CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL FIRST LEG ,Roma Again !!

So we play Roma again, this will make the fifth time the two sides have met in the last year and Ferguson is expecting his side to have the upper hand at the Stadio Olimpico.

United warmed up for Tuesday's big game in Rome with a superb 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top of the Premiership to five points.

In a repeat of the 2007 quarter-finals, Manchester United were drawn with Roma having already met in this season's group stages, United winning 1-0 at home before a 1-1 draw in Rome.

Last season, Roma won the first leg quarter-final 2-1 before United administered a 7-1 thrashing at Old Trafford.

These sort of games make me wish we were drawn against an English team because Roma is such a tough team to beat, forget that we beat them silly last time out.

It won't be easy but, the form we are in now, we are looking forward to it. We are almost there with the league, and we will pick the champions league too. what do ya'll think?

Have Arsenal Lost The Premier League Title To Man Utd?

I think i am dreaming. I know i should not be bothering anyone with such nonsense, but i really don't i am alone in this.
I am a Man Utd fan and i am really happy that we are leading the premiership and not Arsenal or Chelsea. Hey! nobody should get me wrong, i a just a fan who loves his team very much. With a game in hand, i think we will go on and win the league.
But i wonder how many fans are like me. They love their clubs, but still feel pity for the other teams. I do pity Arsenal because they have such a talented bunch of young players with very bright futures. But talent alone don't win you cups or the league. They play such wonderful football, but fail to score the goals that will win the match and crown their efforts in the end.
Arsenal's league form does not tally with what we see them play at the champions league, or are they focusing all on the champions league. What if they don't win the champions league, and then lose the league title also?. Not that i am complaining. Mind you, Man Utd are also in the running for the champions league.
Well, i guess i have to take it that we Man Utd will win both the league and the champions league.

Champions Leauge Draw,A Real Premiership Treat For Europe

Friday's draw for the last 8 of the Champions League has served up a real premiership treat with Arsenal drawn to face Liverpool.
Here is what it looks like

Champions League quarter-final draw:
1 Arsenal v Liverpool
2 AS Roma v Man Utd
3 Schalke 04 v FC Barcelona
4 Fenerbahce v Chelsea

Champions League semi-final draw:
1 Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbahce/Chelsea
2 Schalke/Barcelona v AS Roma/Man Utd

Arsene Wenger's side will play the first leg at home on 1/2 April, with the return leg at Anfield on 8/9 April.

Manchester United, who beat Lyon to reach the last eight, were drawn against Real Madrid's conquerors Roma.

Chelsea, the fourth English club in the draw, face Fenerbahce, with Schalke 04 versus Barcelona the other fixture.

The winners of the Arsenal-Liverpool showdown - the first time those two will have met in European competition - will then take on Chelsea or Fenerbahce in the semi-finals, while Manchester United or Roma face Barcelona or Schalke 04.

The legs for the last-four ties will take place on 22/23 April and 29/30 April.

It means if Chelsea overcome Fenerbahce in their quarter-final, not only could they face their semi-final conquerors of 2005 and last year in Liverpool, but also that England will be guaranteed a presence in the final in Moscow on 21 May.

And with Fenerbahce and Schalke 04 appearing in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time, and Roma having never got past this stage, English sides make up four of the top five favourites according to the bookies.

However, Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry could barely hide his disappointment at having to play the Gunners, saying: "We'd hoped to avoid an English team but an all-English tie was bound to happen and it's happened to us. At least we've avoided a trip to Turkey.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ODDS* 11/4 Barcelona 10/3 Man Utd 7/2 Chelsea 5/1 Arsenal 6/1 Liverpool 11/1 Roma 33/1 Schalke 40/1 Fenerbahce * Odds subject to change

"We're also playing Arsenal in the league in between the quarter-final legs so that will be interesting. I don't think there will be any surprises for either side in those games.

"Of course, we've noticed we might also face another English side (Chelsea) in the last four as well."

Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman added: "I think we'd have preferred European competition.

"Liverpool are a great team and are fantastic in this competition and, with three games against them in a week, I'm sure the tactics in each tie will be under close scrutiny."

"It should make for compelling viewing and, after the way we played against AC Milan, we must have a lot of belief that we can go all the way."

Meanwhile, Manchester United club secretary Ken Ramsden said: "It's a good draw for us, I think. I'm happy we're playing continental opposition and we have a good record against them.

"I'm sure the manager will also be happy that we're playing at home in the second leg so we're content with that."

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was equally happy to have avoided an English side in the draw, adding: "I'm delighted.

"There are no easy draws at this stage but we wanted to avoid an English side and we've done that.

"Despite a couple of disappointing results of late, we've complete confidence in the team and coaching staff to ensure we have a good end to the season."

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Can Liverpool Hold On?

I am not a Liverpool fan, but i like the way they play the champions league. I really don't know what makes them play the way they do when it comes to the champions league, and play differently in the premier league.
I really did not give them much chances against Inter Milan in the first leg, but they proved everybody wrong again by beating Inter 2-0 at Anfield.
With the way they played, and with their recent good form in the league, they should be able to scale through and make it 4 English clubs in the quarter finals.
So we expect to see a lot of fireworks on Tuesday.I have a feeling it going to be very close.

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Chelsea Gets The Barnsley Shocker

So booting harpless Liverpool out of the English FA Cup was not enough for Barnsley, they have done the exact same thing to Chelsea. You know, i knew an upset might be on the cards in that match, but i thought that a team like Chelsea that scores a lot of goals could pull this one off, i was wrong.
I could not believe it when i saw the clock reading only 5 minutes to the end of the game, with the Tykes a goal up. It was quite heartwarming to see a team like Barnsley, who have won the FA Cup on only 1 occasion in their entire history win yet another match, against yet another big premiership giant was quite encouraging. The last time Barnsley reached the semi-finals was in 1912 - they went on to win their one and only FA Cup that season.And if they show the sort of desire that has seen them overcome Premier League giants Liverpool and, now, Chelsea then few would bet against them picking up their second title.
Worthy of note is Portsmouth who advance after beating Man Utd 1-0 at Old Trafford, the goal was scored by Ghananian striker Sulley Muntari from the spot after Milan Baros was brought down by substitute United Keeper Tomasz Kuszczak who was promptly shown the red card.
Rio Ferdinand stepped in as make up keeper but was cleanly beaten by Muntari, what a shame.

For more FA Cup news and other football news and updates, click here

Is This The End Of And Era?

Yesterday, we saw a young Arsenal side knock out AC Milan, and today Real Madrid got eliminated from the champions league by AS Roma. One thing was glaring from both matches, both teams were beaten and eliminated on their home turf. Milan lost at the San Siro to an English side for the first time. Is this the demise of Europe's mega clubs?
Between AC Milan and Real Madrid, more than 10 European cups with Madrid winning the most. But unlike Madrid that has not won any champions league title for the past few seasons, Milan were the defending champions before they were shown the way out by Arsenal. To make matters worse, both teams are somewhat struggling in their respective leagues with Milan way off in their pursuit of leaders Inter. The pointer here is that we may not even see both teams in next season's champions league.
Oh! where at thou El Galacticos

Arsenal Stun Holders Milan

It looks like Arsenal have finally shaken off the underdogs tag, as they superbly beat holders AC Milan 2-0 in an entertaining match at the San Siro. In a match the Gunners seemingly controlled from the 20th minute of the first half, Arsene Wenger's side produced a virtuoso display but had to wait until the 84th minute before Cesc Fabregas fired in a low 30-yard finish.Emmanuel Adebayor then turned in Theo Walcott's cross in injury time to send the holders crashing out. Fabregas hit the bar in the first-half as Arsenal dominated almost throughout.It was another famous Champions League win for Arsenal in Milan, following on from their famous 5-1 win against Inter in November 2005.
Milan opened brightly, with Fabregas clearing off the line from Paolo Maldini's header at the near post, but once Arsenal found their stride they controlled the first 45 minutes in composed fashion.
Fabregas dictated affairs in midfield to even outshine Kaka, but the Brazilian escaped to set up Alexandre Pato after 18 minutes, only for the youngster to finish tamely.Arsenal were understandably furious after 32 minutes when Alexander Hleb was shown the yellow card for diving by Austrian official Konrad Plautz, even though he had been blatantly upended on the edge of the area by Alessandro Nesta.
And they were frustrated seconds later when Fabregas saw a rising drive from 20 yards rebound off the crossbar with Zeljko Kalac well beaten.Arsenal could have taken the lead seconds after the break when Fabregas's corner landed at the feet of Philippe Senderos, but he could only send an instinctive finish straight at Kalac.Emmanuel Eboue then wasted another glorious chance as Andrea Pirlo sent an awful pass straight to Adebayor. He found Eboue in space only 10 yards out, but he shot wastefully wide.Milan had faded as an attacking force, but Pirlo kept Manuel Almunia on his toes with a dipping free-kick that was turned around the post by Arsenal's keeper.Wenger made a bold substitution with 20 minutes left, sending on Walcott for Eboue.And within four minutes he almost set up a goal, only for keeper Kalac to stretch out a leg and block his cross with a collection of Arsenal players waiting to pounce.Arsenal almost paid the price for their profligacy in front of goal with 12 minutes left when Pato was only inches off target with an angled shot that took a deflection off Senderos.Arsenal finally got the goal they so richly deserved with six minutes left when Fabregas advanced and sent a low shot into the corner past the despairing dive of Kalac.And a stunning performance got the final flourish it deserved when Walcott crossed perfectly for Adebayor to turn in at the far post.

As Arsenal's players celebrated, it marked a poignant end to European combat for the great Milan icon Maldini, who won five winners' medals in this competition and is retiring at the end of this season.

Read more match reviews HERE

End Of The Road For Arsenal ?

I told a friend before Arsenal's champions league first leg tie with AC Milan that they will not advance to the next round, he argued so passionately that we placed a bet which he lost. He is a die hard Gunner. He believes that Arsenal will win every match they play. I love their smart short passes, but good football without goals will definitely land any team in hot water.
This is what Arsenal faces each time they play. When they started scoring a lot of goals this season, i thought they have realized their mistakes, but after watching their last 2 matches, i know for sure that they still have that problem. What manner of strikers turn their backs to the goal when they should shoot for goal. So much for their nonsensical style of play.
Okay, so they travel to the San Siro tomorrow to play AC Milan, veteran campaigners in the champions league, and of course the defending champions. So many are talking about the return of Robin Van Persie. I like this a guy because he is the only Arsenal player that will shoot for goal when he has to do it. For me, he is the only striker Arsenal has right now. But even he will not stop AC Milan from picking this one. History favors the Italian giants anyway.
Let me just spice this up a bit with history and recent facts.

Head-to-heads
Prior to the 0-0 draw in the first leg of this fixture, the only European encounters between Arsenal and AC Milan came in the two legs of the Uefa Super Cup 13 years ago.
They drew 0-0 at Highbury on 1 February 1995 and Milan won the return leg 2-0 at the San Siro a week later.
European history
AC Milan have won the Champions Cup four times and the Champions League three times. They are currently the defending champions, and have successfully negotiated this stage of the competition in all four seasons since it was introduced in 2003.
Arsenal's best European performances are their Fairs Cup win in 1970 and Cup Winners' Cup win in 1994. Their best performance in the Champions League was finishing as runners-up to Barcelona in 2006. The Gunners have lost at this knockout stage on two of their four appearances; Bayern Munich eliminated them in 2004-05 and PSV did the same last season.
Current European form
AC Milan have won their last four home matches in the Champions League, and are unbeaten in six at home.
Both these clubs won four, drew one and lost one of their group phase matches, but while the Gunners finishing second in Group H behind Sevilla, AC Milan won Group D.
Player and disciplinary info
Emmanuel Adebayor and Denilson (Arsenal) and Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan) will be suspended for a quarter-final match on receiving another yellow card, which ever team qualifies.
Kaka and Gattuso have played every minute in the Champions League so far. Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Daniele Bonera are the other Milan players to have appeared in every CL match this season.
Other miscellaneous facts
AC Milan drew 1-1 with Lazio on Saturday, and are unbeaten in nine Serie A matches, winning five of them. They have only conceded three goals in the nine games, and are fifth in the table.
An injury time equaliser from Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal a 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa on Saturday, and kept the Londoners one point ahead of Manchester United at the summit of the Premier League.

More Champions League Gist Here
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Nicklas Bendtner Saves Arsenal

I had thought that Aston Villa will be a very stern test for Arsenal, and so it turned out. I constantly tell Arsenal fans that fancy football with lots of ball possession do not win football matches. What is the use enjoying about 70% possession of the ball and failing to score.
Against Villa today, it was always going to be difficult. They fell behind to an own goal by Senderos from a cross by Agbonlahor just before 27 minutes. Villa looked good for a second goal and only wayward finishing by Agbonlahor prevented Villa from increasing their lead.
In a previous post, i did say that Man Utd will be on top at the end of the weekend,well as it stands,they are just a point behind the Gunners now. Meanwhile, Man Utd had a comfortable 3-0 win away to Fulham with goals from Hargreaves, Park, and an own goal by Simon Davies to complete a good win for the Red Devils.
So, after last week's blunder by Arsene Wenger's men at Birmingham, this is hardly a decent preparation for the Gunners as they travel to Milan for the second leg of their champions league tie with the Italian giants.
The heat is well and truly on for the Gunners. Can they keep their cool ?
Or, a word for Chelsea, they won 4-0 away to West Ham. By the way, Lampard was sent off for unsporting behavior. The fun is only beginning.