Best Players in the World: Who’s #5

Posted on August 29, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Europe | Leave a Comment

While Ronaldo, Kaka and Torres are undeniably three of the best goal scorer’s in the world, if I were starting a squad from scratch and could have any player in the world, I would likely select my choice for the #5 best player in the world:

Cesc Fabregas.

Why would I want Fabregas, who has only scored 14 goals in 138 caps for Arsenal, over his more prolific contemporaries?

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Nasri Lifts Arsenal to Win

Posted on August 16, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League | Leave a Comment

Samir Nasri did not disappoint in his first match against Premiership neophytes West Bromwich Albion.  Beset by key injuries, Arsenal faded in the second half of the 2007-2008 campaign.  Several new additions this summer will hopefully allow supporters to forget about the likes of Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva as the Gunners make a run at the title.

The 21-year-old Frenchman struck early at the Emirates Stadium to the delight of the home crowd.  The left midfielder, who came over from Marseille for 12 million pounds, joins midfielders Amaury Bischoff and Aaron Ramsey as the additions to Arsène Wenger’s youthful squad.  Mexican international Carlos Vela also returns after spending time on loan in Spain most recently with Osasuna.

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Arsenal Kids Beat FC Twente

Posted on August 13, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Champions League | Leave a Comment

A very young and inexperienced Arsenal team beat FC Twente in Holland 2-0 in their Champions League third round qualifier on Wednesday. Second half goals from captain William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor have Arsenal well positioned for the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on August 27th.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger was without Cesc Fábregas, Abou Diaby and Amaury Bischoff because of injury and Alex Song because of his presence at the Olympic Games. Injures to midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri further complicated things.

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EPL Preview Week 1

Posted on August 9, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd., Premier League | 1 Comment

A look at the first week of action in the English Premier League

Arsenal  v  West Brom: What a welcome to the Premier League for the Baggies. Arsenal at the Emirates in the sun on a prefect playing service. Scott Carson will be busy in this one as Arsenal romp to an easy win. - Buy Arsenal - West Bromwich Albion Tickets

Bolton  v  Stoke City. This will be an interesting meeting between two teams I expect to be around the relegation zone all season. Opening ties can throw up some upsets and I think that Stoke might be able to steal at point at the Reebok. - Buy Bolton Wanderers - Stoke City Tickets

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Real Madrid Adds Another Dutchman to the Mix

Posted on August 5, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Europe, La Liga, Man Utd., Premier League, Real Madrid | 1 Comment

The La Liga outfit now sports four Dutch internationals after today’s official announcement concerning the acquisition of midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.  The 25-year-old has penned a five-year contract.  Along with winger Arjen Robben, forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, midfielder Wesley Sneijder, and youngster Royston Drenthe, Real Madrid looks prepared to field an Oranje-centric squad.  Sneijder, Robben, van der Vaart, and van Nistelrooy all factored into the Netherlands performance at Euro 2008.  Sneijder was named to the Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament.  The foursome also accounted for five goals this past  June.

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English Premier League Preview - Part 4

Posted on August 5, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd., Premier League | 1 Comment

Fourteen days to go until the opening of the English Premier Season. It promises to be an enthralling season Premiership going in 2008-2009. So far we have looked at the likely relegation battle candidates, at those teams who are destined to be middle of the table and the UEFA contenders.  Today we will look at the big four who will be competing for Premier and European glory this season.

With the transfer window still four week away the prospects for many teams will rise and fall on how is added or leaves between now and then. But with the current rosters, this is how I see the battle for the Premiership going in 2008-2009.

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European Transfer News

Posted on July 15, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Barcelona, Europe, La Liga, Liverpool, Premier League, Real Madrid | Leave a Comment

Beleaguered ex-Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras has made a permanent move to SPL side Celtic.  The 23-year-old Greek international joined City for £6million in January 2006 yet failed to find his niche with the Premiership club.

Also from the Manchester City front, boss Mark Hughes will move his attention toward acquiring several more players to bolster the squad now that the tabled £25.5million offer for Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho looks unlikely to be accepted.

In Serie A news, Juventus has signed Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen from Sevilla to a four-year contract.  The transfer cost the Italian club £7.8million.

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Top 5 Pre-Season Games

Posted on July 9, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Europe, Liverpool, Man Utd., Real Madrid | Leave a Comment

Pre-season is Europe is right on top of us and I was thinking today that if I had an unlimited budget what pre-season friendlies would I want to see. These are the five that I came up with.

August 1st - Celtic - Tottenham Hotspur - Port of Rotterdam Tournament. Anytime it is an England vs Scotland match-up the atmosphere is something special even when the game is played in Holland.

August 2nd. Manchester United v RCD Espanyol - Solskjaer Testimonial: Man United first home game since winning the European Cup will make this an extra special event. I am sure the Cup will make its way around Old Trafford. - Solskjaer Testimonial: Manchester United - Espanyol Tickets

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Lots of Questions For Arsenal

Posted on July 9, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal | Leave a Comment

Arsenal’s first pre-season friendly is a couple of weeks away but I thought it was a good tie to look at how the upcoming season is shaping up for Arsenal. It has been anything but quiet at the Emirates this summer with Mathiue Flamini and Jens Lehmann leaving on free transfers. Flamini leaves a huge hole in the midfield that Aaron Ramsey is not going to fill.

I know that there is still a month to go until the Premiership kicks off, but off the big Arsenal have a lot of question marks next to their name.  The Gunners are by some distance the most vulnerable of the Premier League’s Big Four and are facing the distinct possibility of not finishing in the top four this season!

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Looking ahead to preseason

Posted on June 18, 2008 - Filed Under Arsenal, Barcelona, Europe, Man Utd. | Leave a Comment

The release of the Premier League schedule for 2008-2009 reminded us that the new season is just around the corner. Many teams in Europe will be reporting back for pre-season training in a couple of weeks, especially those with Champions League Qualifiers to navigate.

Europe’s giants are talking different approaches to this years pre-season games, with several of the them being involved in high-profile pre-season tournaments.

The best pre-season tournament is the Emirates Cup at Arsenal. The tournament takes place the first week of August and the four teams are Arsenal, Hamburger SV, Juventus, and Real Madrid. Will the Emirates Cup mark the debut of Cristiano Ronaldo with Real Madrid?

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