Arsenal V Newcastle Utd

This season has been far from a good one for both fans and club alike but theres light at the end of the tunnel and the silver lining of potential Champions League football that didn't seem possible running into the New Year.

From the opening whistle you could see the hunger in the Arsenal players eyes. I was at the game last night and thought it was pure dominance by the Gunners that almost ended in frustration until the Verminator bundled over a 95th minute winner.

When Newcastle opened the scoring against the run of play in the 14th minute it seemed common place that RVP linked with Theo to strike past Krul no less then 60 seconds later.
At the very point that the equalizer went, Newcastle started playing for the draw with Krul clearly time wasting at every opportunity.

The Arsenal eventually prevailed in the last gasp which has put them just 1 point behind rivals Spurs who have to be looking over there shoulders at both Arsenal and Chelsea who now have that sniff of Europe's top competition
and with their experience running into the last 10 games would you bet against Spurs finishing 5th maybe even 6th??

Thoughts on a postcard......

Arsenal V Manchester United The Preview.

Well where do you start with this one?! Maybe 8-2 to United way back at the start of the season?

This result will be in the back of everyone's mind going into the match both fans and players alike.
Fact is I think this was one of those freak results that happen once in a while and at the Emirate today at 1600
It'll be a different story.

The Arsenal players seemed fired up and want to have a revenge mission that sees their own season get back on track.

It's a very hard one to predict for me as both sides have been seriously dented by injuries. I can see a draw written all over this one but Arsenal fans would happily take a 90th minute winner by Henry to get everyone smiling at the Emirate once again.

My Weekend Premierleague Predictions.

I thought each week from now until the end of the season I would give the old prediction game a go along with new football talk writer Michael F.

In this little bit of competition between each other we have decided we will receive 1 point for the correct result and 3 points for the correct scoreline.

Feel free to join in and test your own prediction ability with ours.

Saturday Fixtures:----------

Norwich v Chelsea
PBS: 2-1 MF: 1-2

Everton v Blackburn
PBS: 2-2 MF: 2-1

Fulham v Newcastle
PBS: 0-2 MF: 1-1

QPR v Wigan
PBS: 3-1 MF: 1-2

Stoke v West Brom
PBS: 1-1 MF 1-1

Sunderland v Swansea
PBS: 2-0 MF: 3-0

Wolves v Aston Villa
PBS: 2-1 MF: 1-1

Bolton v Liverpool
PBS: 1-1 MF: 0-4

Sunday Fixtures:----------

Man City v Spurs
PBS: 3-2 MF: 1-3

Arsenal v Man Utd
PBS: 1-1 MF: 8-2

Well there we go for this weeks prediction game, not sure about Michaels Arsenal scoreline but dreaming is believing as they say.

All in all another potential great weekend ahead of us and some fantastic fixtures, let's hope it lives up to it.

Did Anyone See The Swans Coming?

Going into the game at the weekend just gone, Swansea would've considered themselves having a good campaign in their first season in the Premiership and now after the 3-2 victory over Arsenal this fact is surely confirmed on more of an official basis.

The Swans are up to 10th and with only 1 defeat at home and that was to Manchester Utd so can really be forgiven. Things are looking great for the Welsh team.

I'm not one for upsetting a team while they are on such a high but they will have to watch out that their home form doesn't drop off due to the fact that their away form currently isn't good enough.

This whole story reminds me of Blackpool last season who were having a stormer due to their good home form but as soon as they struggled for victories at home the game was up and they were relegated at the first time of asking.

All that a side, I'm sure the fans will take it as it comes and for now at least are enjoying the fantastic season that they are having.

Henrys Dream Return...

As an Arsenal fan I was very excited about potentially seeing our living legend return.
Although we all know Thierry is no longer 24 we all prayed that he would score and as always he stepped up to the plate after just 10 minutes into his 2nd debut he scored the winner against Leeds in simply typical Henry style.

12 goals in 12 games against Leeds is some stat and Simon Graysons face dropped when he saw Songs through ball go to Henrys feet on the inside left channel... The rest is history and for all real Arsenal fans everywhere what an epic event,the Emirates was ready to burst with emotion and Thierry himself stopped just short of crying.

Even if Thierry doesn't score again on this loan period we will always have this moment and for that we thank the man, the legend, the god that is......

THIERRY HENRY.

Henry Move Now Official.

The deal for Thierry Henry on a 2 month loan from New York Red Bulls has officially been signed off meaning he can play in the F.A cup 3rd round tie against Leeds Utd.

According to reports he will be put straight into the lineup as Wenger wants to rest Van Persie.
This is going to bring back the glory days for all Arsenal fans all over the world.

Arsenal fans won't be expecting miracles but I think most fans would agree it's a deal well worth doing just for the fact of having a winner in every sense of the word once again gracing the Gunners.

Now it's official what's your thoughts on this move.?

Has The Festive Schedule Decided The Top 4?

As usual it's been a very hectic fixture list over the festive period but as we look at the league table here in the first week of January, are we seeing the realistic final four?

Current top 7....

1• Manchester City. Points - 48
2• Manchester Utd. Points - 45
3• Tottenham H. Points - 42
4• Chelsea. Points - 37
5• Arsenal. Points - 36
6• Liverpool. Points - 34
7• Newcastle Utd. Points - 33

While looking at the league as it stands it becomes apparent to me that Spurs really find themselves in with a chance of completing for the league title.
Not only were they the only team not to lose over the Christmas & new year they also have a game in hand which if they win will leave them level on points with Man Utd and therefore just three points behind Man City.

After the last few matches alot of people from fans to pundits will consider Manchester Utd in real trouble after losses to Blackburn and Newcastle respectively but in reality they are still up there.

My main question to football fans everywhere as the title suggests, is the top four decided or do Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle still have a chance?

In conclusion my personal opinion is that apart from Spurs no one in the premiership is majorly consistent right now and for me that leaves the top four very much wide open.
With 18 games still to play it's anyone's game and I wouldn't be so confident that the top 4 we currently have in place will still be firm by the time May comes around.

Michael F.

January Comes Early....

News that Bolton have confirmed a price with Chelsea for Gary Cahill and Thierry Henry will be going back to the Emirates for a 2 month loan all sorted before Jan 1st makes for interesting reading.

Obviously paperwork still has to be done but the deals are as good as in the bag.

Is this a suggestion that January will be a busy time or another frustrating winter sale for fans?

The news that Chelsea might be willing to break the British transfer record 2 Januarys in a row is a strange revelation to me.... I mean surely there's such thing as learning from your mistakes? And what would this mean if indeed Chelsea did purchase the Hulk from Porto? Torres out? Drogba out? Sturridge benched? Or will they all live happily ever after knocking in 20 a piece?

My question is... Will this be an inspired move by AVB or and incredible mistake?

Henry Homecoming?

If you believe the newspapers and all the hype surrounding the story then we will be seeing Thierry Henry back at the Emirates for a couple of months.

While this will undoubtably give a massive lift to the fans and the players alike will it make an actual impact on Arsenals results? How much would Thierry play? can he still play at the high level the premier league requires?

My thoughts are yes why not? He seems very up for it and very capable so bring it on but again my view is probably biased...

Van Persie Strikes Again..... And Again.

After rumours that Wenger may be departing the Emirates in the summer the game had an added edge. After Morison put Norwich ahead on the 16th minute you could well think that Arsenal would be in trouble but these are not the same Gunners that started the season... Oh no they now have confidence and when Arsenal equalised on the 26th minute you felt Arsenal were back on it.

Van Persie wasn't finished on this afternoon and added a goal on the 59th minute which ultimately finished Norwich off although there was some good chances for both teams to score.

Arsenal have another win under their belt and RVP is still flying.... Is the sky the limit for this new confident Arsenal?.

Are Arsenal Back?!

Just a quick mention on the game of the weekend at Stamford Bridge on the Saturday gone.

After beating Chelsea 5-3 Arsenal made it 8 wins in 9 games in all competitions and you could clearly see the confidence is back along with the belief. question is does this mean Champions League qualification is back on? maybe more?

Very few teams have gone to the Bridge and hit Chelsea so hard but the best thing that can happen is the the boys in red take one game at a time and see where it goes.

Whats your thoughts? Are arsenal Back?

What a Weekend of Football.

Another great weekend of premiership football has come and gone and with that possibly the title challange of Man Utd and Chelsea aswell.
Man City will feel a massive sense of achievement beating Man Utd 6-1 and in all honesty it's a result that shocked me even with Utd being down to 10 men.
Can Man Utd bounce back straight away or will this of hit them like they hit Arsenal earlier on this season? It took Arsenal a fair few games to recover from the 8-2 mauling but after the 3-1 win over Stoke at the weekend there record in all competitions stands at 6 wins in 7 games.
Even as an Arsenal fan I must say I felt sorry for Chelsea at the weekend who deserved a point for me but when you have 9 men it's tough... Robbed by the ref in my opinion but what's your opinion?

Is the title going to the blue half of Manchester?
Do Blackburn stand any chance of staying up?
Are Arsenal back?

Have your say.

Wenger Admits That Mutiny Was Close.

Wenger has said that it has been the most difficult pre-season since his reign started way back in the mid-nineties. A combination of Fabregas and Nasri wanting out has been the main reason for this near mutiny situation and despite the good signing of Arteta among others Arsenal still haven't been able to fully recover as is evident from the league table... 10 points from 10 games just unheard of in recent Gunners history.

Would the start of the season been so bad if Fabregas had left early in pre-season?
Would Arsenal have more points if all of their signings were made early on in pre-season so they were all together for a couple of months before the premiership started?

Arsene Wenger thinks the Gunners can still make the top 4 and as it's only mid October maybe this is still a realistic target... After the Sunderland result can they build and make their way up the table?... All Arsenal fans are desperately hoping so.

It's strange to say but now Fabregas and Nasri have left the squad they can build with players that want to play for them and if Wenger can take anything out of a bad situation is that when a player no longer wants to play for the team he must deal with it sooner rather the later and buy replacements.

What do you think?

Can The Premier League Trophy Find A Different Home?

The season is still in the early stages but its shaping up with both Manchester clubs being favourites to take home the title. My question is.... does anyone else have a realistic chance in winning the league?

Most people will say Chelsea are the only team that can stop Manchester dominating proceedings but what about Liverpool, Spurs maybe Arsenal, Villa or even Newcastle after the unbeaten start they have had?

Currently the way the table is set up one or two bad results for City/Utd and a handfull of clubs are back in the hunt, now i know this stage of the season its abit early to think that way but my thoughts are that if you are not a City/Utd fan then you have to hang onto the thoughts that the title race is not over in mid-October after the amazing starts the top two have had.

Whats your thoughts on how its gone so far?

The Premier League Returns.

With mixed emotions on the international break for the home nations its back to the bread and butter of the league this weekend.

This weeks fixtures:

Saturday-

Liverpool v Man Utd
Man City v Aston Villa
Norwich v Swansea
QPR v Blackburn
Stoke v Fulham
Wigan v Bolton
Chelsea v Everton

Sunday-

West Brom v Wolves
Arsenal v Sunderland
Newcastle v Tottenham

The one fixture that stands out this weekend will be the early kick-off at Anfield between Liverpool and Man Utd.
This game never fails to gain the attention, wheather its due to the quality of football, sendings off or just the heated war of words between managements and this weekends match should be no different.

With Man Utd being on 19 points and Liverpool being on 13 alot of people will consider this game important for the continuation in Liverpools revival, if Utd ended the weekend on 22 points Liverpool would already be 9 points behind the champions where as if Liverpool got themselves a win 19 points to 16 looks much better and could add Liverpool into the potential league winners group of Utd, City and Chelsea.

Looking at the other fixtures I think the City v Villa game could be very interesting indeed as both teams still find themselves undefeated along with Utd and Newcastle....so...will something give? will one team see their first lose? many will think its in the bag for Man City but im not so sure its as clear cut.

Three fixtures that could be just as important but for reasons further down the table are
Norwich v Swansea,QPR v Blackburn and Wigan v Bolton.

Norwich and Swansea are both joint on 8 points so a win for either team would propel them into a great position but if you're a betting man you'd probably go for the draw which both teams would likely take as a good result.

QPR on the same points as Norwich and Swansea find themselves at home to second from bottom Blackburn and after their terrible result against Fulham will be determined not to fall foul again but Blackburn will be hoping to kickstart their season and realive the pressure, even if its just for a little bit.

Wigan 18th hosting Bolton 20th is arguably the most interesting fixture out of the 3... if either team lose the  confidence that they started the season with could really be dented and would really find themselves early favourites for regation...fans will be watching this one with interest, nerves and hope.

The last two fixtures on Saturday Chelsea v Everton and Stoke v Fulham i think are both worth a watch with Chelsea and Fulham having high scoring wins last time around will they be able to carry that through? wWe shall see.

Sundays fixtures could make for a very interesting day too with Newcastle being unbeaten still and Spurs still on a high after a North London derby win...Arsenal  and Sunderland will want to put a stop to their very average starts to this season and West Brom v Wolves which is always a heated occasion and will be a very hard game to predict.

All in all this weekend could prove to be a classic with early season hopes on the line and potential must win games across the ball, i know ill be watching with interest and personally hope the Arsenal can start heading in the right direction.

Who ever you support have your say.

PBS

Arsenal....a blip or a darker future?

As an Arsenal fan the start of the season has been quite hurtful and so unlike what any fan could of expected even with the departure of Nasri and Fabregas.


When I get a spare 5 minutes I sometimes find myself looking on YouTube at old videos of the days of Henry/Campbell/Vieira/Bergkamp or a little further back Wright/Adams/Seaman/Merson... I could go on with the names to be honest and the one thing they all had in common was they were game winners pure and simple.



If you have taken a few minutes to watch the well made video above, my question is.....will this ever happen again or will all Arsenal fans have to dream of a past team and look at a future of just getting by in the Premier League.
While as an Arsenal fan I'm hopeful and always dedicated to my team I'm also fearful this could be the end of a most enjoyable era with more ups then downs and some amazing players along the way.


Whats your thoughts guys?

PBS