News Roundup 1/25/10 - The Second Guessing Edition

Damn it! Pic via Guardian.

• More on Arsenal's elimination and Arsene Wenger's choices from the FA Cup: Wenger defends his squad selections, given injuries [Daily Mirror], and praised the peformance of Sol Campbell, despite his culpability on both goals of Fuller's brace [Guardian].
• Speaking of the Guardian, they blast Wenger for his selections, saying "It is to English football's credit that he didn't succeed [with an under-strength side]" and that "Arsenal got what they deserved." [Guardian]
• Vito Mannone has signed a new long-term contract. Please put more pressure on Almunia's spot. Thank you. [Arsenal.com]
• Philippe Senderos has completed his loan to Everton for the rest of the season. [Sky Sports]
• Arsenal are apparently favorites to sign teenager striker Victor Moses from Crystal Palace. [Telegraph]
• UPDATE: Cameroon falls to Egypt in extra time of their knockout round match at the Africa Cup of Nations. That means both Eboue and Song are done in the tournament. My hope is that Arsenal had a charter jet to take Song right back to the Emirates immediately after today's loss.
  

Ivory Coast 2 - 3 Algeria, a.e.t.

Welcome back, Emmanuel Eboue.

News Roundup 1/21/10 - The It Wasn't Just a Dream Edition

Someone call the whaaaaaambulance! Pic via Guardian.

• No, it was not a wonderful dream! We're still top of the league! With the FA Cup this weekend, we'll stay there unless Manchester United beats Hull City. Again, it could happen, if Boaz Myhill plays like he did at White Hart Lane this week. [Premier League]
• Injury update: Kieran Gibbs is out for the season, requiring surgery on his broken foot [Arsenal.com], Abou Diaby is out for a week with a calf injury and Bacary Sagna will sit for the cup tie at Stoke to rest a bad shoulder. [Arsenal.com]
• Owen Coyle compares William Gallas to Satan. Well, not exactly... [Guardian]
• Gallas will not be punished for his little stampy challenge. [Sky Sports]
• Quick transfer notes: Marouane Chamakh has promised to give Arsenal and Liverpool his decision [Daily Mirror], Everton is still interested in Senderos [Guardian], and Fulham has denied that they've spoken to Arsenal about Chris Smalling [ESPN Soccernet].
• Cameroon 2 - 2 Tunisia means Cameroon advances and Alex Song will not be coming back any time soon. Damn you, Tunisia, for blowing two leads! [Guardian]
  

In Other News...

Pic via Guardian and Crazy People Today Magazine.

...from Angola, Ivory Coast defeated Ghana 3-1 to book their place in the Round of 16.

Speaking of booking, Emmanuel Eboue was sent off. He also hurt his leg. Oh, Tinkerbell.

News Roundup 1/13/10 - The Stealing More Than a Point From Everton Edition

Listen Everton, if you think you can just come in here and draw against us, then we're going to get some revenge, so watch your back! Pic via Daily Mirror.

• The Daily Mirror exclusive reports that Arsenal has signed Brazilian attacking midfielder (and their 17-year-old U21 captain) Samuel Galindo, who had been training with Everton. See what Arsene Wenger will do when you steal points at the Emirates? [Daily Mirror]
  
• More on the return of Sol Campbell from last night's reserves win at Upton Park, courtesy of Reserves manager Neil Banfield. [Arsenal.com]
• Finally, an article that specifically says Cesc Fabregas is "100%" for Sunday's fixture at Bolton. But 100% what? Awesome? Recyclable material? Oh, healthy... well, good! [ESPN Soccernet]
• More transfer news: Rumors of a £35m deal for 22-year-old striker Mauro Zarate, formerly of Birmingham City and currently with Lazio in Italy, are false, says Lazio. Well, of course they're going to say that. They're going to say that up until the point where he's physically signed the contract. Or is on the plane to Heathrow. [Guardian]
• Africa Cup of Nations: Alex Song and Cameroon lost 1-0 to Gabon in a shocking upset, with Gabon's goal coming early in the match (16') and completely against the run of play. [Guardian]
  
• Injury Update: Denilson out Sunday at Bolton with his "abdominal injury", but with Fabregas back in, that's pretty much a direct substitution change from the line-up against Everton. But as a pleasant surprise, Gael Clichy is apparently available. [Arsenal.com]
  

Trying "Togo" back?

Thanks to Christian for pointing out this confusing video, which features Adebayor talking about the recent attack on the Togo football team...in an Arsenal shirt.



WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?! This Arsenal stuff is more confusing than Lost...

News Roundup 1/12/10 - The Return of Sol Edition

Campbell scores against F.C. Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League Final to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead. Let's pretend the rest of that game didn't happen. Pic via Gunners Today.

• Leading with this hilariousness, Harry Redknapp would basically prefer Arsenal's squad to his own at Tottenham, saying his squad has only one world-class player, while Arsenal has at least two. [Daily Mail]
• Arsenal's site conveniently posted a feature on their #15 greatest player of all-time, Sol Campbell... [Arsenal.com]
• ...though the Daily Mail reports that the site also accidentally announced his return to the squad prematurely. Arsene Wenger has spoken highly of the aging defender's fitness, so one hopes he doesn't have to borrow Patrick Vieira's mobility scooter any time soon. [Daily Mail]
• He's expected to play for the Reserves squad against West Ham tonight at Upton Park [Sky Sports]
  
• Fixture at home against Bolton has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 20 at 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. EST. Any guesses on why it'll be postponed this time? My money is on "unexplained power outage." [Arsenal.com]
  
• Injury updates: Gael Clichy should be back to training by next week, Nicklas Bendtner could be back in two weeks (best case is the FA Cup tie at Stoke City, I would think) so he should be fit for Arsenal's hellish stretch against Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool. No real update on Denilson, though it still stands that he and Cesc Fabregas will be fit for Sunday at Bolton. [Arsenal.com]
• Such continued disappointment... Arsene Wenger has again expressed his concerns over weather-related fixture postponements, with an inevitable pile-up coming for teams still involved in European tournaments. EVERYBODY PANIC!!! [Guardian]
• No Africa Cup updates today as both Arsenal players involved (Eboue for the Ivory Coast and Song for Cameroon) are off.
• Speaking of transfers, is Arsenal after Everton's Louis Saha? This makes two 30+ year old players the Gunners have been rumored to be close to signing. [Daily Mail, Guardian]
  

News Roundup 1/11/10 - The Tom Vermaelen Will Destroy You Edition

Oh, he was still with Ajax then. That makes more sense. Pic via Gunnerblog.

• After yesterday's "Optimist Twist," Arsenal center-back and bad ass Tom Vermaelen gives us the pessimist twist, telling the BBC, "We are still there [in the title race]. We remain in the top three and we have to be confident in our next few games. ... OK, we were not so good in the first half, we could not play our game and we conceded two stupid goals." Basically, he means, "if we play like that again, it's all over, and I will personally punch you all in the face." [Guardian]
• From that same Guardian article: No news on Denilson yet, though he insists he'll be ready for Bolton on Sunday. Fabregas is set to return from his hamstring problem as well.
• Arsene Wenger is very disappointed in the lack of progress on Fran Merida's contract negotiations. Oh, and you, of course. [Arsenal.com]
• Africa Cup of Nations Update: Despite a few opportunities, Emmanuel Eboue and the rest of the Ivory Coast squad were held scoreless in a frustrating match against Burkina Faso. [FIFA]
• No 700-year-old former Gunner Patrick Vieira for Manchester City as they host Blackburn Rovers in like 10 minutes. He's out with a calf injury. His mobility scooter is also broken. [Guardian]