THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
1
AZ Alkmaar
- Fabregas 26, 53,
- Nasri 43,
- Diaby 72
- Lens 83
Arsenal
- Manuel Almunia
- Emmanuel Eboue
- William Gallas
- Thomas Vermaelen
- Kieran Gibbs
- Alex Song
- Abou Diaby
- Cesc Fabregas (c)
(67) - Samir Nasri
- Andrey Arshavin
(75) - Robin Van Persie
(67) - Substitutes
- Vito Mannone
- Mikael Silvestre
- Philippe Senderos
- Bacary Sagna
- Aaron Ramsey
(67) - Tomas Rosicky
(75) - Eduardo
(67)
The Spaniard struck in the 26th and 53rd minutes in the most straightforward of wins. Inbetween Samir Nasri grabbed his first goal since breaking his leg in pre-season and, in the 71st minute, Abou Diaby stroked home a wonderfully-worked fourth.
This is the result Arsenal should have got in Holland. Back then they had been wasteful but tonight they were rigorous, ruthless and utterly irresistible. Even a late strike by substitute Jeremain Lens did nothing to affect the feeling of assurance this evening.
But 10 points is normally enough to go through and, if they maintain this level of performance, then Arsenal will surely rubber-stamp qualification and the Group H title in the final two games.
Tougher challenges lie ahead in this competition.
Wenger made three changes from the side that had swept aside Spurs so brusquely at the weekend.
The headline was the return of Nasri to the frontline. The midfielder's only run-out since his broken leg had come in the Carling Cup a week ago. He replaced Nicklas Bendtner on the right, the Dane's groin injury was likely to keep him out for a month.
Gael Clichy's back would sideline him out for at least the same period, therefore you could assume that the elevation of Kieran Gibbs this evening was the start of a decent run in the side.
The final change was Emmanuel Eboue for Bacary Sagna. That was a straight swap and continued Wenger's policy of sharing the right back role in Europe.
Arsenal came into this game with room to breathe at the top of Group H. This was the first of two successive home ties - one win and they would probably qualify for the Knockout Stages, two wins and they would go through as group winners. Their fate was entirely in their own hands.
They also had the little matter of that North London derby win as a buoyancy aid.
It took only three minutes for Arsenal to hit their weekend groove. Andrey Arshavin, Diaby and Nasri weaved intricate patterns in midfield before releasing Robin Van Persie on the right. His angled drive beat the desperate dive of Sergio Romero and flashed past the far post.
The home side were in a perky mood, probing their opponents at every opportunity. In the 13th minute, Romero collected what, in the referee's view, had been a back-pass. Almost the entire AZ side lined-up in the goal-mouth and inevitably blocked Van Persie's effort.
The visitors had shown some adventure in the opening stages but, by the time we had reached the midpoint of the first half, they had gone back into their shell.
That is not to say the opening goal was entirely expected. Arsenal had control without real penetration and Fabregas' strike was, in many ways, a self-inflicted wound.
There seemed little danger in the 26th minute when Nasri found Fabregas on the edge of the area. The Spaniard extracted a little space from David Mendes da Silva, his marker, and let fly.
The shot was military-medium in every respect and should not have troubled an Argentinean international keeper.
However Mendes put out only the weakest of hands and the ball trickled into the net.
As in Alkmaar a fortnight ago, Arsenal had their lead and were happy to hit cruise control immediately. Fabregas nodded over from Gibbs' deep cross just past the half-hour.
And this time Arsenal seemed determined to make them pay.
Two minutes before the break, Arshavin tucked a pass into the path of Nasri. The Frenchman weaved round Hector Moreno and slotted a shot past Romero.
The midfield wiped himself down in celebration. Perhaps he was washing away the disappointment of the first few months of the season.
Eight minutes after the restart it was 3-0. Diaby picked AZ's pocket in midfield and fed Arshavin. The Russian, clever as ever, nudged a pass into the path of Fabregas, who was racing down the left-hand channel. The Spaniard had the simplest task of slipping home his eighth goal of the season.
There seemed no way back for the visitors but three minutes later they should have snatched themselves an unlikely lifeline.
Maartens Marten nodded the ball down for Graziano Pelle on the edge of the six-yard area. The Italian had time to steady himself and wrap his foot firmly around the ball. Somehow Manuel Almunia diverted the ball onto the bar from point-blank range. Stunning.
You sensed AZ were flexing what muscles they had. Martens and Brett Holman both saw efforts fly over bar but there was little to trouble Arsenal this evening.
To fully illustrate that, Wenger brought off Fabregas and Van Persie for Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo.
The latter would make an immediate impact. Arsenal broke quickly from the back and the Croatian's expansive backheel sent Arshavin scampering clear. He squared to Diaby, who took a touch then stroked home an exquisite fourth.
Before the goal, Gibbs went close, after it Ramsey fired straight at Romero. By that time, Wenger had taken off another of his key players - Arshavin. He clearly felt the night's work had been done.
The home crowd were still claiming a penalty for handball against Pelle when Lens broke clear, wriggled away from Ramsey and fired home from the edge of the area.
The goal was disappointment to Arsenal but nothing more.
This game had been a stroll.
fgl
Well-known member
wattime U finish your gig? we go makan at Orchard area first then go for the match la ...
fgl
Well-known member
email ffrom Gunners fanclub:
Fellow Gooners,
Our lads all but booked their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League with a 4-1 demolition of AZ Alkmaar last night. My personal favourite was our final goal, which reminded me of a classic Arsenal counter-attack from around 2004. I could imagine Henry, Bergkamp and Pires creating and scoring that goal, instead of Eduardo, Arshavin and Diaby.
Are our current team as good as that? Well, if they continue playing like they did last night, they might prove to be. But as we know, nothing is won in November, so the boys need to keep up the good form and we?ll see what happens.
This weekend we?ve got a trip to Wolverhampton. It?s a late kick-off, starting at 1.30am Sunday morning for those of us in Singapore. Modesto?s will NOT be open for this game because of the timing, so we can all wake up our neighbours by screaming for the team at home instead.
The next live game at the Home of Arsenal Singapore will be the Sunderland game on Saturday Nov. 21. You?ll want to come down for that one as we?ll be starting competitions to win TWO shirts signed by the entire Arsenal squad. One competition will require you to be very good at guessing the score of our games and the other will require you to be very good at drinking a lot of beer. More details to follow!
Roll on the weekend.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!
Cheers, Al
CANCEL HANG OUT PLANS THIS SAT AT LIZZY
Fellow Gooners,
Our lads all but booked their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League with a 4-1 demolition of AZ Alkmaar last night. My personal favourite was our final goal, which reminded me of a classic Arsenal counter-attack from around 2004. I could imagine Henry, Bergkamp and Pires creating and scoring that goal, instead of Eduardo, Arshavin and Diaby.
Are our current team as good as that? Well, if they continue playing like they did last night, they might prove to be. But as we know, nothing is won in November, so the boys need to keep up the good form and we?ll see what happens.
This weekend we?ve got a trip to Wolverhampton. It?s a late kick-off, starting at 1.30am Sunday morning for those of us in Singapore. Modesto?s will NOT be open for this game because of the timing, so we can all wake up our neighbours by screaming for the team at home instead.
The next live game at the Home of Arsenal Singapore will be the Sunderland game on Saturday Nov. 21. You?ll want to come down for that one as we?ll be starting competitions to win TWO shirts signed by the entire Arsenal squad. One competition will require you to be very good at guessing the score of our games and the other will require you to be very good at drinking a lot of beer. More details to follow!
Roll on the weekend.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!
Cheers, Al
CANCEL HANG OUT PLANS THIS SAT AT LIZZY
extremers
New member
email from Gunners fanclub:
This weekend we?ve got a trip to Wolverhampton. It?s a late kick-off, starting at 1.30am Sunday morning for those of us in Singapore. Modesto?s will NOT be open for this game because of the timing, so we can all wake up our neighbours by screaming for the team at home instead.
CANCEL HANG OUT PLANS THIS SAT AT LIZZY
WAH! IT'S THE EPIC BORINGZ!
was so looking forward to the meet up sey.
fgl
Well-known member
Wolverhampton
Arsenal
- Craddock 88
- Zubar 28 (og),
- Craddock 35 (og),
- Fabregas 45,
- Arshavin 65
Arsenal
- Manuel Almunia
- Thomas Vermaelen
- William Gallas
- Kieran Gibbs
- Bacary Sagna
- Abou Diaby
(23) - Cesc Fabregas (c)
- Aaron Ramsey
- Andrey Arshavin
(74) - Robin Van Persie
- Eduardo
(70) - Substitutes
- Philippe Senderos
- Mikael Silvestre
- Emmanuel Eboue
- Samir Nasri
(74) - Tomas Rosicky
(70) - Alex Song
(23) - Vito Mannone
Wolverhampton
- Wayne Hennessey
- David Edwards
(79) - Richard Stearman
- Jody Craddock
- Karl Henry
- Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
- Christophe Berra
- Nenad Milijas
(73) - Ronald Zubar
- Kevin Doyle
- Segundo Castillo
(64) - Substitutes
- Michael Kightly
(64) - Andrew Keogh
- Marcus Hahnemann
- Greg Halford
- Matthew Jarvis
(73) - Michael Mancienne
(79) - Stefan Maierhofer
- Referee
Steve Bennett
By Richard Clarke
Arsenal extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with a sublime 4-1 win at Molineux on Saturday.
Although Wolves put Arsène Wenger’s side under pressure in the opening 20 minutes, the hosts shot themselves in the foot in twice around the half-hour.
First Ronald Zubar scuffed Cesc Fabregas’ corner into his own net from close range then Jody Craddock nodded Eduardo’s chip past his own keeper.
Fabregas scored a wonderfully-worked third on the stroke of half-time to seal the points and, just to make sure, Andrey Arshavin rifled home a fourth midway through the second period. Craddock’s consolation header meant little.
This was the best message Arsenal could send out to Manchester United and Chelsea before they meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The three points pushed Wenger’s men up to second in the table, albeit temporarily, and their four goals made it 25 in their last eight League and Cup games.
Whoever triumphs in West London on Sunday, they will realise he side from the north of the capital are looking like real title contenders.
Wenger made three changes from the side that had swept aside AZ Alkmaar in midweek. The headline alteration saw Aaron Ramsey replace Alex Song in front of the back four. Samir Nasri dropped out for Eduardo while Bacary Sagna slotted in at right back in place of Emmanuel Eboue.
Molineux is a lovely arena, steeped in football heritage and the Wolves’ fans know how to create a pre-match atmosphere.
Their team responded in the opening stages.
Manager Mick McCarthy had promised his side would attack Arsenal and they were as good as his word. But although they poured forward persistantly, there was little cutting edge. In fact the closest they came in the first half was from a couple of left-wing corners delivered by Nenad Milijas.
The first saw Kevin Doyle flick a header towards the far post and Kieran Gibbs cleared off the line. Then, in the 10th minute, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake nodded wide just wide but, in fairness, Fabregas seemed to have the effort covered at the far post.
Eduardo had claims for a penalty when he back-heeled the ball through the legs of Zubar and was clipped as he tried to go past. However referee Steve Bennett was disinterested.
At this stage, Arsenal were yet to click into gear. In fact it took the introduction of Song midway through the half to properly jolt them into life.
Diaby hobbled off and the Cameroonian came on in his usual position. This released Ramsey further forward and the change helped Arsenal.
However the alteration had little to do with the opener. That was a self-inflicted wound from Wolves.
Craddock nodded a Fabregas free-kick ball behind his own goal, the Spaniard sent over the corner and Zubar nudged the ball into his own net. The Arsenal players ran to Eduardo, who had put the Wolves defender under pressure but the Croatian dismissed any congratulations. Replays proved he had not got a touch.
The strike was unlucky on Wolves given the balance of play but their defending had been woeful.
Seven minutes later it was 2-0. Ramsey and Eduardo raced clear with only Craddock as cover. The Welshman fed the Croatian, who tried to return the favour. However the ball flicked off the defender and flew over keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Yet again, while the execution of the goal had been fortunate, the Wolves backline had been highly culpable.
Understandably the home side were now thinking this was just not going to be their day. And Arsenal profited from their despondency.
On the whistle, Sagna clipped the ball to Van Persie who displayed the deftest of touches to set up Fabregas to fire home at the near post.
At the break, Arsenal had the points in the bag.
The second half was a listless affair. The visitors saw no need to extend themselves much further and Wolves now lacked the confidence to go on the offensive.
In the 66th minute Arshavin, who had been quiet, darted inside his marker and fired in a shot that tested Hennessey to the full. When the corner came across, the keeper could only slap the ball out to the Russian. He thumped a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Wenger withdrew Eduardo and Arshavin for Tomas Rosicky and Nasri.
By now Arsenal were almost playing exhibition football. For example with 16 minutes left, Fabregas hacked horribly over the bar from Van Persie’s cutback. However the Spaniard’s reaction was a smile not a grimace.
Van Persie and Rosicky also wasted decent chances in the close stages as Arsenal tried to play out time. Wolves did grab some consolation a minute from time when Craddock headed home a corner from Matthew Jarvis.
It was a shame Arsenal could not keep a clean sheet however that was the most minor of blots on an ultra-efficient performance.
fgl
Well-known member
Germany goalkeeper Enke commits suicide
German national football team's goalkeeper Robert Enke, seen here in September 2009, has been killed after he threw himself under a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday.
HANOVER, Germany (AFP) - – German international goalkeeper Robert Enke has been killed after he threw himself under a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday.
"There has been fatality at a level crossing at Neustadt am Rubenberge," police spokeswoman Martina Stern told AFP.
"He threw himself under a train and died of his injuries. It was definitely suicide," she added.
Jorg Neblung, a close friend and advisor to the six-times capped goalkeeper, also confirmed it was suicide.
"I can confirm that it was suicide," he said.
"Robert took his own life shortly before six o'clock (1700GMT).
"A press conference in Hannover on Wednesday will reveal more details," he added.
The 32-year-old Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper - who leaves a widow and a daughter of eight months who they adopted in May three years after their two-year-old daughter died of a heart illness - had been suffering from an intestinal infection.
He pulled out of the Germany squad two days ahead of their 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Azerbaijan in early September.
However, recently he had professed himself delighted to have returned to training last month.
"It has been a long time, almost a quarter of the season. However, once I resumed training I felt really well," said Enke, who played his last match for the club in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Hamburg.
His death left those closest to him both personally and professionally in total shock.
"We're in shock. I don't know what to say," said national manager Oliver Bierhoff, who along with national coach Joachim Lowe informed his fellow international team-mates - who are preparing for a friendly with Chile this weekend, of the tragedy.
His club president Martin Kind was left stunned.
"It is a total catastrophe. I am finding it hard to understand," said Kind.
Later around 300 of the club's fans and several of his club-mates gathered outside the club's offices as a mark of respect with some laying down bouquets of flowers and lighting candles.
Enke was understudy to then first-team 'keeper Jens Lehmann during the 2008 European championships and had been in line to fill his boots before being taken ill in September and October.
During that time his rival Rene Adler increased his chances of taking over the role in the national team who have qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals.
Enke had also at one time been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich where the former German Under-21 international Michael Rensing had not impressed in his first season between the posts.
However, Uli Hoeness, Bayern's general manager, had made clear they were not interested in paying the 10million euros transfer fee.
Several people had advised Enke, who had previously had spells at Benfica, Barcelona and Tenerife, to leave Hannover for a more prestigious club and one that was playing in European club competition so he would improve his chances of becoming German number one.
German national football team's goalkeeper Robert Enke, seen here in September 2009, has been killed after he threw himself under a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday. HANOVER, Germany (AFP) - – German international goalkeeper Robert Enke has been killed after he threw himself under a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday.
"There has been fatality at a level crossing at Neustadt am Rubenberge," police spokeswoman Martina Stern told AFP.
"He threw himself under a train and died of his injuries. It was definitely suicide," she added.
Jorg Neblung, a close friend and advisor to the six-times capped goalkeeper, also confirmed it was suicide.
"I can confirm that it was suicide," he said.
"Robert took his own life shortly before six o'clock (1700GMT).
"A press conference in Hannover on Wednesday will reveal more details," he added.
The 32-year-old Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper - who leaves a widow and a daughter of eight months who they adopted in May three years after their two-year-old daughter died of a heart illness - had been suffering from an intestinal infection.
He pulled out of the Germany squad two days ahead of their 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Azerbaijan in early September.
However, recently he had professed himself delighted to have returned to training last month.
"It has been a long time, almost a quarter of the season. However, once I resumed training I felt really well," said Enke, who played his last match for the club in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Hamburg.
His death left those closest to him both personally and professionally in total shock.
"We're in shock. I don't know what to say," said national manager Oliver Bierhoff, who along with national coach Joachim Lowe informed his fellow international team-mates - who are preparing for a friendly with Chile this weekend, of the tragedy.
His club president Martin Kind was left stunned.
"It is a total catastrophe. I am finding it hard to understand," said Kind.
Later around 300 of the club's fans and several of his club-mates gathered outside the club's offices as a mark of respect with some laying down bouquets of flowers and lighting candles.
Enke was understudy to then first-team 'keeper Jens Lehmann during the 2008 European championships and had been in line to fill his boots before being taken ill in September and October.
During that time his rival Rene Adler increased his chances of taking over the role in the national team who have qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals.
Enke had also at one time been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich where the former German Under-21 international Michael Rensing had not impressed in his first season between the posts.
However, Uli Hoeness, Bayern's general manager, had made clear they were not interested in paying the 10million euros transfer fee.
Several people had advised Enke, who had previously had spells at Benfica, Barcelona and Tenerife, to leave Hannover for a more prestigious club and one that was playing in European club competition so he would improve his chances of becoming German number one.
dudelove
New member
he's a diver. and now we know he's agent's a liar too
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=697152&cc=4716
RIP robert enke. its sad to know someones life was taken by suicide. and i've watched him play before. he's actually a really solid keeper. sigh. what a waste.
