English Premier League club Arsenal has halted its streak of three straight losses with a 2-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday at the Emirates stadium. The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has blamed the injury crisis for such a poor show in the Premier League during the past few weeks.
Even the win on Saturday came at a price. A staggering five players of the Arsenal team picked up injuries during the game! William Gallas (hamstring), Emmanuel Eboue (muscle), Armand Traore (hamstring), Andrey Arshavin (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (groin) were the players who could not end the game in the state they started in.
Perhaps the Czech Republic midfielder Rosicky’s injury was the cruelest of all. Even before the season began, the 29-year old had spent previous eight months sidelined with a knee injury. Arsene Wenger will now have to do without the Cech player.
On the fact that Arsenal players have so far proved more injury-prone than other Premier League clubs, Wenger said: “We pick up more injuries than the other big teams, that is true. You cannot say there is not a reason for it but we have not found it yet.” He also said: “It’s the worst season for injuries for us. And they are all in the same area – in the offensive side. Last year it was in the defensive side.”
Arsenal have so far scored the most goals by a side this season. It remains to be seen however whether they are able to challenge the might of Chelsea at the top of the table or not.
Author: Jabran Kundi
Source: ezinearticles.com
Jabran Kundi, known among football fans as ‘epl-reporter’, takes you to the biggest stage of world club football, the English Premier league. In his blog he covers all the latest news and stories from the English Premier League and if there is anything new in the Premier League, epl-reporter will have it for you at http://epl-reporter.blogspot.com.
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Didier Drogba was a smash hit at the African Nations Cup which was produced by CAF (Confederation of African Football) and hosted in Egypt. The final with Ivory Coast took place on February 10 2006 and was won by the host country Egypt 4-2 on penalty shoot-out.
Didier Drogba had the most impact of any other national player of any other of the participaying teams during the course of the intra African match-ups. He is essentially a centeral force on any of the teams he has played on.. This also includes Chelsea of the English Premier League of which he is also a striker.
For team mate, Toure, Drogba presents a potentially decisive edge in the first competitive meeting between Ivory Coast and Nigeria since the 1994 Nations Cup semi-final won by the Nigerians on penalties.
“Drogba is a really great player and he is something special. We are really proud of what hehas a done for the team”.
“It’s going to be a very hard game. But now we are in the semi-finals, anything can happen. We’ve got our chance,” said defender Toure.
Seconds into the second half, the whole difference was made when Drogba netted his fourth goal of the tournament and the Elephants could afford to sit back for most of the second half.
The goal stung the Nigerian bench who immediately replaced Mikel Obi with Jay Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo with Julius Aghahowa, but still the Nigerians could not turn the game round. This is the first time the Ivorians, who have qualified for the World cup, will have played in the final since winning the title in 1992 in Senegal.
The Egyptians must thank goalkeeper Essam EL Hadary for saving two penalties as Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba missed a crucial first spot kick for the Elephants.
COTE D’IVOIRE (Ivory Coast) National Team Line-up
01.Tizie Jean-Jacques Hobrou
02.Akale Kanga Gauthier
03.Boka Etienne Arthur
04.Toure Kolo Abib
05.Zokora Deguy Alain Didier
06.Kouassi Koffiblaise
07.Fae Emerse
09.Kone Arouna
11.Drogba Tebily Didier Yves
21.Eboue Emmanuel
19.Toure Yaya Gnegneri
How many of these following substitutes will make their way to other Premier League teams in Europe and Asia?
10.Yapi Yapo Gilles Donald
08.Kalou Bonaventure
14.Kone Bakari
15.Dindane Aruna
16.Gnanhouan G. Amoukou Okosias
17.Domoraud Depri Cyrille Leandre
18.Tiene Siaka
22.N’dri Koffi Christian Romaric
23.Barry Boubacar
20.Demel Guy Roland
12.Meite Abdoulaye
13.Zoro Kpolo Marc Andre
The battle for African Footballer of the year
Drogba overshadowed Samuel Eto’o, his rival for the African Footballer of the Year award usually held in late February. Didier Drogba scored the decisive penalty to put Ivory Coast into the last four in a dramatic shootout victory over Cameroon in Cairo.
However it might be blindsided by a contender from Egypt. Could Mido be in the mix?
Steve September of On The Ball Soccer Training has been involved in soccer for over forty years and on three continents.
As a player, player coach and high performance coach Steve wants to share the knowledge and experiences with all levels of people involved in the soccer scene. Delve into more of the philosophy and information and contributions at;
http://www.soccertrainingskills.com/
Author: Steve September
Source: articleage.com
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