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Reyes Finally Gone? 2007-07-30 15:31:21   Looks like the Reyes story maybe finally sorted out. I managed to speak to a member of our 1st Team squad pre-match sunday by chance and was told the Reyes move to Athletico Madrid was a done deal, so lets just wait to see if it is. No fee was mentioned. The sooner this is sorted the better and now could be a factor in seeing if we add to the squad before the season starts. Reyes did has all the technical attributes needed to play for us, but just goes to show without the correct attitude it really does mean nothing. I think it was a risk worth taking back in early 2004 & I know we did our homework on him, alas was not ment to be. Watch this space……. ...

Why I Feel More Confident About This Season 2007-07-30 10:32:28   I got back from holiday early Sunday morning and I couldnt sleep so I managed to watch the repeat of the PSG game on Sky Sports. Then I watched the Inter match on Sunday. Ok they were only friendlies and the opposition were not playing their full teams but these matches have put a smile on my face after what I can only describe as one of the worst summers as an Arsenal fan. Everyday I scan the stories on newsnow and I listen to Talksport on my way home and the general view out there is that its all doom and gloom at Emirates. Henry gone, Freddie gone, Spurs signing 100 new players and Arsenal not even able to get a work permit for the Croatian Brazillian that nobody's heard of. The idea of Spurs finishing above us seems a certainty to most pundits and presenters. One line that I heard was "what's more likely? Liverpool winning the league or Spurs finishing above Arsenal?" This was in context to Liverpool not being able to challenge for the title. Wh ...

The Emirates Cup And What It Means For Arsenal This Season! 2007-07-30 04:12:45   As expected, Arsenal hosted a top class tournament, at the now surely rising high profile of our excellent Emirates Stadium (or Ashburton Grove as I prefer to call it). All teams invited, Internazionale, Paris St Germain and Valencia have a tradition of playing attractive open football with their technical players, and none disappointed in the context of a pre-season football fest. I will brush over the other games then analyse the games Arsenal took part in. Valencia came out all guns blazing on Day1, blowing Seria A Champions Internazionale away 2-0 with a very impressive midfield showing, their movement and solidity being a joy to watch. Day2 saw Valencia get comprehensively beaten by PSG, although Valencia rested a few of their starters, but all marks to Le Guen for gearing his troops to beat Valencia.  Arsenal got their campaign underway with PSG on Day1. The 1st half was a dour affair to be honest (by Arsenal standards, it would pass at Chelski as good) ...

Arsenal 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain 2007-07-28 13:31:19   By Richard Clarke at Arsenal.com   Arsenal gave themselves a great chance of winning the inaugural Emirates Cup with a 2-1 win over Paris St-Germain on Saturday.   The format of this new tournament awards three points for a win, one for a draw and one for each goal scored. Valencia took five points from the first game of the afternoon with a 2-0 win over Inter. Arsenal victory’s in the second game mirrors that tally however they are second in the table on goal difference.   Arsène Wenger’s side play the Italians on Sunday in the final game of the tournament so they will have the luxury of knowing exactly what is required to lift this trophy for the first time.   In all honesty, PSG bossed the game in the first half and were unfortunate to find themselves trailing when Mathieu Flamini crashed home a close-range effort on the whistle. Arsenal were much improved after the break and doubled their advantage in the 70th minute when Nick ...

Can Theo Be The New Bobby?? 2007-07-28 06:59:02   Following Wednesday's friendly defeat to Salzburg, Wenger has suggested that he may not replace Foppish Fred after his transfer to West Ham. I think at first glance most Gooners would be aghast at this suggestion, having yet to adequately replace Bobby Pires, the need for more goals from midfield was all too apparent last season, leaving us crying out for a goal scoring winger ala Bobby P. The regular quartet of Rosicky, Cesc, Gilberto and Hleb contributed 24 goals in all competitions last season, only one more than Cristiano Ronaldo managed individually. So where will the goals come from? It’s reasonable to expect that Rosicky will contribute more next season if he can shake off the niggling injuries that hampered his settling in at the club. His International record of 22 goals in 62 appearances certainly suggests that but he plays a far more advanced role for the Czech Republic than at Arsenal and he never managed to hit double figures in his five seasons ...

I Don’t Want Gallas As Captain 2007-07-27 17:29:47   I am normally the one who always wants to be positive in the close season because let's face it everything is speculation or conjecture until the start of the season. The close season is full of ridiculous speculation and armchairfans of which I am shamfully one, seem all too eager to point what is wrong and what Wenger or the board should or shouldn't do. It is easy when you sit behind the sofa of anonimity. The same people who say that the board should do this or that are often the same people who mooted as good ideas the arrival of Richard Wrong, Scouse rat in the box etc. Amnesia then takes place and these same people, the same people who said these things shoudl happen then claim that they said they were bad ideas. On one occaision only I will join the ranks of those who will critisise an appointment. I apologise in advance but on this one occasion i cannot help myself. Gallas is a good player, at his best he is a great player, but he is n ...

Power Of The Media 2007-07-27 10:19:45   In recent times, as technology increases, the relationship of the football club and the fan has evolved, become more technological and less personal. Football was always a business, a way of making money. Yet as it becomes more commercial, it shapes our way of thinking especially through the media. With the idea that Premiership clubs have become the new plaything of the typical billionaire, the globalisation of football has created a trend displaying the greatest sport in the world as a money-maker. Since 1979, Liverpool led the way in carrying shirt sponsorship, a trend which grew and still is, for the space across the front of the shirt appears now to have become prestigious. Yet recently, its morality was questioned, when Fredi Kanoute, the Sevilla striker refused to wear the logo of the team sponsor 888.com, because as a devout Muslim, he believed that the promotion of gambling poisoned the minds of young and old fans alike. It is examples such as these which show ...

Expectations For The Forthcoming Season 2007-07-27 06:01:45   A lot of optimistic comments shown on the web sites for the forthcoming season as well as pessimism about the current strength of the squad. It seems though that if you show any doubts about the way the club is run or suggest that the players may not be able to retain a top four position,then you are accused of being a closet spurs supporter,a person who is not a true fan, a stupid burke who expects trophies each season,etc. I have supported the club through the good times and the bad times (and there were many bad times in the period before the premiership was formed) for over 40 years and I admit that Wenger has definitely been our best manager in the history of the club.However,he is only human and has made some mistakes as well as delivering a lot of success during his 11 years at the club.  Looking at The 63 goals scored last season in the Premiership(no hat tricks by anyone), the defence got 7(Gallas-3,Toure-3 and Hoyte-1) with Eboue and ...

Emirates Cup Preview - Paris St Germain 2007-07-27 04:00:45   PSG, once a dominant and competitive force in French Football, dropped way off the pace during the 2006/07 season.  Getting off to a poor start they entered their match with rivals Marseille low on confidence and they lost 3-1 at home.  The PSG fans were not happy and improvement was demanded.  Mid way through the season the Parc Des Princes was only half full for home games and led to being sacked as PSG manager and replaced by former manager,   Results improved slightly as the team strove to improve on their disastrous 17th position.  By the end of the season a bit of form saw them rise to 15th; however that still wasn’t good enough for a club of PSG’s history.  The squad is better than their placing tells. Pauleta still managed to be top scorer in Ligue 1 again despite his team finishing so low.  He has hard working strikers in Luyindula, Pierre-Alain Frau and Diane around him and they help him reach such tallies.&nb ...

Rivals - Arsenal 2007-07-26 13:30:53   First off I am an Arsenal fan so am naturally biased in favour of us and against everyone else. Like all football fans I start the season thinking that ‘this could be the one’ and like the vast majority of fans I end up heartbroken by the end. We are naturally optimistic in July and this optimism can reach dangerously high levels, only today I saw a thread on the BBC sport page where Fulham fans were talking about a top six finish. So take this article with a pinch of salt and remember that I am hoping that all things work out as per the plan which we all know that they rarely do. The bookies rarely get it wrong and last season they had us down for 4th which is where we finished. There were some highs (results against the top five were very good) but there were also some lows (results against the bottom five were not so ood). There is no doubt that injuries did play a major part and loosing Henry and VanPersie was a real blow, even more so when it combined ...

Red Bulls v Arsenal Player Reviews 2007-07-26 10:41:54   Red Bulls Blackburn Salzburg v Arsenal The following post is my own opinion and I am entitled to my own opinion as is every other fan so I would like to encourage other fans who saw the match to add their own opinions in the comments below. One thing I am sick of is people flaming posters or other commentors… everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this is mine: Jens Lehmann Looked pretty good for a grandad but he didn't have much to do. Collected corners well which looked good as he's usually pants at corners! Wasn't involved enough to criticise or praise him too much. Lukasz Fabianski The goal wasn't his fault, the deflection was too much for any goal keeper especially since Gallas was 2 yards in front of him. The only mistake he made was to come and collect a ball at the edge of the area and carry it over outside the penalty box. There wasn't much other action but he collects balls well and he seems to have a lot of c ...

Pre-Season Friendly: Salzburg 1-0 Arsenal 2007-07-25 15:13:33   From Arsenal.com By Richard Clarke at the Bulls Arena, Salzburg Arsenal ended their Austrian training camp with a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday night. The only goal came 15 minutes from time when Vladimir Janocko latched onto a loose ball and fired home from just outside the area. It was perhaps slightly harsh on Arsenal who did not deserve to lose this lively game. But then the result is never the most important element in a pre-season friendly and there were pluses for the visitors this evening. Eduardo completed his first 90 minutes in an Arsenal shirt and again looked threatening. Emmanuel Eboue contributed well when he was pushed up into midfield following an injury to Tomas Rosicky. Meanwhile Alex Hleb was at heart of the most incisive Arsenal attacks. It was another solid work-out for Arsène Wenger's side. Even if the result was not welcome. Tonight's game celebrated the official opening of the Bulls Arena. It was a ...

Rivals - Manchester United 2007-07-25 10:31:05   Rivals – Manchester United Been a week or so since I reviewed Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea and overall the feedback has been relatively positive. Thanks to all who have contributed. Next up it’s the Champions.    Before we go too far into this one I have to hold my hands up and say that at the start of last season I didn’t give United a hope. I looked at their team and I thought that they were either too old (Giggs, Scholes, Neville), too young (Ronaldo), too over-rated (Rooney, Carrick) or too crap (O’Shea). Unfortunately for us Irish, I only got one of the four right. When Arsenal went up to United early in the season we were in a bit of a slump and they were doing well. Surprisingly we really outplayed them for most of the game, deservedly taking three points. I had hoped that it would kick-start our title charge but anything the defeat seemed in invigorate United. They continued to pick up points throughout the season and even ...

Inter Milan - Emirates Cup Preview 2007-07-25 06:36:10   Marco Materazzi said after the Nerazzurri were granted the Serie A title of 2005/06 following the match fixing scandal involving mathematical champions Juventus, “we could not really celebrate it properly. It is important we win the title in our own right” Awarding the ‘Scudetto’ to Inter was the moral thing for the Italian F.A to do, yet the Inter Milan players clearly had unfinished business.  This sentiment was clearly felt by Materazzi’s team mates.  Finishing ahead of second placed Roma by an astonishing 22 points Inter Milan nearly achieved the feat their Emirates Cup hosts managed to accomplish during the 2003/04 season. They were within one game of going through a whole season unbeaten. Winning 30 games, drawing 7 and despairingly losing one sole match.  This defeat wasn’t against one of the big names of Italian football with Inter doing the double over their bitter rivals A.C. This was another m ... Milan

Get Ready For The Emirates Cup 2007-07-25 03:56:13 So in Arsenal’s second season, we get yet another big event at the Emirates. First was the Dennis Bergkamp Testimonial, then came the Argentina vs Brazil carnival, followed by Portugal’s victory over Gilberto’s Selecao, now the Emirates Cup. Initially lined up for England’s equivalent of the Amsterdam Tournament were Hamburg, but they had to enter the Intertoto, so up stepped Valencia, to complete the quartet of Arsenal, Internazionale and Paris Saint-Germain. First off, Arsenal, are now well into their pre-season preparations after a tumultuous summer (according to the press). Out have gone legendary Thierry Henry, and aging Frederick Ljungberg, and in have come Lukasz Fabianski, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo Da Silva, whilst skipper Gilberto Silva misses out after captaining Brazil to the Copa America. Another transitionary season over for Arsenal, where standout patches came from the games vs Man Utd, Chelski in the Carling Cup and the battering of Live ...