Pain

Arsenal punished by their North London rivals by an awesome 2nd half comeback.
Arsenal 2 - 3 Tottenham

Arsenal's hope to top the table were completely destroyed and Chelsea is likely to extend thier lead over the Gunners to 5 points.

This is the first defect that I can hardly accept since the 2006 final.

This reminds me about 2 old comments:
1) Arsenal can no longer win any trophy under Arsene Wenger - by Palmer (ANR's blogger)
2) Whenever Arsenal close to the top of table, or win something, they slipped - By Mourinho

I was deeply hurt by the result. Fortunately this is a Novemeber match so the we may be still have chance to blow our title hope bubbles later this season. However, I hate the feeling of being strengthless. We used to have many match-winners like Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg. But the existing team can hardly overcome the obstacles they faced. I can name a lot easily, Clichy slip at St Andrews, the 4-4 draw with Spurs at Emirates, all the games against Drogba. They keep disappoints the fans.

I congratuate Spurs fans as they can smile the whole year with this victory. They did not expect their team to win at Emirates so these, including the Champions League football this year, are out of their expectation. Their team are climbing up from a position of middle team to challenge big teams. Being an arsenal fan in hard, you are not satisfied even your team got a second, because you always think the team SHOULD win something.

I am struggling as being a gooner. I missed the old days, the time when the team perform like winners. I loved the club. I look forward to this match for more than a month and spend the whole week to wait for the match. What I get from the match is pain.

I have high expectation to the gunners. At 2-nil up at half time, I expect them to score more to crash their rivals, and to build up their morale to both the midweek Champions League game and next Villa game. I think too much for the table and coming fixture, then Spurs's 3 goals got me back to the current situation.

I support the team since 1998, even when I did not watch them played a single minute. I bought up to 10 Arsenal DVDs to make sure I can always watch the goals when no match is played, and to retaste the wonderful winning memory. As the internet improves and I started not to satisfy with only the goals, I download every single MOTD highlights in recent years so I can watch more. I loved playing football video games, and I used Arsenal for many years. I follow many Arsenal's fans in twitter, as well as some Arsenal's players and I read their Tweets everyday. With all these, arsenal is just surronding me.

I understand the ability of the players from the replay, the news, the computer games. So I know they are capable to win something. There is no real difficulty to win against the fucking Spurs.

I almost cry after the final whistle.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

大人鬥細路

車路士 2 - 0 阿仙奴

意料中事。車路士未出力時阿仙奴還打得可以，當車路士一出力就領先了。很輕鬆，上季已經是這樣。杜奧巴好像羸得不好意思，整場比賽打得有風度之餘卻有表現。這令我想起亨利。E，阿仙奴不是早早在四年前已經有一個新亨利嗎?

四年前，聯賽盃決賽，上演了一場大人鬥細路的比賽。雲加信任聯賽盃中一直上陣的小將，派出一支平均年齡少於廿一歲的陣容對抗車路士的正選。當時禾確特首次為阿仙奴入波。即使最後反勝為敗，阿仙奴仍贏得不少的掌聲。

四年過去了，阿仙奴再沒有打入任何賽事的決賽。但雲加堅持對小將的信任則每一季有增無減。主將一個一個的賣走，年輕的球員一個一個的上位變做主力。沒錯，部份的他們的確進步了很多。法比加斯成為世界級球員、基治一度成為高爾離隊後左閘的答案、桑治上季進步神速成為不可或缺的主力，還有開始上力的禾確特、開始懂得進攻的伊保、作用越來越重要的戴亞比等。但是，失敗的例子不是很多嗎?當年正選上陣的賀迪、辛達路斯、查奧爾、 艾拿迪亞等，去了哪裡?

年輕給人的感覺是充滿朝氣，看似只有進步，沒有退步。也有人說阿仙奴是一支活在將來的球隊，球隊有的是潛能，實力嘛?耐心等吧，有一天你會等到的。所以禾確特會是新亨利、戴亞比是新韋拉、辛達路斯是新阿當斯。他們會越來越接近名宿的實力，因為是名宿會有變老的一天。

自找的爆冷

阿仙奴　２－３　西布朗

(From http://soccernet.espn.go.com/)
０－０　Brunt (pen miss 37)

０－１　Odemwingie (50)
０－２　Jara (52)
０－３　Thomas (73)
１－３　Nasri (75)
２－３　Nasri (90)

敗給弱隊永遠不會好受。即使近年阿仙奴的攻力怎樣不銳利，主場落後三比零都是罕見的畫面。對上一次是敗給如日中天的車路士。至於大敗給弱隊吧，大約是高貝利年代連環烏龍球敗給米杜士堡。

黑心的說，這場比賽看了２０分鐘後我希望西布朗入球的。整隊波死氣沉沉，球員不止一次面對面交失波。是他們心不在焉，太過老定，或仍然沉醉於在盃賽淘汰同市死敵？我後悔沒有早早下注下一隊入球於西布朗身上。

冷靜，分是失了。也許阿仙奴球迷可慶幸最後的十幾分鐘拿斯利為他們了挽回了少許的面子。我不擔心這次阿仙奴的敗陣會影響到往後的比賽，因為整場失準的主因是在排陣上。

今天雲加少有的輪換，可能週中的盃賽與下週中的歐聯令他有所顧忌。另外他今年對自己的後備陣容有信心，覺得可以排出相約實力的陣容。可惜，他排陣的功夫根本差得很。

先看中場，桑治、戴亞比本應是一隊很好的防守中場，對西布朗這些較為硬淨的球隊可作四人防線的屏障。但由於雲加收起了週中差不多打足的路斯基及韋舒亞，二人前面只放了一個拿斯利，令中場的優勢雙手拱讓給西布朗。很早已經有人說過拿斯利的創造力來自他的盤球（dribble），而不是傳球（passing）。這樣的三人中場沒有人懂分波，既造不到空位，也令西布朗五人中場容易睹塞阿仙奴的傳球。加上右翼放了一個不是進攻料子的伊保，左翼放了一個疏於走動的艾沙雲，阿仙奴的進攻便死氣沉沉，只靠部份球員的個人能力突破，西布朗很容易防守。部份球員特別是戴亞比的積極性在比賽初段太低，走動太少更突顯法比加斯在陣中（或是有能力接棒的韋舒亞）的重要。我重申，沒有法比加斯的比賽，千萬不要讓陣中四大神獸（桑治、戴亞比、伊保、丹尼臣）一同上陣，這只會握殺了阿仙奴的創造力。（除了丹尼臣，我覺得他們在陣中的角色都很重要，只是不要一起上陣罷了…）

艾蒙尼亞的失誤由雲加不肯重用馬隆尼或舒爾辛尼已經知道會不斷出現（留意我不是說沒有買到舒華沙），失第二球時牛油手見怪不怪，失第三球沒有飛撲也部份因為上半場的十二碼加黃牌。反而四名法國防線的統籌問題更顯眼，有網友笑指他們像是溝通不良。開季以來亦有很多意識上的不恰當令為己隊製造很多麻煩，例如高斯爾尼的解圍落點永遠清不遠。惟有寄望今年華美倫身體健康吧。

最尾雲加一口氣把所有攻擊球員放上場只是孤注一擲，奈何卡路士韋拿任左翼只自斷一臂，而隊友的走位又沒有互相配合，很多時沒有人去搶第二點（Second ball）。要在西布朗身上追三球是本身的問題多於時間的問題。

Email to Banks from Liverpool Fans

jamie.dimon@jpmchase.com; charlie.scharf@chase.com; gordon.smith@chase.com; marc.x.sheinbaum@jpmchase.com; david.b.lowman@jpmchase.com; autobahn.fi@db.com; autobahn.insight@db.com; aesales.emea@db.com; autobahn.fx@db.com; autobahn.fo@db.com; autobahn.support@db.com; ari.cohen@db.com; lem.brewster@db.com; mayura.hooper@db.com; renee.calabro@db.com; scott.helfman@db.com; john-t.gallagher@db.com; ted.meyer@db.com; ruben.borges@db.com

---

Dear Sirs,

If your company agrees a ￡280million refinancing deal with Tom Hicks to retain his share in Liverpool Football Club, then the only return that you will see on your investment is bad publicity and a severe backlash from Liverpool supporters worldwide.

As you are aware, Hicks is trying to refinance his debt to the Royal Bank of Scotland before October 6th so that he can continue his disastrous ownership of Liverpool Football Club.

You are facing an energized, well-informed mass of Liverpool fans from around the world. We are tapped into a constant stream of information on the ownership situation. Every day, dozens of web forums buzz with the latest news. Protest marches, newspaper ads, boycotts and billboards are organized. Every move Hicks makes is scrutinized. And every associate of his is warned.

Refinancing is our nightmare scenario. Anybody who helps Tom Hicks refinance will become our primary target.  Just ask the Blackstone Group / GSO Capital Partners who received approximately 7,000 emails in the space of a few days from disgruntled Liverpool fans following refinancing talks with Hicks.  They soon saw sense and ended negotiations with Hicks after Liverpool supporters bombarded them with emails and phone calls.

The Sun Newspaper is another organisation who have felt the wrath of Liverpool fans following their disgraceful coverage of the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989.  The boycott of the newspaper by Liverpool fans is said to have cost News International an estimated ￡10 million a year.

If you join Tom Hicks in raping and pillaging Liverpool Football Club, then you will be making a very powerful enemy.

You have been warned.

Yours faithfully,
 Michael Leung

KOP FAITHFUL

Spiderman & Batman

Previosuly I thought Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez's goal celebration with the spiderman's mask was already remarkable. Until today I found a French goalkeeper Janot wore a full set of Spiderman kit in a league game.



Well, with spiderman at the goaline, I think the only player who can compete with him is - Batman, from Paraguay.

Be careful of Karl Henry? (Revised)

Fulham rocked as Zamora suffers broken leg

It is horrible to see another broken leg in the premier league yesterday. Get well soon Bobby Zamora. Who made the tackle? Karl Henry, who was highlighted by MOTD last fixture who win many battles (actually foul on) Joey Barton of Newcastle. That is Joey Barton, can you think of any other player can do this?


(He is the no.8 player)

It also remind me about another bad tacke on Rosicky last season. Late tackle and never gonna get the ball.



Let's also look at the stats. last year from the offical website we found that actually he is not a very dirty player.

Fouls (60) - The 10th most foul commited player last season - Kevin Davies had 103 times and Tim Cahill has 73 times.
Yellow cars (6) - Not a big number in the rank 50th to 65th. Bolton's Fabrice Muamba booked 11 times and 6 players booked 10 times.

And his record throughout his career? Just only one red card against Rosicky.

Arsene Wenger gave very bad comments on Martin Taylor and Ryan Shawcross, who breaks the legs of his playesr Eduardo and Ramsey respectively. So what did Mark Hughes said after the loss of his beloved stirker for 4 months? No complaints on their play.

Hughes rues Zamora injury after Wolves win

While Fulham's fans gave full vent to their anger at Wolves's physical approach—which earned six yellow cards and one red—Hughes had no complaints about Mick McCarthy's tactics.

"Wolves were competitive as you'd expect. Mick McCarthy sets his teams up to compete for every ball," he said.

"The Premier League is competitive and I've had similar criticism in the past. Sometimes it's warranted and sometimes it isn't.

"Maybe today some of the fouls were made to break up our momentum and maybe at times were a little bit cynical. That's why the crowd was getting frustrated.

"I'd never criticise any team for trying to be competitive against us - that's part and parcel of the Premier League."

I agree. This is the style of premier league.

Injuries and injuries....

Is arsenal a team never gonna have a full squad?

Theo injured with England, again


Arsenal announce Robin van Persie injury setback

Arsenal
T Walcott Ankle/Foot Injury no return date
R Van Persie Ankle/Foot Injury 24th Oct 10
E Frimpong ACL Knee Injury May 11
S Nasri Knee Injury 18th Sep 10
N Bendtner Groin/Pelvis Injury 11th Sep 10
A Ramsey Broken Leg 16th Oct 10

Arsenal has a big contrast against ACMilan, of which players have long career and medical team is marvellous.

Jamie Carragher Testimonial

Oh well, I have no idea why it took place just around an international fixture, but a good day for Carra who nearly was not offered this year's Liverpool contract by the end of last year.

Some familar faces in the testimonial. Owen in Red again, Luis Garcia, Heskey, Murphy, David Thompson, McAllister, Warnock, it is wonderful for the liverpool fans.

They won 4-1 against Everton XI who is mainly non-internationals and reserve players.

If I was a liverpool fan, I would miss the players in this match. Emile Heskey is still a strong forward who may help Torres in front. Danny Murphy should be given enough chance in Liverpool as he did now in Fulham. Luis Garcia is a magic player whose final touch could always help the team wins matches (I would rate Garcia and Alonso be the only good signings from Benetiz thorughout his Liverpool years.)

The Offside: Updated—Jamie Carragher Testimonial

Garcia's great goal

Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott is having his best start of the premiership with 4 goals in 3 games. But people in England keep criticising him without a football brain.


Theo Walcott has no football brain, says Chris Waddle - Mar, 2010

Alan Hansen: Theo Walcott must learn to think as fast as he can run - Mar, 2010

Alan Hansen spoke about Theo after his hat trick against Blackpool

walcotthansen02h4e
Uploaded by arsenalist. - News videos hot off the press.

Whether Theo has a football brain or not cannot be told by a short period. But there is a piece of article saying Theo prefers the pressure of proving critics wrong than the pressure of performing for admirers who expect miracles.

Theo Walcott's brain

It seems intersting and let's see how it goes.

----
Update on Sep 2
Theo Walcott blames himself for missing world cup

Theo: "I didn’t deserve to go to the 2006 World Cup. I hadn’t played in the Premier League and hadn't justified being there at all. This time, well, the form wasn’t there. I was trying to be there and I had a feeling I could be there, but I had to look at myself and go and prove people wrong on the pitch.

This is the 1st time he expresses regret about the 2006 WC.

Chamakh is a good addition to Arsenal's squad

Less time to write. Just Forward other's piece of work:

Chamakh Drop-Back: Arsenal's New Attack?

If you don't understand what is the role or position of "false 9". Just have a look on another article

未来十年足球技战术演变趋势畅想 search for 虚九

BTW, the quoted website of Zonal Marking is as good as this good. I like their match analysis.

Let's classify Arsenal's players

Reason: If you understand their ability, you will not over-expect them

Class 1 - Fabregas, Van Persie, Vermaelen, Rosicky(if no more injury)
Class 2 - Arshavin, Nasri, Song, Eboue
Class 3 - Diaby, Clichy, Sagna, Vela, Almunia, Gibbs, Djourou, Ramsey, Walcott
Class 4 - Fabianski, Bendtner, Denilson
Unclassfied yet - Chamakh, Koscielny, Wilshere, Szczesny

Note:
Class 1 - Players with ability to change to game
Class 2 - When they are good, they play good football
Class 3 - They are in the team but you do not expect them to shine
Class 4 - What you want is they can do things right.

=========================================================================
Legend:
Class 1 - Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Vieira, Cole, Campbell
Class 2 - Wiltord, Gilberto, Lehmann, Toure, Adebayor
Class 3 - Edu, Lauren, Parlour
Class 4 - Senderos, Baptista, Cygan, Stepanovs

[轉載] 梁文道：迷信足球

【am730-觀念】1937年，巴西名門球隊達伽馬的主場被一個敵隊球迷下咒，他埋下一隻縫住了咀巴的癩蝦蟆，並且咀咒未來十二年之內達伽馬都不會得到 巴西冠軍。果然，達伽馬就這樣倒霉了十二年。我有一群朋友是英超利物浦的死忠粉絲，他們曾經一起租下某間酒店的房間，避開家小，共同觀看一場重要比賽。在 利物浦打贏那一場之後，每逢關鍵時刻，他們就一定要湊足人數去租回同一間房。其中一個告訴我：「呢間房老嚟」；看來，他們真心相信一支英格蘭球隊的表現， 全繫於幾個香港球迷有沒有租對酒店。

我們之所以迷信，和我們熱愛足球的理由完全是同一回事，那就是足球的不確定。

不是球 迷的人往往很難理解足球到底好看在甚麼地方。比起籃球、排球、網球和乒乓球，足球的比分實在太小，入球也實在太過困難，九十分鐘下來，勝負常常決定於一兩 球之間。但是球迷們都曉得這正正是足球的魅力。我知道有些人只愛看體育新聞裡的精華剪輯，看看那些球怎樣被人攻進龍門。對真正的球迷來說，這無異於放著一 套好端端的武打片不瞧，也不管正邪盤腸大戰的整個過程，卻只盯住壞人被打倒在地上的那最後一聲慘叫。甚麼叫做足球比賽的「精華」？且想像把幾十部武俠片的 結局剪接成一部電影，由頭到尾就是一幫面容扭曲的惡棍不斷地吐血呻吟，「啊」來「啊」去；你說，這能好看嗎？不管怎樣，你就是不能拿籃球和足球比較，至少 NBA的進球精華是可觀的，因為那些進球片段幾乎就是籃球的一切；足球則不。

我們可以說NBA就像徐克拍的《黃飛鴻》，沒有人會一擊致 死，雙方總得你中我一腿，我還你一拳，指掌翻飛，血花四濺，最後以累積點數的傷勢來決斷大局。世界盃則像是黑澤明的《用心棒》，二人默默對峙，周圍的空氣 繃緊得連飛鳥都穿不過去，然後，刷一道白光，其中一人的胸口忽地爆出一大篷鮮血；一劍，生死就只在這一劍。只不過你必須想像一場球賽是那放大了拖慢了的對 峙，一分鐘成了九十分鐘，你能感受到那九十分鐘裡的劍拔弩張嗎？這九十分鐘可以發生的意外確實太多，或許是陽光出現得太過突然，眼睛還來不及適應，又或許 是氣溫微升，手心的汗水潤濕了指掌，使你拔劍一刻不慎滑了半分。所以球場上從來沒有強者必勝的道理，中國隊能夠意外地擊潰法國，荷蘭也能在下風處因為一記 烏龍逆轉勝巴西。每一個致命的進球都來得如此困難，每一個小小的疏忽與意外都來得如此致命。足球是種容不得絲毫錯誤的競賽，最強大的高手也會喪命在最低級 的閃光。迷信和種種荒誕的陰謀怪論，因此都是自然的，甚且必須。足球太複雜也太講機遇，它的形勢變化足以推翻一切常理。如果不是命運，我們又該如何解釋荷 蘭永遠只能拿第二？如果沒有陰謀，巴西又怎能臨場失準輸給了法國呢？

球員半跪場邊，在胸前迅速劃了一個十字，然後用指尖親吻草地。接著他 起身奔向不可測的終局，只能相信自己已被球場祝福。

Gerrard's backpass isn't any news

Okay, every Man Utd fans blame Gerrard's backpass to Drogba which cost them 2 points behind Chelsea at the end.


However, Gerrard has already gifted the boy twice to Henry in year 2004. So, anything special?


(start at 0:55)


By the way, many players like to backpass. Another gift to Henry by a Wigan player.

(start at 1:20)

It's like watching your girl beloved being raped

It was helpless, powerless, and inresistible, have to await things happen. It's like watching your girl beloved being raped. Maybe it is lucky, as you found it is a handsome guy.

Not many sensible Arsenal fans would think Arsenal can aviod losing tonight. It is very brave for them to watch the match tonight.

Arsenal is not the same level as Barcelona. 4-1 (6-3 on aggregate) is a fair result.

Without the best defenisve midfielder and need to play Silvestre in the center, Almunia had another show against the best attacking team in the planet.

Bendtner's early goal brought us hope but bought Messi to the game at the same time. He finished the hat trick in the 1st half comfortably. One of those thanks to Silvestre, another thanks to Velmealen.

It is never gonna be a game. It is a attacking show by Barcelona. This show is even more one-sided after Cesc, Arshavin, Gallas, Van Persie, Song all missed the match. Barcelona should have scored 5 goals in the first 20 minutes at Emirates and rest the 2nd leg for the Spain derby. But they didnt and gave Arsenal the hope.

When Arsenal tried to resist in the 2nd leg, Barcelona punched them hardly. 4 goals at the end gave another bad memory to Arsenal.

Messi was in the wonderland.

Another injury time goal at St Andrews, yet again

We could not expect ManUtd to drop more than 4 points in the coming games. So, Man Utd is the champions. Go to bet.

Arsenal did not deserve to win tonight. Poor game even before Fabregas got injuried.

Everyone hoped the late goal by Nasri has won the game for them. The formula of Arsneal's victory is, a late goal, a just-win, another 3 points, then keep moving to the next game. The confidence of Arsenal was built up in this way, since the Stoke game. Unlike Chelsea and Man Utd who scores early goal against weak team and then play to rest, Arsenal loves to create danger to themselves and then try to show they can do it. So, they only not fight in the last 30 minutes.

That team of "One-Nil to the Arsenal" can win the title because of the back 5. That Champions league runners-up did not conceded goals as well. But Almunia-Sagna-Campell-Song-Clichy is not strong enough to avoid conceding goals. One-nil is not enough to win the game. But with Bendtner did not go for the high ball, Arshavin miskicked the ball at 6-yard, Nasri decided to pass at 5 yard, chance goes to Birmingham's way.

Fair result. And is fair if Arsenal goes third this season.

They are tremendous and scored lots of goal before RVP got injured. I said to my friends the offense of that Arsenal team can be compared with previous Arsenal team which Pires, Henry and Bergkamp plays. But since we lost the RVP as the targe man, evey game is difficult for Arsenal, no matter how the final result turned out. They are still playing short passes on the ground but the game is not as beautiful as before. The 2nd Porto leg is not only game that can be compared with earlier this season.

If you follow Wenger for some time, you would know it is normal. Wenger does not have plan B. This is the first season Arsenal adopt new formation, and it is good enough already. Winning the trophy with this team is a over-prediction.

Arshavin knows it.

Liverpoor could not test Man Utd

We all thought Man Utd-Liverpool is a tight game which probably have a big say in the title race. But we got disappointed.

Torres scored the 1st goal in 5th minute when he left the attention from Gary Neville, and then cannot perform like his normal. He "lost his character" before Rooney takes the panelty, and miss a wonderful goal-scoring opportunity in the 89th minute.

Liverpool is all about Gerrard and Torres. When one of either slip, Liverpool is liverpoor. This is the golden rule even team knows starting last year. And the magic also lost.

The defence of liverpool sucks. Carrangher is not as safe as he was and Agger is a jsut a fair central defender. Johnson and Reina is better in attack. Insua? too bad to mention despite he scored a wonderful volley against Arsenal in Carling Cup.

Liverpool's title hope this year was dismissed as early as 3 to 4 years ago. They are trying to resume their normal habit in the premier league, running for the 4th place. But I am sorry to say Tottenham and Man City this season are too strong for them.

Last time Liverool finished 5 is at 02/03 when they lost a key match against Chelsea at the end of season. Then, Chelsea got the place and Abramovich joined the Blues.

How many match bans given to Vermaelen?

How much more tests will be assinged to these youngsters?

- Big loss to ManUtd and Chelsea and then win against Liverpool to stay in the title race
- Ramsey broken legs at Stoke and win with last minute penality
- Bendtner wasted a stake of full chance against Burnley and scored a hat-trick 3 days later at Champions League
- Last minute winner at Hull
- A match that should win comfortabely turned out to be a penality and a defender off.

The next 3 league opponenets are Birmingham (A), Wolves (H) and Spurs (A).

If Vermaelen was handed 3 match ban, Arsenal will play for a draw at Spurs and fail if Spurs can keep their momentum.

Wenger is furious because Vermaelen is essential for Arsenal's defence. He is a more key player than Gallas. Fortunately Wenger preferred Song to Silvestre to partner Campell but this inevitably created a hole at defensive midfield. (Dont tell me Denilson is the one to fill in...)

The game against West Ham is divied into 2 parts, vur by the red card and West Ham's penalty.

Arsenal easily got their lead by Denilson goal but it is more credit to Bendtner in the 1st part of the game. He has the sense to set up the teammates like RVP, although his skill needs to develop. Arsenal's 4-3-3 is so dangerous early this season because RVP played what we call the "invicible 9" - the central striker distracts defenders and creates space for teammates to get into the box. Barcelone's Ibramhamovic is another example.

But their old poor habit keeps. They were so enjoyable to play their football and forgot the essense of getting the 2nd goal. They forgot they got a draw at Upton Park even getting a 2 goal cushion. Maybe the Barcelona draw boost their confidence and they want to show what they can do.

The penality is not a bad one to bring Arsenal's player back to the game. So lucky that Almunia saved it.

And so lucky that Wenger not caught after he makes his team defend so deep.Bendtner should stay with Diaby because Arshavin sucks when play in the center. Getting into deep allows West Ham to build up their attack. Lucky they cannot build and I think it is the same even one more is off.

Cesc did not as sharp as before he injuried. But we need to patient as it is only his first match back. We got too much tests this season and he knows he need to reserve the energy.

Well, let's enjoy going top for..less than 24 hours.

Let's stop imagine before things get better

Media tries to make things interesting. They starts to predict the run of next few weeks and make the champion will be decided soon. Fergurson wants to add pressure to a young team so that they cannot win their games confortably.

It is wasy to fancy Arsenal's title chance, but please keep the foot on ground.

We have still 8 games to go, same as Man Utd while Chelsea has 9. The champions will be decided on 9 May, about 2 months later.

I said do not think about it if we cannot win all 4 games in March. We struggled against Burnley and even harder to got the winner at Hull. It is good to get those big 3 points but they are just 3 points statistically. Without really lifting the title, they are not enjoyable.

It is always good to imagine about the success. Everythings are great and perfect, because you never include the hidden obstacles in your imagination.

Imagine is good to be the driving force, but it is too early to imagine now. One game can change everything. Try to think what the media could say if Bendtner cannot score the late late winner in Saturday? Gap widens between Arsenal and leaders? Arsenal out of title challenge again?

Maybe all the above are rubbish talking. I just don't have enough confidence on doing it.

Arsenal 10 - 2 Burnley (theoretically)

(From espn, soccernet.com)

Wenger may say, we could score 10 goals in this game.

Bendtner missed at least 5 full chances.

This Burnley victory is necessary for their build up of mental stength to face the title challenge, the Porto game, and for Ramsey's recovery.

Silvestre and Denilson played this game since Campell and Song missed the game due to injury and suspension. They should be the targets of boo-boys in Emirates but Bendtner finally spot the light ahead of them.

Walcott played poorly like midweek's international duty. But as Wenger says, he is a clever boy, he used the first 15 minutes in the second half to stop people's criticize. His 3 cross made 3 easy chances to Bendtner but none of his shot hit the target.

Last year, people said Adebayor needed 5 chances to score a goal, RVP needed 10, and Bendtner needs 100.

Wenger knows Bendtner's ability in front of goal. He preferred Arshavin to play in as the front man because of it. He was not angry when Bendtner was replaced. He told Bendtner to improve his finishing since last year. The fault is on Wenger that he did not buy another striker. He ideally thinks the team could created easy chance for Bendtner's standard to score.

Bendtner is good enough for Denmark but not good enough for Arsenal, at least at this moment.

The mental strength of Bendtner is also poor. He put his head onto his head whenever a chance was missed, much faster than he goes fo the second ball.

Densilson created many dangerous ball to his teammates as usual and Silvestre has not cleared a ball nicely. Vermaelen is excellent there as he played 3 positions in a match, not just the first time this season.

If Arsenal can still win games with Bendtner, Denilson, Silvestre in the squad, Arsenal are really serious to win the weakest ever Premiership this season.

Looked back the Birmingham match

I watched the highlight of Birmingham v Arsneal 2 years ago again. It is hard not to compare this match with Saturday's Stock v Arsenal.

Eduardo broke his leg at early moment. Every Arsenal player was shocked and hardly believe the fact. They were in a high tempo to win the league and got so many points with Eduardo's goals. They have just found their fox in the box and had to lose it.

A stupid freekick conceded just in front of the penality box and McFadden scored. No chance on Almunia's standard. The league leader was behind.

That young gunners had momentum. The Hleb-Flamini-Fabregas-Walcott midfield gave enough pressure to the opponent. Finally the wonderkid Walcott scores 2 goals in 6 minutes to complete the comeback. That Walcott was fresher and more dangerous than today's Walcott.

There were so many chances later for Arsenal to grab the 3rd goal. Adebayor preferred shot rather than passed to Bendtner, while Bendtner later missed his shot wide of the post.

It looked so likely to be 2-1 and it seemed a huge mountain has been climbed by the youngster.

During injury time, Clichy was suddenly out of mind in the penality box. Every other players awaited his clearance but he stupidly lost the control of the ball. Parnaby got the ball and got down even Clicky actually touch the ball. Penality.

The captain Gallas was so angry about the nonsense tackle. He cannot control his temper and tries to leave the pitch before the penality scored. He sat on the pitch and cried after the match.

We understand Gallas performed like that because he loved the club. But compare what Fabregas did last Saturday, you know who is a better captain.

Leaders cannot be emotional. They have to stand up whenever the team needs them.

Everyone said the stupidity of Clichy costed Arsenal's title. Can Fabregas' panelity made the miracle? Let'see.

Can Arsenal do it

Arshavin said after the Liverpool game in early Feb. "We may do the miracle to win the title if we won all the 10 remaining games."

After 2 weeks, Arsenal are only 3 points behind Chelsea and 2 behind Man Utd. Making the miracle is possible.

--

Yesterday night was minority of winning games that cannot be celebrated, with 19-year-old talent Aaron Ramsey broken his leg. This young team has enough experience on breaking leg on teammates. 5 years ago Diaby against Sunderland, 2 years ago Eduardo against Birmingham. Both are away games and also this time.

I watched both games live though internet. The scene were so similar. Both team players hold their hands on the head. Shocking faces, with tears. Vermelaen and Nasri were the players most shocked in face, as they haven't join the team 2 years ago.

Watched the replay and photos again, that would be a recoverable injury. The part would not be most connectice tissues and joint. Eduardo can be his tutor on mental recovery, even indeed himself has not yet recovered.
--

Everyone thought the Eduardo injury cost Arsenal the title 2 years ago. And I would also say the Diaby injury probably cost their Champions League 5 years ago. If the strong defensive Diaby was on the pitch in the final, Wenger would make one more substitution on Ljungberg or Hleb earlier the match before Barcelona equalize.

2 years ago, the team said they could win the title for Eduardo. But their failed, starting from the 90-minute panelity conceded by Clichy at St Andrews.

This time, can they continue their run after the 90-minute penality at Stoke?

I have said for many times, the rival of Arsenal this season is themselves. As Chelsea and ManUtd did not stronger than ever. Hope the Ramsey injury can give them the mental stength.

--

We will know soon, Arsenal can only make it if they can win all 4 league games in March: Burnley, Hull, West Ham, Birmingham. While Chelsea will face Villa and ManUtd wil face Liverpool.

Something from the FA Cup game - Stoke v Arsenal

As a gooner, I wanted Wenger to have a weak side against Stoke. And I predicted he will as he admire Fregie so much that he can rest his team ahead of the Champions League 1st round.

Defeated may not be any loss, since we have a Villa-ManUtd-Liverpool-Chelsea fixture behind, and a VanPerise-Bendtner-Nasri-Gibbs-Diaby-Merida-Sagna-Djourou-Wilshere injury list (Did I miss anyone?)

I just have a few notes to jot down.

(1) Fabianski will never come out for crosses, and he is never gonna be Arsenal's 1st goalie. When he failed the test against Chelsea last year in FACup, I was still hopeful. But now, sorry.

(2) Traore always trys to play as a winger at the left back position. He is headless at defense. That's why Wenger prefer Gibbs to him even Traore is senior than him.

(3) Vela yet to prove himself after his Carling Cup goals. Maybe he is a second striker rather than a winger. Maybe is the problem of his quality.

(4) Campbell is much better than Silvestre, still. As a cover of the 2 central marvellous defender, Campell is far from enough, judged by today's performance. Silvestre, please get away.

(5) Wenger is so ideal that he wants to beat a premier league side witha C side with Cesc. Coquelin as the right back, Thomas as the Central forward, Eastmond at the defensive midfield. Carling Cup team with Cesc. Rest Cesc if you don't ready to win the match. I was afraid he got injuried in the whole match!

Never trust Arsene's interview

If you keep reading Arsenal's news for more than a year, you will get this rule.

When Wenger is interviewed, he is talking to his players via the media, not to the media and the fans.

There is nothing you can get from his interview. There is no clues whether he buys or not, no real insight or plan in future.

Everything is in his mind as a secret.