Arsenal won the match against Middlesbrough with a score of 2-0 at the Emirates. They continued to be on 4th position in Premier League table. Lady luck smiled on the center forward player Theo Walcott in seventh minute of the match when he took the Fabregas pass and took it out wide with the help of Robert Huth. The easy 2-0 victory was good enough to boost up the confidence of the team. After few thundering open exchanges, Arsenal Cruise was finally able to score one in the 25th minute.

The ball went from Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin who is in form to Fabregas who further stroked the ball to Nicklas Bendtner. While they were playing with the ball, Arshavin passed it on to Fabregas and he dashed into the net. Bendtner got in between Brad Jones, the Boro keeper, and Fabregas but it was of no use. Replays showed that Boromanager Gareth Southgate was furious after the goal but was helpless.

Before the half hour mark, Bendtner used his upper arm to clear the corner. Gareth Southgate was fuming again when the penalty was shut down. Boro tried to take the stride in second half but Arsenal was still being dominating. The 67th minute of the match saw the second goal from Arsenal. By this time Middlesbrough team was little discouraged but they cannot let the other team augment the goal difference. Their defending became harsher. Brad Jones saved the shots on 72nd and 79th minute from Bendtner and Samir Nasri. With this defeat the chances of Middlesbrough survival seemed slim as they are on 18th position.

• Carlos Cuellar has moved from Rangers to Aston Villa.  The Spanish Center Back is on the move after only one year with the Scottish League.
• Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas will miss at least the first 2 EPL matches with an injury.
• There has been a lot of rumors going around surrounding Barcelona and Samuel Eto’o.  One team in Europe made a rather bold statement claiming that they had inked the Barcelona forward.  Obviously, that has turned into nothing.  As it stands now, Coach Pep Guardiola has announced that he will remain with Barca. 
• Robinho has recently told Real Madrid that he will only move to Chelsea with a new deal set in place before any transfer takes place.  This obviously means that a new deal, will mean new money.  I think a change of scenery will help Robinho along and hopefully if he is moved, he will find his place with the Blues.
• Valencia rejected a bid from Man U for midfielder David Silva.  Valencia did not finish in the top this season in La Liga much to the surprise of many given the amount of talent they have.

English soccer has a 24-level structure. The highest being the Premier League and the lowest being the Bristol Downs League 4. However there every team from league 4 to the Premier League has the chance to reach the Premiership or be regulated to league 4 play. And that in itself is what I love about English soccer, the ability for any team to be champions of England.

I think this is something the USSF should take a look at. We have fairly organized leagues-USL, MLS, NPSL, and the amateur USASA. However, it wasn’t until now that a club from the USL had a chance at gaining entry to the MLS-our top league. While the near future will surely have these inclusions-the MLS dream of reaching the goal of 18 teams by 2012. The only foreseeable way to reach this level would be to include top USL teams. However even the top amateur teams would have to go through a big process to even reach “semi-pro” status.

We see a little smidgen of this in the recent inclusion of the San Francisco Glens. Recently the Glens, of the San Francisco Soccer League, have been added as a provisional member to the NPSL West.

English Soccer Opportunities:

Until I took a good look at how English soccer really works, I thought every single person that I heard that was going to England to play was literally crazy. Here was my thinking: I I would hear of guys flying over to England to try and make it professionally. To me, that was ludicrous, why would you think you could make it over there, if you couldn’t make it over here. To add another note: The MLS All-stars play a English Premiership team and most of the time, they lose.

Having taken a good look, I see why so many people try to make it over “there”. There are 24 leagues of play. That means that there are probably thousands of teams, and that is not including the Premiership. So say a player gets a try-out from 250 lower level teams. Odds are pretty good of making it there.

Most people will probably not make it to the Premiership or even the top 10 leagues of play in England. However, opportunities are high when there are 14 different levels to choose from all with 10 or more leagues, and all of those with double digit clubs in them…this time, you do the math.

Lets start in order by the most known:

Tim Howard: The current U.S. MNT Starter however is getting a little older. The former Man U Keeper, has now found a place at Everton. He will always be considered one of the best that the U.S. has produced.

Kasey Keller: The former U.S. starter, who has decided to retire from international life, is still playing in the English Premier with Fulham. Another guy who will always be remembered by the U.S.

Brad Friedel: The current goalie for Blackburn Rovers looks to be getting older and maybe close to retiring in a few years however still a strong person between the posts.

Matt Reis: While he has always stayed close to home never venturing overseas, he has served international duty on the MNT. He is a strong mainstay and you can also see him on “Deal or No Deal” every night…just kidding.

Future guys, a English mainstay, and a guy with no love from the draft:
Brad Guzan: The current goalkeeper for Chivas USA looks like he will be the future backstop for the MNT as well. He is currently the only other keeper on the squad besides Howard. At 23 we will watch his career with great interest.

Marcus Hahnemann: A goalkeeper in the Premiership for Reading, Marcus is a MNT member but at 35 with 7 CAPS, how much more can we ask or expect.

DJ Countess: A bright young star as well, he will probably be on the national team considering that he was with the Youth National Teams for 72 games worth. Keep an eye on him as well. He is currently with Club Atletico Tigre.

Troy Perkins: I would have to imagine that he should at least get a look with the National team however he did for some reason go undrafted and signed a developmental contract long time ago. Now he is playing in Norway with Valerenga. He may turn into a Matt Reis or even Marcus Hahnemann.

The rest of ‘em:

Adin Brown: Aalesunds FK

Tally Hall: Egberg

Luis Robles: Kaiserslatuern

Quentin Westberg: Troyes

Guys that I didn’t make a big deal over: Nick Rimando(1 MNT CAP)…many many others.

ESPN is also reporting that the deal will be finalized sometime tomorrow, Tuesday January 29.

Best of Luck Woody!