Harry Redknapp's gambling instincts leave Arsène Wenger vexed

This Premier League season is taking its toll of managers already. It is not so much the results as the sense of helplessness that does the damage. Arsenal, a couple of points from the top of the table, appear well-placed despite witnessing a 2-0 lead over Tottenham Hotspur at half-time turn into a defeat.

Arsène Wenger was in a clueless condition afterwards. "It is very difficult to explain even when you've been in the job as long as I have," he confessed.

His opposite number, Harry Redknapp, saw Tottenham's first away win at Arsenal in 17 years and his assumption is that all the major clubs are fallible. For him the sport is undergoing a climate change. "I think Tottenham have got a championship in them in the next few years," he said. "Why shouldn't they?" Naturally the manager also wants further signings soon that would help him "tweak" the team and sustain the advance that has already led them to the Champions League.

The immediate challenge is to get players to set aside their deference and Redknapp was irate at the interval on Saturday. "I got the hump with Gareth Bale," he explained.

"The right-back [Bacary Sagna] made a diabolical tackle on him and then Gareth went for a header and bumped [Sagna] and walked over and shook hands with him. I said, 'What are we?' We're not the nice guys. Let's go out there and compete with them in the second half."

That approach should stimulate interest. This is not a regular Premier League season. It is eight years since a side lost three games at home and won the title. Wenger's team pulled off that feat but Arsenal presently stand third despite being beaten on that number of occasions already at the Emirates.

The initial mastery against Tottenham was illusory. Wenger could grumble about the after-effects of the midweek international programme when, to take one example, Andrey Arshavin had been through the full 90 minutes of Russia's defeat at home by Belgium in a friendly played in Voronezh. Arsenal should still have had the know-how to conserve energy and cherish the 2-0 lead.

Wenger instead saw a familiar failing. "Many times we have come out and dropped the urgency a little bit when we are ahead," he said. Arsenal might well have assumed then that Tottenham were harmless. Goals had come readily. A through-pass from Cesc Fábregas made Heurelho Gomes hesitate and Nasri beat him to the ball before squeezing in the opener after nine minutes. Marouane Chamakh then got ahead of Younes Kaboul in the 28th minute to fire in a second from Arshavin's delivery.

The visitors' powers of recovery were deepened by Redknapp's reshaping of the side. Jermain Defoe came on to stretch the Arsenal back four and, with Aaron Lennon removed, Rafael van der Vaart relocated to the right of midfield after finding himself isolated when serving as a support striker to Roman Pavlyuchenko. The plan was bold and so was its execution.

Even so Wenger's side ought not to have been caught on the break as they were in the 50th minute when Van der Vaart took a head flick from Defoe and sent Bale through to score.

After 66 minutes Fábregas, standing inside his own area, threw up an arm to protect himself as Van der Vaart cracked a free-kick and so handled the ball. The Dutchman converted the penalty to Lukasz Fabianski's right.

Arsenal should still have regained the lead but Laurent Koscielny miscued a header. He was unreliable, too, in defence and it was odd that Wenger had not retained Johan Djourou despite Koscielny's availability. The Swiss was part of the victorious line-up at Goodison the previous weekend when the team's rigour had been admired.

Tottenham's winner at the Emirates came in the 86th minute as Kaboul headed in a Van der Vaart set piece. Wenger had an almost old-fashioned tone to his vexation. "We were not there," he said. "When there's [four] minutes to go you make sure you win the headers."

There would have been particular glee for one member of the Tottenham side. Willam Gallas became estranged from Arsenal and left the club as a free agent in the summer. In a match of five goals no defender was in total command but the Frenchman, whom Redknapp had made captain for the day, made several excellent challenges. His temperament, too, was cool and it did not disturb Gallas that Nasri, with whom he had fallen out at Arsenal, declined to shake hands before kick-off.

Signing Gallas in the summer had demanded obstinacy from Redknapp. He was asked if anyone else favoured securing a former Arsenal enemy. "Only me and William," said the manager.

"I had to fight my corner to get him. It wasn't easy. I went out on a limb with everybody: Tottenham fans, the chairman [Daniel Levy] and everybody else. I just thought he was a fantastic free transfer.

"I nearly took Patrick Vieira the year before [from Internazionale]. They haven't committed a crime because they've played for Arsenal. They play football; that's their living."

Redknapp even suggested that the 33-year-old Gallas might be on "half the wages" he had received at the Emirates. "He showed some character," said the manager.

"It would have been easy for him to say, I can't go to Tottenham. On Saturday the whole line-up showed no qualms about going to the Emirates."

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 22 Nov 10

Tottenham's comeback against Arsenal has a distinctly French flavour

Samir Nasri picked up where he left off against England, but it was Younes Kaboul who delivered the coup de grâce.

Soixante-neuf! Not only was this Tottenham's first league victory at Arsenal for 17 years, it was their first success against one of the "big four" on their travels in 69 attempts, and it was a Frenchman who scored the winner.

Most of the spirit and flair of France's win at Wembley in midweek seemed to be with the home side in the first half, in which Samir Nasri effortlessly picked up where he left off against England, yet the second half was a different story and Arsenal were repeatedly opened up through the middle. Younes Kaboul was an unused member of the French squad on Wednesday, but he played the whole game here and it was his flicked header four minutes from time that sealed a famous victory.

Gareth Bale spent the first half getting almost no change from Bacary Sagna down the left, but when he turned up in the middle in support of Jermain Defoe five minutes into the second he took advantage of a masterly flick by Rafael van der Vaart to score the goal that changed Spurs' afternoon. The flying Welshman is a ridiculously short 3-1 with some bookmakers to pick up this season's footballer-of-the-year reward, yet only once here, at the end of the match, did he leave Sagna flailing in the manner that earned him so much admiration against Inter's Maicon. Even then he messed up the final delivery after galloping away, his failure to find either of his targets in the centre preventing Spurs posting a 4-2 result that would not have flattered their second-half superiority.

Bale can be marked out of matches when he stays on the wing, which is what happened in the first half, when Nasri's greater licence to roam in from the right saw the Arsenal player take up more dangerous situations. Nasri gets up and down as well, and though Arsenal were not doubling up on Bale, the winger frequently found himself with two players to beat simply because Nasri's natural inclination is to help his defence. Often he would station himself just in front or alongside Sagna, in fact he was in exactly that position when he played the ball from the edge of his own penalty area to set up Arsenal's second goal. The ball was swiftly transferred through midfield and out to Andrey Arshavin on the left, his cross allowing Marouane Chamakh to score with a first time shot.

Nasri had claimed the first goal himself, making a superbly timed run to stay onside and provide a target for Cesc Fábregas's astute pass. If his first touch was not the greatest, neither was Heurelho Gomes's attempt at a smothering save, and Nasri's determination allowed him to score from a narrow angle. With Fábregas and Nasri continuing to find space and each other with the greatest of ease it was difficult to see Spurs coming back, until Harry Redknapp switched things at the interval by throwing Defoe on up front and moving Van der Vaart to the right, intentionally or otherwise freeing up Bale.

"We had to go for broke at 2-0 down," said Redknapp. "Gareth didn't do anything wrong in the first half, their full-back just played him very well. He got in tight and didn't allow him much space, and it's very difficult in that position when you are staying out wide waiting for the ball. You are not going to go past the full-back every week. In the second half he popped up in a few different positions and that's what got us the goal."

After Spurs had equalised through the most ludicrous of penalties – Arsène Wenger did not attempt to deny that Fábregas had handled the ball but disputed whether the original free-kick should have been given – Bale popped up again on the opposite wing to help set up the winner. Laurent Koscielny bundled him over, Van der Vaart arrowed in an excellent free-kick, as he had been doing all day, and Kaboul's head did the rest.

It was billed beforehand as a game featuring the four strongest candidates to date for player of the season – Fábregas, Nasri, Bale and Van der Vaart – and Spurs finished the stronger in that department, too. Without having one of his most impressive games, Bale demonstrated his match-altering ability, and Van der Vaart just demonstrated his ability. Fábregas was less assured in the second half and blotted his copybook with the penalty, while Nasri began like a train and finished completely out of puff.

"We were in a good position but could not maintain our focus and urgency," said Wenger, who withdrew Nasri 12 minutes from the end. "We faded, some players dropped, especially the ones who played Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday. It was fatigue in the end. Chamakh had a good chance to score a third, he was clear but he checked because his legs had gone. I do not feel Nasri's quarrel with William Gallas was a factor in the game [the Arsenal player refused to shake the hand of his compatriot before kick-off] because at least he started well. He just could not maintain the pace."

Undiplomatically, though not undeservedly, Redknapp made Gallas his man of the match. "I don't know where we'd have been without him, after losing King and then Dawson," the Spurs manager said. "He was outstanding, and he's really helping Kaboul come on." Allez France, as Arsenal used to say.

Source: Paul Wilson, The Guardian on 20 Nov 10

Younes Kaboul completes remarkable second-half comeback by Tottenham

Curious and curiouser, this Premier League season. By half-time at the Emirates, Tottenham Hotspur seemed a class below their north London neighbours – yet, by the end, they were in wonderland and Harry Redknapp was declaring his team could be crowned kings of England. If Arsenal continue to display the flakiness that led to them frittering away a two-goal lead here, it certainly will not be Arsène Wenger's men who prevent Spurs' coronation.

Tottenham had not won away to any of the traditional big-four clubs since 1993 and it did not look like they would end that sorry run here during a first half in which Arsenal cantered into a lead that they should never have surrendered.

Samir Nasri put Arsenal in front in the ninth minute with a goal that encapsulated the contrasting starts the sides made to the game. From the outset, Arsenal had been the more sprightly and inventive, and that pattern continued when Cesc Fábregas clipped a dainty ball over the Spurs defence for Nasri to chase. The goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes seemed the more likely to win the race but betrayed a lack of conviction in the challenge, enabling Nasri to force the ball past him at the edge of the area before diverting it into the net from an acute angle.

Rather than rally, Spurs became more ragged and Nasri and Fábregas lorded it over them in midfield thanks, in part, to the solid platform given to them by Alex Song and Denílson, who were dominant in the tackle. Song forged a fine chance for Fábregas to extend the lead in the 22nd minute, when he slipped a clever ball through to the Spaniard at the edge of the area. With one deft touch the Arsenal captain evaded Younes Kaboul, but then dragged his shot wide.

A second goal seemed inevitable for Arsenal and arrived five minutes later, originating in a simple move straight through the middle. Nasri prodded the ball to Fábregas, who fed Andrey Arshavin, who curled a low centre towards Marouane Chamakh. The Moroccan got the jump on Kaboul to nudge the ball in from six yards out.

True, injury deprived Tottenham of their first-choice central midfielder, Tom Huddlestone, and their preferred centre-back pairing, but this was still too easy for Arsenal. Redknapp blamed himself. "We started with an open team and got outnumbered in the middle of the park," he explained. "Our widemen were stuck out wide and Arsenal played through us."

Redknapp addressed the problem by instructing Gareth Bale to play more centrally in the second period and replacing Aaron Lennon with Jermain Defoe, making his first appearance for the club since injuring his ankle in September. These changes made a difference, but their effects were amplified by the home side's dip in intensity, an increasingly familiar theme at Arsenal this season.

Tottenham's first goal reflected their altered shape and Arsenal's lapsed concentration. Little Defoe was allowed to meet a hopeful punt with his head, mid-way inside the Arsenal half, and flick on the ball to Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutchman quickly fed Bale, whose surge from deep had escaped the attention of Arsenal, and he poked the ball into the corner of the goal.

Tottenham were back in the game, but still not creating enough to suggest an equaliser was imminent. With three-quarters of the game gone, Fábregas gave them a helping hand. Van der Vaart struck a 25-yard free-kick into the defensive wall, where it crashed against the upraised arm of Arsenal's captain. It was a sloppy error by Fábregas, symptomatic, perhaps, of the laxity that risks scuppering Arsenal's title ambitions. Van der Vaart administered appropriate punishment from the ensuing penalty kick.

Arsenal made chances to regain the lead, Gomes plunging to his left to push a curling drive from Fábregas around the post, and Sébastien Squillaci heading wildly over from six yards out. Tottenham were not so wasteful in the 85th minute, when Kaboul beat Laurent Koscielny to Van der Vaart's free-kick and nodded the ball in for a winner that had seemed implausible at half-time.

"I believe, overall, we delivered the expected performance, quality-wise, and, if you look at the statistics, it is very difficult to understand how we lost," said Wenger, before confessing the defeat could be explained by some familiar failings: "There was a drop of concentration, basic errors and some bad luck." The fact that victory over Spurs would have propelled Arsenal to the top of the league made this defeat even more painful. "When we have to deliver we can't, that is worrying," Wenger said regretfully. "There are opportunities in a championship race you want to take – we put ourselves in the right position and failed. That is a mental thing more than football."

Redknapp, on the other hand, hailed the "psychological boost" this triumph will give his team. "The championship is wide open," he said. "Chelsea are not as good as they were, Manchester United are not as good as they were … Tottenham are getting closer. Why can't we win it? Why should we be fearful?" No other team have yet provided a convincing answer to that. Perhaps it is Tottenham who should be feared?

Source: Paul Doyle, The Guardian on 20 Nov 10

Redknapp and Wenger admit Spurs can win title

Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger both admitted Tottenham could win the Premier League after the White Hart Lane club came from two down to beat Arsenal 3-2 on Saturday.

Arsenal appeared to be cruising when Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh handed them a 2-0 advantage at half-time, but then the Gunners capitulated as Tottenham came roaring back. Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Younes Kaboul all found the net, sending Spurs within four points of Arsenal.

Redknapp bullishly claimed his side could now go on to catch Chelsea, and Wenger did not disagree, although he preferred to focus on the mistakes of his players.

"There are ten teams who can win the championship mathematically. Tottenham is one of them," the Arsenal manager said. "I am convinced we are in it, but there are chances in the championship you want to take."

"If you look at the stats and the numbers, it is very difficult to understand how we lost this game - a drop in concentration, some basic errors, some back luck as well. You are a bit speechless to re-analyse the game. It is a mystery how you can lose a game like that."

"If you look at the clear-cut chances that Tottenham had today, it is difficult to understand how we can concede three goals, but we lost it and we can only look at ourselves. We could not maintain the focus nor the urgency for 90 minutes because some players dropped. I believe that overall we delivered a performance expected in a game like that quality-wise. However, it was a mixture of fatigue in the second half, and also a lack of cautiousness."

Given Spurs' lacklustre first half, Redknapp could have focused on the negatives in his post-match summary, but he instead chose to challenge his players to win Tottenham's first Premier League title.

"It's wide open this league this year, it's wide open," Redknapp said. "Chelsea are not as good as they were; Man United are not as good as they were three or four years ago. They're still excellent teams but they're not the force they were. They were almost invincible, the pair of them."

"I think Tottenham are now getting closer and the championship is wide open. I said that to the players yesterday morning. 'Why can't you win the championship? Who says you can't?' It's wide open for somebody who can put a run together. It's there for someone to have real go at it this year. Why should we all be fearful and keep saying, 'We can't win it'?'

"I wouldn't be saying it if we had a bad group of players. I'm a realist; I'm not dreaming. It's difficult to do but it's not impossible. This is the best chance anyone's going to get this year. There's very little to choose between the top five or six teams at the moment."

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 21 Nov 10

Historic Spurs win a sign of the future?

It would be easy for Tottenham fans to get carried away by their side's first triumph at Arsenal in 17 long years, but this stunning victory may go down in history as a defining moment in the short term future of both clubs.

While Manchester City have been handed the somewhat patronising tag of being the "noisy neighbours" of their local rivals United, the tightening of the gap between Manchester's big two is still wide enough to ensure Sir Alex Ferguson's men do not need to quake in their boots just yet.

However, Tottenham's claims to have draw level with their neighbours Arsenal after many years in their shadow had more credence, with their elevation to Champions League status and the success they have enjoyed in Europe's elite competition this season suggesting Harry Redknapp's men were priming themselves to claim the high ground in North London football at long last.

A victory in their most recent clash with Arsenal added further weight to that growing belief that the old foes of London football were now playing on a more even playing field, but seismic events of the magnitude that took place at the Emirates Stadium on this Saturday afternoon may well leave a lasting imprint.

Arsenal fans will rightly point out that one victory counts for little in the grand scheme of things and yet with each and every brick that Tottenham place in their increasingly complete wall, they are starting to look like the team with real momentum in North London football.

Their thrilling victory against Inter Milan last month could have been dismissed as a one-off glory night if Spurs had followed it up with their familiar mix of inconsistent failures, but their first victory at a "top four" club in 69 attempts was significant in so many ways.

Falling 2-0 behind inside the first half an hour and lacking in belief as they faced up to the latest big test of their credentials, Spurs fell into all their old traps as their misplaced optimism appeared set to be undermined for the umpteenth time.

However, this Tottenham are different from their less confident predecessors and after a thrilling second half fight back say them draw level thanks to the input of their main men Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart, the stage was set for them to secure the victory that could have transformed their image for good.

A sign that Redknapp and his team believed victory could be theirs was confirmed as they refused to settle for a point as they drew level with Van der Vaart's 67th minute penalty and you could sense the mood around this sold out Emirates Stadium turn decisively in Tottenham's favour.

With Arsenal boss Arsenal Wenger looking increasingly animated on the touchline and his team wasting a couple of late chances to snatch a lead themselves, Tottenham's moment of destiny arrived five minutes from time as they were awarded a free-kick some 35 yards from goal.

Wenger's arm-waving fury at the decision to give Spurs a set-play confirmed that he was fearing the worst as Van der Vaart stepped up to deliver the sort of set-play Arsenal have failed to defend with any certainty for years and as Younes Kaboul glanced a header towards goal, the Tottenham celebrations began in earnest.

You could hardly blame the visiting fans for celebrating as if their team had who so much more than three points because this match will always means more than any other in a season and Spurs boss Redknapp returned to his pre-season script as he reflected on his side's heroics.

"I've said we can achieve anything with this team and we are aiming for the very top, which means the title is a possibility for us," stated the Spurs boss. "Tottenham have a team now that should challenge for the championship within two years, that is my honest belief."

"I gave my lads a rollicking at half-time because they didn't believe in themselves in the first half, but to come from 2-0 down and beat Arsenal at this stadium is a fantastic achievement. The fans won't forget this win for a long time."

A third home defeat of the season was impossible for Wenger to accept and he could barely contain his annoyance as he met a media pack ready to bombard him with difficult questions.

"I'm speechless that we lost this match because if you look at the statistics, it is hard to see how Spurs finish on top," said the crestfallen Arsenal boss. "They shouldn't have been given the free-kick that they scored the winning goal from and luck was against us in other occasions in this game. Tottenham did not create too much over 90 minutes, but clearly we have a problem with concentration at key moments."

"This is a difficult result to accept, but we lost focus and that was crucial in the second half. Why we allowed them to catch us on the counter attack when we were 2-0 ahead is something we have to look at."

Arsenal's inability to deal with set-plays and their failure to finish off opponents they have at their mercy are not being addressed by Wenger and for that reason, it is hard to see how the Gunners can possibly end this season as champions.

Whether Tottenham are the genuine title contenders Redknapp believes them to be remains to be seen, but in a season when no team seems capable of grasping the nettle and take hold of the title race, an improbable contender may just have announced themselves.

MAN OF THE MATCH: William Gallas
The former Arsenal captain was handed the Tottenham armband as he returned to the Emirates Stadium and he turned in an impressive display to repel his former team mates. "He was immense from start to finished," was Redknapp's verdict of his Frenchman.

NASRI MAKES HIS POINT
Arsenal midfielder Nasri refused to shake the hand of Tottenham skipper Gallas before kick off as the long running feud between the two was made public. Nasri has Gallas have been at loggerheads since the later criticised the former in a recent book.

FACE IN THE CROWD
Thierry Henry was back at Arsenal, bedecked in his red and white scarf. He will not have enjoyed a horror story of a second half for his old team.

ARSENAL VERDICT
It seems somewhat repetitive to suggest Arsenal's weakness defending set-plays and their mental fragility will cost them again as their critics have been saying suggesting as much time and again over the last five trophyless years. In a season when the title is up for grabs, Wenger's men appear to be capable of taking advantage.

TOTTENHAM VERDICT
One win does not make a season, but this particular victory suggested Spurs are finally ready to step up to the plate and challenge the big guns consistently. It would be refreshing for the league if they live up to their manager's boasts and push for top spot in the months ahead.
 
Source: Kevin Palmer, Arsenal.com on 20 Nov 10

Spurs mount famous recovery

Arsenal blew the chance to go top of the Premier League as Tottenham fought back from 2-0 down to record a remarkable first victory at Emirates Stadium with a 3-2 win.

Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh had put the Gunners in complete control as they looked set to leapfrog Chelsea, who play Birmingham later this afternoon.

However, Spurs - who had just one Premier League away victory over their old rivals, in May 1993 - regrouped for the second half following the introduction of fit-again England striker Jermain Defoe.

Gareth Bale pulled a goal back on 50 minutes, before an inexplicable handball from captain Cesc Fabregas from a free-kick gave away a penalty, which Rafael van der Vaart converted.

Arsenal were then condemned to successive home league defeats for the first time in 13 years when Younes Kaboul headed in a dramatic late winner.

There had been plenty of pre-match hype, and Arsenal midfielder Nasri kept his pre-match vow not to shake hands with William Gallas, his former team-mate for both club and country, handed the captain's armband this afternoon.

The pair then clashed within the opening few moments when Nasri raced clear, only to be halted by a fine saving tackle from the former Gunners defender, roundly jeered by the home support.

It was a positive start for Arsenal, with Fabregas getting into the right side of the Spurs penalty area, but opted to shoot across goal rather than pull the ball back for Nasri.

Gomes flapped at a cross, before the Brazilian then hit the self-destruct button on nine minutes.

Fabregas' chip split the Tottenham defence, but Nasri's touch into the penalty area was just too heavy, which should have allowed Gomes to come off his line to collect.

However, the Spurs keeper hesitated and failed to gather the ball on the penalty spot, which then bobbled wide.

Nasri was alert to tuck his shot back from the tightest of angles between Benoit Assou-Ekotto and the far post.

Spurs were visibly stunned and for a while were in danger of being over-run.

Gallas, though, charged forwards right up to the edge of the Arsenal box, but his progress was halted by Alex Song.

At the other end, Fabregas played his way into the right side of the Spurs penalty area, only to then drag a low shot wide.

Arsenal finally went 2-0 ahead on 27 minutes.

A swift counter-attack saw Fabregas feed Andrey Arshavin on the left, and his low centre was turned in by Chamakh, his ninth of the season.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made a change at the start of the second half when he introduced Defoe for a first start since he played for England against Switzerland during early September.

It proved an inspired tactic as Spurs pulled a goal back five minutes after the restart.

Assou-Ekotto launched a long pass up field, which Defoe nodded down to van der Vaart and the Dutchman then tapped to the on-rushing Bale, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner.

From a position of such dominance, Arsenal were now the ones in danger of losing shape, as Modric fired just over from 20 yards.

As the hour mark passed, there was a break when Gallas bundled over Chamakh to concede a free-kick 30-yards out, which Nasri fired into the wall.

Song then barged Modric to give away a dangerous piece in a similar position for Spurs.

As van der Vaart struck the free-kick, Fabregas and Chamakh, on the end of the wall, both lifted their arms, leaving referee Phil Dowd with little option but to point to the spot.

Van der Vaart sent Fabianski the wrong way to equalise - sparking wild celebrations from the travelling support behind the goal and earning the Spurs man a caution.

Wenger immediately responded by sending on Robin van Persie, for Chamakh, on 68 minutes.

Arsenal had the ball in the net after a free-kick, but both Fabregas and Sebastien Squillaci were offside.

Spurs sent on Peter Crouch, replacing Roman Pavlyuchenko, before with 15 minutes left, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky came on for Arshavin and Nasri.

Gomes redeemed himself with a fine one-handed save to deny Fabregas, with Laurent Koscielny heading over after the corner was not cleared.

Spurs, though, turned the game on its head with five minutes to go when Koscielny fouled Bale on the near touchline.

Van der Vaart floated the free-kick into the penalty area, where Kaboul got between his markers to guide the ball into the far corner.

There were five minutes of stoppage time, during which Arsenal pressed, but Spurs were not to be denied a famous win.

Harry Redknapp revealed how Tottenham delivered a first victory at Arsenal for 17 years after he told his players they could be Premier League champions this season.

''It's wide open this league this year, it's wide open,'' he said. ''Chelsea are not as good as they were; Man United are not as good as they were three or four years ago.

''They're still excellent teams but they're not the force they were. They were almost invincible, the pair of them. I think Tottenham are now getting closer and the championship is wide open. I said that to the players yesterday morning. Why can't you win the championship? Who says you can't?''

He added: ''It's wide open for somebody who can put a run together. It's there for someone to have real go at it this year. Why should we all be fearful and keep saying, 'We can't win it'?' I wouldn't be saying it if we had a bad group of players.

''I'm a realist; I'm not dreaming. It's difficult to do but it's not impossible. This is the best chance anyone's going to get this year. There's very little to choose between the top five or six teams at the moment.''

Talk of Tottenham winning the title looked a mere pipe dream at half-time today as Arsenal completely dominated. But Redknapp ''went for broke'' by throwing on fit-again striker Jermain Defoe and it paid off.

''It was either a case of getting beaten four or five or trying to get a goal back and seeing if we could make a game of it - and that's what we did,'' said the Spurs boss, who admitted giving his players a half-time blast. ''We were open still but we needed a goal and luckily, we got it at the right time.''

Arsene Wenger was left speechless and mystified after watching Arsenal contrive to throw away their 2-0 lead.

''If you look at the stats and the numbers, it is very difficult to understand how we lost this game - a drop in concentration, some basic errors, some back luck as well,'' lamented Wenger. ''You are a bit speechless to re-analyse the game. It is a mystery how you can lose a game like that.

''If you look at the clear-cut chances that Tottenham had today, it is difficult to understand how we can concede three goals, but we lost it and we can only look at ourselves.

''We could not maintain the focus nor the urgency for 90 minutes because some players dropped. I believe that overall we delivered a performance expected in a game like that quality-wise. However, it was a mixture of fatigue in the second half, and also a lack of cautiousness.''

Despite the disappointment of the defeat to their fiercest rivals, Wenger insisted the title race was still wide open.

''There are 10 teams who can win the championship mathematically. Tottenham is one of them,'' the Arsenal manager said. ''I am convinced we are in it, but there are chances in the championship you want to take.''

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 20 Nov 10

Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur match

On the team’s performance against Spurs…
“We could not maintain the focus nor the urgency for 90 minutes because some players dropped. I believe as well that overall we delivered a performance expected in a game like that quality wise and if you look at the stats and the numbers it’s very difficult to understand how we lost this game."

"A drop of concentration, some basic errors, some bad luck as well because the penalty spot I think was not a foul for them at the start. And on top of that, not only did we get the foul but we get the penalty where we are guilty of. But overall you are a bit speechless. To re-analyse the game, it’s a mystery how we can lose a game like that.”

On whether Arsenal were denied a penalty in the second half…
“I don’t know, I haven’t seen that well.”

On being in complete control in the first half…
“[We were in control] in the second as well. It was a free kick for us – goal for them. You know? We were caught on counterattack at 2-0 up. And after we were punished on the second goal. If you look at the clear-cut chances that Tottenham had today, it’s easy to see how we conceded three goals. It’s one of those games where we dominated them more than any other one but we lost it and we can only look at ourselves.”

On Harry Redknapp saying Spurs can win the title…
“There are ten teams who can win it mathematically. Tottenham is one of them.”

On whether the team lacked focus…
“No. I believe that we have focused on the game. If we had not started the game well I would say that. I felt some players who played mid-week – who played Sunday, Wednesday, today – could not maintain the pace in the game and that we dropped physically and we had some heavy legs in the second half."

On if he would have liked to see Nasri shake hands with Gallas…
“Ideally you would prefer that everybody in the world always loves everybody, but it doesn’t always happen.”

On complacency after building the lead…
“It’s difficult to say if we dropped physically or concentration-wise. I believe what is difficult to accept is that when you are 2-0 up, you have a free kick and you are caught on a counter attack. That is very difficult to understand. Once a team comes back to 2-1 they have hope again. And we couldn’t take our third chance. We had plenty of chances to score: we had Chamakh, Koscielny, one or two shots and overall Spurs always remained dangerous on the counterattack."

On whether Arsenal were slow to react to Spurs’ changes in the second half…
“Maybe. I felt that they were more open in the second half and we had more room to play and to create chances, but I felt for example that Chamakh in the second half was clean through and came back because he had no legs. He played 70 or 80 minutes on Wednesday night. Of course after they come back and they are dead. But we had the opportunities, even in the second half to kill this game off."

If three home defeats is too many at this stage of the season…
“Yes I agree. Three home defeats are three too many. The first two games we didn’t deliver the performance and we can only say that we got what we deserved. Today we delivered the performance, but what is worrying for me is that we had an opportunity to go to the top of the league and when we have to deliver we can’t. That’s worrying because that’s part of our job.”

If Arsenal still had a chance to win after the handball…
“Yes of course. I’m convinced that we are it but there are opportunities in the championship that you want to take and today we put ourselves in the right position and we failed. We have to accept that. And that is mental more than football. If Tottenham had dominated the game and created 10 chances and they won the game, you would say, ‘okay, we have lost against the better team today.’ Today we were always in the position where we could win the game and we didn’t win it. And that is something that is difficult to swallow.

“They are tough. I believe there is a matter that exists in football as well – that is bad luck. How can you imagine that suddenly you get a free kick and then a penalty behind that when the free kick is missed? It is difficult. You cannot predict all but for me there is a mixture of fatigue in the second half and lack of cautiousness as well.”

Source: Arsenal.com on 20 Nov 10

20 November 2010: Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur, The Emirates

Tottenham recorded their first victory on Arsenal territory in 17 years amid incredible scenes at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The home side seemed to have the game under control in the first half. Samir Nasri’s persistence paved the way for the first goal and then Marouane Chamakh slid in another from Andrey Arshavin’s cross.

However, Gareth Bale started the revival five minutes after the restart and then, just before the hour, Cesc Fabregas was adjudged to have handled from a free-kick and Rafael van der Vaart scored from the spot.

Five minutes from time, the Dutchman floated over a free-kick from the right and Younes Kaboul touched a delicate header into the far corner.

It was a stupefying comeback on a day that could have seen Arsenal go top of the table.

Wenger’s men had put themselves in that position with back-to-back away wins. However there is little home comfort for them at the moment.

This is the third defeat in their last five Premier League games at Emirates Stadium. But while the wins for West Brom and Newcastle were painful for a day or so this one will ache for a long, long time.

It was Tottenham’s first victory in Arsenal’s new home.

That is difficult enough to digest. What it did to the title ambitions of Wenger’s side can be assessed later.

Derby day is always special but this one had received a bigger build-up than most. For the first time, the visitors came with Champions League credentials. Finishing fourth last season had led some to suggest the gap between the two sides had closed. On this cold, bright North London afternoon that theory would be put to the test.

Wenger made two changes from the side that had won so well at Everton last Sunday.

Denilson replaced Jack Wilshere, just like he had at half-time at Goodison Park. Laurent Koscielny returned from suspension so Johan Djourou dropped to the bench. Given his form, the Swiss centre back could count himself unfortunate to miss out.

Last season, William Gallas had occupied that role. Today he led out a Tottenham side with higher ambition than any other in recent memory.

Both sides conjured up cheeky chances in the opening five minutes. First, Bale backflicked Van der Vaart’s corner into the hands of Lukasz Fabianski at the near post. Then Nasri shoveled a pass over two Tottenham defenders to Fabregas on the right-hand byline but Heurelho Gomes intercepted at the near post.

However the keeper would soon be found wanting. In the 10th minute, Fabregas fed a pass forward towards Nasri, who had already shown his attacking intent this afternoon. The Frenchman chased after the ball but Gomes was favourite. Inexplicably the keeper then retreated a few paces before going for the ball. That allowed Nasri to poke it clear. However there still was much more to do.

The ball raced away towards the touchline and by the time Nasri reached it, he only had a sliver of the goal to aim at. Somehow he managed to hook his foot around the ball and trickle a shot over the line. It was his eighth goal of the campaign, bringing him level with Chamakh as top scorer. Temporarily, as it turned out.

The goal injected a confidence into Arsenal’s game. Fabregas wriggled clear on the right of the area and fired beyond the far post.

Midway through the half, Kaboul sent over a dangerous cross that Bacary Sagna flicked clear of Roman Pavlyuchencko and then headed over himself as the visitors mounted a modicum of pressure. But immediately after that, Arsenal stretched their lead.

Fabregas broke through the midfield and fed Arshavin on the right. His probing cross was touched home by the stumbling Chamakh. With just 27 minutes played, Arsenal were already cruising.

Luka Modric saw a shot batted away by Fabianski but Van der Vaart’s wild, wasteful shot suggested frustration had already set in.

The visitors continued to plough forward until the break. Fabianski was forced into a little caretaking but Chamakh caused much more consternation with a couple of moments just before the break. First he saw a shot charged down in a crowded area and then he went clear for a second but the ball got stuck under his feet and Spurs smuggled the ball away.

At the break, Tottenham brought on Jermain Defoe for Aaron Lennon. The England striker had been out for months with an injury but Harry Redknapp simply needed something different in his side.

Within five minutes, Defoe helped the visitors grab a foothold in the game.

It was his high hanging header that saw the Arsenal defence back off and allow Van der Vaart to feed the overlapping Bale. The Welshman took the ball in his stride and nudged it past Fabianski. A poor, poor goal to concede.

Suddenly Arsenal were anxious. The confidence of the opening half-hour had not exactly disappeared but they were now facing a side who had rediscovered itself.

Luka Modric danced through and blasted over as Tottenham looked for immediate parity. The home side responded with pressure of their own but, in the 67th minute, Tottenham did go level.

Alex Song fouled Modric 25 yards out and Van der Vaart fired his free-kick into the wall which was standing in the penalty area. The ball definitely hit the hand of Fabregas, which had been raised. The captain claimed he was protecting his face when the referee pointed to the spot.

When the protests had died down, Van der Vaart sent Fabianski the wrong way.

Squillaci’s header was ruled offside shortly afterwards then Fabregas fired a volley over the bar. Arsenal were stung.

Both sides made changes. Peter Crouch came on for Pavlyuchenko. For Arsenal, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky replaced Chamakh, Arshavin and Narsi.

Wenger was clearly going for it.

Arsenal did create the better chances. Fabregas tried a curler but Gomes patted the ball beyond the far post. Then, with 15 minutes left, an unmarked Koscielny headed over the bar at the far post.

But Tottenham were still dangerous. Eight minutes from time, only Song’s strength stopped Van der Vaart pouncing after a scramble six yards out.

Then they grabbed the winner. Koscielny brought down Bale on the left and, from Van der Vaart’s expert delivery, Kaboul nudged a header into the far corner.

In the dying minutes, Arsenal mustered a response but not the chances to go with it.

This was a head-scratching afternoon for Wenger’s men who took two giant strides forward last week but took an almighty pace back this afternoon.

Winning the title will more than right this wrong but to do that they must arrest their sliding home form.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 20 Nov 10

Are Arsenal finally ready to reclaim the Premier League title?

A new-found resilience at the Emirates this season bodes well for a serious tilt at ending their trophy drought.

The return of Robert Pires to these shores this week should be a source of warm nostalgia for all Arsenal supporters. One of the 2004 Invincibles is back in their midst and ahead of today's north London derby, in which a win would send the current team to the top of the table for a couple of hours at least, they may perceive it to be an omen too – that, finally, the league title is heading back their way.

Three defeats already this season means there can be no repeat of the staggering impregnability of seven seasons ago, the last time Arsenal were champions, and given that two of those losses came against West Bromwich and Newcastle, at home, the fans would be wise not to get carried away, even if they were to witness a victory over the enemy this lunchtime.

But sitting second in the table, sandwiched between Chelsea and Manchester United, Arsenal are well placed in this most open of title hunts and there is a belief from even the most unlikely sources that their trophy drought, which stretches back to 2005, could be nearing an end.

"They seem more resilient now," said the Everton captain, Phil Neville, following his team's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal last Sunday. "You always fancy yourself to rough them up. But we couldn't do it and that is where they have improved."

Such sturdiness could prove decisive for a team who have displayed mental brittleness ever since they last ruled the Premier League. The last time Arsenal looked like genuine title contenders, during the final months of the 2007-08 season, a collapse in confidence and form came swiftly after Eduardo da Silva suffered his leg break in the draw at Birmingham.

How Arsenal would react should something similar happen this season is a question everyone associated with the club hopes they will not have to answer but, echoing Neville, Perry Groves, who played for the club when they won the 1989 and 1991 titles, believes the wins at Wolves and Everton which followed the defeat by Newcastle are proof that they have developed a fresh resilience.

"The Newcastle game was the worst Arsenal performance I've seen at the Emirates. After that there was no way I could see them winning the championship," said Groves. "But I have been impressed with how they responded instantly at Wolves and then at Everton; 18 months ago that would not have happened."

"Arsenal also definitely played differently at Goodison. They were tighter as a unit and looked more prepared to defend, which hasn't always been the case away from home. They fought for the win, which was pleasing to see."

Arsenal's fortitude is also noticeable in the statistics, which show they have gathered more disciplinary points than any other team this season (270), and in Alex Song have a player who has committed 30 fouls in his 12 games, the third highest in the top flight.

But what is startling, and should perhaps please Arsenal fans as much as recent results, is the team's domination of the figures, which show that along with the brawn remains the usual brains and craft.

Arsenal have scored the most goals from open play this season (21), had the most shots on target (83), the highest shooting accuracy (47.7%), the highest dribble success rate (50.6%), and gathered the most points away from home (14). Little wonder that Arsène Wenger yesterday described the squad as his strongest since arriving in north London 14 years ago.

"Number-wise we are not short and when everybody's fit it's difficult to keep everybody happy," said Wenger. "Certainly [it is my strongest squad] and that allows me to rotate naturally."

Responding to Neville's assessment, he added: "That is a compliment because people felt we couldn't do that. It's part of maturing, becoming a man."

Indeed the average age of the team who beat Everton was 24.7, which compares favourably to the side who won the Double in 2002 at the same stage of the season – 24.3. And while Wenger continues to fill his team with young players, most notably the 18-year-old Jack Wilshere, it is the inclusion of a player reaching his peak that may make the difference this season. Marouane Chamakh arrived from Bordeaux this summer aged 26 and, in the absence of the injured Robin van Persie, has shone, scoring eight goals in all competitions.

"He gives Arsenal a different dimension," said Groves. "If the intricate stuff isn't working the ball can now be played more directly because Chamakh is a great target man. His pace also stretches teams, which gives the likes of Wilshere and [Cesc] Fábregas more space to play in."

Others have been equally influential, among them Samir Nasri – "he's been Arsenal's best performer this season," added Groves – and Fábregas, who must be pleased he did not join Barcelona last summer after all. But for Nigel Winterburn, a member of Arsenal's 1998 Double-winning team, the current side are still some way from proving their championship credentials.

"What's important is that this team wins a trophy, and fast," said the former left-back. "Until they do that it is hard to put them in the same bracket as Chelsea and Manchester United, because their players are proven winners who know what it takes to go the distance."

"In that sense the Carling Cup could be massive for Arsenal. If they won it this season I feel sure it would instil in the players that drive to win another trophy, and that then could be the title."

For now, the focus is on Tottenham. The hosts will be boosted ahead of a fixture they have not lost since 1993 by the return of Laurent Koscielny from suspension and a possible start for Van Persie after the Dutchman featured for 45 minutes in his country's midweek victory over Turkey.

Beating Spurs is motivation in itself for any Arsenal side but the fact that such a result would put them top, and keep them there should Chelsea lose to Birmingham later in the day, adds to the significance of the conflict. We will soon know if it also proves to be the moment when a team deemed by many to be all hype and no heart grasp the initiative.

"It is a big motivation [to go top]," said Wenger, "Doing that will allow us to be respected and taken seriously, which is what we want."

Source: Sachin Nakrani, The Guardian on 20 Nov 10

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur

In essence, every derby is simply a matter of self-respect.

No matter how well your side is performing, if they lose a head-to-head to their near neighbours then honour is tarnished.

Defeat at White Hart Lane in April not only shunted Arsenal out of the last season’s title race it also demonstrated that Tottenham had closed the gap on Arsène Wenger’s men.

In the end, the Emirates Stadium side did maintain a 17-year run of finishing higher in the Premier League table. But they left it until the last game of the campaign and, by then, Tottenham had secured a spot in the Champions League for the first time.

Harry Redknapp’s side have gone to prove themselves in the competition this term, most notably by beating Inter at White Hart Lane. However European exploits have undermined their Premier League form.

They will start Saturday’s 147th league meeting between the sides down in seventh place. Defeat would leave them a massive ten points adrift of Arsenal and allow the red half of North London to suggest that the division between the two teams is satisfyingly wide once more.

Of course, this shift may be down to Arsenal’s upward movement as much as Tottenham’s downward drift. Chelsea’s defeat to Sunderland last weekend left Wenger’s men two points off the lead.

But the manager knows his side still have their own status anxiety to overcome. Arsenal have not truly sustained a title challenge since they last lifted the trophy in 2004. This season they are shaping up to be much more than nearly men – but they still have some way to go.

“Like every team we want to be respected and taken seriously,” said Wenger. “When people do that, we are happy."

“We are conscious that only comes through our attitude and performances which is why it is important for us to be consistent now."

“Tottenham have always very had good teams and good players like Darren Anderton and David Ginola. But it is the first time they have finished in the top four since I was here, so it means their achievement was better than before.""

“But you always take them seriously, especially when it is a derby and there is a bit more edge to it."

“I do not consider their overall record against us. You just know it is a game where you want to be at your best.”

That White Hart Lane win was Tottenham’s first in 21 games against the ‘Old Enemy’. Their last victory on Arsenal territory came in May 1993 when George Graham was resting players ahead of the FA Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday. Of the last 33 points available in this fixture, the red side have taken an incredible 29.

Of course, all those statistics were built up against a Tottenham side without Gareth Bale and Raphael van der Vaart. The duo have been among a handful of stand-out performers in this season’s Premier League. But, as usual before a big game, Wenger was happy to keep the hype at arm’s length.

“Yes, it will certainly be important to keep Bale quiet,” he admitted. “But Tottenham have many good players in their team – Bale, Van der Vaart, Modric, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko. Let’s not focus on that too much."

“They have good players, we know that. But they are only good players if they perform. For us it is important to produce a team performance and not to focus on one player. Then we have a good chance to win.”

Jack Wilshere passed a fitness test on Friday and will be named in the squad. Laurent Koscielny is back from suspension but Wenger may not choose to break up the centre back partnership of Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou that withstood tough trips to Wolves and Everton last week.

Robin van Persie had 45 minutes more football with Holland this week but is highly unlikely to start. Nicklas Bendtner is also working his way back to full fitness and will be saved for the trip to Braga on Tuesday.

Victory over Tottenham will put Arsenal top of the Premier League for a few hours at least. Defeat would mean Arsenal had registered back-to-back losses on home soil for the first time in 13 years. Though it must be said that the second reverse – 3-1 against Blackburn in December 1997 – precipitated an unbeaten run that only ended when Arsenal had taken the title.

Wenger admits his side have performed poorly in their last four home league games – two of which they have lost. He even suggested they may have to look for longer balls to overcome the issue. All very odd.

But then this particular Premier League is proving a peculiar beast. Right now, Arsenal’s title credentials are not 100 per cent convincing but they are as good those of their main rivals and vastly better than the lower two-thirds of the table.

“It is open,” said Wenger. “I’ve said since the first six games that it looks like the most consistent team will be rewarded."

“That is why I feel we have created a certain consistency in the last six games. Let's just build on that and continue our momentum."

“The players will feel it is important to win the big games and tomorrow is a big game."

“So, for us, it is just an opportunity.”

Of course, for the rest of us, it is much, much more than that.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 20 Nov 10

Wilshere back to boost Gunners

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has shaken off a back problem which ruled him out of England's defeat to France and comes into contention for the north London derby clash with Tottenham.

There were no other injury concerns from the midweek international friendlies, Laurent Koscielny returns from a two-game suspension and Nicklas Bendtner (groin) should be available after missing the win at Everton.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow), centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) remain out, while Aaron Ramsey continues his rehabilitation following a broken leg.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has questioned the logic of any Arsenal fan aiming abuse at William Gallas in the north London derby.

Gallas will return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since completing one of the most controversial transfers of recent times by joining their arch-rivals Spurs.

Crossing the north London divide this summer has all but guaranteed the former Gunners captain a hostile reception from the Emirates Stadium crowd.

But Redknapp cannot understand anyone wanting to jeer the 33-year-old, who was released by Arsenal at the end of last season.

He said: "You play for a club, play well for them: you should get a good reception, surely? What do they want to give them abuse for?

"He got freed from Arsenal and I took him to Tottenham and he wants to play football.

"He's come here and played, done great for us.

"He's taken us where we are in the Champions League. He's played a big part in that and in the league.

"I hope he gets a good reception.''

Redknapp backed the vastly-experienced Gallas, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea in 2006, to cope with whatever is thrown at him.

"His frame of mind: he's a strong character; nothing fazes him,'' Redknapp said.

"He'll go back there, look forward to the game and be ready to play.''

Yet Bacary Sagna has declared "war'' on Gallas.

But the Gunners full-back insisted the pair would resume their strong friendship as soon as the final whistle is blown at the Emirates Stadium.

This weekend sees Gallas return to his former club for the first time since crossing the north London divide in one of the most controversial transfers of recent years.

The 33-year-old Tottenham defender can expect a hostile reception from the home fans, many of whom will have branded him a traitor.

And Gallas will be very much the enemy as far as Sagna is concerned during the lunchtime clash.

"On the pitch there is a war, but off the pitch we are all friends,'' he said.

Indeed, Gallas' fellow Frenchman bears no grudge towards his former captain for joining Arsenal's arch-rivals.

"I'm not angry at him because he signed for our rivals,'' said Sagna.

"He was always very professional (here) and he always gave everything.

"Football is football; I'm not furious against him."

"He needed to leave to play football and that is what he loves.''

Gallas' temperament was questioned during his time as Arsenal captain and he was infamously stripped of the armband after attacking his team-mates.

"That was his hunger because he wanted to win so much,'' Sagna said.

"Maybe he expressed it in a bad way but it was not bad at all because he wanted us to win.''

He added: "He deserves a good reception because during the time he played for Arsenal he always did well.''

Sagna believes it is too soon to start comparing Gareth Bale with the best players in the world but has no doubt of the threat he poses.

"He's doing very well at the moment but don't put pressure on him too early,'' Sagna said.

"At the moment, he's one of the most dangerous wingers.''

Jermain Defoe returns to the Tottenham squad.

The England striker could be involved in the Barclays Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium after recovering from ankle surgery almost a month ahead of schedule.

Aaron Lennon looks to have overcome a hamstring injury but Niko Kranjcar is doubtful with a calf problem and could join Robbie Keane (ankle), Giovani dos Santos (groin) and long-term absentees Tom Huddlestone (ankle), captain Ledley King (groin), Michael Dawson (ligament damage), Jamie O'Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) on the sidelines.

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 19 Nov 10

Wenger - Arsenal fans should respect Gallas

Arsène Wenger wants Arsenal supporters to show respect for William Gallas if he features in this weekend’s local derby.

The French defender turned down a new contract at Emirates Stadium in the summer and joined Tottenham a few weeks later, becoming the first major player since Sol Campbell to cross the North London divide.

Campbell received plenty of abuse from Spurs fans for that move in 2001 and some have suggested that Gallas will get a rough ride from the home crowd if he lines up against his old club on Saturday.

Wenger hopes that is not the case.

“They [the fans] should respect him, like they do every player of the opponents who play against us. And I think that will happen,” he said.

“You’re responsible for your own behaviour and not for the behaviour of other people. I think the basics of our attitude at the Club has always been to respect other people.

“We cannot dictate how other people behave we just want ourselves to respect him.”

Gallas succeeded Thierry Henry as Arsenal captain in the summer of 2007 but had the armband taken away two years later after criticising his team-mates during an interview in the French media.

That may have tainted his reputation in the eyes of some fans but Wenger prefers to accentuate the positives of Gallas’ Arsenal career.

“I don’t think it’s needed now to speak about that [the captaincy issue], that’s history and an old story,” he said.

“When Gallas was on the pitch he gave 100 per cent for the team and that’s what you want to respect.

“What I look at is just how much does the guy want to win, how much is he committed when he plays and on that front you can never fault Gallas because he was always 100 per cent committed when he played.”

Source: Chris Harris, Arsenal.com on 19 Nov 10

Arsenal fans should not boo Spurs' William Gallas, says Bacary Sagna

Bacary Sagna has led the calls for William Gallas not to be barracked by Arsenal supporters when the centre-half returns to the Emirates on Saturday in the colours of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Gallas declined an initial offer to remain with Arsène Wenger's side only for potential moves to Juventus and Panathinaikos to fail to materialise. The 33-year-old ended up signing a one-year deal at White Hart Lane, with an option of a further season, and will now confront his former club for the first time.

The former Arsenal captain's spell at the Emirates was not without controversy, with his infamous sit-down protest on the pitch at the end of the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in February 2008 prompting Wenger to strip him of the armband, concerned as he was at the impression such petulance was making on the side's younger players. "But he deserves a good reception from the fans because he always did his best for Arsenal and was very professional," Sagna said. "He always gave everything, even if he had some moments when people looked at him because of his behaviour."

"It was hunger because he wanted to win so much. Maybe he expressed it in a bad way, but he wanted to win something. William gave everything for the team while he was here. He always did that for Arsenal. Now I know he is going to receive a bad reception, but I think it is a bit silly because he is a professional player above anything. He needs to live and be allowed to play his football. That's what he loves."

 "It doesn't matter if he is at Tottenham Hotspur. William is still William, my friend. I wasn't against him joining Spurs and I'm not angry he did. On the pitch we are rivals but, off it, we are old friends. I just hope the fans won't be too bad to him."

While Gallas adjusts to the north London derby among Tottenham's ranks, there came an admission from Robin van Persie that he would have loved Rafael van der Vaart, his Dutch international colleague, to have been lining up for – rather than against – Arsenal on Saturday. The attacking midfielder has excelled since his surprise summer move from Real Madrid, with seven goals in 12 games.

"I would rather have him at Arsenal," Van Persie said. "I know the quality he has. I indicated a couple of times that Rafael would be useful for Arsenal, but that advice was not followed. I regret the fact he was not signed, but it is the right of the club. This is just my opinion. Now you can see the result. Spurs were a good team [without Van der Vaart], but now they are a top team."

Regardless, Arsenal have moved back up to second place and can take over at the top of the Premier League table – albeit possibly for a few hours – by beating Spurs.

Newcastle's unexpected success at the Emirates this month appeared to dampen the supporters' expectations, although the subsequent impressive wins at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton, combined with the points shed by Chelsea and Manchester United, have breathed new life into Arsenal's title pursuit.

The north London derby provides an opportunity to regain momentum at home against opponents who have not prevailed at Arsenal since 1993.

"We have to concentrate on our team," Sagna said. "At the moment we are doing well but we know that if we want to be competitive, we have to play well at home. We suffered during the last match at home against Newcastle but now, if we want to finish top of the league, we can't let any more points go."

Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 18 Nov 10

Being a relative unknown helped me adapt

Sebastien Squillaci believes his relative anonymity has made it easier for him to settle in English football.

The French defender was an established international and a consistent performer with Sevilla in La Liga before he arrived at Arsenal in late August but he remained an unknown quantity to many Arsenal fans.

Nearly three months on, Squillaci has already captained the Gunners and only three players - Alex Song, Gael Clichy and Marouane Chamakh - have started more games for the Club this season.

The 30-year-old put in another solid shift in Arsenal's 2-1 win at Everton on Sunday and he believes that his low-key introduction to the Premier League - and the large French contingent at Emirates Stadium - have helped him acclimatise.

"Yes, I think it helped [that I was a relative unknown]," Squillaci told Arsenal TV Online in an exclusive ‘Spotlight' interview.

"I knew a lot of the players and there are a lot of Frenchmen here, which always makes it easier to adapt. There are players here who I have played with for France and also against in the French league and that makes coming here not so hard."

 "It's always better coming to a club where you know the players, it helps you if there are any problems and also helps on and off the pitch too."

"Adapting-wise, I knew that it [English football] would be physical with some good sides, playing good football. The strikers are big and strong and it is a great contrast with Spain where the strikers are faster and not so strong. But it's not going too badly. I'm stepping up to the challenge and it's getting easier."

The common consensus last summer was that Thomas Vermaelen would emerge as Arsenal's senior defender but the Belgian's ongoing Achilles trouble has allowed Squillaci, fellow new boy Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou to stake their claims.

Squillaci has helped steady the ship in defence but he wants to see Vermaelen return as soon as possible.

"Thomas Vermaelen got injured and still is injured and that's a shame for us because we need players like him and that brings confidence to the team," he said. "But there is competition at any big club and you also need all your players as there are injuries, lots of games every three days and so you need a good group of players to make up for this and to be able to cope."

"I hope that everyone gets fit, Thomas and everyone else so that we all get our chance and we'll be able to catch up in the league."

Source: Chris Harris, Arsenal.com on 17 Nov 10

Two Big Wins

Two very big away wins at Wolves and Everton, coupled with Chelsea being stunned at home by Sunderland yesterday, has seen Arsenal jump to second place in the Premier League sitting just two points behind the leaders.

On the back of the home defeat to Newcastle, those two matches were a real tests of resolve and the Gunners passed them with flying colours showing the sort of grit and determination that has so often been lacking in recent times away from home.

On both occasions the team was far from its fluent best. At Wolves, the match should have been over as a contest after fifteen minutes. After Marouane Chamakh’s early strike, Arsenal squandered two or three good chances which would have put the match beyond their hosts before they had even settled into their rhythm. As it was, Wolves hauled themselves back into the game and dominated most of the play. Only some desperate defending and a couple of brilliant reflex saves from Lukasz Fabianski kept Arsene Wenger’s men in the game until Chamakh made the result safe with a breakaway goal at the death.

It was a somewhat similar story at Everton yesterday. The Gunners played well within their abilities but, having taken a deserved lead through Bacary Sagna and doubled their advantage just after the break courtesy of Cesc Fabregas, they had to weather a late Everton onslaught which saw the home team peg one back late on. However, Arsenal kept their nerve through the dwindling moments of normal time and the four minutes of injury-time to earn another vital victory

There is something of a culture amongst a minority of Arsenal fans these days that if the team are not destroying opponents three or four nil and turning on the style at the same time, then something is not going right and Arsene Wenger has got it all wrong. The displays against Wolves and Everton ought to go to show that, whilst it would be great to see the team play champagne football every week, there is virtue and, indeed, beauty in "winning ugly" - and, for my money, those two displays were easily as satisfying as any of the wide-margin victories that the team have produced so far this season.

Time could be spent on picking apart the performances and asking why the Gunners weren’t rolling over their opposition or why certain players were not at the top of their game but to do that would entirely miss the point. Desperate defending, finger-tips saves, riding one’s luck, hanging on by a thread and having to mix it physically are as much part of the game as a twenty-pass move leading to goal or a screaming volley that breaks the net. There will be other days where everything clicks to perfection and the team look unstoppable but, on days when they are not quite the well-oiled machine we know they can be, if they can grind out wins with sheer fighting spirit and a strong team ethic, then there can be few complaints.

Over the past few years, many pundits and observers have questioned the Gunners’ ability to whittle out victories at difficult away grounds when they are not playing their best. However, the trips to Wolves and Everton show that the team can adopt a pragmatic approach when they have to. The trick now will be to produce this sort of character and tenacity every single week and not just as a reaction to an embarrassing home defeat.

A lot of that pragmatism can be attributed to the fact that a lot more players seem to be stepping up to the plate this season and there is not so much reliance on the “big-hitters” in the squad turning it on week in and week out. This is largely because most of the perceived big-hitters have been struggling with injury and have not been there to be relied upon. At the same time, players like Nasri, Wilshere, Song and Walcott have upped their games a notch or two and new boys like Chamakh, Squillaci and Koscielny have settled in quickly and made a positive impact.

Consequently, the two dodgy home defeats to West Brom and Newcastle aside, the shared responsibility that the manager also has often talked about in recent years appears to be a bit more of a reality rather than just talk. Again, this is something that has to be maintained consistently all the way through until May rather than conjured up sporadically if the team are to win anything this season.

It has been apparent that over last month or so that the Gunners have performed better away from home in the Premier League than they have at the Grove. This is an aspect of their current form that does need to be sorted out urgently and there will be no better game in which to turn the corner at home than when Spurs come to visit on Saturday lunchtime.

As good as the wins at Wolves and Everton were, they will become distant memories if Arsenal lose to their bitterest rivals at the weekend. The North London derby transcends the weekly to-ing and fro-ing of the Premier League and stands as a home and away fixture that both sets of fans want to win more than most - and, as always, it is a game that, “if you can’t win it, just make sure you don’t lose it.”

Players from both sides will be away on international duty for a round of completely pointless friendlies this week (yawn), which is hardly the best preparation for such a massive match. Let’s hope Arsene Wenger gets his players back fit and well and mentally ready to do the business in what is a red letter day in the fixture calendar.

Source: David Young, ESPN Soccernet on 15 Nov 10

Gunners learning to do the dirty work

Arsenal are not just challenging for the title. They are challenging preconceptions. It is one of a strange season's more unexpected trends that the southern softies appear more assured in the north than on the manicured lawns of the Emirates. Near the foot of the Fair Play League, the born-again bad boys are passing the stern tests and failing the simpler ones.

Despite defeats to West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle on their own turf, Arsenal have returned to second place, a position that is experiencing its own sort of squad rotation. That they have drawn at Anfield and won at Ewood Park, Eastlands and now Everton means Arsenal have 10 points out of 12 in the North West, English football's historic heartland, and the majority of their points have come north of the Watford Gap. Once deemed flat-track bullies, they now have the best away record in the division.

Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas delivered the goals, but the entire team provided an example of resilience on the road. The sort of qualities that tend to be associated with Chelsea have, even if only temporarily, been borrowed by Arsenal. Admittedly, there was more than a touch of class about each goal and there were moments of exquisite quality but, by Arsenal's standards, there were times when they were grinding it out.

Think of Arsene Wenger's side and the images that spring to mind tend to be deft flicks, as Marouane Chamakh supplied for the second goal, and technically-perfect finishes, such as Fabregas' execution. Victories at places such as Goodison Park - with the exception of last year's improbable, unbeatable 6-1 triumph - tend to require other qualities. Arsenal displayed them.

Deep into injury time, Johan Djourou and Gael Clichy, who can seem the more fallible half of the defence, were flinging themselves in the way of shots. The delicate Tomas Rosicky was throwing his body in the way of the rather more direct Seamus Coleman to prevent the Evertonian crossing. Earlier, Alex Song contrived to head away a shot from Louis Saha and was greeted with the sort of reception that tends to be reserved for goalscorers.

Taking a pride in defending is something that the Arsenal of stereotype might disdain. Not on this occasion. This was sleeves-rolled-up, earthy endeavour. A willingness to get dirty is leading to accusations that they are dirty. They have been shown four red cards already this season and Evertonians were baying for a fifth when Sebastien Squillaci brought down Saha and again when Fabregas fouled Sylvain Distin. It wasn't quite an action replay of his challenge on Wolves' Stephen Ward on Wednesday. In this instance, the caution was definitely correct.

The physicality of Fabregas, Squillaci and Song, to name but three, is a sign Arsenal are becoming more assertive in their bid to prove they are not cowed by bigger or older opponents. They are endearing themselves to few among opposing supporters but plaudits have not brought prizes in recent years.

"We get a lot of encouragement from the way we play at the moment," said Wenger. "The most important qualities we have shown are discipline, commitment, togetherness, desire and 100% focus for 90 minutes. When you come here without that you don't get the three points."

And yet, doggedly as the rest of the team played, the win could be attributed to their resident enigma. Lukasz Fabianski, the Jekyll-and-Hyde goalkeeper, was in defiant form. In a week when Arsenal have been deprived of the services of the suspended Laurent Koscielny as well as the injured Thomas Vermaelen, his acrobatics were essential.

While Tim Cahill eventually defeated the Pole, a hat-trick of saves in eight, frenzied minutes ensured Jermaine Beckford, Steven Pienaar and Louis Saha did not join him on the scoresheet. "We needed a few good saves," admitted Wenger.

"I can't really say we deserved an awful lot," said an honest David Moyes. "I didn't think Arsenal were great on the day but I didn't think we were."

Arsenal, however, allied moments of quality to their graft. Sagna's first goal since March 2008 was a thunderbolt after Andrei Arshavin laid the ball back into his path, Fabregas' strike both a languidly classy finish and the culmination of an intricate, essentially Arsenal move.

The instigator was Denilson, brought on for Jack Wilshere at half-time. "I wanted a second holding player to win the second ball from headers," Wenger added. As the idealist sounded distinctly practical, another preconception went out of the window.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Samir Nasri
Descriptions such as "much improved" can tend to be reserved for players who weren't particular good to begin with. Nasri's talent has been apparent in his first two seasons in England, but the Frenchman is increasingly powerful and effective.

EVERTON VERDICT
The stirring, late rally was a product of Moyes' decision to go for broke and field Saha, Beckford and Yakubu at the same time. It almost paid off. Before then, Everton's most effective performers were Phil Jagielka, subject of a summer bid from Wenger, and their budding Bale, Coleman. The converted full-back acquires a real head of steam when he sprints along the touchline.

ARSENAL VERDICT
A week that began terribly, with defeat at home to Newcastle, has ended rather well. The sight of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott on the bench, with neither deemed fully fit, indicates that they can get stronger and that Wenger will have enviable decisions to make in the attacking berths. One of the deputies at the back, Djourou, may not fully convince, but he hasn't let them down either.

Source: Richard Jolly, ESPN Soccernet on 14 Nov 10

Gunners go second

Goals from Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas proved decisive as Arsenal held off an Everton fightback to claim second place in the Premier League with a 2-1 win.

Sagna opened the scoring after 35 minutes at Goodison Park with a ferocious strike from a tight angle and Fabregas doubled the lead early in the second half.

Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh spurned glorious chances to add to the lead but Everton produced a thrilling finish and deservedly pulled one back through Tim Cahill late on.

The Gunners also had Lukasz Fabianksi to thank for their three points, the goalkeeper having produced fine saves to deny Jermaine Beckford, Steven Pienaar and Louis Saha.

Jack Rodwell also blazed a fine chance over as Everton refused to surrender their seven-match unbeaten run without a fight.

The Toffees had their first chance of the afternoon from a set-piece as Mikel Arteta swung in a corner but Saha, impeded as team-mate Cahill jumped for the same ball, headed wide.

Nasri broke clear for Arsenal but opted not to pass as he reached the box and Sylvain Distin stuck out a leg to block his shot.

Everton countered swiftly from the resulting corner as Cahill released Coleman down the right. The exciting Irishman beat Fabregas as he raced into the box but Cahill headed over.

Jack Wilshere almost found a way through for Arsenal after intricate play involving Chamakh and Nasri but Phil Jagielka slid in at the cost of a corner.

Everton probed forward and Saha curled a shot over after Cahill failed to control the ball on the edge of the area.

After a subdued period, the game came to life as Sagna opened the scoring with a ferocious strike in the 35th minute.

Nasri first tested Tim Howard as he cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful left-foot shot from outside the area. The American saved well to his left but Andrei Arshavin retrieved the ball and teed up for Sagna to rifle into the top corner from a tight angle.

Webb courted controversy on the stroke of half-time when he refused Pienaar a free-kick just outside the area after an apparent push by Alex Song.

Saha then headed against the post from a corner but Webb caused further ire when he pulled up play to give a goal-kick having apparently felt the initial cross swung out of play.

Rodwell made a welcome return for Everton in the second half after 11 weeks out with an ankle injury, the midfielder replacing John Heitinga.

Arsenal also made a change with Denilson coming on for Wilshere and the Brazilian was soon involved.

Denilson won the ball after Arteta was fed a poor pass in the centre circle and broke forward. Fabregas then worked the ball on to Chamakh in the box and the Spaniard took a quick return pass to swivel and shoot beyond Howard.

Everton attempted to hit back and Arsenal were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men as Saha was hacked down by last man Sebastien Squillaci.

Fabregas was booked after a challenge on Distin which left both players on the ground but the incident appeared accidental, then Rodwell shot over.

Arsenal should have had a third after Nasri broke the length of the field but Howard stood up until the last moment to block the Frenchman's shot.

Chamakh then put another glorious chance over from a Fabregas cross but Saha was unlucky at the other end when Song got in the way of a fierce shot.

Everton sensed the need to attack and manager David Moyes went with three up front as he replaced Arteta and captain Neville for Yakubu and Beckford, who immediately went close as he turned sharply in the area but Fabianski tipped around the post.

Yakubu then picked out Pienaar with a low cross but again Fabianski was alert - and the goalkeeper did brilliantly to tip away a Saha shot.

Everton finally got on the scoresheet with two minutes remaining when Saha jumped high to reach a cross at the back post and Cahill fired past Fabianski - but four minutes of injury time did not produce an equaliser.

Cesc Fabregas believes his goal came at a vital time for Arsenal as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park to stay in touch at the top of the Premier League.

Fabregas told Sky Sports News: "The second goal was an important goal early in the second half. We knew they would push hard at us and at the end they scored and we were a bit nervous."

"It was a good performance. Defensively we looked solid, our only regret is that last minute goal. We played very well, we were in control. We knew their game was long ball but we did well against it.''

Fabregas now wants to see the team build on the win as they look to rein in leaders Chelsea. "We want to do well until the end, this is just one more step until the end,'' he said. "It's good we're in second position, we're improving, We just need Chelsea to drop some points now.''

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt his side were rewarded for their hard endeavour. Wenger said: "The most important qualities we showed were discipline, commitment, honest desire, 100% focus for 90 minutes."

"That got us the three points - if you come here without that you don't get the three points. We've had two difficult away games, Wolves and here, but we have got six points and that puts us in a good situation. The team has shown great spirit."

"We could have scored more but we were nearly punished and we needed a few good saves from the keeper because we became a bit too conservative. We were hanging on a bit at the end but overall I am satisfied with 2-1."

Wenger allayed fears midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is due to join up with England this week, was removed at the interval because of injury.

The Frenchman said: "He is not injured. I wanted a second holding player to win the second balls from the headers and I thought he looked a bit tired today. He will be all right to go with England.''

Everton could also feel aggrieved that a number of crucial decisions from referee Howard Webb went against them. David Moyes chose not to highlight those incidents and was generally disappointed with his side's performance.

He said: "I have not looked back at any of the incidents. All I have got is the first view I had at the time. Could it have been a sending off? Some referees would have but I haven't seen it again so I can't comment."

"My view from the dugout was it was a decision for the referee. He may have got it right, I don't know."


"I can't really feel as if we deserved an awful lot. I don't think we played all that well. I didn't think there was much in the game before the first goal. I didn't think Arsenal were great and I don't think we were."

"Losing a goal just before half-time was crucial to them and the one just after half-time made it really difficult. We tried to keep going, we'd wanted to do that from the first minute but I never felt we got into the tempo or speed of the game."

"There were things which on another day may have gone in Everton's favour but didn't. I thought we created one or two chances which on another day we might have scored. If we'd got the goal a bit earlier then who knows?''

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 14 Nov 10