The King Returns!

It was a goal of an orgasmic proportion.

You just knew the moment he received the ball, where the next destination of the round rubber apparatus going to be. It was like watching Thierry Henry of old again, the one that scored lots and lots of goals for Arsenal, all 226 of them.

Now they stand at 227, with 12 of those coming against Leeds United on 12 occasions.

I am hoping that it would not be the last and there will be several more to come, especially against the likes of Manchester United (Jan 22) and of course Sp*ds (Feb 26).

There was this feeling of being comfortable despite not having top-scorer Robin van Persie in the squad and seeing Maruoane Chamakh in the starting line-up together with Andrei Arshavin and defender Sebastien Squilacci. The three of them could have been a recipe for disaster.

Fortunately it was not on this occasion.

In fact Arshavin did a great job with runs and shots that gave a hint of his true capabilities. In fact with a bit more confidence he would be back to his best in what could be his last few months in Arsenal colours.

It was good to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain getting a start and he also did not disappoint even though his influence on the match was not as much as he would have liked it to be.

The only thing that could cause a few concerns was when Francis Coquelin having to go off due to hamstring problem, which compound the injury crisis plaguing the Arsenal defensive line, already in a bad state as it is.

But for now, lets relish in the glorious home-coming of the King, and may he rule and prosper for the short  time he be with us.

COYG!


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Kru-el Day for Gooners

November rain brought with it the cold climate that is usually associated with the monsoon season. But tonight it was colder than usual to the extend that it sent chills through mad redo1's spine when Andy Carroll's header rolled gently over the goal-line at the stroke of half-time to give visitors Newcastle United the lead at the end of the first forty five minutes.

It was that 'one of those days' feeling that he felt during the West Ham United's visit last time around. Unfortunately, unlike the match against The Hammers there was no last minute goal this time around as The Toons held on against an Arsenal onslaught to register their first victory at The Emirates against The Gunners.

In a nutshell, Arsenal simply did not really turn up in full for the match and for mad redo1, skipper Cesc Fabregas had a really bad day at the office, playing well below his best. To make things worse his team-mates seemed to be infected by the same virus as they could not sustain the pace that was necessary to break down the Newcastle defence.

While it was true that we hit the woodwork twice and forced Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul into making a couple of excellent saves there was no fluidity in our movements. Put that against an away side that was more determined than most of our players today, we just knew how the outcome of the match going to look like, and it was not pretty, not pretty at all.

Was Lukasz Fabianski to blame for the goal?

mad redo1 would have to say yes but just for a small part of it. When the ball is driven into the area the goalkeeper will be in two minds, to stay on his line and react or to come and take it cleanly. Many would say he should have stayed as Carroll's header was hardly a bullet and he would have collected easily. But you just can never be certain of that as under no pressure the striker could have adjusted accordingly.

Fabianski decided to come. There were two options for him, to take the ball at his highest or to take it at his most comfortable height. The risk of the former was he could be a bit under the ball and it could fall loose which could result in a goal and he would be blamed all the same (or even worse for spilling the ball). The latter's risk was having the opponent cutting in front of you and beat you to the ball, which exactly what happened.

As for mad redo1, he would have chosen the former. if you feel that you are not hundred percent able to take the ball cleanly, at least you could have reached the ball with a hand and just push it away from the danger area, thus taking it out from the path of the opponent.

But that is life as a goalkeeper, any misjudgment could be fatal and if you are not strong enough it could affect your confidence. However mad redo1 believes that would not happen to the Pole as from a similar situation in the second half Fabianski came out again and this time he took the ball cleanly. Based on his performance so far I believe Fabianski would have saved Arsene Wenger from spending money on a new goalkeeper in January.

Every Gooner must accept the fact that Arsenal were poor tonight. Theo Walcott who notched a brace in Toons' country in the Carling Cup match was largely anonymous today while Jack Wilshere could not raise his game in front of the watching Fabio Capello. Marouane Chamakh was a bit hesitant to shoot despite having the opportunity to do so on a few occasions. Samir Nasri had a goal bound shot saved by Krul but he and his replacement Andrey Arshavin were able to show just glimpses of their true ability.

The most important thing is to keep the belief that we have the capabilities to end the trophy drought that we have endured for the last five seasons.

And pray for a huge slice of luck for us for the rest of the season.

Come on Arsenal!


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It's The Drog... Again!

After witnessing a 2010 Malaysia Cup match between T-Team and Selangor at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, mad redo1 proceeded to the McD 'drive-thru' outlet to catch the visit of Arsenal to Stamford Bridge. Unfortunately, all seats in front of the TV were taken. Thus when another Gooner, Ahmad Arif arrived we decided to adjourn to the nearby T-Cafe.

It was still 0-0 but Arsenal already asked a few questions about the home defence. Both Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny should have put The Gunners ahead but both were unable to find the back of the net with their effort.

Arsenal were matching the home side but as always there was the question of luck that became a crucial factor in these kind of matches. Perhaps I am a bit bias but the feeling was Arsenal were not getting the break when playing against the so called big teams. Whether it was decisions by the officials or the bounce of the ball.

And tonight, it was no exception.


Our nemesis Didier Drogba connected with a low hard delivery from Cashley Cole and it hit the post before going in. It could have hit the post and rebound to safety but no, it went in off the post. During the build up to the goal there was a foul on Abou Diaby but it went un-noticed by the officials (not saying they did it intentionally but just failed to spot it).

In the second half I thought for a long period of time Arsenal could have leveled the score from their dominance but they just could not find the crucial breakthrough. Samir Nasri was very lively and so was Jack Wilshere. Andrey Arshavin whose attempt forced Peter Cech into making a good save in the first half, faded in the second.


Then came the moment when the home side put the match just a bit beyond our grasp. A foul by Koscielny as they broke through meant the referee Mike Dean had to award a free kick, which was centrally located of Lukasz Fabianski goal.

During the build up Florence Malouda joined the wall. Now, when I was at school, the coach taught me when an opponent joins your defensive wall during a free-kick, make sure have a team-mate covering behind him and do not say 'welcome to our defensive wall' to him at all time.


Unfortunately, the entire Arsenal squad did not go to my school. Thus when Malouda stepped aside after the referee had whistled, there was this big gap in the wall and for a Brazilian like Alex it was like a Grand Canyon opening up for him to slot his thunderbolt, which I doubt even the best goalkeeper in the world now would have difficulties in reaching it.

That it. We are now seven points behind the league leaders. But so what? We have been adrift before but on many occasions we managed to find ourselves in the mix right to the death. With many personnel coming back from the treatment room in the next few weeks, our squad will look much stronger.


The most positive aspect from the match at the Bridge was Fabianski. He looked confident throughout the match and if he is given a run of matches during which he does not court any 'incident', then Mark Schwarzer's dream of playing for a top club will remain just that, a dream.

Keep on Goonering you ARSE-s!!!

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Another Aidil-Fitri Delight

A week after Muslims celebrate the Aidil-Fitri, a nice present from Arsenal duly arrives a day before many Muslims call as 'Hari Raya Enam'. This is when a Muslim performs an additional six days of fasting during the month of Shawal, preferably from the second day onwards even though it is not necessarily so. Even the additional six days are not compulsory.

However, for Gooners who manage to do that, then they receive half dozen of delights from the Emirates as the home side put six past Sporting Braga goalkeeper Felipe. In a match that could be dubbed as 'The Cesc Fabregas Show" the skipper found the net twice, starting the scoring in each half.

Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh also manage put their names on the score-sheet in the first half to give The Gunners a healthy 3-0 lead going into the break. Substitute Carlos Vela came on in the 63rd minute and duly found the net twice to put the gloss on the night when the Portuguese Arsenal learn what Champions League football is all about.

The naivety of the Braga side mean the central defensive pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci are not really troubled throughout the match. Despite the big win Arsenal fans must realise that sterner tests await when their team face FK Partizan in Belgrade later this month and the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk in October.

But before that, there is the matter of a trip to Wearside to face Sunderland on the weekend, a tougher assignment than the one tonight.


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Fruitful Trip to Lancashire

At the time of writing mad redo1 has not seen the goals from the Arsenal visit to Blackburn Rovers last night. After the conclusion of Terawih and Witr prayers he immediately took Mortimer to the McD Drive Thru Restaurant where Eezmo has been watching together with returnee GanuGooner, Spalding.

What left on the clock was just minutes and the score was 2-1 in favour of the visitors. Then Arsenal broke on the right and in the end the ball reached Jack Wilshere who only had Paul Robinson to beat. However the teenager's attempt was blocked by the veteran custodian and shortly after the man in the middle blew for full time.

It is good to know Theo Walcott keeps scoring goals for Arsenal and his opener certainly shows his continuous development as a forward which will bode well for Arsenal challenges on all fronts this season. However there must be a bit concern about Laurent Koscielny ability to withhold the physical nature of Premier League after he was shouldered off the ball by El Hadji Diouf en route of the home side equaliser, which was scored by Mame Biram Diouf.

Arsenal defended stoutly for the rest of the match in the face of Blackburn's direct route football and Manuel Almunia performed efficiently despite the uncomfortable nature of the match which saw heavy rain pouring down in Lancashire in the early part of it.

Andrey Arshavin's winner just six minutes into the second half did not kill off the match as the home side tried to force an equaliser. But the resilience showed by the Arsenal team was enough to ensure all three points went The Gunners' way, much to the delight of all Gooners around the world and especially the three at kT's McDonald's Drive Thru Restaurant.

However, there was some concern when Robin van Persie hobbled off with an ankle injury and according to Arsene Wenger the Dutchman will be out for ten days. Van Persie started his first match of the season and so was skipper Cesc Fabregas whose blocked shot led to Arshavin's winner in the second half.

Arsenal fans could be reunited with their former skipper William Gallas as early as September when both North London clubs were paired together in the Third Round of the Carling Cup competition. The match which is slated for 20-09-2010 will be at White Hart Lane. Arsene is expected to field his youngsters while Harry Redknapp will do otherwise, seeing the competition as one where his side could get their hands on a piece of silverware this season.

That will be a fodder for another day. For the time being just enjoy the fruit of labour from the trip to Ewood Park. It is certainly a good birthday gift for mad redo1 who turned 41 on the 19th day of Ramadhan.

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Half Dozen of Delights.

Arsenal showed their patience and persistence during their Champions League match against Olympiakos by constantly bombarding the Greeks' goal which was well kept by the greying Nikopolidis (A reminder of the state of mad redo1's hair). He was finally beaten by Robin van Persie's goal created by substitute Eduardo. There was a big hint of offside with the second goal scored by Andrei Arshavin but at the moment mad redo1 will take it any which way they come.

Then the visit of Blackburn Rovers on Sunday. It is never easy against Rovers, and Arsenal struggled most of the time when they came up against Sam Allardyces' Bolton Wanderers in the past.

Going a goal down inside four minutes was not what many Gooners had on their mind. Vito Manonne conceded his first Premier League goal as Steven Nzonzi looped over him from a long punt by Paul Robinson. The equaliser which came nearly quarter an hour later was the prelude of how Arsenal will score goals for the rest of the match.

The unlikely topscorer, Thomas Vermaelen tackle gave Arsenal possession and when it fell to skipper Cesc Fabregas, the ball back to the central defender was like serving it on a plate. His left foot drive saw Robinson grasping air and mad redo1 hi-fiving Nina at home.

It was completely opposite the way Blackburn regained the lead though credit must be given to David Dunn who made the extra man as they hit Arsenal on the break. Manonne seemed to have the shot covered but William Gallas's thigh got in the way. The deflection was enough to wrong foot the Italian custodian and mad redo1 found himself not laughing.

This could turn bad for the home side.

Fortunately, Fabregas decided to seize the day. After setting up Vermaelen for the first equaliser, his pass opened up the Blackburn defence for van Persie to equalise for the second time. In a similar move, the Spaniard found Arshavin whose shot gave Arsenal the lead for the first time during the match.

Blackburn had a good case for a penalty when Vermaelen seemed to have brought down Dunn but the referee waved it away and Arsenal just romped away. Fabregas continued trying to create chances for others but he had a go himself just under the hour when the ball fell kindly to him. His half volley left Robinson rooted as the ball went in the top corner.

The Fabregas show did not end there and Arsenal could have blew away Blackburn for double figures. But Robinson performed credibly and the visitors were also let off by some poor finishing by Arsene Wenger's charges. But there was nothing poor about Theo Walcott's finishing as he finished off a breath-taking Arsenal counter attack started by Fabregas in his own penalty area.

His introduction in the 69th minute was Walcott's first competitive appearance this season. Another substitute, Nicklas Bendtner got his name on the scoresheet as well with ten minutes to go when he cut across the field from the left after receiving a long pass from the right. His right foot shot sizzled past Robinson before going in off the post as The Gunners completed the half dozen.

With the kind of momentum they are on now, the international break is certainly not a welcome disturbance. However, it is hoped that it will continue for the visit of Birmingham City in a fortnight.

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Viva Mannone!

Craven Cottage is not an easy place to visit, especially for Arsenal for the past few seasons. Despite getting the required results most of the time from there, it also witnesses heartbreaks when Arsenal fail to reach their level of football. Even though a rarity but Arsenal are also known to grind out results despite not reaching that level.

Last night was one such cases. Fulham 'in-your-face' attitude did not allow Arsenal to really settle down and the trip to South London could have been a disastrous one if not for the heroics of an Italian young goalkeeper, Vito Mannone.

The saves he pulled from the likes of Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora were first class and it kept the hopes up for Arsenal who scored the winner when Robin van Persie's deft first touch enabled him to deliver a quick finish just before Mark Schwarzer could deny the Dutchman. It was skipper Cesc Fabregas's vision and delivery that opened up the stout home defence.

It is still very early to judge Mannone even though the signs are good. I am sure Arsene Wenger will revert to Manuel Almunia once the Spaniard recovers from his illness. But one thing for sure, the competition for the place between the sticks will heat up, though I hope it would not escalate to a 'Lehmanesque' proportion.

Andrei Arshavin had a quiet match though there were a few moments that could have turned the match in his favour. But it was good to see him coming back especially with the Champions League match against Olympiakos coming up on Wednesday morning.

The three points from Craven Cottage are sure sweet but Mannone certainly provided the icing on the cake for me.

Go Gooners!

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