Arsenal 2 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur: Dominant Arsenal v. Complacent Arsenal

What the hell are you doing, Cesc? Pic via Daily Mail.

Arsenal 2: Nasri 9, Chamakh 27

Tottenham 3: Bale 50, van der Vaart 67 (pen), Kaboul 85

Lest I fly into a bitter rage, something for which 6:30 a.m. on a Monday morning is far too early, I'm going to keep this recap short, for obvious reasons. After last week's win at Goodison Park, I said there were two Arsenal teams on display. There was Dominant Arsenal, who controlled the play and scored two beautiful goals. And then there was Complacent Arsenal, who got too lackadaisical at the back, conceded late, and was forced to hang on for dear life. Against Everton, Dominant Arsenal built up a lead for a long enough period of time that Complacent Arsenal wasn't able to blow it. That was not the case on Saturday.

Laurent Koscielny returned from his suspension to slip in for Johan Djourou in central defense (Koscielny then proceeded to pick up his fifth domestic yellow card of the season, which I believe will bring on another one match ban and force this switch again next Saturday) and Denilson got the start over Jack Wilshere in one of the holding roles.

This match was, clearly, a tale of two halves, but what a beauty of a first half that was, wasn't it? For the first 45 minutes, there was only one team on that pitch and they were wearing red. Nasri's goal from the byline took forever to roll across that line and Chamakh's side footed deflection of Arshavin's cross was pretty cheeky, but both were beautiful. Arsenal was unable to go for the jugular, however. Cesc Fabregas missed a brilliant chance to make it three when the Spurs defense parted like the Red Sea for him, then Chamakh was clear through on goal before inexplicably stopping and looking around for help. It should have been at least 3-0 by halftime and the dagger would've been more firmly planted.

Spurs made a tactical switch at halftime by playing more compact in the center of the pitch, knowing how hard it is to beat Arsenal wide. Lucky for them, Complacent Arsenal came out for the second half and put up one of the worst performances in years. What the hell happened at halftime? Did they all get prematurely drunk in celebration? (If every blogger on the Internet is going to come up with an excuse for what happened in the final 45 minutes, I may as well have my reason be utterly preposterous.)

As soon as the comeback began for Spurs, even while still up 2-1, Arsenal looked immediately incapable of handling the pressure. The porousness of the back four, and the ease with which they become lackadaisical at times, led to Gareth Bale's goal just five minutes after the restart. From there, Arsenal looked unable to win this game. Spurs looked deadly on every counterattack. The holding midfielders were no longer winning everything at the halfway line. Dominant Arsenal never left the dressing room after the interval.

And then, the build up to the equalizer. Alex Song whistled for a foul, leads to a free kick in a dangerous area, and Arsenal sets up a pretty good sized wall. Rafael van der Vaart takes the kick and Cesc Fabregas inexplicably, while standing in the box, lifts up his arm to block it. He got away with this at the end of last year's 1-0 win against Liverpool at the Emirates when Howard Webb didn't see it hit his arm. But that time, he at least wasn't standing in the box and it would've just been another free kick. This was just plain stupid. Van der Vaart's penalty was taken perfectly and suddenly it was 2-2.

Arsenal looked like they had a winner a few minutes later, but the assistant was correct, as the play from Robin van Persie's free kick saw at least two players blatantly offside. I don't remember many specifics about Kaboul's winner five minutes from time, as I refuse to watch the replays, and also, we all did shots immediately afterward.

So, where do we go from here? Well, Braga tomorrow, for starters. But on the whole, if Complacent Arsenal still exists and shows up from time to time, then this is not a title-winning side. And that flat out comes down to leadership. Tom Vermaelen, come back soon.

Hipster Gooner Man of the Match: Rafael van der Vaart

Preview: Arsenal v. Tottenham Hotspur

Fabregas and Van Persie scored 11 seconds of playing time apart last year. Pic via Daily Mail.

Emirates Stadium, London

Saturday, November 20

12:45 GMT, 7:45 a.m. EST

• Referee: Phil Dowd
• This Match, Last Year: Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham
• All-Time in All Competitions: 69 Arsenal wins, 51 Tottenham wins, 44 draws
• Arsenal's Recent Form: W-W-W-L-W-W
• Tottenham's Recent Form: W-D-L-L-D-W

Predicted Line-Up

guesses in red

Fabianski

Sagna - Koscielny - Squillaci - Clichy

Song - Wilshere

Nasri - Fabregas - Arshavin

Chamakh

Subs from: Szczesny, Djourou, Gibbs, Eboue, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner, Van Persie

Out: Diaby (ankle), Almunia (elbow), Vermaelen (Achilles), Ramsey (broken leg)

Arsenal News and Notes

• The round of international uselessness, and the accompanying delay in players returning to the club, means we won't have a solid idea about the injury situation until tomorrow, so check back then for an update on this.
• Jack Wilshere, who dropped from the England squad with a muscle problem in his back that I believe he picked up at Everton on Sunday, faces a fitness test tomorrow.
• Andrei Arshavin, Samir Nasri, Lukasz Fabianski, and Johan Djourou all played the entirety of their respective useless matches. Bacary Sagna played 87 minutes, which is practically the entirety.
• Marouane Chamakh played 70 minutes and scored a goal, Kieran Gibbs played 72, and Emmanuel Eboue played 53 minutes.
• Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, Robin van Persie, and Theo Walcott all played one half.
• Arsenal have won five out of their last six league fixtures for the first time since a six match winning streak in February-March.
• A win would make this Arsenal's third three match winning streak in the league this season.

Tottenham News and Notes

• Jermain Defoe (ankle) has made an early return to training.
• Arsenal reject David Bentley (calf) is doubtful.
• Potential retuns include Robbie Keane (ankle), Aaron Lennon (hamstring), though Giovani dos Santos (groin) might be a week away.
• Michael Dawson (knee) and Jamie O'Hara (back) are out until December.
• Tom Huddlestone (ankle) just underwent surgery and is out for 12 weeks.
• Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate (both groin) have no return dates set.
• I'm making a point of not mentioning a number of historical statistics surrounding this match, in fear of jinxing them.

Match Facts

• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We are the Tottenham haters.

The Referee

• The referee is Phil Dowd.
• Dowd last took charge of an Arsenal match for their 1-1 draw at Sunderland, in which Alex Song was sent off and Darren Bent equalized after an absurd amount of added time. Bad memories.
• The only Spurs match he has worked this year was their 1-0 loss at home to Wigan. Good memories.
• This is his first North London derby.

Around the League

• Saturday: Birmingham City v. Chelsea; St. Andrew's, Birmingham
• Saturday: Blackpool v. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Bloomfield Road, Blackpool
• Saturday: Bolton Wanderers v. Newcastle United; Reebok Stadium, Bolton
• Saturday: Manchester United v. Wigan Athletic; Old Trafford, Manchester
• Saturday: West Bromwich Albion v. Stoke City; The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
• Saturday: Liverpool v. West Ham United; Anfield, Liverpool
• Sunday: Blackburn Rovers v. Aston Villa; Ewood Park, Blackburn
• Sunday: Fulham v. Manchester City; Craven Cottage, London
• Monday: Sunderland v. Everton; Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Carling Cup: Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 4 Arsenal, a.e.t.: Worth Every Extra Minute

Henri Lansbury's first Arsenal goal came at White Hart Lane. Legend. Pic via Guardian.

Tottenham Hotspur 1: Keane 49

Arsenal 4: Lansbury 15, Nasri 92 (pen), 96 (pen), Arshavin 105

I don't think there is anything more satisfying then watching a North London derby that ends with fans streaming towards the exits as fast as they can at White Hart Lane, while the Arsenal section goes mental.

Arsene Wenger, watching from the director's box while serving a one match touchline ban for using the wrong method of getting Martin Atkinson's attention on Saturday, made eight changes to the side that drew at Sunderland, which actually resulted in a surprisingly strong side for a Carling Cup tie. Then again, it was the North London derby. Lukasz Fabianski was given his eight billionth second chance in between the sticks. Johan Djourou was given the chance, as expected, at center half along with first team regular Laurent Koscielny. Emmanuel Eboue and Kieran Gibbs played right and left back, respectively. Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri, and Denilson started in midfield; Tomas Rosicky, Carlos Vela, and the young Henri Lansbury started up front.

Only three of those were changes from the starting XI on Saturday; Denilson and Rosicky came off the bench on Saturday and started today; Lansbury was the only reserve to crack the line-up, shocking for an Arsene Wenger managed Carling Cup squad, but typical for a North London derby in any competition.

Arsenal controlled possession early, but could not muster much out of it for the first ten minutes. In the 11th, the Gunners had their first shout for a penalty, but nothing was called by Lee Probert as Lansbury was tripped just inside the area by Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Probably should have been a penalty, but the first contact from the Cameroonian defender was just outside the area. Still, it was a missed foul in a dangerous spot.

That didn't matter much four minutes later as the Gunners struck first, in lovely fashion. Major credit on the goal goes to Jack Wilshere, who played an absolutely perfect cross along the six-yard box, where only the sliding Henri Lansbury could knock it into the net. It was the first Arsenal goal for the lifelong Gooner from Enfield in his first start.

Arsenal had two chances later in the first half flagged for offside. The first call was borderline, the second, blatantly wrong. Kieran Gibbs was through after another superb ball from Wilshere and maneuvered around the goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa as well before everyone realized the linesman's flag was (wrongly) up. The match remained 1-0 at halftime, with Arsenal having controlled most of the opening 45 minutes.

Tottenham made two substitutions, bringing on Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon, and switched to a 4-4-2 and a more convincing attack line-up, and it worked in four minutes. Robbie Keane, ridiculously offside, was allowed to play on after a through ball and fired a low shot which squeezed just through the arms of the diving Fabianski and into the net. It was a hard hit ball, no doubt, and I know we can be rough on Fabianski because of his hundreds of thousands of errors in the past, but I sincerely feel that he should have had that shot and that Almunia would have had that shot.

Spurs' new found attacking style lasted for about seven minutes before it was all Arsenal again, but the Gunners could not find a go-ahead goal in normal time. In the 62nd, Carlos Vela headed a cross wide. In the 70th, Tottenham had their best chance for a winner as Aaron Lennon was through on goal, but Koscielny slid in with a perfect tackle to deny him. Arsenal brought on Marouane Chamakh and Andrei Arshavin in the 73rd minute to go for the win.

Lansbury was booked for a challenge in the 83rd that marked the first time in a long time that I actually clapped for a booking; this was the kind of "yeah, I'll take a booking to deny a scoring opportunity" kind of challenge that you like to see every once in a while. Two minutes later, looking for a brace, Lansbury whipped a shot that, while stopped comfortably, was one of Arsenal's best looks at goal since their opening goal.

The final minutes of normal time really seemed like a winner was coming for Arsenal. Denilson hit a 22-yard rocket in the 89th that was only palmed down by Pletikosa, but Samir Nasri could not get a foot to the rebound. It was a situation fairly reminiscent of Nicklas Bendtner's winner at Hull City in March, with a little more traffic in front. A free kick from Wilshere in the 90th flew past everyone until finding Djourou on the back corner, but his header could not be directed on goal and was cleared. Two minutes later, Eboue had a deflected look at goal, but there would be no regular time winner for anyone and the match headed to extra time, with every nerve in my body shaking.

Spurs kicked off extra time, but within thirty seconds, it was a penalty to Arsenal. Samir Nasri took a through ball from Arshavin and was taken down by Sebastien Bassong to set up the penalty. Nasri's strike was not the best (but on goal, unlike Rosicky's on Saturday), but the keeper guessed wrong, and Arsenal led 2-1. It was high enough that it would have been saved had Pletikosa guessed right.

Then, three minutes later, another through ball from Arshavin and another penalty to Arsenal, as Chamakh was hauled down by the arm by Steven Caulker. Nasri's penalty this time was perfectly along the ground to a corner, Pletikosa guessed wrong again anyway, and six minutes into extra time, it was 3-1 Arsenal.

As Spurs fans raced for the exits, Arsenal grabbed a fourth; this time, the through ball was to Arshavin and into the net, from Wilshere. Spurs nearly pinged one back from a corner in added time of the first half of extra time, but Robbie Keane flick on goal was stopped on the line by Nasri.

Then, this Spurs fan child cried.

Tottenham clearly appeared like they no longer wanted to be there for the final 15 minutes, as Arsenal passed the ball around, savoring a 4-1 win at the Lane and another round to maybe draw a weaker side and play some more youth in late October.

Oh, the down side. Of course, there's a down side. Kieran Gibbs left hurt, and might have re-broken the metatarsal he hurt last November that kept him out for pretty much the rest of last season. How about that. And the third string left back, Armand Traore... he's out on loan. And the first string left back, Gael Clichy, has probably been the weakest link on the back line this year.

But, anyway, happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. 4-1 win at the Lane.

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v. Arsenal, Carling Cup 3rd Round

David Rocastle scored the winner in the 1987 League Cup semi-final replay at WHL. Pic via Arsenal.com

White Hart Lane, London

Tuesday, September 21

19:45 BST, 2:45 EDT

• Referee: Lee Probert
• Last League Match: Tottenham 2 - 1 Arsenal; April 14, 2010
• All-Time in All Competitions: 68 Arsenal wins, 51 Tottenham wins, 44 draws
• All-Time in League Cup: 5 Arsenal wins, 3 Tottenham wins, 3 draws
• Arsenal's League Form: D-W-W-W-D
• Tottenham's League Form: D-W-L-D-W

News and Notes

• Official word on Cesc Fabregas's scan will come tomorrow, but he has said "2 weeks" on his Twitter account. There's nothing that actually confirms that that Twitter account is authentic, but his sister is following him and they look so alike it's insane. That's enough proof, right?
• Alex Song, who was sent off for two yellow cards on Saturday, gets to serve his one match ban in this cup tie, a match he was never going to appear in anyway. How fortunate!
• Predicting the Arsenal squad for this match is even more difficult that normal and not because of Arsene Wenger's reliance on youth in the Carling Cup. Even considering that, Arsenal's injury woes don't stop at the first team. Injuries will likely keep Conor Henderson and Havard Nortdveit from appearing.
• Reports indicate that Wenger will only name three reserves to the starting XI tomorrow, those being Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Henri Lansbury, and Craig Eastmond. That's fewer than one would expect.
• That means it's Lukasz Fabianski in goal and not Wojciech Szczesny.
• You can bet on seeing a few of the first team's bench players getting starts; including Fabianski. This means Johan Djourou will almost certainly start. Carlos Vela should start up front with JET. Kieran Gibbs will probably start, as might Emmanuel Eboue and Denilson.
• With Thomas Vermaelen returning from injury this coming Saturday, Wenger might even start Sebastien Squillaci at center back with Djourou.
• I'd expect a squad of similarly surprising strength coming from Tottenham.

Match Facts

• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We are the Tottenham haters.

The Referee

• The referee is Lee Probert.
• Last year, Probert worked Arsenal's 3-1 win over Birmingham City at the Emirates and their 0-0 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
• For Tottenham last year, he worked only their 1-0 home loss to Stoke City.

Other Carling Cup 3rd Round Ties
(P = Premier League, C = Championship, L1 = League One, L2 = League Two)

• Tuesday: Birmingham City (P) v. Milton Keynes Dons (L1); St. Andrew's, Birmingham
• Tuesday: Brentford (L1) v. Everton (P); Griffin Park, London
• Tuesday: Burnley (C) v. Bolton Wanderers (P); Turf Moor, Burnley
• Tuesday: Millwall (C) v. Ipswich Town (C); The Den, London
• Tuesday: Peterborough United (L1) v. Swansea City (C); London Road Stadium, Peterborough
• Tuesday: Portsmouth (C) v. Leicester City (C); Fratton Park, Portsmouth
• Tuesday: Stoke City (P) v. Fulham (P); Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
• Tuesday: Sunderland (P) v. West Ham United (P); Stadium of Light, Sunderland
• Tuesday: Wolverhampton Wanderers (P) v. Notts County (L1); Molineux, Wolverhampton
• Wednesday: Aston Villa (P) v. Blackburn Rovers (P); Villa Park, Birmingham
• Wednesday: Chelsea (P) v. Newcastle United (P); Stamford Bridge, London
• Wednesday: Liverpool (P) v. Northampton Town (L2); Anfield, Liverpool
• Wednesday: Scunthorpe United (C) v. Manchester United (P); Glanford Park, Scunthorpe
• Wednesday: West Bromwich Albion (P) v. Manchester City (P); The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
• Wednesday: Wigan Athletic (P) v. Preston North End (C); DW Stadium, Wigan

News Roundup 8/30/10 - The Fracas Edition

Since there are very few official details about this incident, how about we just all jump to ridiculous conclusions? Pic via Guardian.

• Jack Wilshere was arrested in the early morning hours on Sunday for being involved in a "fracas" during which a woman suffered a broken and dislocated elbow. He was released on bail and is "unlikely to face charges." It appears he was attempting to be a peacemaker but remains an important witness. [Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sky Sports]
• Arsene Wenger invoked the name Ryan Shawcross in a press conference on Thursday, not in reference to last year's Aaron Ramsey incident, but in reference to Stoke City's tactics of bumping the goalkeeper, saying it was turning the game into rugby... [Arsenal.com]
• ...and in a preposterous overreaction, Stoke manager Tony Pulis has decided to lodge a formal complaint to the FA, in a statement which for absolutely no reason contains references to World Wars I and II. [Sky Sports]
• Wait? Let me get this straight... Inter Milan submitted a transfer bid for Cesc Fabregas that was less than the first insulting bid Arsenal turned down from Barcelona? This story doesn't even make sense. Tabloid fodder? [Daily Mail, Daily Mirror]
• Armand Traore might be loaned to Birmingham or Juventus. [Sky Sports, Daily Mail]
• Arsenal has drawn Tottenham away in the third round of the Carling Cup, to be played the week of September 20. Arsenal will likely play reserves, as they do in this competition. I expect Tottenham to play their standard line-up. This means Tottenham will probably win, brag about it until the first league meeting in November, and release a special edition DVD of the match the following morning. Poor predictable Spurs. [Guardian]

News Roundup 8/9/10 - The Idiots Keep Talking Edition

Twitchy, one of his forwards, and some a-hole from Barça all have things to say today. Pic via The Sun.

• We'll start with news though: A Daily Mirror exclusive links the Gunners with a possible loan move for Manchester City's Shay Given, since the Irishman is about to lose the #1 job at Eastlands to Joe Hart. While amazing if it happens, and slightly more plausible than the Pepe Reina rumor on Saturday, I honestly don't think City is stupid enough to give a rival one of their two talented keepers. But who knows, they could be... [Daily Mirror]
• Jermain Defoe honestly thinks Tottenham Hotspur can do better than Arsenal in European competition. Look, I don't want to get into the whole UEFA coefficient thing in detail, but Spurs are pretty much guaranteed to have a more difficult path to get out of the group stage than Arsenal will. [ESPN Soccernet]
• Harry Redknapp is totally flabbergasted that Fabio Capello called up three Arsenal players for England's friendly with Hungary on Wednesday who were not originally chosen for South Africa. He jokes that since Jack Wilshere was called up without a Premier League start in his career, Arsenal must be better than the English team. Despite his intentions, he's right. [Daily Mail]
• Did you think that the Cesc Fabregas saga was over? You're wrong! Because the media is still talking to Xavi! Today's gem: "Maybe he'll come in January when Arsenal are out of the Premier League title race. Their team is just not competitive." Hilarious delusion: appearing daily out of the Nou Camp. [The Sun]
• Blond-braided right back Bacary Sagna likes the idea of signing Emir Spahic for cover at center back. At least someone does. [Daily Mail]
• Reports are that Hull City has won the race to sign "excess to requirements" forward Jay Simpson. I'll never forget that brace he had against Barnet last month. [Daily Mirror]
• Did you like all of those goals on Saturday? Well, the Arsenal Ladies won their friendly yesterday 14-0. No mercy! [Arsenal.com]
• An idiotic round of useless international friendlies which is sure to set back Arsenal's training about three weeks or so begins tomorrow.
• Programming notes: We'll talk about those friendlies a bit tomorrow, have a last look back at last season on Wednesday, a look forward to this season as a whole on Thursday, and our preview of the first match at Liverpool on Friday.

Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal: Are We Tottenham in Disguise?

Pic via Guardian.

Tottenham 2: Rose 10, Bale 47

Arsenal 1: Bendtner 85

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!?

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal Liveblog

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v. Arsenal, Line-Up Updated

Cartoon via Studs Up.

White Hart Lane, London

Wednesday, April 14

20:00 BST, 3:00 p.m. EDT

• Referee: Mark Clattenburg
• This Match, Last Year: Tottenham 0 - 0 Arsenal
• All-Time in All Competitions: 68 Arsenal wins, 50 Tottenham wins, 44 draws
• Arsenal's Recent Form: W-W-W-W-D-W
• Tottenham's Recent Form: W-W-W-W-W-L

Predicted Line-Up

guesses italicized

Almunia

Sagna - Campbell - Vermaelen - Clichy

Rosicky - Denilson - Diaby

  Nasri - Bendtner - Walcott

Subs from: Fabianski, Silvestre, Traore, Eboue, Vela, Eduardo, Van Persie

Out: Song (knee) Fabregas (leg), Arshavin (calf), Gallas (calf), Ramsey (leg), Gibbs (foot), Djourou (knee)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Arsenal have had a week off following their crash out of Europe last Tuesday.
• Even with the long layoff, Arsenal's injuries are generally so long term that the only potentially expected return to the line-up for this match would be Alex Song, who is still dealing with inflamed cartilege in his knee, suffered against Wolves.
• However, Robin van Persie may return to the bench Wednesday, if Arsene Wenger deems him fit enough after training tomorrow.
• Should Sol Campbell feature, it'll be his first game at White Hart Lane since 2005. Campbell left Spurs for Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001.
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League matches.
• If Arsenal wins all five of their remaining games, they will finish no worse than 2nd in the Premier League, after Manchester United's 0-0 draw at Blackburn yesterday.
• A win for the Gunners makes it St. Totteringham's Day. With a win, Arsenal will be assured of a better record than Tottenham at season's end.

Tottenham News and Notes

• Perennially injured Spurs captain Ledley King is confident he could return to the line-up Wednesday. He has not played since February with a thigh injury; he's battled knee problems throughout his career.
• Niko Kranjcar suffered an ankle injury on Sunday and will not feature in the derby.
• Aaron Lennon is back in training after sititng out with a groin injury, but is also not expected to play.
• Wilson Palacios is serving the first of a two match ban for accumulation.
• Spurs are four points adrift of Manchester City in fourth (the final Champions League qualification spot) with a game in hand (which is this game.)
• Tottenham have lost two straight across all competitions; falling 3-1 to Sunderland then 2-0 to Portsmouth in the FA Cup Semi-Final.
• Prior to this, Spurs had won five straight in the league and had gone unbeaten in nine across the league and FA Cup. 

Match Facts

• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We are the Tottenham haters.
• Tottenham Hotspur have not beaten Arsenal in the Premier League since a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane on November 7, 1999. Arsenal have won 11 times since, 9 matches were drawn.
• Arsenal won the first meeting between the two teams this year on Halloween, 3-0 at the Emirates. Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas scored in quick succession just before halftime (the goals were separated by 11 seconds of actual playing time.)
• The referee is Mark Clattenburg. This year he officiated the first meeting between Arsenal and Spurs, in addition to Arsenal's 4-2 loss at Manchester City, their 2-0 win over Stoke City, and their 2-1 FA Cup win over West Ham. He was the only official to grant Arsenal a penalty kick during the "Eduardo embargo" which went on for 36 matches after the Croatian was accused of simulation against Celtic in the Champions League playoff.

News Roundup 4/9/10 - The Dramatic Return Edition

Here's Robin van Persie, with two guys who don't play for us anymore. Pic via some random wallpaper site.

• Arsenal.com came out with a great interview with head physio Colin Lewin, on the team's rash of injuries this season. Here's what we learned:
• Cesc Fabregas will be able to play for Spain in the World Cup.
• Aaron Ramsey will make a full recovery and be back by autumn.
• Defenders Johan Djourou and Kieran Gibbs will resume training soon...
• ...as will Robin van Persie!
• Here's more on van Persie's return from the Guardian. The Daily Mirror suggests that van Persie could return to action Wednesday at Tottenham, given how crucial the match is for Arsenal's title hopes. It's not like a tabloid would ever exaggerate, right? My assumption would be that he'd return on the 24th against City, maybe next Sunday at Wigan if he's lucky. The last time we rushed a guy back from injury, Gallas re-injured himself in 40 minutes and is done for the year and France is pissed. Learn from our mistaken gambles or go all in? 
• Strong words from the blond dreadlocks: Bacary Sagna says Arsenal "plays too much" and is more concerned as a team about playing pretty rather than winning. Considering the source on this article, ESPN Soccernet, I'm sure they've twisted things to blow it out of proportion.
• The Daily Telegraph blames the Premier League's "culture of debt" on their crashes out of Europe before the Champions League Semi-Finals. Actually, it was Bayern Munich's president that said it. Again, grains of salt available for those interested.
• Hey look, transfer rumors! Of course, nothing is official until the window opens in the summer, but here's some more from the Daily Mail on Marouane Chamakh's move to North London. I know they're a tabloid too, but there's a quote from Chamakh about the move.
• More from the Telegraph, this time on Arsenal's well-documented need to buy central defenders in the summer. Actually, I'm totally comfortable with Silvsetre. If this wasn't text, you'd realize that I can't say that with a straight face.
• Nicklas Bendtner and Manuel Almunia on how important it is to rebound from Tuesday's loss with a win at Spurs.
• That match at Spurs on Wednesday will be broadcast in 3D by Sky Sports. Arsenal has lost all one of their matches that have been broadcast in 3D. I don't like those odds.

Boaz Myhill: Honorary Gooner, Again

Thank you, Boaz Myhill
For helping Arsenal
You really have the skill
To frustrate teams with Hull

Before, you shut out Spurs
And held Chelsea to one
How rarely that occurs
The race is not yet won

Pic via Metro.

On January 16, Arsenal fans were delighted to see Boaz Myhill keep a clean sheet as Hull City surprisingly earned a 0-0 draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Today, an even bigger result, as Hull stifled Chelsea to a 1-1 draw. Instead of having an eight point lead going into this Sunday's match at Stamford Bridge, the lead is just six.

This once again proves my theory that nobody wants to win the Premier League this year.

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]