Arsenal Fans Blog

Champions League - European Power Rankings

There is simply no stopping Arsenal at the moment, and the Gunners remain the undisputed best team in Europe.

We take into account both domestic and Champions League performances, plus the relative difficulty of each team's league.

Unsurprisingly it's Arsenal who are still showing the rest of the continent how it's done, although they left it late before dispatching of Wigan on Saturday.

Despite their shock defeat at Bolton, Manchester United are still second, while wins for Chelsea and Liverpool help them in seventh and tenth place respectively.

In fact, the entire top ten won in their own leagues this weekend.

The real action is in the pack clamouring to break into the top half, with Fenerbahce and Rangers leapfrogging stumbling Spanish pair Sevilla and Valencia in 11th and 12th. Both Liga sides crashed to embarrassing defeats last weekend, while the Turks and Scots' victories at home and superior form in Europe see them on the brink on muscling in on the big boys.

It's good news for another Scottish side as Celtic break into our top 20 at the expense of Slavia Prague.

EUROPEAN POWER RANKINGS (last weeks position in brackets)

1 (1) Arsenal - 27.69

2 (2) Manchester United - 25.71

3 (3) Internazionale - 22.92

4 (4) Barcelona - 22.88

5 (5) Real Madrid - 21.15

6 (6) Porto - 20.55

7 (7) Chelsea - 20

8 (8) Roma - 19.17

9 (9) Milan - 19.08

10 (10) Liverpool - 18.72

11 (13) Fenerbahce - 17.92

12 (14) Rangers - 17.09

13 (11) Sevilla - 16.96

14 (12) Valencia - 16.73

15= (15) Shakhtar Donetsk - 16.61

15= (16) Rosenborg - 16.61

17 (17) Lyon - 16.57

18 (18) Benfica - 16.30

19 (19) Werder Bremen - 16.07

20 (-) Celtic - 13.82

HOW IT WORKS

Scores are based on points per game in domestic league and European games.

Domestic points per game is multiplied by the league coefficient - either 3, 4 or 5 - with teams in stronger leagues getting more credit.

European victories are counted as three points for a win whether in league stage or not. They are all multiplied by a coefficient of 5.

League coefficients:

England, Spain, Italy = 5

Germany, Portugal, France = 4

Others = 3

Example: Arsenal

33 points from 13 Premier League games = 2.54 points per game.

Multiplied by league coefficient of five - 2.54 x 5 = 12.69.

18 points from 6 Champions League games (including qualifying) = 3 points per game.

Multiplied by European coefficient of five - 15

Total score = 12.69 + 15 = 27.69

Tony Mabert / Eurosport


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Sevilla 3 - 1 Arsenal

Champions League (Group Stage)
Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Kick-off: 7:45pm (GMT)

Goals:
Credits: King Kolo Toure

	3 - 1
Sevilla		Arsenal
Keita 24'		Eduardo 11'
Fabiano 34'
Kanoute (pen) 89'

Interviews:

BBC Interviews
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure


Match Highlights:
Credits: AmplifiedtoRock

Extended Highlights (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ .wmv)
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Extended Highlights (Torrent - English Commentary - LQ .wmv)
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Full Match:
Credits: kc123

Setanta Sports Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ - H264 - 1000kbps - 858MB)
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Arsenal 2 - 0 Wigan Athletic

Barclays Premier League (Week 14)
Emirates Stadium
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Kick-off: 3:00pm (GMT)

Goals:
Credits: arsenal.verdensvevet.com

	2 - 0
Arsenal		Wigan Athletic
Gallas 83'
Rosicky 85'

Interviews:

BBC Interviews:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Wigan caretaker boss Frank Barlow

Sky Sports Interviews:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Wigan caretaker manager Frank Barlow


Match Highlights:
Credits: fred54, FootballHeaven

BBC MotD Highlights (HQ XviD - Widescreen 640 x 352)
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BBC MotD Highlights (HQ XviD - 1000kpbs - ACM-128kpbs)
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Full Match:
Credits: kc123, wigan88, katan

FSC Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ - H264 - 1000kbps - 784MB)
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FSC Coverage (English Commentary - .NSV - Open with Winamp)
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Unknown Coverage (Torrent - Mandarin Commentary - XviD - 905MB)
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The agent of Jussi Jaaskelainen expects the Finn to leave Bolton Wanderers at the end of this season.

Jaaskelainen recently passed the 10th anniversary of his arrival at the Reebok Stadium but the club's longest-serving player looks unlikely to prolong his association with Trotters after talks over a new deal stalled.

With his current contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, speculation has increased in recent weeks with both Arsenal and Inter Milan linked to the Finnish stopper.

Agent Peter Harrison told Setanta that he fully expects Jaaskelainen to leave England in the summer, adding: "There are no talks planned with Bolton and various agents and clubs have been in touch with me from abroad and we will assess it in January.

"We are very disappointed with the way talks went but we will just have to get on.

"I think he will be leaving at the end of the season, I don't think he will leave midway through the season."

Who’s Jussi?

Jussi Jääskeläinen

(born April 19, 1975 in Mikkeli, Finland) is a Finnish football goalkeeper who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers in the English Premiership.

Jääskeläinen made his Veikkausliiga debut in Finland for MP Mikkeli in 1992, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996 he moved to VPS Vaasa where he spent two seasons.

Jääskeläinen was bought by Bolton of the then First Division in November 11, 1997 with £100.000. He soon made himself the number one between the sticks, though a cruciate ligament injury ruled him out for much of Bolton's 2000–2001 promotion season. The following season was voted the best goalkeeper in the Premiership by sponsors Barclaycard.

Jääskeläinen made his debut for the Finnish national team on March 25, 1998 against Malta. He was Finland's second choice behind Antti Niemi for years, but after Niemi retired from international football in 2005, Jääskeläinen finally became the Finnish number one.

His 300th appearance came against Liverpool F.C. on January 1^st, 2007.

On May 13, 2007, Jussi was named BWFC "Player Of The Year Award" and also "Players' Player Of The Year Award" after helping Bolton secure a UEFA Cup spot for only the second time in their history.

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Carlos Tevez (MAN UTD v Wigan )
Robin Van Persie (ARSENAL v Sunderland)
Elano (MAN CITY v Middlesbrough)
Alex (Middlesbrough v CHELSEA)
Didier Drogba (CHELSEA v Man City)
Nani (MAN UTD v Middlesbrough)
Carlos Tevez (MAN UTD v Middlesbrough)
Dave Kitson (READING v Newcastle Utd)
Simon Davies (Sunderland v FULHAM)
Christopher Samba (Tottenham v BLACKBURN)

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Credits: Imran

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Dave Kitson, the Reading forward, last night deployed as a lone forward against the Gunners at the Madjeski stadium, has spoken of his admiration for the way this Arsenal team plays the game.

Coming from a Tottenham fan, it cannot have been easy for him to say, but speaking after the match against the Gooners, in which our boys prevailed 3-1 to return to the top of the table, The Guardian reported Kitson's views on Arsene's team:

It is unbelievably difficult playing against them and, to be honest, there wasn't a lot we could have done, they are without doubt the best footballing team on the planet right now. It's absolutely phenomenal stuff. Trying to get near Fábregas, Hleb, Rosicky, it's a tough ask. The thing that amazes you most is they are not just passing to each other. They are passing so that the next person can run on to the ball and, by then, his mind is already made up with what he is going to do next. It is unbelievable.

Fabregas puts his foot on the ball, has a look, sees what he wants to do and then he plays it four yards in front of him to Hleb. He'll turn round, play it another four yards by which time Fabregas has already gone past, and so it goes on. Trying to get near to them and stop it - I'm not saying it can't be done because the team they beat 7-0, Slavia Prague, managed to do it last week - but it is tough. They don't have off days very often.

It's interesting to compare them with Manchester United or Chelsea. What I would say about Arsenal is they are not reliant on one, two, three or even four people. They all kind of chip in even though, against us, they didn't really use their full-backs, simply because they didn't need to. I thought they had another couple of gears to go. It will be close at the end of the season between the three of them but even for a Tottenham fan like me - and to say this is blasphemy - you hope that a team who play as well as Arsenal win something. Their approach is just magic.

They have one major injury in Robin van Persie and they don't even look as if they are missing him. Emmanuel Adebayor plays up front on his own and he is almost like two strikers up there. When Barcelona came in for Henry, Wenger must have seen the fee, looked at Adebayor and thought it was Christmas. He had a player waiting there for his chance and the unbelievable thing is that he probably wouldn't even have to spend the money.

Just looking at Adebayor as a technician and as a football player, that is what every striker should aspire to. He is very right footed but, when you are that good, you don't need your left foot. He is 6ft 5in and you look at him and think: 'How is he doing this?' For his goal, the ball came at him at 100mph and he just cushioned it into the far corner. Then there's Fabregas. It is not even fair that a kid that young can have so much talent. He is world-class already: definitely among the top five players in the league, definitely one of the top players in the world. It's frightening. Wenger must be licking his lips because there is just silverware here on in for Arsenal.

Unsurprisingly Kitson also described Wenger as the "best manager in the world" while Fabregas – still just 20 – "is world class already". "It's not fair that a kid that young can have so much talent," Kitson added. "He's definitely among the top five players in the league, definitely one of the top players in the world."

Marcus Hahnemann also said that Arsenal's movement just kills you ....

We had to keep counting how many players Arsenal had on the pitch on Monday night — it felt like we were playing against 14 men or something, their movement was that good.

I called them the 'give-and-go kings' in my last Sportsmail column and, unfortunately for us, they proved me right.

But how do you stop Arsenal playing? We watched some clips of how Man Utd tried to cope with them — and even they put tons of people behind the ball at times. Arsenal's style is so fluid that they'll tear you apart given half a chance. They constantly drift into new positions and organising a defence is very difficult.

We lined up with two banks of four in a 4-4-2 formation, while they went 4-5-1. We expected that from them, but also knew it would make it a very, very difficult night for us — especially on a pitch like ours which is pretty wide.

The back four and midfield couldn't stick to their own positions because their men were moving all over the place. They had to track them, which obviously left gaps which others needed to fill. Imagine letting a runner like Theo Walcott go. With his pace, he'd kill you.

Everything we planned before the game and everything we did during it needed to be flexible. It was a hell of a challenge both mentally and physically. That's why, having done so well for 44 minutes, conceding so close to half-time was a real killer.

We knew once they'd scored, we had a choice to make. Go and press them and they might cut us apart.

Keep it tight and we were facing certain defeat. That's what a team of that class reduce you to. It's Catch 22. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. And remember, we defended pretty well, especially in the first half.

We did have 11 men behind the ball at times but it's important against a team like Arsenal that you always try and keep one person up, otherwise you don't have an 'out ball' and the pressure is unrelenting.

But then again, even if you do win it back, it's still difficult because everyone is so tired from chasing that you can't get going again. I kicked one out early to Kitson and Doyle and everyone yelled at me to keep hold of it for a bit!

We may have lost, but overall I think our game-plan worked as well as we could probably have hoped.

After all, let's be realistic, they are top of the Premier League and have just won a game 7-0 in the Champions League. On that form, I reckon plenty of other teams will struggle even to score against them this season.

Reading manager Steve Coppell believes Arsenal will be the team to beat for champions Manchester United fourth-placed Chelsea and fifth-placed Liverpool.

"The first goal just before half time was critical because up until that point they'd had a lot of possession without creating too much," said Coppell, whose side had won three home Premiership matches on the trot.

"There were just a few signs they were starting to get frustrated.

"One-nil down at half time was not the end of the world but they have that extra bit of quality and once they got their noses in front the confidence came flooding back and we buckled under the pressure.

"They have some fantastic players and will be the team to beat right to the very end of the season."

>>

I think we should have more players calling Arsenal magical, unbelievable, and hellish to counter. Reading played United early on during their slump to a 0-0 draw. Reading have also played Chelsea to a loss right after that. I’m guessing Kitson could have come out and said anything after those games, but instead he chose to talk about how magnificent the Arsenal are.

So there you have it.

Spoken from a spurs fan, who's experienced the beauty and deadly potency of Arsenal's play up close and personal. Fair play to Kitson.

Any other spuds wanna pay homage to the team playing the best football on the planet (according to one of your own...)?

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Reading 1 - 3 Arsenal

Barclays Premier League (Week 13)
Madejski Stadium
Monday, November 12, 2007
Kick-off: 8:00pm (GMT)

Goals:
Credits: arsenal.verdensvevet.com

	1 - 3
Reading		Arsenal
Shorey 87'		Flamini 44'
		Adebayor 52'
		Hleb 78'

Interviews:

BBC Interview: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger


Full Match:
Credits: kc123

Setanta Sports Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ - H264 - 1000kbps - 895MB)
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is amazed at criticism from UEFA president Michel Platini over his recruitment of the world's best young players.

"I am quite amazed because it is in total contradiction to the policy of UEFA because they try to bring in the home-grown players," Wenger told a news conference at Arsenal's training ground.

"I cannot see how UEFA can, on the one side, instigate a rule that favours that and, on the other side, criticise the clubs that do it.

"I don't understand because our purpose is to give a good life to a player who wants to become a good football player. I don't see what is wrong with that."

Asked about Platini's concern at the growing investment in English clubs by foreigners, his fellow Frenchman Wenger said: "Of course, the concern is understandable.

"But it is down to football bodies like FIFA and UEFA, and the FA, to make sure people who invest money do it with the right purpose and respect the rules. It is down to them to make sure the rules are respected."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also insists Reading are a prime example of why there is no need for foreign limits in the Premiership.

John Halls, Graham Stack, James Harper and Steve Sidwell have all played for the Royals after coming through Arsenal's youth system and Wenger said: "The rule for success is just live around Arsenal and pick off the players who do not make it completely and I promise you will have a very good team.

"There are very good players who will not all make it here but when they drop out they will still make a good team.

"Harper and Sidwell did not get in here because they had Petit and Viera and Edu in front of them. I think to force the clubs in England to have only English players in the side would be detrimental to the smaller clubs."

Others players playing their trade in the Premiership having graduated at Arsenal include Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, Blackburn midfielder David Bentley, West Ham defender Matthew Upson and Sunderland striker Anthony Stokes.

Wenger added: "I am happy if they have a good life. Sidwell was an important player for them because he had a good partnership with Harper.

"Sidwell's aim was to become a professional football player at a top team. He is. "If we have just contributed a little bit we are happy with that. We take the criticism, no problem.

"As a manager you want to have a positive influence on the life of your football players."


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Slavia Prague 0 - 0 Arsenal

Champions League (Group Stage)
Evzena Rosickeho Stadium
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Kick-off: 7:45pm (GMT)


Goals:

	0 - 0
Slavia Prague		Arsenal

Interviews:

BBC Interview: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Match Highlights:
Credits: Fella, AmplifiedtoRock, randy420

Extended Highlights (English Commentary - HQ .wmv)
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Extended Highlights (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ .wmv)
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Extended Highlights (Torrent - English Commentary - LQ .wmv)
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Full Match:
Credits: kc123, aladmiral

Setanta Sports Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ - H264 - 1000kbps - 870MB)
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ART Sport Coverage (Torrent - Arabic Commentary - LQ .wmv - 516MB)
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Pertandingan Big Match Arsenal dengan Manchester United yang berakhir 2-2 di Emirates Stadium hari Sabtu kemarin telah mencatat rekor penonton dengan total 60.161 fans yang menyaksikan langsung top-of-the-table clash tersebut melampaui rekor 60.132 penonton yang menyaksikan Arsenal mengalahkan Reading dengan 2-1 pada 03 Maret 2007 lalu.

Pertandingan tersebut diperkirakan juga turut disaksikan oleh sekitar 1 milyar pasang mata disekitar 202 negara di seluruh dunia ( the highest ever TV audience for a Premier League game). Jika perkiraan tersebut benar maka pertandingan final World Cup 2006 antara Perancis versus Italia yang disaksikan kurang lebih 715,1 juta penonton diseluruh dunia ( sekitar 214 negara ).

Kemudian dengan hasil draw melawan Manchester United tersebut juga telah mencetak rekor baru yaitu 25 pertandingan tanpa terkalahkan disemua kompetisi yang sedang diikuti yaitu Premier League, Champions League serta Carling Cup.

Rekor sebelumnya dicetak antara 20 Maret 2002 ( kalah 1-0 di kandang Juventus pada Champions League ) dan 19 Oktober 2002 ( kalah 2-1 di kandang Everton pada pertandingan Premier League ).

Kekalahan terakhir The Gunners saat menjamu West Ham United di Emirates Stadium dengan 0-1 pada tanggal 7 April 2007.

Arsenal belum terkalahkan pada 18 pertandingan yang telah dilakukan disemua kompetisi pada musim ini ( 2007-2008 ), yaitu dengan memenangkan 15 pertandingan dari 18 pertandingan di semua kompetisi yang diikuti dan mencetak 45 gol serta hanya kemasukkan 9 gol. Sedangkan 7 pertandingan lainnya dicatat pada musim kompetisi yang lalu ( 2006-2007 ).

Rekor 49 kali tak terkalahkan pada 49 pertandingan Premier League yang dicetak antara 07 Mei 2003 sampai dengan 24 Oktober 2004 sampai saat ini belum terlewati.

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Arsenal 2 - 2 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League (Week 12)
Emirates Stadium
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Kick-off: 12:45pm (GMT)

Goals:
Credits: ali_cdaman

	2 - 2
Arsenal		Manchester United
Fabregas 48'		Gallas (og) 45'
Gallas 93'		Ronaldo 83'

Interviews:

BBC Interview: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger


Match Highlights:
Credits: fred54, vietmoment

BBC MotD Highlights (HQ XviD - Widescreen 640 x 352)
Download - 98MB [Sharebee]

Short Highlights with Post Match Interviews (HQ XviD - 4:3 ratio - 480 x 360)
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Full Match:
Credits: kc123, AmplifiedtoRock, Shreenivastrav, ZhaoYun, Eeknay

Setanta Sports Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - HQ - H264 - 1100kbps - 913MB)
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Unknown Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - LQ - 600k Stream - .wmv - 485MB)
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Unknown Coverage (Direct Link - English Commentary - HQ - H264 - NSV)
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Unknown Coverage (Direct Link - LQ)
Password for unzip (not for download) = redcafevn.net
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Sky Sports HD1 Coverage (Torrent - English Commentary - HD 720p - 1280x720 H264 - DD5.1)
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Cesc Fabregas again !

O2 October Player of the Month didominasi dua orang pemain yaitu : Cesc Fabregas dan Alex Hleb.

Cesc tampil dalam 5 pertandingan selama bulan Oktober dan penampilannya semakin bagus. Tampil dengan seragam Arsenal saat menang melawan Steaua Bucharest, Sunderland dan Bolton serta kemudian saat dengan gemilang menang 7-0 lawan Slavia Prague di Emirates Stadium. Puncaknya Cesc membuat gol vital untuk menyamakan kedudukan jadi 1-1 melawan Liverpool di Anfield.

Hleb yang juga bermain cemerlang dengan assist dan golnya selama bulan Oktober menempati posisi kedua dengan 37.2 persen disusul Theo Walcott yang mulai menunjukkan kapabilitasnya untuk bermain secara reguler di Arsenal.

"He has shown he has matured in every way," said Isra. "He scores goals and also makes assists which a quality midfielder should do. Cesc is very young and is still developing but he is growing into a man. I would love to see how he plays in five to seven years time."

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