Is there really any excuse?

So I come home today, I'm exhausted, I'm hungry, and my car is still not unpacked. You'd think that since we played Sheffield United today that I could at least look forward to a nice relaxing look at the table where I puffed and preened over the Gunners.

Well... you thought wrong.

0-1

We have lost to Sheffield United TWICE this season. And yet we have somehow beaten Manchester United at home. Can anyone explain this to me??!? This is almost as crazy as West Ham beating Man U. Except that Man U is fairly consistent and we aren't.

Uhhhhhhhhhhh! There is no excuse for this sort of playing.

UEFA Champions League Draw

So I think this is good news for several reasons.

1. We ddin't get Barca (haha Livepool is getting knocked out).
2.Man U has to play Lille again, and we all remember the embarrassment that was last time.
3. Chelsea has to play Mourinho's old team, and that man is so crazy he might just refuse to coach or something. Or park his team's bus in front of the goal, you know the usual.
4. We've beat PSV before, and I really believe we can beat them again. We've quit losing to shit teams (see Wigan) however, we really haven't quit playing shit against shit teams (see Wigan).

The small obstacle I see in our way is some guy named Nanu. Evidently this guy used to play for Arsenal, and he was a bit of an arse. Lazy, rude to other members, and we released him. And now he plays for PSV. That hasn't stopped us in the past, but.. we are quite unpredictable this season.

Now.... the game I've finally watched through and through and can comment on.

Chelsea v Arsenal.

Hmmm. Well you know I was a bit disappointed. The first half was a bit boring. Don't get me wrong, I love the game of football, especially when it's two teams matched up like this, but I can understand why some Americans think it's boring. That's sorta how the first half was. That's how the ENTIRE game against Wigan was. Moving on though... to the 78' where we had our first goal. No surprised that Adebayor put it in, he's really coming along, and honestly this season I have more faith in him and Van Persie than Henry. Then some Chelsea player (I don't really bother learning their names, because I figure they'll just be sold/bought in another season) scored. And almost scored again. And then Hleb was fouled by the biggest idiot in the world. And since Chelsea has their players alllllllways whining to the refs, I really think that's why we didn't get the call. I have it on Tivo... it was a certifiably bad foul. Anyhow... final score was 1-1. Not bad at all... espcially considering a few of the statistics.

Average Age of Team:
Arsenal - 23 (youngsters)
Chelsea - 29 (prime)

Average Age of Defense
Arsenal - 21 (VERY young)
Chelsea ~ 27 (again, in their prime)

I'm pretty okay with it, I really wanted us to win, but at least we drew the 2 points out of Chelsea. Gives a bit more to Man U, and since we've already beat them AT OLD TRAFFORD, we don't have anything left to prove.

On a final note, there is a pretty substantial rumor (read it's been in more than just Spanish tabloids) that Jens Lehman will leave Arsenal at the end of the summer. Why? We only want to give him a 1 year contract. Which makes sense to me because the man is like 66 or something, and we like to have younger talent. I also remember hearing something about us buying some new up and coming goalkeeper (imagine that!) a while back.

Did anyone else see the Chelsea v Arsenal game? Any thoughts on the UEFA League draw?

Jose Mourinho is an idiot

Keep in mind that I've had to re-type this twice, and I've only done this for your protection. People need to know how batshit crazy this man is.

"Jose Mourinho claimed Arsenal were “co-operating” with Manchester United to stop Chelsea winning the title."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006570244,00.html

Go read the whole article... because it really shows what a piece of work this man is. Newcastle fans, please take note of the very kind words he has for your meeting next week. No offense though ya know!!!


Just to further illustrate my point, I'm breaking out some of my collection of quotes.

1."Buying players for Chelsea is the hardest job in the Premier League." --oh yes sir, I feel sooooooo bad for you. It must be very difficult to spend all of that dirty Russian money. To outprice anyone else looking to buy someone. My heart aches.

2. "As we say in Portugal, they [Spurs] brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal. I would have been frustrated if I had been a supporter who paid £50 to watch this game because Spurs came to defend. There was only one team looking to win, they only came not to concede - it's not fair for the football we played" --well imagine that! A team DEFENDING the goal!!! That is revolutionary. And illegal. Of course, anyone can see, the Spurs should have been banned immediately. I mean, can anyone think of a sport where the main objective is to score?? Mr. Mourinho I think you are confused with the OTHER football.

3. "I think he [Arsene Wenger] is one of these people who is a voyeur. He likes to watch other people. There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families." --the man is insane. A telescope!??! What are you talking about?!?!?!

4. "For me, pressure is bird flu. I'm feeling a lot of pressure with the problem in Scotland. It's not fun and I'm more scared of it than football." --Bird flu?! How in any way is that your concern?? Wtf mate?


To top it off... a report from a friend who was at the recent match.
"Arsenal fans sang their songs about him [Cole] and threw the fake £20 notes. Chelsea fans responded by singing about our manager wanting to have sex with children."

Very classy Chelsea. Veeeeeeery classy.

Arsenal... as usual

After that game yesterday I am almost convinced that we don't need Henry anymore. He has tutored Van Persie to the point of standing alone (in the 4-4-2 again thank God) and Adebayor is coming alone nicely. As usual, Ljungberg was disappointing... I think the Lightning Bolt is just past his prime.

By no means am I saying that it was a pretty game of football, because anyone that has seen the highlights knows that Van Persie possibly handballed prior to that last penalty, and that neither of the penalties was very clear cut, but then again Anelka was definitely offside last week, so you take what you can get. And we got a win against Tottenham. If there is one team that I couldn't stand winning the Premiership more than Chelsea it's this load of... see you next tuesdays.

Predictions:
1. Arsenal will stay put at 3rd... Chelsea will take 2nd and Man U will take 1st.

2. Arsenal will make it at least to the quarterfinals in the Champions League. I can't tell you why, it's just because we're cursed like that.

3. Henry will be sold this year, or his star will burn our slowly at Ashburton Grove. He's in his prime, but if he keeps busting up with Arsene he'll be out of there.

4. Chelsea will lose to Barcalona. And Arsenal. Whoop.


Wishes:
1. Tottenham will be relegated to the lower league. That would seriously make my year.

2. Man U wins gracefully, but not after a nice little fight between Rooney and Ronaldo. The giraffe vs. the rugby player... good drama.


That's all folks.