Arsenal 1-0 AS Roma: Missed Chances Galore

Arsenal were the only team to come out with a victory after Tuesday's Champions League clashes and as flattering as this is, there are some underlying issues to assess. Manchester United faced reigning Serie A champions, Inter Milan, in Milan; a 0-0 draw there is almost success for the Red Devils as they head to Old Trafford next. Barcelona claimed a vital away goal via Thierry Henry, a player whom, if given the same precious opportunities Bendtner was handed, would have most likely capitalized therefore making Arsenal's worries less. However, because Bendtner's pink less boots were marred with the touch closely resembling a five year-old at a PTA game, Van Persie's penalty was the decisive strike. Porto's resilient 2-2 draw in Madrid against Atletico can be seen as a more positive one than Arsenal's.
As much as I would like to bask in a victory I could only do so for so long while the images of Eboue's gift of an opportunity after Loria's mistake pervade my memory. Arsenal simply did not capitalize occasion-after-occasion to put this tie away. We could be looking at a scenario where players could get rest for the second leg if we put a few of our chances to bed. Instead, the Gunners' let their lack of confidence be exposed to the universe on Tuesday evening. It is my belief that if anyone on Manchester United or Barcelona (teams experiencing a great deal of success right now) would have done more with the opportunities Arsenal had. Bendtner's nervy finishing along with Eboue's desire to trot around the Roma defence instead of taking a straight shot were both examples of the lack of confidence that appears to have infected the Gunners. Coming off three consecutive goalless stalemates takes something special to break and the Gunners managed to do so. Arsenal's record in Italy boasts two famous victories in Milan and one in Rome. Arsenal's 5-1 demolition of Inter Milan during the "Untouchables" season and Cesc's 25-yard strike in the dying minutes of the second half against AC Milan last season are testaments of Arsenal's success on Italian soil. The last time Arsenal faced AS Roma was during the 2002-03 UEFA Champions League campaign when Arsenal defeated the Romans 3-1 in Rome while they were held 1-1 at Highbury.
As I watched the match with my brother and crew on ESPN360, the words of Janusz Michallik for the most part took away from an enjoyable experience. He did, however, have it right when he talked about Arsenal's success in Italy away from home. He went as far to say that Arsenal are more dangerous away because of the counter attacking possibilities that usually come with playing away. I do agree with him and I am left with contentment and confidence (for once) when thinking about the second leg. The defence looks indestructible and impenetrable at times. The last goal that was scored on Arsenal was Tim Cahill's audacious header at Goodison on January 28. It seems once Arsenal find their finishing touch, special times could very well be ahead.

Arsenal v AS Roma Preview

Tomorrow's Champions League fixture holds major importance for Arsenal and AS Roma. Currently six points behind the Champions League qualifying spot, Arsenal's run in the Champions League this season looks to be the more promising route of staying in the top four. Standing in their way are the Serie A giants, AS Roma. The Romans have had a similar domestic campaign as Arsenal so far. Their chances of playing in the Champions League are dwindling as they sit at the sixth position behind Genoa. Both teams have plenty of incentive going into tomorrow evening's clash at the Emirates.

Arsenal will be missing several key players. Andrey Arshavin, who made his league debut last Saturday against Sunderland, is not permitted to participate tomorrow because of the UEFA rule stating that players cannot play for two teams during a single Champions League campaign. The long-time injured players are still out: Fabregas (recently announced his projected return date as April 4. v Man City), Walcott (shoulder), Rosicky (It's complicated), Eduardo (two more weeks), Adebayor (hamstring), and Silvestre (thigh).

Here are my projected lineups:
Arsenal
1. Manuel Almunia
3. Bacary Sagna
5. Kolo Toure
10.William Gallas
22. Gael Clichy
15. Denilson
8. Nasri
2. Diaby - just coming off injury
27. Emmanuel Eboue
11. Robin Van Persie
26. Nicklas Bendnter
AS Roma
32. Doni
2. Panucci
17. John Arne Riise
15. Simone Loria
5. Philippe Mexes
7. David Pizarro
8. Alberto Aquilani
16. Daniele De Rossi
10. Francesco Totti
9. Mirko Vucinic
19. Julio Baptista

Roma are sure to attack more than Sunderland did on Saturday. They also have a crucial match against Inter Milan this coming Sunday. There is nothing about this match that is low profile and lacking in importance. Expect passionate football, ferocious tackles, and high-quality football as Roma and Arsenal face each other to save their seasons tomorrow afternoon at 2:45 pm ET.

Arsenal Continue in Stalemate Fashion

Arsenal drew at home against Sunderland on Saturday making it the fourth drawn match in a row in the Premier League. It was Arsenal's third goalless stalemate in the Premier League in succession.
Jan. 31: v. West Ham 0-0
Feb. 8: @ Tottenham 0-0
Feb. 21: v. Sunderland 0-0

Arsenal's last goal in the Premier League came from Robin Van Persie against Everton. That last minute screamer happened nearly a month ago.

As a supporter, it has been hard to hear comments from pundits and readers alike talking about Arsenal's chances of finishing in the top four dwindling. Seldom have I had to deal with the fact that my Gunners are in a tug-o-war match with the possibility of a UEFA Cup finish.
The last time Arsenal have finished below the top four was after the 1996/97 season. Arsenal last played UEFA cup football in the 1997/98 season. I would like to note that the 1996/97 season was the year in which Arsene Wenger came to power mid-campaign. The following season, while the Gunners played in the UEFA Cup, Arsenal won the Premier League. For all of my fellow nail-biting, faithful followers of the Arsenal there may just be some light at the end of the table despite a possible UEFA Cup entry.

A preview for the Roma match will be posted tomorrow evening.

Four on the Trot at Emirates

After Monday night's showcase against Cardiff City, Arsenal began their stretch of hosting four matches in a row. This is a novelty in the modern game.  Seven of Arsenal's next eleven matches will be played at the grove. 

21st: v Sunderland (EPL)

24th: v Roma (CL)

28th: v Fulham (EPL)

March 8th: v Burnley (FA Cup)

14th: v Blackburn (EPL)

17th: v Hull City/Sheffield Utd. (FA Cup) *if we win against Burnley

Enjoy the weekend - I know I will by watching Arshavin make his debut. C'mon Andrey.

Correction on Nicklas Bendtner "Rant"

In a conscious effort to maintain as much objectivity as possible, it has come to my attention that Mr. Bendtner deserves to be heard correctly. The English media was up to no good this time around. Nicklas explains:

"None of it was said like that. Basically, I did a long interview for the Danish press recently, they asked me a lot of questions and the press over here have taken my answers and twisted them out of proportion."

Here's the cherry on top:

"If I feel the need to say something to my team-mates to explain it then I will do, but they know I am right behind the team and wouldn't say things like that."

My question is: How did his interview get as distorted as it did?

My brother so lovingly called me to talk to me about the ordeal. He's an avid reader of Arsenal blogs and news sources and he said that Nicklas said that he did not play in the European Championships. Well, duh. We all know about Denmark's absence from the tournament. I have found this situation intriguing. We have just witnessed how skewed news and information can be. It just goes to tell, check things twice, or three times to make sure what you have read. Especially if what you're reading is provided by the following: The Sun, Daily Mail, News of the World, The Telegraph, or any British news publication. 

There is still reason for Arsenal fans to raise their eyebrows at the young Dane. Gael Clichy revealed in an online web chat that Nicklas came to practice wearing Ugg boots...yes, that's right, those bulky boots your girlfriend wears when you go shopping during winter vacation - Nicklas sported them. Then again, heaven only knows what I would wear out if I were on the Arsenal first team. 

Eduardo Injects Promise For Arsenal

Arsenal progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup yesterday by shutting out Cardiff City, last year's runners-up, 4 nil. The newest addition to Arsenal's side was not only the highlights in Nasri's hair, as flattering as they were, but also the highly-anticipated return of Eduardo Da Silva. Eduardo was out of Arsenal first team matches for exactly 358 days. February 23, 2008 is behind us all now.

The last time Arsenal won a match by a four goal margin was against Porto on September 30th. This match will serve as a source of momentum for the Gunners as they prepare for the knockout stages of the Champions League and the battle for 4th in the Premiership. I will be praying for a 0-0 draw when Chelsea face Villa this weekend.

During the Cardiff match, as I searched every single video hosting site to try to watch the match, I came across an article posted in the Telegraph about Bendtner's obnoxious claims that he's the best striker at Arsenal right now. Really, Nicklas? Where were you when RVP was firing us back in the match in the last minute at Goodison Park? Where were you when we couldn't get goals against Hull, Sunderland, Fulham, and Stoke?

He also talks about Arshavin's arrival and how he didn't watch Euros. The reason you don't know how good he is Nicklas is because you weren't watching. Everything about the article made me sick. I've been pretty stubborn in liking Bendtner, it's persistence, really. I'm starting to lose my patience with him. After he scored the second goal of the match yesterday I was expecting faint boos from the supporters. Obviously no one had gotten a hold of this article prior to the match. Get it sorted out, Nicklas. --> http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4935921,00.html : this link explains things...phew.

For now, I'm thinking positively about Cesc's return to the squad. Our captain keeps saying he could be back sooner than expected. The Roma match is a week from today - is it just me or are Champions League matches like mirages? They're always spread out and distant. I have to slap myself in the face and realize that, yes, it's really starting up next week. Thirst no longer, it's back.

Tottenham v Mike Dean

Sunday afternoon in London meant one thing yesterday: pride. The North London Derby had all the ingredients for a mouth-watering encounter. New players arrived on both sides (Capt. Robbie Keane's return & Arshavin), Tottenham needed three points to fend off the demons of relegation while Arsenal were needing all three points to pose as plausible suitors for a Champions League spot next season. Neither Arsene or Harry got what they were looking for as the blow-of-the-whistle from Mike Dean proved to be the decisive moment.
As we all know, Emmanuel Eboue is not the most calm and collected player that has ever dawned the English top flight. He's seen his red card before. After getting a goal disallowed in the 15th minute for doing absolutely nothing, Mike Dean gave him a yellow card shortly after for, again, doing what looked to be...well, nothing. 1o minutes later Luka Modric decided to give Eboue a little shove off the ball and Eboue reacted. As Modric, the guy who resembles Dobby from Harry Potter, trotted by Eboue he was tripped by the Ivory Coast international - this WAS a bookable offense. As I was sitting in my roommate's dark room with my white apple ear buds blasting with the commentary of Pierre Sant-Louis and Marques Rousseau, I just knew the red card was coming. Refs seem to want attention in moments like these.
In his post-match conference Harry Redknapp explained how Spurs dominated the game when it was 11 v 11 and 11 v 10. I would argue that Spurs had spurts of brilliance but 'domination' I think goes too far. Song's chance off the corner kick, Clichy's run in the first half stripping the ball off Corluka, and Bendtner's powerful strike on Cudicini were all decent chances. Tottenham's were Robbie Keane's misguided header, Modric's failure to slot past Almunia in the dying seconds, and Wilson Palacios' thunderous strike from a million yards out.
I'm disappointed with the Mike Dean's eager hand. As I'm sure I'm not the only one, I'm eager myself to hear from Eboue and Dean about how they saw it.
The Gunners' next match is on the 16th for the second leg of the FA Cup 4th round against Cardiff City. Arshavin will not be available for the match because he wasn't available for the first tie as we wasn't an Arsenal player at the time. Are you telling me I have to wait until the 21st of February before I MIGHT see him make his debut? Well, yes. Among your concerns this week make sure you stop and pray for the healing of Ade's tender hamstring.
The last time we've won a match was at Hull City - my hair has grown considerably since. One thing's for sure, we can't draw our next match as there has to be a winner for the Cardiff City...Oh Arsene where are our finishing boots?

Czar Arshavin Arrives

Russian ace Andrei Arshavin's arrival at the Emirates has inspired me to begin my blogging tenure. Yes, I know, blogging was created by Neanderthal so it's about time I begin posting.
It was the summer of 2008 during the European championships when my crush with Arshavin set in. After he masterminded Russia's victory over Holland -- a team seemingly untouchable -- Arsene's eyes were beaming. Unfortunately nothing cemented over the summer window and the Gunners would have to settle with Marseille's, dare I say, emerging "Zidane" Samir Nasri.
After Zenit St. Petersburg's euphoric UEFA Cup title, Arshavin stayed loyal to his hometown club as they took on Europe in the Champions League. After falling out in a group containing Italian giants Juventus, Belarusian side BATE Borisov, and oh yeah, Real Madrid, Zenit could only claim five points after the group stages. The five points have merited a chance to defend their UEFA cup spot, however Arshavin's ambitions proved too big for a club destined for mediocrity.
Although he will be ineligible for any Champions League matches for the remainder of the 2008-09 season, his presence in the FA Cup and the Premiership will bolster Arsenal's trophy aspirations.
Supporters across the expansive world that is Arsenal blogs are voicing their disgust with Arshavin's transfer saga. "He better be worth the trouble" and "17 mil. quid...really?" are the cries emanating from the stands. I have an answer to both of those questions: "He will be" and "yes, really". Arshavin, as Wenger expressed, will help us in the final third. Adebayor needs to find his finishing boots right away because there are balls to be played to his feet perfectly via Andrei.
I'm brought to pure ecstasy when I think about the returns of Eduardo, Rosicky, Walcott, and Mr. Fabulous. It's the defensive side of things that makes me sigh. It's the last piece of the puzzle, the nail in the coffin.
But for now we are to applaud the Arsenal staff and board for their resilience during this time. He is here and you did it. Number twenty-three of the red and white will surely add to the squad experience, class, and flare.
The North London derby kicks off on Sunday afternoon with the return of Robbie Keane and the pending debut of Andrei Arshavin. This week will be oh so slow...