ARSENAL OFFERS 20M€ for MALAGA PLAYER CAZORLA

Spanish International & MALAGA FC midfielder SANTIAGO CAZORLA is not happy at his current Club. The recently crowed European Champion charged Malaga for non-payment of contract to the "Spanish Footballers Players Association" (AFE).

A strange situation for a Club that finished in Champions League table positions last season & apparently has cash flow problems with other players apart from Cazorla under its Arab millionaire owner.

Cazorla

According to the UK newspaper "The Guardian", English Premier League giant ARSENAL has come to an agreement with Cazorla & has put on the table a 20M€ transfer offer. All that is needed is that Malaga accept the cash & allow the player to fly off to London. Cazorla as a 45M€ contract release clause but Malaga could be forced to accept.

If all this is true, Arsenal has on its hands a fine midfielder that will boost its creative play area & give the side a boost in class. Stay tune for developments.
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REAL MADRID CF TARGETS ARSENAL FORWARD VAN PERSIE ?

News vibrating out of England - again - has been picked up locally by Spanish Sports paper "AS", that ARSENAL Dutch forward ROBIN VAN PERSIE is a REAL MADRID target for next season. This is not the first "vibrator" impact reached locally as the forward has been splashed on local press during the past seasons, which FC Barcelona also sounding in the past. 

Van Persie

The 28 year old player ends contract June of 2013 & has already notched up 37 goals this season for Arsenal. The rumour from the English press is that Real Madrid is willing to offer 30M€, but Manchester City is also in there as well with a big figure offer.

While this is a story from England, here in Spain,  the centre of the spring of "Real Madrid" Football waters, there ate strong rumours with theses players: Javi Martinez ( At. Bilbao) & the return of Sergio Aguero ( Mnachester City) ...these are real "vibrators" & locally.

So stay tuned as things - as every year - are heating up. Plus lets not forget, with the Euro 2012 competition soon there may arise a "new star" that may have all Clubs running over themselves to sign.  

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ARSENAL ASKS REAL MADRID ABOUT ESTEBAN GRANERO

Interesting news piece from Spanish Sports paper "Marca" that has been revealed in todays edition. Apparently earlier in the week ARSENAL representatives travelled to Madrid to have discussions with REAL MADRID Football Director Miguel Pardeza. The topic of conversation was midfielder ESTEBAN GRANERO with a personal message from Arsene Wenger of his interest in having the player over to London in the upcoming Winter Transfer Market.

Esteban Granero

The midfielder is currently finding it hard to get a regular run in the Real Madrid team as his position has a long list of competitors that are bidding for the same spot: Kaka, Ozil, Altintop, Lass Diarra, Sahin ( when fit)...etc. With this difficult scenario, the Spanish midfielder has expressed to his Club that he still prefers to stay at Real Madrid & work towards a place as the season is long & many things can happen. But, if the situation is still complex at the end of the season,  & playing is still difficult,  Granero may have to consider exercising his Football elsewhere.


Real Madrid has kindly said "not for now" to Arsenal who are looking for a midfielder to fill the space left open by the departure of Cesc Fabregas & Nasri, positions that have turned out to be their "achilles heel" this season. Another Club said to be very interested in Granero is Spanish Football Club MALAGA a persistent buzz in the local Football circles.


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FC BARCELONA 3 ARSENAL 1 ( 4-3 AGG) RESULT | FC BARCELONA MOVES ON IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

FC BARCELONA defeat 3 - 1 ARSENAL FC ( 4 - 3 aggregate ) tonight at "Camp Nou" to knock out of the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE competition the English Club & advance forward into the Quarter Final stages. There was a "minor scare" for Barça when Arsenal managed to "score" but with Arsenal down to 10 men after Van Persie was sent off the locals did their job.

Iniesta & Messi open the Arsenal can

Barça dominated the first half of the match with 80% of the ball in their possesion. Arsenal was ultra - defensive & looked as if their strategy was to hold on to their advantage from the 1ºst leg & attempt an odd counter-attack to find some luck. Arsenal goalie Szczesny injured his hand & Spaniard Alumunia took his place & ended up being the best for Arseanl as the match went on with more the a dozen crucial saves.

The second half gave us all the real action with Iniesta finding a magical pass that LIONEL MESSI put into the net in the 49th min. 

Xavi scores for FC Barcelona

Then came the unexpected & the "golden moment" for Arsenal when Nasri won a corner from nothing in which the awarded  kick ended in an own goal by Barça player BUSQUETS in the 53rd min that put Arsenal into the driving seat. Barça at this stage needed two goals to qualify but the event of the match occurred in the 56th min - especially for Arsenal - when Van Persie received his second yellow card after kicking the ball into the crowd after being called offside. This act was interpreted by the referee as an "offence/time-waster" & thus sent him off with a red card putting Arsenal in the difficult position of only having 10 men & Barcelona at "full-steam". Leaving the controversy aside about if it was a yellow or not , it definitely was the turning point & the precise moment that Arsenal lost any chance of knocking out Barcelona from Champions.

From this point Barcelona "smelt blood" & poured the pressure that burst the Arsenal bubble with a XAVI 69th min goal. 

Messi scores a penalty

Barça needed another to qualify & they attacked in waves with the Arsenal defence & goalie stopping everything fired at them. But a Pedro incursion in the 71st min lead to a box foul that was called a penalty & LIONEL MESSI stepped up & scored the third & definite goal.  Arsenal reacted with Arshavin coming on along with Bendtner, & it nearly paid off when Bendtner in a counter-attack was about to shot the possible winner ( & qualifier) , but was put off in the last moment by Barça midfielder Mascherano who literally saved the night for Barça. Arsenal had the qualification in their hands,  but ...


FC Barcelona move on & Arsenal will be unhappy & talking for days about the red card to Van Persie to which some will say he kicked the ball out on purpose & others that he did not hear the off-side call...

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FC BARCELONA | MANCHESTER UTD LOOK AT BOJAN KRKIC?

Source: Sp Ftball Sprts Blog /
News from English paper “The Independent” mentions that MANCHESTER UNITED is expected to make a 14M€ offer for young FC BARCELONA forward BOJAN KRKIC. The paper goes on to mention that Man Utd Manager Alex Ferguson considers the Spanish player ideal to form the up-front "attack team" with Wayne Rooney.

It’s not the first time that English Football comes knocking on the door of Bojan. Last January Arsenal attempted to lure the player over to London. In my opinion the price offered by Man Utd. is low relative whats being "splashed" around , & secondly it would be a mistake to let Bojan go from Barça. It’s only my opinion as I think we have a potential World Football Star ready to explode in the coming years. Having said this, at times Football runs under differing ideas where talent is sometimes relegated to a lower level.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2º LEG QUARTER FINAL 2009 2010: FC BARCELONA 4 ARSENAL 1 (WATCH MESSI VIDEO GOALS)

Source: Spanish Football Sports Blog /
FC BARCELONA has wrapped up the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Quarter Final tie with a 2º leg 4-1 victory (6- 3 agg) over ARSENAL thar saw an inspirational LIONEL MESSI rip apart the English team practically by himself with 4 goals.

(photo: Bendtner_apphoto_AOchoa)

Arsenal began well the first 20 minutes with a well positioned set up that made the home teams ball playing style difficult to put in practice. Then in the 17th min a defensive mistake by Barça opened them up in half to allow BENDTNER to score first & give his side wings.

However, this only caused FC Barcelona to "wake up" & in particular the current "Best Player in the World", LIONEL MESSI, to stamp his authority, class & magic for the next 25 min. In fact he would score a HAT TRICK ( 21st, 36th & 41st min) before half time.

Watch the three goals from LIONEL MESSI in the below videos:

The 2º half saw Arsenal recompose themselves & put Barça under pressure & get close to the goal with some nicely worked opportunities created that gave some trouble to the home team. Perhaps Barcelona were already thinking about the big Spanish League clash with Real Madrid next Saturday & thus they put the foot off the accelarator, although the merit must go to Arsenal with their play who made them work.

But as time kept running & Arsenal´s efforts were not bearing fruit, Barça began to regain control again to play their habitual ball possesion with "dizzy" precision. Then in the 87th min LIONEL MESSI again appeared to put the final "nail in" & score his 4th goal ( all of Barça´s goals tonight). Watch the VIDEO of his 4th goal below:



FC Barcelona will now meet Inter Milan in the semi -final, after the Italians knocked out CSKA Moscow earlier with a Sneijder free-kick goal.

Tonight Messi is the "King of the Football World" & tomorrow the talk of the World press. He deserves it, it was an outstanding & magical "one man" performance tonight, one to remember for sometime. Tweet

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL 1º LEG 2009 2010: ARSENAL 2 FC BARCELONA 2 (VIDEO GOALS)

Source: Spanish Football Sports Blog /
ARSENAL FC came back to draw 2-2 with FC BARCELONA in tonights 1º leg CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Quarter Final game with 20 last minutes of outstanding Football - Soccer. Earlier FC Barcelona had managed to dominate & control the match going up 0-2 by the 65th min when Arsenal Coach Wenger made the "magic" substitution putting on young Arsenal forward WALCOTT.

The first 20 minutes was FC Barcelona vs. Arsenal goalkeeper Alumunia who stopped everything, including balls that still after the game leaves one wondering how the hell did he do it. Important, as he was a vital piece of the team that saved Arsenal & allowed them to later comeback. In fact, FC Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes also did some unexplained magic stopping almost certain goals from young Arsenal player Bendtner.

But the goals came & all in the 2º half with Barça dominating the ball & the midfield with IBRAHIMOVIC scoring the first in the 46th min catching out the Arsenal defence cold. Watch the goal on the below VIDEO ( allow to load):



This rocked Arsenal & Barça continued strongly with IBRAHIMOVIC again scoring in the 59th min & putting the Spanish team in the driving seat. Watch his goal in the below VIDEO (allow to load):



Then Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger decided that playing to dominant the midfield was not the way & decided to bet on pure speed, changing play-maker Nasri for "lightening" Walcott. The idea was to go for it, & the substitution revolutionized the game with Walcott tearing the right wing apart. This opened the game up & took the ball away from Barça that made them nervous. The come back began in the 69th min when WALCOTT himself scored to bring the stadium roof down. Watch his goal on the below VIDEO (allow to load):



Arsenal was from here onwards attacking in waves, & with speed with a more traditional English style of Football which was making Barça withdraw back onto themselves. Then the moment came in the 83rd min when Puyol had to "stop" an inspired Cesc Fabregas & forced a penalty. Barça defender & Captain Carles Puyol was sent off with a red card & CESC FABREGAS fired in the penalty & the second goal to equalize the match.

(photo: Cesc Fabregas_ efe_gerry.perry)

FC Barcelona held on to "fight another day" & thank their lucky stars that they go home with a 2-2 draw. The Spaniards will be kicking themselves however for not putting away the 4-5 clear chances they had in the 1º st half that could have sentenced the Q/Final there & then. But Football has a funny way of turning things around & Arsenal Coach Wenger reacted brilliantly with Walcott on fire. Watch the VIDEO of the equalizer (allow to load)



It´s now all up for grabs in the upcoming 2ºleg match with Barça having a slight advantage of the home ground & their two away goals. Added to this, Arsenal Captian Cesc Fabregas & Barça defender Gerard Pique will miss the next clash due to their yellow cards & Barça Captain Puyol will also be absent due to his red card. Tweet

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ARSENAL & AC MILAN GO AFTER ANDER HERRERA & PEDRO LEON RESPECTIVELY

Source: Spanish Football Sports Blog /
Two Spanish Football players are attracting attention outside of Spain & have received offers to continue with their profession at Arsenal & Milan respectively according to Spanish daily “AS”.

The first is 20 year old Spanish International ANDER HERRERA of REAL ZARAGOZA whom Arsenal has offered 10M€ which the Spanish Club has refused. Negotiations are still open as the contract release clause is 24M€, but an offer closer to 15-18M€ may convince the Spaniards. The young player is said to be seen as a possible substitute for Cesc Fabragas who points towards Spanish Football next season if all the rumours are correct.


The other player is PEDRO LEON from Madrid Club GETAFE who has AC MILAN seriously studying the option of paying directly his contract release clause of 10M€. In fact reports go further & have said that the Italian Club has even offered directly the player a 5 year contract. The Spanish player, who prefers to continue in Spain, is tempted & will be making a decision in the coming weeks. Tweet

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VIDEO: FAN MASH-UP ARSENAL FC BARCELONA UPCOMING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH

The drawn ARSENAL – FC BARCELONA Champions League Quarter Final game for the 31st of March has already excited, & even inspired the creative side of many Football followers. Take this well worked video by “Crissier08” who has it on his “YouTube” channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CRISSIER80

A "mashed-up" cinematic trailer of what is to come. Thought I use it (with Crissier08 permission) to give it some viral pace & warm up the SFS readers who I think will also like the work. Nice one!

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010: ROBBEN & NASRI GOAL VIDEO

Watch the VIDEO of these two amazing goals which occurred last night in their respective CHAMPIONS LEAGUE games. The first by ex Real Madrid player ARJEN ROBBEN who help give the qualifying ticket to his team Bayern Munich for the Quarter Finals. Fiorentina won 3-2 but lost on away goals...fantastic crack shot:

Robben


This other gem is NASRI who did this work of art. It was part of yesterdays crashing 5-0 victory by Arsenal over Oporto, taking the English side into the Quarter-Finals:

Nasri


Two goals worth of any Football (Soccer) blog be they English, Spanish, French, German or any other language or League. Tweet

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FC BARCELONA DENIES "VERBAL AGREEMENT" WITH CESC FABREGAS

FC BARCELONA has put this announcement on its Club website:

"Given the exceptional repercussions created by the stories that have appeared in different media with respect to an agreement with Arsenal FC player Cesc Fàbregas, FCB flatly denies that there have been any negotiations or agreements with the player.

In accordance with FIFA regulations, FC Barcelona’s contract policy has always made it a priority to negotiate with the club of origin before making any particular agreement with the player.

FC Barcelona wishes to stress that it has always maintained excellent institutional relations with Arsenal FC"

Various interpretations:

1. It is true.

2. FC Barcelona - via its current Directive team lead by President
Laporta - filtered the news for "political" purposes, seeing the Club
is entering Presidential election period.

3. FC Barcelona wishes to safeguard itself against a possible FIFA rule
breaching accusation.

Stay tuned!

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FC BARCELONA: CESC FABREGAS SAY YES?

English Premier League Club ARSENAL may have sent a formal letter
of complaint to FC BARCELONA to stop contacting their star player
& Captain CESC FABREGAS, & the English Club may have made an
offer to better the Spanish Internationals economic conditions, but
news from Barcelona has added a different light. According to
Barcelona based media, Radio ONA FM, which naturally has been
picked up by one of the city Sporting papers “Mundo Deportivo”,
Cesc Fabregas has given his OK to the conditions offered by FC
BARCELONA (i.e. he has an agreement). Now the only thing left to
do is for both Arsenal & FC Barcelona to come to a negotiated
economic transfer figure. It is said here that Cesc Fabregas will
“pressure” Arsenal so as they will accept the Barça offer & allow
him to leave.

(photo: Cesc Fabregas _by Matt Dunham - AP)

















Apparently the decision by Fabregas to leave Arsenal was taken after
Manchester United defeated his current Club, thus taking away its
Premiership title aspirations, something that Chelsea FC later finally
buried with their 2-0 victory over their follow London rivals.

This news sinks the rumours that REAL MADRID was in the front seat
& ahead of Barça in the Cesc Fabregas negotiations. The player has
strong ties to Barça as he was Football raised at Camp Barça as a
youngster & has always expressed a desire to return “home”. Real
Madrid has been talking with Fabragas & has been serious, but key
Real Madrid Club Directive figures are not totally convinced & this
may have also played a part in swaying Fabragas to finally say YES
to FC Barcelona.

Having said all this, it is still rumour & pure speculation at this
stage. FC Barcelona is embarking on a fierce Presidential Club
election period with candidates promising many things of which
some no doubt are pure fantasy in order to attract votes. However,
this news piece does have some circumstantial weight & credibility.

Stay tuned for further developments in the coming weeks &/or
months.

LATEST (10/02/2010) The daily "Sport" comments that the VERBAL
AGREEMENT betwen Cesc & Barça is for 5 years at 6.5M€/year. The
players representative has denied any agreement, but he must, due
to FIFA rules. Tweet

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PABLO SARABIA: ARSENAL ATTEMPTS TO "GRAB" ANOTHER SPANISH PEARL

Spanish Football has another young pearl that is catching the
attention of many scouts & International professionals. The name
of the young player is PABLO SARABIA & he plays for Castilla,
the junior team of REAL MADRID. English Premier League Club
ARSENAL via their Manager ARSENE WENGER has had his eye
on the youngster for some years & now wishes to incorporate
to his team for 2011. The French Manager has approached the
family & the representative of young Sarabia to “sound” out the
possibilities & express the desire of the English Club to be the
launch-pad for his career.

Real Madrid are aware of Arsene Wenger moves & are also negotiating
with the players representative to extend his contract which ends
next year until 2014.

Take note of the name: SARABIA. Watch the “kid” on video:

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FC BARCELONA: ARSENAL HOOVERING OVER THEIR NEST FOR ASSULIN?

He´s the new young pearl of FC BARCELONA who got a run last
Wednesday night in the SPANISH CUP. GAI ASSULIN is an 18 year
old who is already a full International for Israel & has captured
the observations of Premier League Club Manager Arsene Wenger
from ARSENAL.

According to local sports daily “Mundo Deportivo”, the alarm bells
have sounded at “Camp Barça” because there is speculation that Arsenal
are about to take away their new young star. Assulin has already
knocked back an offer from Chelsea FC & has not yet renewed his
actual contract with FC Barcelona, thus giving reign to rumours. FC
Barcelona still remembers how Arsenal managed to lure away previous
young talents like Fran Merida & Cesc Fabregas from their “nest”.

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ATLETICO DE MADRID "SOUNDING" FRAN MERIDA?

ARSENAL Manager & Coach Arsene Wenger has ordered that young
19 year old Spanish International & current Arsenal FC player FRAN
MERIDA have is contract with the Club renewed & extended.
According to local Spanish daily "Mundo Deportivo" it is planned that
on the 28th of October both player & Club will sit down to discuss the
issue & the player will find out what are the plans for his future.

The Spaniard has been part of Arsenal for the last 4 years & has
played very little with the 1ºst team, this has made the player
think about moving on. It is precisely this idea that has attracted
Spanish Club ATLETICO DE MADRID. It is rumoured that the
Spanish Club has already put itself in contact "indirectly" with
the player & has "sounded" out the possiblities of luring him over
to Madrid.

Now one would suppose that the English Club will have to offer
firm guarantees in reference to his future. Having said this, Fran
Merida´s personal advisors maybe using the Atletico de Madrid
card as a negotiation lever.

Stay tuned!

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REAL MADRID: TOTTENHAM & ARSENAL INTERESTED IN HUNTELAAR

Klauss Jan Huntelaar surprised everyone (again) when he withdraw
from his agreement to go to German Club STUTTGART a few days
back. The 25 year old forward wanted other options instead of
playing in the Bundesliga even if his salary at Real Madrid was to be
respected.

















The man had a hunch; a last opportunity that needed a brave decision
& it seems that he may have done the right thing in reference to his
own personal professional interests. From England we get news that
Premier League Club TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS has expressed their
interest in Huntelaar. But now there is more encouraging news for the
Real forward if we are to believe English paper “The Sun” which has
published that ARSENAL has entered in the push. According to the
daily Arsenal maybe about to offer REAL MADRID 19M€ for their
Dutch forward as they need to fill the position left open by the
departure of Adebayor to Manchester City.

For the moment Real Madrid have said that they have no formal offer
from either Tottenham or Arsenal on their desk, perhaps this may
change in the coming days. Stay tuned!

Meanwhile, STUTTGART look to another forward at REAL MADRID:
ALVARO NEGRERO. Spanish daily "Marca" publish that they offer 18M€
& see the Spanish player as the alternative to Huntelaar after the latter
rejected their offer Tweet

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CESC FABREGAS ENTERS THE REAL MADRID ORBIT?

Spanish daily “Marca” must have the direct channel to REAL MADRID
as they keep on surprising us on the upcoming transfer moves &
grooves. This morning they put on their cover that Real Madrid was
going after AC ROMA midfielder DANIELE DE ROSSI as an alternative
to their prime objective XABI ALONSO of Liverpool FC who has
drifted due to the high economic pretensions of Liverpool FC.

(photo: Pablo Garcia/Marca.com)

This afternoon on the digital edition of “Marca” it inform us that AC
ROMA have refused the 30M€ offer to sell their star 26 year old
midfielder & thus has forced REAL MADRID to go on & prepare a
PLAN C: CESC FABREGAS. The Spanish team has not as yet made a
formal offer to ARSENAL as they are reported to be currently
preparing a bid that will satisfy the English Premier League Club. Last
week English media published that Arsenal would look favourably at
a transfer for their Captain if an offer of about 50M€ came in. Real
Madrid believes they can negotiate this price down with new
formulas or inclusion of a player into the operation.

As the Spanish daily says, Real Madrid hasn’t given in on Xabi
Alonso, but they are working on an alternative – Cesc Fabregas – in
case they fail to convince Liverpool FC. Interesting news from
“Marca” that is at this point pure speculation or a diverting tactic,
however do stay tuned to SFS for developments.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2008/2009 2º LEG Q/FINAL: ARSENAL 3 - VILLAREAL 0

It was always going to be a tough affair, but while there is hope the Spanirads
thought... English Premier League Club ARSENAL goes into the Semi-Finals
of the Champions League after defeating 3-0 ( 4-1 on aggregate) Spanish side
VILLAREAL in tonights 2º leg Q/Final clash at London.

















Arsenal started well early with a WALCOTT chipped goal from a Cesc
touch-on that rocked the Spaniards in the 10th min, this gave them the
calmness needed for the rest of the game. It was becoming obvious
since then that Villareal were missing their Capatin Marcos Senna injured
a player who has a pivotal role in controlling the midfield & setting up the
pattern of play for the team. Quiet frankly, Villareal tried valiently, but
neither the answers of Cani, Pires, Mati or Ibagaza were tonight working.




















Early in the 2ºhalf, precisely in the 60th min, ADEBAYOR sentenced
with his goal that must have broken the Spaniards spirits. However,
being the good team that they are with pride on there side Villareal got
back up to see a "doubtful" penalty called on Walcott from defender
Godín. The frustration lead to protests & Eguren of Villareal was sent
off in the process of the teams complaining. Villareal were from here
down to 10 men & virtually looking down the "barrel of the gun"
















VAN PERSIE fired the bullet that "killed" Villareal & gave his team
their 3rd goal to set it all up in the 69th min for clear sailing, & thats
how it finished. Arsenal go on now to meet Manchester United in the
Semi-final & thus take the English teams number in semis to three,
while FC Barcelona is the only sole Spanish representative. Clearly,
another sign of the shift in the balance of power towards English Football. Tweet

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2008/09 2ºLEG Q/FINAL PREVIEW: ARSENAL vs VILLAREAL

Big night in London tonight for VILLAREAL & Spanish Football, with the
former taking its slim 1-1 draw result into the 2ºleg Champions League clash
against ARSENAL, & for the latter to regain its prestige back in European
Football & allow Spain to put two of its teams into the Semi-Finals stages.

Villareal are not favourites, they have two significant players injured,
CARZOLA out for the season ( missed already in the 1ºleg game) & their
International Captain & midfielder MARCOS SENNA, the latter being the
anchor & grand equilibrium specialist for the team. However, Villareal are a
tough nut to crack, especially away at England as Manchester United can
vouch for in their earlier Group game. With approximately 1.200 Villareal fans
following to cheer them on the Spanish team has its chances & it all depends on
them. A 1-1 goal aggregate gives Arsenal the “psychological” & away goal
advantage but that can change in seconds. What is guaranteed is that this
match promises to be a real “beauty, with both teams committed to attacking
Football & it should not be missed.

Here are the speculated line-ups for both teams. Logically these names may
experience last minute changes. Good luck Villarreal, SFS is roaring you on
from here!

Villareal : Lopez; Capdevila;Gonzalo, Godín; Lopez; Cani; Pires (or Bruno);
Eguren; Ibagaza; Rossi & Llorente

Arsenal: Almunia; Sagna; Toure; Gallas; Clichy (or Gibbs); Song; Denilson;
Walcott; Cesc; Nasri & Aldebayor

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2008/09 1ºLEG Q/FINALS: VILLAREAL 1 - ARSENAL 1

VILLAREAL will be disappointed that they only managed to get a 1-1
draw result against ARSENAL in their 1º leg CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Q/Final clash. The English team will be happy as they go home with a
valuable away goal & prepare to host the Spanish Club with the home
ground advantage & with their crowd cheering them on.















Villareal started great as they pushed the ball well finding spaces
while Arsenal was still getting their act together. You can say that it took
the whole 1ºst half for the English team to finally tune up & begin finding
their game.

During that process, Villareal Captain & Spanish International MARCOS
SENNA surprised everyone - Arsenal´s Spanish goalie Almunia included -
with an outside the square power drive that found the back of the net.
















It was the games first goal & it put Villareal infront in the 9th min.
From here the Spaniards attacked but could´nt exploit their advantage
further even though Arsenal keeper Almunia was substituted due to
injury.




















The 2ºhalf saw the "Arsenal machine" get its game together as they
were firing on all pistons. Spanish International Cesc Fabregas was directing
play & his team-mates finding the spaces. In one of those waves of
continual attacks in the 69th min , Cesc chipped over to ADEBAYOR who
connected with a spectacular overhead that steered the ball into the back of
the net. The stadium was silenced as it was quick & deadly & fair reward for
the excellent attacking play that Arsenal had offered from the start of the
2ºnd half.
























The goal got Villareal out of the spell & they reacted to attempt to force
another goal & thus be able to go to London with some advantage. Their
attempts to exploit the Arsenal wings showed how much they missed Spanish
International Santiago Cazorla who fractured his leg last Sunday. Villareal
lacked a natural & specialist winger with Cani, Pires nor Mati being able to do
the job as they have a natural tendency to drift into the center, thus eliminating
the objective of exploiting Arsenal through the sides. Villareal tried hard & in
the end had chances, but Arsenal had done their job.

It´s not all over for Villareal who are still in there with a good chance,however
Arsenal have the advantage & at their home ground with their fans roaring
them on they will be hard to defeat. Tweet

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