The 2nd coming of Arsenal; Liverpool and Chelsea destined for Europa League:

Well, well, well.
We have been here before with Arsenal...
If you do not believe me check out my Italian rant (when we lost 4-0 to Milan):


http://www.footballblogdirectory.co.uk/2012/02/thrashing-in-milan-is-it-8-years-yet.html 



Anyways:


Arsenal's Past EPL 5 Results:


Arsenal 7 Blackburn Rovers 1
Arsenal were in seventh heaven against an under-par Blackburn side. RVP (3), Chamberlain (2), Henry and Rosicky all scored for The Gunners to spark the start of the second coming of Arsenal this season.


Sunderland 1 Arsenal 2
Striker Thierry Henry capped the end of his two-month loan spell from New York Red Bulls with a header in the 89th minute to give the home side a bitter shock at The Stadium of Light.


Arsenal 5 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Van Persie, Bacary Sagna, Tomas Rosicky and (2) Theo Walcott  goals gave Arsenal a prestigious 5-2 win over hot rivals Spurs..


Liverpool 1 Arsenal 2
RVP struck twice for the away side as they beat Liverpool at Anfield.


Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 1
Defender Thomas Vermaelen scored late on for The Gunners in the 95th minute (5th of stoppage time) to give the hosts all three points at The Emirates on Monday night.


FACT: Arsenal have won 4 matches in a row, all coming back from a goal or more behind to win..


15 points and 18 goals from 5 matches.....


Don't forget the 3-0 (4-3) win against AC Milan in the Champions League Last 16 Knock-out Round.... Which was a valiant effort but not enough to kill the 7 year trophy drought....


Recent form:
(joint) 1st: Arsenal with 16 points from 6 matches, Manchester United.
12th: Tottenham with 7 points from 6 matches.


Current position:
3rd: Tottenham with 53 points
4th: Arsenal with 52 points


This means that The Gunners are only 1 point behind rivals Tottenham in automatic Champions League group stage position.

UEFA Champions League next season beckons for Arsenal and Tottenham....

Arsenal are already in advanced talks with striker Lukas Podolski to move to North-London from Cologne in the Summer (£10.9million).

Lukas Podolski: Arsenal talks are already being made, around £10.9million.

Midfield maestro Mario Gotze from Borussia Dortmund
(£35million).

Mario Gotze: Hinting on a £35million move to Arsenal....

Not to mention star player and captain Robin Van Persie with a good chance of staying at the club (if he signs a renewed contract.)


Our young talent:


Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:
Pure class midfielder who has burst into the first-team action.
Every Arsenal fan is frustrated by Arsene Wenger when this young startlet is substituted or not playing.
Caretaker England manager Stuart Pearce and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger have both highlighted that if Chamberlain continues his impressive form, then he should go to Euro 2012 without a doubt....

'The Ox': Arsenal's 18-year-old midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

You don't believe me?
Check this out:

Ryo Miyiachi:


Currently on loan at Bolton Wanderers, the winger is massively improving Bolton's squad and his own performances every match. 
He adds (a lot!) of pace and some attacking flair which has been seen against Manchester City, QPR and more.
Bolton's chances of staying up and not getting relegated this season were slim in January, until Ryo showed up. 
He assists the strikers well, and would link up well with Chamberlain at parent club Arsenal.

Ryo Miyaichi: An 19-year-old Japanese winger who has the potential for great things at Arsenal.

Liverpool and Chelsea destined for Europa League:

The last time that Chelsea won a trophy was in the 2009-10 season when they won the treble (EPL, FA Cup and Community Shield).

And as the chances of them winning something this season are slim to none, they could qualify for either the Champions or Europa League next season (Europa is more likely).

Meanwhile, Liverpool have just ended their 6 year trophy drought with a Carling Cup Final win against Cardiff (aet and pens).

Liverpool celebrate winning the Carling Cup Final after penalties against Cardiff at Wembley.

They are currently in the 6th Round of the FA Cup against Stoke City, while lieing in 7th place in the EPL table.

Next season will be in Europe for The Reds, but they will have to wait a few years before they can get back into the coveted Champions League....

Current league table positions:
5th: Chelsea with 49 points.

6th: Newcastle with 44 points.

7th: Liverpool with 42 points. (Automatically qualified for Europa League play-off Round due to success in the Carling Cup this season.) 

Chelsea vs Napoli (Aggregate 1-3): LIVE at 19:45pm, TONIGHT.

Champions League Last 16, 2nd Leg.

EPL Saturday Special LIVE:

 EPL Saturday Special:

12:45pm:

Bolton Wanderers vs QPR: LIVE

Defender Darren Pratley opened the scoring with a header after 37 minutes to give the home side the lead at half-time. Striker Djibril Cisse eqaulised for the away side, two minutes after the restart (although he was in an offside position) Defender Clint Hill scored early in the first half for QPR, but it was disallowed as the ball did not cross the line, (which it actually did). Commentator Gary Neville was very frustated, and has called for goal-line technology to sort this problem out. Ryo Miyaichi set up striker Ivan Klasnic who came off the bench to score a late goal in the 86th minute.
QPR were desperate to equalise again in the dying minutes, but Bolton shut up shop and ended up winning 2-1.


Attendance: 21,551.

Defender Darren Pratley opens the scoring for Bolton with a header after 37 minutes.

Djibril Cisse celebrates his 47th minute equaliser for QPR at The Reebok Stadium..

Striker Ivan Klasnic scores his 8th goal of the season for Bolton to win late on against QPR in the 86th minute.

Full-time:
Bolton 2 QPR 1
Bolton now move up to 16th place, 1 point ahead of QPR in 17th. 




15:00pm kick-off team news:

Aston Villa v Fulham: 

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Herd, Petrov, N'Zogbia, Ireland, Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, Heskey, Bannan, Weimann, Lichaj, Baker, Gardner.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Senderos, Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Duff, Dembele, Murphy, Dempsey, Pogrebnyak, Johnson. Subs: Stockdale, Baird, Orlando Sa, Hughes, Diarra, Etuhu, Davies.

FACT: Fulham have picked up 16 points in 2012, in the EPL - and only Manchester United (19) and Manchester City (21) have more.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers:
Wolves: Hennessey, Zubar, Stearman, Bassong, Ward, Doyle, Davis, Edwards, O'Hara, Jarvis, Fletcher. Subs: De Vries, Kightly, Ebanks-Blake, Johnson, Berra, Milijas, Foley.

Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson, Formica, Pedersen, Nzonzi, Marcus Olsson, Hoilett, Yakubu. Subs: Bunn, Givet, Dunn, Modeste, Petrovic, Goodwillie, Vukcevic.

FACT: Wolves have conceded 9 goals in the first 15 minutes of play, and scored none in that time which is a record.

FACT: Wolves have not won at home since February 2011.

Chelsea v Stoke:
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Meireles, Kalou, Drogba. Subs: Turnbull, Luiz, Essien, Romeu, Torres, Mata, Sturridge.

Interesting team line-up for Chelsea.

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Shotton, Whitehead, Diao, Fuller, Jones, Walters. Subs: Sorensen, Pennant, Upson, Delap, Crouch, Jerome, Palacios.

FACT: Stoke have only scored 3 goals against Chelsea in the last 9 meetings - to Chelsea's 20.

Sunderland v Liverpool:
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Bridge, Larsson, Colback, Gardner, McClean, Bendtner, Campbell. Subs: Gordon, Wickham, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Coates, Jose Enrique, Kuyt, Henderson, Adam, Spearing, Bellamy, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Gerrard, Carroll, Maxi, Downing, Carragher, Flanagan.

FACT: Liverpool's last fixture against Sunderland was a 1-1 draw on the first day of the season.

15:00: The 3oclock kick-offs have started.

15:04: 

Stamford Bridge,

Chelsea vs Stoke City:

The Blues are currently dominating at home... with Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross almost scoring an own goal....

15:13:

The Stadium of Light,

Sunderland vs Liverpool:

Sunderland are pressing Liverpool here..... they could score soon..

15:19:
Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea vs Stoke:
Midfielders Diao (Stoke) and John Obi Mikel (Chelsea) have both picked up yellow cards.... they now have to be careful....


15:26:
Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea vs Stoke City:
Striker Ricardo Fuller has been given a straight red card for Stoke to put them down to ten men after a late challenge on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic (violent conduct). He walks off the pitch, without any complaints.

Striker Ricardo Fuller is given a straight red card against Chelsea on his first match for Stoke since January.

Now Stoke could be in trouble without a form of strike, and this could spark Chelsea's time in the match.


15:35:
Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea vs Stoke:
Raul Meireles crosses the ball into the box for Didier Drogba who misses the ball completely along with Salomon Kalou to the relief of Stoke supporters.


15:39:
Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea vs Stoke:
Tactical substution:
Raul Meireles OFF
Juan Mata ON
I would have thought Mikel would be coming off (as he plays more defensive than Meireles)..... 
Torres is being seen warming up here...


15:42:
FACT: This is the first time that no EPL team has scored on a Saturday in the 3oclock for 42 minutes since, last season....
Very dull first half.... :(


15:43:
Molineux,
Wolves vs Blackburn Rovers:
Finally!!!! 
The first goal of the 3oclock kick-offs!
Winger David Hoilett breaks the deadlock just before half-time with a great volley down into the net for the visitors. 1-0.

Winger Junior Hoilett celebrates his breakthrough just before half-time to give Blackburn the lead against Wolves.

Hopefully now it sparks every other match....


FACT: Wolves have now failed to keep a clean sheet at home for the last 13 matches. 


15:50:
The 3oclock kick-offs are all half-time:


Chelsea 0 Stoke City 0 HT
Bolton 2 QPR 1 FT
Aston Villa 0 Fulham 0 HT
Sunderland 0 Liverpool 0 HT
Wolves 0 Blackburn 1 HT 


16:03: The 3oclock kick-offs have all started the second halves.
Hopefully there will be more goals in the second half.


16:04:
Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea vs Stoke:  
Branislav Ivanovic OFF
David Luiz ON
Ivanovic has picked up an injury for Chelsea and has had to come off for Luiz at the start of the second half.
Unlucky.


Villa Park,
Aston Villa vs Fulham:
Fulham substitution:
Danny Murphy OFF

Mahamadou Diarra ON

Diarra comes on for Murphy who had a clash in the first half which drew blood and has never looked the same....

Bloody Murphy: Forced off after a cut face injury.

16:14:

The Stadium of Light,

Sunderland vs Liverpool:

Striker Nicklas Bendtner has scored to break the deadlock for Sunderland against Liverpool! Fraizer Campbell's shot was parried against the post by Pepe Reina, but Bendtner was there to tap-in the ball. 1-0.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner strikes past Pepe Reina to break the deadlock for Sunderland against Liverpool.

FACT: This is Bendtner's 1st goal at home for Sunderland since October.
Unlucky Reina, who tried his hardest but it was not enough to keep a clean sheet today.....


16:24:
Molineux,
Wolves vs Blackburn:


Junior Holiett takes the ball at his feet from 30 yards out.... sidesteps 1 defender before hitting the ball towards goal.... GOAL!!!!!!!!!!! 2-0! Blackburn have surely sealed their win here away from home against 19th placed Wolves.
Great long-distance strike! Goal of the day?


16:27:
Stamford Bridge,
Chelsea vs Stoke City:


Striker Didier Drogba breaks the deadlock for the home side here after 68 minutes!
Juan Mata's cross went straight to him, and he went around Begovic before putting the ball into an empty net.
1-0 to Chelsea.


FACT: Didier Drogba has now scored 100 EPL goals for Chelsea.


16:33:
Some attendances have been announced:


Chelsea vs Stoke:
Attendance: 40,945


Sunderland vs Liverpool:
Attendance: 41,661


Aston Villa vs Fulham:
Attendance: 32,372


Wolves vs Blackburn Rovers:
Attendance: 26,121


16:34:
The Stadium Of Light,
Sunderland vs Liverpool:
Liverpool substitutions:
Steven Gerrard ON
Andy Carroll ON
Craig Bellamy OFF
Charlie Adam OFF
Liverpool desperate not to lose today, trying to attack with their dangerous subs...


16:47:
Molineux,
Wolves vs Blackburn:
The home crowd are been seen to be leaving the match...... No surprises there.


16:49:
Molinuex,
Wolves vs Blackurn:
The referee blows the whistle for full-time here. 
Junior Holiett wins the match for the away side, while Terry Connor and Wolves lose YET again...
FACT: This is Blackburn's first clean sheet this season.


16:52:
Aston Villa vs Fulham:
Andreas Weimann scores his first goal for Villa, as they win at home against 8th placed Fulham. 

Last-gasp winner: Weimann scores a late goal for Aston Villa against Fulham at Villa Park.

16:53:
Chelsea vs Stoke:
Full-time, Didier Drogba scores the only goal for Chelsea as Roberto Di Matteo wins his first EPL match in charge of The Blues.

Striker Didier Drogba celebrated his 100th EPL goal for Chelsea against Stoke in the 69th minute.

16:54:
Sunderland vs Liverpool:
Full-time, Nicklas Bendtner scored the only goal of the match for the home side in the 56th minute.
Sunderland move within two points of 7th place Liverpool.


16:56:
Full-times:


Sunderland 1 Liverpool 0 FT
Bolton 2 QPR 1 FT
Chelsea 1 Stoke City 0 FT
Aston Villa 1 Fulham 0 FT
Wolves 0 Blackburn Rovers 2 FT


Thank you all for reading.
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I will see you tomorrow.