International Gunner Watch - It's Just a Sprain!

Walcott left on a stretcher, but it's not as serious as it looked. Pic via Daily Telegraph.

Here is your international recap for Tuesday:

Turkey 3 - 2 Belgium

Tough loss for Thomas Vermaelen and Belgium, who are now falling farther behind in Group A qualification. Daniel van Buyten had a brace for Belgium, who led 1-0, then equalized 2-2 in the 70th before Arda Turan won the match for Turkey in the 78th. Belgium have not been in the Euro tournament since 2000 (as hosts;) they last qualified under normal circumstances in 1984.

Russia 0 - 1 Slovakia
Andrei Arshavin and Russia dropped points at home to Slovakia after Miroslav Stoch won the match for the away side in the 27th minute.


Bosnia 0 - 2 France
France got a much needed win in Sarajevo today, their first under manager Laurent Blanc. Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Abou Diaby played all 90 minutes.


Switzerland 1 - 3 England
After setting up Wayne Rooney's opening goal, Theo Walcott was stretchered off the pitch with a nasty looking ankle injury... but thankfully, the Arsenal international curse didn't take full effect. It looked like a break at first, but reports state that it's actually just a sprain. Fabio Capello asked Theo "two weeks?" regarding the length of his injury and Walcott's response was "less." Kieran Gibbs did not feature.


Czech Republic 0 - 1 Lithuania
Milan Baros missed a penalty that would have equalized in the 40th minute, and Tomas Rosicky and the Czech Republic are off to a bad start.


Argentina 4 - 1 Spain
Karma continues to torment Pepe Reina for his little Barcelona shirt stunt. Cesc Fabregas played 56 minutes for Spain in their friendly. It was only Spain's third loss since 2006.

Carlos Vela and Mexico hosts Colombia tonight in another friendly.

U21: England 3 - 0 Lithuania
Jack Wilshere returned to the fold as a substitute after being withheld from Friday's match after his focus had slipped due to his involvement in... some sort of fracas... Wilshere was a catalyst for the Three Lions, ensuring their qualification, which looked to be in danger entering the weekend.


U21: Italy 1 - 0 Wales
Italy finished top of their group, thanks to another clean sheet from Vito Mannone.

International Gunner Watch - France Lost Again!?

Belarus won. In France. Pic via ESPN.

Here's your Friday recap of international matches involving Arsenal players:

Belgium 0 - 1 Germany
Thomas Vermaelen played all 90 minutes for the Belgians, who lost thanks to Miroslav Klose's 51st minute goal.


Andorra 0 - 2 Russia
Andrei Arshavin played all 90 minutes as well, as Russia picked up a brace from Pavel Pogrebniak. In this qualifying match for 2008, Arshavin was sent off.


France 0 - 1 Belarus
Things just aren't getting better for France's national team, are they? Clichy, Sagna, and Diaby played all 90.



San Marnio 0 - 5 Netherlands

Robin van Persie's hurt, of course, but the Oranje didn't seem to need him.

England 4 - 0 Bulgaria
Theo Walcott was not quite in the form he has been in with Arsenal lately; Jermain Defoe picked up a hat trick at Wembley, but Spurs center back Michael Dawson left with what looked like a serious knee injury. Kieran Gibbs did not feature.

Liechtenstein 0 - 4 Spain
Cesc Fabregas played the second half; Fernando Torres and David Villa each had a brace.

UNDER-21's:

Portugal 0 - 1 England
Jack Wilshere did not appear off the bench, but Daniel Sturridge's goal kept England alive.

Ukraine 2 - 2 France
Now on loan Armand Traore was not named in the squad for France's draw, which eliminated them from qualification.

Bosnia 0 - 1 Italy
Vito Mannone kept a clean sheet as Italy stayed alive in Sarajevo.

Finland 2- 0 Poland
Poland was eliminated; Wojciech Szczesny was not named in the squad.

International Gunner Watch - Euro Qualifiers, Round 1

Qualifying for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship begins this week, which means a number of Arsenal players will be out on international duty during this, the first international break of the 2010/11 Premier League season. Of course, not all of Arsenal's international players are European; in fact, only nine of the 17 Gunners on international duty this weekend will be participating in Euro qualifiers. Four more will be playing for Under-21 European squads, while four will be playing in African Cup of Nations qualifiers. All this, and Carlos Vela in a Mexican friendly...

FRANCE: Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, and Gael Clichy
Four Gunners went to South Africa representing France and three came back (*coughGallasisatraitorcough*) ... Samir Nasri could have been named to this weekend's squad had he not been injured and Sebastien Squillaci, Arsenal's newest signing, was not named to Laurent Blanc's squad.

France is in Group D of qualifying, up against Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Albania, and Luxembourg. France will host Belarus in Saint-Denis on Friday, then travel to Sarajevo to play Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.

ENGLAND: Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs
England is 12-0 when Theo Walcott plays while Kieran Gibbs has earned his second call-up. Jack Wilshere was dropped to the U-21 squad, so more the peacemaker later. England is in Group G, with Switzerland, Bulgaria, Wales, and Montenegro.

England hosts Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday and will play Switzerland in Basel on Tuesday.

SPAIN: Cesc Fabregas
Those Barcelona players get another chance to tap-up our captain this week, which is just fan-frickin'-tastic. Spain is in Group I with Rosicky's Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania, and Lichtenstein. Spain will play Lichtenstein in Vaduz on Friday, but with only five teams in the group, the World Cup champions will not play on Tuesday. Maybe that means we get Cesc back in training sooner, please?

CZECH REPUBLIC: Tomas Rosicky
As mentioned in the above paragraph, Rosicky's Czech Republic are in the same group as Spain. They will have off on Friday, then on Tuesday, they'll host Lithuania in Olomouc.

BELGIUM: Thomas Vermaelen
Belgium and their captain Vermaelen do not have an easy trip into the Euro 2012 as they are in Group A with Germany, Turkey, Austria, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. Belgium will host the Germans in Brussels on Friday night, which would be a huge win. Tuesday, they travel to Istanbul to play Turkey.

RUSSIA: Andrei Arshavin
Arshavin and the Russians missed out on a trip to the World Cup in the final play-off round of qualifying but are in Group B here, along with Slovakia, Ireland, Macedonia, Armenia, and Andorra. Russia starts with Andorra in Andorra-la-Vella on Friday, then hosts Slovakia in Moscow on Tuesday.

ENGLAND U-21: Jack Wilshere
Recently arrested Jack Wilshere has been dropped from the senior squad to the Under-21 squad (though, that's not related.) In their U-21 qualifiers, they'll play Portugal in Barcelos on Friday, then host Lithuania in Colchester on Tuesday. These are the last two U-21 qualifiers, with that tournament being held in 2011. England is second in Group 9, behind Greece. England could be eliminated with a loss to Portugal.

FRANCE U-21: Armand Traore
Traore, now on loan to Juventus, will play with France's Under-21 squad as they play the Ukraine in Kiev on Friday and Malta in Amiens on Tuesday. France is in third in Group 8; they'll be eliminated with a loss to Ukraine or a draw if Belgium picks up at least a point against Slovenia.

ITALY U-21: Vito Mannone
I'm not sure if Mannone starts for the Italian U-21 squad. I do know that he's 22 years old now. Italy is third in group 3. They'll play Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo on Friday and Wales in Pescara on Tuesday.

POLAND U-21: Wojciech Szczesny
Our young future #1 keeper is in group 4, where Poland sits in third place as well, behind Holland who have already qualified and Spain. Poland will play Finland in Pori on Friday and Spain in Grodzisk Wielkopolski on Tuesday. Poland will be eliminated on Friday if they don't beat Finland or Spain wins against the Netherlands.

It looks like all four of these Under-21 teams could be eliminated by the end of the week.

IVORY COAST: Emmanuel Eboue
Ivory Coast are in Group H of 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, along with Benin, Rwanda, and Burundi. The Elephants will host Rwanda on Friday in their first qualifier.

CAMEROON: Alex Song
The Indomitable Lions are in Group E with Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mauritius. Cameroon in this round will play Mauritius in Curepipe on Saturday.

MOROCCO: Marouane Chamakh
Morocco is in Group D with Tanzania, Algeria, and Central African Republic. The Lions of the Atlas will host Central African Republic in Rabat on Saturday.

MEXICO: Carlos Vela
It's a friendly for Carlos Vela and Mexico. They'll play Ecuador in Guadalajara on Saturday.

International Gunner Watch - Useless Friendly Time!

Damn you FIFA, who cares about this round of friendlies, anyway? Pic via Internet News.

Well, here we go again. The Premier League campaign starts in just four days for most teams in England (five for Arsenal and Liverpool and six for Manchester United and Newcastle United.) Euro 2012 qualifying doesn't start for another month or so. So, what better time for FIFA to arrange a mess of international matches that don't count!

Let's assess the damage for Arsenal. 14 Gunners have been selected in this round of pointlessness including 12 first team members. Arsenal does dodge a few bullets in certain circumstances, especially with the much maligned French World Cup team left behind and Robin van Persie and much of the Netherlands World Cup squad omitted as well. Anyway, here are the players you should be praying return to North London in one piece:

Emmanuel Eboue and the Ivory Coast will get their friendly out of the way pretty much faster than everyone else. Of the 12 first team Gunners involved in this round, only Eboue plays today; the rest play tomorrow. Not only is that fortunate for the team trickster, but their friendly against Italy is also being played in London, at West Ham United's Upton Park.

Cesc Fabregas and the World Cup winning Spain squad will be getting back together again, where they will all likely attempt to brainwash him into joining Barcelona. They'll be playing against Carlos Vela and Mexico in the 105,000 seat Azteca Stadium. Every time Carlos Vela plays a friendly at home in Mexico, it seems like it takes him two weeks or more to recover from the resulting jet lag. Hopefully Fabregas can handle the time differences a little better, otherwise I fear we won't even see Cesc in red and white for a month.

England named three Gunners in their squad for their Wembley Stadium friendly against Hungary; all of whom were of course left behind for the World Cup: Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, and Theo Walcott. As much as I'm excited to see these guys outperform all of the Spurs, United, and Chelsea players that crashed out of South Africa, I just hope the notoriously bad Wembley pitch doesn't cause any damage.

With a trip to Anfield looming around the corner, the team obviously needs Andrei Arshavin ready to terrorize the Reds as he has in the past (to the tune of five goals in two matches. I am not going to stop reminding you all about that.) Arshavin was held out of the Legia Warsaw friendly with a slight muscular problem, so we may need to hope extra hard that Russia's friendly with Bulgaria in St. Petersburg doesn't do any further damage to our Diminutive Ridiculous Facial Expression Maker.

Samir Nasri was left out of France's World Cup catastrophe but has been recalled for this week's friendly with Norway in Oslo. Every French player that was in South Africa has been left behind for this one, which is honestly great news for Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, and Gael Clichy. This is also fairly good news for Nasri, who is keen to rebound after a difficult campaign last year. You can tell the fire to succeed is in him this season, and that's exciting.

Thomas Vermaelen is the only Arsenal defender recalled by his national team, which makes sense, since he's Belgium's captain. They'll play Finland in Turku, the Official Christmas City of Finland. Speaking of international defenders, Laurent Koscielny has declared his intent to play for France rather than Poland.

Speaking of Poland, Lukasz Fabianski has been called for their match against Cameroon (who will not feature Alex Song.) Tomas Rosicky is with the Czech team in Latvia and Marouane Chamakh makes his first international appearance as a Gunner as Morocco plays Equatorial Guinea in Rabat.

Two Gunners will also plays friendlies with their country's respective Under-21 sides: Henri Lansbury with the English U-21's against Uzbekistan in Bristol today and Vito Mannone with the Italian U-21's against Denmark tomorrow.

Safe travels to all!

Friendly: Neusiedl 1919 0 - 4 Arsenal: The Sheet's Still Clean

SC Neusiedl 0
Arsenal 4: Walcott 28, Emmanuel-Thomas 30, Chamakh 51 (pen), Vela 65

Quick notes again as I could not watch this one either:

• It appears to have been another comfortable win for the Gunners, who have outscored opposition 11-0 in three pre-season friendlies.
• Arsenal appeared a bit sluggish at the start, but cruised once the cobwebs were shaken.
• Walcott and Emmanuel-Thomas scored two minutes apart to give Arsenal a 2-0 cushion at the half.
• Marouane Chamakh scored his first goal in an Arsenal shirt, scoring from the penalty spot after he was pulled down in the box.
• Carlos Vela added his first of the pre-season on a chip shot.
• Manuel Almunia made his first appearance of the summer and got the start...
• ...but it was second half substitute Vito Mannone that stopped a penalty after Havard Nordtveit handled in the area. 

So far, there have been no tremendously tough tests for Arsenal this July, but AC Milan will come to the Emirates on Saturday for the Emirates Cup, followed by Celtic on the second day (who themselves will be in the middle of a Champions League qualification tie, the first leg of which is tomorrow.)

News Roundup 5/5/10 - The Mistake of the Year Edition

Blackburn managed to get the ball and Fabianski into the net on their second goal Monday. Frankly, that should be two goals. Pic via Daily Telegraph.

• We've all been running this piece over and over again in our heads this season, but today's Daily Telegraph actually goes through and lists all of Arsenal's goalkeeping mistakes from this season. There are five from Manuel Almunia, two from Vito Mannone, and an astonishing six in four games from Lukasz Fabianski, and that's if you count only the "dropping it right on Bramble's head" equalizer from the loss at Wigan. [Daily Telegraph]
• Though, Sol Campbell thinks Fabianski would benefit from more regular playing time. That will, however, take several years off my own life. Thanks, Sol! [Sky Sports]
• Speaking of Campbell, there are reports of a new one-year contract in his future. [Times]
• Marouane Chamakh confirms that he snubbed Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to join Arsenal on a free transfer next season. The Gooner Chant Machine is in full spin now. [Guardian, Daily Mirror, ESPN Soccernet]
• Guardian reported yesterday that Arsenal is indeed interested in Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has been on loan at Birmingham City this season... [Guardian]
• ...but Manchester City will not part ways with Hart while Shay Given is injured (thanks, Diaby, for your innocuous shot that might have apparently ruined our transfer dealings somehow) unless they themselves have already signed a replacement, perhaps in the form of Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon... [Daily Telegraph]
• ...but there are Buffon-to-Arsenal rumors swirling as well. A move to England seems plausible, based on interviews with Buffon lately, in addition to the fact that Juventus has failed to qualify for next year's Champions League. [Guardian]
• Bolton manager Owen Coyle would like Jack Wilshere back again on loan next year. [Sky Sports, Times]
• And now, what you've all been waiting for: WAGs modeling national team kits! It features Gael Clichy's wife in France's kit. [Daily Mail]
• REMEMBER: City hosts Spurs at 2:45 Eastern today, 7:45 in England. A draw seals up third place for Arsenal. A City win makes it still mathematically possible to be caught on goal difference, but highly unlikely.

Birmingham City 1 - 1 Arsenal: Déjà Blue

 Kevin Phillips scored the 250th goal of his club career to derail the Gunners title hopes. Pic via BBC.

Birmingham City 1: Phillips 90+2
Arsenal 1: Nasri 81

For the second time in three years, Arsenal's bid for the Premier League title has been derailed at St. Andrew's. Two years ago, Eduardo's horror injury and an injury time penalty allowed the Blues to steal a point from the Gunners. Yesterday, Arsenal lost two points again at Birmingham, blowing a one goal lead in injury time. I don't really feel like watching the highlights of this one to provide a comprehensive recap, so here are some bullet points.

• It was not surprising to see Alex Song start at center back, in place of the suspended Thomas Vermaelen. Song had a solid game on the back line, as he had in the second half last week.
• It was surprising to see Arsene Wenger's choices at midfield. It's not out of the ordinary for Arsenal to play a 4-5-1 if injuries or suspensions force their hand. It is odd to me that both Samir Nasri and Andrei Arshavin were relegated to the bench. Tomas Rosicky had a solid match in his start, but Theo Walcott did not.
• Arsene Wenger said he would not make choices for his squad based on the thought to rest players for Wednesday's Champions League tie with Barcelona, but it seriously felt like Nasri and Arshavin were left on the bench for exactly that reason.
• Howard Webb had a terrible game as referee. Perhaps I'm biased, and to be fair, Webb helped us in the past by not calling Fabregas's handball at the end of the 1-0 win over Liverpool in February...
• ...but I feel like Alex Song gets booked on his first challenge of every match for no reason, and Gael Clichy's booking was just idiotic. The only possible foul there was obstruction; without contact, it's hard if not impossible to justify a card...
• ...why did it take Webb ages to whistle a foul on Abou Diaby that negated Arsenal's opening goal?
• ...why didn't Webb call a foul on the knee high tackle that injured Cesc Fabregas? The questions about Webb's choices could just keep going.
• I am partially of the opinion that, while I love Fabregas's determination to stay in the game, there were stretches of the first half where his knee injury appeared to be detrimental to the team on the pitch. He seemed to play through it better in the second half.
• Arsenal had several chances to make this match 2-0 and put three points in the bank after Nasri's goal in the 81st. Nasri probably should have had a brace, but elected to pass to Arshavin instead, who botched the chance. Arshavin has been quite off lately, so perhaps I should take back what I said earlier about his appearance on the bench.
• I don't want to watch the replay of Phillips's injury time equalizer, coming at 91:01. From what I recall, it was Bacary Sagna who failed to clear, and it was Manuel Almunia who failed to control the ball. Try to catch it next time, Manuel; don't lamely tap the ball upwards in the air so its backspin lets it land in your own net.
• Once at least third place is assured, if the title is completely out of reach (likely in a few weeks' time), I'd like to see Vito Mannone get another chance in goal.

Okay fellow Gooners. It's time to regroup and get ready for a huge clash with Barca on Wednesday. Iniesta is out for Barcelona, so there's some luck there on that front. Hopefully Cesc will be fine.

Keep the faith!

Champions League: Porto 2 - 1 Arsenal: Well, That Answers That Question

Lukasz Fabianski stares deep into the net, as he's only just started ruining the game at this point. Pic via Guardian.

Porto 2: Varela 11, Falcao 51
Arsenal 1: Campbell 18

I'm kinda glad I get to use the "disasters" tag I created yesterday. Oh wait, no, I'm pissed... Also, I got to create this "total idiocy" tag.

Hey, remember that time yesterday when we said, "Almunia's absence will prove that either his time is past or that he's the best we've got." And then I also said "Fabianski ... hasn't exactly covered himself in glory in big games past." Yeah...

Lukasz Fabianski left Gooners all over the world screaming at their televisions after two horrendous blunders led to two F.C. Porto goals in a 2-1 Arsenal loss in Portugal tonight. Let's analyze them, shall we!

First goal: Yes, Varela gets around Clichy, which isn't surprising, but then hits a weak low cross that Fabianski hits the ground to handle. But, instead of catching it, it bounces off his hands and careens to his left. Into the net. Varela was given credit, but that's generous. That was an own goal all the way.

Arsenal was very shaky at the start; perhaps not surprising given the number of injury-forced changes in Arsene Wenger's side. It was a lot like the start at Standard Liege in September, except it was 1-0 in 11 minutes and not 2-0 in 5 minutes. Minor victory?

Arsenal pulled one back seven minutes later, scoring off a corner kick, when big Sol Campbell got above the rest of the pack to head one home. There's that height Arsenal has been lacking on set pieces all God-damned season long!

From that point on, both teams decided they had no desire to play defense. Arsenal blatantly missed the services of Alex Song as a holding midfielder, as Denilson and Abou Diaby did not get the job done in stifling the Porto attack. The rest of the first half was wide open, swinging back and forth like a pendulum, but no goals were scored, and things sat 1-1 at halftime.

That would not have been a bad result for the Gunners, with five new injuries, on the road. Things would be even going back home for the second leg, with an away goal to boot.

Oh, but Fabianski wasn't done. In the 51st minute, Sol Campbell tapped the ball back to Fabianski, who inexplicably picked the ball up with his hands. Brutal mistake to begin with, to set up an indirect free kick for Porto in the box. I've mentioned before that with time to set up a wall, those kicks never work. Instead, Arsenal decided just to let Porto score, essentially...

Fabianski handed the ball to the referee, turned, and argued about the call to the assistant referee on the near touchline. Arsenal's defenders walked slowly back into the box. The referee put the ball down as the Gunners continued arguing and walking. Tap, shot, 2-1 Porto.

Casey and I had a short discussion about this immediately afterward. Was it unsportsmanlike for Porto to take a quick kick? I said no. It's on Arsenal to pay attention and get back in position. It's on Fabianski or Campbell to stay near the ball and not let Porto shoot before they're ready. It's on Fabianski not to let this situation happen in the first place! Just a brutal mistake and a heartbreaking result.

Arsenal found themselves off the pace for a while after the goal, had a few chances, but never took a shot on goal, as far as I remember in the second half. Tons of headers over the bar. Tons of corner kicks that sailed over everybody. No major threats from the Gunners.

So, now, the second leg at the Emirates on March 9. Arsenal has an away goal in their pocket and a goal to make up on aggregate. Not a disastrous result, in terms of fixing this in the second leg. But oh, what a painful match it was.

FYI, I'd prefer to see Mannone start against Sunderland on Saturday.

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.