Back off you Barca Cu*ts..

Greeting fellows! It was a wonderful day, until now. And it’s not only my day that has been ruined but of a lot of gooners around the world. And all of this has been due to some PARASITES who feed off others’ prowess and treat ’success’ as their own. They don’t care to behave themselves and consider themselves above EVERYTHING. It’s none other than Puyol, the caveman and Pique, the Man U reject. I feel pity for those guys. I really do. Read on..

Lets start with the Puyol, the caveman. The caveman has won a lot of medals but “coincidentally” he never won any without Ronaldinho & Deco or without Messi & co. They had 6 barren years. Yes that is right. I repeat, SIX barren years. Were they building new stadium?? NO they were not. Were they giving the winners a run for their money?? NO they were not even doing that. Actually, they were a mid table team. Yes that’s right. Simply put they were not good enough. Now they are challenging for top honors domestically and abroad. Yet the mentality has not changed. He has remained CHEAP. Poor chap. We gooners pity him.

Pique, The jumper. Yes, he jumps ships. This guy talks about loyalty and stuff. Was his ‘loyalty’ on leave when he left Barca for Man United? And then, did his ‘loyalty’ for Barca come back when he decided to return to the promised land and ’surprisingly’ at the same time his ‘loyalty’ for Man U took off. That’s is hell lot of co-incidence. The real story was a bit different. This guy left Barca because he felt that Barca was a not good enough. He believed that Man U was a ‘bigger’ club. But, surprise surprise, the tables turned. Thanks to Ranaldinho & Co. and and to put the icing on the cake, he could never break into this Man U squad. These two factors came together which led to the switch. And the prodigal son returned, to collect his medals, not to earn them because it is Messi & Co. who do the ‘dirty work’.

But rather surprisingly these two ‘Parasites’ haven’t had enough. They want another host to feast upon, FABREGAS. The guy switched to Arsenal and became a star. He earned his respect through the system and did all the hard work to blossom into a beacon of magnificence. He was ably supported by Arsenal football club and most of all by his pseudo father, Mr. Arsene Wenger. And now after all this, against the player’s wish, these ‘parasites’ are trying to push this kid too far. Fabregas wants to stay but these ‘parasites’ won’t have any of it. They pushed him to wear a Barca in the midst of a party. Come on guys, GET A LIFE.

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Note: If any of you want to share your views/opinions on the club from N5 (read: Arsenal!), leave Us a comment at the bottom. We’ll get back right away & be glad to give you a chance. Keep Gunning..

Thierry Henry & Cesc Fabregas

The ‘beautiful game’ just got more beautiful after the draw for the Champion’s League Quarter’s was made earlier today at Nyon, Switzerland. The room was filled with gasps as the 3’rd draw was made with holders Barca tied against the equally-graceful Gunners. 11G sums up the different ties right now..

The ‘dream game’ purists would have hoped for, was duly awarded; it really doesn’t get any bigger than this. The two most stellar exponents of the ‘one-touch’ brand of football, will be facing each other for the first time since the Finals in Paris, circa ’06. The game will also be noteworthy for the homecoming of two of the most famous sons from either side of the ‘Channel. Whilst Thierry ‘God’ Henry will be heading back to his spiritual home i.e. the Emirates, Cesc ‘Supreme’ Fabregas will be Catalunya-bound, over the two legs.

Can’t wait for the game to arrive, but before it does, here’s the complete line-up for the Quarter’s:

Olympique Lyon (France) vs Bordeaux (France)

Bayern Munich (Germany) vs Manchester United (England)

Arsenal (England) vs Barcelona (Spain)

Inter Milan (Italy) vs CSKA Moscow (Russia)

Note:

The first leg of each quarter final tie will be played on March 30-31, while the second leg will take place on April 6-7.

The finals will be at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s home turf. It’s a shame they are no more in contention!

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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..

We have been losing these ‘6 pointers‘ for some time now and a serious analysis is needed to get anything positive outta this i.e. if there is any. We can say that we were without Van Persie but we have been without him for quiet sometime now and it never bothered us whilst facing a weaker side. Our team was more or less full-strength (barring Robin, Diaby, et al!), despite which, we were taken to the cleaners by Rooney & Co. Wenger has been saying that if Bendtner gets fit then he won’t dip into the transfer market but is Bendtner good enough to act as Van Persie’s replacement for virtually the whole season from here on?’ I don’t think so. Agreed, that he has talent in him but he needs more time to become a complete player and we need someone of Van Persie’s class to replace Bendtner as our premier marksman. We can’t keep playing without any quality striker against top teams like Manchester United.

CHARACTER. Does this team have enough character in it? There is no question mark on the technical prowess of these  players, but do they have that extra zing in them which can see them through in such high profile encounters? Can they rise to the occasion when the chips are down? Do we have enough ‘Big Match‘ players? After seeing Arsenal’s credible performance (read: winning streak) after the defeat to Chelsea last November, I  had started believing that Arsenal had grown as a team. They showed great character as a team and it was a proud patch of season for Gunners like us when Arsenal bounced back to take the pole position. But the listless performance against United and the missing X factor against Villa suggests that it was false dawn and this team has a long way to go. It is obvious that there are more question than answers with this Arsenal team.

This season is not yet over for us and we might still put up a string of good performances to get back in contention. If and when that were to happen, I just pray that it won’t lead to another false dawn. The onus is on the boys to perform against the Blues and show the world what they are capable of. They can either stand up and be counted or can remain in their comfort zones and continue complaining. Signing off with a wish for a better tomorrow. Up the Arsenal..

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..

Arsenal vs Manchester United

Over the past decade & more, if there has been one fixture in the league which has never failed to ignite passion amongst the die-hard’s & entice the neutrals with equanimity, then it has to be the ‘Gunners vs Red Devils’ showdown. We have seen Arsenal winning the title@OT in ’01, the 0 – 0 draw which saw Van Nistelrooy literally being hacked by the likes of Keown et al, Ruud van Nistelrooy & Co., in turn, destroy the Gunners at Highbury by a flattering score line of 4 – 2, Rooney’s dive which helped United kill Arsenal’s 49 game unbeaten run & the subsequent ‘Pizza-gate’ controversy, whose instigator, to this day remains, elusive! Sources claim it was Cesc who had the privilege to hurl ‘that’ slice of pizza@Sir Alex. Whoever he was, we say ‘Bravo’! Another game worth remembering was the one in which King Henry, with almost the last kick (in his case, head!) of the match, helped Arsenal register a famous victory against their old nemesis. And I can go on & on & on with this one..

Who'll Have The Last Laugh?

Getting back to present times, this fixture has become of paramount concern all over again. Despite Arsenal always remaining a top-4 team through the noughties, it would be foolish to suggest their duels over the past 4 seasons were anything but mere formalities in terms of the overall league table. Agreed the venom & the ferocity were never lost, but something was missing. That ‘something’ is back. Arsenal, like United, is very much in the thick of things as far as the title race is concerned. We were hugely unlucky to have not won, let alone drawn, the game at Old Trafford tie earlier this season. And that effort came without our talismatic captain Fabregas, who picked up an injury just ahead of the game. This time, another charismatic figure will fail to wear the famous ‘red & white’s’. You got it, I am referring to the Dutchman Robin van Persie. His absence, Eduardo’s unavailability, & Vela’s indifferent form, means Arsene will have to thrust the attacking role to the ‘just-arrived’ Bendtner. Again, a physical presence that he is, his technical abilities in tight spaces has much room for improvement.

In the mid-field, despite Rosicky & Nasri’s presence, their slowly getting back to full-flight means, the play-making role will mainly be shouldered on Fabregas. Song & Eboue are back from their respective duties away in the African Cup of Nations, & the former can expect a start in this much-awaited encounter. Theo Walcott makes an interesting case for himself, despite his precarious talent, he has yet not realized his full potential. Something the Professor will have to think about. But let’s not underestimate him, because he has in him to surprise on the big stage. So keeping the fingers crossed with that one.

And finally our defence. We all know how much of Arsenal’s title credentials this term has to do with the dominant pairing of Gallas & Vermaelen right at the back. They have been omni-present & very sound in sorting out our defensive vows. Not since Sol left the club, could we boast of having a tight backline. And how things turn, surely there’s someone writing the script for each one of us. While Vermaelen picked a slight niggle againt Villa, it’s ‘the’ Sol Campbell who is tipped to replace him in his second Arsenal homecoming. His duel with the current hot-shot Wayne Rooney, will be one to watch out for. They have a history between them, & it would make for a telling story if Campbell can out-smart his former English team-mate. Wenger reckons he will be up for the challenge but his team-mates will have to rise to the occasion alongside the veteran. None more than the ‘Russian Assassin’ in Arshavin. United faithful would remember his thunderbolt early this season, & ask anyone who hails from the Kop, they’ll bloody remember him alright! This man has the aura about him to do the unthinkable, come with the unimagined & en route leave the goal-keeper with no option but to pick the ball from his own net.

If Andrey & Cesc have a  solid game, & likes of Song, Diaby or Denilson can do their duties well, given Arsenal’s home advantage, one should expect the Gunners to knick this one by a goal or two.

Arsenal 2 – Manchester United 1

C’mon You Arsenal, Do Us Proud. Go Gunners. Whoop Whoop..

The Assassin Is On A Prowl. Beware.

Read On:

What If..AW Out, SAF In!?

What If..Rooney Had Not Dived??

AW & SAF – From Rivalry To Chivalry..

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..

The times that we live in,  even the street dogs these days know how big a rage has the James Cameron megalith, Avatar, become. The spectacle that it was, experiencing it in 3D was quiet literally an ‘out-of-the-world‘ experience. Keeping that in mind, just imagine what it would be like for us ‘football-fed & bred fans‘, to see the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin & Wayne Rooney, come up with those pile-drivers time & again in real-time 3D. Wow, is all that comes to mind.

It’s official folks, for the very first time ever, a football match, any football match for that matter, from any part of the world, would be telecast Live across 9 centres (read: pubs) in UK, in 3D. This is an initiative by BSkyB, a prominent satellite brodcaster, ahead of it’s full-time 3D channel launch this coming April. No better occasion to do a pilot than a ‘Arsenal vs Manchster United‘ showdown. Can’t wait to lay my eyes on one of those sometime soon. Till then, an Avatar re-run can fill in!

Getting serious again, the game also marks the re-igniting of a rather famous all-English rivalry, in the form of Sol Campbell & Wayne Rooney. No one has forgotten the unethical dive Rooney won a penalty from, against the Gunners way back in ‘04, ending their 49 game unbeaten run. Campbell was at the receiving end back then, & those two have been at each other ever since. Although it’s circa ‘10 now, whilst Rooney is at the top of his searing best, having already bolted 20+ goals this term, Sol on the other hand, is slowly easing into his second Arsenal homecoming. After two decent displays against Stoke & Aston Villa, he looks good enough for a start & thus make his 200th league appearance for the Gunners. Injury to Vermaelen might just force Wenger to do that you know. And if that were to happen, it would be his 3rd straight outing in just over a week, something the Professor was quiet apprehensive about in some of the pre-match scribbles that came by. Realistically speaking, it would be Gallas marking the top man, with Sol given charge of the likes of Berba, Giggsy, et al. But you’d bet old-Sol to come to the fore & take command if things go haywire. We know what he is made of alright. Either way you look at it, it will be an intriguing battle, one that might jus live up to the billing ala ‘04.

'That' Dive..

It’s not just Sol who is bothering Arsene at the moment, the likes of Eduardo & Vermaelen, are both out of this important fixture. Just not what the doctor ordered, but that’s how Arsenal’s season has been thus far. They have bounced back each time, defying the skeptics, no point why they won’t in this one. Sol is tipped to replace the ‘Verminator’, whereas Bendtner should cover up for Eduardo. Both Nasri & Rosicky have been injury-starved all season, & despite their availibility, one would be a fool to expect miracles from them. So like most games this term, the onus to lead the line falls on the ‘out-of-position‘ shoulders of Arshavin & Fabregas. Let’s not forget, Fabregas missed the last encounter against United way back in August, he would be raring for this one. We surely are. And I bet, even the Navi’ (from Pandora) would be keeping a tab on this one, after all it’s 3D & it’s as big as the Premiership gets!

“This Weekend, The Red Dolls Will Bleed In Red. C’mon You Arsenal, Gun Them Down. In Arsene We Trust..”

Halftime, Shall We???

It has been a long time since our last article on 11Gunners and it was our exams which was keeping us away. A lot has happened during this time and we have come up with lot of new plans to make this portal better than before and you will start getting an idea of our plans in due time. Lets start with some blogging for now. EPL has reached its half time and I would like to analyze it at the halfway..

We have played 19 out of 38 and we have 41 points in the bank. So, if we go by the same rate, we will have 82 points by the end of the season. Can we actually win the title with this kinda performance. Yes, we certainly can. This might sound unrealistic for the time being but lets ponder over it. It is no more a 4 horse race and teams like Villa, City, and Tottenham are gonna have a big hand in the title race this season.

We never had a joker in the pack like Aston Villa for the seasons gone by. Villa is not only defeating the members of ‘BIG 4′ club but it is defeating the so called smaller teams (if I may say so) also. Fabregas’ inspired contribution against Villa might well turn out to be a defining moment of Arsenal’s title quest. We have not done very well against the ’so called’ top teams this season but the result against Villa might be the ‘defining moment’ as far as our performance against the top teams are concerned. Villa is in fact a better team than the Red Devils, this season and I am not saying this just because Villa defeated them.

Talking about fresh competition this season and ‘tiny tots’ are not far behind. They are giving every top team a run for their money and I count on them to ’surprise us’ with some ’season defining’ upsets this time. They are doing well under old ‘arry and with the kind of investment that they have made over the years, it was just a matter of time before they did come p with the ‘real deal’. Harry is a fox and he wont let this opportunity to go by.

Talking about managers, one needs to feel bad about ‘Sparky’. Just 2 defeats and he has been shown the door. He bought the right players but there is something that you cannot buy and that is ‘coordination’. His offensive team is doing well but his defense looks like a circus of sorts. His defense used to cancel out the progress made by his offense. His team played a lotta draws and that is not acceptable when someone has pumped in that kinda money in the business. When someone spends that kinda money, then it is obvious that s/he is in a mood of ‘instant koffee’. But Manchini looks like a savior for them and though they are outta the title race but I believe that under him they are gonna decide that fate of the Champions in a big way. He does have a feel of Mourinho in him.

]]> http://11gunners.com/opinion/mid-season-is-here/2942/feed/ 2 http://11gunners.com/the-weel-that-was/arsenal-displace-man-utdthe-2nd-spot/2356/ http://11gunners.com/the-weel-that-was/arsenal-displace-man-utdthe-2nd-spot/2356/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:19:22 +0000 AK47 http://11gunners.com/?p=2356

Slowly but Steadily..

This week things have changed and they have changed for the better for Gunners. We have displaced Man Utd@the 2nd spot in EPL and we are just 5 points behind leaders Chelsea with 1 match in hand. Arsenal have come a long way since the beginning of the season when all the football pundits believed that finally teams like Man City could displace us from the ‘BIG 4′. Contrary to all those predictions Arsenal has come out all ‘Gunns’ blazing and the title doesn’t look far, anymore.

An 11Gunners‘ view on the same..

RVP told the whole world that this week might be decisive for our title challenge as it would give us an opportunity to bridge the gulf between us and teams like Man Utd. & Chelsea who were ahead of us before this week; as they both were playing against each other. There was no goof up this time and things went according to plan. We are placed in the 2nd position after the clash of Reds and Blues@The Stanford Bridge.

Arsenal defeated Wolves by a margin of 4 goals to one away from home and Arshavin came up with scorcher yet again in his relatively short career@Arsenal. Arsenal were not@their best but that they still managed to score 4 which speaks volumes of their quality in offence. Though, conceding in every match speaks the same but in a different light about our defense. 2 of those goals came in from Wolves’ themselves and it was nothing but early Christmas gifts for us. This match was very important in the larger scheme of things and our boys didn’t disappoint us at all.

The atmosphere was set at the bridge for a Super Sunday clash between the Blues and Reds and Blues came out victorious winning 1-nil. It was a professional performance by them and the result has made 1 thing clear that the trophy is coming back to London, come the end of the season. Reds have been crying foul after the match and they believe that referee was unfair to them. They didn’t complain when the same referee allowed them to 2 collect 2 extra points against City@the OT by allowing the game to go beyond the allocated injury time. And in the same match a certain Evans in a red shirt walked over Drogba with his studs on as if he was strolling in a park. United fans never complained when he went scot-free. United fans are not gracious losers and that is not a good sign if they consider themselves to be the best club in the world (although, Arsenal is the best.)

Elsewhere Liverpool’s struggle continues as they dropped points yet again. They played a 2-2 draw against Birmingham. This was a match a in which Stevie G returned but this match made news for all the wrong reasons. Ngog scored a fabulous goal to start with but he ‘Dived’ later in the match which did not go down well with anyone, including Liverpool supporters. This club has a great name and it does not deserve all this. Liverpool have slipped farther and it will take some doing for them to even finish in top 4 at the end of the season. Meanwhile, City also dropped 2 points. Do we still need to talk about them? Are they still in contention. I beg to differ.

All in all, a satisfying week for the gunners and the next big  challenge is when we play the Blues at the end of this month. We at 11Gunners have lined up a treat for all you Gunners for that clash, including Live Blogging. So be prepared to have a ball when we play against The Blues..

Shiity Of Manholes!

This weekend will put a lot of things in perspective. There is no ‘BIG 4’ clash but we sure have a ‘FAB 5’ clash slated to take place. Yes we do believe that ‘BIG 4’ has been breached and we have to accommodate noveau rich of Premier League in the ‘FAB 5 set up. Clash of Red and Blue of Manchester is good for us. An 11gunners view on the same..

Either of the Manchester outfit will lose today and thereby drop 3 points, may be even better if they play a draw sharing 1 point each. That will bring us close to the title race than we are at the moment. Lets us take all three outcomes of clash of Manchester into account.

If City loses today then both the Manchester clubs will be level on points keeping the match in hand in account. This results looks like the best at the moment as far as Arsenal is concerned but this might not be that good a result in the long term. This will ensure that United get all 3 points. We should always remember that United is going to be the biggest rival and it is in our interest if they don’t get any points out of this at all.

The next possibility is United losing all 3 points on offer here. This will hamper their title chase in a concrete way. On the flip side it will ensure that City get away with all 3 points and continue their unbeaten run. This is better result than the one we discussed in earlier paragraph. We all expect city to lose its way somewhere in the campaign. There are more chances of City faltering than United.

No take a stock of the last alternative. In case the match ends in a draw, both the side will lose 2 points each. Cumulatively speaking, 4 points will be dropped by 2 teams at the top of the table. This will hurt both the Manchester sides & will always be better than 3 points being dropped by one of the either sides. This will be the best result as far as Arsenal is concerned.

Wenger concurs that this weekend is a BIG OPPORTUNITY for us. He said that:

“[We can make up ground] on one of the two [Manchester clubs] or both,” said the Arsenal boss.

It’s a very good opportunity. And we need to cash in by ensuring that we remain on course by taking up our share of spoils against Wigan today. We wish a high scoring draw to make things spicier. Amen.

They Love To Hate Each Other!

The Manchester Cousins!

2 away games. 2 potential rivals. 2 losses. Poor refereeing, unjust tackling, or sheer bad luck. At the end of the day we could not snatch even 1 out of the possible 6 points in the offing. After a thunderous start to the season, the fizz seems to have been undone. Will Arsenal bounce back and for once shut the skeptics around. We at 11Gunners ponder..

Yes: Why not, Man Utd lost one. Liverpool lost twice. Chelsea have only just won on two occasions now. And after all:

“Two swallows don’t make a summer”

We shall be back, and the revival begins later today at Liege. 7-0 to Arsenal, anyone!?

No: A feel of deja vu’ for those who have been following the Gunners for the last few seasons. Bright start, amazing goals, and all goes awry in no time. And by October, we are already chasing the pack. No, not again!

Maybe: Diehards apart, all other Gooners would like to wait and watch this time around. We seemed to have cracked the code with the 4-3-4 formation but the ‘physical’ side of things has been our nemesis for some tim now. Two trips to Manchester confirm the same. We have a fairly easy fixture from now on, win them all, and then bring on the Guns, shall we?

I Won’t Answer This!: OK, don’t! Enjot the game though!

Yes, No, or whatever. The Gunners are gonna win something this season, rest assured. Let the skeptics ponder, let the doubters brood. The Gunners shall play and the Gooners shall rejoice. Glory to the Arsenal..ole..

The Professor, whom we respect to the point of worshiping, was insulted last Saturday at Old Trafford. It was saddening to see him getting disgraced to practically no fault on his part. When it happens to players it is a different issue, such behavior meted out to one of the senior and iconic Managers of out times, is utterly shameful. Its high time some people got their mannerisms right. A 11Gunners look-in on the same..

So what happened exactly. It was the last minute of a nervy affair at Old Trafford. Van Persie slotted the ball into the United net only to be flagged offside. In the anguish of the moment, Wenger kicked a water bottle, a spontaneous reaction more like a reflex action. The referee who could have ignored this very easily Red Carded him and asked him to leave. All the formal talk about discipline and demeanour is fine, but isnt their some scope for harmless display of poignancy, apparently not! And we thought Football was a passionate game.

That decision was astounding but the attitude of the Home fans was disgraceful. The jaunty home fans wasted no time in jeering and taunting the Professor who had to tolerate the ignominy of it all. The hostile behaviour of Fans towards rival players is well expected but the Manager deserves more respect don’t you think. Such attitude only goes against one’s Club even if that Club is the so-called ‘Most Popular Club in the World.’

Its really sporting on Wenger’s part to see the funny side in this incident. He said:-

Just because I kicked a bottle of water, I didn’t say a word to anybody. And it was quite a good kick.

The experienced Frenchman has often been at the receiving end of such “Disciplinary Action”. Sometimes you get the feeling its because he’s a foreigner to British Football who impacts the English game so much that it has disgruntled some people. Even there have been occasions earlier when Wenger and the team have been unjustly and harshly treated by the officials. Wenger was handed a prolonged 12 match touchline ban in the year 2001 in an incident during a game against Sunderland allegedly for ‘man-handling’ an official when very clearly he was trying to avoid a far worse situation from cropping up amongst the players.

Whether its his frankness against some of the FA’s policies and decisions or the way he has risen to become on of the dominant managers of  the Premier League, somewhere it clearly hasn’t gone down too well.

It shouldn’t bother the great man though, it takes courage to revolutionize and he has shown that. He may have made a few enemies along the way but with an entire ‘Gunner Army’ behind him, you can carry on with your classes Professor!!

“In Arsene We Trust”

Kick'n Around!

They Couldn't See Fletcher Kick'n Arshavin, Could They?

Losers! You Can't Do That To Arsene! C'mon..

Hate Him, Loathe Him, You Can't Do Away With Him!

Taking Them ON All By Himself. We Love You Arsene.

Paying The Penalty?

Over the past week, two spot-kicks have taken the footballing world by a storm. Actually three, if you exclude the one not given to a certain Arshavin for a foul as clear as any. The one’s which were given involve Eduardo da Silva and Wayne Rooney. While Eduardo had genuine reasons for what he did, Rooney CHEATED as only he can. An 11Gunners insight into how exactly both UEFA and FA goofed the entire episode..

When Eduardo fell cheaply off a challenge from Boruc in the mid-week, the media took no time to label him a ‘CHEAT’ and make a ‘Mickey’ out of him. It’s the same media which overlooked guys like Ronaldo, Gerrard, Drogba and Rooney himself, who have proven their expertise at the ‘Art of Diving’ times over! And let’s not forget, poor Eduardo suffered one of the goriest of tackles only a season back when a certain Taylor (read: tailor) undid the stitches of his ankle (pun intended!). The fear psychosis still prevails in the mind of the ‘Croat’ as he has only just made a return to top-flight football. His apprehension at seeing someone make a lunge at him is palpable and utterly justified. A ‘Beckham’ or a ‘Rooney’ break their Metatarsal, something unheard of previously, and the entire footballing fraternity goes berserk. This guy had his ankle ripped before one and all and no sympathies whatsoever. If UEFA/FA considers themselves a Regulatory body par excellence, then the rules must be the same for Man United or XXX United alike. But is it? A big NO!

Cut to this weekend @ the ‘Theatre of Nightmares’. Mr. ‘When Ruin-ey’ dived almost non-challantly seeing an approaching Almunia. He threw himself as if a truck has run over him. The Ref takes no time to award the Man Holes the spot-kick. All fair till now, if Eduardo got one, Ruin-ey should have got one. But if Eduardo got banned for two games to have gone down cheaply, why on earth did Rooney get away with nothing after the dive he made, after he ‘Cheated’ no less. What makes UEFA/FA set different rules for Arsenal and Manchester United? UEFA have set a precedent by changing referees’ decision after the match. And they need to be constant with their new policy. They have chosen to act blindfolded. They did not care about the circumstances in which Eduardo’s dive was made. You don’t prosecute someone who kills in the process of self defence. And that is precisely what he did. And moreover Arsenal were cruising as it is and had the tie against Celtic under wraps much before the incident came to light. The United-Arsenal duel was still very much ON when Rooney’s penalty was given though. On the retrospect, it was Arsenal who dominated the game two days back, only to be undone by the Refs. When two decisions go against a team in such a high-profile game, you don’t expect to come out trumps, do you?

This brings us to the third penalty. The one which never was, given i.e.! Andrei Arshavin was tripped by Fletcher minutes before he scored a beauty. It was as clear as they come. A ‘Deaf’ could see the contact made! I say deaf because the Ref being ‘correct-visioned’ didn’t see it anyways. It was a blatant case of hypocrisy courtesy the FA, the Ref’s, the entire unholy governing nexus which overlooks English football. Arsenal’s Unbeaten run was infamously ended at the ‘Theatre of Nightmares’ in a similar fashion when the Ref that day, Mike Riley, awarded Ruin-ey a penalty out of thin air. It was the same mistake all over again. If you don’t penalize such players, they won’t ever stop, will they? And history repeated itself last weekend. Same Old Trafford, Same Rooney, Same Opposition, Same FA, Same Mistake. Wenger jokingly said in an interview before kick-off that he didn’t expect any penalties to be given in their favour and he was spot-on with that, how haunting is that?

The repercussions of that day haunted us yesterday as well. Arshavin was refused a penalty when Rooney was given one with a gift wrap on it. Arsenal did not cheat. Manholes did, FA did, UEFA did. FA, it is your turn to act now. Can you change what happened last night? No, you can’t. So why open up this can of worms when you can’t maintain uniformity. If provisions are there to overturn a Ref’s decision post-match by punishing players, then why only against Arsenal, and why not for Arsenal?

Eduardo was accounted for after the Celtic game fiasco. The same needs to happen to Rooney. If anything Eduardo had a legitimate reason for his act, Rooney simply ‘Cheated’ and did that knowingly. If Eduardo gets a 2-game ban, Rooney should be handed twice the ban. Heads should role. And there can’t be better time than this. The Referees need to be checked. This is not a one off decision. This has happened time and again and there is no reason to believe that it won’t happen again. Why do you get extra punishment because the referee makes a mistake and misses the offence? And is this procedure now going to happen all the time? Uefa has made a terrible rod for its own back by singling Eduardo out; rather than issuing refs with some guidance before the season started and at least making its position – whatever is it – clear to all. Man United always have a better say in such controversial decision’s, more on that later on 11Gunners. For now, the FA should step in to stop this right now to save the Premiership from paying a ‘Penalty’ in the long run.

Do let us know about your thoughts on this. Keep Gunning..

Lie+Cheat+Dive= WIN!

Plight Of The Fallen!

As Clear As They Come

Been There, Done That, And Still On

Respect is due...

You are dissapointed, of course you are, no amount of cogent reasoning can prove that we deserved a defeat yesterday, but the Beautiful Game is cruel and we just fell on the wrong side. I get a feeling their hallowed turf is somewhat jinxed and destined to do their bidding. We at 11Gunners look back on the night that was..

In a romantic atmosphere at Old Trafford, a determined Man United took on a resurgent Arsenal. The game was cagey, an intense midfield battle with both teams eager to gain control and both teams eager to deny the other doing the same. A cat and mouse battle, with each team taking up respective role every few minutes. Arriving at the 40th minute, Darren Fletcher brought down Arshavin in the box but somehow,just somehow refree Mike Dean missed it. When Arshavin’s thunderous shot rocked the home side seconds later we had forgotten about the penalty but now in retrospect it has taken different dimensions. I dont have enough words of praise for Arshavin in my vocabulary, I just dont.

The second half was where things started going against us. Against the run of play, Giggs slipped the ball through for Rooney who was brought down by Almunia. The refree,this time makes no mistake and pointed to the spot immediately. Rooney equalised and their comback was complete when Abou Diaby headed the ball into our own net inadvertently from a Giggs free kick. It was a solid header and had the side been right, I would have had nothing but words of appreciation for the Frenchman. We were shocked but had only ourselves to blame. How things change for the fans, the Old Traffod faithful booed Eduardo vehemently, one may remind them that they housed a certain notoriety named Cristiano Ronaldo in their own den not so long ago. If that was sad,it was nothing compared to the behaviour ditched out to the Proffesor. He was asked to leave and go to the stands for merely kicking a poor water bottle in the last minute, some people are hell bent to separate the poignant emotions from the Beautiful Game. The rowdy behaviour of United fans towards AW didn’t go amiss among the watchers. I guess you dont learn a few manners even if you wea the colours of the most decorated club in the world.

I guess we can prepare ourselves to give Sir Alex a “Warm” welcome at the Emirates later. So what does this mean for the season, it may surprise you but i would say “Optimism and Confidence”. This was one of those days and remember we were without Fabregas, Rosicky, Nasri and Walcott- a full strength midfiled for God’s sake. We can safely say that this was an aberration and normalcy will be restored when we take the field next,never mind boys we are still proud of you!!

Gunners Will Gunn Down The Red Dolls

Four wins out of four, 15 goals scored in the process, through to the Group Stages of the Uefa Champions League yet again, and only two weeks back Arsenal were considered a Club in turmoil! United on the other hand have already tasted defeat to minnows Burnley, and like previous seasons, have made a slow start to their title-defence. Something must give when the two most decorated sides in English football lock horns in this Showpiece Encounter. This is the first of the ‘Big-4 clashes’ of this season and we at 11Gunners can’t wait to have a go at it..

TEAM NEWS

Arsenal

Suspended:     None

Doubtful:          Ramsey

Injured:            Djourou, Walcott, Nasri, Fabianski, Rosicky, Fabregas

Manchester United

Suspended:     None

Doubtful:          Evans

Injured:            Ferdinand, Hargreaves, Obertan, Rafael, Van der Sar

Probable Starting Line-Up For Arsenal (4-1-3-2)

Almunia

Sagna-Vermaelen-Gallas-Clichy

Song

Eboue-Denilson-Diaby

VanPersie-Arshavin

“Quotable Quotes”

AW

“We want to show that we can win the big games away from home. This is a good opportunity to do it. We know we go to Old Trafford with a good belief and that is very important before a big game like that.”

“I don’t speculate on any weakness of Man United – that would be a little bit naïve on my part. I am confident because first of all the quality and talent of my players. Secondly the attitude, desire and togetherness of the team.”

SAF

“One thing Arsene has done well is he’s always sold a player at the right time. He knows when it’s the right time for a player to leave and he has done it again with Adebayor and Toure. I don’t think the level of ability has changed one bit and he seems to have a good harmony in the squad.”

“Their 6-1 win at Everton was an amazing result. I’ve never known Everton concede that many goals at home. I can’t remember that happening before.”

“I couldn’t understand people writing Arsenal off. A young team like Arsenal, that is maturing, has to be respected. I think it was a media thing. I can’t see it.”

Well said Fergie, Arsene’s always spot-on with his Transfers. Since 2004, the Professor has maintained an unprecedented Balance Sheet of “-25 Million Pounds” on transfers. If with an impeccable record as his, Arsenal are able to get the things right this season, surely he will go down as one of the Greatest Managers of All-times. Well, not that he won’t otherwise! Specially because in this Money-propelled scenario we face today, the likes of Madrid, Chelsea and Man City can quote astronomical sums on just about every player out there and in the process they end up inflating the transfer market for financially-constrained clubs like Arsenal et’ al.

Meanwhile Fergie must also take time out and ponder on the blunder he has made by offloading the likes of Ronaldo and Tevez. After decisions like that, you can only expect him to applaud Wenger’s transfer policy alright! Sour grapes!

Men To Watch

With Captain Cesc missing for the Gunners, the onus will be on the triumvirate of Eboue-Denilson-Diaby to conjure the attacking abilities Cesc so naturally brought onto the pitch, apart from the defensive duties they must take care of any which way.

Vermaelen will have his first big test facing the likes of Berbatov and Owen. But the prime head-to-head duel will be that between Vermaelen and Rooney. Both in hot form at the moment and both with a point to prove. Rooney, in the absence of CR7 and CT32, is eager to prove his mettle as United’s ace hitman whereas Vermaelen is keen to show that he more than just good textbook defensive repertoire and can actually produce the goods on occasion as big as this.

Also Eduardo, provided he is brought on at some point in the game, would have the gaffer waiting to commit a foul just to see what steel is he made of. So far his career has been plagued by ‘Two Tackles’, both taking shelter under the clouds of controversy. And how can you forget the Russian Czar, Arshavin, in his first full season with the Gunners, he would surely like to run riots in front of the Old Trafford faithful.

Men Who Matter

Referee:                          Mike Dean

Assistant Referee’s:   Simon Beck, Richard West

Fourth Official:            Lee Probert

Previous encounters between these two stalwarts of the English game have had their share of ill-tempered moments. Although things have mellowed down in the recent past, with stakes as high as this one, there is no surety of when the ‘Next Bust-Up’ ensues. Mike Dean, with all the experience that he has, has his work cut-out for this one.

PREDICTION

Arsenal 3 – Manchester United 0

Call me a freak, but I see this as a return of favours courtesy Wenger and his now ‘A-Little-Old’ Group of Boys! 4-1 is not forgotten, and its time the Manholes got operated at their own OT!

We are gonna turn the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ into the ‘Theatre of Nightmares’ and the Old Scot must realize why the Scots never got the better off the French, historically and otherwise! If its a Test for Wenger’s ‘Boys’, mark this as an Examination of sorts for Ferguson’s ‘Men’.

Arshavin, Eduardo and Van Persie to score for Arsenal in this mouth-watering tie.

C’mon Gunners, It’s about time:

“The Reds Dolls Bleed In Red”!!

The Reds Will Bleed In Red

Professorkaka, from our sister site 11Reds, has agreed to do an interview with us ahead of the Manchester United game. This is a part of an ‘Interview Exchange’ between the two sites before the big kick-off. Read on and form your own opinions. You can read my own views back on their site by clicking on this: “The Reds Will Bleed In Red”

1. How impressed are you with the start of the season?
With the start we’ve had, I guess the feelings are mixed. We are obviously coming around to a new era in our history; we have a new team and a new strategy to contend with. The Burnley defeat did raise doubts but the Wigan result gave us a ray of hope. But I am fully convinced that even though we might not look very threatening now, we will get better over the season. We can never be written off, do that at your own risk.

2. How do you rate the chances of Manchester United for the League Title this year?
Manchester United are always title contenders irrespective of what our early season form suggests. We have a chance to make history this year. Another title and Liverpool’s age-old claim to being the undisputed kings of the English First Division will be a thing of the past. Our defence is as strong as ever. Our attack is also very varied and this season is Wayne Rooney’s season without a doubt. The midfield is our only worry. If we can sort that out, nothing can stop us.

3. Who do you think is your most dangerous player? Who should we be wary of?
Everyone knows how destructive a player Wayne Rooney is. Gunners, of all people, will remember that awe-inspiring debut goal he scored at Goodison. For too long, he has put his own interests secondary to the team interests and hence, has played second fiddle to the likes of Ronaldo. Not any more. This year he will emerge as the highest scorer in the league and will be gunning for your blood this weekend as well.

Dimitar Berbatov is another player who on his day can tear you to shreds. He is an amazingly talented lad and with all the space you are going to provide, I expect him to make hay when the proverbial sun is shining.

4. Which member of my team are you most afraid of? Which of the Gunners will you like to have in your line-up?
We are not afraid of anybody! That might sound a little clichéd but trust me when you’re the holders you do not fear anyone. We have a defence that is more than capable of holding your attack. Our attack will be devastating and mind you, Vermaelan would have seen nothing of the like he will see on Satuday.

As for a member of your squad whom we would love o have with us, I guess Cesc Fabregas is the most logical choice. With all the shortage of creative personnel in the center of our midfield, Cesc would be a welcome addition.

5. What do you think should be your strategy for the match this week?
Attack, attack and more attack. The Champions League encounters of last year are a glaring example of what an attacking onslaught can do to Arsenal. Arsenal almost always wilts under pressure and hence applying pressure will be our best option.

6. How has the Wenger-Ferguson rivalry mellowed over the years? Will this mellowing have any impact on the competitiveness of the game?
The famed Wenger-Ferguson rivalry has seen a change in its very composition. You might have noticed that this rivalry started getting mellower from the time Arsenal stopped posing any real threats to our title winning aspirations. Now that Arsenal have made a blistering start to the season and with question marks being raised about our own credentials, I expect the barbs and retorts to make a re-appearance. The competitiveness would be outstanding no doubt. Expect a few fireworks to go off. You might not see the kind of animosity that Keane and Vieira used to exhibit. But do not expect this to be a totally quiet game as well.

7. Lastly, were you to lose, how crippling would be the blow to your title chances?

The result is not as important as the performance we display on Saturday. If we lose, the media will pounce on us writing off our chances once and for all. But as long as our performance is good, I will not be worried. Even a win would not see me jumping to the conclusion that the title is ours this year. But yes, a victory is very important this early merely for the confidence it will inject into our system.

Prediction: United 2-1 Arsenal

I know that Arsenal have made a fantastic start to the season. But this is where that age-old quality of ‘flattering to deceive’ that is so typical of Arsenal will be displayed. Watch out for a United side eager to bury all the doubters.

Boss..Le' Boss!

The two teams under focus today-Manchester United and Arsenal epitomize a certain romanticism of the English Football. What makes these 2 clubs unique is the Men-in-charge, a certain Scot and an urbane Frenchman. If you ever wanna see an apprehensive United or Arsenal fan, just ask them on possible life without these men, in all my years of football following these two have been like eternal constants. Their relationship with each other is an interesting story encompassing an even more ‘Love-Hate’ relationship between the 2 clubs per se..Sir Alex ruled English football with an unchallenged air of supremacy. The arrival of Wenger had all the signs of shaking that established monopoly of sorts. Wenger initially had to play second fiddle to Ferguson during a period in which United were a self built team of excellent individuals like Giggs, Beckham, Keane, Cole, Yorke, Sheringham et al who ensured that their dream run continued further. But somwhere in North London a potent force was being built. Wenger’s uncanny knack of spotting talent was bearing results and in Henry, Pires, Vieria, Bergkamp, Adams we had a group capable of overthrowing the established rule.

All through this while a cold war was surging between the 2 master tacticians, something which added thrill and passion to the contests between the 2 clubs. Wenger complained about the “Special Royalty” that the Reds from Manchester received.

His exact words were

“Its wrong the programme is extended so that Man Utd can rest and win everything”

pointing to the biased scheduling of games done to suit the Red Devil’s interests.

Ferguson’s reply was

“He’s a novice who should keep his opinions to Japanese football.”

After You Mate!

This war of words wasn’t a one time thing. Infact it ensued every time these clubs locked horns. Clearly Ferguson and the Old Trafford faithful were perturbed by this gradual shift in power and the signs became ominous in the 2001-02 season when Arsenal won theDdouble and interestingly lifted the title at Old Trafford by beating their nearest competitors. The rivalry intensified and the few years that followed were the times when the 2 sets of fans, players and the managers just loved to hate each other.

In the 2002-03 season, despite Arsenal’s superb football all the way, a dramatic collapse at the rear end saw united capitalize and be crowned champions. The wound was left open and the next season Arsenal went from strength to strength, nor United or anyone else was a match for them. The encounter at Old Trafford was one the fans will never forget. The mercury rose unchecked and resulted in a post match brawl, the sets of players in the 2 clubs didn’t actually make things easier-Vieira,Keane,Sol Campbell were no nonsense fellows and they could hardly keep their tempers under check.

The Other Side Of Football..

Arsenal had firmly taken over the title of the “Powerhouse” but United had their say in ending the coveted 49 unbeaten run,again a match marred by controversies leaving a sour taste among both sets of fans. The anger had risen to such levels that the corresponding fixture in the 04-05 season at Highbury was a high voltage affair, this time it was pre match brawl with Vieira-Keane at the centre of it all yet again.

@Each Other Come What May!

They say a common foe can unite two old foes. Exactly that happened when a certain Portugeese by the name of Jose Mourinho burst onto the scene and challenged the credentials of both Wenger and Ferguson. He clearly didn’t go down well with either of them and to the surprise of millions around the world, Wenger and Ferguson came to each other’s defence united against the new Chelsea boss. It was apparent that years of experience from both these connoisseurs of the game meant that somewhere deep down they had mutual respect and acceptance of each other’s abilities, the perfect recipe for a healthy competition. Since then the two have backed each other on several issues like scheduling of games, winter breaks and stuff and the hostility of once has given way to a much more cordial relationship.

With You Mate!

Its true that with time the intensity has been pacified but after last season’s mauling in the Champions League, the Gunners will be satisified with nothing less than a victory come this Saturday.

Both have seen the better of the other 14 times, whose time is it to grab the edge??

Read On:

What If..AW Out, SAF In!?

What If..Rooney Had Not Dived??

When Madrid Calls, You Pay more Than They Do!

Arsenal has had a flying to start to the Season. Pompeys are the next in queue. They will be given the same treatment as everyone else. No hard feelings mate. Meanwhile AW has come out with his bit of verbal attack. We @ 11gunners.com analyze it for you..

Pundits believe that Arsenal is gonna be in trouble for what they have done in this transfer window. On the contrary, AW believes that Arsenal is “used to” whatever they have done in the transfer window and it’s the Reds and the Devils who need to worry about their deeds during the Transfer Window. Reds sold the Brain (Stevie G being the Soul) of their attack to Madrid Mercenaries and I don’t think that I even need to mention the Portuguese in case of Devils. This is what The Prof had to say:

“The question this season is, ‘Who will cope the best with what has happened during this Transfer Market?’ – Let’s make sure it’s Us.”

“The big task for United is replacing the goals that Cristiano Ronaldo scored. He had two fantastic qualities: he was never injured, and he put the ball in the back of the net. I’m surprised that they didn’t reinvest more of the money they got for Ronaldo, but they may do so in January. They will continue to be a major force in the Championship.”

“Aquilani will be a good player [for Liverpool], but they’ve lost a great player in Alonso, He was the brain of the game for Liverpool last season. I don’t expect them to struggle, but people might have a little question mark over how they replace Alonso.”

The results in the initial bouts of Premier League are in sync with AW’s thought process. Let’s hope for more from the Boys in Red & White.

In Arsene we trust. Go gunners..

No points for guessing which team gets to do the honours of concluding the series on the probable threats. The most decorated Club in the World, the Predators from “Devil’s Own Den”, the Men from Manchester. Hate them or Hate them more, the Devils will be at it, they are always at it. But has the time come for the law of averages to show that it isn’t merely a theoretical concept, if the night of 21st May in Rome and the spoils of the transfer market are anything to go by, maybe the time has finally come..

They have a rich tradition, a fearsome squad, a huge fan following and yes the eternal universal constant we like to call “Sir Alex Ferguson”, what they don’t have is well the Portugeese wizard Cristiano, another decorated Club from Espania have taken care of that.

Their is no doubt that United will miss him dearly, people like him are truly irreplaceable and every United Fan’s Heart will pinch when a free kick hits the wall or goes into the crowd. One doesn’t have to be a Football expert to say that he made the difference on many occassions, and as the Gunners felt with the departure of the magician Thierry Henry, the focal point would be absent, the player whom you can trust to come up with that piece of creativity from the Heavens when things aren’t going right, in a long and busy season there will be such days, even for the 11 time Premier League Champions.

The addition of Micheal Owen seemed ludicrous but the Grand Old man surely had cogent reasons for signing the “Bruised ” striker. He may just prove to be a blessing in disguise. In the midfield department you feel the likes of Nani and park will have to take up the mantle, they have talent no doubt but it remains to be seen if they can successfully pass through the rigors of the midfield, the place where the majority of the game is played in the Premier League. Defensively they look mostly reassuring but going forward is what they might find more arduous than they did last time.

Will this be a beginning of the end of an era or will they show the world why they are what they are, by the end of the season we will have more answers than questions..

Arsenal in the past have been traditional with the quintessential 4-4-2. It had served them magically during the “Invincible’s Era”. With changing times, it’s not uncommon for Managers to fiddle with the formations. Wenger has himself preferred the 4-5-1 in Champions League outings, packing the midfield and cramping up space for the opponents. Though it is somewhat of a compromise on the attacking prowess, it has proved to be a viable option especially in the intense UCL games.

However a radical shift is due as Arsenal are being expected to field 4-3-3 in the new season. This after Wenger played the aforesaid combination in the Pre-Season Friendlies. At first look this has all the ingredients of a Positive move. The best way to win games is to score goals and this move clearly hints that when we take the field in some 9 odd days, we’ll be looking to do exactly that. The usefulness of this formation was demonstrated by Barcelona recently in the Champions League final against the Red Devils when the Catalonian side used this formation to destructive effect against a highly potent Man United side.

The pivotal position in this formation will be that of Cesc Fabregas. Gunners were terribly disappointed when the “Wonder Kid” (he’s still a kid by many standards) appeared to be losing some of his sheen last season. This formation will give him the free reign to orchestrate the game, something he loves to do and has done with panache in the past. I personally feel his potential was underutilized last season and just like his compatriot Andres Iniesta who marveled at that position, Fabregas can fulfill the promises he exhibited as a youngster. Song and Denilson improved by leaps and bounds last season and they will have to shoulder the responsibility of providing cover for the defence.

The front three are the ones we are pinning our hopes on and why shouldn’t we! With the likes of Arshavin, Nasri,Walcott,Rosicky from the flanks and Eduardo or Van Persie as centre forward, we appear to be in safe hands, on paper atleast.The attacking trio duly supported by Cesc can create the magic Arsenal are usually identified with.

All in all this formation allows players what they like to do best i.e. play positive football. Playing in their favourite positions can enhance their contribution on the field and we’ll hoping that is the case this time around. Let the Countdown to the 09-10′ Season begin..

4-3-3, So be it..