Gallant Gunners hard done by harsh decisions

10 heroes 1 Fallen warrior fought Barcelona for 76 minutes on the highest stage of European football. Arsenal's young lads fought hard and were undone by several bad decisions by the referee and brought an end to their glorious campaign. The fitting finale, the dream final for the coveted prize on the fitting stage of Paris was spoilt when Jens Lehmann was sent off for a foul on Eto after Arsenal had started so brightly and were the better team till then. Henry could have scored a brilliant opener in the second minute and Arsenal looked like dominating the Catalans in the opening exchanges. As fate would have it, Lehmann was sent off in the 18th minute but Arsenal played bravely and took the lead in the 38th minute through Sol Campbell's header. For the next 40 minutes the Gunners were in complete control of the game and even had a couple of great chances. Henry skipped past a couple of defenders majestically and had a one on one with Valdes, Ljunberg had his shot saved, Hleb was unfortunate and it looked Arsenal were all set to rule Europe. Barcelona's big guns tried hard without much luck but when Henrik Larson entered the fray there was more bite in the attack. Eventually in the 76th minute barcelona scored which turned out to be an offside later on. From then on it was very hard for Arsenal with the momentum being with Barca and doom struck in the 80th minute. After that was a piece of cheap football b Barcelona keeping the ball in their own half. Barcelona might have won the Champions League but Arsene Wenger's men would have surely won more fans by their fabulous effort. Its just an indication of things to come with Henry deciding to stay with Arsenal for the rest of his career. This young team would definetely play with lots of style
and grace the footballing field.

Gunners bring the curtains down at Highbury in style

What more could you expect in a day, End of an era at Highbury after 93 years, retirement of Dennis "Master" Bergkamp, the anxiety of next year's champions league football. It all ended perfectly for this great North London team who play with a swagger right after a man named Arsene Wenger took the reins of the club.

It all ended in the best possible way any human could dream off after moments of agony and ecstasy combined and interwoven together. When Wigan took the lead in the middle of the first half compunded by Totenham's equalizer at almost the same moment, it looked as though it would be a sad farewell to Highbury but it was not to be. Roll over 90 seconds you had the mercurial Frenchman Thierry Henry levelling it for Arsenal. Such was the excitement at the ground that the crowd kept their radio sets glued to their ears keeping tabs on the action at Upton park where West Ham were battling Tottenham. Henry scored his 9th hat trick in his peerless career at North London and put off any scares and anxiety. At the other end West ham scored through Benyouni, which effectively meant Tottenham had to score 2 goals in 10 minutes. The task has been accomplished, Arsenal will play in next season's Champions league at the Ashburton Grove. Sad the achievement's grace had to be stained with Tottenham's food poisoning saga.

It is going to be a spectacle playing at the new stadium with the professor leading his bright wards into Ashburton Grove. It may be Bergkamp's last season, Pires might follow with Henry and Cole, I am not even sure this young Arsenal team is ready to challenge Chelsea and Manchester United for the Premiership title but I am convinced that the flavour of Wenger football would continue. The game at its subliminal best which has graced Highbury for so long would continue at Ashburton Grove.


Ronaldinho! Who? Bring on Barcelona the young gunners are waiting for you at Paris with their astute guide Arsene Wenger and their leader Thierry Henry who grew up on the suburbs of Paris.

DB-10 The True Dutch Master

This day would remain to be one of the most emotional days at Highbury, the 10 Shirt which has graced the North London club is coming to its final chapter of its illustrious career. Dennis Bergkamp the true Dutch Master was given his tribute at Highbury today and was celebrated as DB 10. It is a notable coincidence that the former Ajax man's career and Highbury's previelage of being Arsenal's ground are coming to an end together. Arguably one of the game's most skilled players to have graced the game and hailed as one of the most technical player of his generation. Many even call him the finest to ever play for the Gunners and it would be an emotional evening when Bergkamp plays his testimonial match at Ashburton Grove on July 22. The softest touches when required and the brutal force combined has made rival keepers shiver at their lines. Few can ever forget the goal he scored against Newcastle United one of the beautifull goals ever scored in the EPL and the deadly strike against Argentina at France'98 are just a few to name in this illustrious player's career.

It would be a fitting tribute to this great player if Arsenal can win the Champions League this year. One of the gentlemanly characters to step on the pitch, Dennis you would be missed !!!!

India capitulate at Mumbai to English attack

India lost 7 wickets in 96 balls after lunch to collapse to a 213 run defeat to Flintoff's men. India chasing 295 for victory on the final day lost early wickets which brought Dravid and Sachin to the wicket. Indian hopes harboured with the 2 men who are indisputably India's finest batsmen to save the test or even to launch an assault. Hard did they try but Flintoff's persistence paid off with Rahul Dravid getting an outside edge. When Sachin got one turning from Shaun Udal and played into Ian Bell's hands, the Indian collapse was inevitable. But the way in which the collapse happened was appaling with the Indians falling like nine pins without any sign of resistance. Dhoni in particular can never be forgiven for the shot he played back to back against Udal and it defies any kind of explanation.

From England's point of view this test marked the return of James Anderson who burst into the scene 3 years back by taking the fastest 50 wickets and went into exile. He bowled with brisk pace and took key wickets in the match. Flintoff has become a colossal figure in this English side and was rightly awarded the Man of the Match and Man of the Series. He has captained this young side to a famous victory and has become a great leader.

Amazing Arsenal blow away the Italian machine

What a Night!!!!!!!!!!! Arsenal beating Juventus 2-0 at Highbury and more surprising was that Juve did not have a single shot on goal nor did threaten Lehmann. Patrick Vieira's return to his former club ended in sheer dissapointment for Fabio Capello's men who were trully outplayed by the Gunners. The sheer wight of Juventus was against this young Arsenal side, with players like Trezeguet, Ibrahimovic, Camoneresi, Vieira, Buffon, Cannavaro, Thuram, Emerson all true greats of the modern game but the Gunners put up an emphatic display of football. It was even until the first 30 minutes but once Arsenal started passing the ball with more pace and zest the Italian side started to break. The first goal would be the classic headline of many a newspaper tommorow morning " Vieira robbed of the ball and his successor Fabregas scored the Opener to leave Buffon rooted". Patrick was stopped in his stride by a brilliant tackle by fellow frenchman Pires and the ball was played to Thierry who found Fabregas in front of the goal and the young Catalan put the Gunners ahead in Style. Arsenal should have gone ahead by 2 goals in the next 3-4 minutes. After the break it was Arsenal all the way attacking with vigour, the one touch passing of the Gunners proving to be too much for the Italians. A great ball by Hleb opened up Fabregas and Henry provided the finishing touches to this great game. Juventus did themselves no favours by indulging in rash tackles with Zebina and Camorenesi red carded while Vieira yellow carded and would miss the return leg. This certainly plays heavily into the North London side for the return leg.

Wenger has justified himself by entrusting the midfield to Fabregas who has played some amazing football in the past 3 months and especially in the Champions League. This Arsenal side has surely struck form and its heartening to see the way they are gelling together. Barring any unexpected incidents Arsenal should go through to the first SemiFinal in the Champions league.

Chinese Wireless Revolution

The growing trend in the rapidly developing countries is the leapfrog in technological shift and acceptance. Western Europe and America had to go through a phase of laying cables, setting up telephone lines and made it available in the nook and corner of their nation states. This actually cost so much to these governments and when the phase of upgrading came it takes so much effort and money to change an already up and running system. The wireless technology is the latest addition and it has put the existing telephone lines to fall out of favour but still is not as efficient as the convention mode of communication. Whereas Countries like China and India who do not have the resources to lay cable lines and set up telephone systems are actually jumping into the wireless stream. The latest news is that China mobile is the world's largest cell phone operator, this was unimaginable a decade ago with 900 million chinese living in rural areas. This shift in technology has allowed the developing to bridge the gap with the developed. The intangible cultural shifts which these technological leaps will create is hard to understand. Whereas the developed countries go through a step by step process of advancement, the developing leap right into it which will create a bigger generation gap in the knowledge of these gadgets and also in the operating nature of the people.

Gerrard's mistake gifts a deserved Arsenal Win

Arsenal's young team are combining really well and this weekend they were up against Liverpool at Highbury. The team that withstood Real Madrid's attack during the midweek had one change with Adebayour coming for Reyes who was injured. Arsenal's injury woes continued with Ljunberg worsening his injury and had to be taken off at 12 minutes and was replaced by Pires. Arsenal started impressively having a couple of good chances in the first 20 minutes. Liverpool consolidated and attacked when Eboue stole the ball from Luis Garcia and passed it to Hleb. Within seconds of the Liverpool attack, Fabregas was having the ball at his feet and passed the ball to Henry bisecting 2 defenders. Henry did the rest opening up his body and lashed a curler past reina. Classical start by the Gunners and they were imposing themselves on the game and beginning to create chances with Eboue and Hleb combining well. Henry missed a couple of chances after good attacking play and Eboue missed another chance. Just when the match appeared to end in a draw, Gerrard struck a powerfull swerving shot which was parried by Lehmann only for Luis Garcia to follow up and score. Second time in this season has Luis Garcia followed up a parried shot to score against Arsenal. The Gunners were stunned coz Fabregas was fouled before Gerrard got the ball from Alonso. Gunners summoned all their strength to get a winner after missing many chances but the Liverpool defence held firm until Steven Gerrard of all players backpassed to the Goalkeeper only for Henry to intercept and score. Gunners had some more chances to finish it off in style but missed them, this time it was Robert Pires striking the post.

Arsenal will have to improve its finishing in order to win close matches but can take heart from perfomances by Hleb, Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini. Gilberto had a good game and so was Lehmann except for one mistake. Thierry Henry once again has proved he is indispensible for Arsenal. Pires will have to step up his game if he wants to go to Germany.