Here we find ourselves, just over a quarter of the way through the season and the usual four-horse race seems to have already become a three-horse race. For the last few years, if a team had dropped behind this early it was usually Liverpool, but this time its Arsene's Arsenal. Now, at a hugely pivotal [. Click to continue reading...

For Saturday's match against Everton, we will be without Bacary Sagna, Nicklas Bendtner and ... William Gallas. Now I have mixed feelings about Gallas' injury. The backline has been shaky so far, very shaky, but considering the replacements we have, I'm not sure what to make of this injury. Johan Djourou will definitely feature in [. Click to continue reading...

For Saturday's match against Everton, we will be without Bacary Sagna, Nicklas Bendtner and ... William Gallas. Now I have mixed feelings about Gallas' injury. The backline has been shaky so far, very shaky, but considering the replacements we have, I'm not sure what to make of this injury. Johan Djourou will definitely feature in [. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland host Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in today's 3:00 kick-off looking to follow the example set by Hull City last weekend. The newly-promoted Tigers ripped up the formbook and made a mockery of the bookmakers who made them distant outsiders to take anything away from the Emirates Stadium as they left north London with [. Click to continue reading...

Sunderland host Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in today's 3:00 kick-off looking to follow the example set by Hull City last weekend. The newly-promoted Tigers ripped up the formbook and made a mockery of the bookmakers who made them distant outsiders to take anything away from the Emirates Stadium as they left north London with [. Click to continue reading...

Van Persie - Opened the scoring, set up nicely by Adebayor who broke the offside trap, collecting a pass from Cesc. Van Persie added a 2nd (Arsenal's 3rd) early in the 2nd half. Great finishing (8).

Adebayor - Had the assist for the winner. Scored a header from a corner, heading it into the ground, the ball bouncing off the underside of the crossbar and in. Click to continue reading...

It started promising for Arsenal; great passing football, a constant threat to score; but the first half ended goalless.

One of Theo Walcott's runs came off in the second half, and Cesc was there to tap it in, although it ended up being an own goal (it almost looked like Cesc got a touch). Click to continue reading...

Not quite a manifesto, but a brief statement voicing support for Arsenal's central defense against a rising tide of unanimity that it's flawed:

I like the Arsenal defense as it is. They've shown some vulnerability on set pieces, and Arsenal have been conceding a lot of chances so far in the league, although between poor finishing and Almunia's keeping they haven't conceded many goals; but I rate the four defenders (Clichy, Gallas, Toure, and Sagna) as individuals and as a back four. Click to continue reading...

Almunia – 8. He had a busy day, and he was in good form. It could have been an Arsenal loss if the keeper was shaky.

Adebayor – 8. The playmaking center forward had a great assist for the third, was involved in the first two, and involved in creating some other chances as well.

Bendtner –7. Click to continue reading...

Morning all. The match preview is a day early this time because I'm headed to Tallahassee tomorrow to watch Florida State beat Wake Forest. I'll be back Sunday and will hopefully get a match preview up then.

So we've got Bolton at the Reebok Stadium tomorrow. This used to be really a tricky fixture for us, although since Fat Sam left for Newcastle they haven't been the same. Click to continue reading...

This post is moan.

The referee in the Dynamo Kiev - Arsenal match called a penalty on Bacary Sagna when the actual incident was a foul by the Dynamo Kiev foward; one worthy of a yellow card.

The call was a mistake. Mistakes happen, and it was a clever bit of cheating by the forward, reaching behind his back, grabbing Sagna's jersey, falling, and bringing Sagna down with him. Click to continue reading...

France coach Raymond Domenech has handed Arsenal left back Gael Clichy his first senior start in les Bleus' World Cup Qualifier against Serbia this evening. The 23-year-old was on the bench for Austria's 3-1 mauling of Domenech's men last Wednesday, but after Man United fullback Patrice Evra's abysmall peformance, Clichy finally gets his well deserved start. Click to continue reading...

France midfield maestro Samir Nasri will miss his countries World Cup qualifier against Serbia this evening because of pain in his right knee. Nasri felt a nagging pain after Tuesday's training session, and coach Raymond Domenech decided to rest him "only as a precautionary measure," said team press officer Francois Manardo. Click to continue reading...

France turned in a woeful performance to open their World Cup qualifying campaign, one they will want to forget. Austria opened the scoring with two very similar free kicks, with France looking like they didn't know what they were doing.

It was a collective failure to defend set pieces, but Mexes, on the first goal was horribly exposed. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal's International stars were in action for their respective countries tonight and it was the World Cup Qualifiers that became the main talking point of the week. Here at Gooner Talk, we look to bring you the latest updates and results on how the Arsenal players are doing for their countries with a brief summary of [. Click to continue reading...

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner has shaken off an ankle injury to start for his country in their World Cup Qualifier against Hungary tonight. Speedy winger Theo Walcott claims a surprising start in England's WCQ versus Andorra at the Olympic Stadium. Johan Djourou continues in defence for Switzerland v Israel while Arsenal's French trio Bacary Sagna, William Gallas [. Click to continue reading...

L'équipe has the probable first 11 for France's opening world cup qualifier on Saturday :

Mandanda
Sagna, Mexès, Gallas, Evra
Govou, L. Diarra, Toulalan, Nasri
Benzema, Henry

In North America, Setanta will be showing both of France's upcoming world cup qualifiers on same-day tape delay:

Setanta broadcast at 4:00 p. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal came into their third league match of the season hoping to replicate the controlled performance that brought a welcome midweek win against FC Twente.  The Gunners had yet to really get going in the premiership this season, and Kevin Keegan's Newcastle side were hoping to further blemish their start to the campaign. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas is set to return from a hamstring injury as the Gunners' play the return leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier against FC Twente at Emirates Stadium tomorrow evening. Switzerland international Phillipe Senderos won't play though. The 23-year-old was today undergoing a medical with Serie A giants AC Milan. Click to continue reading...

First thing. I'm thrilled by the win, and thrilled that we scored three goals, and thrilled that the Govou who showed up today was Visible Sidney, as opposed to his more-frequently-present evil twin, Invisible Sidney. And Sagna looks promising, especially offensively, and he and Benzema could be golden together when it comes to scoring.

Click to continue reading...

With just one game into the new Premier League campaign, International friendlies already become the main talking point of the week with several Arsenal players starring for their respective countries. Here at Gooner Talk, we look to bring you the latest updates and results on how the Arsenal players are doing for their countries with a [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal have secured the signature of Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £750,000. The 31-year-old has played over 249 games for the Premier League champions and has surprising swapped Manchester for north London. Silvestre was reportedly undergoing a medical at bitter neighbours Man City last night when his [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal skipper William Gallas has been appointed France vice-captain by Les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech ahead of this evening's game against Sweden. Former Gunners' striker Thierry Henry has been made captain in a bid to lift the team after their flop at Euro 2008. France were criticised for an unadventurous style of play and a reclusive lifestyle [. Click to continue reading...

There are myriad annual sporting events: Wimbledon, The Six Nations, The British Open Championships and of course the Barclays Premier League. Internally, The Premier League has it's own idiosyncratic, yearly occurrences and every Arsenal fan's personal favourite is the Gunners 4th place prediction. Click to continue reading...

Middlesbrough have completed the £3million signing of full-back Justin Hoyte from Arsenal on a four-year contract. The 23-year-old, a former England Under-21 international, has agreed a deal to stay with the Teessiders until the summer of 2012. On his move, Hoyte seemed surprised at how quick everything had been sorted. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal Supporters did not need the deficit war cry yet. They earned a rather comfortable, albeit narrow, victory at home against West Bromwich Albion.

I will leave player ratings to my colleague 433 whose rantings (if he ever does that) are more reasoned and balanced than I am when I speak in my normal voice. Click to continue reading...

Yes, I know it is inevitable, but I had to be like all the other bloggers this time of year and post my predictions for the coming Premier League season. Frankly, I can't be bothered to go through each team, analyse their transfers, manager and players, before writing 2-3 paragraphs on how they will do. Click to continue reading...

For some reason, I don't know why, readers were interested in our section on the best right-backs of the 2007/08 EPL season. Because of this interest, here is an updated list of the top right-backs of last season. Tottenham's Alan Hutton only played 12 games so he is not included, though he will certainly be in the 2008/09 list - he creates more opportunities for teammates than anybody on the below list - as will new Chelsea full-back Jose Bosingwa. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal have accepted Middlesbrough's reported £3.5million offer for full-back Justin Hoyte after both clubs agreed that the fullback can talk to the north East side. Boro are keen to get a right-back in place before the start of the season, having sold Luke Young to Aston Villa. However, with the opener against Tottenham set for this [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal have accepted Middlesbrough's reported £3.5million offer for full-back Justin Hoyte after both clubs agreed that the fullback can talk to the north East side. Boro are keen to get a right-back in place before the start of the season, having sold Luke Young to Aston Villa. However, with the opener against Tottenham set for this [. Click to continue reading...

Doomsday has arrived. At least that's what a lot of you seem to think, that the start of the season is a horrible time because Arsenal haven't strengthened enough and we'll never win another trophy. Personally though I'm really happy the real matches start tomorrow evening. We've got the 3rd round Champions League match versus FC Twente of the Dutch league, who are managed by Steve Mcclaren. Click to continue reading...

How do?

It's all about trophies. Trophies and silverware. Trophies and silverware and cups. Trophies and silverware and cups and prizes. Trophies and silverware and cups and prizes and medals. Yep. That's according to the boss anyway who has prioritised the league and the Champions League, as you might imagine.

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Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna believes striker Emmanuel Adebayor is crucial to the Gunners' title challenge. Adebayor was jeered by some sections of the Arsenal crowd during the club's two games against Juventus and Real Madrid in the Emirates Cup after reportedly demanding a massive £120,000 a week contract to stay with Gunners, or face losing him [. Click to continue reading...

  Arsenal went into the game needing a 4-0 win if they wanted to retain the Emirates Cup due to Hamburg earlier winning 3-0 against Juventus. Leaving Hamburg on 7 points, Arsenal started with a very strong side with Adebayor, Van Persie, Sagna, Gallas, Almunia, Nasri and Diaby all starting. Real Madrid named a strong side [. Click to continue reading...

  Arsenal play their second game of the Emirates Cup this afternoon against Spanish giants Real Madrid needing to win with a good goal difference to bring back the Cup home to London. The "big guns" are expected back for todays match with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie, Gallas, Sagna, Diaby, all starting [. Click to continue reading...