The Latest Football News and Opinions From 90 Minutes Online

Arshavin shows promise but Arsenal still can't score

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Created: Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:47

Written by Darren Douglas

Last Saturday I managed to get myself up to the Emirates stadium for Arsenal's league match with Sunderland. Despite the recent lack of wins for the Gunners, there was an air of excitement and anticipation, nearly all of which was attributed to the eagerness of witnessing the debut of Andrei Arshavin, and some of which was fuelled by a few ales at Finsbury Park before the game.

After one of the most protracted transfer affairs ever seen, the wait to finally see Arshavin play for Arsenal has been one that required the patience of a saint. This was to be his first professional game of football since the Russian domestic league ended in November, and on that basis the fans needed to be realistic to avoid pinning all their hopes on him so soon after his £15million club record move.

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Is the sharp end of the season about to burst Barça's bubble?

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Created: Monday, 23 February 2009 21:17

Written by Benjamin Cullen

'Pop' - That was the sound of the Barça left back-Eric Abidal's groin muscle tearing after 20 minutes. Or was it perhaps a warning shot for worse to come for the Catalan league leaders? 

For the next card fate dealt FC Barcelona in their top v bottom derby with Español was a red one, and a very dubious red at that. 

Keita's late tackle, despite seeming to make little if any contact with the player, was judged a red card offense by ref Delgado Ferreiro and so Barca found themselves suddenly down to 10 men with more than half the game remaining. 

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Rombling - Mistresses, Smugglers & Blatter

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Created: Sunday, 22 February 2009 21:06

Written by The Rome

I wasn't surprised to see Aston Villa lose 1-0 to Chelsea yesterday. I had a feeling that Hiddink would provide them with a bit of fresh impetus, and we've had a tough week. I'm sure people will go overboard and say that this is the beginning of the end for the Villains, that they're overrated and not top 4 material. Let the Villa bashing commence, come on, I can take it. 

Chelsea completely controlled the first half - probably their best performance since they beat us earlier in the season. Villa came back into it second half and I'm sure you'll be climbing over yourselves to rip off my rose tinted spectacles, but I thought we were worth a point. Chelsea held on though and it seems that they save their best displays for us, rather like my 90minutes colleague Darren "Smuggler" Douglas keeping his pool 'A' game for when he takes me on.  

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What a waste of money - the worst value transfers of all time

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Created: Saturday, 21 February 2009 00:33

Written by David Moftakhar

‘Value for money’, that’s how Hull chairman Paul Duffen desbribed Jimmy Bullard following the announcement that the midfielder will miss rest the season, having played just 37 minutes for the club.  

After spending a club record £5m to sign the 30-year-old – plus £40,000-a-week in wages – Hull are now left tallying up that ‘value’ as they battle to stave off relegation.  

Knee-knack prone Jimmy is, however, by no means the only player to provide such a poor return on investment. 

Per Kroldrup – Everton

Who’s Per Kroldrup? Good question. For all the plaudits lauding David Moyes’ achievements on a shoestring budget, there has been little mention of the Danish defender. Everton paid £5m for Kroldrup in 2005. He left a year later after only one appearance.

Cost per game: £5m* 

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