Entries from February 2004 ↓

Robert Pires and Thierry Henry each scored before four minutes had passed at Highbury this afternoon, and that was enough to see Arsenal defeat Charlton 2-1.Arsenal were on fire in the opening minutes, and on top of the two goals that were actually scored, the Gunners had several close chances for a third.

Charlton pegged one back after a brilliant, curling free-kick by Claus Jensen just made it over the jumping wall and fooled Jens Lehmann in the 60th minute. They threatened again in the dying moments of the match, Jonatan Johansson’s overhead kick hitting the post in the just the right spot that it bounced out of harms way.

Arsenal now have a day or so to rest before returning for training to prepare for next Saturday’s FA Cup 6th round tie at Portsmouth.

The match in being broadcast by Setanta via PPV here in the States, but due to the 1 PM ET kickoff, it will only be available at pubs and various restaurants.

So, a tough test passed against a much improved Charlton side, and now there are only eleven league matches to go. ManUre drew at Fulham today, so the Gunners’ lead at the top is now nine points. Arsenal were at this point last year, and it all slipped away. Here’s hoping they’ve learned the lessons of last season.

Here’s the BBC’s version of today’s events:

2 - 1

Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run and extended their Premiership lead to nine points with a hard-fought win.

Robert Pires hit his 50th Arsenal goal, slotting home from close range to open the scoring in the second minute.

Two minutes later, Patrick Vieira crossed from the left for the unmarked Thierry Henry to convert.

Charlton, under the cosh for the first-half, clawed one back through Claus Jensen’s fine free-kick and Jonatan Johansson hit the post late on.

But Arsenal should have killed the game off long before Jensen’s strike after producing a breathtaking 20-minute spell at the start of the match.

However, for all their exquisite passing and movement, two goals were all Arsenal had for their dominance of the first half.

And they nearly paid a heavy price when Johansson narrowly failed to equalise when his overhead kick hit the post in the dying moments.

Warning had been served previously when Graham Stuart misdirected a header in front of an open goal with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Arsenal had started the game at breakneck pace and their fluid football soon brought its reward.

After approximately 20 passes and some smart exchanges involving most of the Arsenal team, Freddie Ljungberg provided the killer pass for Pires to notch his landmark goal.

Charlton’s left-sided weakness was then exposed moments later, this time Arsenal skipper Vieira rampaging down the flank.

When he centred, Henry had plenty of time to pick his spot and double Arsenal’s lead.

For the next 20 minutes Charlton simply chased shadows and a cricket score looked on the cards.

But Arsenal, and Edu in particular, opted for long-range efforts at goal and their cutting edge began to fade.

Nevertheless, Charlton would have been relieved to reach the interval just two goals down.

And the visitors emerged from the break evident on making the most of their reprieve.

Matt Holland and Jensen began to compete in midfield, where previously Vieira and Edu had ran the show almost unchallenged.

And it was Jensen who gave his side hope, as well as reward for their durability, when he made the most of a contentious free-kick decision for a foul on Paolo di Canio.

As Arsenal protested, Jensen fired his shot into the corner of the goal via the woodwork.

The goal buoyed Charlton and they pushed forward in search of a share of the points.

They very nearly got it, as they took advantage of Arsenal’s complacency, but were ultimately denied by the frame of the goal.

Will stay on as President/GM

Bowing to increasing fan pressure Rangers Head Coach/President/GM Glenn Sather has decided to give up his coaching responsibilties, choosing instead to focus on his President/GM duties. A replacement has not yet been named, but regardless of who’s chosen, it’s quite clear that barring a miracle, the Rangers will miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season.

One word sums all of this up: PATHETIC.

…but there may be a single out in June…

.According to the top-notch fansite, @U2, the latest reports from Dublin indicate that the long awaited follow-up to 2000’s “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” will in fact not be coming out this spring like many had thought. The earliest estimates now put the release date for some time in late summer/early fall, most likely September. It’s hard to say what exactly the change in release dates does to plans for a world tour. Perhaps the band will start things off in the southern hemisphere and work their way up as the weather improves on this side of the equator.

In other news, rumor is rampant that there will be a new U2 single featured on the soundtrack to this summer’s Spiderman 2. In fact, according to some reports, Bono wrote the lyrics intending the song to be used as the theme for the film.

For more on these stories, be sure to check out @U2

WHEW!!!

2 - 3

A match in which Arsenal were heavily favored to win, proved much more difficult than expected. However, Arsenal proved their mettle once again, and came out 3-2 winners over Celta De Vigo in their opening match of the knockout stage of the European Champions League in Vigo tonight. It was the first win on Spanish soil in Arsenal history, and puts the Gunners in great position to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in three years.

Arsenal were definitely not at their best tonight, with defensive frailities against set pieces being the cause of both Celta goals this evening.

It was an evening of Edus, as both Arsenal’s and Celta’s Edus scored for their respective clubs.

Arsenal’s Edu opened the scoring in the 18th minute, latching on to a loose ball after a Freddie Ljungberg free kick. However, his namesake from Celta drew his side level with a header into the top right-hand corner of the net, the result of a pin-point free kick by former Arsenal man Silvinhio.

So, level at the half, both sides game out raring to go in the second half, with Celta going close to taking the lead after only a few seconds; Russian striker Alexander Motsovoi smashing his header into the crossbar from another perfect Silvinhio free-kick.

Then, in the 58th minute, the Edu wearing red scored what is sure to be a finalist for goal of the year. His mazy run and blistering shot gave Celta no chance. 2-1 to the Arsenal, and the Gunners were in a good position for the return leg at Highbury in two-weeks time.

It turns out that two goals were not going to be enough, because once again, Arsenal surrendered yet another set piece - this time a corner - that let Celta draw even.

It was at this point that Arsenal’s stars began to put it into overdrive. Finally, in the 80th minute, Super Bobby Pires and Thierry Henry completed a beautiful give and go which Pires converted, giving Arsenal the 3-2 victory.

We now must wait two weeks unitl the two sides meet again at Highbury on Wednesday, March 10 @ 2:45 PM. That means that for now, our attention returns once again to the Premiership, where Arsenal face Charlton at Highbury on Saturday at 10 AM ET. The match is being shown LIVE on PPV here in the US. - NICE

One PhD. attempts to settle a months old arguement…

.Dr Albert Oxford, PhD. has tackled the great conundrum of the past two months; “Which film trilogy is the greatest of all time?”

I’ve reposted the preface to his article… check out the rest here: One Trilogy To Rule Them All

Lord of the Rings vs. The Matrix vs. Star Wars

A Comparitive Critique by Dr. Albert Oxford, PhD

WARNING: In this article we DO quantifiably conclude which film trilogy is superior. If you cannot tolerate having your opinions challenged or hearing forceful statements backed up by empirical fact, please leave and continue your grazing.

Preface:

*Note for the American readers: this is the a part of the article before the main article starts.
-Dr. Oxford

What you see below is not opinion. I have become the world’s preeminent voice on popular culture (and American cinema in particular), rising above the dreck of entertainment journalism like an evolved legfish first crawling out of the stench-laden slime of ancient Earth, for good reason. I have written over a hundred tomes* on film and I can assure you that one of the aforementioned trilogii is superior to another, and the third is superior still (though not necessarily superior to the first). It is demonstrable and quantifiable.

*books

If you feel a particular affection for one or more of these series (though strange, as I assure you that none of these films love you) there is only a 33.33% chance that you will not be offended by the outcome of this study, as only one of the three can win. Now, I have not hidden in my previous writings my utter personal loathing for two of these film franchises but obviously that does not disqualify me from comparing one to another, just as, under certain circumstances, one may have to choose between eating all the fur off a dead elk and, say, giving a nude massage to one’s own mother.

Are you intellectually prepared for such difficult truths? Well, read on anyway.

One Trilogy To Rule Them All

.From Arsenal.com:

Construction work on new stadium has recommenced

Following months of negotiation, Arsenal is today delighted to confirm that funding for its �357million� stadium project has been secured� and construction and regenerative work in and around the site has already resumed, thus ensuring the new 60,000 capacity stadium opens as planned for the start of the 2006/2007 season.

To finance this highly complex project, Ashburton Properties� has obtained a �260million senior loan facility from a stadium facilities banking group which comprises: the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Espirito Santo Investment, The Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks PLC, CIT Group Structured Finance (UK) Limited and HSH Nordbank AG. Interest on the senior debt is set at a commercial fixed rate over the 14 year term.

Arsenal is contributing the balance of the stadium project costs through funds from Granada, Nike and the sale of surplus land assets relating to the stadium site. Also once the Club relocates in 2006, Arsenal has planning permission for a residential development of Highbury.

Appropriate backing facilities have also been secured for other members of the Arsenal Group with the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC and Barclays Bank plc, Barclays will continue to act as bankers to Arsenal Football Club.

Commenting on the news Arsenal Director Danny Fiszman said: “We believe we have now effectively concluded the pre construction phase of the project and secured the Stadium for Arsenal with all its benefits. This is a very considerable achievement given the complexity of the project across an enormous range of issues and that, in addition to the stadium, we will also be delivering one of the largest regeneration schemes in the country.”

“A lot of people have worked very hard to bring us this far but I would particularly like to thank Islington Council, who have worked alongside us from the outset, the London Development Agency and the Mayor for all their support. We now look forward to working with our banking group and chosen constructor, McAlpine, as we move into the construction phase of the project.”

Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill-Wood concurred: “This is excellent news for Arsenal. Over recent years we have established ourselves as one of the leading clubs in Europe and the stadium, which we can now positively look forward to, will provide us with the opportunity to sustain and build on this position. The financing of the Group is now complex, but throughout the financing structure we have retained the twin objectives of continued investment in our outstanding playing squad and separate funding for the building of the Stadium.”

Arsenal Manager Ars�ne Wenger enthused: “This is very exciting news. This Club has such an illustrious past but today is one of the most important dates in our history. It has been a big target of mine to participate in pushing the Club forward and relocating to a new stadium is a necessity as it will enable us to become of one the biggest clubs in the world. Also, I love the fact that the new site is so close to Highbury, it’s where our heart is and from a personal point of view, I am hopeful of being the Arsenal manager when we move to the new stadium in 2006. ”

The stadium will be built by Sir Robert McAlpine under a �220m fixed price contract which also includes the construction of the new waste and recycling centre.

1. Subject only to satisfying the conditions precedent prior to the drawdown of financing. Conditions precedent are legal and documentary requirements. Drawdown is the actual release of funds by the banks which can only be activated upon completion of the conditions precedent. Arsenal expects drawdown to take place in approximately four weeks.

2. The overall project is estimated to cost �357million. This includes the cost of the land, planning, stadium design and construction costs. It also incorporates the relocation of local businesses and statutory services including the construction of a state-of-the-art �60million waste recycling centre and depot for Islington, the upgrading of transport infrastructure and significant regeneration of the surrounding area.

3. Ashburton Properties is a member of the Arsenal group of companies which owns the stadium site.
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This is fantastic news! However, this just underlines my need to make a pilgrimage to Highbury ASAP!

For more info on Ashburton Grove, see the official site: Ashburton Grove