The Arse Club

McClarens' first mistake...

2006-08-10T19:47:00.000+01:00

Well, after a rest due to our early and expected exit in the World Cup, we are officially back to square one with international football in England.

Steve 'I'll do it my way and differently to Sven' McClaren has done a very Sven like thing and given the captaincy to John Terry.
Whilst Terry will make a good captain, the opportunity to cast away doubts of Svenism has been blown because its a very predictable, safe and obvious choice. If you could sum up Sven's reign in 3 words then those three are going to be near the top.

Gerrard as captain would have sent out a postive, attacking message that would breathe new life into the England set up. For someone who is interested in distancing himself from Sven, he's really has dropped a bollock here. Yet can someone who was his predocessors right hand man for 5 years really seperate himself from his former boss? Are we to think that Sven NEVER listened to McClaren? Of course not, and as I've said before, the McClaren appointment is dull and uninspiring and was made to please the 'little England tubthumpers.'

Come to think of it, if that's what this national team is going to represent, Terry will make a fine figurehead.

Arsenal wise, there is deadlock between us and that small team with lots of money over the Cashley transfer fee and Reyes' phone is constantly on its charger "incase he misses something important."
I like Reyes, he always appears to try hard but he will never be the player he can over here. If we can get money back and quickly spend it before the new season then its best for everyone involved.

But for Gods' sake, lets not just take the money for these two and keep it in a bank account. So far, I think Wenger is justified in allowing the youngsters to step up to replace those players already gone, but if Assssssssshley Hole and Jose go without established players being purchased, then the experience and youth balance will dangerously distorted for this coming season.

Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal

2006-08-08T17:49:00.000+01:00

Season proper begins tonight then!

Getting Zagreb was a tough one in the draw; not only is the Croation league stronger than say, the Lithuanian one but they are already into their season and will therefore have far more match fitness than us.

The team put out will be a young one with a few big names missing but my real interest comes in whether Adebayor and RvP can perform together provided they both start. If the 4-5-1 served us so well last season, will we see this stick or will we go 4-4-2. Away from home in a tough qualifier against a team more up to speed than us would make me favour the lone striker approach today and then use 4-4-2 at the Emirates. Rosicky will also be someone to watch tonight; he won't be starting apparently, but when and where he comes on could be interesting. Also, if we see Reyes start, assume that all the Madrid talk is just the kind of thing that their piece of shit papers bring up every week with our players.

If we want to go only eleven minutes further and win the European Cup, we'll have to beat better teams than Zagreb but a draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world; leaving it entirely in our hands back home. For me, this soon after an 11 month season for most of our players would do me just fine for now.

Apparently there are always goals involved with Zagreb, but we aren't shy either and I'm going for a narrow win with Ade-cool being a pivitol figure.

Come on you goooooners!

The wait is almost over

2006-08-07T12:17:00.000+01:00

The wait is over in more ways than one this week. I am back after an absence of birthdays and seeing the best hard rock band on the planet, but more importantly the wait is almost over for the new season and.........new players apparently!

All sorts of swap rumours are flying round that I'm sure you know of - the Gallas/Cole and Reyes cash for Ribery type things, but rarely do swap deals happen. Capello doesn't seem like the type to tolerate Reyes; his wingers at Juve were Nedved and Camoranesi. Much more centrally focused than if you put Reyes out wide, although he can, debateably, play up front.

Ash is off and everyones feelings on that have been clear for a long time. If Gallas is included, great, but lets not get our hopes up. The knock on effect of getting £16 million + is that other clubs know we have cash and we have to pay over the odds. Ribery is realistic but we don't need him is Jose sticks around.
Wenger has come out in the press and talked about experienced players today; one, perhaps two of them. To me, depth is as important as some earth shattering multi miilion pound Torres type signing. Our first eleven will compete with anyone, but take out Jens, Kolo and TH14 and suddenly the lack of experience will haunt us.

Its kicking into gear and we will sign players buy the time the new season begins. Its just a matter of patience.

On a lighter note, and as much as it pains me to say it, I've not yet had a chance to congratulate Spurs on bleeding the Mancs dry on Carrick - the twenty first century David Batty.

Just imagine the terrifying midfield pair of Carrick and Peter 'O'shea' Kay! Hehehehe

Great Respect for a Great Man

2006-07-23T13:02:00.000+01:00

There aren't many Arsenal games where the result doesn't matter; basically this one and arguably the Carling Cup, but yesterday wasn't about results, it was about fun and paying respects.

Is there any club that could have done a testimonial in such a classy way? Would Man USA have allowed 3 generations of Bergkamps to kick off a testimonial game? Their equivalent is Keane and surely at least 2 out of the 3 generations of the Keanes are in prison?
From Vieira and Ian WWW to Marco Van Basten and Cruyff; the whole day was spectacular. Bergkamp apparently shelled out for all the t-shirts on the seats and the man was treated like a God and fair play too. It was a truly special day and even some cheeky Ajax gimp scoring the first goal didn't ruin the day.

So, the 'gentleman club' says goodbye to a true legend and gentleman of the game in the classiest and most repectful of fashions. It simply couldn't have happened if it were another club or another player. That shows you how much depth the link between the club and the player has.

Dennis Bergkamp: God of the game.

We've had Dennis Bergkamp!!!

2006-07-21T11:03:00.000+01:00

Dennis Bergkamp hangs up the boots tomorrow after the opening event at the new stadium. No-one deserves that more. Whilst it has been Wenger who has juggled transfers in order to compete in competitions and construct our new stadium, he was one of the first world class players to join Arsenal, probably leading to a knock on effect.

I can't really bring myself to write a full on eulogy about Dennis, this site simply doesn't have enough space to write down all his amazing moments. Whilst it is stereotypical, my favourite moments have to be THAT goal against Newcastle, THAT hatrick against Leicester, THAT goal against Argentina for Holland. Others include the last minute winner against Thun where in the Clock End it felt like we won the competition and also the classic Bergy goal against Brom on Bergkamp day: timinig or what?! Notice that every goal was special and there really aren't that many tap ins or close range headers. Maybe the Thun goal is one of five in about 100!

You hear the 'scorer of great goals, not a great goalscorer' statement a lot - well, it belongs to this man and we know that goals weren't even his main asset to the side!! the through balls, the vision, the runs, the chips, the partnership with TH14 were every defender knew how the play would occur but was powerless to stop it, to the double winning link up with Freddie in 2002.

Dennis had it all, even the mean streak that the true greats (Zidane, Maradonna et al) have. He is a sporting god and in my opinion the best player to ever play forArsenal. Not as prolific as certain others for sure, but Christ, was he the best player.

I don't think there can be a bigger compliment than the fact that I'm gonna try and squeeze into my Bergkamp shirt tomorrow. This wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a medium boys shirt from 11 years ago!!!

Dennis Bergkamp - we salute you.

Cashley Cole, Stephen Dennis and the sun...

2006-07-14T02:15:00.000+01:00

Dear Sirs,

Far be it from me to be a moral/academic judge, but I have reason to believe that the most 'intelligent' of the three of you has the claim of being the man that wrote the book based upon the SERVANT of princess Diana? A lady that was much loved but not of Royal blood. So your career highlight is writing the sooths of a helper who may or may not have been drunk at the time of death of a dodgily wealthy Arab and a rejected English tart?

Wow!! Not only am I humbled by your quest for truth, but I'm relieved that you scribe such hard hitting factual journalism! More than that, I'm much at ease that your clients, such as Mr Cole, believe you to be the pillar of society that you truly are; and not simply the 'I'm a celebrity/big brother/love island/girls aloud/poker face/millionaire/x factor/WAG/Johnny-come-lately/ get me out of HER' that the silly people who don't purchase your 'exclusive' version of events in the murdoch daily sun realise you are!!!!

So Cashley Cole wants to go? For 16 million?! Its a good job you told us those two bits of classified info or we'd have never known!

If Arsenal do get 16 MILLION pounds for a world class left back, good business I say.!!
Ashley Cole is an amazing player, but he is the one player at the club we can replace without really trying. With the Cole-Pires-Henry left-hand triangle dead already due to RP7 leaving, Ash would have become merely a great left back rather than be remembered as the dynamic wing back that defences simply pissed themselves over at Arsenal in previous years.

In Gael Clichy we have someone who is not as good going forward but is a much better defender. In time, along with Flamini, we will benefit from selling Ashley. He's a Gooner, he's local, he's part of the INVINCIBLES, he's English, he'll ALWAYS be a legend but he's also a greedy fuck who has wanted to be with the Russian Pillagers for almost two years.

Whether he stays or goes has nothing to do with me, but remember that whilst we may benefit from a having a world class player in our ranks, he doesnt want to be here and for that, 16 million quid in Wengers hands seems like the bargain of the century!

With players like Yaya, Lilly, Appiah, Carrick, Vieira (pls no!) and Saviola presenting like dogs on heat, replacing the only replacable player in our squad is sound business.

Lets not forget that with the new stadium, we are a business more than ever before and along with the above transfers - like yesterday with the bow down to Kolo - I'd like to give even BIGGER worship to Big Phil. Philling (excuse the pun!) Tony Adams' number 6 shirt is a different kettle of fish to KT having Keowns number 5. Arsene has some faith in you boy! Fair fucking play.

When was the last time we had a 4, 5, and 6 in our squad? Was it when we destroyed United at Old TURD-ford in 2002?

Good, its about bloody time...

The rumour mill kicks into gear...

2006-07-12T12:57:00.000+01:00

The rumour mill has began to step up a level now that the over hyped World Cup has finished. I'm not saying the World Cup was awful, but when a team of golden oldies and an insipid but solid Italy team take the Final itself to penalties, it just summed up the tournament perfectly. In some ways it showed the transitional nature of international football right now. There are simply too many domestic superstars not ready to take their form to the international arena. There were no big upsets, not many amazing games and it got worse as it went along. Worth watching, but definately didn't live up to the promise of the first ten days by any means.

In Arsenal news, we're being linked with any large, tough tackling midfielder and without wanting to jump on the bandwagon thats been clocking up miles for years now, its that type of player that will make an impact for us next year. Whilst Saviola look increasingly likely to join, we need to address midfield and defence. Up front we have Henry, Reyes, RvP, Adebayor, Walcott and possible Saviola. Whilst in central defence we've got KT, big Phil, Djourou and Pascal and in central midfield we've got Cesc, Gilberto, Flamini and Song. Quite an imbalance no?

I'd love to see Appiah or Yaya arrive to stiffen the centre of the park and Davies to come to centre back. Davies does seem a good player, but are we judging him on that one good game he had against us? I'm sure many on the net would be screaming bloody murder if £8 million was the fee and he played normally against us. For that reason, I feel Davies would be a good investment but paying Lillian Thurams wages for one or two seasons would be nice as well! KT is an awesome athelete and now defender, but I'm not convinced he should be THE senior centre back just yet. He's one of my favourites and a cult hero but who can say having Thuram as an option would harm our youngsters development.

Thuram, Davies, Appiah/Yaya and Saviola as a luxury would be a good summers shopping...and even if we do sign Javi Saviola first, Wenger isn't stupid enough to not sign in the positions mentioned above...Have patience!!

Oh, and well done to Kolo on his 'promotion' to number 5. Its awesome to see him recognised at last. Anyone think we could see number 10 being retired now? I only see it being given to an uber-signing like Torres but anyone wearing it apart from God simply wouldn't be right.

France v Italy - World Cup Final Preview

2006-07-09T17:45:00.000+01:00

This is gonna be a close one. The 2 teams have let in 3 goals between them so its not going to be an open game in the way Brazil/Argentina could have been. Like the rest of the konck out phases, everyone seems a bit scared of doing a 'Beckham 98' and being the one that gets slaughtered for your team going out.

Whisper this quiet but I really want France to win. As Arsenal fans, we get a lot of Jokes about being French but today I'm going to promote it.

Supporting France simply boils down to the fact that to see Henry, Vieira, Thuram and Zidane win 2 World Cups would be phenomenal. And who out there can say that their contribution to football has been significantly less than Marco Materrazzi and Luca Toni?! Whilst its not about who deserves it more, and its simply about who is the better team over the World Cup month, I really will be rooting for the French...except Barthez.

That said, the Italians are just about favourites and rightly so. They've been typically Italian in their defending but in their last match they didn't even dive! Seriously, they are a quality side and would be deserving winners if Zidane et al start to fade in the final quarter as they have done recently.

One more big performance from Zizou and Lilly would be amazing and they really would go doewn as some of the very best players EVER. However, I see a 1-0 Italy but penalties (with these defences) would never be a suprise!

Enough theorising, lets just enjoy something that comes around only once every 4 years and hope its a game to remember!

Allez Les Blues!

Captaincy Issues

2006-07-04T00:22:00.000+01:00

Terry or Gerrard? Neville or Jar Jar?

Ok, the last two were a joke and its pretty clear its between the balding pikey and the scouse midfielder. Its also obvious that both men would excel at the job far more than their well meaning but meek Tim Henman-esque predecessor.

For me its got to be Gerrard. John Terry is a natural leader and can hold up 2 consecutive Premiership medals as captain of the Russians as testament to his abilities. However, I don't seem to remember him single handedly turning a 3-0 half time deficit into a penalty win in the second most important match in the World and also dragging an insipid Liverpool team to an FA Cup Final win against West Ham.

Gerrard simply led by example and maybe some of this has to do with his position.
From the back, Terry can survey the match and shout orders and central defenders are almost prime choice for captain. Even our greatest ever captain was a centre half.
Whilst Adams and Terry are great captains to have in a 'backs against the wall' display, a last minute tackle showing the rest of the team how its done type thing, the one thing they can't do is grab a game by the scruff of the neck in an attacking sense that a midfielder can. For me, this position is the place to have your skipper.
Gerrard is in a position to positively influence the game that Terry simply cannot do in his position on the field.

I respect John Terry, even as a Chavski player, but Gerrard for me is not only more important to the England team (we have a lot of great centre backs, but do we have another world class midfielder?), he is more influential in big games as Champions League 05 has shown, but his position allows him to influence the game in a positive sense, not only a 'lets cling on for this 1-0 lead, 0-0 for penalties' way that a centre half can.

If Terry gets it, I'll be relieved that we finally have a real captain and I'm pretty certain he will as its the safe MacSven, sorry, Maclaren option. But Gerrard is the bold and positive choice that could help revamp and restructure a team in desperate need of such an overhaul.

The Big One

2006-06-27T12:37:00.000+01:00

Whilst Sven has another 6 days to single handedly turn England into the most insipid, uninspired and unmotivated team in the entire world, arguably the biggest game of the last 16 is finally upon us. Spain v France seems to have everything you would want in a football match. Both teams have excellent individuals but the French are getting old and out of sorts whilst the Spanish can never seem to gel as a team and always always ALWAYS flatter to deceive.

Lots of Arsenal interest in this one - another chapter in the PV4 v Cesc battle and after such a comprehensive whipping at club level, Old Patrick will be up for this one. Henry can finally do some damage to the white-pointy hat wearing Aragones whilst Zidane and Raul battle it out for who is living off their name the most! For me, Raul wins this hands down as Zidane was at least world class once!

Putting Zidane back in the team is going to stifle the French and if he plays, I'd have to favour Spain. However, if France play 2 up front, the wily old heads coupled with the worlds best forward should mean they have just enough to get past a Spain team determined to hinder themselves by playing Raul. Old v Young, midfield battles, racism revenge, Arsenal players past and present...this one has the lot.

Spain should be favourites but France got exactly what they needed against Togo and I can see them doing just enough again if sans Zidane.

Either way, its going to be special. If I were you, after reading my Zidane/Raul kicking, I'd run down to the bookies and put money on a 3-3 with those two scoring all the goals. Typical.

Let Down

2006-06-25T22:45:00.000+01:00

we were crap crap crap. more tomorrow.

Derby match

2006-06-20T14:43:00.000+01:00

So many players in the Swedish side have played in the Englsish and Scottish leagues that todays game will have the feel of a local clash about it. From our very own Fred, to Linderoth and Everton, to Alexandersson and Sheffield Wednesday, its a practically a Premiership game. The players will be accustomed to the tempo that we try (and usually fail) to impose on a game and both temas play similar solid styles with one of two flair players and I'm not convinced this bland approach will take either team past the quarter finals.

One interesting point is that since we will know the German score by kick off; will we purposefully try and avoid them by going hell for leather or allowing a loss? Whilst the media would never forgive this, along with the IN-GERLAND van drivers, surely its just a more extreme version of resting players for the second round? If it means we get Ecuador then I'm all for it.

I can't see this being a particularly open game, rested players and the similar styles will make sure of that. Ibrahimovic is out for them, but when I've seen him play at Ajaz, Juve or international level, I've never seen him live up to the hype bar 1 hooked goal (against Italy I think) in Euro 2004.

This gives Rooney and Owen a chance to gel and recover fitness and allows the Canuck/Kraut/Taff of Hargreaves to finally get a full 90 minutes. Win or lose, at some point we'll have to play a team far better than the Germans if we get to the quarters so maybe so much shouldn't be read into the 1st or 2nd place finish. And as for Frank the Tank, if he plays he gets a game to recover form and if he gets booked, it means we can play a more defensive midfielder next and a more advanced Gerrard, which if not in this tournament, is surely the way forward.

I'm intrigued about Hargreaves, but as my esteemed beer swilling arm chair overlord of the World Cup mate noted; can we expect much of Rooney if he is short of fitness and isn't the most naturally athletic player we have anyway? We then remembered the last time we slagged him off before he single handed spanked Boro in the FA Cup with a few awesome goals! TOnight is a 1-1 or a 1-0 to England for me.

Enjoy tonight; its the only World Cup game where the result doesn't matter!!

Red, White and New

2006-06-19T15:12:00.000+01:00

Having studied E Commerce law for far too long I'm quite sure that the link below will not get me into any trouble and quite honestly, I don't care if it does, I'll just take it down. Stupid Copyright laws...along with Teddy Sherigham they are surely the most boring, useless and out of date concept in the entire world.

Anyway, here is the new home shirt as seen through drinking glasses...

http://www.arsenal.com/images/pics/kitlaunch2006_b.jpg

Its obviously back to red and white and is in line with the retro/classic kits that Brazil are wearing at the world cup this year with the piping on the collar etc... Personally I really like it, not only for being back to our true colurs (Cindi Lauper should be added to the Sheringham/Copyright list come to think of it) but it has a badge in the proper place and definately hits the spot. Good stuff.

I'll get back to the World Cup tomorrow before the England game when Sweden will surely 'out-England' us again at our own game. If Jenas plays, I'm leaving the country.

Normal service resumed for Germany

2006-06-15T11:46:00.000+01:00

Uninspired, static, workman-like, efficient, poor, jammy and just plain lucky.

But is that not how the Germans have won so many World Cups? On what occasion have they actually had the best team in the World? Whilst it is true that the best team in the world rarely wins the World Cup, they've won it so many times by being exactly what they were last night, its not even funny! Still, they'll plod their way into the quarter finals; momentum may take them past Sweden, but when they come up against a team with creativity, their flat footed defence will be beaten silly. YET, we still wouldn't put it past them to win the damn thing would we!?!

Spain were very good yesterday, but refereeing decisions meant all it showed was that they could seize initiative once handed to them on a plate rather than how great a team they are. Brazil v Spain quarter final could be rather tasty though. Fair play to Cesc for breaking yet another record for one of his teams!

England v T & T at 5 today...people are talking about how we need a performance as well as a result, but if we are gonna grow into this tournament, another 1-0 win and another slating in the press could well happen and would set us on our way at least. If you offered it to all the people killing England, I bet they'd love to win a World Cup in the same way Germany have so many times! I don't believe we'll get further than a lucky semi final appearance at best, but it can't help to slag off the team, and that England team is a long way away from the one I would pick!

A ground out result tonight then should see us qualify for the second round with a game to spare, and EVERYONE would have taken that one week ago, no matter the way it was achieved!

Oh, Harry 'used car salesman' Redknapp; take your son and go to hell when talking about Walcott like that.
P.S. Could you take Sol Campbell too?

The Midas Touch

2006-06-13T21:20:00.000+01:00

Thats what one of the BBC muppets said Wenger has when it comes to spotting a player, and on yesterdays evidence, the man still has it. Denied one of the greatest World Cup hatricks of all time, Tomas Rosicky really does look a player. If that can be transferred to Ashburton Grove, we could be in for a treat and not miss Pires as much as I first thought. Also, having a player that isn't scared to shoot from long range will help, I mean look at Frank the Tank at Chavski, most of his shots are heading wide but by playing a percentage game, some are bound to deflect in...he just seems especially lucky at it!

Brilliantly, Robin Van Persie is picking fights with the Old Age Pensioner that is Arjen Robben. His looks however had nothing to do with his electric performance. He didn't even dive too much! As great as he was though, if john motson (he doesn't deserve capital letters) points out that he should pass it to other players in better positions, Robin Van Persie is justified in saying it too. Still, its always fascinating to see just how the Dutch will implode and ruin their own chances this time around!

The France v Switzerland game today was as I thought it would be. Whilst the BBC take pot shots at Henry for not being the same player for France, they would do well to remember that this team is instead built around Zidane's friends and thats why France won't get any further than the quarter finals at best. I fancy the English team against the French more than I do us playing the Germans. There is something of a mental block when we play the Krauts, and even though niether France or Germany are not as good as they usually are, the English just don't have the big game bottle to get past either team...especially Fritz!

Brazil are on tv now and obviously the BBC novices (I feel sorry for Strachan and Leonardo) are killing them for not having won the World Cup in their first match. The Italians looked solid without being spectacular and I still have a sneaky feeling about them this year.

This time tomorrow, all the teams will have played and whilst European teams are completely dominating proceedings, there will be a suprise or two come qualification time for the next round. For me, its France, Sweden or Holland not to make it through to the knock out stage.

Czeching In

2006-06-12T16:44:00.000+01:00

Its the first chance for us to see Rosicky in action for the Czechs since he signed for us last month. Personally, I'm especially interested to see how he links up with Koller as he is in effect, an Adebayor big boy type player. Rosicky and Koller were at Dortmund together so they know each other inside out. If he could take that experience of playing with a big man to Ade next season then it could be another handy weapon. No need to address whether he'll work with Henry. If he plays on the left of midfield, then I have real hopes of a quality partnership for those two.

The Czechs in genreal are a very good team. Cech in goal, solid at the back, technical in midfield and in Baros and Koller, have finishers up front. Their best chance of glory came in Euro 2004 and to say they were the best team at the tournament wouldn't have been far off. The 'Greek Incident' was a one off and won't (hopefully) happen again. The Czechs finest hour is gone, and with a tie with Brazil if they qualify, they won't go too far this year. I'm pleased they aren't in our side of the draw as they are still a very very good side on their day, but too many players are not only the wrong side of thirty, but thirty three.

Still, Rosicky will be interesting

3 points is 3 points...

2006-06-11T13:13:00.000+01:00

Or so the saying goes. Lineker and his joke collection of 'experts' slated the team for a long while, but surely we don't want to peak too soon? I'd much rather Frank the Tank started deflecting them in and Stevie G was inspirational in a quarter or semi final than an opening game in what is a very favourable group. Would you rather we scored 5 against Paraguay when one would do the job or would you rather the magic was turned on when we are up against Holland/Portugal in the quarters? No contest really.

Lets just use this very easy group to adapt to the heat, the expectancy and allow the players to settle. We beat a South American team by one goal in hot conditions. What would we give for the same solid and unspectacular performance against another South American team in 6 games time?

Patience, 'tis a marathon not a sprint.

Why don't Madrid just move to London?

2006-06-05T10:34:00.000+01:00

Thats right. Not only do the candidates for Presidency want Wenger, but they are reeling out old comments on Reyes and Cesc. Why stop there you greasy twats? Why not change your name to Arsenal Football Club, take over our new stadium (that we funded ourselves because we aren't bank rolled by the Spanish Government/King/Tosser) and buy every single one of our players. Indeed, why don't they change their 'I've always wanted to play in the famous white of Real Madrid' kit which is the trademark of any new signing there, and wear red and white next year?

Its pathetic. If the 'biggest team in the world' (again a trademark of their latest wank-tico) need to have every single player and manager from a North London club, what the hell is wrong with them?! Vieira, Henry, Cesc, Reyes, Wenger, Overmars, probably Kolo Toure...its been going on for years and I'm fucking fed up. Why do they think they have this right to come in and think we are a feeder club? If they or there players hadn't noticed, it was us in the Champions League Final this year and in the last 3 years we've won the 2003 FA Cup, had the best Premiership season ever in 2004 and won the FA Cup in 2005. What the fuck have those over paid, over weight, over the hill, badly run wankers won in those years? Why would these players leave a successful club for a dying one? CHRIST, even there ancient embarrassment of a left back Bobby Charles wants out.

EVERY FUCKING SUMMER its Barcalona or Madrid. Do there club puppets of papers not realise that no one significant from Arsenal has gone to these clubs since Anelka? Even then we raped them for him.£22 million and Suker...hahaha! Did Vieira go there? did Henry? will Cesc? GET OVER YOURSELVES.

FUCK MADRID, FUCK BARCALONA, FUCK SPAIN.

Their fans deserve a decent World Cup and they have far more talent than England but I hope they bottle it again.

But they can have Sol Campbell for free...he makes Jamaicas forwards look good

TWATS

Tumble Weed...

2006-05-30T14:13:00.000+01:00

That seems to be what you find if you log onto any of the news wires at the moment. Just as in those western films, the dust kicks up and the tumble weed rolls across the screen.In short, there is not much to comment on.

Transfer speculation is a strange time for us Arsenal fans. As a whole, the club are very secretive about transfers and whilst we get linked with players day in day out, the next time we here from them is usually when they've signed! We don't deal in the press like the corrupt Catalans or the morally void Madrid (see Wenger link at the moment in elections!). Neither do we chat up pie eating Brazilians like Mourinho tried to do with Adriano. It really is a case of linked with a player and either never here of it again, or see him holding up a Red and White shirt at a press conference!

Due to this, speculating on transfers can either seem prophetic, or an entire waste of time for Arsenal blogs. You look like a moron if you say how a player will improve the side but then we never here of him again, but on the other hand you seem oracle like if you get lucky and comment on someone that signs!

As mentioned when this blog started up, things here will go a bit World Cup as the tournament steps into gear, and with the real England playing a friendly tonight, the count down to Germany has begun.

Tomorrow I'll go through who I think can and can't make an impact in the World Cup and over the weekend the red carpet will be rolled out for the First 'Arse Club End of Season' Awards.

See you

Bye Bye Bobby

2006-05-25T11:40:00.000+01:00

The worst kept secret of the close season was confirmed today when Robert Pires left Arsenal to join Villareal on a two year contract.

It seems quite a simple one in one out transaction with Rosicky coming in to take up that creative role in the team.

Pires has always been one of my favourite Arsenal players of the last half decade. Whilst he is the most steroetypically French of the muskateers, can you imagine how much the press would have loved him if he were English?! A left sided goal scoring creative metronome that kept the side ticking and can have an impact from the bench! The fact he is French and made one dive that resulted in a penalty against journo favourite Harry Redknapp meant he was never going to be a media darling.

Being French was never a problem for me, but these idiot writers never wrote about the good parts of his game.
The 19 goals in the unbeaten run, the fact he was consistently in the top scorer charts as a midfielder, his amazing form before he did his knee in during the 2002 Double season. Put simply, he did what Paul Scholes had done in the 1990's but being French, the press wouldn't take to it. Imagine if Lampard was French; they wouldn't give him half the coverage and praise he gets and Frank the Tank has only done what the influential Pires has done for under half the amount of time!!

I had a conversation once with a mate of mine about Overmars leaving. He was gutted but when I heard Pires was coming, I thought there was potential for a better player there. Whilst Overmars was great, he was very much a 'match winner in 1 game, disappeared for the next 2' type of player. Pires however, had as much influence as a central player, even though he was out on the wing. And if he hadn't scored, you could be damn sure he's played a part in the build up.

He has been an integral part of the Arsenal teams of the last 6 years and will be sorely missed. Personally I think it may take more than Rosicky, in his adapting debut season to replace Pires. Even if the new boy becomes the new 'oil in the machine' - as Wenger once described Pires - how do we get 15-20 goals a season with Ljungberg forgetting to shoot and Hleb being scared to do so?
Replacing Pires is going to take more than one player and I think thats about the biggest compliment you can pay one individual footballer.

For his amazing double season where he won player of the year 2002 despite being out since March,
For his countless goals against Spurs,
For his infinite through balls to Henry that always produced goals,
For his partnership with Ash on the left hand side,
For his even more goals against Spurs,
For his amazing goal against Aston Villa,
For his sheer French-ness that annoyed everyone else so much and
For his jaw-dropping munching of PV4 in the Champions League.

So here's to Robert Pires, the Premierships most consistent and influential goal scoring midfielder of the twenty first Century and a true an Arsenal Legend.

Rosicky Business?

2006-05-23T17:04:00.000+01:00

Nope, not Risky, but good business!
Especially if it was at the £6-8 million mark thats being thrown around. He seems to be an Arsenal type of player and for once, is an established international between 24 and 28. Thats what we've all been wanting surely?

Rosicky seems to be one of those players that people talk about being brilliant but haven't actually seen him play that much! The Cassano, Torres, Emre (even though he's a magpie!) type player that trades off reviews to a certain extent. So rather than say he's going to be brilliant, I'm just looking forward to what he can do.
Yeah I remember that great goal he scored against us in the Champions League, but outside the Czech side and that one match, I can only rely on what I've read and on Pro Evolution. And we all know how awful that is when considering a players true worth...Raul, sod it, the whole of Real Madrid being good anyone? Thought not.

Surely it means the end of Bobby P though? If it does, he deserves a huge amount of thanks. But i'll come to that if it arrives. And is the newbie too similar to Hleb or Cesc?

Its an exciting signing and will either change the shape of our midfield, or give it depth where we've been lacking. So either way, we win.

A few more names to go with the youngsters would be excellent though. And if Campbell leaves, I really want an Englishman to replace him. I don't know much about Davies of WBA but he impressed me in the Highbury game and if we signed him now, I'm sure Sven would put him in the England side instead of Dawson just because he is contracted to Arsenal! Which is worth the rumoured £5 million all on its own. Stupid Spurs.

So, Tomas Rosicky...Exciting, talented, established and yet another reason to do nothing in June apart from watch the World Cup. Just what we all wanted!

Good work Arsene!

Sol going to Turkey?

2006-05-21T18:07:00.000+01:00

I'm not one for transfer rumours as a whole as they can make you look very stupid (cough, Barcalona, cough!) but this is quite a big one.

Apparently Sol Campbell is going to Turkish side Fenerbache for around £8 million. Thats a great deal of money for an ageing centre half who, apart from the Final last week hasn't really been very good recently. His wages are also massive so it may ease the burden of TH14's new pay packet if he is indeed off.

A suggested headline: 'Chicken Sol leaves for Turkey'. Hehe. That'll teach him for wimping out at half-time against West Ham!

As I said, I won't go into details until its confirmed or denied. But its an interesting one...

TH14 Stays!

2006-05-19T15:47:00.000+01:00

Wow. Thats one way to lift the mood of a club that just lost the biggest game in their history! I woke up this morning and was shocked to see the news on the internet. Maybe its just me, but as he said 'by the World Cup,' I thought it would be another few weeks until we heard a decision we didn't want to hear.
One point is whether he would have stayed if we had won the Champions League? I'm not entirely sure that one match would have such a big influence on a man like Thierry. As well as one can know someone they've never met, he doesn't seem volatile enough to base 7 previous years and the next 4 on 90 minutes ruined by a referee. Also think about what would have happened if the Final was against another team and he seemed as pissed off with them as he was with Barca. Would he have gone to Barcalona then?

As fans though, would we rather have won the Champions League and see him go or lose the Final and see him stay? Its a tough one but for the long term future I'm glad its happened this way round. Granted we'd make a fortune from Champions League winnings, but would the financial difference between winning and losing the final have got us an adequate, ready made replacement for Henry? NO! Not in a million years!!

Thats in then. Whilst the gloom has been lifted by a brilliant bit of news, lets not forget we need to strengthen in the summer. I have a feeling that we've got something big tucked away thats helped Henry stay; I mean in players, not just that big new shiny building down the road!

For now though, lets salute Dennis for everything he has done for us, and salute Henry for everything he will continue to do.

Here's to the next four years!!!!!!!!!

PROUD

2006-05-19T12:44:00.000+01:00

There we go then. Eventually one of the best teams in the world beat our ten man side with 9 minutes to go. It was proper old school Arsenal balls to the walls stuff. I am obviously gutted, but the performance and the grit were things we can be proud of. If it took a very bad referee plus Barcalona to stop us, then we have nothing to be ashamed of. I saw a Manc in a pub afterwards and he had this big grin on his face when he saw me. As I said in the preview, I simply asked him how United got along in the Champions League knock out stages. Oh, hang on, they couldnt make it out of a group as easy as ours. He said nothing and by the time I turned around after getting a beer in, he had run away. Idiot.

So, lets be proud of what we achieved for so long in adversity and those circumstances, yeah we can regret it, and its hard to argue with the sending off once the ref had blown the whistle, but imagine how the experience is going to make our players bond and believe and grow. This team needed a game of balls to the walls fighting to forge a real togetherness, and although it wouldve been better had that togetherness be formed in victory. We still have it, and lets see where its gonna take us next season.

Well done boys, an amazing European campaign.

Will update the site later today after (hopefully) a rather famous Frenchman has scribbled on a bit of paper for us!

Believe!

2006-05-17T13:19:00.000+01:00

I've waited so long for this and I'm only 22. God knows what is going through the minds of some of you older gooners out there!
The red hair dye is primed and ready, the lucky unbeaten season home shirt is ready, the designated public house is ready and £1.50 all drinks all night. In fact the only thing that isn't ready is my head!

I'm so excited and I'm so nervous. I went out for a curry last night and the only thing that came out of my mouth was about tonights game. (sorry Lianne!) I found out one of my mates is wearing the blue away shirt that we lost to United in when out 49ers came to an end. I immediately text him back and told him he can't wear it.

I am a wreck; an excited wreck.

I respect Barcalona, their club, their players, their history. But no-one is really giving us a chance. Its a one off game. Our players are ready for this. Sure, they are young, but can you imagine how good they'll be after this experience; win or lose?
We can win this. Like I said yesterday, its our collective cell against their individuals. I think its gonna be tight until the first goal is scored. After all, there is no second leg to claw anything back. THIS WILL SUIT US. Fabregas and Pires given space to thread balls to Titi like only they can? yes please!

I'm not sure about Le Bob starting, I'd quite like him fresh off the bench for the last 20 minutes. And Arsene, if we are losing, don't be afrais to make a change, not a suicidal McClaren change, but after 65 minutes or 70 minutes, Hleb for Dennies, Van Persie or Pires won't hurt anyone. I just have a feeling about Pires or Freddie tonight. Big games, Big players. Consider that their big influence doesn't have to be the goal though. It could be the pass or the creation of space.

If we lost tonight, we have lost to the best team in Europe. Not like Liverpool were just cos they won the trophy, but the real deal. If we lose, I'll be gutted, but if we've given it our all, we are still the second best team in Europe. Tell that to any bitter and jealous fans that taunt you after the game. Chavski fans? Got beaten by Barca before the final. Man USA fans? Sorry, didn't get out of your group. Trotts fans? Have you ever been in the Champions League? No.
Be proud of our team, win or lose.

I won't go through the line ups or talk about their danger men, we know that by now. But I truly believe in our youth, I believe in Jens, I believe in our defence and our five man midfield, I believe in the home-coming boy - TH14, but I believe in this unit more than anything right now. If its 0-0 with 30 minutes to go, we are fitter, fresher and faster than them.

For the last time whilst we represent Highbury, for all the sub plots, for all the talk of fourth place, its come down to the European Cup Final and we can do this!
For the Final time this season...

COME ON YOU GOONERS!!!

Believe

Victoria Concordia Crescit...

2006-05-16T15:42:00.000+01:00

Enforcing this mantra is the only way we can win the Final tomorrow. The more I think about it, the better Barcalona's individual players seem, but the better our team seems. Following? Good.

Whilst I doubt there is much argument about whose players have the better technical ability and big name draw, their players are coming out with some loopy stuff in the press whilst ours seem calmer and more focused. If Barca didn't play such good football on a regular basis, the British press could accuse their players 'Henry would be great here' digs as Chelski like. I've mentioned this before but I'd love Cesc to say 'Ronaldinho would be great here' just to shut them the hell up!

I'm really in the mood for this now though. The hair gets turned into Freddie's red mohican tomorrow, which means my bed sheets get covered in red hair putty on thursday but tough. I can't revise for my exams because I keep checking NewsNow every 5 minutes for new stories and I can't stop listening to Eye of the Tiger and other underdoggy type songs. Sad I know.

I feel sorry for this Linesman (assistant ref my arse) that was seen in that Barca shirt but I'll give him the benefit of doubt as he was supposed to wear both for a photo shoot in his local paper. Why he owned a Barcalona shirt though is a bit iffy. But surely its better this is found out before the game so if anything, he might try and prove his impartiality too much and give TH14 a benefit he wouldn't usually have. hehe.

One point worth thinking about is the fact that we know we can win finals playing badly (hehe, Man U, hehe)and as Cesc pointed out, we can make it one out of one whereas Barca have lost the Final before. I'm a huge fan of psychology in sport and things like that can only help us. They'll have doubt as to whether its going the same way as 1994 yet we go in with a clean slate knowing we can win games even if we aren't on fire. However it can be said they've won it before and we haven't. Psychology is important and both teams have positives here, so it all comes down to who believes their positives more. Cesc is giving out all the right signals here, thats for sure.

As well as sqarefootball.net, I'm also boycotting bbc.co.uk/sport as I'm sure they don't want us to win the damn thing. All the articles are negative and it goes to prove the fact that they are all still bitter about their team shitting themselves on the final day of the season.

I'm avoiding my preview until the day of the game so expect that tomorrow because right now I'm off to get all religious on my 'Senderos Get Fit' prayer mat which doubles as a 'Sol Gett Injured' prayer mat.

Cardiff without Arsenal!

2006-05-12T15:53:00.000+01:00

A very strange thing is happening tomorrow...An FA Cup Final is taking place in Cardiff. WITHOUT US!

Only one has not involved us so far and its a very strange thing. As much as I like the Champions League and wouldn't swap competitions, there is something about the FA Cup that I do love. From the 2 stunners that beat Chelsea (only Chelsea, not Chelski as pre-Roman), to the stuttering victory against the Saints to the hilarious Final against Man USA last year, its always been a brilliant occassion with results to match, bar the ironic Scouse robbery in 2001. The awful Spurs loving BBC-esque squarefootball site says Liverpool refer to the Millenium Stadium as Anfield South! Does that mean we should just call it Highbury II !!

I hope its a good Final tomorrow, I wish West Ham well due to their professionalism (bar Sheringham) last week. It'd be nice to see a club other than the big four win it and the last was Everrton in 1995. Although I'm sure Scousers were saying the same in 2003 and 2004 when Saints and Millwall were there.

A West Ham win and Sheringham breaking his leg would be nice. Hopefully when TRYING to score, not miss a penalty this time.

Nevertheless, good luck Hammers

A Fair Fight in Paris?

2006-05-10T22:43:00.000+01:00

I'm slowly getting myself into Champions Legaue Final mode, I've been trying not to get too hyped up yet but the tension and excitement of our biggest game ever is building and building now.

My point though, is apart from Ronaldinho, are there any Barca players that are better than their Arsenal counterparts. Whilst the bucktoothed one is more than a match for Gilberto Silva, is there anywhere else on the pitch that they are significantly better than us? I just can't see it. Keepers, defence, solidarity in midfield etc...are all ours.

If it came to Puyol v Kolo, if you take away the star attraction of Carlos' name, I'd pick Kolo everytime on the form of the last 18 months. Toure doesn't let in Champions League goals and Puyol was properly grilled by Shevchenko at the Camp Nou but got away with it.

Eto'o is also a worthy consideration and a great player, but Barca wouldn't be serious about TH14 if they thought Eto'o was a better would they? We'll kick the hell out of them on full backs (theirs are our cast-offs) and goal keepers however! The bland battle in midfield of Sivla and Van Bommel is even, so is Cesc and Xavi. If Messi plays, we'll let them have that one on Hleb but Le Bob, Freddie and Jose (especially as the last 2 are confidence players hittin goals recently) can more than match Iniesta, Motta and Guily for big game goals.

I'm also gonna say that discipline wise, we are more drilled than they are. Granted its not our normal formation, but Freddie sticks to his task well, whereas although Ronnie and Giuly/Messi are given freedom, that freedom ultimately will creat space for Ash and Manny Eboue. If each side went a goal up, I'm more confident it would stay 1-0 to the Arsenal due to our organisation than the scoreline stay the same of the Catalans went ahead.

This really is a far more even battle than anyone is giving us credit for. The Spanish press think its something of a procession to the big eared trophy, and I hope they continue that train of thought, but are they really that much better than us?

What a Send Off!

2006-05-08T17:06:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was stunning, no other word for it.
From the twists and turns on the pitch to the same motions in the scums stomachs, it really was something special.

Whatever happened on the final day at Highbury was going to be remembered, but the controversy, the on/off game at Upton Park, being in front, being behind, being fourth, being fifth and being fourth again. All in 2 hours. I'm not ashamed to say I resorted to drinking.

I want to salute the professionalism of West Ham for giving Spurs a go so close to a final, but professionalism for people at this level should never be in doubt. HOWEVER, that arsehole who took the penalty for West Ham is completely unprofessional; the fact he took it and 'accidently' missed is bad enough, but surely no one is saying he tried to score? He is a disgrace to the game of football. He should have scored/attempted to score and then not celebrated his goal as most ex players do. Instead, he's an embarrassment to all the players that take their jobs seriously.

Sheringham, Crooks, Venables, Baddiel, Nicholson, Fat Mabbutt, Klinsmann, Robbie Keane and JHJH, your boys took ONE HELL OF AN EATING!

I read today that Dennis said its been an honour to play at Highbury, but surely the pleasure is ours for seeing one of the greats of the game on our own pitch for eleven years? I'll write more in the build up for his testamonial because there is just so much to mention and I've had enough emotion for one weekend frankly!

Sheringham, Crooks, Venables, Baddiel, Nicholson, Fat Mabbutt, Klinsmann, Robbie Keane, Crail and JHJH, your boys took ONE HELL OF AN EATING!

Arsene Wengers Magic,
He wears a big chefs hat,
and when he saw 4th place,
he made the Spurs players shat!

Nice.

*JUST IN*

As if Defoe wasn't feeling sick enough yesterday, for eating dodgy lasagne and bottling CL qualification, our wonder reserve has just been put in the England squad ahead of him. I feel sorry for Darren Bent, what more could he do, but Defoe? HAHAHAHAHA!

And for a bunch of money grabbing foreigners who got to the CL final without an Englishman playing for them in the last 100 years and are generally arrogant French divers, isn't it odd that we only have one less English player in the squad than those hard done by, down on their luck, cheated, plucky all english media darlings down the road? And when Sven realises Jenas is a joke, not a footballer, then its all even.

Take that Crooks, Linekar and Sherigham. Ha.

That just really tops off yesterday! Well done Theo, and Sven has found some balls and as a result, I think I may actually like him a bit more! Fair Play Sven, thihs World Cup could be fun!

The Final Salute

2006-05-06T11:56:00.001+01:00

Its been an age since I've posted, which is due to the quite stunning laziness of my housemate. She's not nasty or evil just painfully lazy. But talking/moaning/boring you about that doesn't seem right this weekend.

I'm sure everyone's figured out that this is our last game at THOF this weekend. I for one am gutted and excited. Gutted because I've only ever seen Arsenal outside of Highbury 3 times so I really don't know anything else when it comes to following the team, but excited because we will have the best stadium in the UK and still the best manager. Its hard not to find it a little funny that the press kill AW for not having won the Champions League (yet) but then moan that he was protected from the England job and that he should have been first choice. Idiots.

Anyway, leaving Highbury is going to be emotional. Im going to be upset, I won't hide from that or think its a bit gay, in the same way that I'm warning all my mates that I'm going to bawl my eyes out if we win the Champions League Final.

So, now I've said my piece on the amazing stadium that will always be special to all of us, we've got to consider we are playing a game there this weekend and that its not just a ceremony! Wigan are a good side, they've shown us that in all three of the games we've played against them this year. I like their balls for playing 4-4-2 every week without enducing people into a coma everytime they go away from the JJB by playing 5-5-0, like half the teams in the top flight do. If we get a better result than Spurs, we finish 4th. In theory thats simple, and we all know about the FA Cup for West Ham etc, but this is also the Totts Final and arguably, as big a 'Final' for us as a certain game against a bunch of Spanish Breakaways is on the 17th of May.

We need to win this. So do Spurs.

I have a feeling we'll win 2-1 in a game that will be much tougher than the press haven't focused on! Paul Jewell is a million times better than McClaren already and no doubt the fact Wigan haven't had a sniff of press due to our relocation will be used to fire them up. But, it will still have that special day feel and 2-1 win and final salute to Highbury seems right to me. Spurs will score against West Ham, so that'll be 1-0 or HOPEFULLY 1-1.

I'll see you all in 4th Spot on Monday morning.

Thank you Highbury, its been a pleasure

COME ON YOU GOOOOOOONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Salute Scolari!

2006-04-27T13:07:00.000+01:00

I said when this site was born that as the world cup gets closer I'd talk a little about it. The apparent/imminent/rumoured appintment of Big Phil Scolari after the WC seems damn big enough to me.

He's by far the most successful international manager of the last half decade at least. And when was the last time a manager won the world cup and then got to the next Euros final? I think France had different guys in charge in 1998 and 2000. Aime Jacquet and Roger Lemerre I think.

Scolari has stugots as well! He'll drop beckham if he's playing badly (see Figo). He won't play Lampard and Gerrard together if he can't balance a side, although he can fit Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in the most unbalanced and worst Brazil side in a long time and still walk away with footballs biggest prize.

He's won everything at domestic level, including the south american champions league (libatedores i think) which is a touch better than Steve 'Carling Cup' McClaran and the other nobodys being touted.

He punches journalists...bring on the tabloids and the fascist Jeff Powell from the Daily Mail!

Yeah, it'd be lovely and patriotic and flag waving (xenophobic??) if it were an Englishman, but we as Arsenal fans should konw more than anyone else that its what they do on the pitch, not what it says on their passport. Sod this 'doesn't encourage English bosses' bullshit, would you rather we didn't qualify for Euro 2008 but said 'at least he was English'?? NO!!!!!!!!! We'd rather win it with Big Phil!

Fair play to the F.A for finally handling something right. And especially well done toDavid Dein who has rallied for him all along! Do you think he said 'look, I employed Arsene Wenger and look where thats taken my medium/large sized club'??

I'm off to put some money on us for 2008 due to the fact we'll have a balanced, tactically aware and determined side and a manager that can actually CHANGE TACTICS and MAKE CHANGES as the game goes along!

He's simply the best for the job.

COME ON YOU GOOOONERS!

2006-04-25T16:35:00.000+01:00

Phew, the coursework marathon is over...hopefully for the last time, unless I do something foolish and apply to do a Ph.D in Law, errrr; NO!

Anyway, tonight is huge. Ive driven half the width of the UK today but Ive never been so restless, 90 MINUTES FROM PARIS!

Its gonna be tense, nervous, irritating (dives and home crowd!) and possibly just the best night in the clubs recent history. Please let us have a referee as hard-ass as the last one, we need him again tonight!

The line up itself is quite obvious for both teams, Tachinnardi is out for them, but that won't change their tight game plan whatsoever. As the clock ticks down they'll obvious start to throw things forward, but I'm hoping an away goal will appear for us before 60 minutes to effective say goodnight to Spain, but BONJOUR to France!

Everyone knows just how huge this game is so I'm not going to waffle on anymore, everyone knows whats at stake and this is simply the biggest game of the season.

I have a feeling Eboue may be important tonight, lets just hope its at the Villareal end!!

It's 90 minutes & 213 miles to Paris, we've got Mad Jens in goal, we've got Thierry Henry up front, it's dark and and they're wearing yellow....

HIT IT

Come on you Goooooooners!!!

Villareal Preview

2006-04-19T17:24:00.000+01:00

Right, this is going to be extremely quick as the coursework seems to be flowing today, and its so rare that this happens that I simply can't pass up this opportunity until 7:30 tonight!

Lots has been said about Villareal and Riquelme. They are a very hard working eleven with a truly world class player that can change games. Great, so are we. I respect them a lot for having the balls to build a team around one player but if this premiership pace Wenger is talking about does appear, I believe we should be alright on the night. The important thing is to stop them scoring, simple to say but as they are the kings of away goal progression, its essential. Even a 0-0 tonight could benefit us with the counter attacking approach we take to the Continent.

Again, I'm tempted to write some awful pun about 'Yellow Submarines' and it being 'A Hard Days' Night,' but that would be childish. However, I reckon 'We can work it out' and get a 2-0 this evening. Dammit, couldn't help myself!

Much much more tomorrow, but its back to the word processor for me.

COME ON YOU GOOOONERS!

Ar-Sol

2006-04-11T19:41:00.000+01:00

I was going to start this post about a T-shirt I once saw with 'Our-Sol' on the front of it, a brilliant dig in the ribs to the fact that we burgled Spurs' best player from them whilst paying transfer fee at all. Then I thought about a certain game against West Ham, the things he has been saying and then this went off in my head..............................................

'Thats it! I've solved it! Its a simple case of flogging Sol Campbell at the end of the season and offering his wages to TH14. Whilst I recognise that its all about 'sporting ambition,' an extra £90,000 a week can't hurt can it?!

The simple fact is: I can't stand Sol Campbell anymore.

Whenver he dons our colours, I shall support him, but having let everyone down when he should have been a leader is unnacceptable. For this reason he shall receive the same level of support that Pascal gets when he plays; its the 'praying he doesn't mess up/go home/cry' type rather than the 'I want him to do well so badly that he could be a relative' kind. I know this should have been written months ago, but this site didn't exist then, so his first game since The Arse Clubs' creation is as good a time to vent as any other.

I accept Sol Campbell has his uses. He used to be a brilliant Centre Half and even at Spurs, you could tell he was a great defender. In fact, I can't think of any other British player I wanted filling the Adams sized whole in our back four. But I want that Sol Campbell. I recognise that (some) footballers have emotions and indeed aims, but all he talked about until last weekend was England this and England that. England don't pay his wages, we do. And I mean WE. It's WE after all who buy shirts and pay ticket prices. We're entitled to effort and respect at least.

I think having Sol in the squad next year can be of benefit. Look how much Kolo has come on whilst Sol has been there. Of course Kolo is a brilliant athelete, but was never a natural centre half. Sol has had an influence on his dramatic improvement and for that he deserves praise.
Campbell is still one of the superstar names of this Arsenal squad, but I'm glad Wenger (effectively) said Senderos is first choice. Sol thinks he is far better than he actually is. Or at the very least, thinks he is still as good as he once was.

Having him in the squad would be excellent, I still believe that. To have him as the experienced of 4 (possibly 5 after the summer) centre backs, would give depth where we haven't had it since the 90's. Kolo and Big Phil as first choice, Djourou and Campbell as the second line. This gives us 2 pacy, 'recovery-type' defenders and 2 old school reader types. Adding someone of the 24-28 years age bracket won't hurt either. Especially if the Cyganator is put out of his misery come June/July.

So, I'm not a fan of Solzeer. He was once great, and time catches up with everyone, but its 'World Cup, World Cup, World Cup' with him. And that, whilst a noble aim, isn't what Club football is about. If he accepts a lesser, squad role, then great, keep him on less wages. Yet I cannot see past the sheer selfishness of walking out and not respecting his employers. Ashley Cole wants to go to Germany, hell, apparently he wants to leave the club, but he's talked more of Arsenal than Sol has.

I wish him well tomorrow against Pompey and in any other game he plays for us, but Enough is Enough. I suggest a more realistic role for a proud, declining player or a kick out the door with wages that can be put to better use, especially in a World Cup year where everyone is in the shop window.'

.............................And I realised just how right I was to rename the coloumn.

So, its time to grow up or get out Ar-Sol.

See you soon.

Knackered...

2006-04-10T11:04:00.000+01:00

European hangovers....nasty. I get them when I drink too much Premium lager from the continent, but I think quaifying for the semis' of the Champions Legaue may be a bit tougher on the body and mind. With that consideration, it is understandable that we came back from travelling to the form team in the country empty handed.

I feel psychology played a large part in the game too; by leaving out your best player you are inviting the others to already think the game is a lost cause or not really that important. Its how I honestly feel. I said to myself upon hearing the line up that 'if we drop points in one place it may as well be here,' 'its good he's resting him for Europe' and so on.

If it had that effect on me, what will it do to the players? I'm not faulting the boys for effort, but I think in the subconscious somewhere, the resting of Thierry had an effect. But by resting him, the moral won't be as low as a usual defeat to United with a full strength team. This definately has more potential for 'bounceback-ability' than the Riley enduced farce that ended the greatest unbeaten run ever.

I believe it will prove to be a masterstroke as we qualify for the Champions League Final in May and pinch 4th place. Its not without its risks, but like always, most of us believe Wenger is right.

Again, whilst game reports can be left to other sites, I was pondering a few things. Just how does Adebayor run that fast when his legs seem to move that slow? I think its something to do with the fact he only needs four strides to everyone elses 6! Seriously, I keep forgetting he is 21 and I do believe that even if not as individually talented as some of our other forwards, he will play an important role for the team in years to come.

Also, remember how we said the how burden of captaincy was restraining Henry at the beginning of the year?
Well, it has the opposite effect on Gilberto. In the Doncaster Carling Cup game as captain he scored the winner and yesterday he seemed to revel in the role and produced a brilliant performance. Ok, a brilliant Gilberto performance isn't as eye catching as a brilliant Henry performance, but it certainly heightened his game. Couple that with the fact he is now bringing his Champions Legaue style game to the Premiership and he is fully justifying his inclusion right now. And even with a lack of options due to injury this year, its not something we could have said about the first part of his season is it!?! Perhaps its the maturing of Cesc that allows him to concentrate on the defensive aspects, but he is playing better and his passes are actually find team mates too!

Right, the University coursework marathon begins today. Whilst many of you would think that means the site will be updated less in that time, I promise you it means much more content being added due to any old excuse to get me away from Law Masters books with sucg enthralling names as 'International Commercial Disputes in English Courts' and 'Integration of European Competition Law.' Oh the fun....

See you soon....

Potent Potential!

2006-04-06T13:51:00.000+01:00

Professional...Blah
Focused...Blah
Workman-like...Blah
Disciplined...Blah.
Gritty...Blah.

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah!!!

I don't care that we didn't quite scale last weeks heights & that the press are focusing on Juventus' awful performances. We're in the Semi's of the biggest club competition in the world for the very first time. Did the media expect us to go out and not care about our 2 goal lead? Again, I don't care, we are there and we've avoided Barca and Milan until the Final...If we get there.

A lot has been said already of Villareal being the easy route, but at this stage its simply not the case. If that is true, Villaareal have just as much of a right to say the same thing about us not being up to the Milanese or Catalunian's quality. By now, no game will be easy so enough talk of easy games and booking flights to Paris please!
I seem to remember people talking about Chelski already having got to the final at this time last year as they 'only' had Liverpool in the semi's - a team they'd already beaten that season in a cup final - and look where it got them! We have earned ourseleves a lot of credit for getting to this stage in a transitional season, but again, we're in the last FOUR, not the final, not the winners podium with all that pretty ticker tape and confetti, but the last FOUR...thats it.

Last night was amazing. I talked before the game about the attitude in this new side and it really did ring true again. Surely you couldn't ask for more in a 2 leg game against Serie A's best...
Giving them a footballing lesson at home and then being gritty and solid away. What more do you want?? We owned them again last night!

So Pat left to win the Champions League? When we got dealt Juve in the draw, I was more confident than I should have been, resulting in what I thought was a 50-50 chance of going through. But for him to be humiliated by his old club that he left in search of this very trophy, must really sting. How is he going to be feeling today? hehehe!

In a way, I think Vieira's leaving has helped in Europe. With Pat in the team, everything went through him, and our failure in Europe can be seen as part of this...Stop Vieira, Stop Arsenal. But selling him meant we needed a new distribution system. See how our full backs give Jens plenty more options as no one can rely on Vieira anymore. Now, teams cannot stop us by stopping one man. In Europe especially - but with signs of it sneaking into the league - having more than one defensive outlet has obviously given us more success. For this, Wenger must be credited again.

So, an amazing amazing performance, we've shown we have the ingredients for the total package. Outplayed at Highbury and outfought in Italy. With what is now the best Champions Legaue defence ever, a rejuvenated midfield adapting to responsibility and the worlds best striker up top, we are going places. Add in the average age of the outfield players to boot and the potential for this side is scary.

On a final note, if you add up the cost of our back 5 and contrast it with the price of the attacking talent we've faced against Madrid and Juventus, can anyone come up with another manager capable of getting success at this price? NO is the resounding answer to that!

I'm beginning to get a very funny feeling about this trophy you know....

Champions League? STILL Havin' A Laugh!

2006-04-05T22:44:00.000+01:00

Now there are many things I shall discuss in more detail tomorrow including;
Pat Vieira leaving to win the CL,
The awesome away support in Turin,
The supposed 'easy' route to the final
and Superstitions...

But for now it is important that I celebrate by getting drunk. Its worked so far in every knock out game in this seasons competition so I'm going to do my part to get us to Paris in May! SALUT!

WE ARE THE ARSENAL!

Juventus Preview (Away)

2006-04-05T15:46:00.000+01:00

Our European campain takes us over to Italy tonight, as I'm sure a few of you may well have realised!
Through the news wires, 'Lilly' Thuram is talking of hurricaines and storms: Far be it from me to comment but I'd be more concerned about the football tonight Lilian!
I think its fair to say that Juventus will be wily old scroats tonight. In the first leg, all their experience and medals didn't do much against our super charged kiddies but I have a feeling that sly kicks and pokes will be in abundance this evening. Expect elbows and obstructions bordering on illegal for however long the match takes.
I'm also quite pleased that after my rant about away goals last time, the only affect they can have on us now is a positive one. Especially when I got a mullering on Arsenal America for saying they are only relevant if they are scored and its a draw on aggregate. As I said, I never doubted my sage like prophecy, oh no!

Seriously though, after my cliche ridden splurge yesterday, I'd like to add one more...The first goal in this game is essential. If we score it, Juventus need 4, if they score it, another after that means its back to square one. A lot of people say we may lose our bottle if we concede early, but you don't jointly hold the CL record for clean sheets with the potential to break it tonight by having no bottle! With 'sensitive types' like Sol and Ash in the side, I'd be inclined to agree with these bottle theorists if we played our old first choice defence. However, what this new defence lacks in big names, it makes up for in attitude. The same goes for all the emerging players; you only need to see FC15 v PV4 last week for evidence of that!

We're obviously going to start with our 4-5-1 system, rumours showing Freddie not Bobbie to start, whilst there can be no arguments with the formation its possible to see why Bob is annoyed. But its a squad game nowadays and Ljungbergs legs and attitude will be invaluable away from home in our most important game of the season.

Prediction time then....
I'm going for a score draw tonight. I think Juventus may score first but as they go searching for that second goal, gaps will appear at the back and we all know that we're not exactly a slow team on the counter attack! No matter the score though, if we get a goal tonight, I can't see how Juventus will get four past a defence that hasn't conceded in that many European games.
Its time to seal the deal and whilst I'd happily take a 1-0 loss in the Deli Alpi, this team won't set out to defend all night and we will score!

Come on You GOOOOOONERS!

Cliches Anyone?

2006-04-03T13:38:00.000+01:00

A great last week of football by anyone's standards really. By annihilating the runaway leaders of Serie A and then following it up with a dynamic performance in the league with no real sighting of a European hangover, we really are beginning to come together at the right time of the season. Cliches being thrown around include 'a marathon not a sprint,' 'peaking at the right time,' 'Coming to the boil' and 'tortoise and the hare' yet they are pretty much true of our form lately and the effect it can have on our season.Possibly the most important thing to come out of the Juve and Villa games is the 3 points against the Brummies and the dropping of points by teams around us. Banking on winning the Champions League when 2-0 up at half time in the QF is 'putting all your eggs in one basket' and surely a better way for certain Champions League football at the Grove is to finish in the top 4 and then win the relevant qualifiers. Not only do we have a game in hand against Spurs, but there is also the small matter of them coming to THOF for the last time. However, if our home form carries on, surely its 3 points and personally, I'm more worried about Blackburn and Bolton than I am about 'them down the road.' Look back at the beginning of the season: If you'd have offered the Cock(erel)s UEFA Cup football they'd have taken it and thats what I think they'll get. No Champions League for us would not be pleasant but UEFA for them would mean a good season. In pursuit of the most cliches in one post ever, I offer you 'one mans' crock of shit is another is another mans' pot of gold.' Surely a record equalling attempt??Anyway, last week was important, this week could be even more so. If we get knocked out in Turin and lose to the Plastic Mancs whilst those around us pick up points, we're back where we were in December really. So, our season can disappear as quickly as it arrived, I don't believe that will happen, but it shows you how quickly things can change.Til' tomorrow when hopefully we'll have some injury news about Cesc and the man who was favourably compared to a Brazilian who has a name like an STD but was really rather good in his day (Garrincha for those venereal disease fans). More of that and also on Juve and Thierry Henry's strike partners.See you then....

Juventus throw a Paddy!

2006-03-28T22:53:00.000+01:00

Can't. Post.

Drinking.

More Tomorrow.

But....

Champions League? You're Having a Laugh!

Juventus Preview

2006-03-27T13:13:00.000+01:00

This is it then, the return of Pat Vieira. Its going to be emotional for all involved and could bring out the best in him, but also our own players. I'm harbouring thoughts of Gilberto wanting to prove a point that he is still a player without our old captain, but I may be thinking to highly there!
One thing that has been glossed over in the build up so far is about Thierry Henry. Yes, everyone has said Juve are troubled by pace at the back and the focus is on PV4's return, but Henry is also playing one of his old clubs. A club that he left with a lot to prove. Whilst Vieira won all but, ironically, this one trophy available with us (Carling Cup doesn't count Spurs fans!), Henry was a failure at Juventus.

Who has more of a point to prove? I have a feeling Thierry may be up for this one!

Juve will be without Nedved and Del Piero tomorrow and we are without our usual suspects as well. For Nedved, read Ljungberg due to their influence and sense of the big stage and whilst Del Piero has been on the wane for some years, he has been back on form this season. It can only help to have these two class players out of the side, but Juve are still a tremendous threat, Camoranesi especially seems to be put in the shadow by the big name players in front of his wide right berth, but is an awesome player.

Whilst I feel that the quarter final will not be won or lost at Highbury - think of how many of the previous rounds ties could have been back to square one with a goal from the relevant side - it is important to get a goal. I think our defence will come under more pressure from a Juve side that is far more efficient than either Madrid, or indeed ourselves. Juve have a potent mix of individual brilliance and a hive like mind set that benefits them as a team. But remember, they are an Italian side playing away from home! They are far more pragmatic than we would be and also Madrid in a similar fixture. Whilst I'm not saying they will play for a draw, if its 0-0 I think they would be happy but over 90 minutes I can see them scoring. However, with a fired up TH14 and hopefully Reyes to frieghten with his pace in our 4-5-1 CL standard formation, I can see us getting goals too.

Away goals however, are an overrated phenomenon. They seem to put far more fear into teams and supporters than is necessary. If Arsenal win 3-1 tomorrow but lose 1-0 in Turin we go through. If we win 2-1 tomorrow but draw 0-0 over there, we also go through. Away goals only become the be all and end all on aggregate and over 2 legs in this tie I think one side will outscore or shut out the other one without having to rely on this hyped up rule. I'm not saying they are irrrelevant, but imagine the perception on wednesday morning if its 1-1 tomorrow night. Fine, its 1-1, but the media will only talk of an away goal. If we then go to Italy and win 1-0, we go through, making the away goal obselete. Lets talk about away goals if they look like an issue in Turins' second 45 minutes, not before we've even kicked off!

So, a far more tense night than the final throes of the Galacticos era served up for us, but without Nedved and Del Piero, thus helping to balance the injury accounts of both sides somewhat, I am going for a 1-1 or 2-1 victory for the Arsenal.

Stay Up Pompey, Pompey Stay Up?

2006-03-24T15:03:00.000Z

Portsmouth this weekend in the saturday evening kick off. This could be much trickier than we think.
Both clubs seemed to have picked up form recently and although its TH14's favourite away ground, our away form isn't still that great. The used car salesman that is Harry Redknapp seems to have got Pompey pointing in the right direction recently, something he must also do when thinking of his daughter-in-law.

Ljungberg and Ralph are still out, along with the other long term absentees but as mentioned in the last post, our right hand side has been revitalised by the players that have come in to replace them. If Reyes is match fit, then I would certainly play him in front of Pires on the left, his hunger means he tracks back more to help out the Flam than Pires ever would. If Jose hasn't recovered, then we're going to need to outscore portsmouth as there will be less defensive cover offered by bob but, undeniably, there is more of an understanding with Henry. Thinking about it, if Pires starts, I fancy him to pinch a goal.
After beating Pompey 4-0 at Highbury earlier in the season, but taking into account Portsmouths much improved form, I can see us going to Fratton Park and getting a win by one or two goals. Yes, they're improved form is important, but we haven't been slacking lately either! I think Portsmouth will stay up this season at the expense of WBA and I have an awful feeling about the ex-spurs nonce that is Pedro Mendes (chop him down Kolo!), but for now, their relegation revival will be put on hold....

2-0 to the Arsenal

Have a good weekend

Housemates and Hlebs...

2006-03-20T18:39:00.000Z

Ah, still no internet access apart from staying in university longer than is absolutely necessary and as everyone knows, university is a horrible place rated only by those that have never been. The fun part comes from being a student but avoiding the institution itself and getting
blind drunk elsewhere. Lack of updates is still due to my useless housemate who has the cash in her hand to get us reactivated by ntl, but who was asleep til 3:30pm this afternoon. Being a student I'm as lazy as the next jobless gimp but 3:30pm takes the piss.

Anyway, a good weekend in many ways. There is a lot of talk on the net about the balance that Eboue and Hleb bring to our right side and with Fabregas on fire, it is true that these players have potential to rival the ash cole, bob and henry axis in their prime. A winger is still needed in the summer however. Say Ash and TH14 stay, then with Reyes and Hleb and one other, we will have quality cover on the flanks. Again, the football is summarised on other sites but one important thing has come from this weekend...

We have certainly improved in the last 4-6 weeks and there is a certain solidarity to the team, ironically not seen when we had our 125th choice back four, let alone the current 1006th choice model. We seem to be coming to the boil nicely in time for next months biggun at Highbury against spurs. Yes its still a month away, but another four weeks of this marked improvement would do nicely come crunch day on the 22nd of April. Put that in the diary people, its going to be huge. In fact, I'm so confident that we'll beat them in our last derby at THOF that in some ways it would be better that we are 2 points behind them til then, thus making their impending spiral into the UEFA Cup even sweeter. Obviously I'd love to be so far ahead that even, god forbid, they beat us at home, it wont make a difference. But to see someones hopes crushed like the 2005 FA Cup Final is such a beautiful beautiful thing!

See you Soon....

Madrid Preview

2006-03-06T14:15:00.000Z

Due to some 'technical' difficulties, I can only update when I'm in university at the moment: the technical difficulty being my useless housemate not paying the cable bill. If someone knows how this is possible when its on direct debit and I'm paying £630 a quarter into that account, then answers on a postcard...

Madrid: Its the game many of us have wanted since Wenger started to have an effect on the way we played football. I'm not going to go on about all the players and whether this has come 2 years too late, more on the situation as it stands.

Its half time and we're one nil-up. Thats it. Obviously I'd have bitten off your arm if you offered a 1-0 win in Spain, but we're only half way there. A 2 goal blitz by Madrid like they did in their Cup means we have to score 2 on the night as well. Yeah, as long as we don't lose, we go through, but its tough. On talksport, they hardly mentioned the Arsenal game as they took it as a given, I think cant think of anything more foolish. I feel a lot may come down to formation, and the attitude it brings with it.

Playing 4-4-2 would give one heck of a spectacle (like yesterdays blackburn/totts game but with better players) but would increase the chances of losing. I'd take a Chav-esque 1-0 grinder any day in this game. To play the same as in Spain is safer but may mean the players, in their heads, are playing for a draw. Its a hell of a careful balance, but I'd play the same way as in Madrid, or at least start that way. It was essentially one striker but with such pace, it became 3 up front when need be.

Highbury has always been a strange pitch for away teams, there is simply no space for them to play if used to wide pitches such as Madrids'. Being used to this narrow style I believe we will pressurise them into errors and can break from there.
I have a feeling Wenger may start with Dennis but sentimentality aside, I think that's a waste. We need pace to hit on the counter attack and if I made one change it would be freddie out on the right and Diaby in the middle to hassle in the narrow confines, allowing Cesc to create and Gilberto to marshall the back four.

I'm going with another Arsenal victory on the night, but it will be much closer than last time, make no mistake!
And to top it off, after another MOTM performance by Cesc, he will salute the new President of Madrid with just the two fingers!

Fulham 0 Arsenal 4

2006-03-04T18:29:00.000Z

Unexplainable!

Like a few other arsenal sites out there, I didn't hold out much hope for this afternoon. From what I can figure, our away record is relegation form, whilst Fulhams' home form is the stuff of Champions League slots. For that reason I thought I'd wait to see what happened before I wrote today.
So, t'was a 4-0 victory very much against the form book. The radio said we were like the real Arsenal and this cant come soon enough considering who we are entertaining midweek!
Whilst I'll leave the descriptions of the goals to sites more that way orientated, there were a couple of observations I'd like to note:
In Wengers post match conference there was thankfully no talk of 'turning corners.' I say thankfully because each time he says it he sounds more like Gerrard Houllier on his death bed at Anfield and I was, quite frankly, getting dizzy by it all. Also, it was all BS becuase we'd always lose the next game. He was also positive about the Madrid game without getting too ahead of himself, which with only a 1-0 lead, is the way to approach it. A 1-0 away goal is a good thing to have, but by no means is it over.
Also, Diaby was powerful today. Its been mentioned everywhere that he is more adventurous than PV4 ever was, and whilst thats true, it can never hurt to have him in games to add some size to the team.
The midfield today seemed a solid selection, and whilst no fan of Mr. Silva, a job was done today just as it was in Madrid. If he merely sticks himself in front of the back four and thats all we expect him to do, then he is a solid squad member. If we, or he, expect him to become a midfield magician, then he will fail us everytime. But fair play today.
I like Adebayor from what I have seen. Yes, he missed a sitter today, but he's also been unlucky with a few offsides since his move. Given how long it takes some strikers to bed in and score goals, he's done well in a team that has been struggling when its not used to it. Ljungberg has also been getting better recently, perhaps he is finally getting rid of these niggles that allow him to be fit for games, but not 'play' in them.

So an excellent warm up for midweek Madrid both in terms of result and performance, hopefully we'll hear no bad injury news between now and then, but I've been wondering whether we should stick with the same system that we played in Spain or go with 4-4-2 as its on our patch. This will all be addressed on Tuesday in the preview.

We haven't had many saturday nights recently when we can celebrate an away win, so make the most of the weekend and enjoy.

Al

Consistency and Cockerels Part I

2006-02-27T15:19:00.000Z

The title of this article pretty much sums up the problems of our season in my eyes. Now, whilst it could have been called many things – including some unprintable and another simply entitled ‘Gilberto Silva’ – I believe it distils down to these two factors. The odd thing is neither issue (particularly the second!) has troubled us too much in the Wenger years. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a Spurs bashing article, that’s next week, but having finished inside the top two in the last eight seasons and with the widely acknowledged St. Totteringhams’ Day[1] getting earlier each year, I did not expect these troubles in 2006.

What I did expect was a season with an out of reach doped up Chelsea and a battle with United and the Scousers for second place. Instead we have had injuries galore (not an excuse in itself) and a vastly improved Tottenham side who I believed were heading for another finish at 10th in the table. Credit where it’s due though, they have purchased young English talent and have a spine to their team which has not been seen there for many a century, although they do have Mido which kind of restores Karma. .

Let’s first take a look at consistency. We don’t have a captain; we all know he’s one of the greatest in the world today (too early to say ever?) but a captain he is not. The answer is to be found in central defence. He is not Swiss, liable to walk out at half-time nor an Al Murray look-a-like; his name is Kolo Toure. But if you peer just behind him, there is a rather loopy German ‘keeper who has played like a captain to our defence all season and whilst not a potential armband wearer himself, deserves an honourable mention. Kolo however is the real deal. Young yet experienced, quick yet strong and loyal yet ambitious. Never has there been a defender at Highbury who is so underrated. Ok, so he doesn’t talk as much as a certain Mr. Adams did a few years ago, but that accusation was levelled at Pat and what would some give for his attitude now? It is Kolo’s attitude that would have as much an effect as any words he spoke anyway. I remember an article that said Vieira and Adams had different styles of captaincy yet both seem better suited than the current owner. Henry may well grow into the role - if he stays - but it seems to be Wenger’s policy of handing the captaincy to the player most likely to leave. Strange if you ask me and not something to do when aiming for consistency.

Captaincy however, seems like a side issue when compared to the next hindrance of any consistency; has Henry really been able to lead out the team that was intended at the beginning of the season? I would love to know just how many games we have started with our first XI as it was intended back in August. The injuries this year have certainly been the worst I have seen at Highbury (I’m 22 so can only go back so far) but even if we have had more numbers out, have they ever been so concentrated in one area of the side? I for one (as sure as I am that Ronaldo and Rooney’s pre match meal is a Fray Bentos mega-mix) say this is the worst. I have obviously acknowledged the problems of taking one fit senior striker to Madrid, but we have better cover up there, or at least we didn’t run out of players completely! How can you be consistent when you play 2 ‘squad’ central midfield players at full back? No-one can be blamed for this I suppose, it’s not like Suicide Souness and his hamstring injuries collection, but on a positive note, it has unveiled an embarrassment of riches at right back.
Lauren has been solid for a while now, but like when Cole and Clichy are fit, we’ve unearthed Eboue and Gilbert. It becomes a tough one though, I’m inclined to prefer Gilbert as he is English, but Eboue also has massive potential. Maybe Eboue could play in front of another right back, ala Clichy on the left, in games where the left side of other teams is strong…Ryan Giggs need not apply.
Talk of the ‘Welsh (cough) Wizard leads me onto the next issue; is it not odd how two goal scoring midfielders of the recent past have pretty much died at the same time for each of two clubs struggling at the same time? Coincidence? Not a chance! United fans, do not kid yourselves that the ginger knacker (Scholes for the unimaginative of you) is injured, thus he cannot be mentioned here. If anything, he died before the other three and long before he started seeing double…blimey, TWO Gary Neville’s! Ljungberg, even after a memorable performance against Madrid, is not the player he once was, as evidenced by his astonishing ‘no league goals’ stat. Pires just can’t be bothered anymore and if you take away the 20-30 goals a year those two used to offer, it becomes, as we have seen, the difference between Champions League and UEFA Cup football.

So, our captain is not as inspirational as recent captains gone by, let alone committed to the club, our injuries in defence are so bad I found myself laughing at one point when our 4th choice left-back (Lauren at the time) followed by the man covering him at right-back got injured, and two of our main attacking threats aren’t performing. This does not equate to consistency and this is turn leads to a lack of points.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not one of those Gooners who believes the world is ending, indeed, as you will see in part II of this article I feel quite the opposite. I just believe that the above factors have not exactly helped us in our quest to carry on being so consistent in the league. Next up; Tottenham and why things are already leaning towards the good side of perky.

As a final point, I would just like to say that in the same way that half the Madrid squad and the entire of the Catalan Capital have said they would love Thierry Henry at their respective clubs; I would love Ronaldinho, Messi, Puyol, and Casillas at the Grove. If Thierry or Cesc said that, do you think it would get on the back pages of the papers?

Thought not!

Part II coming soon…

Al

[1] The day it is mathematically impossible for the Totts to finish above us. Arseweb started it I think. If not, apologies to whoever did, it’s sheer class.

The Birth....

2006-02-27T14:48:00.000Z

Hello and welcome!

I apologise for the name of the site, and to those of you having been lead here in the search for gay porn...for this purpose I suggest looking at www.salterthon.co.uk and using the username rob when asked to sign in.

Anyway, this site will be one of those cheeky free ones that take five seconds to set up and is based on the Arsenal and their ups, but mostly this season, downs!
I can't promise you a daily update like some other excellent blogs out there, but like many of you, I enjoy the opinions and discussion of our club with other fans, so essentially this is a mouth piece for me to vent through etc...and hopefully get some feed back, maybe...one day...possibly...if I'm lucky. But whatever I do post, feel free to give me any comments on the content as I can only get better with help.

Enjoy, and thanks for taking the time or dodging work to read this

Al