=== Quote of the Match ===
The color analyst, hardly an Arsenal fan, calls center midfielder Jack Wilshere "a great, great player. He and Fabregas are" ... tremendous, wonderful, chips and vinegar, I forget the word he used.
Wilshere was 18 years old until a month ago. Slap me silly. It's not unlike a guy starting at quarterback in the NFL at 19. Point guard in the NBA, anyway.
By my count, Wilshere is Arsenal's 10th-best player.
Their manager Arsene Wenger doesn't like to spend money in the 'free agent market,' but wow does he have an eye for youngsters. The soccer version of Pat Gillick.
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=== Premier League, 12 Games Left ===
#1 Man U pulls out a victory at home over #3 Man City today, on an epic bicycle kick from English superstar Wayne Rooney. Rooney's form on the shot was clinical. I might buy the poster of that one myself ...
Arsenal remain a win-and-draw behind Man U, although with the leaders having to come into Arsenal's house, and with Arsenal owning the easier finish schedule.
For all the talk of Man U's experience, which certainly is a factor, I wonder just how many people will bet Man U when they come into the Emirates...
#4 Chelsea came into the Emirates and were pulled to pieces. #3 Man City, seeing the game, huddled terrified in their own penalty box for 90 minutes.
Manchester United is scared of no one, so will get out and play ... and soccer neophyte Dr. D wonders just how ugly it might therefore get for them. He would dearly love to see somebody try to run with Arsenal at the Emirates.
After that one, we'll see who is talking about psychological fallout :- )
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=== Champions League ===
In only three days, Arsenal have to play the mighty Barcelona, who could tie their players together three-legged and beat Man U two out of three falls.
In chess there's a truism: when two players are of identical style, the inferior player is going to have a terrible minus score. Arsenal plays possession football better than anybody ... except Barca, who have raised it to a literally virtuoso form.
And Arsenal are missing their most dynamic, most important, player, Samir Nasri.
And Arsenal just used all of its 11 starting players to smother the #20 team in the EPL.
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Barca will school Arsenal on Wednesday, but it won't be a commentary on Arsenal's makeup. It will be a commentary on one of the most beautiful sports teams that ever took the field.
What will Barcelona's games look like, when Fabregas takes the field for them.
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Cheerio,
Dr D