Emirates Cup 2008

Following last year's Emirate Cup, I have received an email notification few months ago for Emirates Cup 2008 featuring the host Arsenal, Hamburg, Juventus and the star-packed Real Madrid.

Unlike last year where I bought the first row tickets behind the goal which allowed me to take some nice pictures, this year we bought the middle tier for an overview of the pitch, more expensive seating but I don't quite like it coz even my longest zoom can't reach the distance effectively.

First match was Juventus vs Hamburg, don't know any of the Hamburg players except for the Dutchman Van der Vaart who wasn't in the line-up. Juventus were a different team after the relegation crisis two seasons ago which seen many new faces in the team. Anyway still glad to see Del Piero, Camoranesi, Jaquinta the world cup winners playing.

How many of them do you recognise?

Del Piero is old but still good.

Claudio Ranieri the familiar face in English football, coaching Juventus now.

Olic scored two goals and eventually Hamburg beat Juventus 3-0

Arsenal played Real Madrid in the second match.

The bright young gunners and the new Zidane - Samir Nasri, he's very good indeed.

The gunners.

Real Madrid players warming up.

Another young star Carlos Vela showing off some skills.

Gunners in colourful boots - Diaby in yellow, Van Persie in blue, Adebayor in green and Sagna in white.

The ex-MU player Gabriel Heinze was the boo-boys target of the day.

Adebayor scratching his butts before the match.

Guess who's back? Eduador who had a terrible injury last year is back to the Emirates.

First team line-up, probably not the real first team for Real Madrid but it's still packed with stars.

Adebayor and Van Persie kicked start.

Sagna headed off a high ball to Robinho.

Even though Arsenal lost two key players before start of the season but it's still a team to watch with all the young gunners rising.

It's Jerzy Dudek! Didn't expect the ex-Liverpool goalie to play for Real.

Van Nistelrooy came on second half.

Van Persie brought down, Adebayor stepped up to take the penalty and scored the only goal of the match.

Arjen Robben came on! He was one of my favourite who has wasted his time at Chelsea before moving to Spain.

Eventually Hamburg won the Emirates Cup 2008.

See you at the Emirates next year!

Emirates Cup 2007 Part IV

Match 2 of the first day, playing the host team Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain and we started to feel the heat.

Warming up before the match.

Manuel Almunia, the Spanish goalie who looks alike Silas, the character in the movie Da Vinci Code. I guess this season he'll play more than Jens Lehmann, the aged German goalie in the first team, and probably the new signing Fabianski will play a bit.

The video man is on douceur de vivre and I'm on Sky TV.

55,000 attendance on the Sunny day.

Starting line up for the match, I don't know many of the players in PSG, and there are plenty of young faces in Arsenal. Anyway, I was happy that Van Persie and Fabregas appeared in the line up. The rest who appeared were Flamini, K. Toure, Hleb, Clichy, Diaby, Denilson, Sagna and Sanderos. The new signing striker Eduardo hasn't got his UK permit at time so wasn't playing.

The most popular player in Arsenal now obviously is Cesc Fabregas, you can tell from the crowd's reaction when his name appeared on the big screen.

The match started and both teams were playing their best even though it was more like a friendly for the cup competition.

The midfield ace Fabregas in action.

Sanderos v The Portuguese striker Pauleta. As predicted, Pauleta performed as how he did in the World Cup, plenty of chances but wasted all.

Rothen the PSG winger took the free kick against the wall formed by Clichy and Denilson.

My favourite shot of the day - RPV in action. I agreed with Wenger's decision to sell Henry as I think he is not as good as before, might as well sell him when he still worth 16 million pounds. I think RPV will be the next big time in Arsenal and the premiere league.

Flamini scored the only goal during the first half. Even though it was just a friendly match, some fans from opposite teams were swearing and shouting at each others.

Police got involved before a possible fight could happen. This is English football, make sure you wear the right jersey, say the right thing and sit at the right place to avoid any trouble.

You certainly don't want to sit besides fans like this one.

The photographer sending first hand data during the half time break. I guess I will never be a good sports journalist as I am too slumber, posting the entry 2 weeks after the match.

Typical Arsene Wenger post.

To me, Alexander Hleb was the player of the match, he's a hardworking type of midfielder linking the whole team after Fabregas was rested for the second half.

Hleb won a penalty and the young Danish striker Bendtner took the initiative for the spot kick.

He took the shot, and missed it. Another Adebayor in the making it seems. Anyway he used his physical advantage and scored and a lucky goal later. Arsenal won the match 2-1 and lifted the Emirates Cup after beating Inter Milan the day after.



The Mexican Wave from Eugene Goh and Vimeo.

Overall view on Arsenal, there are plenty of talented young players who has great individual skills but they will need to rely much on Fabregas and Hleb to link the whole team. I predicted Arsenal will fall to 5th or even 6th place, after MU, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham in that order. Watch out for West Ham, Newcastle and Man City as well.

Arsene Wenger wrote me an email after the match asking my interest to join Arsenal, but I told him that I prefer to join MU instead.

Emirates Cup 2007 Part III

Match 1 of the Emirates Cup - Inter Milan v Valencia.

Valencia dominated throughout the game and I really couldn't believe Inter won the Serie A last season. Anyway, a lot of superstars and it was really unbelievable to see them play right in front of my eyes.

Materazzi conceded a free kick, the most hated football player in the world got boo-ed all the way throughout the match every time he touched the ball. Everyone still remember how he provoked Zidane and got him sent off in World Cup 2006.

It's Luis Figo the ex world player of the year organizing the wall! No. 10 is Adriano replacing Ibrahimovic just after 15-20 mins.

David Villa scored a brilliant free kick. Too bad he didn't come to the premiere league.

The new fat boy of Brazil, Adriano succeeding the old fat boy Ronaldo.

Bench players on the field during half time, I think this young lad of Inter will shine in near future, I don't even know his name but let's see.

The most friendly player on the pitch - the Spanish goal keeper Canizares. The English boy behind me keep shouting "Blondie! give me your drink!"

I didn't know Ivan Helguera has moved to Valencia from Real Madrid.

Julio Cruz took the free kick.

Valencia scored 2 goals in the first half and won the match 2-0. I was hoping to see Patrick Vieira but he didn't turn up, not even on the bench.