Video: Gervinho Sending Off - Joey Barton Incident

Arsenal's opening Premier League game of the season ended in a goalless draw to Newcastle. However, the main talking point will be the incident which saw Arsenal's new recruit, Gervinho, sent off in a scuffle with Joey Barton.

As the Arsenal striker made his way inside the box, he dropped the shoulder and was clipped ever so slightly by Cheik Tiote. It was a clear dive, and the referee, Martin Atkinson waved play on, but it didn't quell Barton's fury at the dive. He confronted Gervinho, and began the scuffle.

There was no need for the rest, and on the opening day of the season, it is not what anyone wanted to witness. Both held each-other by the scruff of the neck, and as players from either side rushed in to intervene, Barton fell dramatically holding his face. Gervinho was sent off thanks to Barton's almost fictional blow to the face.

Wenger understandably didn't think Gervinho should have been sent off, and is thinking about appealing the decision. The Arsenal boss said:

"I think Gervinho didn't deserve a red card, he should give a red to the two players or a yellow to the two."

“I dont know why Joey Barton has grabbed him at the throat to get him up. I think thats a yellow card." 

"I feel the referee has not seen it and the linesman has not seen it properly. I'm one hundred percent sure that the referee did not see the incident so I would like to know who made the decision."

“Will I appeal? I will have a good look at it but I am tempted to say yes.”

Arsenal had been linked to Barton over the summer, as his future with Newcastle was up for debate. After this performance, I doubt he would be welcome in the Arsenal side by any of the players, particularly Gervinho.

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Picture: Michael Owen Lifts His 1st Premier League

Who would have thought that Michael Owen, the Liverpool kid, who scored goals for fun at Anfield for a good eight years would be lifting his first Premier League trophy for Manchester United in possibly his last season at the top level of football. He capped it with a clinical finish to place the cherry firmly on the delicious Manchester United cake, as his second Premier League goal of the season condemned a brake Blackpool to relegation. 
A jubilant Owen told MUTV:

“As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them. I won a lot of trophies with Liverpool but to win the Premier League is the pinnacle of anyone’s career. 

"I’m very proud today. I’ve not played as much as I did last year but we all have to play our part to win the league and it’s been enjoyable, nonetheless. 

"I’m really pleased and proud to have played with a great crop of lads and obviously the manager’s second to none.”

468 professional appearances, 218 career goals, 15 years and at last, at long last, a Premier League title. Congratulations Manchester United, congratulations Michael Owen.

Follow Me on Twitter @RealDan7 or @DBSFootball

DBSFootball in association with: http://www.watch-football.tv/football/ - Live Football Streaming. 

A Look At Arsenal's Ryo Miyaichi

After a season of disappointment, frustration and unfulfilment, Arsenal will be looking for any possible grain of hope for the future. They have, and have had stacks of potential in their ranks, but it hasn't paid off for seven years, though perhaps this gem they have been fortunate enough to find could change their luck at last.

Ryo Miyaichi, the 18 year-old Japanese winger has been receiving rave reviews in Holland where he has been loaned out to with Feyonard, and will return to Arsenal for pre-season with a determination and hope for success that Arsenal desperately need.

Wenger is hoping that Arsenal can secure a work permit for Miyaichi so he can play in the Premier League next season, but said that the player will have to continue prove over the summer that he is ready for that step: "I think he is good enough but if he is ready enough to have a place in our team, we will ask for a work permit and try to get him in."

After watching several of Miyaichi's performances for Feyonard, I, like many others am very impressed with his quality. On his début against Vitesse, he was named man of the match after playing 90 minutes, showing superb skill and drive, scary pace and a strong sense of bravery in a challenge.

He tore down the wing with tenacity, and put in several crosses from runs that he created totally individually. He has a very good engine in him, with bundles of energy, which is important to have in the Premier League, and was calm on the ball, finding a team mate the majority of the time.

His crosses may need working on, as many were cleared with ease, but he has grasped the hard bit - getting past the defenders, and no doubt under the guidance of Wenger his delivery will quickly improve. It is no wonder that he attracted clubs from around the world with performances like that at such a young age.

In 12 appearances for Feyonard, he has scored 3 and assisted four, showcasing the much desired abiltiy to settle in at a new club very quickly, and present his quality to the world, and more importantly to the watchful eye of Arsene Wenger. The Arsenal manager has noticed Miyaichi's impressive performances, and he explained what he likes about him:

"What I like about Ryo is that he has good timing with his runs and understands when to go and where to go. That is something very important. He knows how to use his pace and he is an intelligent player." 

"He is a boy who went straight from school football to professional football and straight away was the best player in Feyenoord.''  

"He looks a very promising boy and everybody who went to watch him has been hugely impressed by him. Ryo is a character and a great football player.''

A Netherlands journalist, Jaap De Groot of "De Telegraaf", was also very enthused by Miyaichi's performances in the Dutch League:

“He has got everything; he has got speed, he is very direct, he has skill, he can take people on, he scores goals and he has good technique. He loves the game as well. He is young and needs to mature but he is a very interesting player and could definitely be a star in the future."

Praise indeed for the young Japanese winger - it seems Arsenal have found themselves a fantastic young prospect who could make an instant impact at The Emirates. Other additions may be needed for Arsenal, particularly in the defence and attacking department, but this is one addition that Arsenal fans should be excited about going into a fresh new season with the expectation of trophies once again on the side.

Follow Me on Twitter @RealDan7 or @DBSFootball

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Video: Lionel Messi Goal v Madrid

The highlight of the game and, I suspect the tie, can be seen below, in the form of Lionel Messi's dazzling run through the hapless Real Madrid defence and delicately precise finish into the Madrid net. It was a bright light in a game filled to the rim with an utter disgrace in the all too common and far uglier form of cheating.

Watch the 2 sending off's and Messi's First Goal By Clicking Here.

Manchester United v Everton Video Preview

It's the early kick off this week-end, and it is another must win for Manchester United against Everton as Sir Alex Ferguson's side try to keep ahead of the chasing pack and hold on for United's 19th League title. 

Everton are never an easy side to face, especially when they are on a good run of form while United come off the back of a disappointing 0 - 0 draw at Newcastle. United will of course have their eye on that Champions League semi-final on Tuesday against the German side Schalke, and may look to rest some important players - though that is unlikely. 

Check back here after the game for the match highlights.

DBSFootball in association with: http://www.watch-football.tv/football/ - Live Football Streaming.

Video: Arsenal Target Gokhan Inler

In the last few weeks Arsenal have been linked to both Yann M'Vila and Yannick Djalo, and now, talkSPORT have reported that Arsene Wenger may spend £8 million on the Swiss midfielder, Gokhan Inler. The 26 year-old currently plays for the Seria A side Udinese, but speculation has been rife in Italy about his future at the club.

He has been watched by several Premier League clubs since his move to Napoli in 2007 including Liverpool, as Roy Hodgson believed he could replace Javier Mascherano in Liverpool's central midfield before the Englishman's departure. Inler plays in a similar area to Mascherano - a deep lying position just ahead of the defenders, and it is this kind of player that several Arsenal blogs have been suggesting Arsenal buy to guard the defence.

Inler has scored 3 goals this season, one of which was a stunning strike from long range against Napoli as you can see below. However, you may notice the lack of celebration and joy in the players face. Some said that this was a sign of Inler's growing disinterest in playing for Udinese, but the player cleared this speculation up:

"I have many friends in Switzerland who are Napoli supporters and they asked me not to score. Out of respect to them, I responded that way." 

"My heart is black and white and I think I proved that with my performance against Napoli. 

"I'm sorry if I offended anyone, as it was not my intention. Once I got back to the locker room, I shouted my joy and embraced my team-mates.

"My future has absolutely not been decided and I haven't signed for another club."

DBSFootball in association with: http://www.watch-football.tv/football/ - Live Football Streaming.

Video: Paul Scholes Red Card v City

Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup to the hands of their local rivals Manchester City on Saturday, and the game wasn't without it's talking points. One talking point was the red card to Paul Scholes in which he raised is foot in an attempt to win the ball only to be terribly late and catch a whole load of Pablo Zabaleta's leg rather than any of the ball. Unfortunately, it was worthy of a red card, and there is no debating that, no matter how much you support United and Scholes. 

United went on to of course lose with 10 men, but in all honesty, the way the team played throughout the game, they were not likely to grab a goal and get back into it. It was a rare poor game in which Nani and Valencia were ineffective on the wings, rarely providing any crosses into the box, where the loan striker Berbatov suffered from early missed opportunities and struggled for chances throughout, and where United really missed Wayne Rooney.

Paul Scholes is not known for his precise, perfectly timed tackles - but rather the complete opposite, but at this stage of his career and at such a crucial time in a massive game, it wasn't the best time to commit a red card offence. I recently wrote about the apparent imminent departure of Paul Scholes due to retirement, and that perhaps this game's result could sway his mind into staying for another year at United. However, this incident may sway his mind in the other direction, and may force him into retirement. 

If the United legend does retire at the end of the season, it would be reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane's departure from football; his red card in the World Cup final 2006 with France. Scholes however will have a big part to play in the rest of the season for United, in both the Premier League and Champions League, as United remain on course for the double. 

Video: The Goal That Ended United's Treble Bid

Manchester United fell at the one hurdle that they would have nightmares about falling at. They fell as their rivals, Manchester City rose to the occasion. United were missing their controversial talisman Wayne Rooney, and it showed. City were missing their injured striker Carlos Tevez, and very unusually, they seemed unaffected by his absence as they deployed their trouble making and arrogant. But it was Yaya Toure who got the all important goal to turn the tie in City's favour and drop United out of the FA Cup to end any hopes of a treble winning season.

Pic & Video: Michael Essien Tackle on Jermaine Pennant

Michael Essien had already received a red card prior to this horrendous tackle on Jermaine Pennant against Stoke City on Saturday. After seeing this evidence, it should have been another red to add to the statistics, but instead of that, the Chelsea midfielder went unpunished - not even a yellow card.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has been banned for two games by the FA for swearing into a television camera after completing a fantastic hat-trick and stunning comeback for Manchester United. His outburst will see him miss the Manchester derby, and the Premier League game against Fulham as United fight to stay above Arsenal in the title race.

It seems that the FA have punished a player by punishing the club he plays for rather than punishing the player. The banning of Rooney could possibly have an adverse effect on United's FA Cup challenge as well as their title challenge with Arsenal. The banning of Rooney for swearing - which, lets face it, happens every week and done so by every player on the pitch is nothing when a tackle such as the above is committed - something that can break a players leg and wreck a career. 

Rooney's reputation has been damaged even more by this incident and his frustration has been added to by a two match ban, but Jermaine Pennant's career could have been deeply effected, yet there was no punishment but a free-kick. 

Arsenal 2 - 1 Fulham - Video Goals

Watch the Goals Here

Arsenal jumped above Manchester United to the top of the table after a 2 - 1 win at the Emirates, thanks in no small part to the brilliance of Samir Nasri.

The Frenchman grabbed both of the goals, making his tally for the season go into double figures to 11, and they were very important goals too, as Chelsea faltered at home against Everton. With Manchester United not playing due to snowy conditions at Blackpool, it was the chasers chance to leap frog the Red Devils at the top as well as gain some momentum going into next weeks games. Arsenal have benefited, while a poor Chelsea, despite the return of John Terry, drew against Everton, thanks to a late Jermaine Beckford goal which results in the Blues sitting third.

Both of the Gunners goals were sublime. Their small, tricky passing doesn't always pay off or turn into goals, but when Samir Nasri is in this kind of form, you just need to pass to him in the box and there will be only one result. Arshavin, fresh from winning the controversial 2018 World Cup bid, fed in  Nasri on the right of the penalty box for the first goal. Nasri then faked a shot as one Fulham defender came sliding in for the block. He then faked another, as another defender came sliding helplessly passed, and then with the coolest finish, he smashed the ball into the top right hand corner of the net - with no challengers ahead of him. "Beautiful!", "magnificent!", "fantastic!" screamed the commentator, and you just have to agree.

Fulham then equalised in the 30th minute through striker Kamara. Confusion at the back left Diamante Kamara free in the middle, and as the American Clint Dempsey clipped the ball over everyone to the waiting striker, it was only going to be a simple placement into the net passed Fabianski. It has happened quite often this season, and it is a problem Wenger needs to address. His defence is caught out to often, and something must be done, because a winning team can't keep leaking goals, especially when it comes to the better sides.

15 minutes left of the match, and Arsenal know that a win takes them top. Step up Mr Nasri. Again, the Frenchman's trickery inside the box is excellent after he is fed in by Robin van Persie. Nasri bursted into the box with the ball at his feet, slipped round the goalkeeper with ease, swivelled around to the left of the goal, adjusted his feet, and lifted the ball into the back of the net for the winner. Just brilliant.

Goals like that deserve to win games, and it just so happens that these goals also took Arsenal to the top of the table too.

Watch the Goals Here

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