Yeah I think he was sent off for grabbing Barton's neck, just stupid from Diaby. I don't think he was reacting to the tackle anyway, because during the game right after the tackle Diaby was still laying on the ground, in one replay they showed it looked like Barton lashed out at him while they were both on the ground, and I think that's what Diaby reacted to. They never showed another replay so can't be certain.

From a neutral perspective yeah excellent game, from an Arsenal perspective, most depressing perfomance in a long time. It's funny though, our 2 most depressing results this season (Losing against Sp*rs and now this) also resulted in probably our 2 best halves of football this season.

He collected the ball out of the goal and then was suddenly surrounded by 2 Newcastle players and pushed to the ground and he somehow gets yellow carded for that. If he's gonna send off Diaby Nolan should have been sent off as well.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 6/2/2011 01:55:42 PM

Only if he is sending Diaby off for the shoves. If he is sending Diaby off for the throat grab a yellow is fine which Arsenal fans seem to be forgetting Nolan received.

Edited by guest: 6/2/2011 01:58:14 PM

Bendtner off the scale in confidence test
Original article
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has scored highly in 'self-perceived competence' after the Gunners' sport psychologist Jacques Crevoisier revealed that the Dane's mark was off the scale.

Bendtner has made several comments in the media over the years highlighting his belief in himself and many have suggested that his confidence borders on arrogance. However, Arsenal use psychological tests to determine their players' mental abilities in relation to their footballing qualities and the striker is certainly not lacking in one area.

"One of the categories is called 'self perceived competence,' i.e. how good the player himself thinks he is,'' Crevoisier told Swedish magazine Offside. ''On a scale up to 9, Bendtner got 10! We have never seen that before. Pat Rice [Arsenal's assistant manager] was sitting next to me and couldn't stop laughing.

"When Bendtner misses a chance, he is always genuinely convinced that it wasn't his fault. You might say that's a problem, and to a certain degree it can be. But you can also view it as this guy has a remarkable ability to come back after set-backs."

The test is made-up of 117 questions designed to test players' self-belief, concentration levels and determination and is overseen by Crevoisier, who specialises in working with young French players at France's Clairefontaine academy as well as the Gunners' stars.

It's the one thing you can't fault him for. Unlike some other players he's never lacking in confidence, which is a good thing imo. Just unfortunate that he's been misquoted in the media a few times.

How is having a fit player the best news of the season. You guys are about to win your first trophy in years. An actual threat to the title for the first time in years as well.

Really? Is he a regular for you guys? Vermaelen, Squillaci, Koscielny.... surely better than he is? I know Vermaelen is out, but still?

[size=6]Barcelona fear Arsenal challenge but insist Cesc Fabregas deal is 'dead' - for now[/size]

By Jeremy Wilson, in Geneva 7:00AM GMT 09 Feb 2011

Raul Sanllehi, Barcelona’s director of football, helped lead the attempt to bring Fabregas back to Spain last summer but, with Arsenal having rejected two bids, he revealed that there are no plans to revive their interest.

“Cesc is a great Catalan player. He played for us as a kid and he will be welcome back at Barcelona for the Champions League match,” he said. “Right now, everything is dead regarding a transfer.”

He added that the Spanish club are wary of the threat posed by Arsène Wenger’s side. “Arsenal are one of the main challengers for the Champions League. We acknowledge how difficult it is going to be.”

Arsenal will take Sanllehi’s remarks about Fabregas with a pinch of salt after receiving a similar message from Barcelona last year prior to a concerted attempt to buy their captain.

However, Barcelona’s financial situation makes it difficult for them to fund the sort of deal that might tempt Arsenal.

According to their president, Sandro Rosell, Barcelona recorded a loss of £65million for 2009-10 and had debts of £272million. Rossell has said that Barcelona would not pay more than £42million (€50million) for Fabregas.

Arsenal are certain to reject any renewed offer that falls below £50million, particularly given of the recent values that have been placed on leading Premier League players.

Barcelona spent only £3million during the January transfer window, with Sanllehi agreeing that Chelsea forward Fernando Torres was overpriced at £50million. “I was shocked,” he said.

“I felt the amount was very high. I know Barcelona would not do that signing. We would not
even consider it.”

The future of a third member of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad is under the spotlight after Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina expressed his desire to compete for trophies.

He mentioned that Manchester United and Arsenal have been looking for a goalkeeper. Arsenal made an offer for Reina last summer, but their interest has waned with the emergence of both Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny.

“[Edwin] Van der Sar will hang up his gloves in the summer and Arsenal are looking for a keeper,” said Reina. “I would like to be challenging for titles and in a team with a chance of winning things.

“Before, we were challenging for the Champions League and in the race for the title right until the end, but in the last couple of years we haven’t been.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8311954/Barcelona-fear-Arsenal-challenge-but-insist-Cesc-Fabregas-deal-is-dead-for-now.html

[size=6]Preview: Arsenal - Wolves[/size]

By Richard Clarke

“Barcelona will be an interesting game but, for us, the best way to be in a good position to beat them is to defeat Wolves on Saturday,” said Arsène Wenger with a stern sincerity at the end of his press conference on Friday.

"This game is as important, if not more important, than Barcelona. In my opinion it is actually more important by far.

“We have four days after this game to prepare for Barcelona. We play Saturday afternoon and Wednesday night, so there's no need [to save players]. I concede that when it's Monday, Wednesday, Saturday then you have to make decisions.

"But anyway, in August, we started to fight for every single ball to be in a position to go for the Premier League and now is the time of truth.

“This is the time for us to make an impact. We are in a strong position and so it would be absolutely stupid now not to prioritise the Premier League.

"We go for four different challenges and you only have a chance to achieve that if you can put your total focus in every single game. That's why it's so difficult and that's why it demands special mental strength and preparation.

"So mentally, getting ready for Wolves is the most important thing."

Got the message out there, everyone? Be it Barcelona on Wednesday or Brisbane Road next Sunday, Arsenal are unconcerned.

Wolves are what it is all about.

After last weekend’s four-goal fall away, the call for focus is hardly surprising. Before their visit to Newcastle, Arsenal had let in one goal in their previous five Premier League games. The quartet they would concede inside the final 22 minutes at St James’ Park seemed to draw more criticism than Manchester United’s defeat to this weekend’s opponents. It is understandable yet, looking at the table alone, Arsenal actually caught up ground.

But then football’s logic has never worked in straight lines.

“I hope the Newcastle game will have a positive effect,” said Wenger.

“Every result has a psychological impact. I am confident it will be a positive one on the players and that we got away with what happened against us without being really punished.

“Our distance with Manchester United is not bigger but shorter. So let’s take advantage of that in the next games.”

That Wolves win was widely celebrated by Arsenal fans. Not just because it tightened the table or put perspective on their profligacy earlier in the day, but because it ended the unbeaten campaign of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

The feat of the ‘Invincibles’ in 2004 is unprecedented in modern English football but Manchester United were starting to sniff parity. Losing that chance is a blow in itself but, when Arsenal’s 49-game run was ended in controversial fashion at Old Trafford in October 2004, they struggled to respond. This season, even dropping a few draws could cost them the title with so little to choose between the top three – and Manchester United start their recovery against cross-town rivals City on Saturday morning.

“It is very difficult psychologically to start again,” admitted Wenger. “For us it was 49 games and we lost the 50th game under special circumstances. So the sense of injustice was even more difficult to swallow. But it’s always difficult when you are on an unbeaten run and you lose it.

“I will look at it and see how they respond. Usually, they respond well. But it is a derby so anything can happen. It is maybe a chance for Man City to come back to Man United. But it will be a very open derby, more than ever.”

Johan Djourou has been passed fit after coming off with a knee problem before the comeback at Newcastle. Alex Song (thigh) and Denilson (hamstring) should be fit after missing that the trip.

Abou Diaby is injured but started a three-game domestic suspension anyway. Tomas Rosicky misses out after picking up a groin injury on international duty. The latter should be OK for Barcelona, the former has a little chance.

Perhaps that Wolves win over Manchester United should not have been a massive surprise. They had already beaten Chelsea and Manchester City at Molineux. Those nine points represent 37 per cent of their total accumulation in the Premier League this season.

They clearly like playing against the big boys but, at the same time, their away form is clearly letting them down. They have taken four points and scored just nine goals - both Premier League lows.

Arsenal have won their last 11 straight games against Wolves but that run was nearly halted last season when Mick McCarthy’s side were beaten by the latest of last-gasp headers from Nicklas Bendtner.

Back then it kept alive Arsenal’s title bid. Depending on what happens at Old Trafford, this season's victory just might shape it, you never know. But just don’t expect the same strong-arm, organised approach from the West Midlanders.

“Wolves play in a very positive way,” said Wenger. “They have changed their approach a little bit now.

“They take care of the quality of their passes. They have a good technical midfield with Henry, Milias and O’Hara. They are very strong in the centre and so it is very important to take care of our midfield play.

“But I told you at the beginning of January that our home form will be the key for us to have a good chance to win the Premier League. Since then we have responded very well at home and every game is a real challenge for any top team.”

The next two games at Emirates Stadium could massive for Arsenal. In the knee-jerk arena of the Premier League, fans and the media are always looking for ‘defining’ moments. But only history gives us clarity.

At 5pm last Saturday, it felt like Wenger’s men had suffered a mortal blow. But, in fact, it was Manchester United who cost themselves much more a couple of hours later.

Get used to it. This title race will be goal-for-goal, point-for-point, blow-for-blow for the remainder of the season. Hero one week, zero the next.

That is why Barcelona will have to wait for now.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3284359/first-team/arsenal-v-wolverhampton-w.?tab=preview

[size=6]Review: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves[/size]

By Richard Clarke at Emirates Stadium

And then there were two.

It looks like Arsenal and Manchester United will fight it out for the Premier League crown after a pivotal day in the title race.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side beat third-place Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime to pour pressure on Arsène Wenger’s outfit before they faced Wolves at Emirates Stadium.

However, Arsenal rolled up their sleeves once again and ground out a 2-0 victory.

Robin van Persie grabbed both – one in each half. The first was a cute volley from a cross by Cesc Fabregas, the second a cool finish from a breakaway inspired by the Spaniard and spurred on by Theo Walcott.

Wolves had beaten Manchester United last week and tried to be their usual dogged, resolute selves this afternoon. However, Arsenal just did not allowed that to happen.

Wenger’s men went at them from the first whistle and kept going all afternoon. It could and should have been more but a safe, assured 2-0 was just fine.

Manchester United now lead Arsenal by four points, with Manchester City another four adrift having played a game more.

It looks like Fergie v Wenger, Red Devils v Red-and-White for the title.

Let battle commence.

The early result was always going to colour this afternoon’s match with Wolves but, at his pre-match press conference, Wenger had remained resolute that the upcoming clash with Barcelona would not influence his team selection today.

As a result, Arsenal were at full strength with only one change – Alex Song for the suspended Abou Diaby in central midfield.

Of course it was Wolves who had foiled Manchester United’s unbeaten campaign last weekend. They had also overturned Chelsea and Manchester City at Molineux but were a very different proposition away from home – a weaker one.

In fairness that victory had helped Arsenal get off the hook last Saturday but, this afternoon, the earlier result had put the pressure squrely on the shoulders of Wenger’s men.

In truth they never looked like buckling this afternoon.

Emirates Stadium was hit by a short, sharp shower as the game kicked off but, by the quarter-hour, the sun was shining.

Arsenal, however, were temperate throughout.

Fabregas put the ball in the net in the opening seconds but the referee had already blown for a foul on Jack Wilshere. Van Persie thumped the resulting free-kick over the bar. The Dutchman then thrashed high from open play a few minutes later.

It was hardly the marauding stuff sometimes seen at Emirates Stadium but it was the right response to both the draw at Newcastle and the Manchester derby.

The deadlock was broken just as Arsenal were starting to settle down. The goal was out of nothing. Fabregas crossed from the right and Van Persie sent a low volley in to the far corner. It was wonderful technique from what he calls his ‘chocolate leg’ – his unfavoured right.

In the wake of the goal, Arsenal looked to take the game by the throat. Their preferred method, as always, was an iron first in a velvet glove.

Djourou looped a deflected header onto the top of the net from Andrey Arshavin’s free-kick then the Russian sidefooted wide from the subsequent corner when he should have scored.

Just after the half-hour, Arshavin fashioned a brace of better chances. He beat Ronald Zubar on the left and squared to the unmarked Walcott eight yards out. Wayne Hennessey clawed the ball out to Fabregas, whose shot was cleared off the line by the backtracking Richard Stearman.

Wolves had only mustered a little, unfocussed pressure, to this point. But they had half a shout for a penalty late on when Adam Hammill appeared to be bundled over.

But, this had been about as one-sided a half as we had seen at Emirates this season, an equaliser would have been a travesty.

And Arshavin’s penalty shout a few minutes later was probably stronger anyway.

As ever, the main complaint from an Arsenal perspective was the ratio of goals to overall dominance.

On the whistle, Song nudged a ball to Van Persie whose snapshot was blocked by Hennessey’s trailing leg. The keeper had been the stand-out performer in the first 45 minutes.

And that tells you everything you need to know.

Seconds after the restart, Wilshere waltzed through the Wolves defence and squared for Walcott, who had time and space to pick his spot but blazed wide.

Arsenal were now dominant in everything but the scoreline. In days gone by they have been vulnerable in such scenarios. But not today.

They blitzed Wolves early in the second half and eventually grabbed a second through sheer force of will.

Hennessey made a fine save from Stearman, his own defender, and then Arshavin's drive.

The game was now even more one-way and, in the 56th minute, Arsenal finally grabbed that second. Given their pressure it was ironic that its origins came from a Wolves attack.

A raking pass from Fabregas sent Walcott sprinting down the right. He had Van Persie in support but only one covering defender. The Englishman found the unmarked Dutchman just inside the area. He took his time and pulled the trigger. It was his 10th goal in his last seven Premier League games.

Arshavin nearly added a third by charging down Hennessey’s clearance and then Van Persie volleyed wide.

But, with 18 minutes left, Wenger felt confident enough to withdraw his main two attacking outlets this afternoon – Arshavin and Van Persie. Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner came on.

Perhaps Wednesday was finally entering his thoughts.

To be honest, the game petered out after that. Arsenal wanted to cruise home and allowed Wolves a little joy further forward.

In the final few minutes, Walcott flashed a shot inches wide and Fabregas forced another decent save from Hennessey. But by now, maybe Barcelona was part of the equation.

It was understandable, that is a massive game in Arsenal’s season.

However, according to Wenger, the game they had just won was always more important.

Time will tell if he is right.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3284359/first-team/arsenal-v-wolverhampton-w.?tab=report

[size=6]Arsenal will give Barcelona a tough test this time, says Jack Wilshere[/size]

Jack Wilshere believes Arsenal have learned the lessons from their chastening Champions League elimination by Barcelona last season and has called on his team-mates to "be a bit nasty" by "getting in the faces" of the Spanish team during a daunting tie, which begins at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsène Wenger's side are set to be boosted by the unexpected availability of Samir Nasri, arguably their most consistently impressive player this season, with the France international having recovered from hamstring damage sustained in the FA Cup fourth-round win over Huddersfield. His return would add to Arsenal's attacking options, though Wilshere and his team-mates will be just as intent on nullifying a Barça team who have scored 71 times in La Liga already this campaign and won 6-3 on aggregate in last year's quarter-final.

"I was at the Emirates Stadium for the first game against Barcelona last season and they were brilliant, especially in that first half," said Wilshere. "I was in Bolton [on loan] for the second match and watched on television but I remember we basically played our game, passing it around. This year we have to get in their faces and show them what we're all about. When we have the ball, we've got to keep it as well as they can. We've got to change our game a bit to play against Barcelona – we'll learn from last year, but we need to get in their faces and, if you like, be a bit nasty, in a footballing sense, to get the ball back.

"We have to press them as a team – there's no point just one of us going after them, so we have to close them down as a team and get the ball back from them. But we'll go into the game on Wednesday looking for the win still. It's important we get that to take to their place for the return match."

Although the teenage midfielder acknowledged a need to tweak the team's approach, Wenger retains faith that his players can unsettle Barcelona by tapping into their own strengths, albeit if they can secure possession for themselves. Arsenal claimed an unlikely 2-2 draw against these opponents in last season's first leg despite being without key players, and with Cesc Fábregas's domestic season ended by the injury picked up converting the hosts' equaliser from the penalty spot. Yet there is strength in depth this time around, with Nasri's potential return particularly timely.

The French midfielder has excelled, scoring 14 times, and had been expected to miss the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. He will have further tests on his hamstring tomorrow and Tuesday before a decision is made, though there is optimism that he will be able to feature against the Spanish champions.

"I will not take a crazy gamble, but physically he is ready," said Wenger. "There is just a risk of him suffering a setback, so we will test him medically and physically. There are other important games coming up – we have Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, and the Carling Cup final, and the return game in Barcelona in three weeks. So it is important not to be stupid.

"I personally believe we go into the Barcelona game in better shape than last year. We had so many uncertainties last season – Robin [van Persie] was injured, William Gallas went off in the first game, Andrey Arshavin went off after 27 minutes, we had no Alex Song or Fábregas in the second game … The team, for me, had less confidence and we have matured since then. We can certainly compete technically better with them. It will be interesting to see whether we play with belief.

"You can wonder whether we need to change the way we play at the Nou Camp but, at home, we will try to play to our strengths. We will try to attack the other team. If we just play in the final third defensively, that would not be our natural game and we would not be happy – we'd come out of the match thinking we hadn't played. But if we can escape their pressure, then we can be dangerous. We will create chances if we can put them under pressure. We have to think about how we do that."

The size of the task awaiting Arsenal was put into perspective by Fábregas who acknowledged the Catalans are "the best team in the world" at present. "We have a young team but one with a lot of quality and energy," he said. "We are very motivated. They are such a good team that, even if you know everything [about them], they have so many quality players that they can make the difference. We don't have to worry too much about them. We have to play with no fear. Last season in the first half [of the first leg] especially we respected them too much. We just have to play our game and that is it."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/13/arsenal-barcelona-jack-wilshere?CMP=twt_gu