Arsenal News Archives

Saying goodbye to the football season is very much like giving birth to a ginger child: after nine months of optimism, hope and anguish, you’re left with a genuine feeling of disappointment.

The final day is often emotional. Who could forget Arsenal pipping Liverpool to the title in 1989? Well sadly, my old man. In fact, if you see a small befuddled pensioner roaming the streets, you’ll be better off avoiding football trivia altogether; senility is no picnic.

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So, what’s going on in the world of transfer rumors today? As always, chime in and chip in with opinions - and with rumors!

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Today’s transfer roundup starts up as the last one did, so Arsenal fans, feel free to jump a couple of paragraphs.

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Guess who’s back? That’s right, me and the transfer roundup.

The season’s winding down and the rumors are heating up, so you’ll be seeing me in this space regularly.

Anyway, on to the good stuff!

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Uefa’s Under-17 Championships have revealed many a burgeoning young talent to a wider audience in the last six years. It is the stage where Wayne Rooney (2002), Cesc Fabregas (2004), Nuri Sahin (2005), Toni Kroos (2006) and Bojan Krkic (2007) strutted their stuff and won the ‘Golden Boy’ award.

You have to wonder what happened to David Rodriguez after his 2003 performance, such is the mark of quality that goes with the recognition of being the best player on show. But who are this year’s likely lads ? Who cares which nation takes the trophy, we all want to know where the next generation of star names are going to come from!

From what I hear, he could come from an area of Liverpool called West Derby, via Madrid and Argentina and go by the name Gerry Brown (local translation), but we will have to wait and see. I’ve picked out eight names to keep an eye on for the duration of the event - May 4-16 in Antalya, Turkey.

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Last year, with Tottenham’s season winding to a close and Jol already looking towards strengthening the squad in the summer, I suggested that Tottenham go for age and experience in midfield to compensate for the lack of composure (spine) that they’ve shown in the middle for the last couple of seasons.

That day the person I had in mind was the German international Torsten Frings, but a better player has, if rumours are to be believed, put himself on the market by saying:

“I don’t want to speak because I don’t want to inflict my personal problems on the group because our aim is fourth spot.

I think I have the right characteristics to play in that championship.”

Gennaro Gattuso, AC Milan midfielder.

Now if you remember correctly, every summer we hear Gattuso being linked with a switch to the Premier League. It’s happened the last two summers with United being linked with him (and every time United go out and buy a defensive midfielder, just not Gattuso), and Ferguson himself has declared his interested in the player in the past.

And ordinarily, if Gattuso was to come to the Premier League you’d expect the big four to snap him up, but at least three of the big four (Chelsea (Mikel, Essien) Manchester United (Carrick, Hargreaves) and Liverpool (Alonso, Mascherano)) have enough players in that area and / or are going British anyway.

That leaves Arsenal, and while Gattuso would break Wenger’s piggy bank he would also be the ideal replacement for Flamini if the Frenchman chooses to leave Arsenal - in fact he’d be a better influence on the young Arsenal team with his experience and would add a real combativeness to the Arsenal side.

Other clubs (Villa if they lose Barry) are likely to be interested as well but when it comes down to big transfers it’s a matter of Champions League football and deep pockets and while Arsenal can offer the former, Tottenham have the pockets to at least attract Milan’s attention, and after that it’s the ‘promise of the Champions League’ and the promise of the Ramos revolution at White Hart Lane.

Arsenal v Spurs for Gattuso? Sounds a bit far-fetched, but it could be something to look forward to this summer, especially if Milan fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Arsenal fans seem to put a lot of faith in their young Spanish midfielder, and with good reason - Fabregas has often displayed a coolness of temperament ever since breaking on the scene for Arsenal that is rarely seen in footballers, regardless of age or experience. Arsenal fans know how lucky they are to have Cesc, but perhaps even his manager doesn’t know what the protege is actually capable of.

Apparently, after destroying his agent’s office to get himself a TV show, the Arsenal star has now taken the next step in creating his public image - and put himself on fire.

Yup. Fab actually has gasoline poured over him - quite a lot of fun, if you ask me. Here’s the video:

If they did that to Gallas I’m not sure the fire extinguishers would have been out so quickly though…

Tubby Brazilian Ronaldo may be one of the greatest players to ever grace a football pitch, but he’s definitely a poor role model. The AC Milan man let himself down when he invited three members of the late-night entertainment industry back to a motel. It wasn’t just the fact that they turned out to be ladyboys; he shamefully offered to pay them for doing nothing. If I pay a builder to construct a conservatory, and he brings along a few superfluous tools, I’d expect him to keep his head down and finish the job.

This sorry tale was not the only case of mistaken identity this week; Rio Ferdinand kicked a female Chelsea steward after mistaking her for a wall. It sounds like a tall story, but I once kicked the wife by accident; I thought she was her mother.

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According to Forbes.com Manchester United have been valued at $1.8 billion, ahead of the club traditionally known as the richest club in football (Real Madrid, $1.285 billion) and their chief domestic rivals Arsenal ($1.2 billion), Liverpool ($1.05 billion) and Chelsea ($764 million).

Have fun sorting the lists according to different criteria. Here are some highlights:

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Here’s a list of the top scorers in this year’s Champions League (so far), plus their career stats for the Champions League:

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It’s that time of the season when the player of the season awards start being handed out. It’s also the time of the season when us fans argue about who has been the best player in each of the positions. It is unlikely that any two fans would select an identical ‘team of the year’ but for the purposes of debate and ‘friendly’ discussion I thought I’d have a go at putting my ideas on paper.

I have selected a squad of twenty-two from which I will select my final Premier League eleven. I just know that the players I select will be hugely proud to be recognised by me, a man who all the top players listen to. Mmm.

I’m going for a good old fashioned 4-4-2. Not because it is the only way to play but because it makes it easier to put down on paper!
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Highlights from the Premier League games on Sunday, 13 April 2008:

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This article was partly inspired by this incredible piece from the Guardian.

As anybody who has heard me talk about the Premier League, and even European football in general, will tell you, I don’t speak very highly about Arsenal Football Club. I never found any reason to respect them. It seemed all they did was blame referees and bring the game into disrepute.

However, after paying more attention to the mass media lately, I have found that Arsenal (and their manager) are worthy of my respect, even though it still remains very much a love-hate relationship.

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Manchester United play Arsenal on Sunday, 13 April needing to win to keep Chelsea at arm’s length.

Arsenal have been United’s trickiest opponents since Alex Ferguson took over at Old Trafford in November 1986. The London club have won 13 league fixtures against United in this period and collected 53 points, more than any other club. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has been in charge for eight of these victories, including three at Old Trafford.

Arsenal have won four matches at United since November 1986, a total bettered only by Chelsea’s five in the same period.

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Like last season, Ronaldo is a strong favourite for winning the Professional Footballers’ Association players’ player of the year and the PFA young player of the year awards.

Here’s the full list of nominations:

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This can be a difficult time of the season for strong recommendations as title hopes evaporate; teams get lost in mid-table mediocrity with little to play for and those resigned to their fate fail to perform to expectation.

But there are some interesting clashes this weekend as in Serie A six of the top seven take each other on. In the Premier League, Arsenal’s season will finish early unless they can win at Old Trafford. There’s much to be decided at the bottom of the Bundesliga as any three from five could still be relegated and two of them meet this weekend. Ligue 1 is even less defined as only six points separates 12th from 19th and four of the bottom five have the same number of points. Only in Spain could nearly everything top and bottom of the table be resolved this weekend.

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Soccerlens welcomes odds man Gerry McDonnell for another round of playing offside, general debauchery and betting scams…although there is no evidence to suggest that Gerry McDonnell was involved in a scam, or in fact a scam actually took place, or that he’s actually paying for exclusive access to Lindsay Lohan.

I do enjoy a moral dilemma. An intellectual friend asked if I would kill a chicken to save a chicken’s life. I honestly replied that I’d happily slaughter a chicken if I missed breakfast.

He went on to ask if I would ever use inside information to profit from gambling. I once again answered in all honesty that I have never been involved in such a practice; but then again, I don’t know Harry Redknapp.

There is still uproar amongst the betting community whenever the controversial ‘next Portsmouth manager’ market is discussed. I must point out that there is no evidence to suggest that Harry Redknapp was involved in a scam, or in fact that a scam actually took place. I will just say that the 11/4 for a Newcastle win over Portsmouth should be investigated further.

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It always amuses me how football managers can have selective eye sight when decisions either go for or against their respective teams during big games.

There is no doubting that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is one of the world’s best coaches and has done wonders since being unveiled by the north Londoners on October 1 1996. However he really needs to sort out the problem which seems to affect his eyesight during the course of a football game!

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Heard a rumour the other day that Thierry Henry might be moving away from Barcelona after just one season. Henry’s name may not be synonymous with loyalty for most fans but why would he pack up and leave so quickly when he’s taken so much time to get settled in?

And then I heard that he would be coming back to England. Not to Arsenal, because that story has ended, but perhaps to Chelsea or some other big club. But the rumours didn’t stop there. Now we’re hearing that Henry could move to another London club, namely Tottenham, to be close to his daughter. Not far behind are the rumours linking Henry to Newcastle United and Manchester City, the former getting over-excited whenever their club strings a couple of wins in a row and the later already dreaming about next season and that big big big signing that Shinawatra has promised them.

Speculation can be fun, but this one is absurd.

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Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal

Yet again another controversial match with the referee playing a big part on it. Arsenal was poised for the semi finals with the score 2-2 but the referee awarded Liverpool a controversial penalty. Arsenal crumbled after that.

Penalty or not?

Kolo Toure’s challenge a right or wrong decision from the referee?

Brought to you by goalcentre.com.

Arsene Wenger is adamant that Arsenal can not only beat Liverpool at Anfield but also pip rivals Chelsea and Manchester United for the Premier League title by winning the remaining games of the season.

To progress into the last four of the Champions League, Arsenal must score at least once on Tuesday evening and, having triumphed only twice in their previous eleven games, must rediscover the winning habit that appears to have deserted them in the last two months.

Wenger though, remains upbeat that his side can reverse their recent dip in form and - their league prospects having been helped by Manchester United’s failure to beat Middlesbrough - continue their double bid for silverware.

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Paul Tomkins has written an interesting article over at liferpoolfc.tv, in which he talks about tonight’s game at Anfield, the falsity of the notion that Liverpool are a 2-man team, and hypocrisy of the media in lauding Arsene Wenger’s transfer record while trashing that of Rafa Benitez.

Here are a few excerpts:

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The climax to this game was dramatic, equal parts glorious and sickening, and ultimately, a split between euphoria and despondent tears.

Well, that’s what you get for following both sides of the game.

Liverpool go through the Champions League semi-finals AGAIN, setting up a semi-final clash with Chelsea (AGAIN), while Arsenal will now have to contend with the improvements they’ve made this season as opposed to any realistic chance of silverware.

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The 2008 Emirates Cup kicks of on 2nd August this year in preparation for the 2008/2009 season.

The tournament will mark Ranieri’s return to London as Juventus take on hosts Arsenal along with Hamburg and Real Madrid. The competition is played in a Group format with three points for a win, one for a draw and an additional point for each goal scored.

Inter Milan were amongst the entrants in the 2007 edition, but the Nerazzurri finished at the bottom of the pack after defeats against Valencia and winners Arsenal.

Emirates Cup schedule:

August 2:
Real Madrid v Hamburg – 2pm
Arsenal v Juventus – 4.15pm

August 3:
Juventus v Hamburg – 2pm
Arsenal v Real Madrid – 4.15pm

It’s a good sign for Arsenal and for English football (not to mention the capital of world football) that such illustrious sides with rich traditions will play part in a friendly tournament at the Emirates.

Czech captain and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky is doubtful for Euro 2008 because of recurring knee tendonitis. The 27-year Rosicky is suffering from a painful inflammation at the back of his knee and has been out of action since the end of January.

The vice president of the Czech football federation Vlastimil Kostal says that he’s “worried” about Rosicky’s participation in Euro 2008 and the Czech team doctor says that the treatment is “difficult” and that Tomas would probably not play for Arsenal again this season.

Missing a major tournament (or indeed, the season run-in for your club) is tough on any player but the main thing here for Rosicky is to ensure that he gets fit with a view towards staying fit in the next season. More injuries will not help his career nor his place at Arsenal. Rosicky and Arsenal must ensure that he doesn’t turn into another Louis Saha and have a torturous time training and getting injured for no good reason.

All the goals from 5-6 April 08 English Premier League games:

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Hey! You! Yes, you Arsenal fans, I’m talking to you.

You are 5 points behind Manchester United, 3 behind Chelsea, and only 5 games to go. You’ve drawn a must-win game, at home, to Liverpool’s B-side. You will be up against it away to Liverpool next week. Worse, the champions have a game in hand and will play you at home, the stage of a humiliating 4-0 defeat earlier this year.

The season seems over. What do you do?

Are you going to give up and throw in the towel - cry like babies and start pointing fingers at referees, season-ending injuries, God and Wenger for the near-impossible situation you are in?

Or are you going to man up and get behind your team in every way possible?

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OK, before I start I need to make a couple of things clear. I’m not a Manchester United fan, nor do I support Arsenal or Chelsea or Liverpool. The fact is that I still curse my mum and dad on a daily basis for living in Watford. Why couldn’t they have moved to Manchester or Liverpool or London?

Anyway, the point I’m making is that I have no axe to grind. I don’t have strong feelings either way about any of the top four clubs. I admire their football and hate their arrogance. In fact, I do everything that most football fans do.

It is on this basis that I want to find out from Arsenal fans why a small but significant and increasing number of you se