THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
fgl
Well-known member
Ramsey starts to walk without his crutches
By Nick Teale
Aaron Ramsey visited the Arsenal training ground this week and was able to walk unaided as he caught up with his team-mates.
The midfielder suffered a season-ending broken leg in the Gunners' 3-1 win over Stoke City last month. Prior to that the 19-year-old had been enjoying a run in the first-team and had scored four times this season.
Speaking shortly before Premier League game against West Ham, manager Arsène Wenger told Arsenal TV Online that he was pleased with the early stages of Aaron's recovery.
"He has been encouraged to walk without crutches and he is doing that," said the Frenchman.
"The recovery is going as well as you could hope for at this stage of the injury. He is, of course, impatient as anybody would be in his position.
"But we have had no bad surprises. Until now, everything has been going to plan."
By Nick Teale
Aaron Ramsey visited the Arsenal training ground this week and was able to walk unaided as he caught up with his team-mates.
The midfielder suffered a season-ending broken leg in the Gunners' 3-1 win over Stoke City last month. Prior to that the 19-year-old had been enjoying a run in the first-team and had scored four times this season.
Speaking shortly before Premier League game against West Ham, manager Arsène Wenger told Arsenal TV Online that he was pleased with the early stages of Aaron's recovery.
"He has been encouraged to walk without crutches and he is doing that," said the Frenchman.
"The recovery is going as well as you could hope for at this stage of the injury. He is, of course, impatient as anybody would be in his position.
"But we have had no bad surprises. Until now, everything has been going to plan."
fgl
Well-known member
'We were more urgent when we had 10 men'
On the 2-0 victory...
"I believe we had an outstanding game. We played with class and spirit and we kept our nerve when the situation became difficult. So overall we have shown a good attitude, good maturity, and in the important moments in any department we were decisive. I think about the goalkeeper, I think about when we had to moveAlex Song to centre back, everybody adapted very well to the situation and technically I believe we were outstanding today."
On West Ham's penalty and Thomas Vermaelen's red card...
"I was upset about both. I felt it was very harsh. We have seen this situation so many times in the game without it being punished at all."
On Manchester United and Chelsea's games on Sunday...
"What we can do is win our games and watch the games in a relaxed way tomorrow and see what happens. We knew a long time ago we had to win our games and we do that in a very, very pleasant way because we play our game and when we have to calm it down we do it. We have improved on the maturity side of our game, when we have to accelerate we can still find the resources and overall I believe what happened today will only add to our belief and our quality in the future games."
On Manuel Almunia...
"He has taken a lot of stick, not always justified I believe. He had a few problems at the start of the season but in the last two or three months I have found him to be outstanding and credit to him, he has silenced the critics."
On the Premier League title race...
"We are not under any special pressure because we are beyond expectation. We want to win the trophy because we are all conscious we have won nothing yet and the hunger is there, the talent is there and I think the nerves are there. So all we can do is rely on the other results of the other teams, so the only thing we can do is master our own results. When you are a footballer you always want to win championships and trophies. People don't realise how young we are. This team will win, the sooner the better. We have a good chance to do it this year. It will be exciting, tight and the response we gave today in the second half was very important in future games."
On Vermaelen's suspension and William Gallas' injury...
"I hope it won't be a problem but we cannot continue to lose centre-backs, that is for sure. You cannot have six centre-backs at a football club because that doesn't make sense. So at the moment we don't have Gallas and today we have lost Vermaelen. Sol Campbell was outstanding but to repeat the games could become a problem for him so I think I have to give him a big holiday next week to recover. He is very important to us and I think it was a very good signing.
"Everybody said I didn't sign anybody and now you can see that I signed somebody. His experience is vital in the dressing room. You need it especially when we get to the period we are in, it's important you have players like Campbell and Almunia who are very influential. They have done it before so players listen to them."
On Alex Song dropping to centre-back...
"I think he was absolutely outstanding. It looked so easy to him to play in this position. I know he can play there, but he was outstanding in midfield earlier in the game. I have no fear to continue with him at centre-back."
On if his side needed the adversity in the match...
"I agree with you. I must say we lost our urgency. I think they were a bit distracted by all the fuss about the draw yesterday. We had not the right urgency. When we were down to 10 men we became more urgent in the second half."
On Robin Van Persie...
"I think he will be back this week. We sent our fitness coach out to Holland where he has been having his rehabilitation. Physically he looks very sharp but we aim at least to wait a month."
fgl
Well-known member
ARSENAL
WEST HAM UNITED
- Denilson 5,
- Fabregas 82 (pen)
ARSENAL
- Manuel Almunia
- Emmanuel Eboue
- Sol Campbell
- Thomas Vermaelen
- Gael Clichy
- Samir Nasri
(74) - Denilson
- Alex Song
- Cesc Fabregas
- Andrey Arshavin
(84) - Nicklas Bendtner
(57) - SUBSTITUTES
- Lukasz Fabianski
- Bacary Sagna
(74) - Mikael Silvestre
- Abou Diaby
(57) - Tomas Rosicky
- Theo Walcott
- Eduardo
(84)
By Richard Clarke
Ten-man Arsenal went the top of the Premier League table with a tense 2-0 win over West Ham on Saturday evening.
There seemed little problem for almost the entire first half. Denilson fired home after just five minutes and the home side went on to produce a regal display.
However a minute before the break the game changed when Thomas Vermaelen was sent off after conceding a controversial penalty. It was Arsenal's first red card in 68 games.
Although Manuel Almunia made a wonderful save from Alessandro Diamanti's spot-kick, the home team still had a nervy second half to negotiate.
They did it manfully. Apart from Carlton Cole's post-rattling drive, West Ham were kept at a distance. Arsenal sealed the win seven minutes from time when Matthew Upson handled andCesc Fabregas fired home from the spot.
Wenger's men will drop to third if Manchester United and Chelsea both win their games on Sunday. However even draws could be damaging enough.
Arsenal simple refuse to take the easy route to the title right now. They keep on digging themselves into holes and then finding a way out.
It is heart-stopping and heartening in equal measure.
But their character is shining through.
Wenger made two changes from the side had that beaten Hull so late the previous Saturday. Fabregas (hamstring) and Alex Song(suspension) were back.
Numerically, they replaced Abou Diaby andBacary Sagna. But in actual fact, the new recruits both came into central midfield so Samir Nasri moved out to the right and Eboue filled in behind him.
This may have been the late game on Saturday but it was the earliest fixture affecting in the title race. Arsenal had been playing catch-up more often than not in recent weeks. Today they finally could put a little pressure on the others.
And it took them only five minutes to start the process.
Denilson received the ball just outside the area, exchanged passes with Bendtner and fired low in the corner. It was the Brazilian's sixth of the season in only his 20th game, not bad for a defensive midfielder.
As usual, he celebrated with a Samba.
The goal was the highlight of a brisk, open start. Bendtner's drive and Alessandro Diamanti's free-kick whistled wide at either end. In the ninth minute, Nasri's chip found Denilson in space 12 yards out. He went for the spectacular and, this time, failed.
Arsenal were fast, fluent and irresistible in the early stages. Eboue threaded a cross-shot beyond the far post through a crowded area and a delightful midfield move only ended when Bendtner's first-time pass just squirted clear of the onrushing Fabregas.
West Ham were on the back foot. Yes Junior Stanislas went clear on the right and his low cross was inches too quick for the sliding Mido. But that, and the early free-kick, was about it for the opening 44 minutes.
Despite the result at Hull last weekend, Arsenal's performance had been patchy. This was very different. Today, Wenger's men were in the groove. Everything seemed effortless. There was always a pass available when they attacked and always a block on hand when they had to defend.
As half-time approached the home team dropped intensity. Still, the only potential problem was the narrowness of the lead given their dominance.
Four minutes before the break they nearly remedied that. First Gael Clichy swept down the left and a near post flick from Fabregas dribbled across goal before Fabio Deprela dealt with the danger. Seconds later, Arshavin picked out the Spaniard at the far post but the West Ham defence were on him before he could get his shot away.
After that the half seemed happy to drift to the break.
But this thriller would end with a twist.
In the dying seconds, Arsenal lost a player and so nearly the lead.
A long ball forward caught them napping. Franco and Vermaelen tussled for the ball and the Italian muscled himself just in front of the Belgian. The Arsenal defender definitely made contact inside and outside the area but the decision was still debatable.
Certainly the penalty AND red card seemed harsh in the circumstances. But the laws of football left referee Martin Atkinson little option once he had blown for the foul.
Wenger felt passionately enough about the decision to seek out the referee as he went off at half time.
That, however, was not the immediate concern. Diamanti had won West Ham a point from the spot at Upton Park. This time he would be denied.
Almunia flung himself to his left to make the save. It was a massive moment in the game and, who knows, maybe the season.
However Wenger's men still had to negotiate the second half.
The good ship Arsenal had been sailing on a millpond for 45 minutes. The remaining 45 would be played out on choppier water.
Certainly it started that way. West Ham had early pressure but Wenger had brought back Alex Song to centre half and the reshuffled defence had enough about them to smuggle away any danger. The closest the visitors came in the opening 20 minutes of the half was a couple of pot-shots from Diamanti.
By then Arsenal had wrestled the initiative. Denilson had a long shot deflected wide and Fabregas went close with a free-kick.
Just before the hour, Wenger brought off Bendtner for Diaby and pushed Arshavin up front. An interesting move but if anything it helped Arsenal create the better chances.
Campbell forced Robert Green into a smothering save with a towering header from Fabregas' free-kick. Twelve minutes from time, Arshavin weaved his way into the area and again force the West Ham keeper into action.
By now Zola had brought on Benny McCarthy and Carlton Cole. He was cranking up all the pressure he could muster.
The latter bundled through the Arsenal defence and fired a low shot against the outside of the far post.
With 10 minutes left the game was in the balance. It was the type of situation in which Wenger's men had buckled in the past.
Yet again this team showed they are made of stronger stuff.
Upson handled Fabregas' just inside the area as the captain tried to clip a pass through to Eboue. This time the decision was obvious and Fabregas buried the penalty.
This was another triumph in adversity, another display of guts and spirit.
But that is standard fare for Arsenal right now and if they continue it until May 9 they might just keep their current position.
* Vermaelen is expected to receive a one-match ban and will miss the trip to Birmingham next Saturday.
LadyInTears
Well-known member
that didnt look like a red card offence to me and the penalty was dubious, and luckily the penalty wasnt converted, cos west ham didnt deserve it in the first place
junkiemanxl
Active member
it would have been a beautiful monday if pool kept it together and won it last night...
Took the shine off but just 2 points away from leader. Poor chelsea..
GO Gunners!!!
Took the shine off but just 2 points away from leader. Poor chelsea..
GO Gunners!!!
fgl
Well-known member
K set - my turn to buy
fgl
Well-known member
[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]Arsenal Singapore Newsletter 25 March 2010[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica]Hello Fellow Gooners,
No mid-week game for us but we have an away game at Birmingham City on Sat, 27 March at 11pm and this will be LIVE at Modesto's Elizabeth! The 2009/10 BPL is fast coming to an end with 7 games to go and the top 3 teams are neck and neck, with Manchester United 2 points ahead of us, and Chelsea only 1. It's not been a close race like this for many seasons and could well go till the last match of the season to decide the champion!
This week's game is at a reasonable hour of 11pm so hopefully many of you can come and join us. Having said that, huge props to the 60 or so Singapore Gooners who came down last week for the 130am kickoff against West Ham. As expected there was massive pandemonium in the house as Almunia saved the penalty that the blind referee and linesman awarded against Vermaelen. Can we have a controversy free win for once? Arsenal appealed his red card but the FA turned it down, to no one's surprise.
So what do you guys think about the mouthwatering draw we got against Barcelona in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League? Quite the game that all football lovers will want to watch, with the exception of Sam Allardyce who believes football is all about hoofing the ball. By the way, who did Chelsea and Real Madrid draw in the next round?
Modesto's is trying their best to get the pub hooked up with Singtel mio tv for us, so stay tuned as we will update on www.arsenalsingapore.com whether it will be screened live. It's on at 245am on Thu 1st April.
Members, there's still time to get your votes in for Arsenal Singapore's Player of the Year award on our forum and we are of course still running the Guess The Score and Tiger Beer Drinker contests.
Come join us and cheer on the Gunners!!
[/FONT]
No mid-week game for us but we have an away game at Birmingham City on Sat, 27 March at 11pm and this will be LIVE at Modesto's Elizabeth! The 2009/10 BPL is fast coming to an end with 7 games to go and the top 3 teams are neck and neck, with Manchester United 2 points ahead of us, and Chelsea only 1. It's not been a close race like this for many seasons and could well go till the last match of the season to decide the champion!
This week's game is at a reasonable hour of 11pm so hopefully many of you can come and join us. Having said that, huge props to the 60 or so Singapore Gooners who came down last week for the 130am kickoff against West Ham. As expected there was massive pandemonium in the house as Almunia saved the penalty that the blind referee and linesman awarded against Vermaelen. Can we have a controversy free win for once? Arsenal appealed his red card but the FA turned it down, to no one's surprise.
So what do you guys think about the mouthwatering draw we got against Barcelona in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League? Quite the game that all football lovers will want to watch, with the exception of Sam Allardyce who believes football is all about hoofing the ball. By the way, who did Chelsea and Real Madrid draw in the next round?
Modesto's is trying their best to get the pub hooked up with Singtel mio tv for us, so stay tuned as we will update on www.arsenalsingapore.com whether it will be screened live. It's on at 245am on Thu 1st April.
Members, there's still time to get your votes in for Arsenal Singapore's Player of the Year award on our forum and we are of course still running the Guess The Score and Tiger Beer Drinker contests.
Come join us and cheer on the Gunners!!
[/FONT]
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