THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2

Ooh...something tells me that FGL thinks I'm a dude :cool:

MY SECRETARY SUPPORTS POOL

EVERYONE HERE CAN TELL YOU WHO I SUPPORT ...
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AI YAH - WHETHER U DUDE OR DUDETTE OR OTHERS .. NO PROBLEM ... LET THE FUN & GAMES COMMENCE

but if u r a duddete - ahem - PM me pix & personal details etc ... :-)
 
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Arsenal


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Middlesbrough









official

  • Referee
    Chris Foy



By Richard Clarke

For the second successive weekend, Arsène Wenger has Chelsea in his sights.

Last Saturday, it was a direct match-up; Guus Hiddink’s side outgunning Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley.

This Sunday, Middlesbrough are the opponents but Blue is
still very much the colour.

Wenger may have a Champions League Semi-Final just over the horizon yet he argues that the difference between fourth and third place in the Premier League will be “massive” in terms of next year’s competition.

And Chelsea are the team he has to catch.

In previous seasons, the Premier League’s top two went straight into the group stage and the lower ranked pair of the quartet had to qualify, albeit with the advantage of seeding. As a result, in the last two terms, Arsenal have had to get past creditable but beatable opponents in Dinamo Zagreb and Twente.

Next year it could be much tougher. This season’s third place team go straight into the groups but the fourth team will be subject to an open draw of all qualifiers.

Wenger is acutely aware that a bit of bad luck could leave Arsenal facing an early-season fight just to lay down one of the foundation stones of his season.

That is why he is desperate to reel in Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge side are six points ahead with just five games to go, but one of those is a visit to Emirates Stadium.


Wenger could not hoodwink Hiddink last weekend but he feels he may just be able to reel in Chelsea down the stretch of the season. The Frenchman knows he needs to.


“Yes, it is much harder for us if we finish fourth,” admitted the Arsenal manager at Friday’s press conference. “We have absolutely to focus on finishing third because then you are guaranteed a place in the Champions League.

“In fourth it's an open draw. You can take in Valencia, anybody, so it might be very difficult for us.

“I don’t really see this change as especially good. Sometimes this position can be decided by one goal on goal difference between the two teams. But, as a result, one will be completely in the Champions League while the other one is not.

“I felt it was better before. The champion and the vice-champion [went through automatically] and positions three and four would go through qualifiers. For me it looked more logical because there was a difference.

“But now it is a massive difference between third and fourth. So we’ll target Chelsea because they are in front of us.

“The first immediate target is Chelsea and we have a good chance to do that.”

Arsenal ambitions will be helped by the possible return of three players on Sunday.

“Djourou (knee) might be available,” said Wenger. “He has a final test tomorrow, Almunia (ankle) as well. Adebayor (hamstring) is back in the squad but he has a test tomorrow morning. Van Persie is not available and of course the other injuries – like Gallas and Clichy – are not back. Robin will definitely miss the first leg of the Champions League Semi-Final too.”

That game with Manchester United will loom large at Emirates Stadium this weekend. Undoubtedly Wenger’s pursuit of third is sincere but his squad juggling for Sunday will indicate just how much resource he is prepared to throw into it.

Relegation has been haunting the North-East sides in recent months and Middlesbrough fans have been more scared than most.

Gareth Southgate’s side have won just two of their last 21 Premier League games, and failed to score in 11 of the last 16. They are three points adrift of safety and, tellingly have scored the lowest amount of goals in the Premier League – 25. Everyone else has at least got into the 30s.

That said, Middlesbrough beat Liverpool at the end of February and Southgate is unbeaten in his last five games against Arsenal.

“They are always difficult,” conceded Wenger. “They are a good side who made a bad start in the season.

“Because they are a young side, the lack of confidence has given them a big problem this season. But I believe they are a good team, they have a good young promising manager and the future will show that.”

For now, Wenger’s future is all about Sunday and next Wednesday. They can look no further.

A safe, injury-free and traditional 1-0 to the Arsenal would do just fine.

It will put pressure on Chelsea and clear the way for Manchester United.
 
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2

Arsenal


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Middlesbrough





  • Fabregas 26, 67

tally for the season as Arsenal prepared for Old Trafford in fine style with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday.

The Spaniard had just one strike to his name before Gareth Southgate’s side arrived at Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

However Fabregas plundered goals from Andrey Arshavin’s cut-back in the 26th minute and Emmanuel Eboue’s incisive ball midway through the second half to give his side a straightforward victory against a relegation-haunted side.

The latter effort ended both the game as a contest and the Arsenal captain’s participation this afternoon.

Before the game could kick-off again, Wenger withdrew Fabregas and Theo Walcott. It was clearly a move made with Wednesday’s Champions League Semi-Final first leg at Manchester United in mind.

This result means Arsenal are a racing certainty to be involved next term, at least in the qualifying round. The gap to fifth-place Villa is now 10 points with only 12 left available this season.On current form, you’d expect them to make mathematically certain next weekend at Portsmouth.
Wenger’s men have now not lost in the Premier League for 20 games, more than half a season, and they have not conceded a goal at home in their two main competitions since December 21.

This was simple, straightforward and hardly taxing - the perfect prelude to a massive week.

Emirates Stadium was bathed in brilliant sunshine for this lunchtime kick-off. Marvellous May weather is so often the backdrop for crucial matches in the season – and this would be another of those occasions.

Fourth place now seemed pretty certain for Arsenal after Aston Villa’s draw and Everton’s defeat on Saturday. However Wenger wanted third and Chelsea’s win at West Ham had put the Stamford Bridge side nine points ahead in the Premier League table. This was Arsenal’s only game in hand - a win was pretty much essential.

The manager’s team selection smacked of considered rotation. Certainly there were no obvious ‘rests’ ahead of the Champions League Semi-Final first leg on Wednesday.

Wenger brought in Manuel Almunia, Eboue and, for his 100th game, Walcott; pushing Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna and Alex Song down to the bench. Of course, Middlesbrough had ample incentive themselves. A win would take them out of the relegation zone and, like Arsenal, they had Manchester United next up.

They could not afford to be overawed by anyone at the moment. And, in fairness, they weren’t.

In the opening seconds Tuncay skipped through on the right only for the backtracking Samir Nasri to steal the ball from him on the edge of the area.

After that though, Arsenal took over. In the eighth minute Denilson slid a pass into the path of Walcott in the right-hand channel. However Robert Huth roared back and timed his block to perfection. Eboue nodded over from the corner.

Around the quarter-hour, Kieran Gibbs and Arshavin both tried to bundle their way through a crowded area. Each time their eventual shot was blocked.

At the start of this season, you would have been pleased enough Arsenal’s opening but, at the same time, you would be harbouring some concerns that they could be caught out. However in recent months Wenger’s men are worthy of much more confidence and the opening goal this afternoon was typical of their current brio.

In the 26th minute, Nicklas Bendtner’s clever back-flick diverted the ball to Fabregas in the centre circle. His raking pass sent Arshavin scuttling clear on the left. The Russian reached the area and bided his time for his captain to catch up. Once he had, the 27-year-old laid on the perfect pass for the sliding Spaniard to rifle home.

It was only the second goal of the season for Fabregas. The other had denied another North-East side, Sunderland, the full three points in the final seconds at The Stadium of Light back on October 4.

Arsenal’s tails was now up – and there are few more beautiful sights in football than Wenger’s side with a lead on the scoreboard and confidence flowing in their veins.

Just past the half-hour, Walcott fired across the face of the area and inches wide of the far post. Then Arshavin appeared on the right and cut the ball back for Toure who took a centre back’s slash at it and the opportunity went begging.

Before that Middlesbrough had a creditable claim for a penalty when Stewart Downing’s corner appeared to hit the arm of Bendtner.

Up until the 43rd minute, the visitors had not created a single chance – on or off target. But they would put that right in fine fashion. Downing let fly from outside the area and Almunia had to dive full-length to prevent his low effort creeping inside the near post.

Arsenal were also indebted to their Spanish keeper five minutes after the restart. Defensive dalliance allowed Jeremie Aliadiere to go through one-on-one but Almunia spread himself widely and the ball bounced off his legs.

Perhaps Arsenal were unsettled by a change at half time. Mikael Silvestre did not appear after the interval and Johan Djourou came on for his first appearance after being carried off at Wigan on April 11 with a knee problem.

Normal service seemed to be resumed almost immediately when Walcott fired low towards goal from an acute angle. Brad Jones clutched the ball on the line.

Arsenal soon resumed control once more with Arshavin at the heart of almost everything they did.

In the 67th minute, Fabregas latched on to a long, low pass forward from Eboue, skipped past Jones and rolled home his second.

It would be the captain’s final touch. Emmanuel Adebayor and Abou Diaby were waiting by the touchline when the goal was scored. Before the kick-off they came on for Fabregas and Walcott. Now that WAS a move made with Wednesday in mind.

Boro had played the second half like a cup tie. In the circumstances it was all they could do but it had been nowhere near enough.

Nasri and Bendtner both forced the best from Jones as Arsenal cruised home.

On this performance Middlesbrough fans have to be pessimistic about their chances of avoiding the drop.

Arsenal, however, are looking upwards in more ways than one.

Roll on Wednesday.
 
Wenger says Arsenal can beat 'everybody'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side could beat "everybody" when they were at their best as he urged them to be fearless against Manchester United in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Old Trafford.

LONDON (AFP) -
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side could beat "everybody" when they were at their best as he urged them to be fearless against Manchester United in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg clash at Old Trafford.
The Gunners head into that match unbeaten in 20 games after Cesc Fabregas's double - his first goals in six months - secured a 2-0 Premier League victory at home to relegation-threatened Middlesbrough here on Sunday.
The only concern for Wenger was a back injury to former United defender Mikael Silvestre, who is rated at "fifty-fifty" for the game in Manchester.
Arsenal's hopes of catching Chelsea, to book an automatic Champions League place next season, remain alive and Wenger will prepare for the crunch match with United confident of again upsetting rival manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Scot, whose team are looking to retain both their English and European titles, will know exactly what he's up against after sitting in the stands of the Emirates Stadium to witness Arsenal's fifth successive home win.
And Wenger said: "It's important that we are at our best on Wednesday night because when we are at our best we can beat everybody.
"If you go to Old Trafford without belief you make it very difficult from the start.
"We will go there with belief, desire and enjoyment because we enjoy to be where we are. Sir Alex knows us and what he will think is that it will be an exciting game between two teams who like to play.
"We know each other well but the talent on the pitch always surprises you. I believe that both teams will go for it. We will be faithful to the game we play and everywhere we go in Europe we try to win the game.
"If we play at our best we have a good chance, we can do it.
"Sir Alex was here? I thought he was coming to watch Middlesbrough! But we do have good red wine here in the directors' box so that was maybe why he came to watch us," Wenger joked.


did you guys see the alex the devil sitting in the directors box..he must be looking at the gunners form and his balls must be shrinking...haha


this is Sir Alex when he is not doing the hair dryer treatment...LOL..(i love the last pic)_

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Alex-Ferguson-United-boss-kicks-holidays.html
 
Wenger's blowing smoke screens ...AFC WILL PLAY DEFENSIVE 4-5-1 formation .. trust me..

Almunia

Sagna
Gibb
Toure
Joroua

Eboue
Song
Fabregas
Nasri
Diaby

Adebayor

Subs
Fabianski
Silvestre
Walcott
Eduardo
Bentdner

FGL predicts: man u 1 ARSENAL 1 (Adebayor)

mark my words & see if I'm right on the line ups, tactics & score ppl ...
 
Brazil

My favorite Socfcer team is Brazil and i was very disappointed when Brazil was not able toi access till the Semi Final Match
 
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