Nasri Scores A Wonder Goal

“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going..”, and so we heard a long time back. The stakes couldn’t be higher when the Gunners squared up against a resilient Porto side in the decider for a place in the quarters of the Champion’s League, last evening. Trailing by a single goal, an away goal at that, from the first leg, and with home support to cheer them on, Arsenal were doing rather OK going into the match. But when our skipper Fabregas picked up an injury against Burnley at the weekend, there were suspicions on whether we could create enough for the likes of Bendtner to finish. Not forgetting the Dane’s conversion rate in front of the goal-mouth, the situation became all the more precarious. But the display which the Gunners belted out in front of another packed Emirates crowd is what reiterates our faith in Wenger’s ‘Young Guns’ time & again.

The final score read: Arsenal 5 – Porto 0, & we @11G celebrate the same right now..

No stopping Us!!

They mockingly said “For 30 years, Arsenal haven’t overturned a first leg deficit in Europe’s Premier Competition“. I can gladly reply to them “You can eat your words safely now.” The jinx, if ever there was one has been broken, and it has been done in a thumping style with a resounding win over a hapless Porto. To the quartefinals and the other teams  I have one thing to say, “Watch Out, We are coming!” 11G recounts the same right now..

They Are Same-Same But Different!

I have had this thought lingering in my mind for quiet some time now. Barcelona play the same style of football that our beloved Arsenal plays. They attack, attack and attack, just like we do. But they are sitting on a pile of trophies and we, on the other hand, are sitting on our arse, for half a decade now. What is the reason behind this unfortunate disparity. We @11G dwell into the same..

New Recruites? 'None'!

There are few football managers who never fail to surprise you. Take Benitez & his eccentric team-selection. Take Sven Goran & his audaciously picking Theo for WC ’06, or for that matter take Mourinho & his pre-match banter. And then there are some whom you can bet your lives on, that come what may, they won’t ever change. Arsene Wenger belongs to the latter few.

With the introduction of the so called ‘Transfer-Window’ at the start of the decade, everything pertaining to the way transfers were carried out in English football, took a flip. As soon as the season ended, managers wore their thinking hat to pluck out the best deal, agents went over-board to ensure their cadets bag the highest package & they in-turn the maximum brokerage, & even the players themselves gave their best to ensure possible suitors kept an interest. Although the winter transfer-window was never the one making the headlines, the trend of suddenly ‘coming-alive’ per say, was still to be found prevalent amongst players. But all this & more till Arsene arrived on the scene. With him around, transfers were never a routine. He never bought players for the sake of it, & to the astonishment of the faithful, didn’t buzz even when his Arsenal were found floundering, getting trashed by Chelsea & United, or constantly flattering to deceive in Europe et al. But then he is the Professor for nothing & as another winter window bids adieu, we @11G look forward to the reminder of the season with his sole recruit this time around. You guessed it, it’s NONE!!

Roon (read: Run) Over!

Lets forget whatever happened @the Emirates two days back and look forward to the road ahead. Is this team a ‘title contender‘ or a mere ‘pretender‘. The Gunners has been losing consistently to top sides and inspite of that, we are supposedly having a ‘good’ season. Let’s face it, the pundits doubted out top-4 finish not long back. 11G analyzes the season from my perspective..

The Titans Are Back!

Before I even begin with my piece tonight, let’s take a moment & delve into what’s in store for the Gunners over the next two weeks. Manchester United – Home. Chelsea – Away & Liverpool – Home. I have been following the game for some 8 & a half seasons now, and never before in my rather recent memory has any team faced such a daunting run-in of games. Not to forget the stalemate against Aston Villa two days back. By the end of it all, clarity will be restored as to whether they are fighting for the title for the first time in 5 seasons, or it’s back to ensuring a routine top-4 finish. Any which way, it’s gonna be a roller-coaster ride & We@11G are here to guide you through all this.

~So let’s get it started in here..~ <BEP anyone!?>

Let’s analyze the clash against United in detail first up..

It's Arsenal..It's United..It's 3D!

This coming Sunday, the battle lines will be clearly ear-marked as the Gunners face the ‘Red Dolls’ on their own turf i.e. the Emirates. Unlike the last few seasons, when the fixture was of not much consequence, it will be this time, if bare statistics are to be kept in mind. Points or otherwise, this rivalry has been the cream of the lot, right through the noughties, & it shall be no different in two days time. 11G looks forward to the ‘big one’ with the latest filtering in..