By Raj Sapkota
The Indian Super League (ISL) is well and truly into its fourth season, following a monumental opening ceremony and an interesting first few rounds of matches. What makes this season of the ISL even more exciting is the addition of two new teams and the added incentive of making the AFC Cup if you win the league. With a lot on the line, it is easy to see why teams appear to have gone all out while putting together their players for the annual event.
The system of marquee signings is not alien to the ISL and has been somewhat of a tradition since the league began in 2014. These signings have included some superstars over the past three seasons and Season 4 is no different.
So, with a special emphasis on Arsenal, here are some former Gunners who have played in the ISL:
#1 Jermaine Pennant
Jermaine Pennant is a name that is well-known around Europe most notably for his time at Arsenal and Liverpool. The English striker may have only had a handful of appearances in North London, but at 16 years of age he became the youngest player to represent the side at the time. Pennant signed for FC Pune City in the ISL later and made just seven appearances for the club.
#2 Freddie Ljungberg
Freddie Ljungberg was often instrumental in Arsenal’s glory days and led the team to victory on several occasions. The charismatic Swede turned heads in 2014 when he decided to join Mumbai City FC. An injury however, forced him to eventually withdraw and cut short a fairytale return to football.
#3 Robert Pires
Robert Pires is yet another stalwart of the famous Arsenal side that were considered the “Invincibles”. The Frenchman was one of Arsene Wenger’s most prized possessions and that made his 2014 arrival at FC Goa all the more special. Pires took the Gaurs to the next level and even scored for the team when it needed him most.
#4 Andre Santos
Andre Santos played for the Gunners from 2011-2013 but mostly in a left-back position. The Brazilian however found a more attacking role once he joined ISL side FC Goa and his game improved greatly. As a winger, Santos managed to score four goals for the Gaurs and highlighted a successful campaign for the Goans.
#5 Nicolas Anelka
A former Gunner in his own right, Nicolas Anelka proved his worth to manager Arsene Wenger two decades ago, by scoring 23 goals in his tenure at Arsenal. Following a career which saw him change club after club, the enterprising Frenchman found himself at Mumbai City FC in 2014 and the striker scored just two goals in 13 matches across two seasons for the ISL team. His legacy remains well and truly intact however, and he will be fondly remembered as the player who excelled pretty much wherever he went.
The latest season of the ISL will feature a host of superstars, both Indian and international, take part and set the league alight. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda for the latest updates from the action!
What is it with this latest advertising on UA. I’m referring to the moving banner along the bottom of the screen, the one you can’t get rid of no matter what.
I’m well aware that Tony Attwood is an ad man who knows how to sell a product, and that this blog gets a claimed 5 million hits a year; well enough to attract sufficient advertising to finance a season ticket, annual trip to visit relatives in Australia & winter dancing breaks in Cyprus.
I’m sure he’ll claim it’s hardly enough to keep Untold Arsenal afloat, but I’m opting out.
Hmmm. Arsenal are missing the top quality service of their former midfielder Freddie Ljungberg in the midfield of their current first team squad. And I believe they need to get one as quickly as they can possibly in the next January Window if they find one and can afford his transfer fee and wage bill, let them get him. But can there be the exact duplicate of Ljungberg in the transfer market of these days for Arsenal to get him? Santi Cazorla and Oezil are near duplicate of Ljungberg. Will Arsenal succeed to hold on to Oezil and Sanchez and not let them leave Arsenal if they can’t find exact copy of them or better than them in January window to sign as replacements for them before letting them go if they become difficult to persuade not to leave the club? There will be no point to keep them beyond next January if they vehemently refused to remain at Arsenal next season and beyond.
By the way, Where actually lies the problem of their yet to extend their deals at the club with just 7 months left on their contract at the club to expire? Does the problem lies with Arsenal as they are not seen or heard offering the duo improved new contracts? Is Le Prof playing a wait and see game with them to see if they can help Arsenal win all their 9 Premier League matches starting with the away match against Burnley next Sunday to place Arsenal in a strong position to realistically be contending for the Title win before the year turnaround? If the duo did, will Le Prof persuade the Arsenal board to give them improved lucrative contracts which they can’t turndown but accept?
The U23 are in action against State Aid United tonight.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/u-23s-arsenal-v-west-ham-brief
Too many ads, Everton and West Ham stories and what I did not do on holiday …. Bye!
That moving ad is too much to put up with and why have one which takes you to footballfancast, a second rate blogetta if ever there was one.
I will check back each morning but if it remains there I’m away with Jax and climatic and a lot of others I suspect.
Sorry but I do not like having things forced on me.
The team to face State Aid United U23 is:
Macey, Osei-Tutu, Bola, Sheaf, Pleguezuelo, Medley, Dragomir, Dasilva, Nketiah, Willock, Smith Rowe
COYYG!
I agree with the annoyance of the ad at the bottom of the page.
It took me just a few seconds to get rid of it.
In your browser go to ‘security’ or ‘ad block’ what ever the browser calls it and block unwanted adds or breach of security.
If it helps pay the cost of running this web sit / blogsiteand keep it free to use then why not? any ad that keeps it free for us to use is surely worth our tolerance.
Arsenal U23s in Action tonight against West Ham. Vlad Dragomir has put us one nil up in the fifth minute.
colario
I have tried everything in Chrome and Adblock but it is still here.
34 minutes in and Dragomir had doubled our lead.
Eddie Nketiah with the third. Full time three nil. Well done lads. Got the weekend off to a good start.
U18s next up tomorrow against Spurs, then the first team on Sunday
COYG
@Mick
Sorry Mick I don’t do Chrome which I believe is Google. I do my best to keep clear of the Google snoops.
Try for the solution by using ‘Duck search’
Pretty sure UA is being hacked, very unlike Tony all of this.
Congratulations to Leah Williamson on being called up to the England senior team!
https://www.arsenal.com/news/ive-dreamed-about-i-was-mascot
Nice set of data showing that UA has been hacked Eric.
Why would anyone even bother to hack UA ? We are (mostly) after all a bunch of old timers in the prime of their lives who believe that AW’s way is the right way. And most have never even stepped foot in the Ems and Highbury .But have always loved and worship this great club from afar.
And we tend to stick to the facts and are evidence based. Of course this sometimes gets in the way of twisting the story ! And great dollops of humour which seems to piss off quite a few!
Which is of course totally contrary to the general and ‘popular’ opinion of the media morons and other garden variety pests . We really don’t mind being regarded as a hindrance to the progress of ‘MY ARSENAL’ – apparently each one has a different one !
Am so glad to see that some are about to leave the readership of this site. All because Tony is apparently making money out of them !
So say I – good riddance to the staunch defenders of English journos,PIBMOB , disloyal ex-players and good ole Piers !
Please don’t slam the door on the way out( or do!) – its a revolving one !
WOO HOO , HOO !
Why did the cows return to the marijuana field ?
It was the pot calling the cattle back !
ISL, Indian Super League.
I hate this/these/such holiday league/leagues. It’s more of a circus. India has a league of its own. But has only 8 teams in it.
ISL is more of an investment in entertainment than in football. If football was high on agenda then they would’ve expanded/developed the i-league itself.
Graham Stack and Rohan Ricketts also played in the ISL. Poor research!
DAC Gooner. In the article the author says, “here are some former Gunners who have played in the ISL”. In that sentence the word “some” is of a certain significance I feel. I think therefore that rather than saying of the author “poor research” one might perhaps say “poor reading on your part”.
Why did the cows return to the marijuana field ?
It was the pot calling the cattle back !
Oh Brickfields!
Oh! Oh! Brickfields!
Oh! Oh! Oh! – Brickfields!
Does this explain why the Tottenspud chef kept burning the meat? He was trying to smoke it?
The New Cannabis Infusion Process is Here!
[ Picture of cow in a marijuana field ]
The Steaks have Never Been Higher
We would gladly volunteer to be the first person to test meat from cattle who have lived their life in cannabis fields.
@ Charles – Having partaken in atoke or two ( for some reason cannot remember the exact number!) in my medical student days , I can vouch that truly the pot does call you back!
@ Gord – Make it well smoked bacon , and you have an ever willing guinea pig in me !
How about this Brickfields?
https://www.greenrushdaily.com/marijuana-fed-pot-pigs/