08-09 in a nutshell.

The football season has finally ended in disappointment, once again(although it reality it really ended in january), for an Arsenal fan to say it has been a decent season is ludacris. With the facts staring down, 4th isn’t good enough for a top club in a big stadium, it may have been enough if we were at highbury, but we’re at the emirates now, a big stadium, a stadium fit for a top european club, a stadium fit for big trophies. Something has to change this summer, or the 60,355 seater will never be full next season. Adebayor, gone. Should have been sold last season, could have gotten way more, the only reason he didn’t play in stoke was to maintain his value.  VP should stay, I love the guy, he’s dutch, explosive, probably injury-prone, but give him enough games he’ll score many, all we need next season, is a Tony Adams, a Viera and probably another decent experienced striker.  That should take us higher, with Arshavin and Fabregas in the centre of it all. Up the Arse!

Barcelona will win tonight if they score first, if Barca score, ManU will throw their counter-attack plan out of the window, and we’ll have a goals galore.

Barcelona es campeones!!

If Lakers win the championship, Arsenal might win the champions league

Lakers have not won the championship title since 2001. Arsenal have not won a single title since the 04-05 season. Both my favorite teams, both went through glory days, and dry spell era. Arsenal have not won anything since Patrick Viera (the spine of Arsenal) left. In Wednesday’s champions league, Arsenal owe their season’s hopes(so far) to Almunia, who by law, is eligible to play for England, which would make him the best keeper in england on current form. Kieran Gibbs kept the whiny Ronaldo to the bare minimum, making a cracker on the crossbar, and then letting the world see his thumping on the ground like a 4-year old.  It would take a RVP miracle, or a Fabregas-milan-goal, to take Arsenal through to the finals, and that is if Ferdinand is out of the picture, and even if we reached the final, if it’s chelsea, we might as well hand them the trophy, if it’s barcelona, there might be a chance.

This is by far the best season ending I’ve seen since I started watching football. The title and the Champions league still up for grabs, anything might happen.Aliadiere might have a late surge of trying to prove himself and do everyone a favor by winning against Manchester United who will without a doubt field a B team.

Wenger could field a B team with an world class player, Arse-Shavin and send Portsmouth to relegation.

If the November Arsenal show up against ManU on tuesday, 2-0 might happen.

If I could choose the lin-up it would be like this:-

• Almunia
• Gibbs
• Toure
• Djourou
• Sagna
• Nasri
• Fabregas
• Denilson
• Song
• Walcott
• Robin “bang – bang” Persie

Let’s do the impossible!

Up the Arse!

The Professor.

*sings* Finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyy………..

Few weeks back I went to all the big bookstores and it was all sold out.

Today so happen I decided to try at Mph@1u. 

And Lo and Behold, 1 freaking copy left.

I got it.

No questions ask.

And I love it!

It’s what every Arsenal fan should own.=D

 

The bang to end my year. xD

3rd round at Anfield. Lost.

In the other quarter-final Chelsea 2- 0 Fenerbahce. Another undeserved lost for Fenerbahce.

Game Over. Arsenal doesn’t deserve this. No. Back to the league now. What a shame.

“90′ + Babel scores. 4-2. It’s over.”

9th April, 2008, 04:36:01

“83,Controversial Penalty, Gerard scores, 3-2. Bullshit.”

9th April, 2008, 04:30:23

“82 Great run from walcott frmo almost the end of the field pass 4 defenders crosses and Adebayor scores, 2-2.”

9th April, 2008, 04:29:35

” 72′ V.Persie and Walcott on, Diaby and Eboue out. It’s now or never.”

9th April, 2008, 04:17:01

“69′ Torres scores. 2-1 Liverpool. Shite.”

9th April, 2008, 04:14:38

“60′, tensions high, possessions rather level, awaiting a goal.”

9th April, 2008, 04:04:23

“Second-half begins, let’s await.”

9th April, 2008, 03:50:01

” Half-time whistle blows, Flamini injured and out, replaced by Gilberto, Arsenal seemed to have lost that world-famous passing rhythm, let’s hope the 2nd half will be different.

It looks as if penalties are coming, I sure hope fatigue wont make Arsenal lose.”

9th April, 2008, 03:35:01

“Hyypia scores at 30′ , terrible defense, terrible. All square again. ”

9th April, 2008, 03:17:32

” Diaby scores at 13′, beautiful play. beautiful goal. Arsenal take the lead 1-0″

9th April, 2008, 02:59:45

“History kicking-off at Anfield, Amazing.”

9th April, 2008, 02:45:01

“The team list has been released, the starting line up is as shown;-

Liverpool:- Rafael Benitez

• Reina 25
• Hyypia 4
• Gerrard 8
• Torres 9
• Fabio Aurelio 12
• Alonso 14
• Crouch 15
• Kuyt 18
• Mascherano 20
• Carragher 23
• Skrtel 37

Subs:-

• Itandje 30
• Riise 6
• Voronin 10
• Benayoun 11
• Arbeloa 17
• Babel 19
• Lucas Leiva 21

Arsenal:- Arsene Wenger

• Almunia 24
• Diaby 2
• Fabregas 4
• Toure 5
• Senderos 6
• Gallas 10
• Hleb 13
• Flamini 16
• Clichy 22
• Adebayor 25
• Eboue 27

Subs:-

• Lehmann 1
• Van Persie 11
• Song 17
• Gilberto 19
• Bendtner 26
• Hoyte 31
  
• Walcott 32

If you look at it, Crouch wont make a big impact, he is not a CL player, Kuyt and Gerrard on the right and left wings respectively, very awkward selection critics will say, and the bench, Arsenal certainly looks to have the better between the two teams, experience, speed, goal scorers all ready to go in the game and make and impact any time.

It’s gonna be interesting match at Anfield,

Counting down 1 hour to the match

Getting nervous.”

9th April, 2008, 01:45:12

” Arsenal have a different confidence going into this game, It’s like saying we don’t give a bullshit about Anfield myth, if you have 12 players, then we’ll take on 12 players, Liverpool might depend too much on Anfield.”

8th April, 2008, 23:38:12

“I somehow against all odds have a strong feeling Arsenal can win it tonight”

8th April, 2008, 19:49:45

- Thoughts as the game hype builds up – (will be edited till the game is over)

Myles at ANR thinks the squad doesn’t have the energy for Anfield.

Bookies give Arsenal 1/4 ball.

People are getting bored of watching Liverpool in the semis, what more in the Finals, their CL dream should end tonight.

In the other game, Chelsea vs. Fenerbahce, if Chelsea lose it’ll be because of Fenerbahce’s amazing keeper, Volkan Demirel. Fenerbahce will lose if Drogba scores.

Truth to be told, none of today’s quarter finalist will go on to win the Champions League. It’ll either be Man U or Barcelona. Today’s quarter finalist are only capable of winning at home, at Moscow, it’s a different game.

Season-Over?

Arsenal’s season depends on one game.

Saturday at Emirates.

Don’t talk about the 1-1 Champions League draw at Emirates.

We were unlucky, few wrong decisions, injuries, players off-form. That game is over, look forward now.

If Arsenal lose at home or even draw to Liverpool, they not only lose the season, they will fail to proceed to the Semi-Finals on Tuesday night at Anfield.

For me to say that it’s not that I’ve given up hope, it’s reality.

Wenger needs to splash cash for at least one major player during the break.

And that defense needs to be worked out.

The squad must at least grow 1/3 larger than what it is now, with players that can actually play.

Eboue should leave after the season. He’s making a fool out of himself progressively in every game.

Man U will get a double if Christiano Ronaldo touches the 40 goal mark.

So like I said.

Saturday very important. Psychologically, even though, it may be the most boring match out of the trilogy.

Wait and see is all we can do now.

Champions League 2007-2008 2nd Round.

 

AC Milan 0 – 2 Arsenal FC

This was a classic. From every aspect , a pure champions league battle by two great teams.

There couldn’t be a better time for this fixture, with both teams seemingly having a slight slump in their respective leagues. A win in this could prove to be one that will take that team to greater glory.

It was the young guns vs. the old horses.

Agilty vs. Experience

Pace vs. Strength

And this would certainly go on to be one of the best matches played in the champions league knockout stages. Both teams equally matched throughout the game. It was hard to see there would be any goals coming from either side with such strong midfielders controlling the game. Albeit Arsenal were have much of the possession, they never really looked like finishing off the game in front.

But these youngsters kept on pushing, composed, refusing to get frustrated over outrageously poor decisions by the officials.

Arsenal midfield were doing great, keeping world-class Milan players constrained. When have we ever seen Kaka get yellow carded for frustration.

84th minute.

Cesc Fabregas gets the ball , takes a touch to push the ball pass Gattuso, makes space for himself. Takes a shot.

Goal.

Pass the giant Aussie keeper, Zeljko Kalac , and into the far left bottom corner.

It wasn’t the most magnificent cracking goal you’ve ever seen. But it was brilliant. It was a goal that ended all hopes for Milan to come back.

Then,

90+2 minute.

Walcott runs down the right flank, tackled by Kaladze but manages to get up at reflex. 

Runs the ball into the penalty area, passes the ball to the other side of the goal,

Adebayor could have never missed.

Goal.

His first for Arsenal in the champions league. 

This said it all, it was over. Arsenal have created history at the San Siro by becoming the first English club to beat AC Milan at home.

Pundits have suddenly turned their predictions.

A double for Arsenal?? Still early to say with tough back-to-back games in April.

But this victory must be savored.

Someone once said, “Those who think negative will always tell you, “It cannot be Done” but throughout history positive people have always said, “It could be Done”.

Arsenal?  ” We did it.”

___________________________________________________________

Elsewhere ,Xavi scored early for Barcelona to secure a 4-2 aggregate win over Celtic. But sadly Messi looked like having a hamstring injury coming off early.

Manchester United 1 – 0 Lyon (2-1 on aggregate) , Christiano Ronaldo scored the only goal of the game, his 30th in all competitions to help Manchester United go through to the Quarter finals.

Sevilla FC 3 – 2 Fenerbahce (5-5 on Aggregate) , magnificent performance by both sides in this electrifying game. But Fenerbahce keeper Volkan Demirel proved to be the hero as he saved the last two penalties to send Fenerbahce through to the Quarter Finals for the first time in their History.

So it’s Arsenal, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Manchester United through to the Quarter finals, 4 more teams will go through after tonight’s game.

Winning virginity broken.

1st game. 1st comeback. 1st penalty. 1st win.

Simply miraculous one can say,after what was rather a hall of fame embarrassing mistake by Lehmann in the 1st minute.

Yet for the remaining 80 minutes it looked as if the Gunners was once again heading into that goalless spell the critics have predicted. With Fulham bringing their defense up a notch with a super-sub keeper making saves like a world-class keeper,radiant with confidence keeping Arsenal out of the net,  frustrating our players as well.

But as all Arsenal have felt that indescribable feeling, not alike that any other season, the feeling that resembles hope,pride and joy. A feeling others wouldn’t understand. This is a season of new beginnings, fresh players, fresh legs, you just know something was gonna burst out from somewhere.

As that one man, designated as the prodigy that would take over Henry, V. Persie did have a tough time finding his pace, and flow through the tight defense of Fulham. Yet when Eboue broke through, and headed for goal, brining him down was a last resort for Fulham, yet a decision that would cost them dearly as V.Persie steps up to the plate.

Picks his spot. And delivers one heck of a penalty, straight up to the edge of the bar, a shot not even Van Der Sar could save. And with that the scores were level-ed 1-1. But Arsenal’s confidence rose, higher, into a level than champions played in. At the stroke of normal playing period, Alexander Hleb bouncing the ball in the penalty area, dribbles, and shoots across the right side of Tony Warners post, and the stadium comes alive!

Once again, Arsene Wenger does it. Being the once known comeback kings. But more importantly, the 1st game win for them to carry that victory confidence into future games. We broke the winning virginity of the season.

Until the next exhilarating match.

This is Levi Asher, reporting from the comforts of my couch.

-out-

 

Arsenal 2 – 1 Fulham, Emirates Stadium, Sunday, August 12, 2007.