BBC MOTD: Sunderland vs Arsenal

Report: Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

Arsenal succumbed to their third defeat of the season after failing to tame Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The performance – and perhaps result – was very typical of Steve Bruce’s men this season.

Stubborn and spirited, Darren Bent the killer. Even Chelsea, United and Liverpool have all had their scares against the black cats this campaign but Wenger’s men knew better heading to Wearside today.

Knowing better did not mean much though, as Arsenal were again downed by giant-killers on another cold, wet day up North. ‘Same old story’ to those doubting this team’s maturity, but for the optimists, another defeat to smarten off – just like the couple in Manchester.

Eboue does wonders for country, Fabregas on target again

There was a major World Cup disappointment for Andrey Arshavin whose Russia were denied a berth by Slovenia but two other Arsenal players had better fortunes on Wednesday’s international duty.

Fabregas added to what has been a fine year in Spain’s colors with another goal while Eboue’s fortuitous touch in the penalty box handed him his first ever goal for Ivory Coast.

Fabregas’ goal

Eboue’s goal

Why Abou Diaby can be solution to minor striker crisis

It may sound ridiculous to his malicious critics but Abou Diaby has the ability to be a temporal solution to Arsenal’s problem of a lessened amount of natural strikers in the wake of Van Persie’s devastating injury.

Eduardo and Carlos Vela are premier options to replace the Dutchman but unless they are partnered upfront, neither of the pair really have the vigor of a striker capable of leading an attack or playing alone in an advance position.

Arshavin, Fabregas and co are undoubted technicians, but believe it or not, against the likes of Stoke City and Burnley, you will need more than craftsmen who are only efficient in carpet football.

Relief over Van Persie injury

Some said two to three months, others doomed rest of the season.

But according to Robin van Persie himself, Arsenal will only be missing his services for a matter of weeks.

The Dutchman has moved to soften the blow Arsenal felt after his devastating injury on international duty yesterday.

Giorgio Chiellini’s tackle left him stricken after just 16 minutes into Saturday’s friendly match with Italy but gloomy reports which followed from the media and Netherlands’ coach had suggested Van Persie sustained a very serious injury.

Then came claims that Arsenal’s flying striker could be ruled for three months but the Dutch FA clarified today that the player only partially ruptured a right ankle ligament and will not even require surgery in his healing process.

And to calm more nerves, Van Persie has revealed his injury was not severe as first feared and is targeting a late December return.

“The prognosis is that I will be out for four to six weeks,” van Persie told the Dutch television station NOS.

How should Arsenal move on without RVP?

Arsene Wenger’s November curse was going nowhere so here comes the long absence of Arsenal’s most prolific striker over the past 12 months.

More irritating should be where and how Van Persie sustained this frustrating blow but like every year, Arsenal will have to show how best they can fare without one of the squad’s major assets.

Last year, it was Fabregas and Walcott, the year before, Eduardo and Rosicky ended the campaign too soon.

The latter duo have been relatively fit options this campaign and will be a key part of any reshuffling Wenger does to his line-up to compensate the loss of Van Persie.

So that leaves a significant talking point here. How should Van Persie be replaced?

The obvious answer will be to fill the void with an equally capable Eduardo or perhaps Carlos Vela, but we are well aware of how this left-footed, cool-finishing pair have hardly found much action due to niggling injuries here and there.

Eduardo – still healing off the horrific incident of February 2008 – has proved as fragile as Van Persie was prior to last season, while Vela has made less than five appearances in an Arsenal shirt this term.

With Walcott and Bendtner ruled out for a while, it appears Arsenal now lacks a single out-and-out striker who is fully fit and unlikely to be stricken. That is if you exclude Arshavin who is of a mere midfielder’s height and thus, omitted from the club’s list of true strikers in the ‘first team profile’ on the official site.

Diaby – also nursing a wound – may come to mind as the man with enough power to play upfront centrally (but perhaps only as an ‘emergency striker’) while the likes of Fabregas, Nasri and Ramsey do have the finishing prowess of a striker but are much suited to a supporting role.

As it stands, granted they are fit, Eduardo and Vela are the main choices of strikers going into next Saturday’s visit to Sunderland, but before January comes, how else can Arsenal deal with this shortened amount of out-and-out strikers?

Untrue Eduardo rumor a poor fabrication

LIVERPOOL are ready to poach Eduardo from rivals Arsenal in a £10million deal.

The 26-year-old Croatian forward is unhappy that he has still to be offered improved terms at the Emirates.

His contract has just over 18 months to run and that has alerted Rafa Benitez, who desperately needs to strengthen his attacking options… Eduardo has started just three Premier League games this season despite fully recovering from the horror injury he picked up against Birmingham at the start of 2008…But he has been back since February and wants a more prominent role at Arsenal that Arsene Wenger cannot currently give him.

Eduardo will seek talks with Wenger to see if he features in his long-term plans and if the Arsenal boss is not convincing, Liverpool are ready to pounce.

Yes, that is the century’s most hilarious pre-January transfer rumor.

And it was well fabricated by the ever-reliable News of the World.

Injury concern for Van Persie

Van Persie being stretched off moments ago

Arsenal have fingers crossed on the fitness of Robin van Persie as it stands.

The Dutch forward was stretched off the pitch early into Netherlands’ friendly encounter with Italy.

The 26-year-old appeared stricken after a strong tackle by Italy’s Chiellini on 16 minutes and had to be replaced by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The match is still on-going and news on Van Persie’s condition is yet to come even though early reports in Holland suggest Arsenal’s striker will be flown back to Holland for a scan.

But Arsene Wenger will once again rue the woes of the international break after already dreading about his side’s health during this particular month of November.

Indeed, Van Persie – who surprisingly stayed on his feet for much of last season – last consigned to a long lay-off after suffering an injury around this time of the year back in 2007.

Hopes are there are no such severe news this time.

Below is footage of Van Persie’s latest injury concern being inflicted by Italy’s Chiellini.

Ramsey makes Arsenal proud with another stunner for Wales

Aaron Ramsey further announced himself as a bound star in football after a virtuoso display for his country.

The 18-year-old had been hailed as Wales’ “future captain” by Ryan Giggs earlier today and Ramsey backed his countryman’s prediction later in Cardiff by inspiring Wales to a convincing 3-0 victory over Scotland.

Arsenal’s teenage sensation set up two and scored a stunner himself as Wales stretched their unbeaten run over the bewildered Scots to five games.

Ramsey crossed to David Edwards as he volleyed Wales into a 16th minute lead after the Scots missed early openings.

Arsenal’s first summer signing of 2008 then played a major role in Simon Church’s first international goal before adding his own superb strike to end an emphatic win.

The hugely-talented playmaker was hailed with the man-of-the-match reward despite playing less than a third of the game.

Video of goal below.

Which Arsenal player doesn’t get the credit he deserves?

Welcome to the Fantasy Debate.

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Today’s topic:

In your opinion, which Arsenal player does not get the credit he deserves?

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