade, Kroenke replied: "With Arsene, it's his decision & only he will know tat."

Arsenal hv improved in recent weeks but they hv not won any silverware since the FA Cup in 2005 & lost 2 of their most influential players in the off-season when Cesc Fabregas joined Barcelona & Samir Nasri went 2 ManC.

Kroenke, said the decision 2 allow Fabregas & Nasri 2 leave was Wenger's, who believed, particularly as far as the former was concerned, tat it was right 2 let him 2 return 2 his boyhood club aft they had courted him for 3 years.

"Tat was betw Arsene & him," the American added. "I like the kid but I'm not going 2 change his mind.

"Arsene made the decision. If we wanted 2 be really hard abt it, we could hv done but Arsene believed tat it was the right way 2 do it.

"I also get it on Nasri. If we didn't do something on Nasri ppl would be looking @ us next summer & saying, 'Why didn't u do tis?'

"We bought in a lot of resources tat we can use on other players. I honestly didn't make the decision on Nasri.

"Of course the board talks abt these things but @ the end of the day, tat's 4 Arsene."

Kroenke has little fear tat Wenger's current crop of youngsters will do well, adding: "Maybe it is 1 of those times when we hv 2 work our way thru, maybe with some young players.

"Arsene has been really good @ developing these guys, people like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain & Jack Wilshere.

"There r some really good players tat Arsene thinks can be special. Sometimes you go thru periods like tat.

"Arsene's our man. As an owner, that's who we put our confidence in."

There has been widespread criticism of Wenger 4 not spending $ on top quality players, but Kroenke said tat in his 3 years on the board, he has supported considerable investment in the squad.

"We r not only developing $ on players. If you look @ the total wage spend, we r up there.

"I hv never told any1 not 2 spend 1 dime," he said.

[jayboy]

So long dont hve gunner update.

[jayboy]

Vry surpise that Arsenal won Chelsea 5-3

[owl888]

Arsenal ressurected!!!

[Naka_Timo]

Just hope that they maintain it...

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=318251&cc=4716

Van Persie hat-trick in humdinger

John Terry & Chelsea's nightmare week was complete as his slip & a Robin van Persie hat-trick handed Arsenal an amazing victory in an absolute classic @ Stamford Bridge.

Terry looked set 2 enjoy some respite fr the FA & police probes in2 allegations he racially abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand when he gave the Blues a 2-1 half-time lead.

But the Gunners staged a sensational 2nd-half comeback 2 turn the game on its head &, though Juan Mata equalised @ 3-3, Terry's mistake allowed Van Persie 2 make it 4-3 b4 the Dutchman completed his treble in stoppage time.

It handed the visitors their 1st Premier League away win since April & left Chelsea 6 points behind leaders ManC having played a game more.

Tat piled on the misery 4 the Blues, who hv been under siege in the past week, which saw them hit by a humiliating defeat @ QPR, 3 more red cards, the Terry racism storm, 2 - potentially 3 - FA fines & a supporter revolt over their stadium plans.

Fan reaction 2 Terry - who categorically denies racially abusing Ferdinand - was predictable on wat his 1st public appearance since the allegations emerged.

There were cheers fr the Chelsea faithful - whose posters included messages like 'JT is not racist' & 'Captain, Leader, Legend' - & jeers & abuse fr the Arsenal contingent, who ridiculed him over his current travails.

But both sets of supporters were soon transfixed by a feast of attacking football.

Aft Ashley Cole twice got in behind the visitors' defence, Chelsea really should hv scored when 3 of their players beat the Gunners' offside trap but Daniel Sturridge somehow sent his cross straight @ Wojciech Szczesny.

The home side also looked vulnerable & Gervinho somehow scuffed a tap-in wide aft Theo Walcott surged past Cole. The Arsenal winger also picked out captain Van Persie, who volleyed over.

It was the Arsenal defence which buckled 1st aft 14 mins, the outstanding Mata teasing Van Persie & swinging in a right-wing cross which the unmarked Frank Lampard stooped 2 head home.

Van Persie was robbed aft again getting in behind b4 the goalmouth action finally relented until the 29th min, when Lampard's flighted ball put Sturridge clean thru but the 4ward got his left-footed finish all wrong.

And Arsenal made him pay 7 mins later when they equalised with the kind of goal they r all 2 often accused of trying 2 score.

Ramsey picked out Gervinho's brilliant run & the Ivory Coast striker drew Petr Cech & squared 4 Van Persie 2 slot in2 an empty net.

Sturridge thought he had put Chelsea back in front 4 mins b4 the break but he was rightly ruled offside poking home Ramires' cross.

But they were gifted the lead on the stroke of half-time thru Terry, of all people, who got in front of Per Mertesacker 2 cushion Lampard's corner in off the post right in front of the Arsenal fans.

Every 1 of Terry's outfield team-mates joined in the celebrations with their skipper, who appeared 2 swear @ the away support in response 2 their goading.

Incredibly, the tables turned within 10 mins of the restart as Arsenal scored twice 2 take the lead & Szczesny avoided wat looked a certain red card.

Van Persie & Ramsey both missed chances 2 level inside a minute but Andre Santos did 3 mins later when his superb 1st touch on2 Gervinho's ball gave him time 2 send a strike thru Cech's legs & into the net.

Chelsea immediately went on the attack & Szczesny appeared lucky not 2 be sent off when he came rushing out of goal & tripped Cole on the edge of the box.

Referee Andre Marriner showed only a yellow card & Szczesny rubbed salt in2 the wound by tipping Lampard's resulting free-kick wide b4 Arsenal scored again, Walcott bundling his way thru the home defence & lashing the ball past Cech @ the near post.

Both sides made a raft of changes as the end-2-end action continued, with Ramsey missing another good chance 4 the visitors who were looking the more dangerous.

Terry was forced 2 act as peacemaker aft a clash betw Van Persie & Branislav Ivanovic, both of whom were booked.

And there was a grandstand finish thanks 2 a wonderful strike fr Mata, who let fly fr 25 yards 2 beat the despairing Szczesny.

But like the 1st half, the 2nd ended up being decided by Terry, who slipped chasing substitute Florent Malouda's backpass, leaving Van Persie 2 race clear, round Cech & make it 4-3.

Mata twice saw efforts blocked as Chelsea tried 2 level b4 Van Persie hit them on the break again by blasting left-footed past Cech.

[Naka_Timo]

Now Van Persie is currently the top scorer...

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...tsteps?cc=4716

Van Persie following Henry's footsteps
November 24, 2011

5 Premier League victories in a row, qualification 4 the Champions League knockout rounds with a game 2 spare, & the most in-form player in the country leading their 4ward line; suddenly, things aren't looking 2 bad 4 Arsenal. Tis Saturday, the Gunners take on Fulham @ Emirates Stadium in front of the ESPN cameras, looking 2 continue wat has been an impressive run of recent results.

Aft the hammering they received @ Old Trafford back in August, many ppl feared 4 Arsenal & when they lost 2 Blackburn & Tottenham 2, u wondered if the club were @ risk of going into serious decline. In their defence, Arsenal had 6 players missing against ManU. There were alot of square pegs in round holes tat day & if u take 6 players out of any team they will struggle - maybe not 2 the tune of 8 goals, but it makes life very tough.

Few people expected them 2 come back fr those poor results, but they hv responded fantastically. Arsene Wenger is a resilient manager - u don't stay @ such a big club 4 as long as he has without being resilient - & he has shown tat even though Arsenal hv lost a few players, they've still got alot of talent there. They r a well-managed club & even a faltering Arsenal r going 2 be capable of finishing in the top 4. Yes, they've got a battle on their hands 2 do so, wat with Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham & even Newcastle @ the moment all vying 4 the 2 places behind the Manchester clubs, but they can challenge.

Arsenal's return 2 form has, of course, been spearheaded by Robin van Persie. His goal record tis year really is something else; 31 goals in 29 league games is an incredible return & puts him up with Thierry Henry, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Alan Shearer & Les Ferdinand as the only players 2 hv claimed 30 or more Premier League goals in a calendar year.

Kelvin worked with 2 of the members of the 30+ club in Shearer & Ferdinand; in fact, Les came 2 us @ Newcastle in the summer of 1995, which was the year he scored 30 goals in all. Les was more of your archetypal centre-4ward - big, strong & excellent in the air; Van Persie is very different 2 tat & of those names abv he's more like Henry really - nimble, skilful & light on his feet.

2 be honest, it's surprised me abit just how many goals Van Persie has scored, not becos I don't think he's a world-class player but becos I've never really seen him as a typical striker; he has gone fr being used out wide 2 playing in a central position. Many ppl forget tat he was educated as a left-winger @ Feyenoord & tat it was Arsene Wenger who decided 2 encourage him 2 play up front.

His is a similar story 2 tat of Thierry Henry, who also arrived @ Arsenal as a wide player, fr Juventus, b4 transforming into a devastating striker 4 the Gunners. It's exactly the same club & the same change. Every1 praised Henry 4 adapting 2 tat position, & I feel Van Persie deserves the same credit. Henry obviously went on 2 become the club's all-time leading scorer under Arsene but I think it's important 2 note tat, while he provided plenty of moments of individual brilliance, he also played in a more settled Arsenal side with a host of quality players, 1 tat enjoyed plenty of success & didn't hv as many disruptions as the present 1. Van Persie is playing in an Arsenal side tat isn't as good as 1s of the past, a side tat has struggled @ times tis year 2 get results. It's been no bed of roses 4 him & when u take tat into account, wat Van Persie is doing is every bit as good as Henry, if not better. It must be difficult 4 Arsenal fans 2 think of wat might hv been had Van Persie not suffered so badly with injuries during his time @ the club. He's averaged just 16 starts a season since moving 2 Arsenal in 2004, which is a real blow when u consider he has been their 1st-choice striker since Henry left 4 years ago. Neither Wenger or the supporters will 1 2 contemplate wat would happen if he were 2 pick up another injury tis season, it would be disastrous 4 them. Arsenal hv scored 58 goals in 2011 & he has scored 32 of them; Van Persie's importance is clear 4 all 2 see. There r obviously concerns abt his future fitness but just becos a player has had his fair share of injuries, there's no reason why 4 the next 3 years he can't be injury free.

I think rather than injury, though, the biggest worry now is whether or not Van Persie will commit his long-term future 2 Arsenal. The club hv said they'll wait until the end of the season 2 sort out his contract - which runs out in 2013 - & I think that's sensible; let him carry on scoring goals without any distractions & then sit down @ the end of the year. Arsenal will hv 2 accept tat the ball will be in his court, though. He will weigh up exactly where he thinks the club r going & whether the powers-tat-be r going 2 be willing 2 invest in new players or instead focus on finding bargains & selling the top names. If they promise 2 bring in players who he feels will help Arsenal win trophies & play in major finals he will probably stay. If the latter is the case then he's going 2 go becos he's entering the prime of his career & will 1 2 play @ the very top.

Tis season is more abt Arsenal impressing Van Persie than Van Persie impressing Arsenal. The clock is ticking & Arsene needs 2 try 2 keep him motivated @ a time when, whether they like it or not, they've been perceived as a selling club. I don't know Van Persie well enough 2 know how he's thinking but it's a toss-up really betw saying 'I 1 2 stay here & be part of, & lead, a new era @ Arsenal' or 'hold on, the club can't keep hold of their best players, why should I stay?' I think it will be a crucial time 4 Arsene Wenger & Arsenal @ the end of the season becos if Van Persie doesn't sign next summer, he won't sign @ all. Comparisons with Henry, Nasri & Fabregas will be inevitable until he signs that contract, or the club announce tat he won't. You won't be able 2 stop tat speculation.

4 now, though, it is clear tat Van Persie is staying focused on his football. He's been made club captain & he's embraced it as an inspiration rather than let it burden him. You certainly wouldn't bet against him 2 continue his scoring streak against Fulham on Saturday, though Arsenal will know they can expect 2 come up against a gritty, organised & determined side. It is not a foregone conclusion tat the Gunners will make it 6 league wins in a row as Fulham r a team packed with excellent pros like Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey & Brede Haangeland & hv managed 2 keep 3 clean sheets away fr home tis season. It won't be a stroll in the park 4 Arsene's players, but the irresistible form of Van Persie should be enough 4 them 2 emerge with all 3 points.

[kiko]

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger won’t be in the market to beef up his attacking options in January even though Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho will be leaving to play in the African Cup of Nations.


Chamakh and Gervinho link up with Morocco and Ivory Coast respectively, leaving Robin van Persie and Park Chu-young as Arsenal’s only strikers, but Wenger said: “At the moment I do nothing in January. I have a big squad.”

[kiko]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted that the Gunners will not sign a striker during the January transfer window.

Speaking before and after the Wigan win on Saturday, the Frenchman explained that the Gunners dominated the game after a shaky first fifteen minutes adding that the players did well in every area of the pitch.

Asked if a new striker is being considered, the Arsenal boss again said that he has a big squad and even though Marouane Chamakh will leave for the African Nations Cup in January, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ju Young Park, Andrey Arshavin and Robin van Persie should be enough during the busy period of December and January.

Before and after Wigan, Wenger said:

Wigan started well, created some dangerous situations and surprised us at the start. After that 15 minutes we took control of the game and never looked like losing that.

Maybe a bit in the first five minutes of the second half. But overall we had a good team performance defensively and offensively.

The confidence is there and you could feel that in the way we played today. I can only congratulate the team.

They are growing and they are getting better and better. You could see there is something there to work on.

I had that in my memory when it was 2-0 and they started strongly in the second half because they had done that last season.

I just felt that today we had too much for Wigan and that we looked solid at the back. We didn’t lose any goals in the fights and therefore of course we were under threat less defensively.

[A new striker?] At the moment, I do nothing in January. I have a big squad, but if you knock at my door and say ‘I have a fantastic player for you’, I will not turn it down.

If we have no injuries, we should get away with it because we have Oxlade-Chamberlain, who can play there, Park, Arshavin and Van Persie.

So we still have offensive players, but we could be a bit short if we have

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...s-boas?cc=4716

Wenger sympathises with Villas-Boas
December 3, 2011

Arsene Wenger understands the plight of under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, & says some of his players thought the Frenchman's own approach was "mad" when he 1st came 2 Arsenal.

Villas-Boas, 34, replaced Carlo Ancelotti @ Stamford Bridge in the summer but has seen his position come under severe scrutiny following a slump in form, which has left them outside the Premier League top 4, & in danger of not qualifying 4 the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Wenger may now be an established manager in English football, but the former Monaco tactician knows fr his own experiences tat it did not happen overnight.

"I hv big sympathy 4 Villas-Boas. I like him personally. I think he is intelligent, competent. You can only think tat he will get it right,'' said Wenger, who transformed the Gunners' fortunes aft his somewhat controversial appointment in September 1996.

"In our job u can only survive if u do wat u feel. Aft, u can get it thru or not. Tat is wat I did, so 4 me it was not 2 difficult. I was just convinced of wat I wanted & I was fortunate 2 face intelligent players.

"I had Steve Bould, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown - they r all intelligent people, & maybe they thought 'tis guy is completely mad, but we will try & it can work'.

"It is hard, but I believe as well when a manager has strong players in the squad & they share wat he thinks, it makes him stronger. If they go against (him), it is difficult."

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich went all out 2 secure the svcs of the man who had guided Porto 2 Europa League success, paying £13.3 million in compensation 2 take the manager fr the Portuguese club. The Russian has been thru several managers since the departure of Jose Mourinho, under whom Villas-Boas had worked as a coach.

Wenger, though, accepts he has been fortunate 2 continue 2 hv the backing of the Arsenal board 4 so long.

"It is basically down 2 the club 2 make the right decision," he said. "There r 2 things tat r very important inside the football club - 2 take a distance with the storm tat u r facing & analyse whether the guy is competent, strong & capable 2 turn things around or not.

"Tat is not down 2 the manager, tat is down 2 the ppl who decide @ the club. Tat is where the big clubs make a difference. I feel fortunate 2 be in a club where they can be resistant 2 pressure."