Tag Archives: Manchester

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE | Arsene Wenger splashes the cash

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After the  8 -2 drubbing at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester united, Arsenal was the busiest English premier league club, as the transfer window closed. The arrival of the new signings, goes along with  Arsene Wenger’s, long held philosophy, of buying young, little-known players, and developing them to world class football icons.

The departure of sensational captain Cesc Fabregas sounded the first warning of a falling empire which Wenger had tirelessly and tenaciously set out to build. Six trophy-less seasons were too much to bear for some of the talented players, who had spent much of  their entire senior careers at the Emirates. Despite Wenger’s re-assuring statements (Imagine the worst situation: We lose Fabregas and Nasri, you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that),  the duo left. However, Wenger was quick to answer critics, and heeded the call to sign more established players rather than dwell solely on his youth system approach. With the arrival of Per Martesacker, the gunners can now boast of having a 6 foot plus defender in their squad. Another acquisition is Brazil’s current left back Andre Santos. This creates a solid backline; with Sagna and Vermaleen completing the other two slots. Mikel Arteta was a late but key inclusion into the Wenger’s squad and should be the  ideal player to take on Fabregas’s role. Yosi Benayoun and South Korea captain Park Chu-Young, bring along to Arsenal, lots of experience, considering that  both were key players in their former clubs. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yZOY8yEShs

These signings should be a big boost for the Londoners, and will be tasked upon to turn around what looked set to be a nightmare season for Arsenal.

References

Official: Arsenal complete deal to sign South Korea Captain Park Chu-Young from Monaco Goal.com August 30, 2011

Arsenal’s new boys Arsenal.com Septermber 1, 2011

 

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE | Manchester United beat Arsenal 8-2

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Manchester United outclassed a depleted Arsenal side by scoring 8 goals against Arsenal’s 2  in a Barclays premier league clash, at Old Trafford. United came into this game on the back of a 3-0 demolition of Arsenal’s north London neighbors, Tottenham, in a late night clash on Monday 22nd. Over a fortnight ago, Arsenal  sold two of  their key midfield players; Samir nasri and Captain Cesc Fabregas.

From the kickoff,  Man Utd exhibited intent  to score an early goal, as Arsenal took a back seat for the better part of the opening minutes. Man Utd made real their threats, as “Danny Welbeck opened the scoring with a close-range header in the 22nd minute after Johan Djourou failed to clear Anderson’s chipped pass…” The Sunday Morning Herald reported. Arsenal had the chance to level the score from a spot kick, following a challenge by Johny Evans on Walcott, but Robin Van Persie failed to convert. Before half time, Man Utd scored two more goals, courtesy of Ashley Young’s brilliant curler from 22 yard out, and Wayne Rooney’s first goal of the night from a dead ball situation, making it his 150th United goal. Arsenal registered their first on the score-board as Theo Walcott took advantage of  poor defending by United on the left, on the stroke of half-time. In the 62nd minute, Wayne Rooney curled in another free kick,  making it  4 for United against Arsenal’s 1. Nani’s dextrous  chip over Szczesny in the 67th minute made it a fifth for United, as incoming Ji -sung Park, added a sixth for the “Red Devils“, three minutes later. In the 74th minute, Robin Van Persie made amends for his earlier penalty miss, by a thunderous shot  from the spot, adding a second for Arsenal.

Wayne Rooney-Man of the match

United were not done yet; Wayne Rooney completed his hat-trick from a penalty in the 82nd minute, followed by a stoppage time, curling  finish, into the top-right corner from the new signing, Ashley Young, to make it Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal, in one of the most remarkable performances, witnessed at the “Theatre of Dreams.”httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3rlvDdHD1I

Little has been said about Manchester City’s 5-1 win away to Tottenham-another north London side, on the same match-day. Tottenham stay bottom of the EPL table for a second week consecutively, while Arsenal are  just above the relegation zone. Collectively, the city of Manchester collected 6 points on the same match-day, while their north London rivals had none! Two worlds apart in terms of class, or was it a matter of coincidence?

 

References
Wayne Rooney hits hat-trick as Manchester United crush Arsenal guardian.co.uk August 28th, 2011
Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal: Wayne Rooney hat-trick the highlight as United

humiliates Wenger’s men Goal.com August 28th, 2011

Manchester United beat Arsenal 8-2 The Sunday Morning Herald August 29, 2011

2011/12 Barclays Premier League Table/ Standings ESPN Season 2011-12


 

Wayne Rooney hits hat-trick as Manchester United crush Arsenal

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE | Man United beat Man City 3 – 2 [Video]

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Nani’s 94th minute goal settled a mouthwatering Community Shield as Manchester United came back from two goals down to win the encounter by 3 goals to 2. The win sends United to their 19th Community Shield win; matching their Barclays Premier League record tally.

City had gone ahead at the end of the first half, with goals form Lescott, and a 25 yard shot from Dzeko easily beating United’s keeper, De Gea. It appeared quite unfortunate for United to go down by two goals having completely outplayed their City rivals. Ferguson’s response was to make three changes, bringing on new signing, Phil Jones, and Jonny Evans to replace Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the back, and introducing Tom Cleverley into his midfield. Smalling reduced the deficit from close range when Young’s free-kick narrowly evaded Lescott. Six minutes later, came the equalizer, with Rooney, Nani and Cleverley opening City up with numbing series of short passes before Nani beat Joe Hart with a clever chip.  The match looked certain for penalties, when Nani kept his cool in a one-on-one situation to beat Hart for the second time right in the last minute. United were by far the better side, taking the game to their opponents and in the end they were the worthy winners.

With young player already impressing, the manager is set to have a headache in choosing his starting eleven. With Scholes’ role still up for grabs; Cleverly proved he is ready to take up the position by being a key figure in United’s come back.

References:
Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3: Nani stars as champions’ comeback stuns rivals in Wembley showdown Man City 2 – 3
Man City 2 – 3 Man Utd