Archive for December, 2004

3 More Points, 3 Consecutive Clean Sheets

5 comments December 31st, 2004

Patrick Vieira’s deflected drive consigned Newcastle to defeat in a game which Arsenal only just edged.

The most important thing to come out of it was another clean sheet: Manuel Almunia’s fourth from his five Premiership games. That’s a pretty oustanding record when you look at our defensive form across the whole season. Of course he’s not entirely responsible, but a good save from Craig Bellamy at 0-0 was yet another factor in what is becoming a real vindication of Wenger’s decision to drop Jens Lehmann.

Tomorrow, we face Charlton. Dennis Bergkamp is likely to miss out, and there’s more chance of Mad Jens being drafted into central midfield than Edu getting a game. It seems our Brazilian boy, as we have been saying for what seems like forever, is leaving.

One of Flamini or Fabregas will partner Vieira, and van Persie will continue upfront.

Happy New Year, everybody- I’d text you all at midnight, but you know you can never get reception.

Fulham Forced Aside as Thoughts Turn to Tyneside…

Add comment December 28th, 2004

A solid 2-0 victory with goals from Henry and Pires.

If I could be arsed, I’d count up all the times that that’s occurred over the past couple of years.

This weekend, against Fulham, it signalled a return to business as usual. We weren’t outstanding, but we weren’t half bad either. Campbell, Lauren, Fabregas, and Henry were our stars.

Manuel Almunia made a very good save, aswell. He’s not doing too badly, and another clean sheet under his belt will only help his confidence to grow. Jens Lehmann, however, could become a target for Borrusia Munchunpronounceable if he doesn’t regain his starting place soon.

Looking ahead to the Newcastle game, I’d imagine that Ashley Cole will return in place of Gael Clichy. Mathieu Flamini might well displace a rested Cesc Fabregas, and Robin van Persie could get a start. He ought to: Dennis was pretty dire against Fulham.

Oh, and Patrick Kluivert is injured, so we’ll probably have the dubious pleasure of facing another 5-man midfield. Hurrah.

Merry Christmas from Gunner-Blog

93 comments December 24th, 2004

I could talk about Ashley Cole’s new contract.

I could talk about Wenger’s latest comments on the Edu situation.

I could even deal with the transfer speculation that links us to Bolton’s tasty Finnish goalkeeper, Juicy Jaaskelainen.

But instead, I’d like to wish all Gunner-Blog readers (yes, both of you), a very merry Christmas indeed.

It’s been an interesting, inconsistent, and occassionally indifferent few months of blogging since Gunner-Blog was spawned. I want to thank the two sites who really inspired me to begin this entirely pointless journey, and they’re East Lower, and most importantly Arseblog. I’d like to think Gunner-Blog was certainly one of the first Arsenal blogs to jump into the already massed competition, before the heady onrush of several more recent, and arguably more successful, publications.

I don’t know if any of that last paragraph makes sense: I am absolutely knackered.

Look, have a proper Crimbo, and I’ll probably be back before New Year.

Tarrah.

Henry is still only the 2nd best player in the world.

3 comments December 21st, 2004

Sell him, says I.

In all seriousness, it’s a magnificent achievement. To gain second place for two consecutive years is something absolutely phenomenal, whilst losing out to the hideously talented and very in-vogue Ronaldinho is nothing to be ashamed of.

From the sounds of things, Thierry turned up at the event in disguise as a student. Nice one, Tel.

Sol Campbell’s thunderbolt took us past Portsmouth at the weekend, and we are now able to look forward to the boxing day tie with Fulham.

But before that, we all ought to start eating loads and spending money on relatives who we don’t really care about.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year (or so I’m told).

Munich Air Disaster?

1 comment December 18th, 2004

Apologies for the horrible distateful headline, but it fits so well that I felt compelled by some unearthly force.

Allow me to explain: We’ve drawn Bayern Munich, and they are very good in the air, especially from set-pieces. We are not. Therefore, we could be in a lot of trouble.

But then again, we might not. With a new goalkeeper and renewed confidence, we have the opportunity to build some defensive stability by the February tie. This is something that could be helped by the possible return of Gilberto Silva.

It’ll be interesting to see if Jens Lehmann can regain his spot by then, in order to face off against his arch-rival, Oliver Kahn.

He certainly has a chance, especially when you consider that Arsene is very unlikely to bring in a new ‘keeper. Or anyone at all, in fact. Including Ledley King.

This, of course, excludes the signing of Manu Eboué – a story which we brought you first, I’ll have you know.

I’m very busy with a bit of a business at the moment, so updates will be somewhat erratic, as ever.

Pompey on Sunday. I like them. So let’s beat them marginally. 17-0, perhaps.

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