What a come back!

The last two or three weeks have been the worst in my life as an Arsenal fan. It all started with our arch rivals(Spurs) dramatic display at the emirates which cost us two vital points and Stoke city added more pain though in my view it is le Prof to blame for that historic loss against such minnows.

As usual, the media both local and international escalated the so called crisis as both print and electronic media were awash with stories of how Wenger is the reason for the trophy drought at the emirates owing to his obstinance in not signing senior players. However, one person who i believe most of us would sneaze on hearing his name(Dein),having not forgotten he is the one who brought little known Wenger to England, has come out to his defence and described him as a "miracle worker".

Back to the good things, The saturday Man united clash at the emirates was one of those things that will stick in the mind of many fans. Without the first choice partnership upfront, Arsenal were clear underdogs but that didn't last even for five minutes. Ofcourse our confidence was low at the start and had Rooney utilised the opportunity that befell him, it would have been a different story. Fabregas and Nasri "Na-Fab formation" all over a sudden turned things around and the pinnancle of excitement was the build up to the second goal and the goal itself. Never had i seen at club level, a team passing the ball around up to their opponents back of the net and with the flair and astuteness nasri did it with more over against the reigning european champions. Credit though has to be given to Fabregas to the wonder turn some thing i only thought can only be done by only Robin Van persie.

The sensation form in the senior players has continued even with the second string side. I happened to watch this game when very tired and i was even contemplating to retire to my bed because the start was alittle bit scaring. later, the lads stablised and put up a fine display even better than the senior squad members. As i conclude i would to invite your ideas on a number of issues. Don't you think Sylvestre and Djourou partnership is the answer to our inability to handle aerial balls? Since we have only lost to small teams, is not wise for Wenger to always field the carling cup squad against such teams?

Season's Review

Mighty gunners, i took a break because there was almost nothing to report about owing to our unpleasant end of the season.

However, i would like to give my own review of the season and whoever has any divergent ideas should feel free to express their views.

On the whole, it was the most disappointing season Arsenal fans have seen in recent years. A season which looked very promising with dominating the premier league for close to 7 months and San siro massacre being the major highlights, ended trophyless like the two previous seasons. There was generally an improvement in the overall performance and statistics wise. All players have looked rejuvenated compared to the previous seasons except Eboue whose form has been the epitome of undoings at the emirates, Van persie who had a season plagued by injuries and Toure who fell short of the consistency we were accustomed to.
We had a 15 points improvement from last season, more goals from the sides top marksman, more assists from the usual suspect Fabregas and unprecedented performances from Hleb, Song, Flamini and Adebayor whose performances prior to the season elicited them to insults from the fans.

Having ended the season short of honours as we all anticipated, the manager has to strengthen the squad as we must win something next season or else we shall be dubbed perennial entertaining underachievers. This seems to be under way but we are experiencing problems with some players wanting to leave and others complaining of salaries. we have lost Flamini one of last season's best players over unresolved contract matters ascribed to club's salary ceiling. This should however be broken and players handed good contracts before we lose other players which will make us a fishing ground for european football giants.

Some fans are complaining that Wenger is to blame for lettingFlamini go but i would like to rest this case by posing to you a few questions. who of you thought that Flamini would play as good as he has and there fore extend his contract as per July last year?
Can an employer tripple a worker's salary based on one year's performance?
Which player has left Arsenal against the manager's wish and succeeded?
I would like to remind you that most of us complained at the start of the season that Gilberto was being benched so let le professeur do his thing. As he put it, he makes the players and he can still make another one.

I would like to end by concluding that arsenal's season was ruined by misfortune. No team including those credited for their innumerable players can succeed in a season without their most dependable strikers, midfielder and defenders for large spells coupled with injustice from referees both domestically and on the continent. Bye for now, i will be back with news of any signings.

Fabregas' Champions Final dream not over

After last night's draw against liverpool at the emirates, many football fanatics think that arsenal is as good as out but i hope the mighty gunners don't buy this idea.

Many football analysts and pundits argue that having got an away goal which was Rafa's wish, then the Kops have an easy task at Anefield something i think is so much attributed to Liverpool's performance in Europe over the last three years especially at their mersey home.

However their arguments seem to be oblivious of the fact that arsenal this season set out to prove its critics wrong and have over the past including recently done the unthinkable by destroying teams perceived to have pedigree in the champions league at their home grounds through their excellent passing football.

The gunners recent success at san siro will be their major boost if they are to qualify for the next round of the most prestigious competition in europe. Barely two months after the Milan game, i see a similar encounter at Anefield and the gunners emerging victors if they handle the next leg with the determination they showed in Italy.

For starters, Arsenal was last nignt unlucky on two occasions one being when Kuryt"s compatriot and villagemate referee denied Hleb a penalty and the other being a Fabregas goal bound shot which was cleared by Bendtner though it appears the lines man could have still ruled it offside had it kissed the net. These two scenarios are a replica of what transpired at the emirates agaist Milan before grabbing a historic win at san siro.

I don't see how the gunners won't feature in this years final provided they reproduce their determinations six days from now. Fabregas who is already dreaming of the final has an opportunity of realising his own dream alongside Hleb if they produce master class performances.

Arsenal back to winning ways

Good evenning gunners. Am sorry for taking so long without any post on the mighty blog but some times emotions get the better of a person and this time it has been due to Arsenal's worst performance in nine years.

I won't dwell so much on our form but even the most fervent arsenal fans were beginning to get frustrated because every player looked tired particularly the two centre backs who have specialised in playing what i can substantively describe as pathetic football. However, having got our first win in over one and half months moreover with our next game in the much coveted champions league against a team we have always handled well domestically, then we can kick start the talk.

Arsenal's performance in europe is not under any scrutiny even from its foes this season ( media) and the Italy football pundits following its demolition of Milan at the san siro. From the look of things, the champions leagues seems the only probable silverware having lost our grip in the premiership and now that Van persie is back though he is yet to rediscover his form.

Liverpool despite having pedigree in this competition is one team that has not troubled Le prof irrespective of its manager and the team Le prof employs to do the needful. However, this being the first time these two teams are facing off in europe, the managers have alot to do and personally i feel that Benitez might be fooled by Arsenal's recent form and forget the obliteration the kops were subjected to at Anefield at the hands of Fabregas and Company

Before i sign off, allow me to make a prediction about the game. Although the entire Arsenal squad looks tired, players like Hleb, Fabregas, Petulant Gallas and Van persie are all big game players and till thursday, i hope for a two nil victory for the gunners.

Man U squad not better than Arsenal's in terms of depth

Mighty gunners, am sorry for interfering with your mood following Arsenal's outrageous display at old trafford.

I have been provoked to swing into action following recent arguments that Arsenal's squad does not compare to Man U's interms of depth which in my opinion is not corrobarated by statistics and many a people does associate depth with mere numbers and not quality.

I won't waste time talking about the first team because their works are justifiable courtesy of their position in the league. I will immediately go to second string sides and the KPI will be the quality of the players. For goal, it is needless to mention as you can hardly distinguish between Lehman and Alumnia. On the right of defence there is Eboue who is actually better than brown. On the left of defence, Man u has no replacement for Evra and Arsenal has a young Traore who is upping his game every second that passes by. In the heart of defence is Senderos and Djourou where as Man u has inexperienced Pique without a sensible pairing. In central midfield i do confess that Hagreaves or Carrick are better than ageing Gilberto who is now second choice for anchor man role. When it comes to number eight and the other midfield options it is moreless a tie and upfront is a no contest as currently the Arsenal first team is actually thriving on the one fit first team striker and a second choice due to the injuries that have rocked the side since October. That is it for now those with suppliments can contribute otherwise lets meet on thursday after a sweet win over the most decorated team in europe over the last five years.

Arsenal's clash with Man U, Milan and title prospects

About three weeks ago when the gunners lost the lead in the premiership to Man u, as usual the "seasonal" fans who only associate with it in only the good times thought gunners' title hopes had been shuttered.

I personally didn't take it in good faith but was not worried considering the surprises the gunners have come up with this season. It has just taken a couple of good games notably the fulham game and in the blink of an eye the gunners are table leaders and people can hardly be convinced that they ever lost the top spot.

From the look of things, the mighty gunners are slowly picking the form they had at the start of the season and provided they can put up a run of about 8 games, then there is no way the premiership title will not begin its historical journey to the emirates. Fab Flamini had not played the football they are known for since they returned from injury but latest displays show they are afew minutes away and with Hleb who has been in excellent form this season coupled with the return of the most talented player at the emirates RVP,then we are as good as champions ceteris paribus.

The forementioned highlights will be crucial as we engage two european giants that is Man U and Milan in the FA and champions league respectively in the next two weeks.

In the latter game, we need Clichy and Sagna doing what they know best ie outclassing Ronaldo and Rooney with Adebayor tormenting Ferdinand and that will take us to the next round of the FA.

However, the Milan game will be a battle of skill and pace with the players to watch out for being Robin Van Persie against the ageing Milan defence, Flamini battling with Gattusso and ofcourse brilliant displays by Fab and Kaka on both ends in the midfield. As a matter of fact, the first leg being at the emirates will to alarge extent be determined by the pace of the gunners and if Milan can contain that, then they will have triumphed but if they had a chance of watching Arsenal in pre-season,they should be aware of what the man i expect to win the game for Arsenal (RVP) did to Intermilan. Bye bye for now i will be back after these two crucial ties.

Season alittle too tight

At the beginning of this season, majority of the premier league fans in Uganda thought the best position Arsenal could settle for was fifth. This looked very likely as the team's talisman Titi had crossed to its kawowo counterparts in Spain and of course considering their display last season.

In the turn of events, one of Africa's blend of lousy footballers in Adebayor upped his game and the other average players such as Flamini coupled with the seniority of Gallas and Gilberto and needless to mention the brilliance of europe's undisputed Architects of flair ie Hleb, RVP and Fab and for the last few months , the skeptics including book makers have had a shock of their life and even tipped the gunners for honours this season.

The season kick started in style with the gunners securing a late win against Fulham at the emirates after atrocious goalkeeping by lens thanks to goals from the duo of the flair power house. Arsene was quoted saying that the result was one of those that would change a season and within a fort night, the mighty gunners were atop the premiership, a position reliquinshed last weekend in a game described the worst of the season by the manager.

As the league stands now, were are not only contenders but eventual winners if only the young gunners can keep focussed and shrug off competition from last season's champions. The ultimate thing would be as usual out classing Man u at OT in april and winning afew more games and then look forward to adding to Arsene's premier league titles in April. See you but stick around for more juicy staff.