Messi inspires Blaugrana vs Mallorca and beats Pele's record

Lionel Messi scored his 55th goal of the season as 10-man Barcelona beat Mallorca 2-0 for their seventh consecutive league win. Messi, who broke Barcelona's all-time scoring record on Wednesday, netted from a poorly defended free-kick to become the first player in a top-level European league to score 55 goals in a season since Sporting Lisbon's Mário Jardel in 2002.

 Yahoo Eurosport

Xavi Hernández put the visitors ahead after 28 minutes and Messi doubled their advantage close to half-time, notching his 75th goal for club and country in 2012 – equalling the tally reached by Pelé in 1958. Cristian Tello grabbed Barça's third seconds later, and after Michael Pereira and Victor Casadesus reduced the deficit for Mallorca, Messi moved ahead of Pelé's haul with his second of the game. He now lies nine goals shy of Gerd Müller's record from 1972. Barcelona's Thiago Alcântara was sent off after receiving his second booking in the 56th minute, but Gerard Piqué volleyed in Messi's rebound off the post in the 79th to seal victory.

With Xavi Hernández on the bench, Barcelona's passing attack lacked its usual fluidity. But a horrible defensive lapse by the hosts let Messi score one of the easier goals of his record 235 for Barcelona. Various defenders failed to deal with Messi's lobbed free-kick and it bounced in the area before landing in the back of the net.

 Goal.com

Mallorca staged a mini-comeback at the start of the second half with the effervescent Pereira smashing in a half volley and Victor scoring from the spot after a handball by Sergio Busquets. However, Messi had the final say, as he has done on so many occasions for this brilliant Barcelona side, the Argentine blasting into the net on 70 minutes, following good play in the build up from substitute Alexis Sanchez. Mallorca are now on a six-match losing run in La Liga, their worst sequence of defeats since 1991-92, when they lost seven in a row. Meanwhile, Barça have extended their best ever start to a top-flight league campaign, with ten wins and a draw so far this term.

 Getty Images

Mallorca gained a numerical advantage after Thiago was shown a second yellow card for a questionable hand ball when it appeared he had used his shoulder to control the ball. But after Messi squirmed free and fired a shot off the goal frame, Piqué put the result beyond doubt when he converted the rebound. Messi has nine games left to score the ten goals to surpass Muller's 85 goals, and given his current run of form - 15 goals in 11 La Liga games - the 25-year-old is on course to usurp the German once more. The striker set another record last season when he scored 50 goals in a La Liga season, moving to the top of Barcelona's all-time top goalscorer list in the process after surpassing Cesar Rodriguez’s 57-year milestone of 232 goals in March. Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova expressed his delight at Messi's strike rate. He said: 'Leo’s records are spectacular. It’s spectacular when you think that he scores so many goals. 'Some few players reach these numbers in seven or eight seasons, he does it in one. And most of his goals are great goals.'

Fulham goalkeeper saves late penalty in dramatic draw at Arsenal

Arsenal's topsy-turvy season took another bad turn when they let slip a two-goal lead and missed a late penalty to draw 3-3 at home with Fulham. Schwarzer dived low to his left and tipped the penalty onto the post, leaving the desperate Arteta wishing the ground would swallow him up as two more points went missing for the Gunners.

Even before today's draw, Arsenal had made their worst start in the Premier League under Arsene Wenger, and now they have taken just 16 points from their opening 11 games. Arsenal should have killed off their opponents with that 2-0 lead but Fulham would not lie down and accept a beating as they fought their way back into the game with two goals in just over ten minutes before half time. 

Manager Arsene Wenger accepted Arsenal had only themselves to blame after throwing away a two-goal lead for the second time in a week as Fulham battled to a 3-3 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Early goals from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski put the Gunners in control, just as they had been in their Champions League game at Schalke on Tuesday night, only for the Germans to fight back. 'It was frustrating because we had the opportunities to win. We were caught in a bit too comfortable of a position because we did the most difficult thing - we scored two goals to go 2-0 up. At that moment we lacked urgency defensively,' said Wenger. 

Mikel Arteta lay flabbergasted on the turf. Fulham's players huddled around their goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. Arsène Wenger looked bleak. Martin Jol thundered towards the referee, Phil Dowd, with a piquant word or two. That Arsenal had at one stage been 2-0 up, were pegged back to 3-2, then level at 3-3, and with the final twist awarded a stoppage-time penalty that was saved ... it was bedlam. Martin Jol, on the other hand, was remarkably sanguine. Expectations were low, since no Fulham manager has ever won at Arsenal. Defeat is their customary fate. 

So when Mark Schwarzer flung himself to the left to knock aside Mikel Arteta's shot, Jol accepted the outcome. 'Maybe we should be pleased after the penalty,' he remarked. 'Certainly the referee was pleased not to see it go in.' It was easy to agree with his analysis after the events of the final seconds. Bryan Ruiz, the most effective player on view, untypically surrendered possession with an indiscreet square pass. The Arsenal substitute Andrey Arshavin collected the offering, scampered into the area and smashed a drive against the arm of Fulham's Chris Baird.

Tony Watt incredibly gave Celtic one of the greatest European nights in their history

Neil Lennon’s Bhoys sent Glasgow’s East End delirious as they celebrated their 125th anniversary in style. Parkhead was in dreamland in the 21st minute when midfielder Wanyama headed in from a corner. The 67-year-old singer, whose hits include Hot Legs and Sailing, sobbed with joy at the final whistle in Glasgow last night. Underdogs Celtic beat Lionel Messi’s Spanish giants 2-1 in the Champions League thanks to stars such as Victor Wanyama and Georgios Samaras — despite a late comeback by the visitors.

Celtic have now played eight qualifying and group stage games in the Champions League and have won six, kept clean sheets in four, achieved victories on the road in Helsinki, Helsingborg and Moscow and – in this compelling spectacle – prevailed over a club that some believe to be the best the world has seen. If Lennon’s side should win their next outing, against Benfica in Lisbon in two weeks, they will be guaranteed a place in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Watt was one of four teenagers on the home bench. Barcelona, meanwhile, had David Villa, Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas on theirs. All three are World Cup winners and all came on. But for all the possession and shots, Barcelona were not at their fluent best here. Fraser Forster, nevertheless, made two magnificent saves from Messi - one in each half - and several others of real quality throughout.

Barça suffered only their second defeat of the season in Glasgow, the other being a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup in August. However, they remain top of the group on nine points, two ahead of Celtic in second place. Benfica have four points and Spartak Moscow are bottom on three after the Portuguese side won 2-0 at home to the Russians on Wednesday.

"We are still in first place and we are relaxed," said Messi, who scored in added time after earlier striking the frame of the goal. "I think we did everything well, we got into goal-scoring positions but the ball just didn't go in. "They were comfortable closing ranks in defence, waiting for a chance to counterattack, a corner or a free-kick and that's how they managed to score the two goals."

The Spanish tabloid 'Marca' writed: "Barcelona revived their ghosts of last season in losing at Celtic Park in a match that recalled the two semi-finals against Chelsea. The Scots sat back and waited for a chance to counter. They gifted the ball to Barcelona, who were not able to break down their wall, and made the most of their only two chances … The second round will have to wait."

Celtic (4-4-1-1): Forster; Lustig (Watt 72), Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Samaras (Kayal 79); Miku. Subs: Zaluska (g), McCourt, Herron, Fraser, McGeouch. 
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Dani Alves, Bartra (Pique 71), Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Song (Fabregas 71), Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Alexis (Villa 65). Subs: Pinto, Jonathan, Montoya, Tello. 
Booked: Song, Jordi Alba, Miku
Goals: Wanyama 21, Watt 83, Messi 90
Referee: Kuipers (Holland)
Attendence: 55,283

Arsenal miss chance, Wenger frustrated and criticized Rizzoli italian referee

Schalke fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Tuesday and stay top of Group B in the Champions League.  Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud scored inside the first 30 minutes to put Arsenal ahead. But a goal from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in first-half injury time and another from Jefferson Farfan after the break completed the comeback by the German club. The Gunners overcame a slow start to go 2-0 up through Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud only for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to pull one back on the stroke of half-time. Jefferson Farfan fired in at the far post in the second half to level and Arsenal held on for the point.

“At 2-0 you have not won the game and with the physical quality of the German team it isn't over, they have a lot of quality and they never give up, so overall I never felt that the game was over even at 2-0,” Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger said. The draw left Schalke with eight points after four matches, one ahead of Arsenal. Olympiakos has six points after winning 3-1 against Montpellier, which has one. “To get a 2-2 after 0-2 speaks for our team,” Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby said. “We showed our morale. But we could have lost at the end.”

Arsene Wenger criticised referee Nicola Rizzoli after his side lost a two-goal lead to Schalke. The Arsenal manager felt Ibrahim Afellay had fouled Theo Walcott in the build-up to the Germans' first goal and were denied a clear chance when the Italian official blew instead of playing on, with Marco Hoger falling as Lukas Podolski was clear on goal. Walcott added: 'It was a good point in the end. It would have been a fantastic victory, but Schalke are a tough side. We are just trying to win our last couple of games and that is all you can do. I just want to play - hopefully now I can get a run in the team because I feel I fully deserve it.'

Arsenal had Mannone to thank in the 51st minute when he thwarted Huntelaar in a one-on-one after Neustadter's through-pass. Schalke were throwing everything at  Arsenal and had an appeal for a penalty turned down after Per Mertesacker looked to have handled in the box.  But the Germans deservedly dragged themselves level in the 66th minute when Farfan fired home from close range, via a Thomas Vermaelen deflection, as Arsenal failed to clear Afellay's cross.  Huntelaar, Farfan and Jermaine Jones missed decent chances to give the hosts the lead their dominance warranted. And the Germans' wastefulness in front of goal was nearly punished with the final kick of the game. But it was Walcott who fluffed his lines after capitalising on defensive uncertainty as, with only Unnerstall to beat, he shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Schalke: Unnerstall, Uchida (Hoger 25), Howedes, Matip, Fuchs, Jones, Neustadter, Farfan, Holtby (Barnetta 90), Afellay, Huntelaar, Hoger (Papadopoulos 66).
Subs Not Used: Hildebrand, Moritz, Draxler, Kolasinac.
Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla (Coquelin 90), Podolski (Andre Santos 90), Giroud.
Subs Not Used: Shea, Djourou, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.
Goals: Walcott 18, Giroud 26, Huntelaar 45, Farfan 67.
Attendance: 50,000 
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).
Booked: Matip, Fuchs, Jones, Cazorla, Podolski.

Van Persie helps to destroy his old club: United over Gunners 2-1

Arsenal may have matched Manchester United for possession and scored a consolation goal with the last kick of the game through Santi Cazorla, but in every other area they were a distant second best, failing to resemble challengers for a top-four place let alone the title. Out of respect, manager Arsene Wenger is still exempt from heavy public barracking,  so those supporters turned on their chief executive, chanting 'Ivan Gazidis, what do you do?' with an expletive thrown in for good measure. Certainly, replacing £24million Van Persie with a mid-ranking Frenchman in Olivier Giroud does not look shrewd business from a football point of view. While Van Persie bagged his eighth Premier League goal of the season with a clinical early strike, Arsenal's current new striker is stuck on one - and clumsily missed a couple of Arsenal's best opportunities.

"A strange game," Ferguson reflected. "Nothing like Manchester United and Arsenal games of the past." The atmosphere was flat. Arsenal were rarely in it and, before the end, their supporters had grown bored of abusing Van Persie and turned on their chief executive Ivan Gazidis. "We want our Arsenal back" was the general tone. How premature it now feels that earlier in the season Arsenal were being commended for a new sense of order in defence and the appointment of Steve Bould was being hailed for re-establishing them as a genuine threat.

Instead, all the old failings have gradually returned. André Santos's apparent ambition to be regarded as the least distinguished Brazilian footballer ever to play in the Premier League is nothing new, but let's not make him the scapegoat alone. Thomas Vermaelen, say, has rarely looked so vulnerable. Wenger talked about "an hour of mistakes" and his captain was heavily implicated.

 Wilshere

While Mannone had to save from Rooney and Van Persie again before the interval the deadly duo did not make the most compelling case for United's return to a conventional 4-4-2. Rooney could not even convert a penalty right at the end of the first half, missing the target after Santi Cazorla blocked Ashley Young's cross with his hands. Cazorla's lovely goal with the last kick of the game will have cheered them up slightly, but only slightly. Had United been properly at the races this would have been another drubbing. "We were sloppy with our chances," Van Persie said. "I should have scored two goals but I'm happy with one."

MAN UTD: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia (Nani 82), Carrick, Cleverley (Anderson 61), Young, Rooney, van Persie. Subs not used: Lindegaard, Hernandez, Scholes, Powell, Wootton.
ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Arteta, Ramsey (Walcott 52), Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski (Arshavin 81), Giroud. Subs not used: Martinez, Koscielny, Coquelin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.
Booked: Arteta, Arshavin, Wilshere, Young, Cleverley, Anderson, Rooney, Van Persie
Goals: Van Persie (M) 3, Evra (M) 67, Cazorla (A) 90
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

credits to: Daily Mail

Messi celebrates becoming a dad but he isn't marked, Barca beat Celta

Barcelona's 3-1 home win over Celta Vigo on Saturday marked the Catalan club's best start to the Spanish league in its 113-year history. Goals from Adriano, Villa and Alba gave Barça the win over Celta and also confirmed their record breaking start to the season, with 9 wins and a draw in the first 10 games.

Celta's only victory at Barça came in the 1941-42 season but the Galicians surprised their illustrious hosts with some neat play and Mario Bermejo levelled at 1-1 three minutes after Adriano's 21st-minute opener. Lionel Messi could not produce a goal to mark the birth of his first son but Barcelona still took the points with a straightforward 3-1 Primera Division victory over Celta Vigo. Three goals in the space of five minutes.

Alves had come on for the injured Adriano on 40 minutes and Vilanova brought on Bartra for Cesc for the second half to give the team more defensive solidity. Celta’s well organised defence proved a tough nut to crack though and only a brilliant exchange between Villa and Alba brought about the definitive third goal on the hour mark. With the game looking pretty much done and dusted, Barça played out the final half hour comfortably, with the only hint of a problem coming when Messi received a knock late on.

World player of the year Messi became a father for the first time this week, and played the full match on Saturday. Barcelona moved three points clear at the top after Atletico Madrid's unbeaten start to the season was ended with a 2-0 defeat at Valencia. Tito Vilanova’s Barça march on, with their latest win coming against Celta at the Camp Nou. Despite missing Abidal, Puyol and Piqué, the defence stood strong again, with Alba and Adriano also chipping in with goals before the Brazilian was taken off injured, The win means the team have made a record breaking start to the league campaign, with nine wins and a draw in their first ten matches.

The win means that Vilanova, who stepped up from assistant coach to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of last season, has made a better start to the La Liga season than any of his predecessors at the Camp Nou. Louis van Gaal held the previous record after his side won eight of their opening 10 matches in the 1997-98 campaign, when Barça went on to win the title. "The points that we have are more important than the record," Vilanova said. "More than a record it's a sign of the desire this team has."

Copa del Rey: Barcelona beats Alaves 3-0

Barcelona didn't need Lionel Messi to secure a successful start to its Copa del Rey defense Tuesday, beating third-tier Alaves 3-0 after goals by David Villa, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas. Andres Iniesta celebrated being named on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award with a glorious goal for Barcelona as the holders won 3-0 at Alaves in a King's Cup last-32 first leg on Tuesday. The Spain playmaker, who struck the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, had limited space on the edge of the area when he curled a delicate shot into the top corner to double Barca's lead after 50 minutes. Alaves reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 2001 and now play their football in the third tier of Spanish football but battled hard against a Barca side who were without the rested Lionel Messi.

The 2001 Uefa Cup finalists who lost to Liverpool are now in Segunda B, the Spanish third tier. The Alaves keeper Urtzi Iturrioz was kept busy by an Alexis Sanchez header and a shot by Iniesta from the edge of the area before Villa fired Barca ahead on 40 minutes as he crashed a shot in off the crossbar after receiving a long ball from Iniesta. Alaves have a mountain to climb if they are to come back in next month's second leg at the Nou Camp, particularly after Cesc Fabregas headed a third for the unbeaten La Liga leaders at the end.

Villa opened the scoring in the 40th minute when he perfectly timed his run past Alaves' back four to powerfully latch onto a long pass by Iniesta and send it into the net via the crossbar. Villa, who missed the second half of last season and the European Championship after breaking his leg, said he's enjoying every minute being back on the pitch. "From hospital it was difficult to score goals," Villa said. "After all this time I want to play as much as possible, but I am in the hands of professionals and they know what's best for me." Coach Tito Vilanova had decided to rest Messi, forward Pedro Rodriguez, midfielder Xavi Hernandez and defender Jordi Alba for the game. With several other defenders out injured, Vilanova selected Martin Montoya, Javier Mascherano, Marc Bartra and Dani Alves for the back four.

credits to: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Barcelona-beats-Alaves-3-0-in-Copa-del-Rey-3994537.php

Unbelievable! Arsenal makes greatest ever escape in League Cup history: 5-7!

For Arsenal fans, it may also be the game that proved to be the turning point. Not just because they can now go on to win this competition and end what will be an eight-year drought come the final on February 24. The Gunners fought back from 4-0 down to force extra-time, before taking their tally to seven. Wenger said: “It may be one of my greatest victories during my time here. We went from disaster to salvaging our pride.

Arsenal has mounted an incredible comeback from 4-0 down to win 7-5 after extra time at Reading in an extraordinary League Cup fourth-round tie at the Madejski Stadium. Theo Walcott was the hero, claiming a 95th-minute equaliser to force extra time and then slamming home in the last minute of the extra period to complete his hat-trick after 120 unforgettable minutes of football. It will be interesting to see how Angha and Yennaris develop. In the past such talent (think Sebastian Larsson, Fabrice Muama, Armand Traore) has blossomed elsewhere, or not at all (think Mark Randall). Sometimes, though, a raw diamond is introduced and shines ever brighter with the passing of time: Jack Wilshere made his first starting appearance against Sheffield United as a 16-year-old back in 2008.

 Goal.com

Since Arsenal put up scant resistance, Reading helped themselves to a fourth goal in the 37th minute, Hunt sending a fine header in off a post after an equally fine cross from Garath McCleary. Visiting fans began filing away. Then, suddenly, Arsenal kicked back. On the stroke of half-time Walcott raced on to Arshavin's astute pass and lifted the ball over Adam Federici and into the net. That begat belief among their players, and spread doubt among Reading's. Arsenal improved immeasurably in the second half. Walcott was thriving through the middle, twice forcing fine saves from Federici. But it was his exquisite delivery from a corner that led to them cutting the deficit further in the 65th minute, when Olivier Giroud, who had just entered as a substitute, headed the delivery into the net from eight yards.

Arsène Wenger could barely contain his laughter after a match that threatened to be one of the most humiliating of his career transformed into one of his most extraordinary triumphs. His side recovered from an error-strewn opening period in which they collapsed to a 4-0 deficit against Reading to hit back with seven goals and prevail 7-5 after extra-time. "We had a big party in the second half," quipped the Arsenal manager before remarking that the freakish scoreline was more familiar in tennis, joking "so that's the first set to us". The shocked Reading manager, Brian McDermott, meanwhile, lamented that "this feels like a funeral". Wenger added: "We went from disaster to getting some pride because we came back in the second half with a decent performance." He also declared that although the League Cup is not one of his priorities for the season, the first-half display was so bad that immediate improvement became of paramount importance.

It was not enough to appease Gunners fans who booed their side off at half-time, but when substitute Olivier Giroud headed in Walcott’s corner in the 65th minute, a sense of impossible hope took over. Arsenal threw everything at their hosts and with a minute of normal time they cut the deficit to single goal as Koscielny nodded home another Walcott corner. Fourth official Michael Oliver signalled four minutes of stoppage time and Reading looked home and dry with the ball deep inside the Arsenal half with seconds left to play. But with the final kick of  normal time, Walcott somehow squeezed a shot past Federici to score what at half-time had seemed an impossible equaliser.

Reading 5	Roberts 12,  Koscielny (og) 18,  Leigertwood 20,  Hunt 37,  Pogrebnyak 90+25
Arsenal 7	Walcott 45+2,  Giroud 64,  Koscielny 89, Walcott 90+6,  Chamakh 90+13,  Walcott 90+31,  Chamakh 90+33

Great Player: Paul Merson, he loves smile and play football

Born in Harlesden, North West London, Paul Merson started his career at Arsenal, joining the club as an apprentice in 1984. After a loan spell at Brentford, then under manager Frank McLintock, he made his debut for the Gunners on 22 November 1986 against Manchester City, and gradually established himself in George Graham's successful Arsenal side of the late 1980s. By the 1988-89 season he was a regular on the right wing, at the end of which Arsenal secured the First Division title with a last gasp Michael Thomas goal in the final game of the season against Liverpool. Merson scored ten times that season, made his debut for the England U21 side, and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.

Merson had, by trade, been a striker, but as time went on a deeper lying role become more common. After a brief, but alarming, dip in form Paul found comfort behind Alan Smith and in tandem with winger Anders Limpar. From his new vantage point Merson could dictate the pace of an attack, combining raking diagonal passes with sharp exchanges and incisive runs. In 1991/92 he was irresistible.

However things began to go awry during the next campaign as Merson's well-documented personal problems affected his game. In late 1994 he underwent therapy for his addictions and some people believed he was finished. Not a chance.

Merson returned with a an unbroken run of over 100 appearance. The fans welcomed him back with open arms. He was a firm favourite, not least for his mercurial talent but for the manner in which he carried himself on the field. He battled with every ounce of energy whenever he wore the shirt, replacing an initial caution with moments of the original 'Merse'. In 1996 he justifiably earned a recall to the England set-up.

Merson left one summer later. Gone were his playing days at Arsenal, but the memory of both his character and playing ability will last a long, long time. With an infectious smile always on display, Merson was championed by the Highbury faithful, and his team-mates appreciated him too. The Londoner bought flair and imagination to the Arsenal side, often producing the spectacular and unexpected. Paul Merson simply loved playing football.

credits to: http://www.arsenal.com/

Arsenal strike late to beat QPR and Wilshere returns after 17 months out

A late Mikel Arteta goal ended some determined resistance from Queens Park Rangers as Arsenal beat the Premier League's bottom club 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium. For all the drama that unfolded at the Emirates it was painfully obvious Arsenal are a team struggling for confidence and inspiration. Jack Wilshere’s return from injury can only turn out positive for the Gunners as they set to enter a crucial stage of their campaign. The loss to Norwich and their win against QPR has heated matters up at the Emirates as Arsène Wenger looks for a steady rhythm in performance.

A difficult week on and off the field for Arsène Wenger ended with some grudging cold comfort as Arsenal left it late to score a scrappy winner against a well-drilled and energetic Queen Park Rangers, Mikel Arteta prodding home from what looked, with the benefit of a replay, an offside position. In the process Wenger's team avoided a third scoring blank of the week, but still delivered a performance of notable entropy until a surge in the last 10m minutes, sparked by the sending off of Stéphane Mbia.

Arsenal are a club in search of an identity and never look like a team in charge of their own destiny. Following two defeats and an angry annual general meeting, manager Arsene Wenger was grateful enough of the win. But the failings manifested against Norwich and Schalke were evident: little intensity, a dearth of creativity and a lack of clear-cut chances. With a midfield trio of Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla and Wilshere, this team form a much more serious proposition - if Wilshere can return to the form of 2010-11 - so this downturn in form is unlikely to be permanent.

Wenger gave Wilshere his first league start for 17 months and the England star’s touch and control were a breath of fresh air. Bacary Sagna was also back five months after his broken leg to give the Gunners a sense of purpose down the channels. Wilshere settled in straight away. After three minutes Lukas Podolski sent Arsenal’s No 10 on the overlap and he delivered a lethal cut-back but neither Olivier Giroud nor Santi Cazorla could get there.

Wilshere said he felt like he was returning to a new team, but it's one without the potency of the 2011 incarnation, and one where the burden of providing the flair is falling on the 20-year-old. "Last time I played it was with Fabregas and Nasri and now there's Arteta and (Santi) Cazorla so it's like a new team and a new me," Wilshere said. "It's been very tough for me, for any player who's been injured it's tough. ... You question yourself every day, 'Are you going to get back to that level?'"

There was a scare at the start of the second half when the midfielder went down after being fouled by Esteban Granero. But after going down with his left leg in pain, Wilshere was able to return to action and continue until Theo Walcott replaced him in the 67th. But the much-needed goal didn't look like coming. Per Mertesacker's header from Arteta's free kick had been pushed away by Cesar, and Cazorla squandered a fine opening in the 78th when he blasted the ball over when he was in space in the penalty area.

Arsenal’s next fixture positions them against Manchester United in an away game at Old Trafford, where both teams know the points will be hard earned. Arguably one of the most exciting English talents, Wilshere might be given a chance to impress in a fixture where expectations will be high. Judging by the Gunners position in the table and their recent win against QPR, this is a must win game. Knowing our usual play against Manchester United, tensions will be high, and stakes will be raised.

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Arteta, Wilshere (Walcott 67), Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolski (Gervinho 71), Giroud, Gervinho (Arshavin 81). Subs not used: Martinez, Koscielny, Coquelin, Jenkinson. Booked: Giroud.

Goals: Arteta 84.

QPR: Julio Cesar, Bosingwa, Mbia, Nelsen, Traore (Onuoha 73), Wright-Phillips (Mackie 79), Diakite, Granero, Hoilett,Taarabt, Zamora (Cisse 72). Subs not used: Green, Ferdinand, Ephraim, Faurlin. Sent off: Mbia (80). Booked: Granero,Taarabt.

credits to: www.guardian.co.uk

Lionel Messi scored twice to help La Liga leaders Barcelona stroll to a resounding win

Lionel Messi scored twice to help La Liga leaders Barcelona stroll to a resounding win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday night, as coach Tito Vilanova recorded the best start for a first-year coach in the 113-year history of the Catalan club. Barça’s magnificent start to the season continued with a comprehensive win in Vallecas to make it eight wins and a draw from their first nine games in La Liga. Goals from Villa, Messi (2), Xavi and Cesc saw Barça through after a pretty well balanced start, which really tilted the visitors’ way after the second goal, as Tito’s men took advantage of Rayo’s advanced back line.

Barca, with midfielder Sergio Busquets and fullback Adriano Correia deputising in central defence, were under a lot of pressure from hard-running Rayo before taking control in Vallecas. Cesc Fábregas set up David Villa's 20th-minute opener to set Barcelona on their way. Messi scored his 16th and 17th goals in all competitions – to take his career tally to 301 – in a second half that also saw Xavi Hernández and Fábregas find the net.

In the second half, Barça came out determined to put the game to bed and after just two minutes Messi rounded off a brilliant team move which saw Pedro beat two defenders and lay the ball off for Montoya who set up the world number one to fire home for the second. Barcelona's eighth win in their first nine games maintained their unbeaten start to the season and lifted them three points ahead of second-placed Atlético Madrid before Atlético's game against the bottom club Osasuna on Sunday.

 Goal.com

The no-nonsense win also kept up the pressure on Real Madrid by opening up an 11-point gap before the defending champion's tough test at Mallorca. "We are delighted for Lionel," Vilanova told a news conference. "He has scored a couple of goals but I prefer to remember the moment when he ran 30 metres to help out in defence in the 89th minute. I love the goals, but I like this more." Fabregas told Spanish television: "It's a difficult ground, with spectacular fans. They pressure you and don't let you breathe. But we played a serious game, perhaps the best of the season so far.

"This was our best game of the season,'' Fabregas said. Messi's two strikes, the first an unstoppable blast from the edge of the box, the second a showcase of fancy footwork to undo the defense, took his league leading tally to 13 goals, four more than Atletico's Radamel Falcao and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi has 73 goals for club and country in 2012, leaving him two shy of matching Brazil great Pele's milestone of 75 in 1958. "Scoring two more goals isn't important, the important thing is that we have another win and we believe we can keep this up,'' said Messi, who on Monday will receive the Golden Shoe award for Europe's top scorer last season with an unprecedented 73 goals.

credits to: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Great Player: Luis Enrique, versatily player and spanish leader

Luis Enrique was a born leader, and highly committed, for which reason he was one of the èquipo captains. His finest quality was his versatility, the characteristic that best describes his way of playing, although there were so many more. He normally played as a linkman with the out and out striker, although he would also play in wider positions, or even as centre forward. Luis Enrique came to FC Barcelona in the summer of 1996 as a free agent after having played at Real Madrid for five seasons.

Luis Enrique was born in Gijón, Asturias. After starting his career with local Sporting de Gijón, he spent most of it with the two biggest Spanish clubs: first Real Madrid for five seasons and, in a stunning move, he saw out his contract and moved to fierce rivals FC Barcelona on a free transfer. The Catalan club's supporters were at first understandably hesitant about their new acquisition, but he soon won the culés heart, staying eight years with the club, eventually becoming first-team captain, and scoring several times in El Clásico against his former employers. His usual position was right or attacking midfielder, but he was notable for his versatility, having played in all positions throughout his career except central defender and goalkeeper.

He was a skilled and tireless worker, and a great goalscorer too, especially when coming from behind, where he was never was one to throw in the towel, even in the most difficult of situations. He would constantly encourage his colleagues, and was an important squad member both on and off the pitch. The character and flair of this Asturian set an example for the fans to admire. He stayed at Barça until he finally hung up his boots in 2004. In his first three seasons with Barcelona, Enrique netted 46 La Liga goals, with Barça finishing runner-up in 1996–97, subsequently winning back-to-back domestic championship accolades.

Numbers of Luis Enrique into Barca: - Seasons at the club: 1996-2004 - Games played: 354 - Goals scored: 123. - Trophies: 1 Cup Winners Cup (1996/97), 1 European Super Cup (1997), 2 Leagues (1997/98 and 98/99), 2 Copa del Rey (1996/97 and 97/98), 1 Spanish Super Cup (1996),  2 Copa Catalunya (99-2000, 2003-2004).

credits to: http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat

First defeat in Champions League group: Arsenal fan frustrated (0-2)

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay scored in the final 14 minutes as FC Schalke 04 became the first foreign visitors to win at the Arsenal Stadium, climbing above Arsenal FC and to the top of UEFA Champions League Group B. The home side had won their first two games in this season's competition and were unbeaten in 16 European matches in north London; indeed, the last time they had lost to non-English opposition at home was September 2003. Schalke, however, produced a vibrant display that finally got its reward when Huntelaar fired in with 14 minutes left. Ten minutes later Afellay tapped in a clinching second to give the German club a first victory in England at the sixth attempt.

Steve Bould, standing in for the last game of Arsène Wenger's touchline ban, offered the verdict that the players were "jaded" and had been that way since they returned from the international break. Certainly, three defeats in their last five games in all competitions is the kind of form that is developing from a blip into something more serious. They were bossed for most of the game by Schalke, the Bundesliga's third-placed club last season and an expansive, energetic side in the mould of Arsenal in the good old days. From Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's confident finish for the first goal to the running of Jefferson Farfan and Lewis Holtby this was a brave performance from the visitors. The Schalke coach, Huub Stevens, said his team had not performed in the first half, although that seemed like an unnecessarily harsh verdict on a side that looked well in control. It was telling that Bould admitted that as the game progressed his side would have been "delighted" with a 0-0 draw.

 by Goal.com

Schalke pressed Arsenal very high up the pitch, no-one more so than Holtby, the Germany international with the English father, Chris. In midfield, Roman Neustädter worked just in front of the back four and completed more passes, 51, than any of his team-mates. Schalke thought they had a penalty on 14 minutes when Vito Mannone lunged at the feet of Afellay but the Dutch winger was booked for diving. Afellay went down a fraction too early for contact although if he had stayed on his feet another stride, the Arsenal goalkeeper would surely have brought him down. There was a chance for Ramsey at the start of the second half, albeit not much of one. It was indicative of how little Arsenal were creating in front of goal that this moment stood out. Down Arsenal's left-side, Andre Santos was having trouble controlling Farfan and the raiding Japanese right-back Atsuto Uchida. On 50 minutes, Farfan left Santos in his slipstream to cut the ball back to Benedikt Höwedes who cleared the bar with his shot. The warning signs were there.

Schalke’s victory lifted them to the top of Group B on seven points, one above Arsenal, at the halfway stage. Then there is a gap to Olympiacos who have three points after beating Montpellier late on in France this eveing. Despite the disappointment this evening, the margins are still slender and Arsène Wenger’s side have the chance for immediate revenge when they travel to Gelsenkirchen on Matchday Four. With the Frenchman sitting out the final game of his touchline ban, Steve Bould’s side showed only one alteration from the one beaten at Norwich on Saturday – Francis Coquelin for Olivier Giroud – but there were positional changes. Gervinho went up front and Aaron Ramsey moved to the right of midfield. The central role was filled by Coquelin. We've lost at home and of course they're frustrated. We are as well,' Bould said. 'We don't like losing football games, but we have to pick ourselves up and start again. 'We haven't played anything like we can - that was the big disappointment. 'We haven't performed and we lacked confidence, for whatever reason. 'It's a tough competition and Schalke are a good side who beat Dortmund at the weekend.

credits to: http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3553351/first-team/arsenal-v-schalke-04?tab=report

Jordi Alba 'the Hero' breaks Celtic hearts: 94th, 2-1

A Jordi Alba goal in the final minute of injury time sparked off celebrations at the Camp Nou. It was just reward for Barça against a Celtic side that only wanted to defend its early lead. “We know it won’t be easy against Celtic because we have already suffered at home against Spartak when they came close to winning,” left-back Alba said. Celtic were denied a famous draw in the Nou Camp last night with the last kick of the game. For 93 minutes it looked as though their English-born goalkeeper Fraser Forster would earn them a point but when Adriano crossed with Barcelona's last attack Jordi Alba scored from a yard out.

The goal made Barça hungrier than ever, but also got the Scots concentrating even more earnestly on keeping things as tight as physically possible at the back. It wasn’t pretty football, but it was remarkably effective, with Barça in almost total control of the ball but failing to produce much in the way of real chances in the first 45 minutes. It needed a little piece of magic, and that finally came a matter of seconds before the break. When Messi, Xavi and Iniesta combine to create an attacking move, you always suspect that something special might happen. And indeed it did. A pinpoint strike from Iniesta finally had Forster beaten. All square at half time. 

A first-half own goal from Javier Mascherano rewarded Neil Lennon's team for playing with calm intelligence and although Andrés Iniesta equalised on the stroke of half-time and David Villa hit the post in second-half added time, goalkeeper Fraser Forster appeared to have earned Celtic a valuable point. That was until Adriano arced in a perfect right-wing cross and Alba applied the finish.

The Celtic coach's animation was in stark contrast to the man alongside him on the touchline. Barcelona's Tito Vilanova was as passive as his team, who at that stage were playing none of their mesmerising football. Adriano tried his luck from distance but Forster, looking assured, got down to his near post to make the comfortable save. On 34 minutes there were even Olé cries from the Celtic fans as their team briefly kept possession in midfield with audacious ease. With a quarter of an hour to go, Vilanova sent on Tello and Villa for Pedro and Alexis. The Asturian was played as an out-and-out striker in search of a second goal, while Tello and Alba slotted in on the wings. It was a risky move, even though by now Celtic were clearly quite happy to settle for a draw. But Barça wanted more, and made the green-and-whites pay for their lack of ambition.

In the final minute, it looked like Villa had finally done it, but his shot struck the post. However, the best had yet to come. With the referee just seconds away from blowing time on an intense footballing spectacle, Jordi Alba pounced on a killer pass from Adriano. Of all people, the two full backs had combined to bring Barça a goal just when it looked like they had left it too late. The Camp Nou went wild. And had every right to do so. An extraordinarily tense evening had ended in the most dramatic of fashions. And the upshot of it all is that Barcelona maintain their one hundred per cent record and a five-point lead over Celtic, who stay second. A place in the last sixteen is already well in sight.

credits to: http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/match-archive/2012-2013/champions-league/round-3-g/fc-barcelona_celtic

Great Player: David Platt, Gunner midfielder with true class

David Platt arrived at Highbury with the pedigree to match most footballers of his time. Arsenal pays £4.75m to sign veteran England international David Platt from the Italian club Sampdoria. Platt’s contract is reportedly the second for a British footballer to include a provision that part of the money Arsenal pays him is for image rights. This money is paid into an account in an offshore tax haven and taxed at a lower rate than the salary for playing football. Dennis Bergkamp, also signed by Arsenal around this time (see June 20, 1995), has a similar provision in his contract. Some fans remain to be convinced about his true class, though his pedigree as a midfield goal-scorer cannot be disputed. His role in the team will be awaited with much interest.

"Arsenal made it clear that they really wanted me," Platt said. "My talks with Bruce Rioch were exceptional. We hit it off straight away. He is a great communicator with some exciting ideas on tactics and a definite view on how he sees me fitting into his plans."

In his first season, Arsenal finished fifth in the league and qualified for the UEFA Cup, although Rioch was soon sacked following a dispute with the board and succeeded by Frenchman, Arsène Wenger. His first season at Highbury produced the reasonable return of six goals from his 29 league appearances, with his first goal in an Arsenal shirt coming in a 2-0 win at Everton in the second game of the campaign. Platt was a regular in Wenger's first season, in the 1996–1997 season, with the North Londoners and scored four goals in his 28 League outings, mainly alongside young Patrick Vieira in the middle of the Arsenal midfield. 

The midfielder was troubled by injuries in his first two seasons, however, and the arrival of Arsène Wenger eventually saw first-team opportunities limited as Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit joined the Club. 

Platt found himself used mainly as a substitute but did taste success in north London in the Double-winning season of 1997/98. His crucial late header against Manchester United proved a vital contribution and endeared himself to the Highbury faithful. Early in the 1997–1998 season, Arsenal accepted a £1.5million bid from relegated Middlesbrough for Platt, but the transfer never happened and Platt saw out the season at Highbury.

Arsenal: Mannone's mistake gives Norwich shock win!

Arsene Wenger accused his players of lacking what is required to make a top team as struggling Norwich outfought and outsmarted Arsenal to climb out of the bottom three. Grant Holt’s 19th-minute goal was enough to clinch the Canaries’ first win of the season and a first victory in 13 matches against the Gunners. For Arsene Wenger, this was his first blip of the season. Sadly, though, it appears any hopes Arsenal have of challenging for the title are already disappearing.

Wenger cannot afford his team to deliver too many performances like this. And goalkeeper Vito Mannone, only playing because of injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski, cannot make many more mistakes like the one which led to the winner Wenger refused to criticise his goalkeeper. ‘We don’t blame Mannone because other players made mistakes, too,’ said the Frenchman. ‘We had to put it behind us and come up with a better performance.’

Arsenal had one opportunity before the break following a fine pass from Mikel Arteta but Gervinho hopelessly wasted the chance as he failed to kick the ball properly. The Gunners’ best chance came fell to Olivier Giroud. But with his back to goal he collapsed on the ground in a heap.

Hughton had clearly worked hard on improving his defence and the team responded with a hard-working, disciplined display to deny Arsenal space and limited their celebrated visitors to a handful of chances. John Ruddy, in fact, had a quiet night, pulling off an important save near the end when, unlike Mannone, he safely gathered in Mikel Arteta’s fierce low drive. When Gervinho finally found space in the penalty area, Sebastien Bassong flung himself to make a crucial blocking tackle. Nothing would go right for Arsenal, for whom Lucas Podolski and Olivier Giroud looked sluggish, and their miserable night was compounded when England forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain limped off with a bruised hip nine minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Norwich: Ruddy, Russell Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido, Elliott Bennett (Snodgrass 79), Johnson, Hoolahan (Ryan Bennett 90), Tettey, Pilkington, Holt (Morison 90). Subs not used: Rudd, Howson, Jackson, Surman. Booked: Johnson, Hoolahan, Holt,Turner.

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Ramsey (Gnabry 83), Arteta, Cazorla, Gervinho,Giroud, Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain 65), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arshavin 74). Subs not used: Martinez, Wilshere, Djourou,Coquelin.

Goals: Holt 19.

credits to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2220554/Norwich-1-Arsenal-0--match-report.h

Leo Messi scores three goals: Blaugrana victorious in Riazor Stadium

With Lionel Messi as a three-time goal-taker and Cesc Fabregas as a three-time goal-maker, 10-man Barcelona outlasted Deportivo La Coruna in a wild 5-4 shootout in the Spanish league on Saturday. Saturday evening's game looked to be a one-sided affair when the league leaders raced into a three-goal lead through Jordi Alba, Cristian Tello and Messi after just 18 minutes.

FC Barcelona beat a feisty Deportivo La Coruña side 5-4 Saturday evening in Riazor, hanging on to their eight-point Liga lead in an epic nine-goal thriller. Despite the close-seeming scoreline, the blaugrana never looked to be in a lot of trouble: they jumped out to an early 0-3 lead within twenty minutes, and despite a gutsy performance from their northern hosts--and the loss of Javier Mascherano to a red card at the beginning of the second half--the Catalan side remained steadily in control. However, Depor replied with a Luis Pizzi penalty and an Alex Bergantinos goal before Messi struck again to put Barca back in the driving seat. Pizzi's second of the match then set the nerves jangling once more and the dismissal of Javier Mascherano gave the visitors further food for thought until Messi made it 5-3 with his third.

Messi now has 11 league goals, two more than Cristiano Ronaldo who earlier scored for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Celta Vigo that kept Madrid right points behind the Catalan side. Goalkeeper Aranzubia came forward for a last-minute corner but it was not to be for a battling Deportivo and Barca took the points in a breathtaking match. A moment of madness from Alba supplied Deportivo with a lifeline, as he volleyed the ball into his own net under pressure from Riki inside the Barcelona penalty area to make the score 5-4.

Deportivo committed men forward late on as it went in search of an equalizer but Barcelona's makeshift defense managed to withstand the pressure and hold out for all three points to retain its place atop of La Liga.

BY GOAL.COM

Messi and Fabregas teamed up to put Barcelona back in front by two goals when Fabregas slipped the ball through the defense for Messi to slot into the far side of the net two minutes before halftime. Barcelona appeared to have regained control, but that quickly changed in the 47th when Pizzi curled a free kick past Valdes, who got a touch on the ball but not enough to keep it out. Barcelona was reduced to 10 men moments later when the referee booked Mascherano a second time for hitting Riki's face with his arm.

With Deportivo pressing for the equalizer, Messi decided the match with a pure display of his unique talent, resisting a tackle near the center line before charging forward and finding the angle to shoot around two defenders and the goalie to grab his hat trick. Fittingly for such an up-and-down contest, Alba scored an absurd own goal in the 79th, flipping the ball over Valdes in a horribly flubbed attempt to clear, and Barcelona had to resist until the end to get the three points.

credits to: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/europe/2012/10/20/lionel-messi-barcelona-spanish-league-roundup/1646705/

Great Player: Luis 'Luisito' Suarez, genius midfielder with Barca and Inter

Great master of Spanish football, Luis Suárez (born in La Coruña, 1935) was one of the stars of the Barça side of the late fifties, but sadly his greatest and most successful period came when he was no longer a Barça player. He had everything you could want of a footballer: amazing skill, an amazing talent for moving the ball about with his feet, great vision and a tremendous shot. But he was mainly noted for his elegant style, it was often said he was such a graceful player that he could have played in a dinner jacket. Between 1955 and 1961 Suárez was a regular in a FC Barcelona team that also included Ladislao Kubala, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, Ramallets and Evaristo. With Helenio Herrera as coach, the club and Suárez won a La Liga/Copa del Generalísimo double in 1959 and a La Liga/Fairs Cup double in 1960. Born in 1935, Suarez currently works in the technical secretary's office at his former club Inter Milan, where his elegance, skill on the ball, vision and crucial goals were highly appreciated during I Nerazzurris's trophy-laden 1960s. The young Suarez had first caught the eye at hometown club Deportivo La Coruna before making the switch to Barcelona in 1954, where he went on to win two league titles, two Spanish Cups and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups during his seven-season stay.

Yet his glorious spell at the Catalan giants ended with the disappointment of a 3-2 defeat against Benfica in the final of the 1960/61 European Cup. "That's the only black mark on my time at Barcelona," said Suarez, who will have taken some consolation from helping Barça become the first team ever to knock Real Madrid out of the elite competition. "But it was the only one I lost out of so many finals, though given the way the game went it was one we should have won. It left me with a point to prove because it's such a huge competition." It was then time for the Galician genius to head to Italian football, this during a period when it was highly unusual for Spanish players to ply their trade abroad. "There have been a lot of Spanish players who have deserved that award," said Suarez on the Ballon d'Or win which had done much to raise his international profile. "So much depends on the era you find yourself living in. You need the slice of luck that comes when another great player of your time doesn't perform quite so well. There have been truly great players who have never won that award. It's not that big a deal." 

Suarez's silky skills were key to a Nerazzurri side crowned European champions in 1963/64 and 1964/65 under legendary strategist Helenio Herrera, who had coached him for a spell at Barcelona. "The Italian league had a reputation for being more defensive than it really was. Even so, teams' first priority was not to concede any goals and I came from a place with a different mindset," said the 74-year-old, on the contrast between Spanish and Italian football. "At Barcelona I played as a goalscoring midfielder but (at Inter) I had to change for the good of the team and to win titles. At the end of the day, I think I was so successful because I made so many sacrifices for a sport I loved."

credits to: http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/stories/doyouremember/news/newsid=1091805.html