Arshavin ready to fly back to London

By Aries

Andrey Arshavin has, on his return to Russia to join up with the national team, revealed that his injury is a groin strain but more importantly that he has been injured for some time prior to the Manchester United match.

"I had problems with the groin before and in this match I reached out for the ball and the pain became very sharp."

His intention is to have a scan to determine the seriousness of the injury and if so fly right back to London.

"Of course if the scanning shows that there no or minimal chances to participate in the matches of the national team then I won’t go to St. Petersburg, I will rather return to London."

Unfortunately I cannot calm people down saying that everything is all right with me," said Arshavin.

"It is a fact that I have an injury but there is a question how long will it take to cure it”

Groin strains normally take up about two weeks to clear up. That is if they are not that serious. But unforunately Andrey has been playing with the injury so it may in fact take longer to heal.

Arsenal’s next match is in twelve days time away against Manchester City followed up four days later by the Champions League game against Standard Liege in Belgium.


Information on groin strains

What is a groin strain?

A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon. People commonly call such an injury a "pulled" muscle. The muscles in your groin help bring your legs together.

There are two muscles that may commonly get injured in a groin strain: the adductor magnus (the large muscle running down the inner side of the thigh) and the sartorius (a thinner muscle that starts on the outside of your hip, crosses your thigh and attaches near the inside of the knee).

How is it treated?

Treatment may include:

• Applying ice to the strained muscle for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 or 3 days or until the pain goes away.

• Taking an anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your healthcare provider.

• Wearing a supportive bandage called a thigh wrap or taping your thigh or groin.

• Doing the rehabilitation exercises you are given.

While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim instead of run.

How long will the effects last?

The length of recovery depends on many factors such as your age, health, and if you have had a previous groin injury. Recovery time also depends on the severity of the injury.

A mild groin strain may recover within a few weeks, whereas a severe injury may take 6 weeks or longer to recover. You need to stop doing the activities that cause pain until the groin has healed. If you continue doing activities that cause pain, your symptoms will return and it will take longer to recover.

Arshavin reveals why he was brought off at Old Trafford

By Aries

Andrey Artshavin revealed that he started the game at Old Trafford injured and that was the reason why he was substituted by Arsene Wenger.

When asked on his personal web site whether the reason he was brought off was due to possible damage inflicted by Fletcher’s tackle in the penalty that was not awarded in the first half, he said:

“I began the game injured anyway. This injury has worried me for a long time, but I had to play”

This may account for his below par performances as of late but if he can get goals like that when he is injured then there are far more exciting times to come form the little demon.

However, what is worrying is that Arsene Wenger is having to field players who are injured, so desperate the situation has reached with the absence of fit wide players. And there are many ofcourse, Nasri, Rosicky and Walcott.

What was perplexing to us here at Arsenal Analysis is, having decided to take a risk with Arshavin, why did Wenger decide to start with the ineffective Eboue leaving Bendtner on the bench?

The Arsenal goals against Pompey as you've never seen them before...

We are always ready to try something original here at Arsenal Analysis and Kazeem has come up with these very articulate sketchings depicting Arsenal's goals against Portsmouth.

By Kazeem Atanda

Arshavin reveals what Wenger told the players at half time against Pompey

By Aries

Andrey Arshavin has been talking on his personal web site about the Portsmouth game.

He revealed that indeed the Arsenal players relaxed too much after the quick two goals that were scored in the first twenty two minutes.

“We started the meeting well. I think that our two quick goals went a long way in deciding the game. Arsenal’s possession advantage allowed us to enjoy the game ... Perhaps, after the second goal, we relaxed a bit”

Indeed they relaxed so much that even Arsene Wenger felt the need to warn them about being complacent. This he told them in the dressing room at half time.

“Arsene in the locker room told us about this. He reminded us that in the Premier League you can not afford to be relaxed. Because if you prematurely stop to fully concentrate on the game, this will immediately be followed by retaliation by the opponents”

The message obviously registered with the players as they came out in the second half and promptly scored two more goals.

“During the second half, we again scored two goals, thus delivering fun to the fans” Arshavin said.

It seems that complacencey, which has been a constant factor of all Wenger teams in the past, is rearing its ugly head again. This seems to happen against weaker opponents with the Arsenal players easing up as soon as a goal is scored.

Let’s hope that Wenger’s message is taken on board by the players…

Eduardo reveals why he didn’t start at Goodison and tips Arsenal as title contenders

By Aries

Eduardo was very pleased with his performance at Goodison and of his first Premiership goal of the season. Speaking to the Croatian media he said he feels great and healthy and that to him that is most important:

“I feel great, I'm healthy and that is most important. Let’s hope I remain so and there will follow more games and goals” he said.

For his goal he described how he anticipated that Arshavin’s shot might come back to him:

“The forwards must always be in motion, always be in the thick of the action until the end. You never know what will happen, where the ball might go so you must constantly be ready to react”

He also revealed what Wenger said to him when he told him that he will be on the bench:

“Wenger told me before the game that he did not want to take the risk. Understandably, last Wednesday I played in Minsk (for Croatia against Belarus) and it’s been a year and a half since I played two games in a row in four days”

But he enjoyed himself he said: “Because I was on the bench I enjoyed myself, the boys played fantastic and we showed that we are capable of great things”

When asked if he thought that Arsenal were championship contenders he did not disagree:

“Yes! I am convinced that we will fight for the title, the new champion will again come from the quartet of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and us”

He did not think the loss of Toure and Adebayor has upset the team which is enjoying tremendous spirit:

“It seems to me that we have grown up as a team, so the loss of Toure and Adebayor did not upset us. We can feel the togetherness and the team spirit in the dressing room and this will be necessary if we are to win the title”

We showed it at Goodison Park where not just anyone can score against Everton, in Liverpool, half-dozen goals!

So say all of us…..

Song is the new Vieira?

By 1970’s Gooner

Enough will be said about the demolition of Everton and the amazing six goals scored. All the players played a blinder today inclusive of Vermaelen who had a dream debut for Arsenal.

Bendtner and Denilson were exceptional to my mind but I just feel the need to highlight the world class performance that Alexandre Song put in today.

He was everywhere, tackling in front of the defence and protecting his back four, breaking up Everton’s attacks as soon as they started to develop and he distributed the ball forward with accuracy.

He was immense.

He is not Vieira in his physique but he was Vieira in his effectiveness and style of play today.

This is why Wenger decided not to buy another defensive midfielder.

Eduardo is the fox in the box again. Video of his goal for Croatia

By Aries

Eduardo is getting closer and closer back to his thrilling best. This time he scored Croatia’s second against Belarus in a World Cup qualification game on 72 minutes.

Like a true fox in the box he scored from close range from a pinpoint cross by skipper Darijo Srna. You can see the goal on the video above.

Croatia were in front after 22 minutes thanks to Bayern Munich's Olic. A drive from Tottenham’s Luka Modric was parried behind by the Belarus goalkeeper for a corner, from which Olic then headed home.

The same player got Croatia’s third on 81 minutes after Belarus got a goal back.

Why Arsenal will continue to be amongst the top teams for years to come

By Kazeem Atanda

It has almost become a tradition for teams outside the top four to spend big in order to break the monopoly of the elite clubs. But anytime a club does, the pundits' verdict is that "Arsenal will drop out of the top zone" due to Arsene Wenger's stingy behaviour in the transfer market.

In 2005 when Everton broke into the top four, it was Liverpool and not Arsenal that eventually dropped out. And it is a fact that no team has broken the monopoly since then.

Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa all continue to spend big on new players than Arsenal every season but woefully end up finishing below the Gunners (and not even making the top four).

This summer, Manchester City's new owner has spent close to £100 m on new players that included Arsenal duo Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

Many observers have questioned Arsene Wenger's decision in selling these players to the Citizens believing that the Arsenal gaffer has sold fourth position to premiership rival, Manchester City.

Theses pundits have forgotten that this is not the first time that Arsenal will be selling their top stars, yet managed to finish in the top four despite parading a young and inexperienced team.

In the 2004/2005 season, without Wiltord and Kanu, Arsenal won the FA cup and finished 3rd in the league.

Losing Vieira and Edu in 2005/2006 season was one player too many, yet Arsenal reached the final of the Champions League and finished 4th in the premiership.

Pires, Reyes, Bergkamp, Campbell and Ashley Cole, all left in 2006/2007 season but it didn't stop Arsene Wenger's young guns reaching the Carling Cup final and retaining 4th position in the league.

In 2007/2008 season, the news that every Arsenal fan had been dreading for a year, talismanic captain Thierry Henry left for Barcelona while Ljumberg also left for West Ham. Yet Arsenal lost the premiership title with only a few games to go and ended in 3rd position.

Without Hleb, Flamini and Gilberto last season Arsenal were semi finalists in both the FA cup and Champions League and finished 4th in the premiership.

This summer, with only one addition, two players already gone and probably more has brought out the Cassandra’s of this world.

The only person whose absence will mar the club is Arsene Wenger, himself. He knows the club inside out and being an economist, he is a man with the air of an accountant, the dress sense of a senior civil servant and a modern business man.

Wenger's technique, character, appetite and masterpiece of the round leather game is second to none. In almost 13 years at Arsenal, he has transformed the club, created a string of superlative teams, built a glittering stadium and helped to transform the stagnant conservatism of English football.

Though Arsene knows to his bones that the game is all about glory he will never spend big to achieve it.

There are two reasons why Wenger is building his team this way. One is that he loves developing youngsters. And the second is that he hates spending money. It is not in his nature.

For those that believe Arsene Wenger's young guns will not propel Arsenal to the top four this season should wait a little.

The Gunners will be challenging for titles on all four fronts.

"Arsene knows" is a phrase that will resurface with a vengeance once more.

Eduardo: “Wenger talks to me. I feel like a new player”

By Aries

It was only last week or so when all the press had Eduardo injured again and missing for the next two months. But as we first reported on this site they were of course proved wrong with Eduardo making headline appearances.

He has taken part in four friendlies so far during which he returned to old ways by hitting the net three times. This is what he said to the Croatian sports site “sportal.hr" at the end of the Emirates Cup tournament:

“I feel great, much better compared to the previous Sunday when I played without having any games beforehand”

He also revealed that he has a lot of encouragement from Arsene Wenger but chose not to give any details:

“After this week I feel like a new player and I have a lot more confidence. I am delighted that once again I am scoring. They are all satisfied at the club and I often talk to Arsene Wenger, but this will remain personal”

Eduardo is targeting his first competitive appearance for the season for his national team, Croatia, against Alexander Hleb’s Belarus but first he wants to play in Arsenal’s friendly against Valencia next Saturday.

“Immediately after (Valencia) I will head to Zagreb and join my team-mates. If everything goes according to plan I will be ready to travel to Minsk. I am looking forward to this match which will be my first for Croatia after four and a half months”

Look after yourself Eduardo....

Wenger’s Vieira decision is a cop out

By 1970’s Gooner

This is incredible. Arsene Wenger sells Patrick Vieira at least a year after his sell by date had expired but now four years later he wants to bring him back!

What absolute rubbish!

Patrick Vieira was on his last legs in his last two seasons at Highbury but at least when Arsene got round to eventually selling him we got a good price for him.

He returned to face Arsenal in the Champions League with Juventus later and was a nonentity in that game. He then went to Inter Milan where in his last season there has not really been a regular player.

I happened to watch him in a Champions League group game last year in Europe and I felt sad for him. He was off the pace and all he restricted himself in doing was to receive the ball (not win it) and pass it sideways to a colleague.

He has after all reached the 33rd year of his life. His box to box forays and staying power is now a thing of the past.

Remember Arsene has a policy of not offering contracts to players who are or will be over their 30th birthday!

Robert Pires had another good year left in him at Arsenal but no, he had to go and as a result Arsenal was starved of his experienced services and suffered for it. Henry and Vieira himself were also off loaded for mainly the same reasons.

But now Arsene Wenger does not rule out the possibility of Vieira coming back:

"It is a possibility. We do not rule it out and we do not say we won't do it. There is a football decision and also a psychological decision over a player of that stature who could come in”

I think it is quite evident that what Arsenal need above all this season are strong and experienced defensive midfielders which will, together with Song, Diaby and Denilson provide a small pool of players that will complement Fabregas’s ingenuity and forward moves.

But what Arsenal certainly does not need is a worn out warrior from days past who will embarrass both himself and Wenger with his ineffective and perepatic performances.

The fact that Wenger is actually thinking of bringing Vieira back is indicative of either a severe lack of cash at the Arsenal Football Club or the clear intention that no more players of note will be brought in.

A cop out.