Arsenal F C (Pride Of London)

[jonmoody61]

[SE13]

This has been something that started at the back end of the long unbeaten run a couple of seasons ago. Manchester United roughed us up at Old Trafford, and broke the run, bagging themselves three points in the process, and virtually ending our season there and then.

Since that match, managers have taken note, Sam Allerdyce being the prime example, whereby they put out the most physical eleven that they can to start the match, and really get up and about Arsenal. This pays dividends for the opposition time after time, because, and as I have stated on numerous other occasions, Arsenal simply can not play against this sort of line-up. When we are allowed to play football, there is virtually no-one in The World better, and we can beat virtually everyone on the planet to boot.

This is mainly why I keep harking on about "Plan B" which thus far, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has failed to impliment. There has to be something to combat these type of tactics, otherwise games will be out of reach from the moment the ball is first kicked!!
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[SE13]

Well, here I sit just under two hours from kick-off ahead of arguably one of the biggest fixtures Highbury has ever hosted.

Any sort of result against Real Madrid this evening should see safe passage through to the next stage of the competition. I have moved several items of furniture around my front room to emulate terracing, behind which I will be standing and shouting loud enough for most of London to hear me!!

Fingers and everything else feasable are crossed!!!

Keep The Faith.... Red Army!!!
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[West_ham_hammer]

See you got through then!

I personally was watching Liverpool crash and burn.

[SE13]

The morning after!!

What a night, what a performance. Arsenal have booted Real Madrid out of The Champions League, and in turn, now fly the flag for England as the sole survivors from the island!!

The crowd were second to none last night, with one of the best vocal performances heard since the years of terraces. Magnificent from The North Bank and West Stand, and even The East could be heard. The taunting from The Clock End created a few chuckles, especially as the broadcasters had to turn off the microphones in the area!!

Jose Antonio Reyes hit the bar from an inch out, but aside from that, a great performance from every player in redcurrant last night. That double save from Jens Lehmann was World class, and most certainly kept us in the tie.

All in all, a proud night for The Gunners, and a day where I suspect there will be a lot of Arsenal shirts on display everywhere one perambulates, and a whole load of hangovers....Mine included!!!

Red Army!!
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[uc]

Congratulations to the French national team for qualifying to the quarter final.

Viva La France!

[SE13]

Starting Eleven

Jens Lehmann
Emmanuel Eboue
Kolo Toure
Philippe Senderos
Gilberto Da Silva
Cesc Fabregas
Matty Flamini
Alex Hleb
Freddy Ljungberg
Jose Antonio Reyes
Thierry Henry
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French National team??

There are very few in that starting eleven from last night!!
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[uc]

Jens Lehmann = Germany
Emmanuel Eboue = Cote d'Ivoire, French colony :p
Kolo Toure = Cote d'Ivoire, French colony :p
Philippe Senderos = Switzerland
Gilberto Da Silva = Brazil
Cesc Fabregas = Spain
Matty Flamini = France
Alex Hleb = Belarus
Freddy Ljungberg = Sweden
Jose Antonio Reyes = Spain
Thierry Henry = France

Manager - Arsene Wenger = France

[SE13]

Well, actually Mister Perdantic... There were two Frenchmen in the starting eleven last night, and the reason that no English players started the match was due to the fact that they are currently sitting in the treatment room.....

The language spoken in the dressing room is naturally English

And the reason that we are The Pride Of London is down to the fact that we are the most successful team in London!!

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS (13)
1930/31, 1932/33, 1933/34, 1934/35, 1937/38, 1947/48, 1952/53, 1970/71, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 (UNBEATEN)

CHARITY/COMMUNITY SHIELD WINNERS (11)
1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1948, 1953, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004

FA CUP WINNERS (10)
1930 Beat Huddersfield Town 2-0
1936 Beat Sheffield United 1-0
1950 Beat Liverpool 2-0
1971 Beat Liverpool 2-1
1979 Beat Manchester United 3-2
1993 Beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1
1998 Beat Newcastle United 2-0
2002 Beat Chelsea 2-0
2003 Beat Southampton 1-0
2005 Beat Manchester Utd 5-4 on penalties (after 0-0 draw)

LEAGUE CUP WINNERS (2)
1987 Beat Liverpool 2-1
1993 Beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1

Thats just domestically, but certainly gives me a few reasons to be proud over the last few years!!

Read a little deeper into those statistics, and you will note that we have completed the "double" on three occasions, and twice have appeared in three FA Cup Finals in a row... No other team in England have done that even once... Plus the three consecutive Championships...... Need I go on??
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[SE13]

Teams taking part in the draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Champions League in Paris today:

AC Milan
**ARSENAL**
Barcelona
Benfica
Inter Milan or Ajax
Juventus
Lyon
Villarreal

Draw takes place at 11am (UK time)

Whoever we get, please let it be away in the first leg....
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[jonmoody61]

Superb draw. A big match for so many reasons:

Champions League quater final
Vieira back to Highbury
Henry back to Turin
Gilberto & Emerson against eachother

I think we can beat them - but only if we're on top, top form in both legs. The home leg is crucial, we have to take a victory back to Turin - I think in this case, away second time round benefits us. We know what mentality to take to the away game, which is very important - do we have to defend a lead or go gung ho aiming to fight back a defecit?

Going to be amazing, and the semi-final draw is very favourable. A win over two legs here, and I think we could well be heading to Paris come May...

VIEIRA, WOAH!
VIEIRA, WOAH!
HE USED TO PLAY FOR US!
HE WENT TO JUVENTUS!

[SE13]

This could not really have gone a lot better could it!! I am delighted to see Patrick Vieira have to return to Highbury, after all the lies about staying, and then turning his back on us.... The reaction of the crowd on the night will be somewhat interesting to say the very least!!

Over to an away leg in Turin, where Juventus regularly have in excess of sixty thousand tickets unsold (That is the size of our new ground) so there is littl chance of intimidation over there. The tie will be won at Highbury, in my opinion, and should we fail at home, we have an outside chance over there, but need to take a significant lead to Italy.

Progression will result in a semi final against any one of three teams, but as the tie has not been settled, and the news is not as yet confirmed, this can wait until a later time to write about

Keep The Faith!!
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[jonmoody61]

I am expecting a masterclass of football from us today - nothing less.

I think we'll cruise to a 4-0 win, with the following starting line-up:

Lehmann

Eboue - Toure - Senderos - Flamini

Hleb - Gilberto - Fabregas - Pires

Henry - Adebayor


I think we'll see the appearance of both Theo Walcott in the second half and van Persie. Robin will need a little time to get back to full match fitness so coming on for a little while at the end of the game will do him no harm, where as it is the perfect opportunity for Theo to make his debut.

Ljungberg is out with a calf problem and a team like Charlton would be ideal for him to make his first apperance - generally, they are an all round average team and a good test for Theo. He could potentially rip them to shreads in whatever time he has on the pitch, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him grab our fourth goal.

We've got to hope Hleb continues his good form, he was quality against Madrid a couple of weeks ago and started and ended well against Liverpool last Sunday (I thought he wavered a bit during the middle of that game). Kolo needs another immense performance at the back, just to make sure Bent does not get an eye at goal - especially any heading opportunities. Charlton will no doubt try to pack the midfield and thus Gilberto has to avoid being a complete sissy in the middle and opting out of any physicality in the game.

Charlton have picked up a few points on the road in places you wouldn't really expect them to recently, such as at Anfield the other week, but I think we're beginning to hit some very good form and we're looking for the consistency in ourselves now - what better time to regain it than today and take 4th spot (albeit, for potentially only a few hours).

Come on Arsenal, and come on Birmingham.

[SE13]

Another three points succesfully in the bag, and a temporary fourth position, however with Tattenham also picking up all three points available, we slip back into fifth position, but seemingly poised.

The 3-0 scoreline somewhat flatters Charlton Athletic, in a game dominated by Arsenal from start to finish. Alex Hleb is coming on in leaps and bounds, and is surely our most improved player in the last couple of months. His running, control and vision are exactly what we have lacked in previous months. Cesc Fabregas just seems to get better and better all the time, and at only eighteeen, has had a call up to his National squad....The youngest to do so for some seventy years, apparently.

Goals from Robert Pires, Adebayor (his first at Highbury, and at The North Bank end) and Alex Hleb, and a host of missed opportunities to boot. On the strength of this performance, and those against both Real Madrid and Liverpool, the future is looking very bright, and the fourth place really is ours for the taking, especially as Tattenham Hotspuds have to visit Highbury as yet.

Juventus still to come in The Champions League, a mouth watering prospect!! Victory over the two legs will see Arsenal progress to the furthest point ever in the competition, and the only trophy still missing from our expansive cabinet of honours seemingly beckons.....

Keep The Faith!!
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[pjthefarmer]

What do you guys reckon of the rumours linking Cesc Fabreges to Spanish giants Real Madrid? I know he seems settled at Arsenal, and the club have denied any contact with Madrid, but Spanish players do seem very home-tied. Many tend to favour playing in their own country and i feel that if Madrid were to bid for the youngster he may find it too tempting. Talks of £10m plus Ronaldo.

Also, the reports from Spain that Barcelona presidents Joan Laporta has a verbal agreement with Theirry Henry that his club will have first option on the player. Now this I do believe. Barcelona for me are the best club in the world and if they come knocking at your door, you'd be insane to say no. Henry can surely see this! No offense to Arsenal but he has a much better chance of winning tropihes at the Catalan club. And the mouth watering prospect of Henry and Ronaldinho on the same teamsheet....................*faints* Its just too good to imagine. My opinion, he'll leave in the summer to Barcelona in possibly a cash plus Samuel Eto'o deal.

Opinions?
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