Arsenal FC 2009/2010

[pires7]

It has simply become a case of when this day occurs, not if

[# 9]

arsenal v united (classic match) on fox atm, if anyone wants to kno

[delfino_1936]

[# 9]

hey i kno that guy , he and his other LOLSPURS mates run around at the adelaide pagent

[delfino_1936]

[delfino_1936]

arsenal v united (classic match) on fox atm, if anyone wants to kno

what a game that was, remember it like it was yesterday

[pires7]

how we didn't take the lead in the 1st half They were good except lucky for us the upfront wanted to shoot from everywhere except near the 18yard box

[delfino_1936]

how we didn't take the lead in the 1st half They were good except lucky for us the upfront wanted to shoot from everywhere except near the 18yard box

did you watch it online??

[pires7]

how we didn't take the lead in the 1st half They were good except lucky for us the upfront wanted to shoot from everywhere except near the 18yard box

did you watch it online??

replay was on this arvo on ESPN, might be on again tonight?

Cesc and RVP both had very gettable chances but they fell to their non preferred foot

good quote in my signature

[delfino_1936]

how we didn't take the lead in the 1st half They were good except lucky for us the upfront wanted to shoot from everywhere except near the 18yard box

did you watch it online??

replay was on this arvo on ESPN, might be on again tonight?

Cesc and RVP both had very gettable chances but they fell to their non preferred foot

good quote in my signature

oh yeah, i had work otherwise i would've watched it. lol RVP on his right, cesc on his left, while couldn't they switch chances


hahaha yeah, i wonder what he said to Keegan when they were coming off the pitch

[delfino_1936]

'Game is a mixture of frustration and relief'

On the result...
“The game is a mixture of frustration and relief. The game should be over at half-time because we had clear chances in the first half, but it is a relief because with three minutes to go we were 1-0 down. I felt our level dropped in the second half and we did not create as many chances as we would have liked to. We feel we have lost two points today."

On the Kyiv goal...
"The penalty was harsh, Sagna is convinced he was pulled with two hands on his own shirt as the guy went down.

"But we cannot complain about that. We have to deal with that. The referee gave a penalty, so that is that."

On claims that the Gallas goal was offside...
"We do not want to score offside goals, but this is the same referee who should have sent off the left-back three times at least during the game because he destroyed Walcott. And it is the same referee who gave Kiev a penalty which was not complained about."

[pires7]

4th game in Ukraine and our first point, not too bad getting a draw.

[delfino_1936]

4th game in Ukraine and our first point, not too bad getting a draw.

i'm happy with a point and i expected it to be a tough game in partizan conditions.

Porto home is just so important we get all 3 points

[Ray Parlour]

watching the replay on espn now

FARK that penalty was a joke! if anything it should have been a free quick for Sagna!

and the treatment of walcott was a disgrace, he is obv now a targeted player, and im worried for him re injuries now

[pires7]

I missed the penalty decision, left the room for a minute and came back to see him take it and then put on a massive over the top post goal celebration.

[barbarez01]

Uncertainty over Rosicky return

Czech Republic head coach Petr Rada has revealed that Tomas Rosicky has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury.

The Arsenal playmaker is currently sidelined after undergoing hamstring surgery in May, but had been expected to make a full recovery in September.

However, Rada has stated that he is unsure if Rosicky will be at his disposal for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers versus Poland and Slovenia in October.

He told Denik Sport: "Tomas has started another stage of recovery, including training with the ball.

"But recently his knee reacted badly to that. It is very difficult to predict if he will be ready for the World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Slovenia in October."

Rosicky's agent, Pavel Paska, added: "Without the permission of Arsenal I am not allowed to be more specific on Tomas' health."

Its worrying, Tomas's agent has however dismissed fears that his career is under threat and that he may be forced into retiring prematurely, hopefully he can get over this and get back on the pitch soon, the team needs him.

IMO Rosicky will retire.. this is getting ridiculous..

[pires7]

That sucks, you could think, oh great we will probably have a fresh player come the half way point of the season but his hamstrings are a bit dodgy too.

[delfino_1936]

if he retires i'll be in tears, seriously

the Czech national team shouldn't be worried about when they get him back FFS

[delfino_1936]

Bolton Wanderers - Arsenal

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger is not prepared to tolerate even the thought of tiredness as Arsenal end their globetrotting week at Bolton on Saturday.

The Frenchman has taken his side to Blackburn and Kiev since the weekend coming back each time with satisfactory results. With Chelsea playing Manchester United on Sunday, this game gives Wenger the opportunity to steal a march on one of their main Premier League rivals. That’s why fatigue can NOT be factor at the Reebok Stadium.

“It will not be an issue because we don't put that in our brain,” said the Frenchman. “You want just to keep the focus as we had it at Blackburn and Kyiv then let's get the maximum out of the game.

“When you are a competitor you want competition so you cannot complain when you have that competition and you are tired. This is a fantastic opportunity because when you are a football player you want to play football matches.”

Arsenal had a similar run of away games last year and it proved costly. They went to Sevilla, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Middlesbrough in the space of 13 days. Although the defeat in Spain brought an end to Arsenal’s 28-game unbeaten run, it was no great problem in itself as they had already qualified from Champions League Group H. However they went on to drop five points in the three Premier League games – and, remember, they only lost the title by four.

“Yes at that stage we played four away games on the trot,” said Wenger. “We lost in Sevilla but after that we won at Aston Villa.

“At Middlesbrough it's true we were a bit jaded physically. But I don't expect that [again]. We had a bad start up there and, of course, when you are a little bit jaded it is harder to get back into your game. So it's important we have a successful start to this game.”

Wenger has the same squad to chose from as Kyiv because Samir Nasri (knee), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Mikael Silvestre (muscular problem) are all still out. However to keep the side fresh, the manager intends to make changes.

“Nobody has come back from Kyiv with any knocks,” he said. “But we will rotate a little bit because it was a very physical game.”

Bolton have made an adequate start from their four games so far. They have lost both away games but have picked up a win and draw at home against Stoke and West Brom respectively – two sides who they may face in a relegation dogfight.

Bolton seemed all but down last March when Arsenal came back from two goals and one man down at half time to pull off a storming 3-2 victory. The game was a Reebok revenge for Wenger, who suffered a couple of bruising defeats during the Sam Allardyce years. While Arsenal have had their fair share of victories too, Wenger feels this fixture has always been one of extremes.

“I felt it was always very good or very bad,” he said. “Rarely inbetween. But then for years they had a very good side and to be honest they still have. Nobody likes to go to Bolton because everyone knows they give you a tough commitment.

“We are preparing ourselves for another away game and one where we need mental resources to get the result.

“Only this time we want to win the game without being 2-0 down.”

[SPURS18]

Arsenal welcome Kroenke on board
By Soccernet staff

Updated: September 19, 2008, 11:45 AM UK
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Arsenal have welcomed American billionaire Stan Kroenke onto their board as a non-executive director as they attempt to stave off a potential takeover from Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov.

AP

Stan Kroenke: Arsenal's unexpected knight in shining armour.

The billionaire owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises holds 12.4% of shares in Arsenal Holdings PLC and his appointment marks a thaw in the relationship between himself and Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood. However, Kroenke has not signed up to the 'lockdown' agreement drawn up by board members last year which prevents the trading of shares without the consent of fellow directors.

Following Kroenke's initial investment in April 2007 Hill-Wood famously remarked that Arsenal did not want "his sort"; but the club's directors have been establishing closer links with the American since Russian billionaire Usmanov, the club's largest shareholder, began raising his stake in the club to 24.9%.

In a statement released on Friday morning the Gunners hierarchy claimed Kroenke was fully behind their business model - a thinly-veiled attack on the owner-funded approach that would come with an Usmanov takeover.

"Mr Kroenke fully supports the approach the board has taken in setting the direction of the club," the statement read.

"The board believes Mr Kroenke's experience in sports team commercial management, sports marketing, media and new media rights as well as real estate development will be of great value."

Kroenke has agreed not to increase his stake beyond 29.9% of Arsenal's share capital in the next year unless a takeover bid is launched by Usmanov or another party, in which case he could do so with the consent of the board.

"It is a real honour to be invited to join the board of Arsenal given their pre-eminent reputation and position in football worldwide," said Denver-based Kroenke, who through KSE has owned the St Louis Rams, Denver Nuggets and Colorado Rapids in his homeland.

"I hope my background in sports management will be an asset to Arsenal in their commercial dealings going forward."

Hill-Wood added: "We are delighted to welcome Stan to the board of Arsenal.

"He brings with him a wealth of experience through his direct involvement in sports clubs in the US and we expect to benefit from his commercial insights and knowledge."

• Kroenke's invitation to join the Arsenal board comes on the same day the club revealed a pre-tax profit of £36.7million for the year ending May 2008.

The Gunners continue to reap the rewards of their move to the Emirates Stadium with the club having announced that gate and match day revenue totalled £94.6million, which represents some 45% of their overall football revenues.

The club moved to the 60,000-capacity stadium from Highbury in July 2006, and Hill-Wood claimed that it has put the club in a strong position to help manager Arsene Wenger develop the playing side.

He said: "This club is ambitious for success and I believe that the strong financial position which the group has established, as confirmed by the results for the year, provides the best possible platform from which to deliver that success for the long term.

"We are committed to operating the club as a business which is financially self-sustaining and over the last two seasons Emirates Stadium has taken our football revenues to a new level.

"During the year we have improved and extended the contract terms of a large number of first team players and, of course, of Arsene Wenger himself.

"As a result, for the first time, the Group's wage bill has exceeded nine figures at £101.3 million."

The club confirmed that their overall debt position rose to an overall £318.1million but they had expected it to increase because of the use of bank debt to fund the construction of apartments at Highbury Square.

A significant level of property sales are anticipated for 2008-09 with a large number of Highbury Square apartments scheduled to be completed and released for sale which would reduce the debt.

Legally completed sales from the first phase of 65 apartments released at the end of July have so far generated sales proceeds of £18.7million.

[pires7]

Seems odd, they think he will provide insurance against the potential takeover bid. Look like we will be owned by yanks or blood money in the future.

[pires7]

Still conceding the first goal too often

[Le King]

gd win by the gunners, watched the game, bolton got in front 1st and then when arsenal hit the post twice i thought it wasnt there day, but as soon as they scored 1 u knew theyd win cause bolton jst couldnt hold on till half time...

anyways top of the league, but im waitin 4 the fadeout mid season

[pires7]

back where this group belongs

[chelsea91]

They impressed me last night a lot, good win..

[delfino_1936]

awesome win, cause it proved that Denilson, Song and others can do a job. I thought Eboue was good in the 1st half for a change

[Le King]

gd 2 see cesc and gallas step up and be men when clichey got injured.... cause i rememba them actin like girls and lookin like they were about 2 pass out when eduardo got injured last season

[pires7]

Flamini-who!

The Wenger system is now allowing Denilson to show his worth, still has to compete for this place with Diaby when he is fit. Surprised by his form, his game against Fulham was a disaster

[delfino_1936]

thank goodness Clichy is ok!!!
just a bruised leg

[# 9]

fuckn well done gunners. just goes to show, the depth in the team that anyone in the side can score, it shows the diversity of the formation and playing style. this was usually a very difficult fixture, cause bolton are usually a very physical side (not anymore, well ever since allardyce left they havent been the same side that can beat us). the best looking football in the world continues!!!