Jack Wilshere May Be The Future But It’s a History Lesson Arsenal Need Most
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Jack Wilshere reckons the criticism levelled at Arsene Wenger is "a joke" but for many Arsenal's demise is no laughing matter.
Two wins out of seven in the Premier League have intensified discussions among those of an Emirates persuasion on the subject of whether the Frenchman has taken the Gunners as far as he can.
"We haven't won anything for six years and that's not good enough," Wilshere admitted to the Evening Standard. "But the criticism we get is harsh, though, especially on the boss. He has been great for Arsenal. The criticism Arsene gets is just a joke."
You would expect Wilshere to be full square behind his manager as the teenager is a real rarity at Wenger's Arsenal: a local lad deemed good enough for the first team while still a teenager.
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But inadvertently Wilshere also hit the nail on the head. Wenger has indeed been great for Arsenal but increasingly everything he has achieved is moving into the past tense. Those glory days are fading away into history, game by game, season by season.
And no-one knows that more than Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher, whose updated version of their 2008 book Arsenal: The Making of a Modern Superclub makes pertinent reading in the era of Per Mertesacker, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, even though all three were signed after it had been sent off to the printers.
The book as a whole is a story known to all football fans: unknown foreigner (or at least unknown on these shores) enjoys instant success with a decent but dull side he had inherited and goes on to create another that was much, much better before, slowly but surely, starting to lose his way.
And it is the added chapters which outline just how far Arsenal have fallen behind their rivals, and by that we don't just mean the 12 extra points that both Manchester clubs currently possess in the Premier League table, and how much Wenger, with his insistence on doing everything himself behind the scenes and picking potential over experience on the pitch, is the reason.
How many of the post-2004 personnel would have forced their way into the Invincibles side asks financial expert Fynn and fanzine editor Whitcher, who come up with the answer of Bacary Sagna (but only because Lauren wasn't that hot at right-back), Cesc Fabregas and perhaps Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie.
"How in 2010-11 could the manager believe he had a potential title-winning squad which depended upon a spine of (Manuel) Almunia, (Sebastien) Squillaci and Denilson?" they ask before pointing to statistics that show that the midfielders do not score enough (reason: Wenger's insistence on a 'tippy-tappy passing game means moves are over-elaborate) and the defence lets in too many, especially from set-pieces.
"Since when did an uncapped or immature goalkeeper and a less-than-world-class central defensive pairing anchor a championship-winning side?" they ask. Quite.
And their prediction for the future? That Wenger will never change, and, in all probability, not be forced out any time soon either, although failure to qualify for the Champions League might just prompt another few hastily-added chapters next summer.
So long as Wenger continues to keep Arsenal at the top table by not spending half as much money as their rivals then the chances are he will be allowed to carry on leading a club which has become synonymous with a brand of entertaining football similar to the Hungary side of the 1950s, the Netherlands in the 1970s and the Brazil of the 1980s.
None of whom won anything either, the book duly notes...
Arsenal: The Making of a Modern Superclub by Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher, published by Vision Sports Publishing at £8.99
Emmanuel Adebayor Discovers Dignity At Last But Will The Fans Ever Follow Suit?
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Tottenham, Champions League, Europa League (UEFA), Premier League, Football
Emmanuel Adebayor has spoken of the chants directed his way during the North London derby on Sunday as both Tottenham and Arsenal vowed to ban for life anyone proved to have been singing them.
During Tottenham's 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane, Arsenal fans directed their vitriol at the man who used to play for them but now appears in the colours of their rivals by mocking the machine-gun attack on Adebayor and his Togo team-mates in Angola last year.
That, you will recall, left three of them dead and Adebayor has now been quoted in The Sun as saying: "The songs that they sung about me were very bad but was I surprised? No. Disappointed? Yes.
"Obviously it was all meant to hurt me, to upset me, to anger me. But I am so glad I kept my dignity in the face of people behaving like that."
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True, football could do without such bad-taste chants, with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp correctly pointing out that it sent entirely the wrong message to the younger generation of supporters.
And Tottenham put out an appeal to their own support on their official website, saying: "You do not have to put up with mindless supporters who are intent on ruining your day, so use the system, report the individuals and let us take it from there."
It was the same message from Arsenal. "We do not tolerate discrimination of any sort at the club, on the pitch or in the stands. If you experience any form of discrimination at Emirates Stadium, please report this by texting 67777 or contact a matchday steward," their statement read.
All well and good but Adebayor also knows he brought the abuse upon himself by his goal-celebration antics in front of the Arsenal support when he scored for Manchester City in 2009.
That saw him run almost the full length of the pitch to reach the away support and that particular game saw him accused of deliberately kicking Robin van Persie, now the Arsenal captain, in the face.
Will Cesc Fabregas get such a reaction the first time he plays for Barcelona against Arsenal? No, of course not as the Spain midfielder was always respectful towards the fans even when he had set his mind upon a move. Samir Nasri will get some stick for choosing City's offer of a far fatter pay-packet but no-one is likely to wish him dead.
So Adebayor brought the torment upon himself in many ways. It doesn't excuse it of course, but it certainly does explain it. And therefore he does deserve credit for keeping his cool this time.
The player himself has clearly grown up. But it is churlish to expect the fans to as, let us not forget, it was the Tottenham contingent who used to give renditions of uncomplimentary songs about Adebayor and his family not so long ago.
True, references to elephants getting washed do not equate to sick death wishes but you simply have to ask Sol Campbell about how unpleasant Tottenham supporters can really be when in full voice.
Good luck, then, with the attempts to use CCTV to pin-point the perpetrators therefore but the only way you will ever get rid of the abusive chanters is to make both White Hart Lane and the Emirates Stadium corporate and family zones only.
And you can wash a lot of elephants before that will ever come to pass.
Gareth Bale’s Assessment of Arsenal’s Woes Makes Painful Reading For Arsene Wenger
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Arsenal, Tottenham, Premier League, Football
Arsene Wenger isn't known for his willingness to embrace the advice of others so it is highly unlikely he will welcome Gareth Bale's contribution to the debate about Arsenal's decline.
As if it wasn't bad enough that the Tottenham midfielder could savour a derby win, Bale reacted to his side's victory by also offering his own analysis of the problems that have afflicted Wenger's side this season.
"Arsenal have lost a few players, which makes them more beatable I think as that has damaged the way they play," he told the London Evening Standard. "We exposed that. I think keeping your best players is a massive thing. They are used to how you play and what you do. It is vitally important to do that and build your team around them."
Bale was making the comparison between Spurs' success in holding onto Luka Modric in the face of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal's inability to keep Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the club.
"It is important that we have kept him [Modric], and Arsenal were unlucky not to keep theirs," he added, before offering encouragement to Tottenham's closest rivals. "But they are still a great team. They haven't had the best of starts but I am sure they will improve.
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"They have a lot of young players who are going to grow up in the next season or two and learn a lot. I am sure they will be fine."
Losing to Spurs is painful in its own right, being forced to listen to soothing words of encouragement from the young winger must be agony for Wenger and his players. If anything is going to fire up their season, it will surely be that.
Bale has a point though, although the reason the two teams appear to be following different trajectories goes beyond the movements of Fabregas, Nasri and Modric.
Tottenham's victory was built on the midfield platform provided by Scott Parker who is maintaining the form he showed for West Ham last season. Wenger could have pursued Parker this summer but decided against it, giving Redknapp a clearer run at the player. On the evidence of the game at White Hart Lane, there was no doubt whose judgement appeared the better advised.
Equally, the performance of Emmanuel Adebayor emphasised Redknapp's knack of buying players who will make an impact on his side.
Wenger's signings have, in more recent times, been slow burners, frequently young players who will take time to mature. His batch of summer recruits include several more experienced players who have come into the team but they have so far failed to match the deficit created by the departure of Fabregas and Nasri.
Redknapp frequently claims the key to success is the players at a manager's disposal. And right now, it is hard to dispute the inference that it is the Tottenham manager who has accumulated a stronger, more stable collection of players than Wenger.
Now Or Never for Tottenham to Mount Premier League Title Challenge
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Tottenham, Premier League, Football
Harry Redknapp was talking about a Premier League title challenge for Tottenham last season until around February time, when their Champions League campaign caught up with them.
This time around they have been hampered by the London riots leading to their opening game against Everton being postponed, then the fixture computer matching them with Manchester United and Manchester City as their next two opponents.
Zero points and eight goals conceded while others had played three matches meant Spurs were playing catch-up. Not quite as bad, but they were on their way to a start similar to the "two points from eight games" that led to Redknapp being appointed three years ago.
Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor arrived before the transfer window closed and after four wins from as many league game, including the victory over Arsenal, Spurs are at the right end of the table again.
"I just felt after two or three weeks, I could see what was coming," Redknapp said. "I never went home and worried about it because I was confident.
"We had Adebayor coming in, we had Scott Parker. We had Sandro coming back. I knew we'd suddenly be a much better team."
Redknapp even believes they should not just be aiming for a top-four place that would bring a return to Champions League football. They could set their sights higher.
"We keep talking about finishing fourth but who knows. We may finish third or second - it's not impossible," he said recently.
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Why not? From the teams that finished in the top four last season, Arsenal are - by some distance - the most vulnerable to dropping out.
They lost their captain Cesc Fabregas and lost their playmaker in Samir Nasri. If the performance in the 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane is anything to go by, their defenders lost the ability attack long balls down the middle.
Elsewhere, the consequences of the Carlos Tevez row at Manchester City could still impact on their season, while Chelsea have been impressive recently without having the aura of previous campaigns.
Spurs could find themselves chasing champions United soon if they continue their current form. In their 4-0 over Liverpool they showed how much Kenny Dalglish's team have to improve to topple them.
Redknapp has a better squad this season, and it is not just because of Parker and Adebayor signing for them.
Players with little hope of getting in the first-team squad were loaned or sold, meaning the smaller squad has less disruption. Alan Hutton, Jermaine Jenas, David Bentley, Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Wilson Palacios were the ones offloaded.
For the settled team that remains, it appears it is now or never in terms of challenging United.
Redknapp's progress in three years at White Hart Lane means he is favourite to land the England job when Fabio Capello leaves at the end of the campaign.
Should that happen, changes mean it would difficult to maintain their momentum. At the moment everything is going Spurs' way and they have to take advantage.
Blackburn 0 Man City 4: Adam Johnson Helps City Move On From Carlos Tevez Saga
by FanHouse UKFiled under: Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Manchester City brushed aside all talk of Carlos Tevez and ended a difficult week on a bright note with a convincing win at Ewood Park thanks to goals by Adam Johnson, Mario Balotelli and substitutes Samir Nasri and Stefan Savic.
Balotelli stepped forward and reminded City fans that at least one controversial striker is still willing to do the business in a light blue shirt, as Roberto Mancini's side kept pace with rivals United at the top of the Premier League.
THE GOALS:
56 mins: Aleksander Kolarov's corner is headed out by Gael Givet, but only as far as Adam Johnson, who bends in a superb opener with his left foot.
59 mins: Sub Samir Nasri finds space on the right and whips in a cross which is expertly touched in at the near post by Mario Balotelli.
72 mins: Silva launches a City counter-attack which ends with Nasri cutting in from the left and drilling a deflected third past Paul Robinson.
87 mins: Another corner from the left by Kolarov was met powerfully by the head of sub Stefan Savic, who had been on the pitch for just eight minutes.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
10 mins: James Milner pulled the ball back for Mario Balotelli, who blazed over from 12 yards to the delight of the home supporters.
27 mins: Sergio Aguero limps off and is replaced by Samir Nasri.
37 mins: Balotelli gives Rovers keeper Paul Robinson a scare by bending in an effort which lands narrowly wide of the right hand post.
50 mins: Balotelli works another opening and this time curls a superb strike beyond Robinson and against the upright.
76 mins: Mauro Formica shows his quality by shooting ferociously at goal from 25-yards to force a fine save from City's Joe Hart.
REACTION:
Kean insisted he will battle on:
"After the Arsenal game, most of the fans went home happy. Today is different and the supporters aren't happy and nor are the players or me.
"But let's put into perspective -- we minimised the chances for City. David Goodwillie couldn't get to Adam Johnson's shot quick enough and before we knew it we were behind.
"They made lots of changes from midweek and had a freshness about them. After falling two behind I felt we started feeling a bit sorry for ourselves.
"I am 100 per cent determined to carry on. I'm disappointed in the manner of the goals we conceded but there are good hard-working guys in our dressing room who need support."
The Scot maintains the club's owners are still behind him:
"I would rather the fans vented their anger at me. It's certainly not enjoyable but these are my players -- even the ones I didn't bring in.
"When we get a good result I'm not the sort to take the credit for myself. I make sure the plaudits are passed on to my players.
"The owners have backed me since day I got here. I would ask the supporters who are outside holding up banners to bear with us because we can turn it round."
Coach David Platt feels the performance shows the strength in depth City possess:
"It was the result we wanted and that's what we prepared for from Thursday onwards when we returned to training after putting the Bayern game to bed.
"We know what we're blessed with.
"One of the hardest things for us is picking a starting eleven. When we have everyone fit we are still sending top players into the stands.
"It's important that we don't lose the quality of performance and we haven't."
On Aguero's groin problem:
"Sergio has a groin injury but we're not sure how bad it is. If we had a game imminently then he wouldn't play. I think we're looking at a couple of weeks out least."
On Balotelli:
"Mario has shown consistency in his performances and in his training. He's had a lot of column inches in last 12 months and all the criticism he's had is one thing, but he also deserves credit for what he does right. He showed great maturity today.
On Johnson's goal:
"Adam Johnson's goal was great -- in fact, I was right behind it. As soon as it left his foot I knew it was in. We spoke at half-time about players stepping forward to join the attack instead of playing into their hands.
"In the first half we felt there wasn't a sustained period where we thought a goal was coming, but that changed after the break. When Adam scored we felt we were getting up a head of steam and creating things."
WHAT IT MEANS: Time will tell us whether Kean is right to feel that the board are still behind but five defeats in seven matches tells its own story. City remain in ominous form, with just two points dropped in the league so far this season and 23 goals. They are only off the top of the table on goal difference.
BLACKBURN ROVERS 0 MANCHESTER CITY 4 (A Johnson 56, Balotelli 59, Nasri 73, Savic 87)
PLAYER MARKING:
Blackburn Rovers (4-3-2-1): Robinson 6; Lowe 6, Dann 6, Samba 6, Givet 6; Petrovic 5, Nzonzi 5, Pedersen 5; Goodwille 4 (Formica 61, 6), Hoilett 6; Yakubu 5
Subs: Bunn, Slew, Rochina, Vukcevic, Roberts, Hanley
Manchester City(4-4-2): Hart 7; Zabaleta 6, Kompany 7, Lescott 7, Kolarov 7; A Johnson 7 (Savic 79, 7), Milner 6, Y Toure 6, Silva 7; Balotelli 8 (Dzeko 88, 6), Aguero 5 (Nasri 27, 7)
Subs: Pantilimon, Barry, Clichy, De Jong
West Ham’s ‘Hopes’ of Carlos Tevez Reunion Are Dashed
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, West Ham, Champions League, Championship, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
At a time when the previously reclusive Paul Scholes is busy plugging his autobiography by revealing to the world he once did a Carlos Tevez on Sir Alex Ferguson another of the troubled Argentinian's former clubs has expressed the desire to end his ruined spell at Manchester City.
It's not one of his ex-South American employers desperate to do a deal like Corinthians were in the summer. No, step forward West Ham United. Currently of the Championship. As you might already have guessed, it just ain't gonna happen.
According to the Sun, the Hammers were quick to contact City in the wake of Tevez's refusal to come off the bench at Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.
The Championship club has a mountain of debt but were understood to be willing to fork out a big chunk of the forward's £250,000-a-week wages in a three-month loan deal in the knowledge that they could not be gazumped by anyone from the Premier League.
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City made it clear they were not prepared to listen so we will never know Tevez's own thoughts about swapping the Allianz Arena for the chance to play at Doncaster or Peterborough.
Tevez remains a legend at Upton Park thanks to a late flurry of match-winning goals that kept the Hammers up on the last day of the 2006-07 season but supporters will also remember his complicated third-party ownership arrangement ended costing the club millions in compensation and he quickly moved on to Manchester United anyway.
And even when he was wearing a claret and blue shirt he wasn't particularly happy as he stormed out of the ground in a huff at half-time in one game having been subbed by then-boss Alan Pardew. Some things are best left as memories and this is destined to be one.
Far more likely new destinations for Tevez now appear to be Inter Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, who are hoping the kerfuffle will have halved the player's price to around £20 million by January.
PSG are bank-rolled by rich Qataris so could easily out-bid the Italians, both of whom failed to land Tevez in the summer.
Naturally, the fact that they have umpteen internationals already has not deterred City from ear-marking a top quality replacement once Tevez is finally shown the door and Arsenal fans will not be enjoying speculation suggesting Robin van Persie is that man.
The Gunners are still reeling from losing Samir Nasri to City in August and also sold Gael Clichy to the Eastlands outfit at the emnd of last season.
Those two were both in the final year of their Arsenal contracts and Netherlands forward van Persie will be in exactly that situation at the end of this term. It is understood he is in no hurry to renegotiate and could therefore be the centre of another tug-of-war next summer.
And all because a grouchy groucho refused to run about a bit alongside a patch of grass in Germany...
Arsenal Must Act Quickly to Extend Robin Van Persie’s Contract
by John PercyFiled under: Arsenal, Premier League, Football
Life is never straightforward at Arsenal these days, and even Robin Van Persie managed to add to the uncertainty at a time when it should have all been about easing the pressure on Arsene Wenger.
Van Persie underlined his importance to the Gunners by notching his 100th goal for the club in the vital victory over Bolton but the topic of debate on Monday didn't centre exclusively on that impressive achievement.
Headlines proclaiming the Netherlands international's contract talks have been put on hold will hardly be further palatable reading for Wenger, who will have been staggered to see one newspaper on Saturday printing a poll over whether he should stay or go.
The situation with Van Persie is no immediate concern, with his current deal having another two years left to run.
But the recent messy departure of Samir Nasri after hesistancy from the Gunners board, could leave Wenger with another potential headache if he does indeed stick around for the long-term.
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Nasri was vulnerable because he had been allowed to reach the final year of his contract, forcing the board to balance any offer with the possibility he could leave for nothing in 12 months time, and history cannot be repeated if the club is to make any forward strides.
Van Persie told The Mirror: "I still have almost two years until 2013. So for the moment that's fine, but I don't know. We will have to look.
"I'm happy with my contract, I'm good. That's how it is, I can't say much more. I can't look into the future.
"The main thing for me is the team and that we play well. I do believe you have to look for a right moment to sit down and speak about your own stuff. It's not only about me, it's about the team.
"I don't want to give the wrong message to speak about my own stuff while the others are a bit more important. I can't say we are talking now because we are so busy - we have games every three or four days."
Wenger is desperate to tie down one of his few remaining prized assets and will want to accelerate talks to prevent another high-profile departure.
The inference is fairly clear from Van Persie, however. He will want an indication that Arsenal are going places before committing himself to a longer deal.
Manchester City 2 Everton 0: Mario Balotelli Ends City’s Everton Blues
by Graham ChaseFiled under: Everton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Mario Balotelli came off the bench to score the goal that ended Manchester City's miserable run against Everton and maintain the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table.
Everton, who had beaten City in seven of their last eight matches, looked set to frustrate Roberto Mancini's side and take a point until Balotelli came on to score his first Premier League goal of the season before James Milner added a second late on.
THE GOAL
67 mins: Sergio Aguero drifts in-field and pulls back for Balotelli, who finds the bottom corner from 20 yards.
88 mins: David Silva slips a pass through for Milner to double the advantage.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
4 mins: Jack Rodwell tries his luck from 20 yards as Everton dominate the early possession.
10 mins: Samir Nasri drills wide with a cross-shot from the edge of the box.
18 mins: Aguero clips a shot just past the top corner after being picked out by Yaya Toure's pass.
33 mins: Edin Dzeko clips a shot high and wide from a Micah Richards cross.
37 mins: Dzeko drives wide shortly after Gareth Barry has a shot saved.
49 mins: Leon Osman has a shot saved in a rare Everton attack.
54 mins: Tim Cahill glances a header wide from Seamus Coleman's cross.
69 mins: Silva hits the post after Balotelli's cross picks out the Spaniard.
REACTION:
Mancini was pleased with his team's patience:
"We played a fantastic game against a strong team, I'm really happy.
"It's better but it was difficult because we played very well and Everton defended all the game behind the ball, it wasn't easy for us to find a solution, this game was really difficult but over 90 minutes, in the end we deserved to win and I'm very pleased with my players."
On Balotelli:
"Mario didn't play for three or four games but he worked well and didn't say anything and waited for this moment. I enjoyed it for him, he scored an important goal. Now it's important that he continues to improve.
"I needed player that can also play wide because we needed to open their defence and Carlos stayed there and because Mario can play against Munich on Tuesday.
"Mario is a good guy, After his behaviour is so so but he's a good guy he likes Manchester City and English football and he was really happy, Sometimes when he scores he's unhappy but he knew that was an important goal.
"I'm sure because we improved from last year and I'm happy that Mario can improve in the team."
Vincent Kompany told Sky Sports that City were rewarded for failing to panic:
"We showed a lot of positive things and we're really happy with the performance.
"Maybe on any other day we might have got frustrated but they did exactly what Napoli did and it wasn't' a surprise.
"With the quality we have sometimes it's just a matter of patience and the goal will come.
"Maybe we didn't impress but we did what we needed to do and it's another step forward."
David Moyes made no apologies for his team's approach at the Etihad Stadium:
"We've seen them have some big results against some good teams so we were going to do what was right for Everton to get a result.
"We did a lot of really good things and for long period we kept them at bay."
On Rodwell man-marking Silva:
"It was important that we did because we did a job on David Silva and did it well, He's a big part of what they do, the biggest part, and we did a good job on him."
On Cahill's injury after a challenge with Kompany:
"It looks like it's just a bruised shin but it was a terrible tackle foot goes right on his shin, it was disappointing it wasn't spotted."
On City:
"They've got a really talented team, an excellent team, can change play really good team. They will be contenders, no doubt."
WHAT IT MEANS: After last weekend's draw at Fulham, this was a key test and City had to stick to their game-plan to find a way through. Many teams will come to the Etihad Stadium and play like this but few will do it better than Everton so it was significant that City still came away with the victory. Everton can take plenty of credit for their stubborn performance and this may be the way Moyes has to approach such fixtures until he can add a striker in January.
MANCHESTER CITY (Balotelli 68, Milner 88) 2 EVERTON 0
Man City v Everton Preview: Roberto Mancini Seeks First Win Against Toffees
by Darren WitcoopFiled under: Everton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: ETIHAD STADIUM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011. KICK OFF: 1245 BST
Given their well publicised financial woes, few Premier League clubs would swap their boardroom position for Everton's.
Yet when it comes to facing Manchester City on the pitch, there would be no shortage of takers seeking the secret to their winning formula.
After achieving an unlikely double last season, David Moyes has enjoyed five wins from the last six games against the cash-rich club.
It's a record nobody in the top-flight can rival. In this meeting between the haves and the have nots, then there is no doubt that Everton has repeatedly struck a blow for the underdog.
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Manchester City continue to spend money freely - while Everton's resources see them forced into the bargain bucket of the loan market.
But as Moyes' side have proven, there's no substitute for a good work ethic and strong team spirit. And Mancini's side can testify to this, having been on the receiving end in recent times more than most.
Key Match-Up: Vincent Kompany v Tim Cahill: Kompany hasn't hit the heights of last season and he will have to be on his guard with Cahill's marauding runs from midfield. The Australian has the knack of find the net against most teams, but he seems to thrive more than most against Manchester City. He has scored four times in total against them, including last season's opener in their 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Form Guide: Manchester City dropped their first league points of the season last time out, letting slip a two-goal advantage to draw at Fulham. Everton's financial woes have been well documented, but they have not let off-field troubles disrupt their start and lie in seventh spot.
Odds: Manchester City 2/5, Everton 6/1, Draw 7/2
MANCHESTER CITY:
Mancini is understandably keen to end Everton's hoodoo over Manchester City.
He said: "In football it can happen. But it's time to change that.
"We deserved to beat them twice last year. But they are a strong team who work to the end.
"They have good players and a good manager.
"Everton, for me, are one of the best teams in the Premier League. They work from the first minute to 95 minutes. They have good players."
Owen Hagreaves' Carling Cup debut for Manchester City, and his subsequent claim he was treated like a "guinea pig" by former club Manchester United, has hogged the headlines.
But the return of Kolo Toure, after a serving a six months drugs ban, has largely gone unnoticed.
And Mancini said: "It wasn't easy for Kolo as it was his first game back against Birmingham.
"He is an experienced player, and he could play in one of the next two games."
Strategy: Mancini will be desperate to lift the Everton curse and the best way to ease any doubts, given their poor run against them, will be an early goal. If Everton take the lead, those doubts could creep back in. So expect Manchester City to start well and look to open up an advantage - and then ensure they don't squander a lead like they did at Fulham.
Injury Update: Nigel de Jong (foot) is close to a return after a six-week absence. But Adam Johnson (ankle) has emerged as an injury doubt while Hargreaves won't be risked.
EVERTON:
Tim Howard is confident the spirit and determination oozing through Moyes' side will again see them triumph against the world's richest club.
The financial gulf between the two clubs could not be more different, with Moyes forced to endure a summer of financial restraint while Mancini drafted in the likes of Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero.
Yet Moyes' team are looking for a fifth straight win at City - a remarkable achievement considering where the two clubs are placed in football's rich list.
And Howard believes the Toffees can again upset their big-spending hosts after last season's eye-catching 2-1 win at City.
"Manchester City will be a difficult task," said the United States international keeper.
"But we need to go there and dig in and be resilient. It has worked for us in the past. Last season you could see the elation on all the players' faces. It was such a cold night and our fans were out in their thousands.
"That win really galvanised the club.
"I think that players and fans really embraced that win and it showed that it is not all about money. It is about performance and spirit. We talked about having spirit but we proved it that night."
Strategy: This is the start of a daunting run of fixtures for Everton but you can bet that Moyes and his players are relishing the forthcoming games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. They head to City in confident mood after a five-match unbeaten run. City have scored seven without reply in their two home league games this term. But Everton have players in the shape of Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell who are capable of creating their own problems.
Injury Update: Victor Anichebe remains sidelined with a groin injury while Louis Saha could be available after being left out of the last two squads.
With Friends Like These Arsene Wenger Makes It Clear He Prefers Enemies
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Carling Cup, Premier League, Football
A vote of confidence AND a clamour to get someone else in to sort out his defence? No wonder Arsene Wenger, currently presiding over Arsenal's worst start to a season in 58 years, was at his tetchiest after the 3-1 defeat of Shrewsbury.
Which had seen the League Two side take the lead and go close to doubling it in front of swathes of empty seats at the Emirates Stadium...
Of course the Gunners - a completely changed side from the one that had shipped four goals at Blackburn - came through in the end and Wenger will be hoping the game was a 90-minute premonition of the season as a whole: a bad start over-turned comfortably enough in the end.
Certainly there was much to cheer those who did comprise the Emirates Stadium's lowest attendance - and let's not forget there were more than 46,000 of them, a figure, like Arsenal's Champions League qualification record, that so many other clubs can only dream of.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a fine goal on his full debut and midfielder Francis Coquelin, having been thrown in at the deep end in the 8-2 thrasing at Manchester United, was impressive enough to suggest he will be given plenty more opportunities in the Premier League.
But with chief executive Ivan Gazidis having given him vocal backing that was inevitably going to be translated into football-speak as 'the dreaded vote of confidence' Wenger wasn't happy.
"There is no issue about Arsene leaving," Gazidis said. "We are in a culture where things are easily discarded, and if this club were to give up the fundamentals that have made it so strong we would do ourselves more damage."
Former Highbury favourite and now Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson was very clear on exactly why the Gunners would not fire Wenger. "You don't sack someone who makes you money," he declared, referring not only to the Champions League cash but the amounts banked for the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri as well.
Wenger doesn't mind pundits having their say so long as he can ignore it but when your chief executive starts spouting opinions however well-meaning then inevitably it was time for some typically withering Gallic scorn.
"My record? I have just managed 14 years at this club and I have kept them 14 years in the Champions League and I wish it lasts another 14 years," Wenger said.
"Whether I work here for the next ten years for the club or the next day I will let others assess the situation. I focus on doing well for the club. And I must tell you something, I'm not bothered at all by all this speculation, not at all.
"I am completely focused on doing well. I can understand that people are unhappy and criticise but you know as well as I know people are very quick to go overboard.
"I accept critics and I do not say it doesn't matter that people criticises us, I prefer it like anybody else when they say I am good. But you cannot complain when you lose a game and you are criticised.
"When we do well we take all the plaudits so we have to take as well all the blame when it doesn't go as well. But we have as well on both sides take some distance.
"When it goes well we must not completely believe what people say and when it does not go as well, we must not completely believe it."
Yes, but how about bringing in Tony Adams or Martin Keown as a defensive coach then Arsene?
"I've just completed 32 years of coaching," snapped Wenger in response. "I don't want to answer this kind of question."
Somebody certainly needs to provide an answer though, don't they Arsene?
Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal Preview: Gunners Look to Per Mertesacker
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP F, SIGNAL IDUNA PARK, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13 2011. KICK-OFF: 1945 BST
"When you look back when we travelled to Udinese everyone expected us to win the game and we did, we want the same against Dortmund." So says Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, who, not for the first time, appears to see things a little differently to everyone else.
Everyone expected Arsenal to beat Udinese? Not that I recall - Arsenal's form was so patchy and ill-disciplined that they appeared to be ripe for early elimination. It was the 8-2 loss at Manchester United that caught everyone by surprise as few had expected the Gunners to concede more than four or five...
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Actually, Wenger usually has the last word and when it comes to the Champions League Arsenal are always there and always get through the group stage as well. So win, lose of draw in Germany against Borussia Dortmund, the Gunners will probably still be in the competition come February.
Key match-up: Robert Lewandowski v Per Mertesacker. Lewandowski is one of a number of Poles in the Dortmund squad so Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will have provided the lowdown on them. And new signing Mertesacker, the hugely experienced Germany defender who has just played for his nation agains the attacker, will tell the Gunners about everything else before protecting the goal during the match. "Mertesacker knows the stadium well and German football well," Wenger confirmed. "He is strong and talks, he communicates."
Form guide: Arsenal have little to speak of domestically but at least they managed to scape a win at home to Swansea City at the weekend. They do have a 100% record in the Champions League however, having won both legs of their qualification clash with Udinese, and the German champions aren't having much fun at the moment either as Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Hertha Berlin pushed them down to 11th. It was their first home defeat in 18 games however.
Odds: Dortmund 6/5, Arsenal 9/4, draw 12/5
ARSENAL:
As well as Lewandowski, Dortmund have two other Poland internationals in their pool in Jakub Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek so naturally there was plenty of banter involving Szczesny during the international break.
"They are a very good side and I have three very good friends who play for them," the goalkeeper told arsenal.com. "There was a little bit of banter in the national team going on between us. Out of the three of them I think two will be playing. The one who was loudest will be on the bench I think!
"All I want to say is that after the game I hope I will be the one who comes out on top. They can't get in my head, I will be focused."
This time last year the Gunners strolled to a 6-0 home success over SC Braga, who were overawed by making their Champions League debut so Tuesday's clash could hardly be more of a contrast.
"It will be very important to start the Champions League with a win," Szczesny added. "I'm confident with the players we have that we can build on Saturday's result and make sure we get the right result on Tuesday.
"Hopefully we can go there and get three points at such an exciting venue. There's going to be about 75,000 people there and it will give us a lot of confidence to do that. We're going to keep going. I believe we proved on Saturday that it is a very good side. We put in a good performance, kept a clean sheet and got the three points."
Strategy: Wenger is convinced the effort required to get past Udinese to qualify for the Champions League had a negative impact on the Premier League campaign, which reached a 100-year low point when they were thrashed 8-2 at Manchester United as soon as Samir Nasri had joined Cesc Fabregas through the exit door.
The Frenchman was hopeful a positive result in Dortmund would act as a much-needed confidence booster however. "The Champions League qualifiers had a big impact on our Premier League performances," he said.
"I think we were disturbed by two things - the players who were not with us and the two Udinese games had an impact on our games against Liverpool and United. We have a big game on Tuesday against a very big side. It's a massive game and a chance to show what we can do. It's a first big test."
Mertesacker wasn't the only debutant against Swansea as Mikel Arteta, Fabregas' replacement in the middle of the park, also started and Yossi Benayoun came off the bench, which is where fellow newcomers Park Chu Young and Andre Santos remained. The latter looks a decent bet to make a debut on Tuesday.
Injury update: Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere are the most missed of the injury absentees, with Abou Diaby and Sebastien Squillaci also in the treatment room. Midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been forced out with an ankle problem and Tomas Rosicky hasn't travelled either because of a knee niggle.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND:
Jurgen Klopp's squad was given a wake-up call from general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke, who is not impressed with already falling five points behind Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen.
"We have to go about our business differently," he told the Bild newspaper. "We have in the coming days the time and opportunity to bring more sharpness and aggression into our game."
Mertesacker was not prepared to underestimate them however. "Dortmund were the best team in Germany last year, they do a good job passing the ball and have great players," he said.
"It will be difficult for us but I know we have very good players and I'm confident we can get a result. Dortmund are the toughest opponent in our group, so we will be very happy if we can take something from this match."
Man City 3 Wigan 0: Sergio Aguero Hat-Trick Maintains City’s Flying Start
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Manchester City, Wigan, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Sergio Aguero hit a stunning hat-trick to maintain Manchester City's flying start to the campaign as Roberto Mancini's side warmed up for their Champions League debut with another impressive victory.
City entertain Napoli on Wednesday on the back of a fourth straight league win this season after an Aguero-inspired success.
The Argentinian opened the scoring in the 13th minute before two goals in the space of six second-half minutes earned him the match ball.
It should have been more as Carlos Tevez missed a penalty on his return to the side while Micah Richards and Vincent Kompany both rattled the woodwork.
THE GOALS
13mins: That's four goals in four league games for Aguero since his £38 million move from Atletico Madrid after firing through the legs of Maynor Figueroa following a delightful move involving Tevez and David Silva. (1-0)
63mins: Substitute Samir Nasri marks his home debut by teeing up Aguero to tuck home his second. (2-0)
68mins: And there's Aguero's hat-trick. A neat finish after Silva's delicious pass. (3-0)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
4mins: Adam Johnson is presented with a glorious opportunity to mark his return to the side with a goal, but the unmarked winger is wasteful as he fires high over the bar following Gael Clichy's cross.
9mins: Good save by keeper Ali Al Habsi, who is alert to Silva's 20-yard effort after being teed-up by the busy Johnson.
11mins: Joleon Lescott heads Kompany's goalbound header over the Wigan bar from almost point-blank range.
17mins: Penalty to City after Silva is fouled by Adrian Lopez. But Tevez fails to take advantage as his weak attempt is kept out by Al Habsi.
27mins: A defence-splitting ball by Tevez leaves Richards with only the keeper to beat yet the defender can only hit the woodwork.
35mins: The Wigan bar is rattled again. This time Kompany heads against the post and then Lescott cannot divert Richards' driven cross over the line.
59mins: A let off for City as Joe Hart keeps out Hugo Rodallega's shot after a fine run by Victor Moses.
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REACTION
Mancini insisted there is still room for improvement from his side despite a fourth win in four games:
"We had about 15 chances in the first half and only scored one goal. This is a problem because the game can change at any moment. All the players played every well. But if we want to stay at the top for a long time then we need to improve."
On Aguero's hat-trick:
"He played very well but so too did all my players. I enjoyed watching it because I like it when we play football very well."
On fatigue in his squad:
"The players are so tired. Some of them have played two games for the national team and need to recover over the next three days. Carlos (Tevez) is not 100 per cent fit at this moment, but I am happy for him because for me he played very well. He linked well with Sergio. It was important for him to start and play well. Maybe in two or three days time he will be 100 per cent."
On the prospect of taking on Europe's elite in the Champions League:
"We need to be calm. It is important to improve every game. We have players who play very well but to arrive at the top we need time. We need to improve as a team."
On Napoli:
"It will be a hard game. It will be the first time that we have played in the Champions League. It will be an exciting night. Napoli are a good team and the first group game is always difficult."
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admitted his side had been well beaten:
"I can't complain about the result but we kept going. We were not expected to come here and win but we can learn lessons from this."
On the importance of bouncing back quickly:
"I'm glad that we have a game so soon. It will give us a chance to respond."
WHAT IT MEANS
Played four, scored 15. The City juggernaut rolls on after a result that ensured City made headlines for the right reasons after the controversy over Garry Cook's resignation as chief executive. This was just the result - and performance - that Mancini had demanded ahead of his team's Champions League debut. Aguero will get the headlines but Silva and Tevez, despite his spot kick failure, were also impressive. No one will fancy facing City in this form. Wigan will be pleased to return to action so quickly on Tuesday in the Carling Cup. The Crystal Palace tie will at least give Martinez's side a chance to return to winning ways after such a comprehensive defeat.
MANCHESTER CITY 3 (Aguero 13, 63, 69) WIGAN 0
PLAYER MARKING:
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart 7; Richards 7, Kompany 7, Lescott 7, Clichy 7; Y Toure 7 (Razak 80), Milner 7; Johnson 7, Silva 7, Aguero 9 (Balotelli 71, 6); Tevez 7 (Nasri 61, 7).
Subs (not used): Pantilimon, Zabaleta, K Toure, Dzeko.
Wigan (4-1-4-1): Al Habsi 7; Boyce 6 (Stam 60, 5), Caldwell 6, Lopez 5, Figueroa 6; Watson 6 (Crusat 70, 5); Rodallega 6, Diame 6, McArthur 6, Moses 6; Di Santo 6 (Gomez 70, 5).
Subs (not used): Kirkland, McCarthy, Sammon, Jones.
ATTENDANCE: 46,509
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson
NEXT UP:
- Manchester City v Napoli (home), Champions League Group A, 14/09, 1945 BST
- Wigan v Crystal Palace (away), Carling Cup Second Round, 13/09, 2000 BST
Andrei Arshavin Talks a Good Game But When Will He Next Play One?
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Sunderland, Euro 2012, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
You can rely on the international break for a foreign footballer to say something interesting and most of these revelations, once they have been translated for speedy repackaging to the UK, are usually either eyebrow-raisingly indiscreet or entertainingly self-deluded.
A few years ago, your average international import might, on being quizzed by a few friendly journalists on his his return to his homeland, might complain about his club manager not giving him enough respect/playing time (delete where applicable) of hint that the people of England/Scotland/Wales, including almost all of his team-mates and every female in a 50-mile radius, drinks more than he had previously imagined humanly possible.
That would be more often than not followed by a hasty denial on his return to the British Isles, claiming his actual words had been 'lost in translation' at some point on the journey.
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Now, it seems, you get a better quality of international break musings. Or at least you do with Andrei Arshavin of Russia and Arsenal, who will be hoping to help his nation move closer to Euro 2012 qualification at the Republic of Ireland's expense before resuming bench-warming duties at the Emirates Stadium.
Where, he has revealed, he has been engaging in insightful conversations on the Gunners' prospects with fellow under-performer Nicklas Bendtner. In which he claimed that losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri was "catastrophic" as neither could be replaced. Which will be sure to go down well with Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun, the men signed on deadline day to replace them.
"At the moment, losing Fabregas and Nasri is a catastophe,' Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport-Express. "Watching the Udinese match I said to Bendtner that now we have no-one so comfortable with passing the ball to Robin van Persie or who ideally utilises the qualities of the other forwards.
"He smiled and replied, "Yes, the only player who could properly replace Cesc is probably Xavi". I'm very glad that I was able to play in the same team as Fabregas - he is a truly class footballer.
"When people say no-one is irreplaceable I don't agree. With Arteta or whoever replaces those who have left, we will play different football, not as we played with Cesc and Samir."
Arshavin did give a thumbs up to the recruitment of defenders Per Mertesacker from Borussia Dortmund and Andre Santos from Fenerbahce but lost potential brownie points with Arsene Wenger by insisting his manager should have also added Rennes' Yann M'Vila to bolster the midfield.
"I know a bit about Mertesacker, he is a good defender who should definitely help us," he added. "I know nothing about Andre Santos other than that he plays for Brazil - but this in itself shows credentials.
"Arteta and Benayoun have long proved themselves in the Premier League, they're not bad signings. And we needed strengthening in those positions. Perhaps another holding midfielder wouldn't have hurt and, as far as I know, we were trying till the last minute to get M'Vila, but unfortunately we weren't able to buy him."
One piece of business Wenger was able to do before the transfer window closes was to send Bendtner out on loan to Sunderland and he could be forgiven for wishing he had packed Arshavin off somewhere as well.
Does the Russian appreciate the irony of having pontificated about his team's strengths and weaknesses from the vantage point of the bench, where the players who are not good enough to make the starting line-up must sit? Perhaps that is too difficult to translate from the original Cyrillic script but the view of most Arsenal supporters isn't difficult to guess. They would prefer it if Mr Arshavin put in more impressive performances on the pitch at some point in the near future.
As for Bendtner, he was on the end of an international duty flaming himself, from Havard Nordtveit, the Norway defender who wasn't even good enough to make even a handful of appearances while at Arsenal.
The 21-year-old, who is now at Borussia Monchengladbach, was happy to tell Danish channel TV2 Sport how unlovable Bendtner was - and lazy too.
"You could not say much to him because it doesn't take much for him not to like you,' he said. "He has his own way of doing things, but he could have made more of an effort in training when he was at Arsenal.
"It was disappointing for Bendtner to have so little time on the field in the last half year but Arsene Wenger always wants to play with his best players and that's what he did."
I wonder if Wenger's best player pool will include Arshavin this weekend. We shall soon find out.
North London Succumbs to the Irresistable Power of Manchester
by Brian GlanvilleFiled under: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Premier League, Football
Well might poor, assailed Arsene Wenger say with Richard III, "Now all occasions do conspire against me". Alex Ferguson - generously sympathetic after his belated return to BBC television's Match of the Day after seven obstinate years - was in something of a minority. By and large, the Gunners' manager was pilloried for this teams abysmal collapse and 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford. Yet what could have been expected when his team was in tatters?
Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri (no, of course he didn't move for the money) have been sold and lost. Alex Song, Gervinho, splendid at Udinese, and Emmanuel Frimpong, talented but rash, were all suspended. Jack Wilshere, the motor of the midfield, (England need him) was injured, as were the full backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs. To add insult to injuries, you might say, who was forced to drop out, unfit, on the verge of the match, but the true bulwark of the central defence, Thomas Vermeulen, leaving the suspect Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny flimsily there. Francis Coquelin, and obscure young reserve, was pressed into premature service in midfield. Though it is all too embarrassingly true to say that such experienced internationals as Tomas Rosicky and Andrei Arshavin shamefully contributed little or nothing. How long will Wenger's patience with them last? Given the departures of key players, there was never any real hope that the Gunners could win the Championship, after six years without a trophy, but now, all hope of that is surely gone. Yet the group they find themselves in now that they've breathlessly qualified for the coming stages of the European Cup is hardly beyond their taking second place to the formidable Borussia Dortmund.
It may seem strange to believe that Tottenham's 5-1 demolition at White Hart Lane by Manchester City was a worse blow to Spurs then Arsenal, their North London rivals, suffered at Old Trafford. Yet where the Gunner put out a team of threads and patches, Tottenham were at full strength and were still annihilated by Manchester City. A team whose access to untold millions from Abu Dhabi has enabled it to build up a glittering squad which will inevitably excel in the Premier League.
A team which can snatch Nasri from Arsenal, Sergio "Kun" Aguero from Atletico Madrid, can now find the powerful Edin Dzeko firing goals rather than blanks, can afford to leave the prolific Carlos Tevez on the bench, can hardly do anything but dominate. As for Spurs, Harry Redknapp, their manager, spoke with ill-concealed bitterness of the way his key creator Luka Modric has been undermined by Chelsea's declared, persisting interest, so that he didn't even wish to play against City.
Chelsea are the other plutocratic club which has utterly unbalanced what I still call the Greed Is Good League. It's something of a consolation that with all their vast expenditure, they at least have looked oddly mediocre so far under their voluble new 33 year old coach, Andre Villas-Boas. Who may well succumb as his predecessor; Carlo Ancelotti did, to what might be called the curse of Fernando Torres. Rashly brought for £30 million clearly at the behest of the Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich, but still, alas firing blanks. Villas-Boas is hardly short of self-confidence, but so far, his words have been more impressive than his team's performance.
Grading the Transfer Window: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Bolton, Chelsea
by FanHouse UKFiled under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Chelsea, Premier League, Football, Team Reviews, Transfer News
The final hours of the transfer window were met with the usual feeding frenzy of shocks, sightings, rumours and tales of helicopters ferrying bewildered players from training ground to training ground.
Not every club was involved in last minute brinksmanship and there were some managers who were able to sit back and watch the fun unfold while taking an occasional peep through their office blinds at the windswept Sky Sports News reporter positioned on the pavement outside, just in case.
Yet no matter how clubs chose to do their business, the outcome was the same; three months of trading had come to an end and between now and the end of January, what you see on the back of your matchday programme is what you get.
So who were the winners and losers after the latest round of that peculiar version of fantasy football that's actually played with real money?
We think some managers have every reason to feel smug while others face an anxious wait to see whether their gambles have come off and here in our first instalment of club by club reports, FanHouse UK looks at the dealings of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea and decide whether they have passed or failed the transfer test.
In part two, we look at the dealings of Everton, Fulham, Manchester City and Manchester United. Read it here.
ARSENAL
Arsenal supporters have not seen a deadline day like it - but then again nor had they previously needed to. One by one their favouries left the Emirates Stadium without being replaced in one of the most frustrating summers in the club's history. The losses of Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri were lamented, the removal of fringemen Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson less so and it all added up to a last-minute frenzy. Per Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta looked to be exactly what the Gunners needed but the jury is likely to remain out for a while on Gervinho, Yossi Benayoun, Andre Santos and Park Chu-young however, while Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are currently immune to censure because of their lack of years.
Highlight: Getting a player of the quality of Arteta to come at the eleventh hour - and a player of Mertesacker's quality to come at all.
Lowlight: The long, drawn-out agony of Fabregas and Nasri's departures. Why did it all take so long, Arsene? Why the late rush to replace?
Grade: In the end a pass, just: C
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ASTON VILLA
Alex McLeish has been forced to tread a financial tightrope as Randy Lerner attempts to slash the wage bill, however the Scot has still succeeded in bringing in some quality additions on a limited budget. The window began badly for Villa with crown jewels Ashley Young and Stewart Downing departing. The pair will be missed, of that there is no doubt, the question is exactly how much. Charles N'Zogbia and Jermaine Jenas should help fill that void, while Alan Hutton and Shay Given are younger and equally accomplished replacements for Brad Friedel and Luke Young. Question marks linger, however, over the size of the squad following the release of a raft of players, including Nigel Reo-Coker and John Carew.
Highlight: Persuading Given to join in a bargain £3.5 million move.
Lowlight: On the basis of his early United form, Ashley Young will be a huge miss.
Grade: B-minus
BOLTON WANDERERS
Owen Coyle bolstered his attacking options with two new deadline-day signings arriving at the Reebok - but it was the man who stayed put who quite rightly snatched all the headlines. England defender Gary Cahill, despite strong interest from Tottenham, remains a Bolton player and for Coyle that must feel as good as a new arrival. The Bolton manager refused to budge on his valuation of the player, rejecting straight cash as well as the likes of Sebastian Bassong and David Bentley in part exchange. In the end, the only business done was the £4 million capture of David N'Gog and the loan signing of Chelsea winger Gael Kakuta, who joined recent acquisition Tuncay. And even though long-term target Shaun Wright-Phillips opted to head down south, Coyle was the real winner in keeping hold of Cahill until January.
Highlight: Somehow keeping Cahill out of the clutches of the rest - despite Bolton's highly publicised debt problems.
Lowlight: Seeing Wright-Phillips opt for QPR ahead of the Reebok.
Grade: B
BLACKBURN ROVERS
No Kaka. No Ronaldinho. No David Beckham. No Raul. But Scott Dann's £7.7 million eleventh hour arrival from Birmingham has at least proved that Blackburn can attract talent. Dann might not be as high-profile as some of the targets the club's Indian owners Venky's have failed to lure to Ewood Park. But he is still something of a coup while Yakubu's arrival from Everton is more of a gamble. However, the 28-year-old is unlikely to be worse than Roque Santa Cruz, who failed to score in 10 appearances on loan in the second half of last season.
Highlight: In addition to Dann's arrival, El Hadji Diouf's departure is a plus.
Lowlight: Targeting Raul and ending up with egg on their face - again.
Grade: C