ARSENAL XI 2010/2011 SEASON

ARSENAL XI 2010/2011..Any idea who are the other two slot will be? With the signing of Laurent Koscielny, a central defender. The last slot left will be the goalkeeper.

WIGAN BLOWN ARSENAL TITLE HOPES TO PIECES

ARSENAL season is over despite three Premier League matches left to be play against Manchester City (home), Blackburn (away) and followed by Fulham at the Emirates. For six season in a row they came out empty-handed without a single-trophy and this could be another major talking point among the football critics next season.

Their latest 3-2 defeat against Wigan was really hard to swallow after taking a 2-0 lead. With 10 minutes left saw the Latics stage a comeback scoring three goals right under their noses and once kill off any hopes for the Premier League Title.

And it might turn out worse if Arsenal fails to get at least three points from their remaining fixtures while either Spurs or Manchester City won their last three matches would saw Arsene Wenger's side playing in Champions League qualifying stage. This could be a disaster for Arsenal football history since under Arsene Wenger reign.

The Gunners continously conceding late goals and from goalkeeper errors for fun which proved costly in this year Premier League Title campaign which saw them missing five valuable points.If they had won against  Brimingham and Wigan. With 76 points, by right now they might stand a very good chance with three games left to have a shot for the title.        

Arsenal did have their chance but they threw away rather quite easily which left Arsene Wenger fuming by kicking a drinking mineral bottle after the match. Probably we could see a massive spending spree by the Arsenal chief in the transfer market. Hopefully its happen.

ARSENAL FAILS IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO STAY ON COURSE WITH CHELSEA.

ARSENAL suffered a shock a 2-1 defeat to their London rivals Totenham Hotspurs in the Premier League match at White Hart Lane last night which could severely dealt a crucial blow in their run up for the league title.

Arsene Wenger's side looks fresh and determined to erase their bitter memory after being dumped out by Barcelona in the Champions League's quarter-final last week. They started strongly and certainly looks a much better side than the home team. 

While Harry Redknapp, whose side fails to make into the FA Cup finals when they lost to Portsmouth 2-0 redeem themselves playing infront full capacity home crowd to notch their first ever win against Arsenal at home in a London derby match.


Young Danny Rose mark his debut for Spurs with a stunning volley to give the home side a 1-0 lead before Welshman Gareth Bale scored to give Harry Redknapp side a 2-0 lead in the first half.


In the second half Arsene Wenger introduce Robin Van Persie for the first time after five months from his broken leg and the striker did give some spark of Arsenal revival. He was denied twice by Gomez. Nicklas Bendtner then brought some hopes for the visitor comeback with a simple tap in in the 88th minute. Despite four minutes added time it was a little bit too late for Arsenal to save the match.

NEGRI BAG ANOTHER TITLE WITHIN FOUR MONTH

NEGRI SEMBILAN must thank their lucky stars to win the FA Cup for the second time 5-4 through penalty-kicks after both teams were tied up at 1-1 in full 120 minutes at Bukit Jalil National Stadium last night. Negri goalkeeper Sani Kamsani deserved the praise for making the save of the night from Kedah, Mat Sabre Abu to bring the cup back to Negri. 

To be fair to Kedah, by right they should have wrapped up the match for good had their goalkeeper Helmi did not balloned his spotkick sky-high. But the former national goalkeeper  was too anxious to redeem his previous mistake  for his team loss in the Sumbangsih Cup Final against Selangor.

Negri coach, Wan Jamak Wan Hassan nearly paid heavy price for taking off K.Thanaraj early in the match. First, Kedah got their opening goal two minutes after he took the left-legged midfielder with striker Firdaus and later the striker got himself injured soon was replaced by Norizam Salaman. By then Wan Jamak had already made three subsitutions. Defender Aidil Zaquan also looks to be suffering from an injury but manage to continue despite his injury problem.

But the night look set to be for goalkeeper Sani Kamsani after he took over as Negri no. 1 goalkeeper from Farizal Harun in the second-leg FA Cup semifinal against Selangor and there was turning back as he went on to perform incredibly well on bigger stage.

Pity for Helmi, had he converted the spot-kick he must be deservely being awarded as man of the match for his heroic performance for keeping his side in the match.Earlier subsitute Norizam Salaman free-kick was splendidly turn away by him.Shukor Adan then should have put Negri infront when cooly chested the ball in the six-yard box but his shot went straight to Helmi. Zaquan too could have the final word on the night but his powerful drive was pushed away by the goalkeeper.

For season player such as captain Rezal Zambry Yahya and Idris Karim their performance in Negri midfield engine room are not quite to the expectation. Also S.Kunanlan too is not at his best with normal darting runs on the flank not to be seen. Maybe without influential Shuhairain Abu Samah who was suspended for yellow carded the teams lacks the end product.     

OLE MESSI...OLE BARCA

ARSENAL Champions League dreams were shattered when they succumbed to a 4-1 defeat by Barcelona led by World Footballer of  Year, Lionel Messi  in the 2nd-Leg-Champions League Quarter-Finals at Nou Camp last night as they advance into the semi-finals on 6-3 aggregate.

Injury-hit Arsenal side playing without half of their first team players did try to match their opponent in the 2nd-leg and which they nearly create history when they took a shock 1-0 lead through Nicklas Bendtner in the 18th minute.

But Barca responded well with Lionel Messi taking the centre stage scoring at will, single-handed destroyed Arsenal with four goals to confirm his status as one of Barca greatest players ever played for them and a night to be remembered. To witness a masterclass performance by the Argentine.

Arsene Wenger side arrived at Nou Camp knowing that they had a huge task ahead after their 2-2 draw in the 1st Leg Quarter-Final at the Emirates.But the asking was too great to fulfill. Barely three minutes after Arsenal took the lead Barcelona are back on level terms through Messi. From there onwards it was a one sided-affair.

It was Barca all the way. They were in cruise control throughout the match only Bendtner powerful header that bounce of the post that really threatened Pep Guardiola side in the second-half.The visitor hope to take advantage of Barca new partnership Milito and Marquez at the back never exist as they remain solid like a brick-wall. 

Wthout captain Cesc Fabregas, Andre Arshavin, Robin Van Persie, Gallas and Song,  Arsenal certainly look just a bunch of novice club side team and they need to have more depth and strenghtened their side if they were to met again and hope to make strong challenge for the cup next season. So its back for the Premier League. Adios    

LATE SHOW BY ARSENAL KEEPS THEIR TITLE HOPES ALIVE

A must-win-game for Arsenal against Wolveshampton Wanderers to keep their title hopes alive were rewarded when Nicklas Bendtner headed in the dying seconds deep in injury time to give Arsene Wenger's side a dramatic 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium last night. 

The Arsenal manager who made seven changes from the line-up against Barcelona in mid-week Champions League 1st leg quarter-final started strongly right from the kick-off with 20 year-old Theo Walcott looking in good shape on the right.

The youngster made a fine cross from the right found Eduardo who hits first time but Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann made a good reflex save. Another golden chance for the home side with Walcott involved saw Tomas Rosicky set up Eduardo but the Croatian did not quite match to the build up.

Again Walcott was in thick of the action creating another chance for Arsenal this time through  right-back Bacary Sagna but Hahnemann was equal to the task when he made another good save with his feet to keep McCarthy's side in the game for a scoreless first half.

In the second-half Arsenal continued to pile on the pressure but they could not  find  the breakthrough and thus gave the visitor much confidence and began to look dangerous. When things started going to make interesting, Wolves suffered a huge blow when they were reduced by 10-men.

Wolves's captain Karl Henry was flashed a straight red card by the referee Andrew Marriner for dangerous tackle on Tomas Rosicky in the 65th minute. Despite playing with one man short  the visitors double their effort holding their ground.

Arsene Wenger made two quick changes Nicklas Bendtner for Emanuel Eboue followed by Samir Nasri for Alexander Song but it did not materialised until the end of full 90 minutes. With five minutes time added on. Finally Arsenal did found the net. From a cross by Sagna on the right saw the Great Dane planted in a header past Hahnemann deep in injury time for the winner. 

BARCA LET ARSENAL OF THE HOOK

DEFENDING champion Barcelona stamped their class and superiority against Arsenal and should have an easy task in the second-leg at Nou Camp after taking a 2-0 lead but they fail to utilise the opportunity allowing the home side to claw back and draw level 2-2 in the Champions League 1st-leg-quarterfinal at the Emirates Stadium last night.

Arsenal never really settle down as the marauding Barca relentessly made their opponent looks like a pale shadow of themselves as the visitor tormented the home defence like shred and should have easily made it 5-0 in the first quarter but must thanks their lucky stars they survived.

Manuel Almunia perform beyond expectation as he made some magnificent saves to keep his side at bay for a scoreless first half. But as usual the goalkeeper tend to let in an unexpected easy goal as it shows in the second-half. Two costly error by the goalkeeper saw the visitor took a 2-0 lead with both goal coming from the Swedish international, Ibrahimovic.

From then on it looks like the score to remain until the return-leg with the visitors total domination to confirm their place in the semi-final. But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has other idea as he brought in young Theo Wallcot for Samir Nasri.

The England international made his presence felt to turn the match around when he scored Arsenal's opening goal. The goal brought huge relief to the Arsenal's crowd and confident for the home side to battle and tried to save the match.

They found the much needed equaliser through captain Cesc Fabregas from a well taken spot-kick but he injured his knee in the process. The referee pointed to the spot as he adjudge the Barca skipper Carlos Puyol for bringing down Fabregas recklessly in the six-yard box and later was flashed a straight red card.

For Arsenal they will be without Fabregas for the trip at Nou Camp for recieveing his second yellow. The Gunners also definitely lose another two key players Andre Arshavin and Gallas while Barca will be missing defenders Gerard Pique also for the same offence and Puyol for his red card.