FM09 - Arsenal

[law90026]

Awards time:

World Awards:

Gael Clichy is named to the World Team of the Year.

The World Team is:
GK: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
RB: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
LB: Clichy (Arsenal)
CBs: Philippe Mexes (Roma), Pepe (Real Madrid)
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
LM: Darijo Srna (Tottenham)
CMs: Hernanes (Sao Paulo), Miguel Veloso (Sporting)
STs: Karim Benzema (Lyon), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)
Subs: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Robinho (Man City), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich)

World Footballer of the Year is Benzema (Lyon). Ramos (Real Madrid) and Mexes (Roma) were 2nd and 3rd.

World Player of the Year is Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), his 2nd consecutive award. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) was 2nd and Benzema (Lyon) was 3rd.

Europe Awards:

The Defender of the Year award goes to Lyon's Cris. Joris Mathijsen (HSV) was 2nd while Clichy was 3rd.

Goalkeeper of the Year is Iker Casillas (Real Madrid). Buffon (Juventus) was 2nd and Cech (Chelsea) was 3rd.

Midfielder of the Year is Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd). Kacar (Hertha) was 2nd and Toulalan (Lyon) was 3rd.

Striker of the Year is Benzema (Lyon). Guignac (Toulouse) is 2nd while Erdinc (FC Sochaux) is 3rd.

Footballer of the Year is Benzema. Ronaldo was 2nd and Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria) was 3rd.

[law90026]

2 January 2010: FA Cup 3rd Round

Southampton 0 - 2 Arsenal
Senderos 22'
Denilson 46'

A cup game against lower division opposition is always an opportunity for the 2nd team to prove their worth. Today, they showed that they are a strong and capable side, running out as two goal winners over Southampton.

Senderos opened the scoring when he just belted the ball in from 25 yards out, probably the only time he'll ever score such a goal in his career. Denilson added a 2nd in first half injury time as he scored from 25 yards out as well.

MotM: Kelvin Davis (Southampton keeper - it should have been a huge deficit for Southampton but he saved a lot of shots)

[law90026]

6 January 2010: League Cup Semi-Final First Leg

Arsenal 4 - 1 Liverpool
Walcott 9'
van Persie 26'
Adriano 32'
Nasri 52'
Adebayor (pen) 95'

We are up against Liverpool in the first leg of the League Cup Semi Finals and we crush them at home. This victory should see us through to the next round and I will likely field a 2nd team for the return leg at Anfield.

Walcott opened the scoring when he used his pace to burst into the Liverpool penalty box and he slotted the ball past Reina, the Liverpool keeper. van Persie doubled the lead with a powerful shot from just inside the box. Adriano, on his debut for Liverpool, turned Toure and pulled 1 back for his side with an equally powerful shot.

In the 2nd half, we continued to dominate and Nasri raced on to a nice throughball from Adebayor to tap it past Reina. Adebayor then converted a penalty when the ever energetic Willis Santana earned a penalty late in injury time.

MotM: Walcott

[law90026]

9 January 2010: Premier League Match #21

Arsenal 3 - 1 Sunderland
N'Koulou (pen) 19'
Eduardo 35'
Chopra 41'
W. Santana 68'

No let up in the fixtures as we play against Sunderland 3 days after playing Liverpool. Squad depth is really playing a part now as we are able to field strong teams despite the large number of fixtures and rest key players where necessary.

The game started badly when we lost Rosicky to a challenge from behind by Sunderland midfielder Hugo Colace. Colace was sent off for that challenge and Rosicky is out for a month.

Vela earned us a penalty when he was tripped in the box by former Arsenal player Lauren. N'Koulou stepped up to slam it home and that's his first goal ever for us. He has been unhappy recently for not featuring in the first team and I have to say that it is my fault for overlooking him in the rotation.

Eduardo then volleyed home a Fabregas cross to double our lead before poor marking allowed Chopra enough space in the penalty box to score before halftime.

Willis Santana made sure the points were safe though when he used his skills to absolutely destroy the Sunderland leftback and ghost into the penalty box where he had plenty of time and space to pick his spot for his 5th goal of the year.

MotM: N'Koulou

[law90026]

16 January 2009: Premier League Match #22

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Arsenal
Aghonbolar 15'
van Persie 37'
Reo-Coker 49'

It was disappointing that our unbeaten stretch finally came to an end against a "lesser" side. Villa are languishing in midtable and I would have expected us to come away with at least a draw.

Credit to Villa though as they took their few chances well and made us pay for our wastefulness.

Aghonbolar was the first to score when he beat our offside trap with ease and had lots of time and space to score. We equalised via a van Persie header after Sagna had swinged in a beautifully weighted cross. However, things fell apart when Reo-Coker scored from 30 yards out and we just seemed to deflate after that, unable to create any more chances.

MotM: Brad Friedal (Villa keeper)

[law90026]

20 January 2010: League Cup Semifinal Leg #2

(note: I had been leading this fixture 3-1 when the game froze and so I had to restart it. Nearly lost it the 2nd time round)

Liverpool 6 - 3 Arsenal (Arsenal wins 7-7 on aggregate, away goals rule)
van Persie 6'
Reira 10'
Mascherano 23'
Vela 38'
Senderos 68'
Alonso 70'
Keane 72'
Torres 85'
Torres 85'

A truly ridiculous game and one in which our defence was abysmal.

We started it well with a van Persie header from a Vela cross. Vela played really well this game, always involved, always active and always dangerous. We let them equalise when poor marking from Denilson allowed Reira to sneak in at the far post to bundle the ball home. Mascherano then gave Liverpool the lead when he turned in a Kuyt cross. However, Vela powered home a strike from the edge of the box before halftime.

Things should have been safe in the 2nd half when Senderos headed in a corner. But that's when things started to fall apart. I had to take off Sagna and on came Thiago Silva at right back. On came Eduardo for van Persie and Walcott for W. Santana.

And Liverpool just scored and scored and scored. Alonso first with a 20yard half volley. Then poor defense left Keane in a 1-on-1 situation against Handanovich. Torres stabbed home from close range twice in 2 minutes .. and volleyed just over a few minutes later.

It was a real miracle we held on for the draw and the boys are going to get a stern telling off for their inept performance in the last 20 minutes of play.

MotM: Torres

[law90026]

23 January 2010: FA Cup 4th Round

Crystal Palace 0 - 3 Arsenal
Ramsey 21'
Bendtner 67'
Walcott 72'

We cruise to victory over Championship side Crystal Palace. Once again, the 2nd / young team prove their ability by brushing aside their lower division opposition.

Ramsey, who recently returned from loan at Wolves (where he played pretty well in 15 starts), scored his first ever goal for us, a screamer from 25 yards out. In the 2nd half, Bendtner headed home a cross before Walcott blitzed past the Crystal Palace defence to slot home.

MotM: Ramsey

[law90026]

27 January 2010: Premier League Match #23

Arsenal 4 - 0 Everton
van Persie 11'
Eduardo 22'
Thiago Silva (pen) 54'
Fellaini (og) 84'

The first team gets to play after a little time off and they come back with a vengeance, sweeping aside Everton 4-0.

van Persie scored a beautiful goal when he took the ball 25 yards out, turned quickly and then curled it home. Eduardo doubled our lead when a throughball found him with a bit of space in the box and that was all he needed to stab it past the Everton keeper.

A Thiago Silva penalty was next after van Persie was brought down in the box followed by a Felliani own goal when he glanced a van Persie corner past his own keeper.

We lose Clichy for a month though with a fractured arm. I'll have to decide whether I want to play Gallas or Traore at leftback for this period.

MotM: van Persie

[law90026]

31 January 2010: Premier League Match #24

Arsenal 2 - 2 West Ham
van Persie 9'
Bellamy 23'
Thiago Silva 54'
Upson 69'

A wasted opportunity today as we fail to take advantage of a slip up by 2nd placed Newcastle. A win would have put us 8 points clear, rather than 6 points as it now stands.

We started the game well with an early van Persie goal, a thunderous freekick from 35 yards out. However, our centreback pairing of Senderos and Thiago Silva seemed to have difficulty coping with the pace of Bellamy and he duly equalised when he nipped in between the 2 of them to chip it over Almunia. I'll probably field Gallas and Thiago Silva in the next game with Traore at leftback.

Thiago Silva gave us the lead again when he headed home a van Persie corner. He then became the villain when he failed to close out Upson and allowed him to force the ball home for the West Ham equaliser.

MotM: van Persie

[law90026]

6 February 2010: Premier League Match #25

Arsenal 2 - 0 Stoke City
Vela 26'
Vela (pen) 76'

2 goals on either side of halftime by Vela gave us a comfortable win over the relegation candidates.

Today's team was a mix of youth and experience as it was a good game for players like Nasri, Rosicky and Santana to make their comebacks from injuries as well as letting reserve players like Traore and Vela get more first team experience.

Vela was a constant attacking threat today and he headed home a Sagna cross to give us the lead. We dominated the first half and were unlucky not to go into halftime with a bigger lead as we hit the bar twice and desparate defending by Stoke kept out a few other attempts.

In the 2nd half, a Vela penalty sealed the points for us after he was tripped in the box.

MotM: Vela

[law90026]

13 February 2010: FA Cup 5th Round

Hull City 1 - 2 Arsenal
Senderos 47'
W. Santana 56'
Cousin 67'

We beat Championship side Hull City 2-1 to advance in the FA Cup. As expected, it was a physical game against a thuggish side and I am displeased at the amount of protection that their players received despite the repeated and constant fouling of our players. A more strict referee could easily have sent off 2 or 3 of their guys for getting 2 yellow cards in my opinion.

Regardless, we were never really in danger in this game and a Senderos header and W. Santana finish pretty much confirmed our spot in the next round. A header from their top striker Cousins made the game look closer than it really appeared but they hardly had any chances during the game and I was never concerned.

MotM: Mario Santana (he created both our goals)

[law90026]

20 February 2010: Premier League Match #26

Middlesborough 1 - 2 Arsenal
van Persie (pen) 6'
Palombo 17'
Downing 59'

Another game that looked closer than it really was.

Vela earned us a penalty in the 7th minute of play when he was tugged back after getting past Wheater. van Persie dutifully scored from the penalty.

We then scored a beautiful goal as the ball was worked from right flank to left flank. A Traore cutback was touched on by Nasri to Palombo who smashed it first time from 25 yards out for a delightful goal.

A Downing freekick from 30 yards out gave Middlesborough some hope but we were never really threatened thereafter. It was a really pretty freekick though as it curled in from long range.

MotM: Palombo

[law90026]

24 February 2010: Champions League Last 16 First Leg

Schalke 3 - 3 Arsenal
Palombo 13'
Fabregas 28'
Gallas 47'
Altintop 67'
Altintop 87'
Asamoah 91'

I'm still not sure how we went from 3-0 up to 3-3 at full time.

We were absolutely cruising, not just in this match but to the next round, with a Palombo 25-yard strike, a Fabregas rocket from just inside the box and a Gallas header from a corner.

Then, I had to reorganise the defence slightly as Clichy was knackered. On came Thiago Silva to play with Toure in central defence and Gallas went to leftback. Suddenly, we fell apart.

Altintop was the beneficiary of a Farfan cross, after Farfan had beaten Gallas handily on their right wing. Then, Altintop was put through behind Thiago Silva, who was slow to react and Altintop finished with aplomb. In injury time, Toure missed an interception and it allowed Asamoah to blast home from inside the penalty box. Unbelievable last 20 minutes or so and a shocking defensive collapse.

MotM: Altintop (Schalke forward)

[law90026]

28 February 2010: League Cup Final

We are up against a "lesser" side today as we seek to defend the League Cup. Portsmouth are our opponents.

Since I've taken over at Arsenal, we have played Portsmouth 4 times, winning 3 and drawing 1. This is the side that fields Peter freaking Crouch, he of the magical long distance super strikes against us.

Our lineup:
GK: Handanovich
RB: Sagna
LB: Traore (resting Clichy)
CBs: Toure and Gallas
DM: Palombo
RM: Walcott
LM: Nasri
AM: Fabregas
STs: van Persie and Bendtner (Adebayor is out with a hip injury)

Portsmouth are playing a very defensive 3-5-2, essentially 3 centrebacks, 1 defensive midfielder and 2 wingbacks, 2 central midfielders and 2 strikers:

GK: Ashdown
CBs: Berra, Distin and Parmarot
RWB: Hunt
LWB: Rat
DM: Muamba (former Arsenal trainee)
CMs: Thomson and Bryson
STs: Defoe and freaking Crouch

2nd minute: Freekick on the rightside of the Portsmouth penalty box. van Persie steps up, strikes it ... and it's a bullet to the corner of the goal. 1-0 Arsenal!

7th minute: Nice passing releases Walcott on the right flank. Intricate passing allows Sagna to swing in a cross that Bendtner connects on but Ashdown makes a good save for a corner.

21st minute: Ball played into the box for Bendtner, he displays good control and turns his man. Sliding tackle from Berra takes Bendtner down, penalty! Palombo steps up, takes a deep breath and blasts it into the bottom right corner. 2-0 Arsenal! Palombo has been a real scoring machine lately!

25th minute: Gallas booked.

27th minute: Distin booked.

34th minute: Thomson sent off for a crude tackle on Fabregas. Portsmouth players are furious.

38th minute: Header from Bendtner saved by Ashdown.

41st minute: A corner is played short to Palombo who shoots. Bryson sticks a leg out and deflects it past his own keeper for an own goal. 3-0 Arsenal

42nd minute: Diop on for Defoe. This signifies even more defensive play for Portsmouth as Diop is a midfielder while Defoe is a striker. Apparently they're no longer interested in trying to win the game.

At halftime, I take off Fabregas and Palombo, both of who have taken knocks. On come Vela and Denilson and I hope this move doesn't backfire as the spine of my team has been replaced.

50th minute: Long range shot from Diop, parried away by Almunia and Traore picks up the loose ball.

52nd minute: Petrov (leftwinger) and Kaboul (centreback) come on for Crouch and Hunt. Portsmouth are playing without a recognised striker now.

69th minute: N'Koulou on for a tired Nasri. Reshuffling my defence now so that Traore is now playing left wing, Vela is the attacking midfielder, N'Koulou partnering Toure at centreback and Gallas at leftback.

74th minute: Long range shot from Denilson over the bar.

75th minute: Bryson booked.

77th minute: Long range shot from Denilson, just over the bar.

And that's it! A relatively boring 2nd half but enough to ensure we win a successive League Cup.

Man of the Match: Palombo

[law90026]

3 March 2010: Premier League Match #27

Bristol City 1 - 1 Arsenal
Rosicky 34'
Eagles 66'

We again fail to beat last placed Bristol City. The most frustrating bit is that we didn't really create many chances at all and never looked like winning this game.

Rosicky scored the first goal with a powerful shot from just inside the box. However, a Eagles freekick in the 66th minute tied things up.

Our lead over 2nd placed Man Utd is now 4 pts.

MotM: Eagles

[law90026]

6 March 2010: FA Cup 6th Round

Arsenal 2 - 0 Blackburn
W. Santana 71'
W. Santana 81'

Another game in which we found it difficult to break down a side that set out to defend. The first half had few chances though things began to change after Blackburn's Tony Kane was sent off in the 44th minute for a 2-legged challenge on Fabregas.

In the 2nd half, we needed some luck to score both goals. A M. Santana cross-shot was not handled well by Friedal and W. Santana was on hand to stab home. A similar situation arose for W. Santana's 2nd goal when a cross shot was hit with low pace ... and ended up as some sort of bizarre throughball for him.

We suffer a serious injury blow though as Palombo is going to be out for 2 months with strained knee ligaments. Denilson needs to step up.

MotM: W. Santana

[law90026]

We are drawn to play Aston Villa in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. This sets up the potential for an Arsenal - Liverpool final.

[law90026]

9 March 2010: Champions League Last 16 Second Leg

Arsenal 0 - 0 Schalke

Whew, we escape with a draw and go through to the next round.

It was a very close match and both sides came close to scoring but, on this day, Handanovich was our hero as he pulled off a number of stunning saves to protect our goal. Schalke came closest to a goal though when a Kuranyi shot cannoned off our bar in the first half.

As a result of the goalless draw, we go through on the away goals rule as we had scored 3 at their homeground.

More injuries though as we lost van Persie for a month and Bendtner for 2 months. I currently only have 1 first choice striker left in Eduardo as Adebayor is still out with a hip injury as well.

MotM: Handanovich

[law90026]

14 March 2010: Premier League Match #28

Arsenal 3 - 1 Newcastle
Nasri 18'
Eduardo 45'
Thiago Silva (pen) 83'
Martins 89'

A nice win over 4th placed Newcastle today as the team bounced back from a poor effort in midweek.

Nasri opened the scoring when he was first to a rebound after Given was unable to hold on to a powerful Vela shot. Eduardo scored just before halftime when he turned in a M. Santana cross.

In the 2nd half, Coloccini backed into Vela in the box and the referee awarded a penalty. It was a bit soft to be honest but I'm not complaining. Thiago Silva duly converted it. However, Martins managed to steal in between Clichy and Thiago Silva near the end of the match and guide the ball past Almunia.

Major injury though as Sagna's season comes to an end when he tears a calf muscle. Out for 5 months

MotM: Nasri