Safe bet for goal of the week

Well in case you missed it the London derby, Tottenham v. Arsenal, provided some more memorable highlights a year after the two sides tangoed for a thrilling 4-4 goal fest.

This year it was unlikely hero Danny Rose on his Premier League debut firing home what will be one of the most memorable goals of the 2009-10 EPL campaign, hammering a left-footed volley from nearly 30 yards out top shelf. Gareth Bale then fired home a second just after halftime, which gave Spurs just enough cushion to hold on despite a late Nicklas Bendtner goal for the Gunners. Robin Van Persie came on with about 30 minutes to go and played well returning from a lengthy injury spell on the sidelines dating back to last November, but he was denied twice by Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes.

Here is the wonder strike from Rose...

They say trouble comes in threes and for the Gunners that is certainly true this week. Holding on to a slim shred of hope to stay in the title race trailing league leaders Chelsea entering their derby with Tottenham, Arsenal realistically had to win every game left on their EPL schedule especially after Chelsea beat Bolton 1-0 just a day earlier to move six points clear at the top. With just four games left on the schedule Arsenal need a small miracle as they sit in third place now with Manchester United four points behind Chelsea and the Gunners sitting two points farther behind.

Although Cesc Fabregas got a little bit of good news today being nominated on the shortlist for the PFA player of the year award along with Wayne Rooney, Carlos Teves, and Didier Drogba despite being on holiday in Morocco with his broken fibula - Arsenal as a team got bad news regarding its star play-maker.

Just a day earlier Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood had claimed he had met privately with the Barcelona boardroom and the club agreed it would not make a bid for the young Spaniard, who had grown up in in the Barca youth system before being signed by Arsene Wenger as 16-year-old.

Hill-Wood told Soccernet on Wednesday that a meeting had taken place between the clubs and Barca had agreed not to make an approach during the close season.

"There was a private conversation that took place in the boardroom and assurances have been made at the highest possible level," Hill-Wood told Soccernet. "Arsenal do not expect those to be broken.

"I was not privy to the conversation, but was told about it. They said to us they are not interested [this summer]."

Today Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain refuted that claim essentially stating that if Barca decide they need Fabregas they will make a bid for him.

"If Barcelona think that he is necessary for the team, they will go for him, always respecting negotiations," he told AS. "We have never said that we will not try to sign Cesc Fabregas. We will see what happens."

But perhaps the most damning thing though that Hill-Wood said was that he was unsure whether or not Fabregas could currently break into the Barca starting 11.

''If you want my opinion, I'm not sure he would even get in their team,'' he said, according the ESPNsoccernet story. ''Do they need him? I'm not sure that they do. And they said to us they are not interested.

''That suits us fine. Fabregas is an Arsenal player and we want him to remain an Arsenal player. We hope he stays with us for a very long time.'

Why would you make that statement about the top player on your club, a kid who is the captain of your team at the tend age of 22, and a rising star in the game proving this season he can now be a real goal scorer (19 goals before he broke his leg) along with his play-making ability. Fabregas has pledged his loyalty to Arsenal over the years, but has also repeatedly said at some point he would like to go back to Spain - most likely with Barcelona, but perhaps with Real Madrid if they came calling first.

The statements by Hill-Wood are just the sort of reason Fabregas would need to prove his doubters wrong and accept the next challenge to move back to Barca where he started his career. I have no doubt that Fabregas would not only start, but would quickly become a top-5 player in the world, if he is not in that category already.

Hill-Wood also commented on current skipper Arsne Wenger's situation. The gaffer has just one year left on his deal after this season and not only are the fans becoming restless at the team inability to win trophies, clearly Wenger is as well - "(my) personal future will depend on the capacity to win trophies."

Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup and are out of all competitions now after the loss to Tottenham yesterday. Wenger is the second longest tenured coach in the EPL behind only Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, and for my money is certainly in the top 5 managers in the world if not the best.

The Gunners play the most attractive football in the world, outside of Barcelona, when they are firing on a cylinders and Wenger has been able to do an incredible amount in recent years despite being handcuffed by how money he has been given to spend in the transfer market. Compared to the big 4 in the EPL and the other big clubs in the rest of Europe, Arsenal spend virtually nothing to bring in new players and in recent years have sold off much more than they have brought in (see last year selling off Kolo Toure and Adebayor to Manchester City).

Wenger has made smart buys like Andrei Arshavin (a year ago January) and Thomas Vermaelan in last summer's transfer market. But primarily he has developed the young talent on the team and been able to compete at high level.

If Arsenal lose Wenger it would be a major blow to the club as many players want to come to the club to play under him. It would be a statement that Arsenal no long are capable of being a real contender amongst Europe's elite.

Hill-Wood, however, believe Wenger will stay, according to the ESPNsoccernet story.

"The players he has brought forward and personally developed are still improving and he has enormous confidence in them. Arsene seems relaxed and happy with this club and I would expect to talk with him once the season is over.

"While there are games left, Arsene wants to focus and concentrate on them - that has always been his approach, and it won't change now.

"I would imagine he will not be ready to talk to us until the end of the season at the earliest but Arsene knows our feelings. They haven't changed. We want him to stay for as long as he wants to stay, and we hope that will be for some considerable time yet."