arsenal: International Watch: World Cup Qualifiers

Monday, 7 September 2009

International Watch: World Cup Qualifiers

A host of Arsenal stars were on show for their countries in World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches over the weekend, and many have more matches in midweek. Below is a comprehensive list of what our globetrotting Gunners have been doing.

Nicklas Bendtner
Denmark 1-1 Portugal, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Denmark v Sweden, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Nicklas Bendtner scored Denmark's goal in their home draw with Portugal. The Arsenal striker controlled a diagonal pass with his chest and then finished brilliantly with his left foot. The Danes are still top of their qualifying group and will be looking to extend their lead on Wednesday with victory over Sweden.

Abou Diaby, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Gael Clichy
France 1-1 Romania, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Serbia v France, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Following Saturday's draw with Romania, France no longer control their destiny in Group Seven. William Gallas and Bacary Sagna both played 90 minutes for Les Bleus, but there was no involvement for Abou Diaby or Gael Clichy.
Former Gunner Thierry Henry got the goal for France. A win against Group leaders Serbia on Wednesday will ensure at least a Play-Off place for France.

Cesc Fabregas
Spain 5-0 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Spain v Estonia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Cesc Fabregas was a second-half substitute as Spain hit five past Belgium. The European champions are assured of at least an appearance in the Play-Offs. They are currently six points ahead of second-place Bosnia with three games to play in Group Five.

Thomas Vermaelen
Spain 5-0 Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Armenia v Belgium, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Belgium's hopes of reaching the World Cup Finals were dealt a massive blow on Saturday as they went down 5-0 in Spain. Thomas Vermaelen played 90 minutes in the game. Should Bosnia defeat Turkey on Wednesday then Belgium will be unable to qualify for South Africa.

Philippe Senderos
Switzerland 2-0 Greece, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Latvia v Switzerland, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Switzerland opened up a three-point gap at the top of Group Two with a 2-0 win over Greece. Philippe Senderos was an unused substitute as the Swiss left it late, with two goals in the last 10 minutes. A win over Lativa on Wednesday would put Switzerland in a strong position to qualify.

Tomas Rosicky
Slovakia 2-2 Czech Republic, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Czech Republic v San Marino, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Czech Republic are struggling in Group Three after only managing a draw against group leaders Slovakia, leaving the Czechs seven points off the pace with just three games remaining. A Play-Off place is perhaps a more realistic target for Tomas Rosicky and his international team-mates. Though they are five points behind second place, they still have to play both Northern Ireland (second) and Poland (third) before the end of the qualifying stage. Rosicky missed the match through injury.

Eduardo
Croatia 1-0 Belarus, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
England v Croatia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Croatia closed the gap on England to four points with a 1-0 win over Belarus. Eduardo started the match and was brought off with eight minutes remaining. A win at Wembley on Wednesday would put the pressure on England to win their game-in-hand.

Robin van Persie
Netherlands 3-0 Japan, Friendly, September 5
Scotland v Netherlands, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Robin van Persie scored the Netherlands’ second as they defeated Japan 3-0 in a friendly match on Saturday.
The Netherlands are the only European nation to have already won their qualification group and are currently 14 points ahead of Macedonia and Scotland in Group Nine. They complete their qualification fixtures with a trip to Scotland on Wednesday.

Aaron Ramsey
Wales 2-1 Italy, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 4
Wales v Russia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Aaron Ramsey scored the winner as Wales beat Italy 2-1 to continue their good start to qualifying for the 2011 European Under-21 Championship. Ramsey took the corner from which Christian Ribeiro opened the scoring. Having seen Italy equalise, Ramsey fired home a volley midway through the second half.
Ramsey will now join up with the senior Wales squad for a World Cup qualifier against Russia next Wednesday. Wales' chances of qualifying are slim, and anything but a win would render it impossible for John Toshack's side to make it to South Africa.

Alex Song
Gabon 0-2 Cameroon, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Cameroon v Gabon, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Alex Song didn't feature for Cameroon as they defeated Gabon 2-0 on Saturday. Another three points from the return fixture on Wednesday could see Cameroon go top of Group A.

Andrey Arshavin
Russia 3-0 Liechtenstein, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Wales v Russia, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Andrey Arshavin sat out Russia's 3-0 win over Liechtenstein through injury but will be hoping to feature in Cardiff on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Eboue
Ivory Coast 5-0 Burkina Faso, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Emmanuel Eboue played 90 minutes as Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 5-0 to continue their 100 per cent start to Group E in the final round of World Cup Qualifying in Africa.

Wojciech Szczesny
Poland 1-1 Northern Ireland, World Cup Qualifier, September 5
Slovenia v Poland, World Cup Qualifier, September 9
Wojciech Szczesny didn't feature as Poland drew with Northern Ireland in Group Three.

Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs
Macedonia 2-1 England, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 4
Greece v England, Uefa Under-21 Championship Qualifier, September 8
Jack Wilshere won the penalty from which Lee Cattermole scored England's winner. Kieran Gibbs played the 90 minutes while Wilshere came on with 18 minutes to play.
England now travel to Greece for a game on Tuesday. The Greeks have already played two games, and won them both, so it will be a tough test for Gunners Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere.

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INJURY NEWS

THEO WALCOTT
September 24
Theo is back in normal training but is lacking match fitness. “He has only played 45 minutes since June so he lacks a little bit of competition," said Arsène Wenger "He was short for the West Brom game [on Tuesday] but he's available again."
Wenger isn't sure Walcott will feature against Fulham on Saturday. “I don't know [if he could figure this weekend] He is still a bit short because it's the week he's back to full, normal training. But the good news is that he's available again.”

ANDREY ARSHAVIN
September 24
Andrey will be available for Saturday's trip to Fulham after recovering from injury Arsène Wenger has confirmed. "Arshavin should be back," said Wenger.

ROBIN VAN PERSIE
September 24
Robin van Persie will have a fitness test on Friday but should be fit for Saturday's match at Fulham.
"We had a problem with Van Persie during the week,” said Arsène Wenger. "He should be all right, we have a test tomorrow with him."

MANUEL ALMUNIA
September 24
Manuel will be out for approximately one more week with a chest infection. “Almunia is still short, still a week away," said Arsène Wenger

DENILSON
September 17
Denilson sustained a back injury against Manchester City and is likely to miss the next few weeks.
"Denilson looks to be out for a few weeks with a back problem," Arsène Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on September 17.

JOHAN DJOUROU
September 10
Johan suffered a knee injury while on international duty last month and faces a lenghty lay-off. “Johan is six to eight months,” Wenger said. “He had big surgery, and it is a big blow for him and the Club. He will have to be patient this season.”

SAMIR NASRI
September 7
Arsène Wenger is hopeful that Samir Nasri will be available in October. Samir broke his leg during a training session in Austria in July.

CARLOS VELA
September 21
Carlos is expected to play in the Carling Cup on Tuesday after shrugging off an ankle injury. "You will see Vela, certainly," said Wenger on September 21.

LUKASZ FABIANSKI
September 7
Lukasz has had surgery to cure a knee problem and is expected to return in October. "Lukasz has had a cartilage surgery," confirmed Wenger.

Gunners' Greatest Players - 1. Thierry Henry

Remember the kid in the playground who was better than everyone else with a football at his feet? That's what Thierry Henry was like in his pomp.

The Frenchman had exquisite technique, searing pace and surprising strength. And like the typical schoolboy superstar, he did pretty much everything for his team. Henry was the captain, the talisman, the dead-ball expert, the penalty-taker and the assist-maker.

Then there's the goals, a club record 226 of them to be precise, in just 380 games. And what a portfolio Henry built up during his eight years as Arsenal. Thumping drives, delicate chips, jinking runs, audacious backheels, even the odd header - the Frenchman had a myriad of ways to find the net.

Everyone has their own Henry highlights but here's just a few to whet the appetite: that flick-up and lob over Fabien Barthez, the slaloming run against Liverpool, the 60-yard surge against Spurs, that cheeky clip against Charlton, that beauty in the Bernabeu. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

And remember, Henry wasn't even a bonafide striker when he arrived at Highbury in the summer of 1999. Remember when he came off the bench for his debut against Leicester and threatened the North Bank regulars with his scattergun shooting? Surely Henry wasn't the natural replacement for Nicolas Anelka?

Arsène Wenger thought otherwise and, with the help of his eager French student, transformed Henry from erratic winger into striker extraordinaire. Henry took nine games to open his Arsenal account but a brace against Derby announced his arrival as a decent finisher. By the end of the season he was scoring at will and within a few years he was regarded as the best striker in the world. The North Bank could stop ducking and start celebrating.

They had plenty to celebrate too as Henry's goals came hand in hand with trophies. There were disappointments at first - the Uefa Cup and the FA Cup slipped agonisingly through Arsenal's grasp at the turn of the century - but a Double in 2002 made amends. Henry's contribution was emphatic: 32 goals in all competitions.

The Frenchman raised the bar even higher in the following two campaigns. Arsenal had to settle for the FA Cup in 2003 but 42 goals, 23 assists and both Player of the Year awards summed up just how influential Henry had become. He scooped both awards in 2004 as well and contributed 39 goals as Arsenal completed an unbeaten title season. Of all the 'Invincibles', Henry was surely the most indispensable.

In hindsight, this was probably Henry's prime and he can count himself unlucky to miss out on the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2003 and 2004, finishing runner-up on both occasions. The Frenchman was unplayable at times, capable of scoring from anywhere and terrorising defences all over the continent, especially when he drifted out left to pick up possession and run at retreating opponents.

As football became increasingly big business, Henry became the Arsenal 'brand'. This attractive, charismatic figurehead was now a global superstar, admired by all and feared by opponents. He even received standing ovations at away grounds and had a special affinity with Portsmouth's fans after sporting a Pompey shirt after an FA Cup tie at Fratton Park. Rival fans wished he was theirs, but Henry was ours.

Patrick Vieira's surprise departure in the summer of 2005 took Henry onto an even higher plain - he was now Arsenal captain. He celebrated in style, eclipsing the Club's scoring record with a brace at Sparta Prague in October of that year. Henry had learned so much about forward play from Ian Wright; now he was leaving the ultimate finisher in his wake.

Two League titles, two FA Cups, four Golden Boots, five Player of the Year awards and that Club record represented a major haul, but one thing was missing from Henry's CV. The Champions League had eluded him and his wait goes on after an agonising defeat in the 2006 Final. If Henry could replay one moment in his career again, it might be that one-on-one in the second half in Paris. A goal then could have put the game beyond Barcelona's reach.

Barcelona is, of course, where Henry now plies his trade. But he will always be an Arsenal man. Last year the fans voted for their Gunners' Greatest Moments and Henry was involved in five of the top 10, so it's no surprise that he tops this summer's poll. Of all the great Gunners, Henry is the greatest.

The Arsenal Clock

The Arsenal clock famously graced Highbury for over 70 years. First erected in the 1930/31 season, it was one of the many features of Highbury instigated by ‘the great innovator’ Herbert Chapman.

Originally the clock provided supporters with a 45 minute count down, but the football association believed this undermined the match officials and the Club soon changed the clock to a conventional timepiece.

It was first positioned on the north stand, then known as the 'Laundry End' but it was eventually moved to the south stand then the 'College End' in 1935 when the North Bank was covered. Over the years it has become synonymous to that stand with most people now referring to ‘The Clock End’.

For the past decade, esteemed clock makers and maintainers Smith of Derby have been charged with the upkeep of the Gunners’ clock, ensuring it remains in good condition and of course keeps time accurately.

Smith of Derby have continued their traditional links with the Club by building a superb replica of our famous clock which takes pride of place in Emirates Stadium's 'Diamond Club'. The clock is a half-size replica of the original, measuring 1.3m in diameter as opposed to the original’s 2.6 metres.

The original clock from the Clock End stand at Highbury has been installed at Emirates Stadium and now sits high up on the outside of the stadium appropriately facing the Clock End Bridge as a symbolic reminder of the Club’s time at Highbury.

The Clock, which is three metres in diameter, was originally put into position in the North Bank at Highbury on August 28th 1928 but moved to the south terracing in 1935 when the North Bank was redeveloped and roofed. The south stand subsequently became known as the Clock End and the Clock became a famous icon for Arsenal and its Highbury home.

Ken Friar, long standing Arsenal Director, commented; “Throughout the move to Emirates Stadium, the Club always felt that it was important to supporters and everyone involved with the Club that parts of Highbury and the Club’s history, that are so intrinsic to Arsenal, were brought along to our new home. We hope that supporters will enjoy seeing the famous Clock when they visit the stadium for many, many years to come.”

The Clock, which was taken down from Highbury on July 27th 2006, was lifted into place by a 25 tonne crane and took four people, nine hours to install.

Monday, 7 September 2009

International Watch: World Cup Qualifiers

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