January:
Grade: B-
we got past the first round of the FA cup, but tied in the next, and have a replay of the tie in Febuary, adding an extra game to an already packed schedule. We have made it to the top of the EPL, albeit its a 3 way tie, and we stand in 3rd on goal differential, it's going to be a 3 way race for the title, and I am happy to say it's not involving Chelsea or Man City, the 2 title favorites. Southampton hired Mancini to get them out of their slump, which he has done with success so far. Now on to our matches.
Southampton - Arsenal 0-2
the day before they hired Mancini, we dominated the match. Jose Fonte received a red card for Souhampton near the end of the first half, Giroud missed the pk. Ozil and Cazorla both bagged bag one each in the 2nd half to give us a comfortable win.
West Brom - Arsenal 0-1 (FA CUP 3rd Round)
Giroud scored a pk in the 38th minute, in a match that we comfortably controlled, missed a lot of chances to go up by more though. Lescott received a red card in the beginning of the 2nd half, and near the end Walcott had to come off injured, and I had no subs left, so the game ended 10 v 10.
We drew Tottenham for the next round, at the Emirates
Hull - Arsenal 0-2
A rotated squad played this one for us. They were not up for it in the first half, and after I aggressively ripped into the squad at half time, none other than DIABY broke the dead lock, followed by Serge Gnabry getting a serious injury, breaking his foot, the youngster is out for the rest of the season, he might be back for the last few games, and Welbeck nailed the coffin in extra time, with a curled effort.
Arsenal - Crystal Palace 1-1
Krohn Delhi converted a pk in the 5th minute, and I had to rip into the team to get them going again, Musachio scored from a corner mid way through the 2nd half, and a controversial offside call near the end on Giroud, meant the game ended 1-1, I won't blame that one call, we should have been able to put more balls in the back of the net.
Burnley - Arsenal 3-1
The return of Sanchez, the first half was a bore fest. 2nd half a lot happened. Sanchez was unfortunate to put the ball in the back of the net in the beginning of the 2nd half... his own net. A few minutes later Koscielny picked up his 2nd yellow card. down to 10 men, we shuffled some players, and in the 69th minute Burnley made it 2-0. Giroud brought us back from the dead in the 79th with a powerful header, only to be disappointed by Burnley in the 85th minute... I took this game as an unfortunate circumstance of events, we picked our heads up and got back to training hard.
Arsenal - Tottenham 2-2 (FA CUP 4th Round)
2 early goals for Giroud and Cazorla, were cancelled out by Yarmolenko in the 43rd minute, that was a devastating end of the half goal, and Soldado made us pay mid way through the 2nd on a mistake. We should have won this game with the possession and shots we took. Now instead we add a big game to our already heavily packed schedule, but I think my team can handle it.
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Arsenal - Man City 2-1
A huge win against City, and Diaby's last game in an Arsenal shirt, would equal,a great viewing for the fans. Mertesacker scored a powerful header early on to put us up 1-0, in a game we controlled. Sneaky Kun Aguero did what he does best, and scored the equalizer for City in the 65th minute. Then Giroud placed a shot in the back of the net, to put us back on top. The game was then slightly interrupted, as we took off Abou Diaby to a huge standing ovation, as he was leaving for the Russian premier league the next day.
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Sunderland - Arsenal 0-3
The first half was poor, and after assertively telling the lads to keep their heads up, and the goals will come, they did just that. Chambo and Ramsey put us up 2-0, and Alexis finished the rout with a 3rd, and marked his first goal for The Arsenal finally. This win, and Tottenham's win, along with Man United's loss made it a 3 way tie at the top, and the race for the title, is on!
Transfer News:
In: Kristofer Ajer, I brought the 16 year old in, and loaned him out to Start
Out: Mikel Arteta- for a player who played in 3 or 4 matches, and is making over $100,000, I had to offload him. He went back to Everton for $2.3.
Abou Diaby- Came to me and said he wanted a new challenge... I know he is physically challenged, but didn't know he was mentally challenged. It is what it is though, and I had no intention of offering him a new contract as his was going to be up at the end of the summer, so i made some cash off him this window, instead of letting him go for free. Rubin Kazan paid me $7.5 million for a player who has played in 6 games in the past 2 seasons.
FA Cup 5th round draw-
Stoke - Tottenham or Arsenal
EPL Standings
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It's a 3 way horse race, but Man City actually beat Everton, so they are only 6 points back. I am enjoying seeing cocky Mourinho's Chelsea lying in 7th, they most likely won't be in the Champions league next season. I am feeling confident. My goal for January was to get ahed in first, but a couple of poor results ruined that, It is only going to get tougher from here on, with the knockout rounds of the ECL and FA cup, but I feel this team can pull through.
Injury Report:
Chambers- 1 week
Wilshere- 2-3 months with damaged achilles tendon
Gnabry- 3 months with a broken foot
Player of the month:
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Nobody really stood out this month, so I could have picked from a bunch, but 3 assists and a man of match performance for the flying left wingback, was enough for Coentrao to win my player of the month award.
Last but not least I was offered a new contract until 2018 
Well guys, this is my last update for 2014!
Have a happy new year, don't drink too much, remember one at a time
I'll be back at it tomorrow! After Arsenal destroys Southampton!