Posts Tagged ‘Robin Van Persie’

My guys from Arsenal put up one hell of a fight but we couldn’t overcome a four-goal deficit. Sure we took it to AC Milan in the second leg however our old bugaboo reared its ugly head we suck on the road.

Arsenal dug a hole so deep that we could not dig our way out of it. Three first half goals gave Gunner nation hope but when the final whistle blew the guys could not push the rock past the final goal line and we lost. 

The words coming out of Gunner land are good but this has been our problem all year long. We lose matches we should win and we can’t beat the big boys.

Tomas Rosicky said he was proud of the way his mates fought to make it close. All quotes are taken from www.arsenal.com

“I am proud of my team-mates because what we produced today was great football, but it’s sad because obviously we are out of the competition,” Rosicky told Arsenal Player. “We can go out with our heads held high but we blew it in Milan.

“We knew [that we would be making history if we came back] and that’s what the boss told us in the pre-match speech. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something special? So of course we were up for it and I think you could see that. So it’s a shame.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/rosicky-we-can-hold-our-heads-high

This all good and dandy but the only offense we have is Robin Van Persie. RVP has scored 32 goals so far this season. Of Robin Van Persie’s 32 total he has found the mark 25 times in the EPL. The guys have scored a total of 55 times in EPL competition. RVP has been responsible 45% of the offense. That sucks. And this is why we are always behind the eight ball.

Robin Van Persie has eleven matches left in the season to become the all time scorer in Arsenal history. Ted Drake holds this record. Drake scored 42 goals in the 1934-35 season.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/42357/behind-the-numbers-   

Sagna said this after the heartbreaking 4-3 loss to AC Milan on aggregate. “We are fourth now and we have a bit of an advance on Chelsea,” he told Arsenal Player.

“We want to put Arsenal back [in the Champions League] and we are only four points behind Tottenham now. We know we can do it and now we have to win the next game against Newcastle, which is as important as the one against Milan.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/sagna-this-performance-is-a-reference-point

Let’s get real Gunner nation. If we can’t get production out of the rest of the guys our season will be lost. Sure it is good we are hanging around the top four however this is the booby prize. This is the talk of losers not winners.

We have to win a trophy if we don’t it is time for Arsene Wenger to go. Eight years without a title sucks. In any professional sport if a team keeps knocking at the door and can’t bust it down to win then it is time for the headman to go.

Gunner for life.

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This is one of those typical Arsenal performances. Bring us to precibus of victory then break our hearts big time. My Gunners scored three first half goals to cut the gap on aggregate to 4-3 but the guys couldn’t get the final goal to send us to extra time and a PK shootout.

Goals by Laurent Koscielny, Tomas Rosicky, and a PK by Robin Van Persie gave Gunner nation hope. But in the end Robin Van Persie double clutch miss from point blank range in the 59^th minute killed us. Milan’s keeper Christian Abbiati used his left paw to block the shot. He used his other paw to pull the ball into his body.

This was one of this bang, bang, plays. For all you hockey buffs think Patrick Roy.

My Gunners won 3-0 but lost 4-3 on aggregate.

AC Milan is on to the quarterfinals.

Benfica came back from a 3-2 aggregate to moved on to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 over Zenit St. Petersburg. The Portuguese side advances on aggregate 4-3.

My guys fought back but what killed us was the first leg blowout in Italy. AC Milan’s final goal in the first leg was the difference in this sucker. 

It looks like my guys will be awarded bupkis for eight straight years. Our last title came in the 203-04 season.

This is getting old fast.

Gunner for life.

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My guys from Arsenal got their hands handed to them. It was more like AC Milan lopped them off. A daily double by Robinho, a PK by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and prize from Kevin-Prince Boateng showed why the Italians are superior club.

The Rossoneri won going away 4-0.

This devastating loss killed us.

The only chance we have is to score five goals and hold AC Milan to nada.

This isn’t going to happen.

My Gunners played with little emotion or guts. It seemed like the guys were sleep walking through the match. Even Robin Van Persie disappeared for most of the match.

The final scored should have been worse.

Thank God it wasn’t.

This loss was my Gunners worst away defeat in their storied Champions League play. We had our asses kicked by a good Italian squad. The Rossoneri are top dog in the Italian Serie A.

This classic butt whopping by AC Milan shown the light of truth on our weaknesses our back line sucks big time. If we can’t fix this problem and bring in a real fullback we will be cut to shreds by the likes of City, Man U, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and other top futebol clubs.

The UK Guardian Post wrote this- “This was Arsenal’s Mr Hyde side. Defensively abject, they were led a less-than-merry dance by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who also ended his hoodoo of failing to score for Italian clubs in Champions League knockout ties. Milan played very well, as they sought revenge for the last-16 miseries visited upon them in recent years by Premier League clubs, but it was hard to spare Arsenal from stinging criticism. Their passing lacked accuracy and tempo, while there were smears for many reputations. The fight for the right to re-enter next season’s Champions League felt a little pointless after this.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/feb/15/milan-arsenal-five-talking-points?newsfeed=true

This is dead right on. I’ve been writing this same this for almost a year now.

The Irish Examiner money quote-“Arsenal’s Champions League dreams were shattered by a humiliating 4-0 defeat to AC Milan in the first leg of their last 16 clash at the San Siro tonight.”

The heaviest European away defeat for Arsenal will be a bitter pill to swallow, but Arsene Wenger must lift his squad again for what is now a crucial FA Cup fifth-round tie at Sunderland on Saturday ahead of the Premier League derby with Tottenham – when the Gunners will look to keep alive hopes of qualifying again for the Champions League with a top-four finish.”
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/arsenals-champions-league-dreams-shattered-539965.html

The Telegraph wrote this little diddy- Arsenal’s biggest ever defeat in European competition, and somehow that doesn’t do justice to how dispiriting that performance must have been for their supporters. They were embarrasses, entirely outplayed and barely even a bad imitation of a team that could challenge the big guns of this competition. Milan impressed but it’s similarly hard to see how they’d cope against Barcelona or Real Madrid. Not just because those teams are so much better, but because Milan aren’t that good. And they beat Arsenal 4-0. I will be interested to see how the second leg pans out. Over and out from me, thanks for your company.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9084633/AC-Milan-v-Arsenal-live.html

The Italians are that good. The Rossoneri have Robinho who is still one of the top players in the world as well as rising Brasileiro star Pato, and a solid defender in Brasileiro Thiago Silva.

It is time for Wenger to go.

Gunner for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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My guys from Arsenal and Chelsea are the only two sides left in the Champions League knockout phase. My Gunners have a hot date with AC Milan later today.

The Blues have their encounter with Napoli on Tuesday February 21^st.

Wenger said this about the upcoming battle with the Rossoneri “Of course you can make comparisons between the two leagues,” he said. “Let’s not forget that Napoli already knocked Man City out of the Champions League and we already knocked Udinese out.

“They are one of the better teams in the league. So yes, comparisons can be made after these games.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-we-ll-see-how-good-serie-a-is

The headman Wenger told the press that our guys are going to have to be careful of AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  “He is a great player,” said Wenger. “If you look at his record, at what he has won, he has his own personality based on a strong belief in himself.

“That is a quality at the top level that can sometimes be seen as over-confidence but I don’t think he is because he turns up with performances in the big games.

“That’s why I believe he was at the Arsenal training ground before his career. Before he moved to Ajax we were interested in him, and he made a great career.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-ibrahimovic-turns-up-in-the-big-games-

These are the cats that will play for my Gunners against the Rossoneri. It’s the usual suspects Thierry Henry, Robin Van Persie, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin, just to name a few.

Wenger hinted that Kieran Gibbs is physically and mentally ready to play huge role for the guys on “D” end of the pitch.

“To be a player is to come in and show how good you are when you get your chance,” said the manager.

“I will find the most natural [solution], which means I will put Vermaelen back in the middle. Gibbs looks to be ready so I might look to start him but I have not decided completely yet.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-gibbs-is-physically-and-mentally-ready-

This is a huge match for the guys. We need to come away with points. The guys need to get that all-elusive away goal.

Gunner for life.

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http://hillsongtv.com/

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My guys from Arsenal showed what they are made of. We fell behind 2-0 to Villa. Instead of folding up like a cheap tent my Gunners manned up and scored three-second half goals to win 3-2.

Two PK’s by Robin van Persie and a goal from Theo Walcott sent the boys into the next round of the FA Cup.

My Gunners started out fast but couldn’t convert.

Aston Villa struck first in the 33^rd minute. Richard Dunn rose above the fray and nailed a powerful header. Stiliyan Petrov set this sucker up with a well-placed corner kick.

Villa made 2-0 on a goal by Darren Bent in the 45^th minute.

The guys came roaring back.

This win showed the guys have the fortitude to come back from adversity.

The FA Cup weekend is over. Chelsea, Liverpool, Bolton, Stoke City, Norwich City, and Birmingham from the EPL advanced. Newcastle lost to Championship side Brighton 1-0.

League Two Crawley Town pulled the biggie-upset city of the day beating Hull City 1-0.

Stevenage defeated Notts County 1-0. Boro is in League Two while Notts County is League One.

So far in the FA Cup there have been a few surprises but most of the big boys have passed on through except for when EPL clubs battled each other like Liverpool-Man U, West Brom-Norwich City, Bolton- Swansea City, Chelsea- Queens Park Rangers.

Gunner for life.

www.palau.org

http://hillsongtv.com/

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The daily double from Robin Van Persie sent the guys through to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Arsenal won 2-1 over Borussia Dortmund.

My Gunners gave up a late goal in the 92^nd minute but we were never in danger of losing this sucker.

It sure looks like the guys are finding their stride.

The pieces are starting to gel.

RVP has scored 30 goals on the season.

This is the second straight double for Robin Van Persie.

The other match of interest saw Barcelona beat AC Milan 3-2.

The Catalans twice took the lead only to lose it to the Italian side.

This puppy was a dogfight.

Messi, Xavi, and own goal by Milan’s Mark Van Bommel were the difference in the match.

Barca won Group H.

Chelsea lost to Bayer Leverkusen 2-1.

The Blues are in danger of not making it out of Group E.

My Gunners won Group F with 11 points.

Second place belongs to Marseille with seven points.

Olympiacos is third with six points.

Second place is up for grabs.

Barcelona won Group H with 13 points.

AC Milan is second with eight points.

In Group E Bayer Leverkusen is top dog with nine points.

Chelsea is second with eight points.

Third place sits Valencia with eight também.

It will come down to this for the Blues.

Chelsea –Valencia match on Tuesday December 6^th will decide who advances to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Arsenal, Barca, and AC Milan are through to the next round.

Gunner for life.

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Finally my guys from Arsenal played with heart and character. My Gunners picked up a huge 3-1 win over Udinese to advance to the group stage of the Champions League on a 3-1 aggregate.

Sure Udinese scored a goal in the 39^th minute however the guys came out breathing fire in the second half and took the match by the throat.

Robin Van Persie scored in the 59^th minute.

RVP nailed home winner off a dribble drive by Gervinho on the left byline. Gervinho flicks the ball on net. Robin Van Persie deposits this sucker into the back of the net.

This makes it one all.

Arsenal now has the lead on the away goal advantage 1-0.

The match changer happened three minutes later when the ref called a handball on the Gunners Vermaelen in the box.

Up steps Udinese’s Di Natale. Keeper Szczesny stares him down.

The run up. The shot to the top left shelf. Szczesny dives. He lifts his left paw and safety flips the ball over cross bar.

Game, set, and match to Arsenal.

This save by the young keeper was the difference in the match. If Udinese had scored this would have completely changed the complexion of the match.

Arsenal had gained the big MO.

The Gunners would have been dead in the water if Di Natale didn’t do the choke city.

Instead this puppy stayed tied on all until Theo Walcott scored in the 69^th minute.

Walcott showed why he is one of the up and coming young studs in English futebol.

He created this goal off a one on two situation.

Think Michael Jordan or George “The Ice Man’ Gervin for all you hoops fans.

This win was a biggie for my Gunners.

If we would have lost you could have stuck a fork in our season.

Up next is Man U at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Finally Gunner land has something to cheer about.

Way to go garoto.

Gunner for life.

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It’s one week. The EPL season begins for real. My Gunners will have a lot to prove this year.

There are many questions that remain unanswered.

Will Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri be with the club this season or will they go the way of the transfer window.

If Wenger uses Fabregas in this round of the Champions League qualifying round he won’t be able to play in the Champions League Group stage if Barcelona is the destination or any other European club.

Wenger said this about the questions hanging over Gunner land- “Ideally I would have finished all [our business], but it doesn’t work like that. “We work very hard, we are non-stop working throughout the summer. It’s all kinds of things you meet during the transfer market, but I can understand the impatience of people.” Arsenal will battle Udinese n the final qualifying round. The winner of this home and away series will advance to the Group Stage of the Champions League.

The first leg will be played at our house Emirates on August 16^th.

The return leg will be played on August 24^th at Bianconeri’s house in  Italy.

Wenger said this about their Italian opponent – “I would say [the draw is] difficult but possible,” he said on Friday ahead of the Eusebio Cup in Lisbon. “Who would want to play against an Italian opponent? We know we will have to be at our best to qualify.“Udinese have lost Sanchez and Zapata [this summer] but they have many other good players. They have Di Natale and plenty of players who have quality.

“Let’s try to be at our best as quickly as we can because it is important for us to go through in the Champions League.”

In our final tune up of the season my Gunners lost to Benfica 2-1.

Robin Van Persie scored in the 34^th minute.

My guys from Flamengo have a huge match with Coritiba at Mengao’s house in Rio de Janeiro.

Rubro-Negro is in second place while Coxa is in tenth place.

We need to win this sucker to keep Flamengo’s unbeaten string alive and well at fourteen going on fifteen.

Flamenguista and Gunner for life.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

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Way to stink the joint out big time Gunners. Up 3-1, Arsenal did the classic choke city. How does the choke collar feel Arsene Wenger and the guys.

Spurs scored two second half goals and possibly saved Tottenham’s season with a three all tie.

The match changer happened right at the end of the first half.

Arsenal just scored on a brilliant long-range bomb goal by Robin Van Persie in the 40^th minute to make it 3-1 Gunners.

Four minutes later, all hell broke loose when Spurs Tom Huddlestone dialed up a laser from 20 yards to cut the gap to 3-2.

The big Mo shifted.

Spurs were on fire.

A dribble drive into the box by Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon forced Gunners keeper Szczesny to stop him by whatever means possible.

PK to Spurs.

Rafael Vander Vaart nailed the PK in the 70^th minute to level this sucker up at three all.

Vander Vaart hit for the daily double in the “W”.

Game, set, and tie to Spurs.

This gives my Gunners hopes of winning the title almost null and void.

Chelsea blasted Birmingham 3-1.

With the win, the Blues leap frog over Arsenal into second place.

Both sides have 64 points but Chelsea is a plus 34 while the Gunners are a plus 32.

This  sucks big time.

Way to break my heart you clowns.

Wenger needs to go.

Gunner for life.

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http://www.bolaradio.com.br/

It’s the weekend and it’s time for the EPL. The guys are back in action. I love it.

Man U has a hot date at Old Trafford with Fulham.

The Red Devils are in the catbird seat with 66 points.

My guys from Arsenal are in the second slot with 59 points.

City is third with 56.

Wayne Rooney will be MIA due to cursing out a ref in last weeks match against West Ham.

Sir Alex and the boys should not miss a beat with the leagues top scorer Dimitar Berbatov. Berbatov has found the back of the net 20 times.

Rio Ferdinand will be back anchoring the “D”.

Man U cannot afford to be lax in this puppy.

Remember my guys from Arsenal have a game in hand.

The Gunners battle Blackpool at Bloomfield Park.

The Seasiders have a habit of playing the big boys tough at home.

We have to be very careful.

The Barca hangover is still a loom of gloom over the Gunners heads.

Robin Van Persie, Samir Nasri, and the rest need to attack, attack, and stop giving up stupid goals.

Cesc Fabregas will play. Wenger said- “Cesc is fit to start,” confirmed the manager at his pre-match press conference. “We have some problems with Sagna and with Song, who will be out [with a knee injury], and Walcott as well. 

Wenger went on to say- “Song definitely won’t play but he should be available for next week. There is a big doubt about Walcott, it’s his ankle again. He will have a late fitness test.

“Sagna has a knee problem and has a scan today [Friday]. Everybody else should be available.”

City is nipping at my Gunners heels in third place only three points out.

City takes on Liverpool on Monday at Anfield.

Chelsea is at the friendly confines of Stamford Bridge to battle heave –hoe bound Wigan.

Gunner for life.

This is it from The De Futebol Zone.

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