Picture: Rosicky "laugh" At Larsson Free-Kick

As Sky showed the replays of Sebastian Larsson's wonderful free-kick goal against Arsenal over and over again from various different, high definition camera angles, one angle showed an image of the Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky, with his back to the net, knowingly walking away from the goal. He knew Sunderland had scored, and he didn't want to turn around to witness them celebrate the goal.

However, questions were immediately asked of the 31 year-old's reaction to Arsenal's conceded goal on Sunday. Some even thought he was laughing at the incident, but Rosicky has moved to clear his name from criticism, saying:

"I was laughing? That's not laughter because when he took the ball immediately I was thinking about when Rooney scored at Old Trafford. That wasn't a laugh – it was a desperate laugh that such a screamer would be scored again."

Asked if he thought the ball was goal bound as soon as the Swedish and former Arsenal midfielder, Larsson hit it, he said:

"Yeah, exactly. I don't have to turn around. When I see his face and he is celebrating, why should I? Anyone who thinks I would laugh at that... it is very disappointing. For people to take it that way is unbelievable."

His team mates who were stood in the wall may have not had the same reaction, as they swivelled swiftly on their heels to watch the ball curl beautifully into the top corner, but Rosicky's desire and ambition is not in doubt. After a difficult start to the season for all involved in Arsenal, the Czech international is positive for the future:

"It was a very difficult start for us but the season is very long and I don’t feel it is impossible for us [to finish in the top four]. Every game is very difficult and you have to fight hard. The season is long and there are so many points to play for."

"Arsenal is a great club that always has to play for the top four. Even if we started badly, it must still be our aim."

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Racist Suarez Allegations

Patrice Evra pushed away Luis Suarez with visible contempt. It had been a frustrating game for Manchester United at Anfield, so perhaps the atmosphere and pressure had got to United's captain. If only it had. Instead, according to the French left back, his attitude was more in disgust towards the Uruguayan attacker, with Suarez apparently making vile, racist remarks, repeated "more than ten times" at Evra in an attempt to wind him up.

Cheating is one thing - something Suarez is known for, thanks to his World Cup hand ball and constant dramatic dives all over the football pitch. However, racism is something completely different, and utterly abhorrent. He has only been in the Premier League for a short time, but has already managed to turn himself into a hate figure for many. If Evra's accusations are proved to be correct, it will do nothing for his popularity.

Evra spoke to French TV Channel Canal Plus after the game against Liverpool which ended in a 1 - 1 draw. He was able to explain why he was so furious with Suarez during the game which resulted in the United man being yellow carded for his protests against the offending player. The United captain said:

"I was very upset. In 2011 you can’t say things like this. He knows what he said, the ref knows it, it will come out."

"I won’t repeat what he said, but it was a racist word, and he said it more than ten times. He tried to wind me up. I won’t make a huge deal out of it, but it’s very upsetting and disappointing."

Of course, allegations such as these will result in serious consequences for Suarez if they are proven to be true, and the FA last night launched an investigation into the incident which is supposed to have occurred around the hour mark in the game. A Statement read:

"The Football Association have this evening been made aware of an incident that is alleged to have occurred during the Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture at Anfield today."

"Referee Andre Marriner was made aware of an allegation at the end of the fixture and subsequently reported this to the FA. The FA will now begin making enquiries into the matter."

Naturally, Liverpool immediately spoke to Suarez about the incident after finding out about the accusations after the game, with the club releasing the following:

"We have since checked with Luis Suarez and he categorically denies using any language that could be interpreted in that way."

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Watch: Arsenal 2 - 1 Sunderland

Arsenal won a precious three points at the Emirates against Sunderland thanks to a great double by their captain and talisman, Robin van Persie.

The Dutch master opened the scoring in the 29th second, giving the whole team and fans at the ground an almighty early boost amidst their poor start to the season. However, despite dominating the game from there on in, Sunderland were allowed back into the game when Mikel Arteta conceded a free-kick just outside the area.

Who would step up, but former Arsenal boy, Sebastian Larsson, who curled an absolute beauty into the top corner, unstoppably passing Sczcesny in the Arsenal goal. It was a blow, but a blow that Arsenal have become used to this season. They carried on as they were after a shaky few minutes, and at last got their reward through the quite fantastic Robin van Persie.

He had narrowly missed scoring an absolute stunner of a goal early in the first half with a sublime chip which hit the post, but the winner was scored with all of the power, pace and accuracy that is contained in that wondrous left foot of his. Enjoy the goals below:

 

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Time for Arsenal to move on

Guest Article, Written by @Kevin_Mega

I was saddened to see Cesc Fabregas leave Arsenal as I wasn’t expecting him to leave this season. I was so confident that he would stay that I made a bet at the end of last month that we would see him captaining Arsenal this season. But he’s gone now, he gave arsenal eight years of great service and he will be sorely missed but it’s now time for Arsenal to move on.

As Wenger built the side around Fabregas, I believe the team may struggle as no-one can replicate the service he provided to Arsenals attacking players. Statistics have showed that the teams win percentage decreases when he isn’t in the line up. So what now for Arsenal?

External Recruitment
Many fans will be calling for Arsenal to spend the money made from the Fabregas sale on a player who’s experienced and able to take over the creative duties. Many names have been suggested by the media including Mata and Jadson however Wenger ruled them out in his press conference this week.  A player who I would like for Arsenal to try and purchase is Wesley Sneijder but I don’t see it happening as he’s not your typical Wenger signing.

Acquiring new players will also depend on whether we qualify for the Champions League. Failure to qualify would be a catastrophe as it would lead to Arsenal not being able to buy the ‘super quality’ players Wenger wants, and the £25m we would receive if we win the tie would give Wenger the extra cash to invest in a new DM and a striker.

Frankly I don’t see Wenger being able to sign a player to match Fabregas’ quality so I see him using one of the many centre midfielders he has at his disposal.


Internal Recruitment
The players who can perform for Arsenal in the hole behind the striker are: Rosicky, Ramsey, Wilshere, and Arshavin. All those players at one point have played in the centre attacking midfield position, except for Arshavin who should at least be given a few games in that role to see how he plays as the other mentioned players have never really performed.

Before he came to Arsenal, Arshavin used to play behind the striker, so he would be more than capable of excelling in that role. I however don’t see Arshavin getting a chance to make his mark there as Wenger prefers playing him on the wing.

Rosicky played in that position last season and he didn’t exactly impress either. This season however, Wenger has placed him in a better position alongside Song and he’s played well in the few games we've seen.

Ramsey is a player I rate highly, who I know for a fact would have been playing alongside Song last season instead of Wilshere if it wasn’t for the recovery process involved in his horrific injury.

He still hasn’t recaptured his form, but with the departure of Fabregas, he could rediscover it and forge an impressive partnership with Jack Wilshere. We saw a glimpse of them playing together when they ran the midfield against Manchester United at the Emirates last season, and this is the option I would choose if I was the Arsenal manager, if not, play Rosicky along with Song and Wilshere ahead of them.

Change of Formation to 4-4-1-1
I doubt Wenger would do this but I would love if he bought a very good striker, possibly Benzema, who would partner Arsenal's new captain, Robin Van Persie in attack. I know RVP is great as a lone striker as he showed last season but he has tendencies to drift out of the danger area, leaving our full backs and wingers with no-one to supply crosses to.

If Wenger buys a great striker it would allow Van Persie to play like his idol, Bergkamp. He already has his shirt number, and now it’s time for him to play in his role behind the striker. This I believe, would be a better option than the ones I’ve already mentioned, but again, I don’t believe Wenger would consider this option because it would halt the progress of Ramsey and if he was to change formation he would have done so in pre-season.

To conclude, I hope Wenger doesn’t build a team around one player because that’s why Arsenal seem to be collapsing. The invincible team was great because it had 11 quality players performing, and many more on the bench. It is time now for Arsenal to work as a unit just like they did in 2007-08 season after Thierry Henry left. Wenger is already looking to the future with the acquisitions of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,  Carl Jenkinson, Ryo Miyaichi and the promotion of several youngsters into the first team like E. Frimpong, Henri Lansbury and Benik Afobe. I support building for the future but at the moment we need more experienced players.

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So, What Does Sneijder Actually Want?

All he has to do, is say; "I, Wesley Sneijder, 27 year-old footballing Dutchman, can categorically deny that I will be leaving Inter Milan this summer." Perhaps then, this epic adventure through newspapers, gossip sites, Twitter feeds and professional bullsh*tters' "inside info", which has taken Manchester United fans from optimism to pessimism and back, but led nowhere really very productive, can end once and for all.

It seems so simple, yet the tangled, messy web which all of the rumours mixed with a touch of fact as well as misinterpreted quotes, has created, continues to spew out further information with no real substance at all. But dare we disbelieve it? Dare we brush it aside as nonsense? For all we know, the latest rumour that Wesley Sneijder is desperate to leave Inter Milan for Manchester United is absolutely true.

The past few weeks have been far quieter on the Sneijder to United front, but unsurprisingly, this week, more has "emerged." Sneijder has suddenly (and privately) changed his tune on a possible transfer away from Italy. Rather than see out the summer as an Inter player, quietly going about his business, he has (again, privately) stated that he wants a move.

He is "depressed," and "desperate" that his dream transfer to Manchester United has not materialised and feels as if he can do something about it. He has finally come to understand that asking for £200,000 per week in wages is simply not feasible, nor acceptable at a club like United, and has offered to lower his wage demands in order to force through a move.

With me so far? Believe any of it? No worries, there's only a little more to suffer through, as the final piece of the impossible puzzle is something Wesley will have to do in order to leave Inter; hand in a transfer request and force his way out.

As I said yesterday on Twitter, although I don't know Sneijder personally, I cannot see him showing the disrespect and dishonour of handing in a transfer request to a club that have treated him so well and that he loves so much. He loves Inter, he loves their fans and he loves the City, we know all of those things, but a transfer request, which is effectively saying; "thanks for everything, but I don't want to be here any more" would not be something I can see Sneijder doing.

Wayne Rooney did it, and look at the uproar among Manchester United fans it caused. Yes, he stayed, but it took a simply stunning overhead winner against United's fiercest rivals to win back most fans who chant his name loyally, and pay his wages.

It seems as if Wesley Sneijder is happy to stay at Inter, and happy to join Manchester United. Lets face it, it isn't a bad choice of clubs to play your football for, but if you really know what Wesley Sneijder wants and where he wants to play this season, you've either been told by the man himself, or are the man himself. The rest, are simply rumours.

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West Bromwich 1-2 Manchester United Highlights Video 14 August 2011

In the next match of the Premier League have which is the opening day fixtures we will have Champions of England taking on West Brom in the away tie which can be a very tricky match for the 19 time Champions of England. Sier alex Ferguson side has shown so much promise i nthe pre season that experts believe that this title is manchester's to lose and it will be interesting to see how this match goes about. West Brom will be hoping to keep the good run of form going as we will have all the live action of the match here which will be placed here shortly before it all starts.

Manchester United have bought in some very good players with the likes of Asley Young, Phil Jones in the squad which will only strenghten their Champions League Final playing squad. They will be hoping to go all the in this years Champions League while they have a good chance of making it another title in the 2011-2012 Premier League season.

West brom on the other hand will be looking to go out there and get a win under their belt, as they are playing at home and will be looking to go out there and get a good results. You can bookmark this page and comeback shortly before it all starts on the day to get the live streams and the match highlights.

West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester United:
EPL Season 2011-2012
Date: 14 August 2011 - Time: 16:00 BST

Match Status and Highlights
[ West Brom 1-2 Manchester United ]
13' [0 - 1] W. Rooney











West Brom vs Manchester United Full Match CLICK HERE

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Stoke City vs Chelsea Live Stream Online - 14 August 2011

Blues will be opening their 2011-2012 Premier League season against Stoke City playing away from home which will be huge match for them as it always a very tricky match playing at the home ground of Stokey who are very physical and know their way playing against the big boys of the league. Chelsea who had a superb start last season but drifted horribly towards the middle of the season now will be hoping to against start with all three points and maintain the form throughout the season.

Chelsea did not spent big in the transfer window and they will be hoping to utilize their current squad to its full potential, although IF Torrest start to score goals for them he will be like a brand new signing who failed to impress since arriving at Stamford Bridge. While Lampard and Terry are no longer their players they use to be and it will take some extra effort to keep the pressure on United.

Stoke City on the other hand are kind of team who tend to play well at home and Chelsea will dind it very difficult to get all three points here. You can always tune in here to get the live action of the match here, which will be available closer to start of the match.

Stoke City vs Chelsea:
EPL 2011-2012
Date: 14 August 2011 - Time: 13:30 BST

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