ArseShirt Competition Closes… Winner Announced

“The Gooner Competition” has finished!

A big thank you to the amazing number of entries received for our ArseShirts Competition. There can only be one lucky winner though, and that winner is Malcolm Salovaara from America!

Well done to you Malcolm, and of course well done to all the other people who participated in the competition.

For those of you who want to know the answers, you’ll have to wait! As ASCFR close their competition on April 19th, if you have been unsuccessful in our comp, try ASCFR’s and you might be wearing an ArseShirt in a months time!

More news coming later, including some interesting news to do with Kerrea Gilbert!

Top Job Gooners!

To those Gooners that stayed behind at Old Trafford yesterday and sung their hearts out for half an hour.

Absoloutely brilliant, well done to all of you, it’s great to know that we still have those passionate fans who live, eat and sleep Arsenal.

For those of you that didn’t hear or see them post-match, here’s the video…

 

Report: Man United 2-1 Arsenal - See You Next Season…

A terrible error from Jens Lehmann allowed Manchester United to take all three points from a match which ended The Gunners title hopes for all but another season.

First Half:

The pressure was on Arsenal as the sun shone through Old Trafford on a vibrant Sunday evening. The Gunners needed all three points from this game to maintain their title challenge and showed their footballing quality with a first half display of fast, flowing football.

Cesc Fabregas was pulling the strings in midfield, while Alex Hleb was weaving his way past United players and creating some fantastic opportunities for Emmanuel Adebayor. The Togolese striker looked a little unfit, he wasn’t the only one, Robin van Persie looked tired towards the end of the first half after recovering from his thigh injury.

Gilberto struck a volley at his own player; the strike looked like it was going to test Edwin van der Sar. United though were their usual selves, always posing a threat to The Gunners defence, Wayne Rooney proved this when he poked the ball at Jens Lehmann, the German keeper’ did fantastic to tip it round the post.

Adebayor had the best opportunity of the first half, his finish not good enough though whilst one on one with van der Sar. How were Arsenal not in front?Plenty of chances being created but there was no firepower upfront to finish it off.

It was 0-0 though, at the break.

Second Half:

Arsenal’s took their momentum with them into the second half, and they proved that when Robin van Persie crossed for Adebayor who looked to of tapped the ball in the net with his hand. It was by far what Arsenal deserved though, as Ade wheeled away to celebrate with the Gooners at Old Trafford.

Typically, The Gunners couldn’t hold onto their lead for more than 5 minutes when a William Gallas needless handball in the box conceded a penalty. Ronaldo retook the penalty twice after players rushed in the box before he struck it. He made no mistake of finishing it though, a superb penalty, which Lehmann couldn’t get to.

Tevez & Anderson came on for United. Theo Walcott came on for Arsenal. Both substitutions looked to of increased the tempo and it proved just that when Man United won a free kick on the edge of the “D”. Owen Hargreaves stepped up, and curled a crisply struck strike past the poorly postitioned Jens Lehmann.

Substitute Nicklas Bendtner tested van der Sar with a crashing header late on. The Dutchman saved well as United clung onto the three points and demolished Arsenal’s title hopes.

Team:

Arsenal: Lehmann, Toure (Justin Hoyte 85), Gallas, Song Billong, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 61), Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Van Persie (Bendtner 76), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Djourou, Fabianski.

Booked: Van Persie, Gallas, Lehmann, Adebayor, Justin Hoyte.

Goals: Adebayor 48.

Man Utd Preview - Our Last Chance

The title says it all. It’s our last chance to try and win any silverware at all this season. After being knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday, todays game at Old Trafford is pretty important and could prove decisive in some players and even Le Boss’ future.

If we win, we go three points behind United. Personally, it seems unlikely that we will win the league. The only place I can see Chelsea slipping up is at Stamford Bridge v United. As for United, well, their run of games don’t look like the hardest of tasks.

It’s been an interesting week here at Gunners Live, there’s been the “Lehmann v Almunia” press battle. The news that Mathieu Flamini is out for 3 weeks, and a profile on a top target of Arséne Wenger; Hatem Ben Arfa.

So here is a team news preview of both sides, both manager’s views and a post match report (later on) to complete the batch of build up here and match action here on Gunners Live.

Manchester United Team News:

Rio Ferdinand is set to start against Arsenal even though the England defender needed three stitches in his foot. Nemanja Vidic is out, which could prove a boost for Arsenal. Cristiano Ronaldo we be welcome back into the side after being rested midweek v Roma. Wayne Rooney & Patrice Evra will also be included in the starting line up.

So what have United got to offer? A 37 goal Portugese sensation, an England striker in the form of his life and a team which doesn’t look like losing. Last week, Middlesbrough held them to a 2-2 draw, ven as a Gooner, you have to admit, the character of their side was pretty top class to grab onto a late point.

Overall, this United side are a tough propisition, especially at Old Trafford, but if our boys believe in themselves after that midweek mauling, we might just surpass the odds and put our title ambitions back into reality.

United Predicted Line Up:

-van der Sar-
-Neville-Ferdinand-Pique-Evra-
-Ronaldo-Carrick-Anderson-Giggs-
-Rooney-Tevez

Arsenal Team News:

Arsenal, well, aren’t in the kind of form you’d expect a title challenger to be in. That’s one of the reasons for their recent points dropped in the League.

Abou Diaby is suspended, Gilberto comes in for Flamini in midfield. And there are many rumours that Theo Walcott does start at Old Trafford after his magnificent display against Liverpool on Tuesday. Robin van Persie is fit to start, while Emmanuel Adebayor will look to get another goal at Old Trafford.

Talking of Walcott, he has already expressed his desire to sign a new contract with The Gunners.

He said in the News of the World:

“I could not be happier here. And if I can get a run of games at the tart of next season, I would love to renegotiate my contract.”

Arsenal Predicted Line Up:

-Almunia-
-Toure-Senderos (unfortunately)-Toure-Clichy-
-Walcott-Fabregas-Gilberto-van Persie-
  -Hleb-
-Adebayor-

My Prediction: Man United 3-1 Arsenal.

Can’t see us winning against a team in the form of their lives.
Our title ambitions were ended a few weeks ago, good luck Arsenal, as a pessimistic Gooner, I can’t see us winning at OT.

Keeper’ Conflict Petty + Lehmann Lashes Out (Pics)

Jens just can’t keep his big mouth shut can he? The 38 year old German is almost certainly on his way out of Arsenal in the summer and to make his cause worse, he creates a “hate campaign” for Arsenal no.1 Manuel Almunia.

All the Arsenal players are friends with Manuel, a top character in The Gunners camp with a bright personality, Almunia is practically being bullied by Lehmann with his “rants” about him in the press.

Have a look at this extract along with photos of Lehmann lashing out at a member of the media whilst outside the popular Embassy nightclub in London (Thanks to Gaffer from TGF).

German International and Arsenal Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, goes berserk outside Embassy Nightclub, after photographers take his photograph. After warning them not to take his picture, he lashed out at a snapper, almost punching him in the face! He then issued a threat of violence to a second snapper, having filmed him on his camera phone, and finally knocked a third snapper to the ground, punched him in the head, kicked him, and put his hands around the snappers neck, before escaping in a cab!

Click Here To See The Photos

Petty

It really does sum the German international up. Unable to control his temper, not only on the pitch, but off it as well. Yesterday, his interview with popular German magazine “Kicker” was released, he made no secret of his bitter hatred for Manuel Almunia.

“When I am not playing even though the other keeper is not exactly playing well, then it’s difficult,” fumed Lehmann. “I still haven’t been given my place back and I’m being kept out by someone who is playing his first season at a big club. To be sitting on the bench behind somebody who only started to play when he was 30 is not funny. I am very angry.”

Almunia hit back at Lehmann’s interview with a rant of his own.

“Every morning I wake up, I know it is going to be the same. I’ve had to put up with it every day since he was out of the team and even before then.

“But I don’t care about him anymore. He can say what he likes. I come into training and I work with [Arsenal reserve keepers] Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone. They are better goalkeepers than him anyway.”

You’ve got to feel sorry for Manuel. It’s like someone hating you at work and you dread coming in. Lehmann is a bully. And he has to go at the end of the season. It’s understandable a Professional footballer wants to play, but when he goes out to make a fellow footballer’s life hell, he steps the line.

Offload him to Dortmund this summer. Enough is enough.

Gooner Competition: Win A Free ArseShirt!

Gunners Live, Young Guns and ASCFR have teamed up with ArseShirts to give away a superbly designed ArseShirt of your choice.

There can be only three lucky winners. (one shirt for each site.)

So what are you waiting for ?! Answer this fairly simple quiz below, then E-mail you’re answers to the address printed underneath.

Questions:

1. What is our chairman called?

2. What is the exact capacity of Emirates stadium?

3. Former striker Thierry Henry is Arsenal’s all time top scorer, but how many goals did he score altogether?

4. Henry scored a wonderful hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Liverpool at Highbury on Good Friday 2004, but who scored the other Arsenal goal?

5. In the year 1978, who was manager of Arsenal?

6. Which player did Lee Dixon finally have to pay £100 to when the player scored his long-awaited first goal for Arsenal?

7. What were Arsenal Football Club called when they were founded in 1886?

8. Who scored four goals for Arsenal in a thumping 6-3 win at Anfield in January 2007?

9. Who scored the winning goal on his Arsenal debut in the 2002 Community Shield versus Liverpool?

10. Jermaine Pennant became the UK’s most expensive 15-year old when Arsenal signed him for £1.5m from which club in January 1999?

Send you’re answers to: gunnerslive@gmail.com

(Make sure you send you’re answers numbered 1 to 7, In the subject line put “Gooner Comp” as the heading.)

This competition closes at 0:00 pm (GMT) on Sunday 13th April. Entries submitted after that deadline will not be counted.

Don’t forget to visit Arseshirts and choose your design!

Flamini Out For 3 Weeks, Sagna Still Not Fit

Arséne Wenger told Arsenal.com that Mathieu Flamini will be out for 3 weeks after sustaining a ankle injury during the Champions League defeat at Anfield on Tuesday.

Gilberto will step into Flamini’s shoes for the game at Old Trafford. Alex Song or Denilson are likely to deputise if the Brazilian gets an injury.

Robin van Persie is fit after playing 25 minutes against Liverpool. Bacary Sagna though, is still out. This is what the boss had to say during his afternoon press conference.

“I believe Mathieu will be out for three weeks,” Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon. “It is a big blow but Gilberto has a lot of quality and experience. He will come in. He can help the team recover and focus.

“Apart from that we don’t have any other injuries from Tuesday. We have a few bumps and bruises but nothing special.
“Robin van Persie is available. He had two good sessions yesterday and today. He looks to be OK and we’ll see how we go from here. But Bacary Sagna is out.”

Other News:

In other news, young Frenchman Gilles Sunu has signed a professional contract with Arsenal after some impressive performances for the Reserves recently.

Marco van Basten may offer Dennis Bergkamp a coaching role at former club Ajax when he takes charge of the Dutch Champions after Euro 2008.

And Lukasz Fabianski has told Arsenal fans how happy he is at the club even though the Pole has had limited match action in the first team.

Manuel Almunia - The Respect Due…

August 2007. Jens Lehmann makes two costly errors against Fulham & Blackburn that cost us two precious points each and to this day were are feeling it.

But someone who wasn’t expected to do anything important this season has come out and played as if it was his position for centuries!

For some, the memories of the 2006 Champions League Final are too bitter to forgive Almunia. Most fans looking at our most impressive performers this season will look straight away at Manuel Almunia.

The non-Arsenal fans of mine even praise him by giving him the nickname ”safe hands” due to his classy, shot stopping nature. The future couldn’t be brighter for the 28 year old who has hardly put a foot wrong all season and got his reward with a contract extension.

The main aspect of being a Goalkeeper is your ability to read games, Almunia has proved this exceptionally well. The tremendous reflexes might be dubbed as a ”Show off” for most, but the proof is that he saves most shots that go into top corner due to that.

From beginning of season our defence until mid-February has looked secure calm and composed compared to last seasons robust and no confidence from set pieces one. I think there have been two reasons for that -composure and calmness. Almunia showing pure quality with his handling, catching and punching corners.

For many years, we have wanted a keeper who will read the game and compliment our excellent defence and Almunia has done it. The most and best part has been his sudden improvement in positioning. Being a goalkeeper myself I can claim that his positioning and handling has been top draw for most part.

I think he might not make it as ”world class” but patience will could just make him. I still remember Lehmann not being “Exceptional” until 05/06 so why the injustice to Almunia? He will prove most of his doubters wrong as he has done with his soundless yet most non-attention seeking goalkeeping.

The best way to describe a goalkeeper, is if he remains calms and composed and does his job well, doesnt make mistakes can pull out exceptional saves and biggest thing has been our conceding of long shots has gone down implying to his excellent goalkeeping traits.

His no nonsense and ability to play as a sweeper and clear the danger seems to have given him another big edge over Jens. The debate “who is the better keeper?” will never end as Almunia will play more games, his confidence will rise and he will eventually be able to make his own name and be considered as one of the better keepers we ever had.

His saves from Slavia Prague away, Tottenham Penalty, Shevchenko and Nicky Butt free-kicks, the Ingimarsson half volley to AC Milan away, all have been fantastic and some of them perfect, yet some pundits and some respected footballers say he still isn’t good enough. Wenger sees Manuel day in, day out and knows him as well as anyone. He has put his as first choice for a reason.

It tells you the whole story about Almunia when he was loaned to Albacete and stats wise he was the best keeper’ in Spain in 03/04.

Trust Wenger, all goalies have their “moments”, but Wenger, once again, has hit a masterstroke.

Article by Shrineel for Gunners Live!