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Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger - Source: Reuters -
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Wenger gets sent off
First up this week we had controversy aplenty as Arsenal took on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the biggest clash of the new Premier League season thus-far.
After winning three out of three, Arsenal had big hopes of taking it to the Northerners, but referee Mike Dean, who may or may not be a Manchester United fan, and the fourth official had other ideas as the Theatre of Dreams quickly turned into a nightmare for Arsene Wenger's Gunners.
Arsenal's pint-sized firecracker Andrei Arshavin gifted the Londoners the lead in spectacular fashion moments after he was denied a clear penalty, but Rooney levelled the score after being brought down in the box, before an equally spectacular own goal from Diaby sealed Arsenal's fate.
But that wasn't the worst of it as a disallowed goal from Van
Persie in stoppage time saw Frenchman Wenger kick a bottle of
water,
only to be sent to the UNITED stands to watch the
final 30 seconds of the match.
Wenger, who received an apology from the Premier Game Match Officials Board after the incident, later revealed that although he got sent to the stands where United fans hurled abuse at him - he did think it was a 'quite a good kick.'
One manager who won't be getting an apology from anyone though is Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez who was charged by the FA for 'improper conduct' for his well-worn nod to 'SpecSavers' impression when asked about the refereeing decisions following Liverpool's opening defeat to Spurs at White Hart Pain.
Transfer window slams shut
The summer transfer window also slammed shut with a whimper rather than a bang on Thursday as the 'top four' failed to put their money where their mouth is, while Portsmouth sold everyone (apart from David James) and Spurs got stuck with Bentley until they try to sell him again in January (but it wasn't all doom and gloom as you can read in our Top Ten Transfer Cops and Flops .)
And even though this years deadline day was more of a letdown than Ronaldo playing for Portugal, it has been reported that top-flight clubs SPLASHED an incredible 460.7 million pounds, with Manchester City responsible for QUARTER of that crazy amount.
One club who won't be spending any money in the transfer window for the next two-years though is Chelsea - as apparently what goes around does actually come around after all.
On Friday it was revealed the Blues have been banned from splashing the cash in the transfer market until 2011 after FIFA found the club guilty of inducing teen ace Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007.
It hasn't taken long for lawyers to wade in with their thoughts on the Chelsea ban, with top sports lawyer Dan Harrington saying it should serve as a 'warning to others' - we hope your listening Mark Hughes.
But although Chelsea 'pretend' they are going to appeal the ban, they may secretly view it as pretty lucky since the club seem to have spent all their money on making sure NO ONE gets John Terry EVER by tying the Blues skipper to a 5-year-deal at the club for a reported 41 million pounds!
Croatian conspiracy
Meanwhile, domestic football takes a break this upcoming weekend as we all hope and pray that none of our players get injured in their nations World Cup qualifiers.
England have a chance to injure all their best players in a pointless friendly with Slovenia before they take on Croatia and if the comments from Croat FA president Vlatko Markovic are anything to go by then Capello's Lions best watch their backs, and their ankles.
Markovic is convinced there is some sort of conspiracy going on after Croatia star Luka Modric broke a bone in his leg during Tottenham's 2-1 win over Birmingham on Sunday.
"First Eduardo, now Luka Modric. This is horrible. I can only ask myself if it was really an accident." Markovic said.
"I'm close to thinking it was done to us deliberately before the England match. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what happened to Luka. He is irreplaceable."
Meanwhile, while Modric may be a great footballer, he really is a bit of a crap actor...
AND FINALLY
Phil Collins 'hearts' Ronaldo
Real Madrid, Phil Collins and Ronaldo are not three words you would expect to hear in the same sentence, but according to FourFourTwo magazine Phil Collins is as much of a fan of El Diver as Steven Gerrard may or may not be of the Collins' music, as in the latest issues of the magazine the 'Another Day in Paradise' singer tells of his unlikely friendship with the winger saying:
"Cristiano sent my boys Christmas presents. He's a lovely guy, really charming."
What where your top moments of the football week
that was? Have your say below.....
Add a Comment:
Post new commentTimmo said on 2009-09-18 @ 14:15 NZDT: Report abusive post
No mention of Peterborough United's gutsy 1-1 draw away at Leicester? 3 games without defeat for the posh, sadly 7 games withouta win, but hey, silver linings and all that