Arsenal and Aston Villa jockey for fourth

As interesting as Liverpool presumes it has made the race for first, or perhaps as Manchester United deigns to flatter them, the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot in the Premier League is just as compelling. With Aston Villa off to a great start, and Arsenal stumbling with inconsistency, the Gunners hold a slight edge over the Villans by virtue of seven goals. Yes, seven goals are a considerable amount, but this can be undone so easily with one or two bad results.

Arsenal's remaining fixtures are arguably more challenging than Aston Villa's. Given the Gunners' tendency to drop points against mid-table teams and below, is this an advantage for Arsenal? Captain Cesc Fabregas is due for a return on April 4 against Manchester City if nothing goes wrong between now and then.

Villans should be thankful that they're not in the UEFA Cup anymore. Arsenal, through to the last eight of the Champions League will return to European action the week of April 7, before they visit Anfield. If the Gunners manage to get through to the semifinals, they face Chelsea at the Emirates after their fate in Europe this year is determined.

Remaining Premier League fixtures:

Aston Villa - Liverpool (A), Manchester United (A), Everton, West Ham, Bolton (A), Hull, Fulham (A), Middlesbrough (A), Newcastle

Arsenal - Newcastle (A), Manchester City, Wigan (A), Liverpool (A), Middlesbrough, Portsmouth (A), Chelsea, Manchester United (A), Stoke

Three Points and Doubt in North London

Looking rusty and a wholly inferior side without Cesc Fabregas and a seasoned holding midfielder, Arsenal failed to start their Premier League campaign with any improvement over their lackluster victory over FC Twente at midweek.

Though three points were won by Arsene Wenger's inexperienced squad over last year's "Arsenal of the Championship" West Bromwich Albion, were it not for Samir Nasri's goal in the fourth minute, this could have easily gone down as another game given away to a lesser team.

One had to imagine the red end of North London expected a goal from West Brom in the last ten minutes, surely a result of a defensive lapse so reminiscent of last year's quick descent via a multitude of draws. And perhaps so felt Wenger, who substituted defender Kolo Toure, still recovering from a bout of malaria, in for the attacking Theo Walcott, who was anonymous at best on Saturday.

But the Gunners held their one goal lead, through a good save from Almunia, despite the laziness and predictability of Emmanuel Adebayor, and the lack of sharpness for Robin van Persie, in for a nonexistent Nicklas Bendtner. If this game came at the other end of the season, even with the current absences in the squad, this would be a grind-it-out game of a top team, one of those wins where your strong points keep you in it for the three points, ala Nasri, William Gallas and Manuel Almunia. There is not nearly the same sentiment at the start of the season.

It is a win, however, and three points fail to lose their importance in the face of a disjointed performance. But, despite winning the match, this game reminded me of the opening match at Emirates Stadium against Aston Villa, which resulted in a draw due to a late Villa goal. Saturday's opening day ended in a more positive position on the fresh table of the Premier League, but it still felt the same. A combination of West Brom's early nerves and a little bit of luck kept the ball out of Almunia's net.

The anxiety in Goonerland is more than palpable, with most fans doubtful of a trophy coming to a team that hasn't started to gel and find it's own identity in a league that ill affords mistakes against lesser sides. There is no argument that Wenger's young team of pass-and-move merchants are not talented; it is whether they are talented enough now to keep this team in the hunt.

Arsenal 1 West Bromwich 0: Nasri makes instant impact as familiar failings haunt Arsenal [Independent]

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Oh, Stan? We've always loved him . . . .

It's amazing how benevolent Stanley Kroenke looks now, especially since Arsenal's board, namely Peter Hill-Wood, officially dated himself as a relic by claiming the club didn't want "his sort". It was easy to recoil at Silent Stan, because to the Arsenal board, he undeniably represented all that was wrong in the football world, with its foreign owners and their tasteless riches.

The last thing the Arsenal board needed was to become another plaything to the world's richest, but to an American? What shall be next, oh noble English? Perhaps those vile American things like obesity and violence. We shall not import that into this sacred isle. Footballers, yes, but not one to share our expense accounts and to join us in pretending we have anything to do with what happens on the field.

Enter Alisher Usmanov, "the hardman of Uzbekistan", and now PHW is eating those words like a business lunch in an Emirates luxury box. It is hard to ignore that Usmanov is more akin to the Roman Abramovich sort (non-Western European, rich by dubious means), but it is his bullishness and teaming up with the ousted David Dein that makes Kroenke look like a a dream savior (especially since his partnership blocks Usmanov further). It doesn't help Usmanov that he looks like he can crush a man to death, or at least make a call and have someone else do it for him.

How is this different than the presumptions that we all make? The Dutch are technical, the Italians defensive, Brazilians play joyfully, with big provincial smiles on their faces as they samba through midfield. These attitudes haven't changed. Of course the old-school ways of the Arsenal board are the same, but the ugly American just became a prom queen in the light of someone perceived to be a thug by reputation and association. And so PHW is carefully primping a lovely cushion for Silent Stan's big, fat Costco-sized, gas-guzzling, Bush-loving ass, which of course will be sore from all the incessant love bites sent his way now.

Does any of this matter? Only if the Kroenke's arrival leads to an injection of money, to which strings are always attached. Expectations are hard to let go of for club owners, especially when the drama and allure of top flight football can make new fans dream big, oftentimes to bitter disappointment. The current talk surrounding most of Wenger's supposed targets seem to rely heavily on getting some cash for Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor. All of Kroenke's teams have yet to establish themselves in the upper echelon of American sports, so he isn't a Steinbrenner, or even the Glazers. Like everyone else, he could just be in it for the Premier League money. It's just interesting how an annoying American accent can change its timbre against the backdrop of a Turkic tongue.

Arsenal warm up seat on board for billionaire Stan Kroenke [Times Online]

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Is Wenger Losing It?

Arsene Wenger will undoubtedly stand as one of the most influential managers in the history of English soccer. Three top division titles, four FA Cups, and one European Cup final certainly places him among the greats that have managed an English side. Over his ten years in North London, Wenger has managed to stick with his own brand of soccer, praised for its fluency and eye-pleasing pace, but often derided for a lack of results. It is his stubbornness in building teams that play this way that earns him praise in an ever-changing world of European soccer, but it is his reluctance to buy big names for big prices that may keep Arsenal simply an entertaining side to watch, but one that cannot grasp those relevant trophies, the EPL and the UEFA Champions League.

Gooners have been saying the same thing since the end of the 2003-2004, when Arsenal went 49 games without a loss: Wenger's building yet another team to vie for silver, so we must be patient and allow him to grow those great young finds of his into a viable squad. Sounds reasonable, you may say, given Wenger's ability to not only field an attractive side, but also raise the value of these players in doing so. Loyalty was not an issue in the past, and Wenger is often depicted as a benevolent but fair patriarch, one who could field a team of stars while keeping the wage bill low in North London.

The departure of Mathieu Flamini may signal the end of this. Considering it was a difference of $20,000 a week that led to losing perhaps the most influential part of his team, it may be time to question whether doing it the Arsene Wenger way is still possible in the current climate of international soccer.

Flamini was as important as Cesc Fabregas is to the team. Without Flamini, Fabregas is a completely different player, one who may not have the conviction to go forward as often . To find another player of his quality that can play such a position consistently will be difficult, and one has to wonder just how long (and how ugly) it may be until Wenger constructs a spine that will not only withstand the pressures of EPL offenses, but that will contribute in terms of goal-scoring. With an incomplete back line, the last thing Gooners want to worry about is who their defensive midfielder will be.

The other issue, which may have more impact on Arsenal in the future, is the club's wage structure. With the shiny Emirates still to be paid off, Wenger is keen to maintain his shrewd ethos of getting youngsters cheap and letting them earn their value on the pitch with improvement. Although the Gunners may be the third most valuable team in the world, there have been no recent big signings, unsurprising considering that is not the way Wenger works. Is it now time to change that philosophy? Perhaps so, because as the extent of money in soccer increases to extreme heights, so should a change in player acquisitions take place.

We all know there are incredible sums of money exchanging hands, mostly from television rights, merchandising, and tapping into the spending power of the great unwashed. If we, as fans know this, and to the penny, why wouldn't the players and more importantly, their agents take advantage of this? Will the guarantee of playing attractive, beautiful soccer and hopefully snatching some silver be enough to get a world-class player to stay at Arsenal when there are obscene amounts of money to be made elsewhere? More importantly, wouldn't it be easier to join a massive club with larger resources (or at least a greater willingness to spend) and win a few, perhaps in a less attractive way? I suppose we'd have to ask Mathieu Flamini that question, but I'm afraid we already know the answer.

Interesting questions arise when you consider the fate of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. First, the championship teams of the recent past seemed somewhat of a fantasy squad compared to what the team is now. Sure, Wenger grabbed Nicolas Anelka, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry when they were young unknowns, but what about Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord? Arsenal were never a squad of youngsters like they are now, and this year's results show just how it matters to have big names in the side, like William Gallas. Imagine what one or two more players of that caliber could bring.

Second, will Wenger's insistence on doing things his way get him any silver? Since the top two, Chelsea and Manchester United can field two separate sides of considerable quality, will Arsenal ever realistically compete with them? Just one look at Liverpool should tell him the answer is no.

Lastly, the 2005-2006 campaign in the Champions League took Arsenal further than they had ever been in the prestigious competition, and one could hardly say the Gunners were pleasing to the eye. If Wenger adjusted to the European game in the circus that is the Champions League, why not adjust his spending strategy?

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London Revelation

The sieve of the Premier League's tail end of the season has finally taken the long-awaited bump we've all anticipated, sifting the top four into the most likely of orders, if experience is to be the measuring stick.

Manchester United's cream rises to the top, and the discussion is no longer whether the Red Devils can overtake Arsenal (that became clear weeks ago when the North London side seemed to echo the frustrating ineffectiveness in front of goal that cursed them throughout last season), but who will step up to challenge a seemingly unassailable team.

Sir Alex's team have done nothing different than last year, save for an inglorious departure from the eternal grail of the treble to Portsmouth in the FA Cup. It is more Arsenal's fine start to the campaign that made this a race, and now that the lack of depth and experience has shifted this advantage north from London to Manchester, the lever of pressure has been passed within London to a headless team of mercenaries in Chelsea.

Neutrals bought into the dream of a young side of technical experts, imbued with verve and a love of one-two, on the carpet passing. Jose Mourinho's provocative charisma overshadowed Chelsea's sometimes lack of creativity, despite winning successive trophies and racking up an unheard of unbeaten streak at Stamford Bridge. And Sir Alex Ferguson's infallible rotation, at least when it came to winning what mattered, facilitated a modern definition of "bounce-backability".

Looking back, Arsene Wenger's adherence to his belief that a tight, gifted group of youngsters growing up as a team can produce beautiful football may seem ruefully narrow-minded. He might be right, just a bit early as he was in calling for an unbeaten season prematurely, but the Arsenal fan's insistence that "Wenger knows" has officially taken a beating, as another trophy-less season seems imminent.

Arsenal's victory over stagnant European champions Milan overshadowed the squad's weaknesses, despite such impotency in the league. As confidence can be razed just as quickly as it can be built from an injury time goal, the Gunners' current results shouldn't be surprising. Until this team, as wonderfully youthful and frustratingly naive it can be at times, learns how to win ugly and get up for those games that don't get the blood racing (Birmingham City and Middlesbrough to name a few, where putting eleven behind the ball isn't being defensive, it's survival), Arsenal will remain just another pretty face with potential.

Wenger rues 'big setback' in race for title [Guardian Football]

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Free Willy From all the Criticism

Most of you know I'm a Gooner, but I usually try to keep my bias off the screen, unless I'm busy haranguing Arsenal for playing pretty with no substance.

Like many footie fans out there, I was horrified by Eduardo's injury during the Gunners' match with Birmingham City on Saturday. And like many, I passed through several stages of outrage, shock and even an apologist point of view in regard to Martin Taylor, guilty of being too slow in imposing his will upon the Brazilian.
Yes, we all know Taylor didn't mean to do him such harm, and yes, Arsene Wenger's post-match comments were completely unwarranted. And I can see both sides of it: if you're not a team with comparable ability, you must make a statement early in the match; however, just because you break a guys' leg by accident because you're clumsy or too slow doesn't completely absolve you, simply because of the consequences.

But when you couple the brouhaha over this incident with Arsenal captain William Gallas' childish tantrum towards the end of the game, I think the media and pundits do themselves little justice in applying their own tacit set of rules. Just as there's a way to tackle and a way to accept the dangers of the English game, apparently there's a way to be a skipper, and only one way.

Was Gallas immature and stupid to do such a thing? Yes. Does that mean he's the wrong choice for Arsenal captain? Not necessarily.

I did have a major problem with Willy going nuts at Gael Clichy; that is something that needs to happen behind closed doors. However, so what if he pouted like a little kid and lashed out in petulance? I'd rather have a skipper like that, obviously distraught over a perceived injustice, but also feeling like Eduardo suffered his horrible injury for naught. A broken leg and dislocated ankle can never made up for with a win, that's for sure. But Gallas' angry, uncontrollable reaction embodied the desperation of it all.

Arsenal can rue a bevy of chances that would've closed the game down shortly after Birmingham City went down to ten men, and perhaps that's where the lack of experience and callow youth come into play.

Cesc Fabregas, the dynamic midfielder who became an Arsenal regular at 17, never looked more frightened and childlike than when he first stood over Eduardo and implored the physios to come out as quickly as possible. Emmanuel Adebayor quickly went over to the other side of the pitch so as not to see the injury and Flamini claims he can't get the image out of his head.

They're kids, not only in age, but in emotional maturity, as we've seen from William Gallas. Would he be a better captain if he embodied the stoic professionalism the English love their captains to exemplify? Is he less of a lion-heart than John Terry or Steven Gerrard? I've seen John Terry attempt to grab a card out of a ref's hand and Steven Gerrard sneer insolently at Rafa Benitez when substituted (although most substitutions evoke similar reactions from most Reds fans). What's the difference?

So, as a Gooner, I have to say Gallas' display embarassed me a little, a bit like Arsene Wenger's inability to lose graciously, and the ego-clash among the two remaining strikers, Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner. But am I embarassed by his emotion? Not one bit.

Gallas plays captain outrageous in show that ill suits an Arsenal leader [Times Online]

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Who wants it more?

It certainly seems like this weekend's matches will be bandied about as a turning point, as the papers have already done, but we witness the return of the Champions League in the next few days and it's hard to argue against how significant every game is from here on out.

The Champions League match-ups leave us salivating, perhaps too much given the opportunity for some dull games in European play, but the nature of the knock-out stages will provide us all with an opportunity to affix meaning to each and every game from here out. Personally, this gives me a chance to get excited by continental teams again.

And this is certainly true for the remainder of the EPL season. It's a telling time now, for Arsenal and Manchester United, despite the cushion the Gunners have upon the Red Devils. It's easy to point at Saturday's mauling of Arsenal at the hands of Man U and declare this a turning point in the season, just as it will be for Wenger's side if they can rebound with a good result against Milan this week.

Seven away and five home matches for each side should test their respective depth and mettle. Chelsea's breaking up of the duopoly of Arsenal and Man Utd at the top was refreshing a few years ago, despite how you feel about Roman Abramovich's injection of cash, giving neutrals a hope of cracking the top two spots.

Now, for Arsenal, it's an opportunity to return, perhaps this time as a young, swashbuckling, overachieving side. But if the catastrophe of Saturday's game against United expose some cracks in the Gunners' depth, grabbing their first and most vital piece of silver may prove to be a telling grind, something that Manchester United is more than capable of.

Arsenal's remaining matches:

2/23 -Birmingham (A)
3/1 - Aston Villa (H)
3/9 - Wigan (A)
3/15 - Middlesbrough (H)
3/23 - Chelsea (A)
3/29 - Bolton (A)
4/5 - Liverpool (H)
4/12 - Manchester Utd (A)
4/19 - Reading (H)
4/26 - Derby (A)
5/3 - Everton (H)
5/11 - Sunderland (A)

Manchester United's remaining matches:

2/23 - Newcastle (A)
3/1 - Fulham (A)
3/9 - Bolton (H)
3/15 - Derby (A)
3/23 - Liverpool (H)
3/30 - Aston Villa (H)
4/5 - Middlesbrough (A)
4/12 - Arsenal (H)
4/19 - Blackburn (A)
4/26 - Chelsea (A)
5/3 - West Ham (H)
5/11 - Wigan (A)

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Newcastle 1 - 1 Arsenal

Newcastle United v. Arsenal on Wednesday night lived up well to the hype preceding it. The league leaders and their fluent one-touch passing were heading up north to meet a struggling Magpie team.

Lean, svelte and mobile, Arsene Wenger's decimated squad (no Fabregas, Hleb or Flamini) seemed to represent everything foreign about the game, with the beanpole Wenger and the braided Bacary Sagna. And Sam Allardyce was about as English as one can get, with his long-winded, cliche-filled interview hopefully pleasing the 52,000 strong at St. James' Park, chief among them, the Geordie owner himself.

Arsenal opened the score sheet early, with a nice cross from the right from Eboue to hit Adebayor in front of the box, where he stopped the ball with his chest and volleyed home. A nice one-two combo from the Manus, but poor marking on the Magpies' part could easily be pointed to as well. From then on, the bar codes disrupted the Gunners' rhythm, and it was a public display of what all Gooners knew deep down ever since the season began. Without the vision and creativity of Cesc Fabregas, the threat of Alex Hleb and the grit of Mathieu Flamini, Arsenal are a completely different team.

To Newcastle's credit, Steven Taylor's equalizer was much deserved at the hour mark, and a wonderful team effort. James Milner's cross was flicked on by Alan Smith, dummied by Obafemi Martins and put away by the center back, who had remained upfield after a free kick.

Arsenal may be the team to beat this season; but if not for some dropped points early in the campaign, Manchester United have seem more dominant, although their record may not indicate so. There is a confidence, borne by experience and certainly by Sir Alex Ferguson, that accompanies much of what the Red Devils do. While the confidence and "belief" that Wenger loves to talk about is there, the absence of the aforementioned three would have been the difference between a gritty draw up north and an away victory.

While it does take some time to adjust to England's top league, Eduardo has yet to set the pulse racing, and was largely ineffective for most of the time he was on the pitch. How long until he gets dubbed the Andriy Shevchenko of North London, bagging goals for Croatia but none for his club side? Adebayor's first touch still continues to let him down, and Gilberto at times last night justified his place on the bench. Gael Clichy did not seem his usual imposing self either.

I used to think everything hinged on Cesc Fabregas. Now I'm not so sure. I'd say the majority of Arsenal's success is directly attributable to the young Spaniard, but it's the combination of him with Hleb and Flamini that really matter, which brings us back to the old adage about controlling the midfield means you control the game. From an optimist Gooner point of view, it's a point and an opportunity for more youngsters to get more playing time against a decent side in gritty hell (what else would you call St. James' Park for if you're not wearing black and white?).

The return of Robin van Persie and the excellent Lassana Diarra getting more time on the ball are definitely bonuses that will have an impact the rest of this campaign, but until Arsenal can learn to rise above the niggling negativity of the majority of the teams they play, silver may remain elusive.

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Up the Arsenal

Despite protestations from former chairman David Dein, it looks like moving from the Highbury library to the new soulless corporate monstrosity that is Emirates Stadium, turned out to be a good idea after all. I know money doesn't solve anything, but in Arsenal's case, it helps to dispel the notion that not enough money is going into the transfer market to keep the club competitive with the remaining top four.

But I'm not getting ahead of myself. A rout of probably already-relegated Derby County, a crisis at Stamford Bridge and some inconsistent performances for Liverpool do not mean that Arsenal are now the dominant team in the mini-league of the top four. The Gunners do need money to maintain quality, but it's the expectations that come with it that I don't like. As long as the board fulfill Arsene Wenger's wishes, they'll always be in it, and perhaps even amaze us with some quality. Thankfully, Roman Abramovich is setting a good example of exactly what not to do when you're an oligarch running the team. Though I don't expect you to, take note Usmanov and Silent Stan. [Forbes]

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Got $7K to spare? Check out the Arsenal Opus

What is it with the current craze of overweight and overpriced coffee table tomes? If you've got some extra money to spend, or simply need something substantial to put your beer on while you watch TV, check out the Arsenal Opus, and hear how Arsene Wenger might, er, snap (in half) one of these days.

Arsenal Opus [Kraken Books]
Why Wenger fears his dark side [Times Online]

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Gunners shine in preseason competition

If only meaningless preseason friendly matches mattered. But they don't, so I'm not sure what the melodrama is surrounding not only Chelsea's lack of any scoring form against Rangers, but also a nifty but less than threatening offensive onslaught by Arsenal against Inter Milan.

While I did not see the 2-0 victory against the Blues at Ibrox, I did see both the PSG and the Inter Milan game at the Emirates, both games ending in Arsenal victories. Sure, it's heartening to see so many young faces with the technical ability that Arsene Wenger demands, as well as big enough balls to challenge on the pitch when the opportunity is given. I'm thinking of the 17-year old Kieran Gibbs, newly-acquired back Bacary Sagna, as well as a seemingly rejuvenated Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini.

But Milan looked lethargic at times and PSG played well only by default as Arsenal struggled to find a rhythm early in Saturday's game. If there was anything markedly similar to last year's campaign, it was that lack of the final ball in the final third of the field that let Arsenal down. You could tell Hleb was trying to be more decisive, playing in the hole, and the Sagna-Emmanuel Eboue linkup on the right side could be lethal in the coming months. All of this was very pretty to watch, but like last year, much of the spectacular build-up play was wasted as soon an opportunity to finish made itself apparent.

Don't get me wrong, van Persie's goal that put away Inter was a thing of beauty, not unlike a similar goal against Aston Villa a few seasons ago, although that one was at a more acute angle and perhaps more visually spectacular. And we all remember his leaping, one-timed strike against Charlton of last year. The kid's good, real good. Is he Thierry Henry? No, of course not, but a lot will be expected of him this season. My main concern is his durability. You could arguably say that RvP has been cursed a bit, with flukey injuries (breaking a metatarsal after celebrating a goal comes to mind). I have to admit, everytime the Dutchman goes down, I immediately presume we'll lose him for much of the season.

Call it blind faith, or simply Arsenal failing to keep up with the big boys in the transfer window, but I have believed, since the end of last year, that this is a squad able to compete. Whether that happens this year is as up in the air as Wenger possibly staying longer than remainder of his contract. And now we come to a head. Wenger may not sign any more players for the rest of the window and perhaps the rest of the season, which I don't necessarily see as a bad thing. What will be an issue is if Arsenal fans, players and Wenger will be appeased with a piece of silver this year while hopefully entertaining us as they have before, and that requires consistency, something not seen at the Emirates last season.

Van Persie shows there is life at Arsenal after Henry [Guardian Unlimited]

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Footballers are a girl's best friend

"There's no 'I' in team", along with "two heads are better than one" are often heard when adults attempt to instill a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, or at least when some of football's finest are in the middle of roasting an eager groupie.

As much as I agree with the sentiment of those adages in the first case, I'm not sure how Titi's soon-to-be-ex and Frankie Lamps' much-cheated-on baby's momma can benefit from each other. Sure, there's something to be said for good 'ol support and a shoulder to rely on, but it's more likely that Ms. Merry and Ms. Rives could be talking divorce lawyers.

The funniest part of this story is that Fat Frank is using his Gary Coleman look-alike teammate Sean Wright-Phillips as a liason between himself and Rives. Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Elen?

[Sunday Herald, Daily Mail]

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I'm not angry anymore

I've been silent for quite a while, attempting to wrap my head around the departure of Thierry Henry from North London. As in dealing with any loss, I've been vacillating between denial, anger, sadness and pragmatism. It's hard to argue against allowing the greatest scorer in Arsenal history to make his dream move to the Camp Nou, albeit for a piddling sum of $32M.

Henry was an integral part of Arsene Wenger's va-va-voom style, if not the epitome of it, and I know his loss is not just felt in Gooner nation but around all of England. TH14 playing in this league meant that on any given Saturday, we had the strong possibility of seeing something really special. Alas, now us Yanks have to turn to GolTV to satiate our appetites, and what a squad we'll be watching when Henry begins his new career as a member of the Blaugrana.

But from a historical standpoint, TH14's departure is nothing new for Arsenal. The amazing thing for me is that Henry stayed for so long in one place. As angry and as devastated as we may be, there's a part of every Gooner that feels blessed to have seen such a skillful and talented player spend the best eight years of his career at one club as the market and the game changed with the times. Huge sums of money are changing hands at an incredible rate, but no matter how Arsenal was doing in terms of their balance sheet, we had proper attacking football to turn to. Trophies are the main targets, but we always felt Wenger and Co. were chasing them the right way.

But what's in store for Arsenal? Turmoil and uncertainty rule, as the departure of David Dein has done much to unravel the cohesion of competent but young team. Arsenal were already challenged in terms of funds, and the fallout of the board's initial refusal to even entertain the thought of a partnership with the American billionaire Stan Kroenke has only exacerbated the situation at Emirates.

With Arsene Wenger in a powerful position - the board will surely do all it can to keep him at the club - all eyes are on the holidaying gaffer in anticipation of what his next move is. As a Gooner, I have to say I'm anxious to see who will step into the squad, and sooner is always better than later. But I'm not overly-concerned if we don't sign a big name before the end of the window.

Call me crazy, but I feel like Wenger has accounted for this loss in his plans and I'd prefer to see him go about building a squad and competing the same way he's always done, by building and making players great instead of paying the big cash for a big name. Perhaps I'm naive, as Thierry Henry is irreplaceable, but I feel our needs have not changed. Yes, I'd like to see someone of Fernando Torres or Carlos Tevez calibre in the final 1/3 of the field running about in a Gunner kit, but I'll do with some cover in the defensive midfield, an additional back and perhaps a poacher up front.

In the last two seasons, both disappointments for Arsenal, we've heard nothing but praise for Wenger's group of youngsters, and how in the coming years they'll be a squad to reckon with. Unfortuanately, the times are changing and the turmoil at the club may have dire consequences for them if Wenger's position is untenable in any way. We can live with the loss of Henry, but can we cope with losses of Arsenal's golden generation?

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Is Arsenal the next to fall to US hands?

What's going on in North London? A few shares have changed hands during the last week or so, and Ken Friar is the latest one to give his to Peter Hill-Wood, and for free too.

But this is the most interesting part, where Stan Kroenke has issued a statement claiming "no comment" after his Colorado Rapids spokesman claimed the US billionaire had no interest in buying the club.

Word is that he's already made a deal to buy the 9.9% stake owned by ITV.

When you deny that you denied interest in doing something, does that mean you do have an interest?

[This Is London, Forbes]

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The Grab: 03.26

Perhaps one of the more ironic moments in England's current state of uninspired performances, the FA will announce who'll be showing FA Cup and England games for the next four years, beginning in 2008. Could ITV be the new home of FA soccer? [Daily Telegraph]

A sigh of relief or disappointment for Gooners out there? Kroenke Sports Enterprise, owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke, claims they have no interest in buying Arsenal, according to a Colorado Rapids spokesman. [BBC Sport]

Speaking of the Gunners, one of my favorite offensive players, Le Bob, wouldn't mind a return to Arsenal. Although he's currently regaining fitness from a fairly serious knee-injury, and he's hardly leaving defenders in the dust at the age of 33, I wouldn't mind seeing a little Pires ingenuity streaking into the box behind Arsenal's ineffective attack. [ITV]

Manu Adebayor and two others from Togo's national team have been told to go home after, surprisingly, a disagreement over unpaid bonuses. This marks the third time in the last year or so (that I know of) that Togo's Football Federation has had the same issue of unpaid bonuses. Adebayor up front for England? [Fox Sports Australia]

Didn't get enough soccer this weekend (I personally watched over 450 minutes of footy on Saturday and can't seem to recall anything worth mentioning)? Get ready for more Euro qualifying:

Wednesday, March 28

Malta v. Greece

1:30 pm ET Setanta PPV

Turkey v. Norway

2:00 pm ET Setanta Sports

Serbia v. Portugal

2:15 pm ET RTPi

Ireland v. Slovakia

2:30 pm ET Setanta PPV

Poland v. Armenia

2:30 pm ET Setanta PPV

Andorra v. England

3:00 pm ET Setanta PPV

Czech Republic v. Cyprus

3:00 pm ET (delayed) Fox Soccer Channel

Italy v. Scotland

3:00 pm ET RAI

Please check your local listings. Enjoy.

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Fan View: Gunners leave it late . . . . again

Today's lunchtime fixture between Arsenal and Wigan pretty much epitomizes the Gunners' domestic campaign this year. Several frustrating elements always turn up whenever Arsene Wenger's side entertain a lesser (at least in terms of position in the table) side, most importantly, conceding that first goal. The days of going up early and toying with mid-level teams for the rest of the 90 are long gone, having disappeared with the chance of finishing in the top two last year. Arsenal have become, in my opinion, a team that only gets up for big games and needs the desperation of being down a goal (or even a man) to motivate them.

Although we saw some nice play from Wigan today, much more than expected from a team in their position, this match summed up exactly why Arsenal are not realistically in a championship race, or even a race for second place. The quality is there, obviously the heart is as well, it's just that consistency that big teams need throughout the season, and as much as Gooners around the world would like to disagree, Arsenal are a big club. Sure, they don't have the dollars, but with Wenger's tentacles spread out across Europe and Africa (and now, the soccer powerhouse that is the US), this gives the North London side an advantage over other sides, some that may have more to spend. It's hard to dismiss the fact that we could be looking at a potentially-dominant side in the years to come, but they've got to separate themselves more from the lesser quality clubs.

Losses to Sheffield United and West Ham, as well as draws with Aston Villa and Newcastle have done nothing to give Arsenal fans a sense of any growing consistency. Yes, the Gunners are playing much better than at the beginning of the season, but as any Gooner will tell you, the stress level associated with watching Wenger's squad is more than palpable. I may sound like a spoiled fan, but here are a couple grievances I would like to air after watching today's match:

1) As good as TH14 is, why does he insist on fluffing at least one clear-cut opportunity every single game? The captain's arrogance can be thrilling at times, especially after a superb goal or pass, but you have to finish those Thierry.
2) What the hell is Jens Lehmann doing collecting his 5th yellow card of the season? Sure, he wasn't going to start for Arsenal this coming week, but why make that decision for the gaffer? How big could this be if Almunia gets a knock and Mart Poom comes off the bench to let in a little dribbler to the far post?
3) Where was Cesc Fabregas this entire game? The usually dynamic visionary did very little today to impress. Is Wenger's workhorse beginning to feel the fatigue that accompanies playing nearly every Premiership minute?
4) Arsenal took 10 corners opposed to Wigan's 1. Ten corners, and not a close chance of scoring from a set play. Disgraceful.

A lot of complaining from a guy who's team just came back to win in a thrilling game, putting his team only a point from third place with a game in hand, but really, Arsenal, my poor, undulating heart.

Rosicky claims Gunners win [Sky Sports]

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Anyone fancy an Arsenal v. Arsenal friendly this summer?

The last of the big four to elude foreign ownership may soon fall to US sports tycoon E. Stanley Kroenke. Kroenke, 59, is co-owner of the NFL's St. Louis Rams and a full owner of:

NBA - Denver Nuggets
NHL - Colorado Avalanche
Arena Football League - Colorado Crush
National Lacrosse League - Colorado Mammoth
MLS - Colorado Rapids

Yes, it looks like the husband of Wal-Mart heir Anne Walton is looking at the US as an opportunity for Arsenal, especially with the prospect of legitimizing his MLS franchise, so much that there is talk of turning the Rapids into an American Arsenal team.

The arrival of Goldenballs to these shores is certainly an opportunity the American billionaire would like to exploit. Arsenal, whose limited stock is not publicy traded in mainstream financial markets, is majority-owned by board of directors. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this in the upcoming weeks. [Independent, SMiA, Wikipedia]

Revealed: the US billionaire who is in talks with Arsenal [Independent]

E Stanley Kroenke Forbes listing [Forbes]

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Gunner Lite to meet Blues in Cardiff

If you're a Gooner, the League Cup means more to you this year than it has since Arsene Wenger's been in charge. Typically categorized as a nuisance for big clubs, and gem of an opportunity for the minnows, it's hard for fans to get up for these games unless it's the only chance at winning some silver that's left in the season. Just witness Manchester United's nonchalant celebrations in the dressing room after clinching last year's Carling Cup.

For a lot of Arsenal fans, this year's League Cup is special because of Wenger's insistence in fielding so many of his youngsters throughout the competition. It's pretty clear what the Frenchman thinks about the competition (not much), and fair play to the visionary for rewarding his youngsters by letting them face Chelsea at the final in Cardiff. While we know the League Cup is fairly pointless, Arsenal's run is miles away from their Champions League performances of last year. What makes these games compelling, besides being North London derbies, is the opportunity for Arsenal fans to watch their youth and reserves begin to gel as a team, providing hope for the future.

With a growing injury list, and little spending money compared to other clubs in the top four, Arsenal needs to make do with what they have at the moment, and what better opportunity for the B-team to get some experience? And what better team to do so against, watching it all come to fruition, than Spurs?

Although Jeremie Aliadiere obviously isn't AW's favorite, he could definitely step into a number of first teams in the top flight, although he disappears at times. Theo Walcott has hit the ceiling of his learning curve, his inexperience glaringly apparent in Wednesday night's game, and Tomas Rosicky's substitution for the teenager had an immediate impact. Gael Clichy came in for an injured Armand Traore and did the same, although Traore definitely exhibited good skill that should serve the squad in the future. I'm most impressed with Manuel Almunia, who essentially is the reason there was a replay against Spurs, getting a hand onto Jermaine Defoe's attempted chip over him in the first match. The Spainard has made very few bad decisions, if any, and has challenged and come off his line at the right moments. I think we're looking a replacement for Lehmann when the German ends his karate, er football career.

With a showdown in the final against Chelsea, (who could see skipper John Terry return this weekend) the restart of the Champions League, and a legitimate chase for second place, Arsene Wenger hopes his youngsters can improve even more as the CL and EPL become more relevant and the injury list remains long. Let's hope the difference in the Arsenal dressing room after the final evokes nothing of Man U's.

Gunners extra firepower has final reward [Guardian]

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Why can't we all make a difference?

No, not another Beckham Watch; I just couldn't resist posting the pic above due to its sheer ridiculousness. Anyone see the interview where he said he was "doing it for the kids"? Good stuff. Here's a little bit of the reaction on the other side of the pond.
[Reuters]

Non-Chelsea fans have to be looking forward to the prospect of Jose Mourinho leaving the Blues. While I do believe he's worked some magic at Stamford Bridge, this should be a worthy saga in the near future. You've got the perfect clash between coaching genius and dubious wealth, with some overpaid superstars caught in the middle. And, you have a world-renowned coach that could easily make the in-house move (Hiddink is bankrolled by Roman Abramovich) from the Russian Football Federation to Chelsea.

The interesting thing about this is the nature of the rift between Mourinho and Abramovich; who'd have thought it was going to begin with disagreements over the transfer kitty? With JT still out after his recent back surgery, the Blues' spine on the pitch is quite thin, and the big money signings Sheva ($54M transfer fee) and Michael Ballack ($245,000/wk) continue to unimpress. Of course, JM's started up his bitching machine, tucked somewhere behind that frontal lobe labelled "Special One". With Manchester United re-establishing their strength, and an Arsenal squad that should compete in the next coming years, Mourinho's impending departure is more than just another manager leaving the league at the top of his game.
[Caught Offside]

Speaking of bitching gaffers, Rafa Benitez has found another reason why his squad's sucking it up so bad lately, after explaining why he just couldn't be bothered to compete in the League Cup.
[Goal, Irish Examiner]

Ally McCoist follows Walter Smith back to Ibrox. Clive Tyldesly tells us why the Scotland telly legend is good craic.
[Telegraph]

Remember when Bisan Lauren was the beast at the back that paired so well with Kolo Toure? Well, he's an old man of 29 now and hasn't touched a ball with meaningful intent in over a year, so Wenger's going to let him go in January. With a depth of young talent at the back for the Gunners, there's little chance of the Cameroonian defender to break back into the starting line-up. Unfortunately, Alan Pardew is not longer at West Ham, so I can't write a snide article about his love of foreign players.
[Sky Sports]

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Arsenal, Chelsea stutter as Red Devils triumph

After the holiday break, it's still tight in the middle of the top half, with four points separating third from sixth, and some deciding matches came about on Saturday, most notably Sheffield United's 1-0 win over Arsenal. Arsene Wenger's young squad can look absolutely horrible when they lack key players, like Fabregas, Hleb and Adebayor. While I often think Alexander Hleb can be disposessed easily at times, at least he runs at defenders and causes trouble, and the energy of Fabregas is always missed when he's not starting. Of course, the nervy performances by the back four are another thing of worry in Gooner nation, and it looks like a good time to welcome back the skipper Thierry Henry. A loss like this surely solidifies the fact that Arsenal are in another dogfight for 4th place this year, and can only hope to regain fitness and rhythm before the restart of their European campaign in February. [BBC Football]

Chelsea can also hope to benefit from the time between now and the knockout round of the Champions League. The loss of skipper and defensive power John Terry has revealed a holey defense, as they find themselves coming from behind a lot in recent matches, something last year's squad wasn't used to. And the same can be said of dropping points, which is exactly what the Blues did today at Stamford Bridge against Fulham, which sees league leaders Manchester United go six points clear after their win today. A perfect opportunity for Jose Mourinho to begin the mind-tweaking, as he claimed some of his players don't contribute at all (poor Sheva). Like Arsenal, Chelsea wasn't able to come back, as they should have against the quality of their respective opponents, and it has cost them dearly in the race for the top spot. [SportingLife]

For Fergie, well he's just riding high after the holiday, and he's got perhaps the best young talent in the Premiership with Cristiano Ronaldo at the moment. The villian (for England) from this year's World Cup is having an incredible season, and despite retaining his penchant for hair product and Eurotrash style, he's dropped the needless flair and converted his technical skill into goals. He's just another example of Fergie's ability to mold winning teams. The effectiveness of Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solsjaer, and Ryan Giggs have diminished little when it comes to winning games, because their intelligence and instincts can compensate for aging. A 3-2 win over Reading put the Red Devils six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table. In a high-stakes game where consistent performances are keys to success, off-days are the kind that Manchester United have taken care to avoid, which can't be said for the rest of the pack. [Telegraph]

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