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Second day of Emirates Cup action:

Benfica 1-3 Valencia

Arsenal 0-1 Monaco

Valenica won the Emirates Cup today with another top performance from their side. Their strikers were making runs with and without the ball piercing the Benfica defense with ease. Jorge Jesus has a lot of work to do over the coming weeks prior to the start of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on August 17 v Pacos de Ferreira. Benfica lost quite a bit of talent during summer transfer season but in no way was this side a reflection of Jesus' tactical handy work. They seemed to bleed goals from everywhere on the pitch (8 in two matches). Their play was flat and with no conviction or confidence in their play. This might be a long Primeira and UCL season from them.

Falcao made his return to first team football in today's match and was the only goal scorer with a nice open shot goal. And yet again Arsenal's Achilles is their defending from set plays. Falcao easily jumped on a loose ball in the six yard box with no Arsenal defender marking him. You would think with all the set piece defending problems Wenger has had in the last couple seasons, he would work harder on shoring up that leak in that department, especially with a world-class striker like Falcao playing against your side. Yet overall, Arsenal looked ok today. This was their first real test against a competitive side and they got a C+ grade. The side was mainly made up of the senior members of the squad, and most likely the squad Wenger will pick against Man City next Sunday for the FA Community Shield. Sanchez got a solid 74 minutes of work today, making good runs both in the number 10 role then as a lone striker when Ox came on for Giroud. Giroud himself was ineffective the entire match. Ramsey, Cazorla and Wilshere were all flat the entire match. Monreal is going to be a liability for us this season, I can see that, with his abrupt clumsy tackling and lack of closing down on attackers. Chambers and Koscielny were strong in central defense and Debuchy had a nice strong introduction as Arsenal's new right back. News came out during the match that the Ozil, Mertesacker and Podolski will not be available for next week's Community Shield maybe not even until August 23.

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With today being the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI, their were a couple football related news occuring today. The BBC has a really good article stating the history of football players hanging up their boots and picking up a rifle for Britain plus their connection to their clubs today

http://m.bbc.com/sport/28619415

Also, Portsmouth FC released their home kit for 2014/15 that pays hommage to the "Pompey Pals", members of the 14th and 15th battalions of Hampshire regiment that was recruited heavily from Fratton Park. The kit has all 1400 people's names who paid the ultimate sacrifice during WWI. Plus it uses the original Portsmouth crest from 1914. IanC posted this is the 2014/15 Football Kits thread already here on the board, just wanted to reiterate the great job Pompey did on the kit.

http://boards.sportslogos.net/topic/95947-2014-15-soccer-kits-news-too-early-nah/page-89#entry2285353

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/28642187

I am a huge supporter of clubs adorning their match kits with poppies during the Week of Remembrance (November 4-11). That is such a great way for clubs to pay condolences and thank all the veterans (alive and dead) who fought for eveyones freedom. An independent organization (@Poppies4Kits) is raising awareness for the poppy wearing on match kits during the Week of Remembrance from Premier League to Non League clubs. All money raised from the selling of adhesive poppies (two styles) for kits go to Royal British Legion. A great initiative.

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In big news from France, Corinne Diacre (coach for Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot) lose 2-1 away to Brest in her first game in charge. This fixture marked the first time that a woman had taken charge of a professional men's team in the top two tiers of a European domestic league. This is huge news for the sport of football as clubs are admitting to looking at female coaches based on experience and tactical knowledge not just what gender they are. I remember the news conference of the announcement by Clermont Foot of her appointment. There was news agencies and journists from around Europe wanting to see this landmark appointment.

http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/28651944

What's everyones thoughts of her appointment and chances this season with the Ligue 2 Clermont Foot? I think she will struggle at first to breakdown the natural barriers by the dinosaurs in French football. But Clermont should stay mid table all season, with no chance of promotion this season. They don't have a very strong squad to push for promotion. Give her another year or two.

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Agreed the whole Costa situation and the reasons for her resignation was appalling. Doesn't really surprise me that those signings were happening behind her back the club president and board. The good thing is that she took a stand for what she believed in. I wonder if Diacre will do the same if the same pressure comes from above? Time will tell. http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/27984653

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I'm not surprised one bit that UEFA gave Celtic the 3-0 "walkover" for Legia fielding an ineligible player. The precedent as set in previous years in both Champions and Europa Leagues. You don't hear much of these cases because it nornmaly happens to smaller European clubs. But what are the odds that it happens twice to a club like Celtic, especially with them get out played over both legs in both cases.

What is the odds of the Bhoys wasting this opportunity, being outplayed in the Play-Off Round and being relegated to UEL Group Stage? Celtic has not made any real strengthing in the off season, especially knowing they need those high level players for Europe.

In other news, the UEFA Referees Committee has approved the vanishing spray for this season's UEFA matches after a successful trial in the 2014 UEFA U17 European Championship. It is being implemanted for the UEFA Super Cup on August 12, the Champions League Play-off Round and Europa League Group Stage. Godo to see UEFA has seen the light with this. The vanishing spray has been used in Central and South America for a number of years now and works great on incrochment. Hence why FIFA Referees Committee instituted it for the World Cup and onwards.

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Don't look now, but...

(1) The English season is (unofficially) underway with the FA Community Shield, and

(2) A Gunner (Santi Cazorla) has struck the first goal of the new season. :)

Kind of a weird goal, actually - not much power on Cazorla's shot, and no one seemed to be expecting it, but it just slid into the lower right corner from across the goal mouth.

CCSLC signature.png

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The goal seemed to be unexpected but the Gunners have been controlling the run of the play up to that point, with a bulk of the possession. Arsenal was doing alot of probing and found the back of the net with some ingenuity from Santi and a dummy by Sanogo.

"One Nil To The Arsenal!"

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Ramsey strikes again at Wembley! A beautiful run of play from a referee's advantage led to a nice through ball to Sanogo and a layoff to Ramsey who slots it low cross goal on the City keeper, making him stand still.

"Two Nil To The Arsenal"

HT at Wembley and Arsenal in the better side in the first 45': clinically better, cleaner passes, 60-40% possession, Chambers-Koscielny partnership working out well in central defense breaking up whatever the Citizens throw at them.

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What a beautiful looping goal that was by Giroud...clinical and well taken.

"Three Nil To The Arsenal!"

Cracker from Giroud makes it 3-0!

After going nine years without a trophy, Arsenal are now poised to take one home in two consecutive games.

You mean two trophies in two games? ;)

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