Arsenal lose to Manchester City 2-4

Arsenal beat Standard Liege 3-2 in the Champions League after going down 2-0 within five minutes.

Arsenal beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 at home

Arsenal beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in th eCarling Cup

Arsenal beat Fulham 1-0

Arsenal beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the Champions League

October Highlights:

Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers 6-2

Arsenal beat Birmingham City 3-1

Arsenal draw 1-1 with AZ Alkmaar in the Champions League

Arsenal draw 2-2 with West Ham United

Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Carling Cup

Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0

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Fielding a young side in the Carling Cup has been a policy of Arsene Wenger for quite sometime now. And we have been successful in reaching the later stages of this tournament quite consistently. Four out of last five seasons we have reached the semis or beyond. We routed Liverpool 6-2 at Anfield. But never have so many people sat up and taken notice of this young breed of players. They always knew that Arsenal develop young players. But they are now scared of the products that this football factory is churning out. Even the detractors of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger must have noticed that there were a number of English boys in the team who tore Kevin Blackwell’s team apart.

Wenger believes in this team and believes that this bunch of young players can go all the way. He said:

“We want to win the trophy with this team. [I won’t change the team] Tottenham or not Tottenham or anybody else. I believe the only pressure you have is when you go through the rounds and get to the semi-final. Suddenly everybody is starting to say OK, and now you have to change all the players. “You let them play how they played tonight and suddenly you say ‘sorry you don’t play anymore’. For me that is not serious, no matter how far we go we have to stick to our policy.”

With Arsenal sitting on top of the table, the youngsters showing how good they are, Eduardo and Rosicky on their way back to the first team, it looks pretty good for the team at the minute. The way the team plays, the attitude, the team spirit, all instilled in them by Arsene Wenger, as seen by the ‘secret document’ discovered in a hotel. Speaking of which, Wenger declared that we are proud of our Bolton prep-talk. And why wouldn’t we be? There is nothing wrong in what Arsene said/says to the team. And the results are to be seen. We went one down and still managed to wallop them.

We play beautiful football, we play effective football and people like to watch us because we play entertaining football. That is why our club and our manager are respected world over. Because he has contributed a lot for the development of the players and the game of football as a whole. Everybody accepts that, except a certain Michel Platini. The UEFA boss has alleged that Wenger is more concerned about business than developing football. In an interview, Platini was asked about the introduction of video technology in the game. To which he replied:

“I like to talk about football, him (Wenger) about business. We must stop with Wenger and all that. “It would make me happy that Arsene Wenger never sees it.”

Citing the example of the recent victory of Romania’s CFR Cluj over AS Roma, he continued:

“That is what makes football so great. It is what people like Wenger do not want, little clubs beating the big clubs, because they want their business.”

Wenger didn’t like these comments and nor did the League Managers’ Association. LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson said:

“Platini has made serious and personal comments about one of football’s greatest ever managers, who is also counted among our most respected member.”

Why did Platini say those things? Because, him and Sepp Blatter are two morons that need to wake up to reality. Rather than making and supporting rules that are good for football, for example goal line technology, they go on harping about meaningless ‘home grown’ and ’6+ 5′ rules, which are in direct contrast to the European Union laws. And besides, how is the introduction of goal line technology against small teams like CFR Cluj and how is it good for business? Platini accuses Wenger of doing little for football. Wonder what he has done for football himself? Yes, nothing is the answer. Him and Blatter have somehow got their chair and every once in a while, these two meet in some secret dark hole, get high on some crack and give some ridiculous statements to the press. And the bald one goes to South Africa to do a stupid little jig.

It’s time the national associations wake up and see what these two are really upto and ensure that these maniacs are thrown out. Because they are harming the game of football with their crazy demented ideas.

More tomorrow…

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Both were charged on Tuesday following the melee in injury time of Chelsea’s 2-1 win at The Millennium Stadium.

Adebayor was charged for his reaction to his red card, incurring a charge of ‘reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play immediately after being sent off’.

The Togolese striker had unsuccessfully appealed against his dismissal and has now requested a personal hearing regarding the new charge.

Eboue was cited by The FA for striking Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge, but the Ivory Coast international has now denied the charge of violent conduct.

Eboue’s case will be heard on Thursday, with The FA set to deal with Adebayor on Tuesday.

“Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue have denied FA charges resulting from Sunday’s Carling Cup Final,” read a statement on the club’s official website.

“Adebayor has denied a charge of reacting aggressively and failing to leave the field of play immediately after being sent off. He has requested a personal hearing which will take place on Tuesday, March 6.

“Eboue has denied a charge of violent conduct. Eboue was charged for striking Chelsea’s Wayne Bridge. The case will be heard by an FA disciplinary commission on Thursday on the basis of documents and video evidence.”

Kolo Toure has already incurred a three match ban for his dismissal in injury time, with Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel also having his red card upheld by The FA.

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“I apologise for this moment,” said Toure afterwards. “I regret my actions.

“Chelsea were winning and were starting to waste time. I was not happy with that, which is why I went to Mikel and had some words with him.”

Toure is likely to pick up a three-game suspension but is hopeful his barely blemished record — one red card in over 200 games for Arsenal — will count in his favour if further action is considered by the FA.

“I do not think so,” replied the 25-year-old when asked if he should get banned. “When they look at the tape, they will see I have done nothing wrong. I have had a lot of games, but do not choose to do that type of thing.

“The people who run football know who is bad and they know that I am always trying to do my best for the Club, the team and the fans as well.

“It can happen to anybody, though. You can make a mistake in any job, or do something bad. That is why you need to apologise, which I have done. You do not need to make it bigger.”

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They lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Carling Cup final on Sunday but the young Gunners again caught the eye.

Theo Walcott scored his first goal for the club to put Arsenal ahead, while the likes of Abou Diaby, Denilson and Armand Traore impressed throughout the entire Carling Cup campaign.

Fabregas believes Arsenal could be the dominant force in English football within three years and thinks the competition should be very concerned.

“If I was in another team, I would be scared if you could see all the young players who are coming from this Arsenal team,” said the Spaniard.

“You can see that if we keep playing for three more years together, then we could do something really big for the club.

“We have shown great talent here. I am also young and just try to do my best for the team.”

Fabregas felt Chelsea had luck on their side in the first half at Cardiff.

“In the first half we should have been 3-0 up. Manuel Almunia was doing nothing in the goal,” said Fabregas.

“In the second half, Chelsea tried to push a little bit more, and credit to them because they are a good team.

“However, their first goal was clearly offside.”

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Concessions will be available to juniors 16 years and under and Senior Citizens at 50 per cent of the advertised price.

Due to the expected levels of demand for this final, the Club is pleased to announce that the following booking procedure will be implemented.

As previously stated in the Cup Final Policy the following supporter groups will receive priority:

1) Members of the Away Scheme (Away Season Ticket Subscription) will be guaranteed a ticket, provided they are registered members during the relevant season of the particular cup final.

2) Platinum and Gold members who have attended three and above away fixtures over the last two consecutive seasons from August 13, 2004 January 29, 2007 when the data was extracted.

Both the above categories will be guaranteed as long as the tickets are purchased in the allotted timescale from 11am Monday, February 5 to 6pm Wednesday, February 7. Tickets will be available on-line via Arsenal.com or by telephone 0870 3800 232. Booking fees will apply.

You will need to have the following information to purchase your match ticket for each applicant:

* Platinum/Gold (Season ticket) Away Scheme (individual) seven digit Membership number(s)
* Valid password and e-mail address for the lead client (Main Applicant)
* Surname
* Valid credit/debit card.

We have been advised that under no circumstances will the Millennium Stadium issue duplicate tickets, as a consequence all tickets will be dispatched by Special Delivery.

In line with the Cup Final Policy the next level of priority will go to Platinum and Gold Members who have attended two or fewer away fixtures over the last two consecutive seasons from August 13, 2004 to January 28, 2007.

There will be two phases to this process

Phase One

Supporters would need to register their interest as detailed below:

In order to register an interest in applying for tickets for this fixture, Platinum/Gold (Season Ticket holders) 06/07 season, will be required to complete an online registration within the allotted time period detailed below.

If the Club receives more registrations than tickets available, a random ballot will be held.

The Club would like to stress that the success of registrations will have absolutely no reflection on the timing of when applications were made within the set period of time.

You will need to have the following information to hand in order to submit a registration for each applicant.

* Valid Platinum/Gold (Season Ticket) (individual) seven digit Membership number(s)
* Surname/postcode
* Valid password and e-mail address for the lead client (Main Applicant).

Registrations will be accepted online through Arsenal.com between the following dates:

Registration period: 10am Tuesday, February 6, 2007 until 4pm Friday, February 9, 2007.
A registration application can contain up to a maximum of ten Members.

A special telephone Helpline (0870 343 0870) will also been set up to assist with any registering issues; this service will be in operation from 10am Tuesday, February 6, 2007 onwards this service will operate Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm.

Phase Two

All applicants will be informed via email by 10am Monday 12th February 2007, advising of their Registration status, if successful this e-mail will guarantee an allocation of one ticket per successful member. This guarantee will only be applicable if ticket(s) are purchased within the allotted timescale detailed in this e-mail communication.

Method of purchase will be either online Via Arsenal.com or by Telephone 0870 3800 232 tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis (Booking fees will apply).
You will need to have the following information to purchase your match ticket for each successful applicant.

* Platinum/Gold (Season Ticket) (individual) seven digit Membership number(s)
* Valid password and e-mail address for the lead client (Main Applicant)
* Surname
* Valid credit/debit card.

We have been advised that under no circumstances will the Millennium Stadium issue duplicate tickets, as a consequence all tickets will be dispatched by Special Delivery.

Important note: Any Final or Semi final fixture during the last two consecutive seasons from August 13, 2004 to January 28, 2007,has not been included as an away attendance credit.

The Club will also receive an allocation of tickets for disabled supporters, details of how these will be allocated will be available on the disabled supporters section of the website or alternatively by contacting the Club’s Disability Team on 020 7704 4490. Please be aware that this number can get extremely busy at times so please be patient.

Source: www.arsenal.com

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Spurs were beaten 3-1 and Arsenal reached the final on a 5-3 aggregate.

Wenger said he will keep his options open when he picks his team for the Carling Cup Final, but the Frenchman intends to keep faith with the players who got Arsenal to the final.

The Arsenal manager has used a potent mix of youngsters, fringe players and first-team regulars to get past West Brom, Everton, Liverpool and now Tottenham. He sees no reason to change that policy.

“This team has produced, there has not been one boring game from the first [game] at West Brom until tonight,” said Wenger. “They played with style, they played with mental strength and resilience, they played with heart, I’m very proud of them and they deserve to be involved in the Final.”

“Of course I will want to win the Final but as well I want them to be there and to play – some of them will play.”

“I don’t like to promise what I cannot deliver because we play many games until the Final, but we will stick to the players who were involved in the Carling Cup only. Those who have not played until now will not play the Final.”

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After the break, Baptista lived upto the ‘beast’ tag when he beat Paul Robinson twice to earn the team a draw.

Arsene Wenger is most likely to retain the same squad for the second leg to be held at the Emirates.

“They showed tremendous mental strength to come back,” he told reporters.

“In some ways this result is more satisfying than the 6-3 victory at Liverpool because then everything went for us whereas here nothing went for us in the first half.”

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