By AVI CREDITOR
Arsenal is one result away from stunning Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. In order to pull that off, the Gunners will have to do so without Robin Van Persie.
The oft-injured Dutch striker picked up a knee injury in Sunday's Carling Cup final that will keep him out for the next three weeks, according to reports out of England. Arsenal will also be without Theo Walcott, who was previously ruled out for the match with a sprained ankle.
The injury news isn't all bad for Arsenal, though, as Cesc Fabregas has had his hamstring's status upgrade significantly, and he is no longer a definite "out" for next Tuesday's second leg at Camp Nou. It was thought that the former Barcelona academy product would have to miss the match, but manager Arsene Wenger said Fabregas "is looking possible" to suit up after all.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
JOSEPH SPEAKS OUT ABOUT ARREST
New England Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph has spoken out about his arrest, which caused him to be sent home from the team's training camp in Orlando last week.
According to police documents reviewed by the Boston Herald, Joseph and Revolution defender Kevin Alston were kicked out of their team hotel after being involved at a party that registered a noise complaint. When Joseph failed to leave in a timely manner, he was arrested for trespassing.
Joseph told the Herald's Kyle McCarthy, "The situation is that I didn't do anything. Somebody yelled at me in a voice I didn't like, the way I was being talked to. He was kind of talking down to me and he was being very racist. I talked back to him and we got into a yelling match. I ended up on the wrong side of it."
MLS is reportedly investigating the situation before taking any potential disciplinary action.
RUIZ SCORES IN UNION FRIENDLY
Carlos Ruiz wasted little time in getting on the board for the Philadelphia Union, netting the team's only goal in a 1-1 draw with Ergotelis FC in Greece.
Ruiz finished off a cross from Justin Mapp to open the scoring in the 27th minute. The Union nursed the lead until the 88th, when Ergotelis converted a penalty kick with rookie keeper Zac MacMath in net.
BORDEAUX REJECTS COACH'S RESIGNATION
Manager Jean Tigana had his submission for resignation rejected by French club Bordeaux, which currently sits in 10th place in Ligue 1.
Tigana, who replaced current France coach Laurent Blanc last May, claimed that he thought he was holding the club back but is now more motivated to succeed after having his request denied.
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Do you see Arsenal holding off Barcelona without Van Persie and Walcott? What's your opinion of Joseph's arrest? How many goals do you see Ruiz scoring for the Union this season? Where do you see Bordeaux winding up in Ligue 1?
Share your thoughts below.
Ummm… sarcasm? Or did you deliberately miss it so you had an excuse to tell us you scored 7 goals?
watching people trying to one-up each other here is like watching a group of second graders try to touch the rim first in the school yard. Hilarious.
Ives, what do you think the chances are Carlos Ruiz scores 10 goals this season or better?
As a Fire fan, I’m stunned that anyone scored off a Justin Mapp cross. When he played with the Fire he would dribble the ball seventy yards past four opposing players and invariably finish with a cross that was way off.
Yo, you’re the one not to be trusted. Read on:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-08-15/news/0240350288_1_sexual-harassment-racially-motivated-attitudes
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-09-05/news/0309050353_1_thornton-racial-slur-police-officer
http://newsone.com/nation/newsonestaff2/black-barber-shop-raids-orlando/comment-page-1/
http://westorlandonews.com/2010/07/17/police-brutality-in-orange-county-speak-out-against-it-now/
Looks like Orlando’s finest has a little problem with minorities.
He’s suggesting it’s a pre-seasong game with nothing on the line and indicative of sweet f-all when it comes to the season.
Ruiz has a crap attitude and excelled in a weaker version of MLS than today.
“and he was being very racist.”
Sorry but you’re going to have to be a bit more specific than that if you wish to successfully play the race card against presumably some hotel employee having to deal with a noise complaint.
Are you suggesting that MLS competition is better than the Greek Super League? Or that Ergotelis FC fielded a weakened lineup?
Just curious.
I don’t trust Joseph at all. I will wait until the side of the story from the police point of view is made public. As well as Joseph plays, the guy is a headcase and this is really not surprising.
Dude, come on. Scoring in an indoor game is no big deal. I once scored seven goals in a game, but that doesn’t mean I should have played college ball.
Reports indicate Mondragon played the first half, and MacMath played the second half.
Disagree IF Fabregas plays
I believe 100% the cop was being racist and derogatory. Cops do that. Not all but I’m never surprised when I hear stories like that. BUT no civilian ever wins an argument with the police. They have the power. End of story.
Good luck Sharlie and Kevin.
We don’t know what the guy said to Sharlie, it could have very well been “real” racism, as opposed to the fake kind….
He said that the police said racist things, how is that playing the race card?
Right here. Wait until the season starts. I scored 5 goals this weekend in my indoor league. Where’s that IU coach that cut me my Soph. year at now? huh?
I think the whole Shalrie Joseph situation was probably blown out of proportion. I’ve had some agressive cops/security guards talk to me in a way that pissed me off too. At least he kept his head and didn’t hit one of them.
Glad to hear Ruiz scoring, since there were a lot of people on here saying that he was a bad signing. I’m sure he will score in MLS as well. The guy has proven it time and time again.
Shalrie playing the race card is stupid. There is real racism out in this world that minorities face and for him to claim racism when he was simply talked down to? The police talk down to everyone, that’s what they are known for.
I’m biased, but Arsenal has no chance without Van Persie.
McInerney couldn’t find a better concacaf example of a shameless finisher (please don’t learn all the theatrics, though, they are infuriating).
Note to Shalrie: yelling in this situation is probably not a good idea.
Where are all the people that said Ruiz can’t score now?
any more info on what the real story is with Richie Williams and the Red Bulls?
When is Mondragon playing? (Link in the article didn’t work)