Arsenal had their biggest test of the season this Saturday at Old Trafford. They were looking to maintain their perfect start to the season, while Manchester United was looking to defend there position as Premier League champions. Arsenal had a host of chances all through the first half,  but were always whiskers away. The first controversial moment of the night came when Andrey Arshavin received  Bacary Sagna’s cross and was clearly taken down by Manchester United’s Daren Fletcher. The  referee Mike Dean didn’t agree with the complaints and just as the home side thought they got away with  it,  the Russian received the ball and broke the dead lock with a brilliant strike 5 min from the half.

Arsenal’s lead didn’t last for long as another controversial call from the referee occurred when it looked as if Manuel Almunia made contact with Wayne Rooney in the penalty area. This lead  to Rooney scoring off the penalty shot and getting Manchester United on the board. More bad fortune followed Arsenal when in the 64th minute Abou Diaby headed a Ryan Giggs  free-kick  into his own net. Arsenal got worse as frustration got into Wenger’s head, as was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle at the assistant referee.

The better team clearly lost this game, but for now lets hope Wenger can prepare his team and put himself in the right mindset to face Manchester City.

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva helped his team cruise past Celtic, 3-1 & 5-1 on aggregate, to qualify for the champion’s league. One of the three goals scored was a penalty awarded by the referee which seemed as though there was no contact by Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc on Eduardo in the penalty area. UEFA have examined video surveillance of the incedent, and came to a final decision to charge the Brazilian-born Croatian with disciplinary action for ’intent to deceive the referee’.

This decision angered Wenger labeling the charge as ” a disgrace and unacceptable”, he also stated that the UEFA governing body have put themselves in a ‘dangerous’ position.

“We will not accept the way Uefa treated this case. Having seen the television again nothing is conclusive from that and it singles out a player in Europe to be a cheat and that is not acceptable. I have seen some obvious cases where Uefa didn’t intervene and that is on and off the pitch. Things have happened in Europe on and off the pitch where Fifa did not act at all.”

“I believe that, first of all, there are two cases in this case and that Uefa has taken action that is not defendable.”

“I’ve fought my whole life against cheating and I’ve seen some obvious cases where UEFA didn’t intervene,”

The Arsenal Manager is currently preparing his squad for his tough Premier League encounter with defending champions Manchester United on Saturday.

After missing the Celtic game due to his hamstring injury, Fabregas’s fitness is being put to the test before Arsenals Premier League clash with Manchester United. During Arsène Wenger’s interview with ATVO he was optimistic about his captains fitness and said that it was improving with a 50:50 chance of his return. Farbregas will be taking a fitness test on Friday that will determine his fate for the upcoming game.

“He had a training session today that was quite positive,” the manager told Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon. “He will have a definite test tomorrow where we will decide if we include him in the squad or not. Today I would say it is a real 50:50. Yesterday it I would say it was 60:40 against but he looked positive today.”

As for injury plagued Tomas Rosicky, he is back in full training but Wenger is yet to roll the dice on his long awaited return.

“Rosicky is back in full training but I think a game of that intensity will be too early for him.”

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Arsenal eased past Celtic to reach the Champions League group stage.

Eduardo’s 25th-minute penalty, a contentious award after he clashed with Celtic keeper Artur Boruc, extended the Gunners’ two-goal first leg lead.

Emmanuel Eboue finished a sweeping move for Arsenal’s second after 53 minutes and Andrey Arshavin added another two minutes after coming on as substitute.

Massimo Donati’s spectacular angled volley pulled one back for Celtic, but they now go into the Europa League

Full report can be read here.

Highlights:

(Premier League)
Saturday 22nd August 2009

Arsenal continued their impressive start to the Premier League season with a resounding victory over Portsmouth.

Abou Diaby opened the scoring with a first-time finish from Eduardo’s cut-back and doubled the lead when he tapped in Emmanuel Eboue’s cross.

Younes Kaboul headed home to give Portsmouth hope but Arsenal responded when the ball rebounded off William Gallas’ face and into the net.

Aaron Ramsey slotted home Robin van Persie’s pass to seal the hosts’ win.

Full report can be read here.

Highlights: