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Arsenal Arsenal All The Way!

Haha, I started watching Arsenal, and football in 2000, and it's the best decision I made.

After all the " seasons in transition ", let's all pray that we'll win something BIG this year!

Gunners Wansui!
 
'Watch out Arsenal, these guys are high class'
Arsenal v Sevilla
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Wed, Sep 19, 2007, 7.45pm



By Chris Harris

It's difficult to have a conversation about Sevilla at the moment without mentioning Antonio Puerta.

The Spain international, just 22, died three days after suffering a heart attack in Sevilla's La Liga game against Getafe on August 25. The shadow of Puerta's death has loomed large over Juande Ramos' team ever since.

Sevilla's players have done their former team-mate proud on the pitch, outclassing AEK Athens in the Champions League qualifiers to advance to the group stage of the competition for the first time. Not that Sevilla lack pedigree - they have won back-to-back Uefa Cups and are arguably the biggest threat to the Spanish duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

We spoke to Spanish journalist Inigo Gurruchaga of El Correo ahead of Wednesday's eagerly-awaited Group H opener. Read on for his insight on Spain's reaction to the Puerta tragedy, Sevilla's meteoric rise, the men Arsenal need to watch at Emirates Stadium and the reasons why tomorrow night's game should be remembered for the right reasons.

Inigo, how much has Puerta's death affected Sevilla and Spanish football in general?

It depends because Spain is a country with a great variety of landscapes and cultures. In Seville there are processions at Easter where people are singing and wailing to the statue of the Virgin and wearing dark clothes. There is so much passion surrounding it and this is a great cultural event in Seville. You don't see that at all in other areas of Spain, for example in Barcelona, Madrid or Galicia in the north. The same has happened with the Puerta phenomenon because in Seville you see the emotions of a city expressed very publicly while in other parts of Spain people feel sad but they do not express themselves to the same degree. But obviously all across the country it is seen as a tragedy and a great loss.

On the pitch Sevilla seem as strong as ever after two convincing wins in Europe and two more in La Liga.

It was very traumatic in their first game after Puerta's death. I saw the pictures of the squad coming back from Athens and they were shaking because one of their team-mates had died. But it is a very cosmopolitan team so each player has different ways of dealing with their grief. There has been a certain seriousness about the players and when I saw them beat Huelva at the weekend the team didn't show they were in mourning. They were clinical, it was a very impressive display, despite having the Puerta tragedy hanging over them. They have played very consistently and played very high-quality football.

Sevilla have lost some big names in recent years, including Reyes and Baptista, but they have continued to improve. Why do you think that is?

There have been two phases in the birth of Sevilla. They were in the second division at the beginning of the century and Joaquin Caparros, now the manager of Atletico Bilbao, built a team from a very modest resources. He was managing the academy team and Sevilla had no money but he built a team spirit as well as a good team. They brought in good local players but they had an inner spirit. In that team there were players like Reyes and they were very impressive. They went up very quickly. What has been very clear is that Sevilla have a good scouting system because they pick up players who are not well known but become good team players for Sevilla.

Juande Ramos came to a project which had already been set up very well and was able to sign some very good players and gel them together in the same spirit of team play. In Seville and the south there is sometimes a culture of individuality, of extravagant displays and a lack of discipline, but these two managers have built a good team spirit and they have made Sevilla very successful very quickly.

Who are Sevilla's key men? A lot of their play seems to go through Frederic Kanoute in attack.

I am happy you mention Kanoute because I know he is a former Tottenham player but he really is a crucial player for Sevilla. I find him extraordinary, he is extremely difficult to defend against because he is fast, he has long legs. Maybe he does not have a great touch and sometimes misses opportunities, he is not a superstar, but he is moving all the time, he is always causing trouble for defenders. He gives so many opportunities to guys who play around him like Luis Fabiano. Maybe others will score more goals but Kanoute does some fantastic work.

Alves is one of the defining players of Sevilla, he is small, kind of a Speedy Gonzalez player. Their midfield against Hueva was so fast, even when the game was in their pocket they had so much pace and movement. They have some terrific players - Jesus Navas combines with Alves very well and they move the ball around very quickly. They certainly have strength in depth.

Sevilla like to attack, as do Arsenal. Can we expect an entertaining game on Wednesday?

It should be a good game. For me it is good news is that Javi Navarro is injured because I find players who have reputations for being hard men are not to my taste. They spoil the game. Navarro has a reputation as a tough defender who goes for the body of the player so I am happy he is out because there will be no nastiness. Both games play technical football after all. Possibly there is a question mark over Sevilla's defence without Navarro but Arsenal need to watch out because these guys play some high-class football.
 
Trio out so Wenger faces Gilberto decision
Arsenal v Sevilla
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Wed, Sep 19, 2007, 7.45pm



By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger has one decision to make ahead of the Champions League Group H opener against Sevilla at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsenal still have William Gallas (groin), Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) and Jens Lehmann (elbow) out. But the manager is mulling over whether to rest Gilberto now Philippe Senderos is back from suspension.

The Brazilian filled in at centre back against Tottenham on Saturday despite a globe-trotting week on international duty.

“We are still without William Gallas, Emmanuel Eboue and Jens Lehmann,” said Wenger. “I have not decided [about Gilberto] yet. I will decide tomorrow but Senderos is back in the squad.”

Gallas is to be expected back for the West Ham game a week on Saturday.
 
Holy shit Liverpool looked like a bunch of toddlers kicking a rubber ball around the pitch yesterday nite. It was painful to watch...........after Pennant got sent off i went 2 sleep....the worst game we've played in quite awhile. Meanwhile, AC was owning Benfica 2-0(at that time). As for Chelski........a draw with Rosenborg isn't bad...........waddaya expect......their Chelski after all!
 
HAHAHHA HELL YEAH FGL HELL YEAH!

Holy shit Liverpool looked like a bunch of toddlers kicking a rubber ball around the pitch yesterday nite. It was painful to watch...........after Pennant got sent off i went 2 sleep....the worst game we've played in quite awhile. Meanwhile, AC was owning Benfica 2-0(at that time). As for Chelski........a draw with Rosenborg isn't bad...........waddaya expect......their Chelski after all!

although chelsea were missing their main goalscorers - frank lampard and dider drogba, as well as claudio pizarro, yes, a draw against rosenborg was a really bad result but they totally dominated the match! unlike liverpool. 2 shot the whole game, and only 1 on target? yeah sure that one shot ended up in a goal. but 2 shots, coming from the team that supposedly plays beautiful football? please.
 
eek heh. i didnt watch the chelsea match. i'm not a chelsea fan lol. but i just dont like liverpool. 24000 only, at stamford bridge somemore. omg. absolutely tragic.
 
heh, by the look of the things, man utd should be able to beat chelsea la. but must see how man utd performs in ucl as well. lamps and droggie both quite doubtful for the man utd - chelsea clash! awesome! better if john terry breaks down in training or sth. MUAUHAHHA :twisted:
 
Match Report
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 7.45pm



Arsenal
3
Fabregas 27, Van Persie 59, Eduardo 91




Sevilla
0



By Richard Clarke

The battle of Europe’s most fluent footballing sides was emphatically won by Arsenal on Wednesday night at Emirates Stadium.

The pre-match hype surrounding this game had suggested Arsène Wenger and Juande Ramos were in charge of the most eye-catching outfits on the Continent so this would be a cracker. After a slow start, the game more than matched its billing.

Arsenal ran out worthy winners through a deflected drive from Cesc Fabregas in the 27th minute, Robin van Persie’s close-range effort just before the hour and Eduardo’s simple strike in injury time.

Not only did it seize the initiative in Champions League Group H but the manner of this victory will, no doubt, make the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.

It may be very early in the season but, on the strength of this performance, Wenger’s men are real contenders in 2007-08.

There were two changes to the side that had come from behind to beat Tottenham. Gilberto and Abou Diaby both dropped to the bench. Philippe Senderos came in at centre back for the former, Tomas Rosicky replaced the latter on the left of midfield.

Despite the hype, the opening was hardly a humdinger. Both sides prodded and probed each other with crisp passing but there was precious little to show for it. The only chance of the first 12 minutes was long-range drive by Jesus Navas that whistled just over the bar.

Just before the quarter-hour, Van Persie forced Andres Palop to paddle a shot wide. Almost immediately, Flamini fired low into the area and the goalkeeper spilled the ball in front of him, Adebayor could not quite convert the rebound.

In all honesty, up to this point the game was not living up to its exalted billing. It certainly was not a poor game, just not the crackling showpiece many had predicted. Both sides were perhaps all too wary of each other to display all their attacking potential.

As it turned out the opening goal was laden with irony. With all the vigour and endeavour among these 22 players it took an old-fashioned piece of unadulterated good fortune for Arsenal to go ahead.

In the 27th minute, Federico Fazio clumped a clearance straight to Alex Hleb on the right. He tapped the ball forward to Fabregas who let fly. His effort smacked off the back of Julien Escude and floated past the wrong-footed Palop.

The Spaniard was having an incredible season in front of goal. In six starts he had already exceeded his four goals from last season. It was possible that this one would go down as an own goal by the Frenchman.

Sevilla were rightly stung by the goal. They did not deserve to behind. However their response was only more of the same — frantic passing with no real end product.

Just past the half-hour, Rosicky tossed a corner into the area and the flying Toure nodded a miscued header across face of the Sevilla goal.

Just before the break Adebayor bombed down the left and bustled himself some space in the area. Unfortunately, he sliced his effort well wide.

That effort was sandwiched between long-range strikes from the visitors. The one from Navas was woeful, the one from Fredi Kanoute brought a fine full-stretch save by Almunia.

As the half had gone on, this game has started to heat up. Like so many Arsenal matches this season it had been fast, furious, fulfilling - and ended with Wenger’s side in front.

There were changes at the start of the second half. Striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov came on for Sevilla. Four minutes in, Rosicky came off for Diaby because of a hamstring injury.

Once again the start of the half was slow. The pace of the first period was still apparent but chances were relatively scarce. Arsenal were edging proceedings and it was no surprise to see them extended their lead.

Fabregas fired in a free-kick from the left, Bacary Sagna steered a header into the six-yard box and the unmarked Van Persie stabbed home from close range.

Sevilla should have hauled themselves back into the tie almost immediately. Daniel Alves whipped in a dangerous cross from the right but somehow a visiting leg failed to convert from yards out.

Sagna had set up the second and was starting to enjoy some space down the right. His floated cross saw the diving Adebayor flashed a header wide then a lofted ball was hooked goalwards by the sliding Van Persie.

By now Ramos had brought on the last of his two substitutes. The visitors were now chasing the game.

With 11 minute left, Sagna nodded clear from a dangerous cross by Navas. There were couple of minor scares in the closing stages but nothing likely to breach the Arsenal defence.

In injury time, Eduardo rounded off a flowing move with the third goal.

Wonderful stuff.
 
wenger's view

Arsene WengerArsène Wenger: 'We have to keep our feet on the ground'
Arsenal 3-0 Sevilla
Champions League Group Stage
Arsenal Stadium
Wed, Sep 19, 2007, 7.45pm



On a great start to the season...
"Yes, maybe a bit unexpected by you [the press], but to start well in the championship and to start well against Sevilla is nearly perfect, because we dropped two points. But overall I am very happy with the spirit, our display, and tonight we played against a very good side. We were maybe a little bit lucky on the first goal but overall in the second half I thought we controlled well the game up to 2-0, after Sevilla came back."

On a comfortable second half...
"We looked like never really being under threat in the second half. Maybe the 3-0 is a little bit harsh for Sevilla and a little bit flattering, you know? But it is like that when you are 2-0 up with five minutes to go, you know that Sevilla has to come out and you have a chance to score a third goal But overall we didn't conceed and we looked more mature tactically for ninety minutes than one year ago."

On improving further...
"Well, we have to keep our feet on the ground and believe we can improve in a lot of areas, we lost as well balls we shouldn't have lost, we were one or two times defensively not clean enough, so we can improve in all areas - but there is a real spirit in the team and that's fantastic to see."

On the form of Fabregas...
"It shows you as well how much confidence plays a part in the game because last year he couldn't score and suddenly he doesn't stop scoring. I knew it was in him but the confidence now allowed him to play - he looks as well stronger physically to resist the challenge if you compare with one year or two years ago, he's much stronger in the fight."

On the contribution of Flamini...
"I feel he has worked extremely hard today and has played a very good game, yes."

On another sellout crowd...
"I always said that I am amazed by the dimension of this Club and of the support of this Club. We are happy, first to have such a support, we have a big responsibility to keep these people happy, you know? We try and at the moment we manage to do that and of course that is the real dimension of the Club - the fans. We want more! We want more support, more fans, I hope that one day the managers and the next board will extend this stadium and build 100,000 on the roof!"

On the injury to Rosicky...
"We have bad news for Rosicky because he is a player I like to have in the side and he has done his hamstring again tonight. I don't know yet [how serious it is], we have to wait 48 hours, but he will be out at least two weeks."
 
what a bloke - Moan-rinho walking outta chelski on the eve of the man u game...

roman in charge - CHALAT LA CHELSKI...
 
2 thumbs up to AFC for that extremely convincing win. Predicted score on saturday: AFC 10 Rams 0. And FINALLY that jealous, egoistic, ever-moaning and self-praising LOSER Mourinho has left. I hope he goes on to succeed fergie at Man U. :twisted: :twisted:
 
sia la.... no more mourinho, no more funny remarks.

the last funny one i heard before mourinho was ferguson's remark about dishonest italians and pasta under the sauce... now with fergie getting old, mourinho gone, we'll be getting boring interviews... NO MORE CONTROVERSIES

Come on la, much as all you guys hate him, you got to admit that fella is probably the most colourful manager in the league.
 
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