2 English teams in Euro Final: disaster for Europe; but Henry might return

There is a hilarious piece on the Daily Mail’s web site saying that the Euro Final should be held in England.   What the writer forgot to do was to read up any of the recent stuff about where Euro Finals are held. None can be held in the UK, because UEFA and FIFA demand that …

Four Arsenal players in Premiership Team of the Year

Here is the official Premiership Team of the Year as voted by the players in the Premiership… David James (Portsmouth) Bacary Sagna (Arsenal) Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd) Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd) Gael Clichy (Arsenal) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) Ashley Young (Aston Villa) Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) Fernando Torres (Liverpool) So …

Arsenal’s reasons to be cheerful 8: Wenger & the £££££

To understand what is going on at Arsenal you have to understand a decision that Wenger made upon arrival.   He was offered a pot of money at the start, and he spent some of it on players like Vieira, Grimandi etc.   That got a lot of attention in the press. What got less attention was …

Arsenal v Reading; Bikey, Gilberto and the stretcher bearer

There is something utterly wonderful about Andre Bikey.   He is the only man ever in the entire history of football to be sent off for assaulting a stretcher bearer – and that is something unique to have on your CV.   It happened during the Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final in which the wonderful Bikey was …

Arsenal’s reasons to be cheerful 5: The media

 There is little doubt that the collection of ex-players and failed managers who make up the pundit trail, have got virtually no idea what makes Arsenal tick.    Their prediction for 2007/8 was universally one of failure – failure to secure a European place next season, failure to get within a million miles of Man U, …

Arsenal’s reasons to be cheerful 4: The board

Remember all that hype about Arsenal being sold to the Russians.  About Dein upsetting everything.  About Usmanov getting 25% of the club and then doing… well, what exactly? One of the great things about British football journalists is that they make stuff up.  Like saying that when Usmanov has 25% of Arsenal, he owns Arsenal.  …

Arsenal’s reasons to be cheerful part 2: The money

A couple of years ago there was one financial story about Arsenal – the club was bust.   It had over-stretched itself with the grand plans for the new ground, the bubble was bursting, Henry was finished, it was all over. Now we can see exactly what the story is.  Arsenal have more money than everyone in …

Birmingham post-Eduardo assault; a club in freefall

Just before the dreadful tackle that could have caused Arsenal’s Eduardo to have a leg amputated, Birmingham City FC was just another struggling EPL club. Since that moment the world for the club has turned upside down.  Numerous people tried to have an investigation into the awful attack on Eduardo, and for a while it …

Kicks, pushing, fouls, long balls – the Hoofs played at the Emirates

It was fairly awful.  Endless pushing and shoving.  Ankle taps, elbowing, and the long balls up the pitch.   And a ref who really couldn’t grasp that this was not how football was supposed to be. Yup – the Hoofs (also known as as Liverpool FC) were back in town for another boring, horrible exposition of …

Two huge signings for next season at Arsenal

Arsenal are now certain to have two new major players for next season.  They will of course be ignored by the media, who will bang on about Arsenal not signing players, but their names will be known to Arsenal fans.  The first is Mexican Vela who signed in 2007, but who played this season  on loan in Spain.   He first …

Arsenal will put out a reserve team against Liverpool

Arsenal FC have decided to play a reserve team against Liverpool in the EPL on saturday.  There will be no Sagna, no van Persie, no Rosicky, no Adebayour, no Eduardo. With five major figures missing the chances are that Arsenal will use Walcott and Hleb as an alternating midfield/ forward duo alonside Bendtner. Wile Arsenal …