Here are the highlights from the Chelsea match

I wish I had more time on my hands to write a full length report, unfrotunately I don’t. But by all accounts, I am particularly happy this evening!

Come on you Gooners!

Highlights of Arsenal vs Dynamo Kiev

I aim to continue to provide highlights as soon as I can of all of Arsenal’s games….scouring the web week by week to find the best quality streams. As in video stream, not the water variety.

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When, as captain, some players come up to you and talk to you about a player … complaining about him … and then during the match you speak to this player and the player in question insults us,

There comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen. I am trying to defend myself a bit without giving names. Otherwise I’m taking it all (the blame). It’s very frustrating

I’m 31, the player is six years younger than me.

We are talking about our captain here. Yes, we are going through a relative tough patch with a few poor results but you do not need this from your captain. You need direction, confidence, enthusiasm and forward looking.

That however was not what we got. Instead and unnecessary and unhelpful rant underlining the dressingroom unrest. Unimpressed.

So, rightfully so in my opinion, Gallas has been stripped of his captaincy for the weekend’s game against Manchester City. Neither has he travelled with the team which will put his place in the team in weeks to come very much under doubt.

Will we bounce back against City, or flop. Again?

Walcott went down following an innocuous challenge from West Ham’s Scott Parker. Walcott initially got up before then realising how seriously he was hurt.

This really is something we could have done without considering his recent performances, which have been brilliant. It is also sure to stoke the flames in the club v country row and Wenger made it quite clear that this was a pointless friendly…which it is.

Hopefully his recovery will be quicker than the expected 12 weeks however I can’t help but think that after his shoulder injury against Stoke (this time is was the other, right, shoulder) that possibly some more work should be done to prevent this injury from recurring.

Read the OnYaHead.com sports scientist, Sam’s, artilce about shoulder subluxation to find out more on this injury…

No, I love it here. I don’t question my commitment for Arsenal and I could show you concrete signs that I’ve done that over the years

I believe in my team and I’m very proud of the job I’m doing as well, even if at the moment we are not as good as I want them to be - Daily Mail

It would appear that for now, his position is pretty sorted. As for our lack of bringing any more established players and relying predominantly on youngsters, Wenger had this to say:

The solution is not always to buy players. The solution for me at the moment is to trust the players I have because I trust their strengths, I trust their intelligence so let’s show it

If I’m allowed to disagree with him, here is a great opportunity. I personally would argue that the lack of experience in our current squad is clear for all to see…and it needs to be changed. The youngsters are class, there is no doubting that, but in games such as our upcoming match with United, an experienced head could go a long way to helping keep some feet on the ground and add some stability to the squad.

On the topic of squads and the United match, here is the team news:

Arsenal:

Walcott is expected to declare himself fit after recovering from an injured shoulder against Stoke. Van Persie is still suspended and Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee) join Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo on the sidelines.

Silvestre, Sagna and Gallas will all undergo late checks for fitness. Sagna is expected to play

Man United:

Brown, Hargreaves and Scholes all remain out whilst Fletcher is a doubt. Gary Neville returns however

Prediction

I think that it depends on what Arsenal team turns up…is it the one we saw against West Ham, or the one we saw against Stoke? If it is the later, then I think unfortunately we will lose…maybe 1-3. However I think that Wenger would have more than likely stuck a rocket up the players this week and I’m going to hedge my bets on a 1-1 draw.

Come on you Gooners!!

Add these to the list on long-term absentees (Eduardo and Rosicky) and we really are down to the proverbial bare bones!

On the plus side, Sagna is due for a return after being out with an ankle injury.

Arsenal Side From: Almunia, Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Silvestre, Djourou, Clichy, Diaby, Fabregas, Nasri, Denilson, Ramsey, Song, van Persie, Vela, Bendtner, Wilshere, Gibbs, Randall

Let’s hope that we are not remembering the 5th of November for all the wrong reasons…..

I think the best description I can come up with for the Stoke performance is shambolic? I’m putting it out here but this is possibly one of the worst performances I have seen from Arsenal, worse then the Fulham disaster even.

I want to take out my anger on someone, but who? who deserves all this anger that I have been bottling up inside of me since the last few weeks of last season. Manny Almunia? I don’t think so, it’s much to easy to make a goal keeper a scapegoat, even though he has had a few howlers, I don’t think I can pin the blame solely on him. Perhaps it’s the League 1 calibre defence that we have going (excluding Gael Clichy) they have been a pile of steamy S***e throughout the season and at the end of last. Possibly it could be the midfield? now hear me out…yes we can score 4 goals a game thanks to our midfield, but since when has a midfielders job been solely too get forward and attack, I been playing and watching football my entire life, and it seems reasonable that any good midfield should provide adequate cover for the defenders, one can’t expect too loose the ball and rely 100% on the defence to bail out the midfield throughout an entire 90 minutes? or maybe I’m being too harsh? PERHAPS its our strikers? watching Bendtner today made me sick to my stomach, never have I witnessed a more disgusting performance from a player wearing the Gunners Cannon on his chest. Bendtner lost 90% of the balls that came to him, to make it worse not once did he try too win it back. In fact the whole team lacks passion and desire and anger and fire and the will to win!

I’m truly sorrowed at what I am witnessing, aside for a fantastic 5-2 triumph on hostile grounds in turkey, I haven’t truly been happy with a gunners performance since the opening game of the season at St. James Park, with the 3-0 win against the barcodes.

*Deep Breath* MAYBE its the management? specifically Mr. Arsene Wenger who seems too hell bent on playing under developed, barely post pubescent players and wants to win something? come on please stop insulting my and other gooners fans’s intelligence, Wenger pull your finger out, admit your wrong and bring in some EXPERIENCE! and NO, please don’t bring us Scum United rejects in the form of Silvestre and try and pass him off as a decent defender…he was naff at Old Trafford (tormented for almost 8 years by TiTi Henry, if you remember) and he’s still rather naff now. Not to mention its disgusting that he wears a shirt and kit I cherish so close to my heart after where he was before and for the amount of time he was there.

I do really want to write an article for OnYaHead which has a good ending, but it seems our team this year will make it extremely difficult.

Now, is it possible that we a nearing to a time where we may have to say Good Bye Mr. Wenger? He has been the best manager in our history, but we don’t want our team to be lost in history, lost in the pages of the record books. I have backed Arsene Wenger 100% till now, just at this moment my heart is beginning to waver…is it just me?

Peace,

Amr Ayyad, admitted Goonerholic.

So, its 4-3 at the emirates stadium, into the 93rd minute, what would the invincible have done? The Gilberto Silvas? The Patrick Vieras, The Sol Campbells and Dennis Bergkamps? it’s simple really …they would have kept the ball…come on it’s ABC football, even Sunday league teams know how to run out a clock, especially when there’s less then a minute to go.

To be honest I’m in total shock, I did think that a day later I would be able to digest what occurred last night and writing this article is the first time since the match finished that I’m trying to analyse or rather gather my thoughts on the debacle that we witnessed on the evening of the 29th of October 2008 at Ashburton Grove, however to be honest I’m still too angry and frustrated at the team that I truly can not articulate my thoughts on what occurred, but here goes nothing.

Undoubtedly this was a very, very bad result, some will put it down to bad luck, some will lay the blame solely on Manuel Almunia’s shoulders, while others will lay the blame at the feet of Gael Clichy, but the only thing I can say for sure, there is no way we can challenge for credentials in the premier league, when the most simplest of things as keeping the ball for a final minute to guarantee the result, we could not do, simply inexperience. We can safely say Arsene has payed the price for getting rid of our Gilberto Silvas, our experienced and calm headed players who have been there and seen it all before.

For a team that is recognised as world wide leaders in fast, skilful, possession football, who’s passing accuracy is usually second to none, it was heartbreaking to witness our star player Cesc Fabregas try to play a “Hollywood” pass in the dyeing minute of the game, only to loose the ball and concede the forth.

Arsene Wenger had this to say after the match, “We played too cautious. They were there for the taking and instead of scoring five or six we had a negative passing game, just by keeping possession. Then you expose yourself and in football you always have to try to go forward.” No offence Arsene but here you are untypically wrong, its was precisely that, trying to score the 5th goal that lost us the match.

So now all that’s left for me to do is find a bottle of the ol’ trusts Jack Daniels and drown my sorrows.

Peace,

Amr Ayyad, admitted Goonerholic.

I would have to say that I find this encouraging to see our football club being run successfully when all around seem to be faultering (Newcastle et al!)

Yes, it is still treated like a business, but Wenger has control over who comes in and who goes out and he works well with the board on this. None of this huge money takeovers bringing in Robihno, but alternatively a successful, well run club, who have a future in the game.

A future that currently appears more stable than most other clubs.

He currently plays his trade at Wolves and they are determined to hold out for what would be a record transfer fee for somebody of his age, just 15.

Many of the top Premier League clubs are thought to be keeping tabs on the youngster, with Chelsea currently the leading mover in the situation and a bid of £2m is thought to be being considered.

As far as I am concerned, any more players like Theo that can be added to the England squad in years to come is only a posisitive thing…it would just be nice if we can get hold of him before Chelsea (or any other club) do. It is very characteristic of Arsene Wenger to keep a tight reign on the purse strings, but maybe this guy will be worth splashing out on?!