And with Fernando Torres set to miss out once again through injury, Rafa Benitez will be pondering how the Reds are going to hit the back of the net for the first time since September 26th. The media love to eulogise about Anfield on ‘big European nights’ and how the Kop can suck the ball into the opponent’s net, and the team will need that support tonight more than any other time in recent history as they look to draw confidence from home comforts.

Lyon, despite a dismal 2-0 home defeat to Sochaux at the weekend, shouldn’t be underestimated. In Lisandro and Gomis, they have a frontline akin to the skill, tenacity, pace and strength of Rooney and Drogba. Behind them, the ever-willing Toulalan and Makoun will look to quell the force of Gerrard and with a makeshift strike-force consisting of either Kuyt, Babel or N’gog – patience could be the name of the game both on and off the pitch.

Liverpool can’t afford to look ahead to Manchester United on Sunday, otherwise their Champions League campaign will become as perilous as their Premier League assault.

Champions League Predictions

AZ Alkmaar 1-2 Arsenal
Liverpool 2-1 Lyon

He is also charged, with regards to the same game for celebrating his goals in front of the Arsenal supporters, but not before running the whole length of the pitch. So that’s one of the 3 match bans settled (even though they don’t actually decide until Thursday (today)).

What do you reckon will happen? I think its awful that he’s going to get a 3 match ban. I think its ridiculous. No one can prove whether it was violent conduct or not – no matter how “obvious” people says it looked. At the end of the day – Robin Van Persie almost broke Adebayor’s leg with his two footed lunge, right before the aforementioned “incident” took place. Why should Robin Van Persie not get banned?

Liverpool vs Burnley – Benayoun played an absolutely fantastic game, scoring a brilliant hatrick. Kuyt scored the other Liverpool goal in a 4-0, over the team which downed Manchester United.  Not only did Benayoun score 3, he set up Kuyt’s goal, well, sort of. Blasted a fantastic shot at the keeper, who couldn’t handle it. Being fair to Kuyt, he’s a striker, poaching is a must. If you watch the replays, you’ll see how he anticipated to keeper dropping the shot, and making sure he was the first to get there. Overall, a solid performance from the reds.

Chelsea vs Stoke – Pretty standard match this. Chelsea dominating possession after getting the equalizer. The keeper, keeps it level until the very last minute – and bang, something ticks off in his head and he’ll let a ball fly into the back of his net. One, he really should be saving. I’m not exactly sure where the 5 minutes of extra time came in this match. Well done to Chelsea for sticking at it though. Although, this seems to happen a fair bit with the blues, eh?

Manchester United vs Spurs – THIS game, was one of the best games, I’ve had the pleasure of watching this season. Dream start for Spurs, when Crouchy nodded down the ball, only for Jermaine Defoe to smash it in the back of the net, upside down! (bicycle kick) – After that ball nestled the net, the game was packed full of cation. My favorite moment of this game came at Manchester’s equalizer. I will never forget that footy moment. Let me explain further.

1.) Berbatov seems to dive (SEEMS!) – although the tackle was pretty ridiculous, two footed, from behind.

2.) The commentator decides to mention a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, and how Manchester United would be missing his services at this precise moment.

3.) Gigs steps up – and sends a beauty into the top-right corner – Cudicini seemed to get fairly close, but in reality, it would of had to be a pretty special save!

Thats all for now, take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Wenger also stated that, to play football the way United played against them, was a bigger crime than Eduardo’s diving. Such tactics can ruin the fun of the beautiful game, he believed. The good news for Wenger, was that his two key players, Nicklas Bendtnar and Denilson have successfully signed contracts with Arsenal. The details are not known but it is to be believed that the contracts will keep the two 21 year olds, at Emirates for at least another five years.

There was also sad news from the Manchester City camp, as they lost their best defender on the last day of the summer transfer window. The new summer arrivals forces 29 year old Richard Dunne, an Irish player, to leave the club for Aston Villa.

England were again the top spenders for the 2009 summer transfer window with a total spending of $715.1 million. Spain came second with $676.6 million, of which $355 million were spent by Real Madrid alone.

Arsenal were without their star man and captain, Cesc Fabregas for the game and that wasn’t thje only thing running on their mind. With a weekend fixture coming up against Manchester United, Arsenal manger faced the tricky prospect of having to pick a squad with an eye over the game against their title rivals.

Arsenal did field a very strong side, with the exception of Fabregas. Celtic must have felt that they were in a chance to win the game, after all a couple of goals with a clean sheet would’ve done the trick for them.

That however, was not to be as Arsenal quickly got off the blocks and looked poised to dominate the game in true Arsenal style. They were a touch lucky as they were awarded a highly controversial penalty, resulting from what the referee saw as a foul on Eduardo in the box.

Celtic players were infuriated with the decision and rightly so. There was no contact between Celtic’s goal keeper and Eduardo and it appeared as a blatant dive from the young gunner. Eventually when Eduardo did send the goal keeper to the wrong side and scored off it, the hearts and hopes of all Celtic players and fans alike would’ve been shattered.

Arsenal went on to score a couple more goals courtesy Emanuel Eboue and Andrey Arshavin in the second half. Celtic’s Massimo Donati did manage to pull one back on the last kick of the tie which resulted in Arsenal winning 5-1 on aggregate to seal their spot in the Champions League. Despite Arsenal’s domination over the game, what many Celtic faithful would like to point out would be the dive from Eduardo and a couple of unlucky goals conceded by them in their home game. However, with a score line which reads what it does, it is perhaps an indication of how poor Celtic were over the two games and how Arsenal dominated the entire contest.

On current form, Arsenal have to be considered among the favorites not just in the Premier League but also in the Champions League. “Invincibles”? Lets wait and watch.

Among the teams in the Premier League, Arsenal have had this aura about themselves of being one of the more exciting teams to watch. Their brand of game play is an absolute treat to the eye. Add to that the players who play for Arsenal are mostly youngsters, groomed by ‘The Professor’, Arsene Wenger. What they are also known for is their financial discipline. Rarely have Arsenal paid over the top for any player. Coupled with their rigid wage structure, Arsenal’s finances are truly well managed.

In this world however, there are two sides to every coin.

The rigid wage structure and the tight financial management, implying no lump sum amount of cash gets splashed on buying a star during the transfer window. This season, when insane amounts of money is flooding the transfer market courtesy of Real Madrid of Spain and Manchester City Football Club in England. Sports betters probably make an enormous sum of money, backing that Arsenal Football Club will not splash out, yet again…

The new found cash at the City of Manchester has created uproar of sorts within the Premier League. They have been widely linked up with players of repute from all the major leagues of the world. After failing to get the likes of Kaka to move to City, they set their sights on acquiring local, premier league talent.

Gareth Barry, Tevez were among the first to join them. Adebayor who was keen on a transfer to Inter Milan last season was seen as a possible target. City had the cash and were keen on a deal with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal board could not refuse the amount of money on the table and thus a move materialized.

The deal was a good one for all involved. Arsenal got rid of a trouble maker, City landed a good striker who had experience in the Premier League and Adebayor on his part, was able to break the wage clutches at Arsenal.

The money involved in the transfer and the camaraderie with Adebayor meant that some of the other players developed a sudden interest and themselves fancied a move to other clubs. They saw that with a right offer, the board would sell without too much of a fuss.

Kolo Toure, one of Arsenal’s key players, was the first to cash in. He followed Adebayor to Manchester City and now rumor mills are going abuzz about the possibility of Emmanuel Eboue too making a move away from Arsenal. If he does manage to move, it will have created another exodus from “The Professor’s” team and the process of rebuilding the team will have to begin yet again. I’m sure a lot of people are making a lot of money with football betting, guessing who is going to leave next and who the next “big stars” will be.

At the current rate, Arsenal are going to be a team under construction for a lot more years to come.

“My heart is with Arsenal and I just can’t picture myself in a different shirt. I just can’t see it now because I love this club so much.

“If you look at the last five years, look at the steps I have made every season, if you look at the support the boss and the whole club gave me, the fans gave me, my team-mates gave me – this is the right decision.”

Much like captain Cesc Fabregas, van Persie has often talked of the need for Arsenal to now turn their potential into silverware.

When the Dutchman arrived five years ago, the Gunners were the team to beat and he won the FA Cup at the end of his first season.

Manager Arsene Wenger firmly believes van Persie has all the talents to help the Gunners, who reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, make that crucial next step.

“It is fantastic news that Robin van Persie has committed his long term future to Arsenal. We are all delighted,” said Wenger, who has also moved to tie up the long-term futures of youngsters Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs this summer.