Former Gunner Adebayor Fit To Return To Haunt Arsenal

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is set to face a late fitness test with the Spurs medical staff this weekend - but should still be able to shake off the ill effects of a recent knee injury in a bid to return to the Tottenham lineup to face bitter North London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday. The Togo striker has been in excellent form for Harry Redknapp's side this season following his loan move from Manchester City - notching up 10 goals and as many assists in 22 Premier League appearances this season as Tottenham have mounted a surprise title challenge. Former Arsenal hero Adebayor turned villain for Gunners fans following his big money move to Manchester City - and relations with their former hitman hit fever pitch when the striker ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of them following his goal at Eastlands back in September 2009.
     While Redknapp will hope Adebayor can again return to haunt Arsene Wenger's side, and fulfill every Tottenham fan's dreams by helping them to win and gain local bragging rights in the North London Derby, the wider footballing and financial implications of the game are much bigger for both clubs as they battle to secure Champions League qualification next season. Tottenham - currently 3rd in the Premier League - sit some 10 points ahead of their rivals who remain 4th in the standings, while Arsenal look to hold off the challenge of the recently faltering Chelsea to ensure they qualify for club football's biggest event.

Could Milan Mauling be the Final Nail in Wenger's Coffin?

Arsenal face a near impossible task in their bid to advance in the 2012 UEFA Champions League following their humiliation at the hands of Italian giants AC Milan last night. Outclassed in every department against experienced European opposition, an agitated Arsene Wenger condemned and lamented his side's performance - conceding that Arsenal failed to acquit themselves during any stage of the tie and were adequately punished by their superior opposition.
     Wenger has already faced away day humiliation earlier this season having seen his side torn apart 8-2 at Old Trafford in August, but this defeat in many ways emphasised his team's shortcomings to an even greater extent than that memorable afternoon in Manchester - in spite of a marginally less outlandish looking scoreline.
     Arsenal's defensive frailties - so often an Achilles heel of the team as a whole under Wenger - were highlighted throughout the fixture and continuously exploited by Milan, while even in attack The Gunners were unusually ineffective against what proved to be stereotypically well drilled and highly organized Italian opposition. Even Robin Van Persie - so often a prolific goal scorer, the “Go To” player and to some extent, a beacon of hope for Arsenal in a fast fading this season - proved woefully ineffective, and was replaced by an aging Thierry Henry at the half way point. The substitution was not to have any bearing on the result however, and left the French forward (with what will surely now be his last appearance for the club at which he excelled on countless occasions) with a final Arsenal sendoff he would surely rather forget.
     The English sporting press this morning were unsparingly scathing of the Arsenal manager – with The Daily Telegraph dubbing last night's performance a "watershed filled with tears" for Arsene Wenger - for so long now regarded as a continually successful, pioneering and forward thinking figure in the English game. However, unless Arsenal can rally quickly for their now all important FA cup tie against a resurgent Sunderland side this weekend, Wenger- for so long a staunch defender of his football philosophy of developing youth and promoting attacking flair (sometimes critics would argue at the expense of winning trophies) - must surely now face up to the almost inconceivable prospect of leaving his post at the end of the current campaign as Arsenal look to reassess and rebuild.

Kean Silences Critics as Fragile Gunners Continue to Misfire

Blackburn manager Steve Kean yesterday hit back at his critics who had claimed his days at the Rovers helm were numbered with a stunning 4-3 victory over Arsenal at Ewood Park. Rovers came out on top of a thrilling yet often shambolic encounter in which Arsene Wenger’s side again capitulated in defence against their stronger, more rugged opposition - scoring 2 own goals in the process. Around 200 fans had protested against Kean before the match as his side had struggled so far in the season and started the day bottom of the table. However, the shock result will give the defiant Kean at least some breathing space after he once again insisted he has the full backing of owners Venky’s. Jubilant Kean could not hide his delight at the final whistle as the result saw them leapfrog their opposition in the table. However, bookmakers still see the victory as nothing more than a stay of execution.

In contrast to Kean, Wenger again cut a forlorn figure following the match as he faces the unlikely prospect – dependant on today’s results admittedly - of being in the bottom 3 in the Premier League having already lost 3 of their 5 league games and with only 1 victory on the board against newcomers Swansea City. Wenger confessed his side currently looked “fragile” and that they were suffering a crisis of confidence following their 8-2 schooling at Old Trafford. Having lost key personnel in the form of Fabregas and Nasri the Frenchman must now be feeling the pressure more than ever as his club seek an ever elusive major trophy.

Fergie Reverts to Siege Mentality as United Battle on 3 Fronts

In a week where Arsenal's dream of a historic quadruple has faded into near nothingness while Manchester United's hopes of bagging a terrific treble continue to burn brightly, Sir Alex Ferguson has sought to adopt an an all too familiar siege mentality in relation to recent media criticism and jibes he has received from rival managers of his attitude towards match officials. The wily old United boss - who has been charged by the FA over his remarks about referee Martin Atkinson following his side's defeat at Stamford Bridge - was in typically defiant mood as he rebuked comments made by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and former England boss Graham Taylor who had both spoken out against Fergie in recent televison interviews and the written press about Ferguson's rants.

     Ferguson was quoted as saying that people had "short memories" in reference to Dalglish's recent comments about the referee following his side's defeat to United earlier this season and also Taylor's now infamous tirade at the linesmen in an England qualifier when he claimed the referee had just got him the sack. The "nobody likes us we don't care" attitude of Sir Alex is certainly nothing new, and is one that he has used to deflect the media and public pressure and expectation away from his playing squad on a nunber of occasions as his side have faced the growing scrutiny and speculation that surrounds the Premier League title run in. No doubt at the end of the season (as he has on so many occassions), Ferguson will have the last laugh as his side continue to creep closer towards what would be a historic title win.

Blackburn's Samba Request Move Away from Ewood

Blackburn centre back Chris Samba has requested a move away from Ewood Park in the wake of the sacking of former manager Sam Allardyce by the club's new owners and the growing unrest within the squad. Seemingly disillusioned by the recent unfolding of events at the Lancashire club, the giant defender has stunned fans and new manager Steve Kean alike by requesting a move away from Rovers. Arguably ranking as one of the Premier League's most underrated defenders, Samba has established himself at Rovers on the back of displays of supreme strength and aerial dominance which has been a potent weapon for Rovers as part of the club's defense and attack in the previous couple of seasons.

 

But now it seems the Blackburn man is set for pastures new - with high flyers Arsenal apparently interested in signing the Blackburn powerhouse as manager Wenger seeks to add some much needed steel to their stylishly assembled squad during the forthcoming January transfer window. The 26 year old defender’s desire to leave Ewood is also very much on the radar of Fulham manager Mark Hughes who had previously signed Samba for Blackburn when he managed there in 2007. The loss of Samba would be a big blow for Blackburn and their ambitious new owners who stated they are looking to finish in the Europa League places in this year's Premier League.

UEFA Bottle It Over Eduardo Dive Ban

Arsenal forward Eduardo Da Silva was this evening celebrating after having his 2 match European ban lifted by the regions football governing body UEFA. The Croatian international had previously had the ban imposed upon him after seeming to tumble to the ground all too easily to win a penalty in his side's Champions League qualifying victory over Scottish rivals Celtic at the Emirates Stadium on the 26th of August. In spite of there appearing to be minimal contact, the Gunners' hitman won a penalty as Hoops keeper Artur Boruc slid out to meet him as he raced towards goal - causing UEFA to later investigate the incident, before imposing a 2 game ban on Eduardo for his apparent deception of the referee. However, after an Appeal from the North Londoners, the ban has now been rescinded - meaning that Eduardo will now be available to face Standard Liege on Wednesday evening in the opening game of Arsenal's Champions League campaign. Although Eduardo is by no means the first to face accusations of simulation in the modern game, UEFA's initial seemingly positive and forceful move of making a stand on the issue of diving is now looking rather embarrassing following today's U-turn - and is a decision that will surely send mixed messages to football clubs across the continent and raise serious football questions. Arsenal themselves had been the subject of a contentious penalty decision recently after England striker Wayne Rooney was accused of diving in their recent clash at Old Trafford. However, Wenger will surely be delighted to see the overturning of what he had initially described as a "deeply flawed" sanction on Eduardo.

A Feast of Festive Football Awaits!

Fans of the English game relish the packed fixture list of the festive period, with the boxing day fixtures having a long tradition of drawing some of the biggest crowds of the season for football clubs across the country. This year is of course no exception, with some mouth watering fixtures to fill you with festive cheer. For me, the pick of this year's boxing day action has to be Arsenal's trip to Villa Park set to kick off at 5:15 this afternoon. Arsene Wenger's side have been under ongoing scrutiny this season and with the recent long term loss of captain Fabregas to injury it seems as though there may be more rocky roads ahead for the Gunners. Aston Villa meanwhile have been on an absolute high of late, enjoying their best start to the season for some time and unquestionably boasting some young and exciting English talent in players such as Young, Milner and Agbonlahor. Villa manager Martin O' Neill will no doubt see todays game as a chance to prove to the wider footballing world that his side now truely have the potential to displace England's "big four" and qualify for next season's champions league. Wenger however will perhaps feel the greater pressure following a season of uncertainty.

Cesc to Get the Armband at the Emirates?

The latest football banter echoing around the terraces of England this weekend surrounds the apparent crisis setting in at the Emirates stadium. The well documented outburst by now former Gunners captain William Gallas is just the latest in a long line of public and non public showing of disharmony emanating from deep within the heart of the North London Giants. Even the experience and patience of the Great Arsene Wenger has now been seemingly stretched to the full, after Gallas publicly criticised his team in a recent autobiography and in the English football media. The latest football banter spreading across the capital would seem to suggest that the fallen Frenchman will be replaced by the 21 year old star of Arsenals midfield: Cesc Fabregas. Gallas' loss of the captaincy may be the final straw of his turbulent Arsenal career, following heavy public criticism of his leadership and off field demeanor. Certainly, his recent appearance on the front pages of the English tabloids leaving a nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth could certainly have not strengthened Gallas' claim as a suitable figure head of one of the world's best known football clubs. If the Arsenal are to become famous for more than playing attractive football and actually go on to break there long running duck of trophyless seasons, it is going to take a great shift in attitude and spirit amongst the squad - but if anyone can implment that change, it surely is Arsene Wenger.