There’s no getting around it, tomorrow’s a big one. Man United/Arsenal never fails to get the juices flowing, and even though it’s still early in the year, that won’t lessen the intensity.

For Arsenal, the season has hit a nice, big two-week rut that is threatening to potentially define the 08-09 campaign. Coming off three disappointing results in a row, Arsene Wenger’s bunch is pretty desperate for a result. And it’s not everyday you hear talk about the man himself quitting, although he has nixed that rumor.

The big problem right now is the injury situation, which doesn’t make things easier against a United team that seems to be finding its form. Check out this article on the problems facing Wenger tomorrow – van Persie out (red card), Adebayor out, Walcott maybe, Gallas maybe, Silvestre maybe, Eboue out.

That doesn’t bode well for the Gunners, but at least they’ll be playing at the Emirates. And we should get some more looks at those exciting young players who have been tearing up the Carling Cup. But fully fit are not, there are no......read the rest at:

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Fine, I admit it. I’ve laughed at scarves, made fun of people who wear them, and generally think they look really dumb/preppy. And yet on Tuesday night I found myself as one of probably 30,000 people strolling into the Emirates Stadium sporting that particular clothing article with an Arsenal/FC Porto half-and-half pattern, thinking I was pretty much The Man. When you see all these people doing it, it somehow becomes extremely cool (yea, OK, I was kind of a follower in high school).

The purchase of that scarf came following a stroll around the area (which I thought had a really nice, low-key vibe to it) and some fish and chips to tide my appetite. My buddy Andy and I then had the necessary pre-game pint with Arsenal supporters in a pub before heading into the stadium.

The Emirates is the anti-White Hart Lane, as I quickly found out. While Tottenham’s stadium employs the ragged, ordinary warehouse-looking style on the outside, the Gunners’ home is new-age, flashy and just flat-out cool. Nothing wrong with it, just completely different, more modern and a huge money-maker thanks to the 60,000-plus people it can fit.....Check out the rest at:

 http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m10d1-Taking-in-ArsenalFC-Porto-at-the-Emirates

When you look at Arsenal’s 3-1 away victory against Bolton on Saturday afternoon, there’s no doubt that the Gunners play beautiful team football.

Whether it was a perfectly timed run inside his defender by Nicklas Bendtner (who needs to ease up on the hair gel) to latch onto a nicely placed cross from Denilson, or a pace-filled run by Theo Walcott to set up the spacing on the right and left for Denilson’s own finish in the 87th, their style is pleasing to the eye and refreshing to those who appreciate the accentuation of the whole over the individual.

This 3-1 result came handily, interrupted only by the opening strike from Kevin Davies on a header – the type of goal that leaves fans looking to the heavens for a reason for such madness, as it came at a point when Arsenal was utterly dominating possession (132-19 on completed passes if I remember right).....Check out the rest at:

 http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d20-Can-Arsenal-be-too-selfless

I was lucky enough to find a place last night showing both the Arsenal and Manchester United Champions League games.

Let’s start with Arsenal, which naturally had the big screen TV since my living arrangements are well within the club’s range in London.

The Gunners looked dangerous to close out the first half, but Dynamo Kyiv drew first blood on a penalty in the 64th when Bacary Sagna pulled down a man in the box as a service ball was coming in. Replays were inconclusive, with one making it look like the Arsenal man was over his back while the other seemed to show the Dynamo player grabbing onto Sagna and then tumbling to the ground. Perhaps a harsh decision from the referee, but such is life away from home.

But even with the home team retreating back.....read the rest at: http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d18-The-return-of-Ronaldo

 

As we head into this great weekend of EPL matches, the news of the day so far must be the headliner of Soccernet at the moment, which declares that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are fit for Saturday’s match against Manchester United. I believe I mentioned this could be the case earlier in the week, as the “he won’t play, he won’t play, oh wait, he’s fine” ploy has probably been in existence for as long as sports have been around.

That said, what a relief if the article is correct, because it makes this a mouth-watering fixture as a somewhat stagnant Liverpool squad tries to come up with a statement performance early in the season. Interesting storylines will obviously be the effectiveness of the two returning Liverpool stars and the potential productivity of Wayne Rooney, who is coming off a very strong performance in England’s dismantling of Croatia on Wednesday night. And while United has skated through the first two games without Cristiano Ronaldo, this will be the real test when they hit the hostile environment at Anfield. Can’t wait....

Check out the rest at this link: http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d12-Steven-Gerrard-and-Fernando-Torres-set-to-play 

The first mark of Theo Walcott madness today in London? I was wandering down a random street and casually glanced at a souvenir stand that sells those awful knockoff football shirts that look nothing like the real thing and probably come apart the first time through the wash. Someone had obviously gone through the England shirts that morning and ironed on a bunch of “No. 7s” on them all. Get em’ while they’re hot …. literally.

Expanding on Walcott a little more (you’ll have to forgive me, he’s the man of the moment), both Arsene Wenger and Wayne Rooney have made comments to try and keep the hype down. Rooney should know best how an English teenager can get all puffed up and suddenly be expected to carry the island nation. Having personal experience in the area, it’s only natural for the Manchester United forward to try and stop this youngster from going through the same struggles.

But perhaps even a bigger issue at this point is the future of David Beckham, as Golden Balls sat on the bench while Walcott starred last night on the field until replacing him late with the outcome assured. Check out this Soccernet article, in which Beckham is quoted as basically saying he doesn’t expect to play every game and just wants what is best for England.....

Read the rest at: http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d11-The-Theo-WalcottDavid-Beckham-question 

http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d11-Theo-Walcott-Its-all-in-the-shoes

My favorite story of the day – hat-trick hero Theo Walcott broke a stud off his cleat before halftime of yesterday’s game, but kept the shoes on since he scored a goal and didn’t want to jinx anything. He also said, and I quote from the Guardian article: “The stud had basically just fallen to pieces. That’s why I finished the third goal with my left.”

Fifty bucks says there’s no way he’s washing those game shorts in the near future, which is unfortunate for the others in the England locker room. And that’s gotta make Croatia feel good (oh, I’ll just score this last one with my other foot).

And right after Walcott’s moment in the spotlight, his manager Arsene Wenger was quoted in this Soccernet article as warning against building the youngster up too much and calling it “an exception.” Just a thought here, buttttt maybe you want to just ride that goal-scoring wave until it hits the shore and THEN warn against building him up too early. Just sayin'........Check out the rest at:

 http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d11-Theo-Walcott-Its-all-in-the-shoes

Fabio Capello sat on the sidelines, idly watching without any show of expression as the shocker unfolded in front of him. It was like he had England’s 4-1 victory all planned out, and was simply marking off his pregame list.

Be the aggressor at the start? Check.

Score first? Check.

Enter halftime ahead? Check.

Have Theo Walcott score? Check…check….ah hell, give the kid three......

Read the rest at: http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d10-Its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-SuperTheo 

Check out the preview for today's big game.

http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Soccer-Examiner~y2008m9d10-Preparing-for-Englands-big-match-today