Diaby is latest to mention the title as Arsenal prepare to host West Ham

On January 30, 2009January 12, 2011 By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Injuries5 Comments

This is a guest post by sports writer Thomas Rooney

Arsenal’s players and management team seem to be taking it in turns to promote the team’s title chances this season. They may well sit eight points off top spot, but they seem determined to let everyone know that they are not giving up hope.

The latest to have his say on proceedings is Abou Diaby. The midfielder appears to be very defiant as he insists that he and his team-mates will ‘not let up until the end of the season’. This means that they will do all they can to ‘get points in every game’, so that if the top teams do suffer a dip in form – Arsenal are ready to pounce.

It seems that the general consensus was that the point achieved at Everton in midweek was not enough for the Gunners, even though they only just managed this thanks to a late Robin van Persie strike.

Diaby sees this differently though and has claimed that it was ‘very important’ to get a point at Goodison Park. He also believes that considering the way Arsenal played that night, a draw was ‘good for us’. Overall, he admits that Everton were the better team.

As for the man who rescued a point for Arsenal on Tuesday night, Diaby has nothing but praise for his Dutch team-mate. He says that van Persie – who has now netted 13 times this season – has an ‘unbelievable first touch’ and that his presence in the team makes a ‘big difference’.

Diaby himself has been involved in the last few games and will be hoping to keep this run going for the rest of the season. The Frenchman is beginning to establish himself in the team and looks set to eclipse the amount of appearances he made in the last campaign before long. There is no doubt that he will want to have a big say on how Arsenal fair in the final 15 games of the season.

The 22-year-old will almost certainly be involved this weekend as Arsenal face West Ham at the Emirates. It will be the first of two successive Premier League London derbies for the Gunners as they face Tottenham at White Hart Lane next weekend.

As much as the fans may be looking towards the Spurs game though, the team must remain focused for this clash against Gianfranco Zola’s men. They have been very impressive of late and find themselves third in the form table.

Their performance against Hull on Tuesday night was a very assured one and they definitely have enough attacking talent to cause Arsenal’s defence some problems. The in-form Carlton Cole, David Di Michele and Mark Noble are the ones to watch.

It is also worth pointing out that this fixture sees the battle of the undefeated as Arsenal haven’t lost in nine games and West Ham haven’t tasted defeat in seven matches. It should make for an entertaining game of football.

As far as team news is concerned, well Arsene Wenger is going to have to do without Mikael Silvestre who has suffered an injury set back and will be missing for at least two or three weeks. Other than that, there appear to be no fresh injury worries.

In fact, the team may well be the same as the one that started at Goodison Park as Arsenal look to claim a valuable win that would see them progress over the 950 points mark for the Premier League.

By Thomas Rooney

West Ham 0 – 2 Arsenal, highlights and analysis!

On October 26, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Arsenal2 Comments

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Arsenal won 2 – 0 today after a fantastic London derby against West Ham. The game was brilliant – fast-paced, and attack minded. I give credit to West Ham for attacking and playing good football. It was end to end stuff.

Click here to view the highlights. Faubert’s own goal, Adebayor’s goal.

We had some great passing moves. Walcott looked dangerous and Van Persie deserved a goal – hitting the post with a great freekick – Rob Green played really well and it took an own goal from Faubert to put us ahead in the 75 minute as Adebayor came off the bench and made an instant impact.

Everyone played fantastically, and the second goal was the icing on the cake!

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Arsenal legend eyes coaching role as Gunners travel to Upton Park

On October 24, 2008January 12, 2011 By jamesgillespIn Arsenal

This is a guest post for ArseSpeak by sportswriter Thomas Rooney

During Dennis Bergkamp’s 11 years as an Arsenal player, he played 423 games and scored 120 goals. He is one of the greatest ever players to play for the club and is without doubt an Arsenal football club legend. However, it seems that he might not yet be done with English football.

Bergkamp has revealed that he would love to return to the country in a coaching role to reignite his love affair with the Arsenal fans. The 39-year-old said that he ‘always enjoyed it’ in England and that he would ‘love to be involved’ in the coaching set up at the Emirates. Admittedly this may not happen anytime soon, but he said that he had ambitions for ‘the future’.

The former Dutch striker is currently doing his coaching badges with Ajax and seems to harbour ambitions to be a manager one day. This is in stark contrast to the comments he made upon retiring from the game, when he said that he had ‘no desire’ to take up coaching.

Presumably, after a couple of years away from the game, he has decided that he misses being involved too much and has taken it upon himself to start a coaching career. If Bergkamp’s latest comments are to be believed, this path could eventually lead to the club where he will always be remembered fondly. I personally can’t see this happening while Arsene Wenger is at the club, but when the Frenchman leaves – there could be a role to suit Mr. Bergkamp.

The Dutchman wasn’t just talking about his coaching ambitions though. Speaking about the current Arsenal team, he said they are a ‘joy to watch’ and many people in Holland believe them to be the ‘best team they have ever seen’. Like many of us, Bergkamp hopes that this attractive football will finally be rewarded with trophies this season.

As for this current Arsenal team, well they travel to West Ham tomorrow searching for their third away win of the season. After a good start under Gianfranco Zola, the Hammers have lost their last two games and have slipped to eighth in the table. However, their home form has been excellent and they will be very motivated as they prepare to host Arsenal.

In terms of Arsenal’s preparations, a performance like the one against Fenerbahce will result in three points. No doubts about that, Arsenal were excellent. More of the same please lads!

In terms of the key battles at Upton Park, Cesc Fabregas will need to make sure he gets more of the ball than the hard-working Scott Parker and Emmanuel Eboue will need to defend well to keep in-form winger Matthew Etherington quiet. Other than that, Arsenal should just focus on their own game and let their passing football do the talking. Overall, I’m expecting a 2-0 victory.