The English Premier League kicks off this weekend. Let's travel the Globe and talk about it.

By Money Mike

The English Premier League kicks off its 2011-2012 season this weekend and I know a lot of you are excited to see your teams fight for the title, others are just making a big deal over nothing (Arsenal fans) while the rest of you folks hope your team avoids relegation at the end of the season (Fans of Swansea City, Norwich, Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, etc.), but none of that matters right now. Right now, it's pretty much just a meet and greet kind of thing, every one starts even, new stars coming in and all of that. So I'm gonna go through all of this years Premier League teams and give a info on each of them, maybe give them a key for this season and also talk about the new players on each team because there were some crazy ass moves made during the offseason, especially from Arsenal. So let's go through and preview each team.

Arsenal:

Well let me tell you something if you're gonna spend big money on youngsters, you might as well put them on the pitch. Mark Chamberlain, a former Portsmouth winger, back in June said he was eager for his son to join Arsenal as soon as possible to continue his development. And earlier this week they went big and signed his son. 17-year old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from League One side Southampton for about 12 million pounds. To be honest, I like this move. I know he was only a rookie last season but look at the numbers. 34 matches played and 9 goals scored. For a 17-year old, those are good numbers. Now can he make that transition to the Premier League level? And I think he can. Another big money signing was Gervinho from Lille OSC in France, he's the answer up front, so Robin van Persie won't be the lonely stoner up front. You know what, every time something happens, Arsenal fans just have to be negative about it. Talk about drunk ass people who know nothing about the hard work being put together by the front office. Comeon guys, quit you whining and get ready for a new season.

Key additions: Carl Jenkinson (Charlton Athletic), Gervinho (Lille OSC), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Southampton)

Aston Villa:

Well this team have had their ups and downs, but they are entering their 24th consecutive season of top flight "football". They hired Alex McLeish as their new manager during the offseason and in the process, picked up Goalkeeper Shay Given and Midfielder Charles N'Zogbia. I think Fabian Delph will play a key role in the midfield. Eric Lichaj should get more playing time defensively for the Villains. Of course they'll have Darren Bent up front with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey as well as Stephen Ireland. If Ireland get his head straight, I think Villa will contend for a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.

Key additions: Shay Given (Manchester City), Charles N'Zogbia (Wigan Athletic)

Blackburn Rovers:

Here's a team with a long history, Blackburn Rovers. They are in their 124th year of existence. And they're are one of only four teams that have won a Premier League Title. Blackburn is not gonna come close this year. It'll be mid-table mediocrity for them.

Key additions: David Goodwillie (Dundee United), Radoslav Petrovic (Partazian)

Bolton Wanderers:

Well this will be a record setting year for Bolton. You know what that record will be? The 73rd time they will compete at the top level without winning the title.

Key additions: Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa), Chris Eagles (Burnley), Tyrone Mears (Burnley)

Chelsea:

Here's a team that will contend for sure. Chelsea FC. This team pretty much blew their quest to defend their title last season and they ended up firing their manager Carlo Ancelotti. No real key additions for the summer. The lineup pretty much will look the same with Didier Drogba, Nicholas Alnelka, Fernando Torres, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ramires, Saloman Kalou, etc.

Key additions: none

Everton:

Now this team will struggle. Everton finished in a bad position last year and didn't make any moves to help with that. They have good players, they're just outcoached.

Key additions: none

Fulham:

Speaking of sluggish teams we're gonna go to Fulham. The only reason they qualified for Europe last season was because England was rewarded a fair play prize. Clint Dempsey might as well pack it up and look for a new team. But seriously, Fulham need to step their game up.

Key additions: John Arne Riise (AS Roma)

Liverpool:

Well this is a sorry ass team here. Liverpool. I mean, you have a team that on paper is supposed to contend for the Premier League title and you don't even qualify for Europe. They're a bunch of pretenders. So many players wasting their life over there. Pack it up people. LIVERPOOL SUCKS!!

Key additions: Charlie Adam (Blackpool), Stewart Downing (Aston Villa)

Manchester City:

Speaking of sorry ass teams. This team just spends too much damn money. I mean really, you got enough big money players to contend for the title with your arch rivals. Why do you need more? Manchester City need to light up. Seriously. You got Zabaleta, you got Julian Lescott, you got Adam Johnson, you got David Silva, you got Dzeko, I mean god damn, you wanna go bankrupt?

Key additions: Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Sergio Aguero (Athletico Madrid)

Manchester United:

Manchester United. The New York Yankees of soccer. This team won their 4th title in 5 years last season and are looking to keep the title run going this season. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, defender Gary Neiville and midfielder Paul Scholes all retired, but Man U never rebuild, they reload. During the offseason, they aquired kepper David de Gea from Athletico Madrid and defender Phil Jones from Blackburn and Ashley Young from Aston Villa. This is a dangerous attacking minded team with Wayne Rooney, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov.

Key additions: David de Gea (Athletico Madrid), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Phil Jones (Blackburn Rovers)

Newcastle United:

Well Newcastle had a pretty good year in their return to top flight football last year. This team is going through a drought themselves. No Major trophies in over 30 years.

Key additions: Yohan Cabaye (Lille OSC), Demba Ba (West Ham United), Gabriel Oberton (Manchester United)

Norwich City:

What a run it has been for Norwich. Two years ago, refresh my memory, I believe this team was in the First Division and now they made a run all the way through the Championship and are now in the Premier League. But I think the Premier League is too much for them, I see them going down this year.

Key additions: James Vaughan (Everton), Ritchie De Laet (Manchester United; loan), Kyle Naughton (Tottenham Hotspur; loan)

Queens Park Rangers:

Queens Park Rangers, another newly promoted team. I don't think it will be that great of a season for them, but I don't think they will finish in the bottom three at the end of the season.

Key additions: Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff City), Kieron Dyer (West Ham United), Danny Gabbidon (West Ham United), D.J. Campbell (Blackpool), Bruno Perone (Tombense)

Stoke City:

Stoke City, the FA Cup runners up, getting ready for another challenging season. Just escaping relegation last year.

Key additions: Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur), Matthew Upson (West Ham United).

Sunderland:

The Black Cats had a busy offseason bringing in players, getting rid of players. Let's see if it pays off for them this season.

Key additions: Ahmed Elmohamady (ENPPI), Ji Dong-Won (Chunnam Dragons), Craig Gardner (Birmingham City), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City), Wes Brown (Manchester United), John O'Shea (Manchester United), David Vaughan (Blackpool)

Swansea City:

This is Swansea's third year of top flight football and they'll end up suffering a drop to the Championship. I they'll be relegated this year.

Key additions: Michel Vorm (Utrecht), Wayne Routledge (Newcastle United), Leroy Lita (Middlesbrough)

Tottenham Hotspur:

Do you think I'm gonna waste my time talking about them? I'm an Arsenal fan. TOTTENHAM SUCKS!!

Key additions: none

West Bromwich Albion:

West Brom had a shaky preseason. I don't know, I think they'll be fighting for Safety this season.

Key additions: Ben Foster (Birmingham City; loan), Zoltan Gera (Fulham), Marton Fulop (Ipswich Town)

Wigan Athletic:

I don't like their chances of Safety. They just barely made it last year but this season? ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no. I pick Wigan as the third team that will be relegated.

Key additions: Ali Al-Habsi (Bolton Wanderers), David Jones (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nouha Dicko (Strasbourg)

Wolverhampton Wanderers:

Finally, the last team to talk about is Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves just survived the drop on the final day of last season. I think they'll fight for safety again and this time, not on the last day of the season, maybe with 3 weeks to go.

Key additions: Jamie O'Hara (Tottenham Hotspur), Dorus de Vries (Swansea City), Roger Johnson (Birmingham City)

Birmingham City claims the Carling Cup after a terrible mistake in the last minute

By Money Mike



Just when you thought the match was going to go to extra-time, a missed clearance by defender Lorient Koscielny and a spill by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny resulted in a late goal for Birmingham City as Obafemi Martins capitalized on the mistake and scored the game winner in the 89th minute as Birmingham City stuns Arsenal 2-1 and Arsenal's trophy less drought continues.

Birmingham started to put pressure early on the Gunners in about the 3rd minute when Nikola Zigic's ball found Lee Boyer behind the defense. Boyer was brought down in the box by Szczesney, but the linesman's flag was up for offside. But the replay showed that Gael Clichy played him onside and that the challenge by the Arsenal goalkeeper would've resulted in a penalty had the linesman kept his flag down.

Birmingham continued to put all the pressure on the Arsenal back line and in the 28th minute, it payed off as the corner fell to defender Roger Johnson who's header found the 6' 8' Serbian international striker Nikola Zigic and you knew that would be a goal if he got a head on it and that's what he did as his header found the back of the net and Birmingham City struck first and took a 1-0 lead. Nothing new to Arsenal, going down 1-0 because it's happened to them numerous this season and they've been able to come back and win in those games.

A minute later, Arsenal nearly pulled one back as Bacary Sagna's cross found Robin van Persie, but his header was just inches wide. Birmingham had a chance to extend their lead to 2-0, when Nikola Zigic was clear in front of goal but his shot was denied by Wojiech Szczesny. Arsenal had a huge chance to pull level in the 39th minute when Jack Wilshere's strike from about 19 yards out beat Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster but hit the crossbar.

Arsenal were givin a second chance after Birmingham failed to clear and they took advantage of it as Andrei Arshavin's chip found Robin van Persie who volleyed it home and the momentum shifted Arsenal's way as van Persie goal tied the game up at 1. van Persie however, needed treatment after that goal because he picked up a knock after he kicked Roger Johnson's leg in the process. Fortunatley, he would return to the game a couple minutes later. Arsenal had a chance to take the lead at the end of the first half when Samir Nasri's shot from 25 yards was well saved by Ben Foster. That was just about the last best chance of the first half and the two teams headed back to their locker rooms at halftime tied at 1-1.

Arsenal began the second half as they ended the first and had an early chance to go ahead when Bacary Sagna's ball found Tomas Rosicky at the top of the area and his volley just flew wide of goal. Despite being put under a lot of pressure, Birmingham nearly snatched another goal when Keith Fahey's first attempt from 20 yards hit his own teammate. The ball fell to Fahey again and he lashed a shot that hit the left post.

With about 20 minutes to go, Arsenal again had a couple of chances to go up 2-1, but were denied again. Nasri forced another save from Foster and then Nicklas Bendtner, who replaced Robin van Persie, ripped a low shot, but Foster did well to deny him. 10 minutes later, Nasri gave it another go from outside the area but again, Ben Foster was perfectly positioned to deny Arsenal a 2nd goal.

But in the 89th minute, disaster struck for the Gunners as Ben Foster's freekick from his own area found Nikola Zigic's head. Lorient Koscielny failed to clear and the ball slipped out of Wojciech Szczesny's arms and Obafemi Martins, who joined the club last month on loan from Russian Club, FC Rubin Kazen, took advantage of the error and tapped it into an empty net and Birmingham City came away with the Carling Cup as they upset heavily favored Arsenal 2-1.

It's really disappointing to see a team, who are favored to win, who have all the momentum, who are stronger than their opponents, make a costly mistake and end up losing, and it's nothing new to us in Seattle. As a matter of fact nothing new to anybody at all in any sport.

Congrats to Birmingham City, they won the cup and they're also guaranteed a place in Europe next season. As for Arsenal, they're trophyless drought continues. The last time they won a trophy was in 2005 when they defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup on Penalties. They had a couple other chances to win a cup in this skid. In 2006, they had a very rough year in the league, but they did well in the UEFA Champions League. They made it to final only to lose 2-1 to Barcelona, who are their opponents right now in the round of 16 of this years stage. Then a year later, they made it to the Carling Cup final against Chelsea, but again, another 2-1 defeat. But they still have a few more opportunities to lift a trophy this season. Will it happen, or will they have to wait another season?


Scoring:

Birmingham City - Nikola Zigic (Roger Johnson) 28'

Arsenal - Robin van Persie (Andrei Arshavin) 39'

Birmingham City - Obafemi Martins 89'


Lineups:

Arsenal: 53-Wojciech Szczesny; 22-Gael Clichy, 3-Bacary Sagna, 20-Johan Djourou, 6-Lorient Koscielny; 7-Tomas Rosicky, 23-Andrei Arshavin (29-Marourane Chamakh: 77'), 17-Alex Song; 8-Samir Nasri, 19-Jack Wilshere, 10-Robin van Persie (52-Nicklas Bendtner: 69')

Birmingham City: 26-Ben Foster; 5-Roger Johnson, 2-Stephen Carr, 6-Liam Ridgewell, 28-Martin Jiranek; 12-Barry Ferguson, 4-Lee Bowyer, 18-Keith Fahey (17-Obafemi Martins: 83'), 7-Sebastian Larsson, 8-Craig Gardner (23-Jean Beausejour: 50'); 19-Nikola Zigic (10-Cameron Jerome: 90')

Arsenal come away with a 3-1 win over Chelsea

By Money Mike

In a must win game for both clubs, Arsenal were the better side from start to finish as they defeat Chelsea 3-1 and pull within 2 points of League Leaders Manchester United while Chelsea, who have not won in 6 straight matches now, find themselves 6 points off the pace. Chelsea have won the last 5 matches against Arsenal since losing to them at home 2-1.

Arsenal had a chance to go up in the early stages of the game when Alex Song's chip found Robin van Persie in the box but the Dutch striker took his eye off the ball at the last second and it bounced away from him. A couple minutes later, Didier Drogba who has scored 13 goals against the Gunners tried his luck from about 20 yards but his shot was inches wide. That was just about the only chance Chelsea had in the first half.

With over 40 minutes gone, Samir Nasri nearly brokethrough as his shot was dipping over the head of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and into the top-left corner of the goal but Cech did enough to punch it away and prevent Arsenal from going in front. However in the 43rd minute, Arsenal got on the board as Jack Wilshere's ball somehow found Alex Song who dragged a low left-footed shot into the bottom right corner to put Arsenal on top 1-0. Cesc Fabregas was tripped in the Penalty area, but Song was never going to wait for a penalty signal and he scores his 5th goal of the season and the Gunners were ahead at the break.

Within 6 minutes of the second half, Arsenal would increase their lead after Michael Essien's challenge on Robin van Persie pushed the ball to Theo Walcott who drew Petr Cech and slid it to Cesc Fabregas who tapped it into the empty net to give Arsenal a 2 goal lead. 2 minutes later, Chelsea were caught sleeping again as Walcott and Fabregas hooked up for a 3rd goal. Walcott took the ball away from Florent Malouda and fed Fabregas who sent him away to the right and Walcott did the rest as he drove his shot low into the bottom left corner to give Arsenal a 3-0 lead. Chelsea did respond in the 57th minute when Didier Drogba's free kick found the head of Branislav Ivanovic and the defender heads the ball past keeper Lukasz Fabianski and in the back of the net to cut Arsenal's lead to 3-1, but Chelsea's momentum had already been lost and that was to be the final score of the game as Arsenal held ground for the last half hour and the majority of the fans at the Stadium went home happy as Arsenal came away with a huge 3-1 win.

Arsenal have had some rough times during the season, mostly at home, where they suffered a 3-2 defeat against West Brom, they lost 1-0 to Newcastle, and just a month ago, they blew a 2-0 lead at halftime at home against rivals Tottenham Hotspur and lost 3-2. This Arsenal team has gotten better over the last couple of years. The last time the Gunners have won the Premier League title was their unbeaten season in 2003-04.

As for Chelsea, well of course, they have not won in 6 straight matches now. The defending Premier League Champions got off to a great start, scoring 21 goals in their first 5 matches, but lately, they just couldn't even buy a win, they lost at home to Sunderland 3-0, lost 1-0 at Birmingham, drew at Newcastle, drew at home to Everton, drew at Tottenham, and today, lost 3-1 at Arsenal. There are gonna be some questions, not only about Carlo Ancelotti's job, but about the players as well. Who they need to pickup in the January transfer window, who needs to go, that kind of stuff.

One of Arsenal's big matches next month is on January 5th at Home against Manchester City, who are also in the title race. Chelsea, unless they can start picking up some wins, are just about out of the radar at this point.

Scoring summary:

Arsenal - Alex Song (Cesc Fabregas) 43'

Arsenal - Cesc Fabregas (Theo Walcott) 51'

Arsenal - Theo Walcott (Cesc Fabregas) 53'

Chelsea - Branislav Ivanovic (Didier Drogba) 57'

Lineups:

Chelsea - Petr Cech; John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Paulo Ferreira (Jose Bosingwa, 61'); John Obi Mikel (Ramires, 45'), Frank Lampard, Michael Essien; Florent Malouda (Gael Kakuta, 56'), Didier Drogba, Salomom Kalou.

Arsenal - Lukasz Fabianski; Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna; Alex Song, Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas (Tomas Rosicky, 88'); Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott (Abou Diaby, 73'), Robin van Persie (Marouane Chamakh, 76').