Vieira called United his "favourite enemy". In his first season in England he witnessed Ian Wright having to be restrained from thumping Peter Schmeichel by police and a subsequent ding-dong in the tunnel. His most maddening flare-up occurred in 2003 when he was sent off at Old Trafford for aiming a retaliatory kick at Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had stamped on him. Despite the lack of contact the Dutchman writhed around until the red card was flourished. "Personally, I can't stand the sight of Van Nistelrooy," wrote Vieira in his autobiography. "Everything about him annoys me. He's always complaining, whingeing. The man is a cheat and a coward. Everyone thinks he's a nice guy but in fact he's a son of a bitch."
It is almost impossible to imagine many of the current line-ups getting as steamed up about a direct opponent from this fixture. A frisson of anti‑Arsenal feeling lurks in Wayne Rooney, but not to compare to the buttons pressed by Liverpool. Cesc Fábregas remembers the last volcanic eruption at Old Trafford in 2004, when ill will was manifested in the so-called "battle of the buffet" as an angry upstart aimed a pizza at Sir Alex, but a run of uncontroversial encounters has turned down the electricity.
It all began way back in 1987, coincidentally Sir Alex's first appointment with Arsenal since he arrived at Old Trafford from Aberdeen. "I'll never forget our first exchange, when United beat us at Old Trafford in 1987," recalls George Graham, Arsenal's manager at the time. "David O'Leary was getting kicked all over the place by Norman Whiteside, David Rocastle was provoked so much that he got sent off and there was a big row coming off the pitch. Alex Ferguson and his then assistant Archie Knox were right in our faces and I thought: 'Jesus Christ! That'll be the first and last time they intimidate us. We're not going to be bullied any more'."
A year later Brian McClair missed a penalty in the last seconds of an FA Cup tie at Highbury and Nigel Winterburn followed him back to the centre circle to throw some bullying back by antagonising him all the way with unforgettable pleasantries.
The first act of the United-Arsenal enmity came to a climax on 20 October 1990 as McClair took his revenge on Winterburn, laying into the full-back after he had launched a tackle late enough to be registered the following week. That sparked a 21-man scuffle. As the late David Rocastle described it: "It was our team-mate, our little blood brother, in trouble. They were kicking Nigel like a nightclub brawl. That's what got us upset. If it was just a bad tackle, you wouldn't go in like that, no chance. But when I saw them kicking Nigel I ran over thinking, 'You can't have this'! We went in there and we stuck up for each other. At Arsenal we never, ever started any brawls – we just finished them."
Sunday 26 April 2009
Monday 20 April 2009
Weekend Round up
Arsenal crash out of FA cup, with wenger droping arshavin and song on bench.
Reason quoted from insider: "Crucially, Wenger wants to finish third.
His planning is based on his huge desire to finish third. If Arsenal finish third they go straight into the Champions League Group Stage."
I forgot to change my Fantasy league squad.
Current status:17pts. Cmied.
i hope torres, arshavin and adebayor score hatrick and fabregas contribute with 6 assist.
6-3 arsenal!!!
LOL
Reason quoted from insider: "Crucially, Wenger wants to finish third.
His planning is based on his huge desire to finish third. If Arsenal finish third they go straight into the Champions League Group Stage."
I forgot to change my Fantasy league squad.
Current status:17pts. Cmied.
i hope torres, arshavin and adebayor score hatrick and fabregas contribute with 6 assist.
6-3 arsenal!!!
LOL
Sunday 12 April 2009
just read from soccernet
Wenger insists the turning point this season was the win over Roma in a penalty shootout last month that allowed Arsenal to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
"There is always a key moment and Rome was that catalyst," he told L'Equipe.
"Before that, we weren't losing but we were not convincing. Since Rome, we are scoring again and we have the best run going, and that is a barometer of confidence.
WRONG!
the key moment is when u bought arshavin, after rome arshavin have reach 100% for match fitness that y we became better.
in Champions league we still look ordinary. but cesc is back now so things might change.
I myself didnt think tat arshavin would improve arsenal so much. i tot he would probably eased arsenal attacking woe but with his vision and ball control, arsenal seems to retain and have most of the possession. thus rendering the need of a world class DM.
credit to denilson and song as well as they seem to have improve too.
"There is always a key moment and Rome was that catalyst," he told L'Equipe.
"Before that, we weren't losing but we were not convincing. Since Rome, we are scoring again and we have the best run going, and that is a barometer of confidence.
WRONG!
the key moment is when u bought arshavin, after rome arshavin have reach 100% for match fitness that y we became better.
in Champions league we still look ordinary. but cesc is back now so things might change.
I myself didnt think tat arshavin would improve arsenal so much. i tot he would probably eased arsenal attacking woe but with his vision and ball control, arsenal seems to retain and have most of the possession. thus rendering the need of a world class DM.
credit to denilson and song as well as they seem to have improve too.
Lots to blog, 1st up. arsenal 4-1 wigan
I will do this in point form as i need to slp.
1.Arshaving probably save arsene wenger from a disaster.
2. with him and cesc, we got 2 playmaker who can pass accurately and quickly, thats y arsenal start to score again now.
3. I duno who will start for arsenal except cesc and arshavin. (midfield and striker wise)
4. walcott is getting better and better.
5. diaby and rosicky are probably e 2 person tats gona sold in e summer, IF we can find a buyer.
6. arsenal playing a new system 4-2-3-1
With song and denilson as 2 holding mid.
Song's job is to close down player outside arsenal penalty box.
Denilson's job is to go for 2nd ball and 50-50 ball.
Song can commit- meaning drawn out of position or sliding tackle or even atk, but denilson cant. denilson job is to play behind song, mop up watever song left behind, cover him. both of the dm will move e ball ASAP to the brain and playmaker.
Cesc and arshavin. Both have free role to atk anywhere dey like. dey will appear left right centre corner flag etc. they will lay e ball ard opponent penalty area where the attacker can score.
with walcott speed and aa and cecs fast passing, arsenal seems to be able to counter very fast and they can take on the defence with their angle passes.
Bentner and adey as tanker and finisher.
RVP eduardo and nasri are the wild card. they are e interchangable component. replacing the above mention player when injuries, suspension or even oppositin playing style comes into play.
RVP eduardo nasri are the extra equipment, adding another dimension but not the core of the team. thats y RVP and nasri are being nulified at the moment. RVP and nasri used to be the brain but with aa and cesc back i not sure what role wenger have for dem. eduardo have yet to play in the new system, but i reckon with cesc and aa, couple with his finishin, he could score quite a few goals.
problem is 1 tanker 1 winger 2 dm and 2 brain. no more space left. probably sub? interestingly will be wat role nasri and rvp are going to play.
with aa cup tied for champions league, nasri and rvp will play a bigger role in europe
1.Arshaving probably save arsene wenger from a disaster.
2. with him and cesc, we got 2 playmaker who can pass accurately and quickly, thats y arsenal start to score again now.
3. I duno who will start for arsenal except cesc and arshavin. (midfield and striker wise)
4. walcott is getting better and better.
5. diaby and rosicky are probably e 2 person tats gona sold in e summer, IF we can find a buyer.
6. arsenal playing a new system 4-2-3-1
With song and denilson as 2 holding mid.
Song's job is to close down player outside arsenal penalty box.
Denilson's job is to go for 2nd ball and 50-50 ball.
Song can commit- meaning drawn out of position or sliding tackle or even atk, but denilson cant. denilson job is to play behind song, mop up watever song left behind, cover him. both of the dm will move e ball ASAP to the brain and playmaker.
Cesc and arshavin. Both have free role to atk anywhere dey like. dey will appear left right centre corner flag etc. they will lay e ball ard opponent penalty area where the attacker can score.
with walcott speed and aa and cecs fast passing, arsenal seems to be able to counter very fast and they can take on the defence with their angle passes.
Bentner and adey as tanker and finisher.
RVP eduardo and nasri are the wild card. they are e interchangable component. replacing the above mention player when injuries, suspension or even oppositin playing style comes into play.
RVP eduardo nasri are the extra equipment, adding another dimension but not the core of the team. thats y RVP and nasri are being nulified at the moment. RVP and nasri used to be the brain but with aa and cesc back i not sure what role wenger have for dem. eduardo have yet to play in the new system, but i reckon with cesc and aa, couple with his finishin, he could score quite a few goals.
problem is 1 tanker 1 winger 2 dm and 2 brain. no more space left. probably sub? interestingly will be wat role nasri and rvp are going to play.
with aa cup tied for champions league, nasri and rvp will play a bigger role in europe
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