PREMIERSHIP NEWS:
FOR ALL YOUR LATEST RUMOURS AND RESULTS
(click to see my Team of the Week)
BIG 4 WIN ON PREMIER SATURDAY
The 'Big 4' make up the top 4 in the Premier League as all of them recorded victories on Saturday. Table toppers Liverpool defeated struggling Blackburn 3-1 at Ewood Park despite a fairly good display in the first half from Blackburn. However it was second half goals from Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun who gave Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 lead. Santa Cruz gave Ince's side some hope but an injury time strike from Steven Gerrard ensured Liverpool 3 points
As for Chelsea, they won 2-0 at Bolton. Bolton really put in a valiant effort but Chelsea had an early advantage scoring their goals in the first 21 minutes through Nicholas Anelka and Deco.
Arsenal didn't make it easy for themselves in a less than convincing 1-0 home win over Wigan thanks to a 16th minute goal from striker Emmanuel Adebayor
The same could be said for Manchester Utd as they dominated Sunderland with no reward until centre back Nemanja Vidic tapped one in from close range to give United the 3 points
In other games, Stoke pulled back from 2-0 down to Newcastle to salvage a point with a late goal from Faye. Plus, Hull completed a marvellous turnaround after going 1-0 down in the 79th minute, an own goal and a penalty turned it around to give them their first win in 7, finally Fulham drew 1-1 with Man City.
BERLIN BELITTLED: GERMANY 1-2 ENGLAND!!
Yes!, they did it, last night England defeated Germany 2-1 in an International Friendly, Upson scored the first and depsite a comical error involving skipper John Terry and sub keeper Scott Carson, Terry himself went on to score to give Capello the win.
To see how i rated last night's performance catch an England review here
NEW UPDATE!
IS THE KEY PLAYER IN YOUR TEAM INJURED? YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG HE'S OUT FOR? THE INJURY TABLE IS NOW UPDATED DAILY!!! view injury table
CHELSEA REMAIN TOP, LIVERPOOL KEEP UP PRESSURE, ARSENAL LOSE & UNITED SMASH IN 5
In a brief round-up, at lunchtime we saw Liverpool comfortably beat Bolton 2-0, with a superb first half header from Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard mid-way through the first half put Liverpool top for a little while.
But Chelsea have just beaten rock bottom West Brom 3-0 at the Hawthorns with first half goals from Bosingwa and 2 from in-form Nicholas Anelka puts them top on goal difference
The surprise result of the day came at the Emirates where Aston Villa defeated Arsenal 2-0. Villa took the lead in the 70th minute through an own goal from Gael Clichy and Agbonlahor wrapped it up in the 80th minute to claim a deserved 3 points for Villa. Villa could have had a 3rd late on but Ashley Young's penalty was saved by Manuel Almunia.
Elsewhere, Manchester Utd cruised past Stoke City as they won 5-0 to go third. 2 from Ronaldo, 1 from Berbatov, Carrick and 17 year old Danny Welbeck who scored his first United goal in supreme fashion.
In other results, Fulham beat Tottenham 2-1, Sunderland won at Blackburn, a thrilling end at St. James' resulted in a 2-2 draw between Newcastle & Wigan and finally West Ham/Portsmouth was goalless.
WHAT BIG NAME TO VILLA WANT?
PLUS: OTHER PREMIER LEAGUE GOSSIP
Thursday's gossip has thrown up some more surprises as it appears that Aston Villa are willing to pay big money for Newcastle striker Michael Owen this winter. O'Niell would love another striker to further strengthen his side and push for a UEFA Cup qualification and even a 4th place Champions League spot.
Alex Witsel, who Gary Megson was rumoured to be interested in has sparked interest from the big clubs, Manchester Utd are looking to better Bolton's suggested offer with a £15m bid, but face stiff competition from Arsenal & Chelsea who also want the 19 year old.
Finally, Stoke boss Tony Pulis is extremely interested in young and talented Southampton midfielder Andrew Surman for a price of around £1.5m-£2m. Pulis has said that the midfield is an area that needs improving on, Stoke currently lie 12th but are just 2 points from the relegation, despite being undefeated in 3 games.
HAMPERED HARGREAVES: OUT FOR SEASON
(tomorrow: Thursday Gossip)
Unfortunate, Manchester United & England midfielder Owen Hargreaves will miss the remainder of this season after going under knee surgery. Hargreaves has had a tenditis problem for around two years and it has once again flared up after having successful surgery on his right knee this past Monday. He will go under the knife once more on his left knee in a few weeks.
The injury plagued midfielder has been just that since joining Manchester Utd back in the summer of 2007. He has only made 37 appearances for the club. His surgeon, Dr. Steadman is well known throughout the world after saving Alan Shearer's career in 2000 and helping Michael Owen on his way to recovery last year. Hargreaves will also miss the World Cup Qualifiers in March & April 2009, a return date is yet to be confirmed.
RUMOUR: SOUTHGATE EYES UP CAMPBELL
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate wants to strengthen his side in January particulary upfront in Frazier Campbell. Middlesbrough have managed 13 goals in 12 games and only a strong defence (expect the 5-0 defeat to Chelsea) has seen them be relisient and rise to a commendable 8th in the table. But he has been impressed by his current set of strikers Afonso Alves, Mido and Sanli Tuncay who scored a double this past weekend at Aston Villa. But Southgate has wanted a good 4th striker at the club for some time now and at it's been rare for Southgate to have all 3 strikers to choose from down to international duty and injuries.
The Boro boss is rumoured to be interested in young and talented Manchester Utd forward, Frazier Campbell. The striker had a promising start to the season with United but then moved to Tottenham on loan where he is yet to really impress. But Southgate has said to welcome a new striker at the club and Frazier could be his man come January.
GUNNING FOR GLORY
plus: Liverpool go top, Jussi saves Bolton & Everton win it late
An inspired peformance from Arsenal yesterday saw them defeat Manchester Utd 2-1. With so much pressure being piled on Arsenal's young side, like i said yesterday, they couldn't lose this game. The Red Devils had some threatning chances early on and Almunia was called upon a couple of times. Then Samir Nasri's shot was viciously deflected of Gary Neville past Van Der Sar and Arsenal lead 1-0 into the break.
After the 2nd half it was much the same from Arsenal as some beautiful, elegant yet patient passing lead to Fabregas feeding Nasri in who smashed it home for 2-0. However just a minute later Cristiano Ronaldo had a golden opportunity for 2-1 but hit it wide. This thrilling encounter continued and it wasn't over when young Rafael Da Silva volleyed home past sub keeper Fabianski for a nervy last few minutes. But Arsenal held on and this vital win puts them 3rd in the table
Elsewhere, Robbie Keane scored his first league goals for Liverpool and Arbeloa also scored one as Liverpool beat hapless West Brom 3-0. West Brom are currently on a terrible run of form where if Spurs win today, then they will be bottom.
Another thrilling game happened at Upton Park as West Ham dominated themselves into a 1-0 lead but a sudden Everton fightback came about as Lescott headed in for 1-1 in the 82nd minute and Saha's deflected shot and a 25 yarder on his wrong foot both went in and within 5 minutes it went from 1-0 West Ham to 3-1 Everton who now have 18 points.
Finally, some vital and inspiring saves from long time Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelinan (excuse the spelling) saw them overcome a tough game against Hull to grab a 1-0 win.
TOMORROW: WILL 4 BECOME 3?
This is the biggest game of the season (so far), Arsenal vs Manchester United, one of the classic all time matches happens again on Saturday.
Yes you may say that Chelsea v Liverpool earlier this season was bigger, but it wasn't nothing's changed because of it, Chelsea are still top come the end of it and at the moment look like they'll win the league.
But Saturday's game is huge none more so for Arsenal. Only a win will really do, it's a been a frustrating 9 or 10 days for the club, it started when Arsenal threw away a 4-2 lead to draw 4-4 against Tottenham, they then were handed an embarrasing defeat by Stoke followed up by Adebayor slating his own club's potential and Arsene Wenger's pointless comments on Stoke, desperatly looking for a way out of a match they clearly lost 2-1. It didn't help Wednesday night when they couldn't break down a Fenerbache defence they'd scored 5 times against a fortnight before, yes it has been a tough week for Arsenal FC.
And of course it gets no easier, Manchester Utd look hungry for wins now after a slow start to the season which already sees them trailing Chelsea by 5pts all be it with a game in hand. But for Arsenal they must win, a loss for me sees them drop out of the title race, leaving it to 3 clubs. I know people say it's only November but Arsenal could be 9 points adrift of Chelsea after this weekend, they could go the rest of the season without losing a game but i don't think they'd win the league then! Where Arsenal have lost ground are against Fulham, Stoke & Hull and defeats to those 3 pre-season relegation candidates suggest that Arsenal are not fit to win the title, for example, Chelsea, they've already comfortably beaten Stoke & Hull, Liverpool are still questionable as they are also liable to slip up to lower teams just like Stoke. Manchester United generally defeat the lower teams.
Anyway if Arsenal lose, that's it, game over, 2nd is the best they'll get, a draw keeps them hanging in there but a win will change my view on them completly, a win means that they can win the title and then compensates for the defeat against Stoke.
I haven't mentioned much about United and i don't think i need to, they'll play how they usually play, they'll look for an early goal, defend it, push for a 2nd and win it easily, that's how they'll go about it, but it's Arsenal's youngesters who need to know how to defend, can they do it? United will be a test for certain
Overall Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Manchester Utd
WHO DO CITY WANT FOR £10M?
plus: Premier League gossip
(tomorrow: I preview this weekend's big match)
Thursday's rumours have suggested that Manchester City are lining up a £10m pound bid this January for Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra. Diarra started off his Premiership career at Chelsea before moving to Arsenal in 2007, the promising midfielder only made 7 appearances before then Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp snapped him for £5.5m last January and has already made 21 league appearances for the club. Now that Redknapp has left Diarra is set for bigger things once again and still only 23, a move to Manchester would be his 4th Premiership club. The Frenchman has already played 16 times for his country.
Many have said that Bolton boss Gary Megson is poised to sign 19 year old Alex Wistel from Standard Leige, the bid for the midfielder is set to be around £6m.
Also, Congo striker Tresor Mputu will fly to England next week to begin a trial with Blackburn after Arsenal refused to pay the £4m asking price.
A confirmed rumour has been made as Sunderland striker Michael Chopra has gone back to where he came from, Cardiff City, the striker has struggled to impress this season and has moved to the Championship side on loan to December. Cardiff boss Dave Jones hopes to sign him permenently.
ADEBAYOR TO MISS BIG GAMES
plus: I give my views on the situation at Arsenal
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is set to miss up to 3 weeks after a challenge causing an ankle injury by Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross this past Saturday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has recently hit out at Tony Pulis' side after playing 'too aggressively' against them which saw both Adebayor and Theo Walcott strechered off. However Pulis has responded saying that he only recalls one player being sent off that day and it wasn't a Stoke player.
Personally i think Arsene is looking for excuses as he has seen his side slump by throwing away a 4-2 lead against 20th place Tottenham and losing at newly promoted Stoke City. I also think that it didn't help that Adebayor himself has questioned whether Arsenal are even good enough to win the league? What a ridculous thing to say, just as confidence was low after the Spurs throw away game he drags not only he but his team mates as well down too. Arsene Wenger needs to give his young side a kick up the a** if they are to win the league because defeats against STOKE, HULL & FULHAM is a disgrace, there is no doubt that there is enormous talent in that side, but they need to use it to full effect.
Adebayor will miss the following Arsenal games: Fenerbache & Dynamo Kiev (Champions League) and Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City & possibly Chelsea (Premiership), seeing as Adebayor is easily Arsenal's top scorer this season with 9 goals in all competitions, Arsenal need to get their act together, quick.
