Fabregas return takes Arsenal through, chance of going to the top!!!

Arsenal carried on their winning form by comfortably winning the super Sunday fixture against Bolton Wanderers with 2-0 while Aston Villa has to settle for a draw against the visiting West Ham United at Villa Park. In the third match of the day a goal in each half got Blackburn Rovers a comfortable victory over Fulham.

Cesc Fabregas returned to the Arsenal squad after fully recovering from his hamstring injury and his presence was felt when he scored the opening goal for the Gunners in the 28th minute when a little fumble by Bolton defender ended with the ball’s possession with Fabregas who kept his cool to play a delightful one-two with Eduardo and the pick his spot with a low shot into the corner. Second for Arsenal came in the 78th minute when a sweeping move ended with Eduardo clipping a inviting cross to the far post. It was flicked off Gary Cahill‘s head and Meridacollected with his left foot before steering home a cross-shot with his right.

With the win Arsenal remain at third spot which can changed when they will be again meeting the same team in the mid week drama on 20th January. The Gunners have a great chance of surpassing Manchester United and go joint first with Chelsea as they are only 3 points behind them. Also in the mid week, struggling Liverpool will be meeting fourth place Tottenham Hotspurs and in the absence of the reds trio Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun their position looks a bit grim for the 3 points. Tottenham had been doing excellent under their new manager Harry Redknapp who would be eying the last champions league spot for next season.
For now it looks like the battle of the premiership will be among Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal who are now going beyond reach of the rest of the field.

Manchester United travels to Germany with a long Injury list, Oportuinity for young players.

n the last champions’ league group stage match, Manchester United will be travelling to Germany to face Wolfsburg VfL in what is a no stress match for the red devils but for the home side this is big match for them considering the situation the there group. In the other match, Besiktas JK will be up against CSKA Moscow in Istanbul. The situation for the Russian side is complex as they have to bank on the match at Germany and hope that there team secure more points than Wolfsburg to have a chance of going to the next stage.

Also a consolation may be waiting for Beşiktaş but they have to secure a win better than 2-1 and hope the German side do not lose in order to finish third and earn transfer to the UEFA Europa League round of 32. Pretty complex, isn’t it???
Worry for Manchester United that their whole lot of players will be out for the match which includes Rio Ferdinand, Goal keeper Edwin Van der Sar, Nemanja Vidić, Gary Neville, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney among others. But Sir Alex is confident of a good show at the VfL Wolfsburg Arena. His main concern will be reducing the injury list for the coming weekend’s premier league match against Aston Villa. Ryan Giggs will be seen in an extended role and could be seen in the thick of the action in the mid field and also not to forget Paul Scholes and Michael Owen role. This is also a huge opportuinity for the upcoming young red devils specially Darren Gibson who put up a good show in last week’s match against West Ham United.

Other big matches on that day are:
Group A: Juventus Vs FC Bayern München
Maccabi Haifa FC v FC Girondins de Bordeaux

Group C: FC Zürich v AC Milan
Olympique de Marseille Vs Real Madrid CF

Group D: Chelsea FC Vs APOEL FC
Club Atlético de Madrid Vs FC Porto
All matches will be starting at 2045 Hours GMT (0245 Hours IST)

Adidas F50, Nike Mercurial Vapor IV. Whats Your pick???

It’s the first rule of working as a Nike designer: never believe those who say you can’t improve on perfection. After years of development work – and the input of Mercurial athletes from R9 himself to the latest brilliant Brazilian – the Mercurial Vapor IV is living proof that the definition of ‘perfect’ never stops changing.
When the seal was broken on Cristiano Ronaldo’s new shoebox, you could hear the groans from defenders all over the world. The most in-form player on the planet was hard enough to stop, without adding a new weapon to his arsenal – and it took CR7 a mere 88 minutes to sear his orange peel Vapors into the fans’ memories with his first ever Manchester United hat trick. Five months and 20 goals later, CR7’s boots contained the first winger ever to win the European Golden Shoe, and the seventh consecutive Merc wearer to take the title of English Premier League top scorer.

Fine-tune your play and dominate with the flair you were born for. This adidas football F50 i TUNIT™ boot has a stealthy design, changeable studs and a TRAXION® FG outsole for stellar firm ground grip. As the concept of mixing individual components to create soccer cleats matching your style and preferences remains the same, Adidas F50.8 Tunit consists four not three exchangeable parts. Besides the Upper, Chassis and Studs that are part of the previous versions, new Tunit brings an additional component in Sockliner or Insole.

After choosing your Upper and inserting the Chassis, that forms the interior of the shoe and holds the studs, you need to place the Sockliner inside the shoe on the top of the Chassis. It is Henry’s favourite shoes. The best thing about the shoes is that you can make it the way you want. Howz that!!!

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United

Manchester United have drawn two and won six of their last eight League visits to White Hart Lane and this is another massive test of Tottenham’s capabilities following their best start to a season since 1960. The sizzling Spurs boast a perfect start from four games, and that includes the 2-1 home win over Liverpool. And they can boast the fact that, in 2009 so far, they have played 22 games, winning 13, drawing four and losing just five.

Spurs, set to start with Peter Crouch, are without Luka Modric, so Niko Kranjcar should make his debut. Heurelho Gomes is also missing but Ledley King, who injured a groin muscle in the 2-1 win over Birmingham, should be fit. United are still without Rio Ferdinand.

Tottenham (probable, 4-4-2): Cudicini; Corluka, King, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Huddlestone, Kranjcar; Defoe, Crouch.
United (probable, 4-4-2): Foster; O’Shea, Brown, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney.
Referee: Andre Marriner. Matches 2: R0 Y3.

Last season: United 5, Tottenham 2; Tottenham 0, United 0.

This time United 2 – Tottenham -1

By EPL Reporter

Champions League Draw

As UFEA Champions League, Europe’s most prized club football tournment is about to get underway in a fortnight’s time, all the European football powerhouses will face each other in the toughest test on and off the field from the media, fans etc in the next 10 months.

The Red Devils have been drawn in Group B with Besiktas(Turkey), CSKA Moscow(Russia) and current German champions Wolfsburg. Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that Man United face a grueling test in the Champions League after suffering a tough draw in the group stage. It will be a good travelling time for ManU. It will be fun in the coming time for the fans as the late night champions league matches are back. The first leg of the initial group stage is on 15th sept at 1945hours GMT as Man Utd will be going to Besiktas, Turkey to face this crucial test as they are the Turkish powerhouse. This is going to be really good one..

By Amitoj Singh

The League of Extraordinary Players.

The premier league is a league of extraordinary players battling out their best with the best. It’s the most awaited and watched league, and mind you the most remunerative one too.

So, how did it all start? Well, it is hard to believe but the first stomp in the premier league was as relatively recent as 15th August, 1992. The English football was plagued with hooliganism and caused huge number of deaths. The 1980’s saw a low-water mark for the English football. The English teams were banned from Europe following the death of 39 fans in Belgium against Juventus in 1985. Another 96 deaths and 150 injuries during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham forest made them realize that they should restructure the way the football grounds were built. The restructuring had to be quick and ravishingly revitalizing. And so history was in the making.

Carling paid £12 million for four years and it was named after them. They renewed that for another four years at a 300% increase. And later in 2001 Barclaycard took over for £48 million for three years and then renewed it for £65.8 million for three seasons.
The diversity of players in the premier league has taken a new face, since only the 11 non-British and Irish players in 1992. The league started with 22 teams which were later lowered to a 20 club layout. This was a huge step in internationalizing the premier league. The most successful team in the premier league history is Manchester United who also won the first season and is since then on a roll, had a few tumbles, but still the most respected and the most compassionate.

So, whether a fan or not you cannot deny its effect on the people. It is here and here to stay, so you just lay back and enjoy the most exciting season with a Budweiser (official website partner) because the fever is going to get you.

By Arjun Jain : www.epl4india.ning.com

Make the Difference

Make the Difference – Nike & Man Utd.

Nike’s latest viral for ‘Make The Difference’ sees Rooney preparing for the new season, a ceremonial shaving of the head that leaves memories  of last season’s heroics scattered on the bathroom floor.

It is a new season, last season was good, this one needs to be better. While most are afraid of the zone, others, season after season, call it home. It is a commitment, not the kind of place you just drop in. To make the difference you must prove you are the kind of player who can never be stopped, only feared.This is Rooney, in the zone, willing to make his mark on each and every game. Today, tomorrow, in training. Next Sunday.

‘Make The Difference’ challenges footballers to have a big effect on the games they play in and allows fans and commentators to look back on the moments and players that changed matches. See www.nikefootball.com <http://www.nikefootball.com>