Wrighty7

Big Per Will Be A Massive Miss

2012-02-13T19:51:00.002Z

Our giant of a German Per Mertesacker's ankle looks as battered and bruised as my bank account after buying a hot-dog with a pint of Carlsberg at the Emirates.

It looks in seriously bad shape and I can imagine the pain Per felt when his 6ft 6in frame went over and buckled himself.

Seeing the photo made me wince. I've done my ankle like that before and I was out injured for about 3-4 months.

Now I don't know the length of time that Mertesacker will be out for. I'm not a medical expert or a psychic, nor do I claim to be, but I do know that he will be hugely missed.

Unlike Harry Redknapp, the jury is still out on the centre-back but I think he has settled into life at Arsenal responsibly well.

I happen to believe some people have been more than harsh on Per.

I know he turns slower than Michelle McManus doing a twirl, but I think it would be fairer to judge him next season when he has had time to adapt to English football.

I've no doubt Arsenal will miss him hugely (excuse the pun) for the period he is out injured and I only hope the injury isn't a season-ending one.

He appears to have a calming influence on the side and there is no doubt that the rest of the squad respect him and his 80-odd caps for Germany.

Mertesacker will be sick at this injury. He has established himself in the side and has Euro 2012 with his country coming up.

I feel as sick as a parrot for him too. He has become my second favourite German after David Hasslehoff and I only hope he can recover quickly because, despite his doubters, Arsenal are better with him.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

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Is Tomas Rosicky Worth Another Arsenal Contract?

2012-02-09T15:37:00.003Z

There appears to be a split amongst Gooners at the moment that an Olympic gymnast would be very proud of.

So when I pose the question; is Tomas Rosicky worth a new contract at Arsenal? I expect many differences of opinion.

In the past Tomas has frustrated me. Not because I think he is a bad player but because during his time at the club he has spent at least 78% of it in the physio room.

Now forgive me for being vulgar, I don't think he has a bit of crush on anything Gary or Colin Lewin related so that can be ruled out.

So unfortunately for Rosicky, and Arsenal supporters, he isn't love-sick but has actually suffered with bad luck on the injury front.

Which is a shame for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger and us Gooners because, believe it or not, I actually think that he is a fantastic player who offers a lot to our game and not just to our medical bill.

His contract runs out this summer and it's a debatable topic as to whether he deserves another one, here, at the home of football.

If it was up to me then I'd give him another one-year-deal with no questions asked. And not just because I had the same hair-style as him in the mid-90's.

The Czech captain has had a run in the side recently and I have been quite impressed. So much so, I don't think he can be classed as deadwood we need rid of.

Having played for his country 85 times (how?!) he has more experience than one of Wayne Rooney's 'special friends' at his local massage parlour.

That experience (not Rooney's pal's) can only be an asset to Arsenal.

Of course you worry about his injury record. I do too. I mean he's had more problems with his hamstring in the past than Beth Ditto has with a G-string but maybe he is over those problems?

One positive way to look at his past problems is the fact he will not be burnt out will he?

Having had less time on the pitch than most of his peers, at his age, I should imagine Rosicky will be able to play until his late 30's. Maybe even his 60's.

Footballers careers are prolonged these days with various techniques and methods. Perhaps Ryan Giggs could lend Tomas his Yoga teacher for a bit.

But seriously I don't want Rosicky to leave unless a top class replacement was taking his place. I worry that all the sudden he will never be injured again, and those years of Arsenal patching him up would be wasted!

Honestly though I think he is worth another deal at the club. A years contract with a clause that says if his muscles pack up then he'll be sent on loan to Elgin.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

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Some Gooners Are Hypocritical Over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

2012-02-06T21:14:00.002Z

Make no mistake about it, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has created a buzz amongst Gooners that is only comparable with Charlie Sheen mangled on Tigerblood.

The boy has burst onto the scene in explosive fashion since making his first league start for Arsenal against Manchester United last month.

So much so, in fact, that many Arsenal fans booed Arsene Wenger's decision to take him off.

Now I can understand the frustrations of my fellow Gooners when Wenger made that decision. It made me feel frustrated too.

What makes me laugh about the situation now is that a lot of these same Arsenal fans ridiculed the decision to actually sign Alex in the first place and now they believe he is the new Pele!

I won't lie, when we paid £12m for Oxlade-Chamberlain last summer I was a little concerned, but not angry, that we spent that much on such a young player.

But looking round various websites at the time of his signing you would have thought that Arsene Wenger had farted loudly in a lift full of people the way some reacted. They were disgusted we had signed another baby.

Yet, just six months later, these same people are hailing the Ox as the messiah of Arsenal Football Club. Our saviour.

Please, don't get me wrong, I love the fact that Alex is proving the 'doubters' wrong, but wouldn't it be refreshing if some of them held their hands up and admitted it too?

Of course I can understand why Gooners were angry because, at the time, we were set to lose Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

But maybe we shouldn't be quicker than Beth Ditto chasing an ice-cream van to judge new signings, no matter what the age.

In the past we (and I include myself) have all reacted badly to a new signing before the person gets a chance to prove himself. Especially to someone who isn't a superstar purchase.

Maybe the Ox proves that we need to hold our tongues a little because it can bite you on the bum in the future.

Wenger doesn't always get it right. Many of his past signings are tribute to that fact.

But I hope that some people have learnt to give some players time to prove themselves. Oxlade-Chamberlain is proof of that.

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Do We Need To Take One Step Back To Take Two Forward?

2012-02-02T17:08:00.002Z

I haven't given up on Arsenal making the top four because I can't.

Despite Arsenal appearing to want to make it as difficult as possible to get there, something inside me makes it hard for me to believe we won't make it. And that something inside me is certainly not wind.

Perhaps its the season when we needed a Lasagna to make it happen gives me belief. We seemed dead and buried then but the football Gods smiled on us that day at Highbury.

That said there is a tiny voice, maybe a reality check, that keeps whispering in my ear that we won't finish in the top four. The first time under Arsene Wenger.

Now I have told this little voice to jog on but it won't go away. It keeps lurking there like someone watching you play on the fruit machine, waiting for you to spend your money, and then pouncing to win the jackpot.

That said, maybe the voice has a point. Maybe this is the season that we don't make the top four and, unless we win the Champions League, we won't be playing with the cream of Europe next year.

Can you take that? Can you take not hearing the chorus of the Champions League song booming round the Emirates next season?

Like Syrup of ipecac not having Champions League football at Arsenal would be hard to stomach. The thought of it makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

As much I hate to say it, I have to concede, we might not make it. The reality is that its a real possibility we won't be there at the moment.

I think that Arsenal and, at times, Gooners have come to take the Champions League for granted. Season after season we have been involved with Europe's elite competition.

You never know what you've got until its gone is a very true saying. Perhaps it may ring true with figures at the club and will get things moving.

People say Robin van Persie will leave if Arsenal aren't involved. I don't think that is the case. If Arsenal show a summer of intent, then I believe he will sign a new contract.

Arsenal will have to show intent this summer regardless of whether we make the Champions League or not.

People are beginning to question the ambitions of the club and for a long time many Gooners have become unhappy at what direction the club wants to take.

Not being in the Champions League will not appease the money men at Arsenal but perhaps they need a kick up the backside for them to actually do something.

These days it becoming harder than one of Pele's erections after taking Viagra to compete unless you are spending money.

Despite what many say, Arsene Wenger has performed miracles with the funds available to him. To continuously qualify for the Champions League year after year is amazing. But not enough to some and I understand that.

Arsenal are a big club and sometimes a reality check is needed to remind them of that fact. The board have come to rely on Wenger to spend very little but achieve big things.

The problem is the boards idea of big things and many Gooners are totally different. Just competing for 4th place isn't enough for the fans of the club.

If it happens, finishing outside of the top four might seem like the end of the world at first. But maybe it could have a positive effect in a weird way.

Of course we would get slaughtered for not making it but maybe, just maybe the board and even perhaps Wenger, will wake up and start to act like a big club with ambition again.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

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Lay Off Aaron Ramsey

2012-01-19T15:06:00.000Z

The abuse I've seen thrown at Aaron Ramsey lately has been a sick joke.

Some of it has even bordered on things I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy.

I couldn't believe my eyes at some of the stuff I've seen. I mean death threats?! Over a game of football?! Come on behave yourself.

That kind of shit has no place anywhere, let alone football.

Putting that aside he also has taken a lot of stick for his performances in a very unnecessary way.

People saying he is 'shit' isn't going to get him very far is it?

Aaron is a young man of 21 years of age. Just a baby really.

There is no need to destroy him. A little bit of constructive criticism is fine. But don't make him into a scapegoat because of your frustrations.

Take the game against Swansea, I thought he was below-par. But I tell you something, he certainly didn't hide and still wanted the ball despite not playing well.

That says a lot for me. The best players don't hide and although I wouldn't rank Ramsey alongside the best in the world, yet, he certainly has the character of one of them.

Some people forget he suffered a career threatening injury and was out for a long time with it. Just for him to actually be playing football again is a miracle.

We need to remember that and we need to remember he is a year behind in his progression as a footballer.

I think some people are annoyed that Cesc Fabregas left the club and that Ramsey is his supposed replacement.

But they are two completely different types of player. You can't compare them because Cesc was a one-off. Cesc is a genius.

Lately some of us Gooners seem to love someone to have a pop at. Eboue, Bendtner and even Arshavin have been victims. I've even seen Per Mertesacker get unfair stick.

Lets not start to dig Aaron Ramsey out too. People need to lay off him because he has all the attributes to be a top player.

Trust me, Aaron Ramsey is a gem and I am glad that we have him at Arsenal Football Club.

I'd hate to see him go somewhere else and become the talent I'm sure he will be.

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Wayne Rooney Over Robin van Persie Is A Disgrace!

2012-01-11T16:56:00.000Z

On a serious, and I mean se-ri-ous level, I have no idea how Wayne Rooney could have been voted into the FIFA World XI over Robin van Persie.

Apparently over 50,000 professional footballers from across the world submitted their votes for the World XI team. And somehow, Rooney was voted in.

How did this happen? Did Rooney send round a few glamorous OAP call girls to each and every player to seal the deal because I am baffled?!

Robin van Persie has had one of the best years ever seen in the English Premier Leagues stinking existence. His performances, not to mention his goal tally, have been unbelievable.

The only player (in England) that has got near to his level of play has been David Silva of Manchester City, who has also been phenomenal over 2011. But he is a midfielder, a different position.

Wayne Rooney is a great player but he hasn't touched Robin van Persie over the course of the year. So how he stood side-by-side with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (as strikers) in the FIFA World XI stumps me.

It may seem like sour grapes because I am a Gooner but did Rooney actually do the counting of votes? I only ask as I doubt he can count over 20 because he'd run out of fingers and toes.

In my opinion, the only players who has performed above the Arsenal man over 2011 are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Those two have been unstoppable and are on another level to anyone.

Robin van Persie should have been stood alongside those two and claimed his rightful place in the top 3 strikers of the world. Not Wayne Rooney.

I bet something dodgy went on there.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

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Salomon Kalou-Oo To Be A Gooner?

2012-01-09T12:19:00.001Z

Twitter (Follow me on @_Wrighty7) and the interweb is buzzing like a bumble bee today that Chelsea man Salomon Kalou could be on the move to Arsenal.

Now I believe this is the sort of deal that will be like Marmite to Gooners. Some will like it, and some will hate it.

I happen to think that Kalou would be a very good signing for the club. And if the reported fee of £3m is true then we have got a real bargain.

Of course I concede that the Ivorian isn't the 'Galactico' transfer that a lot of Arsenal fans want Wenger to make, but he is a proven EPL player. And a decent one at that.

Arsenal's style of play would suit Kalou as much as a sarong suits David Beckham. Very well indeed.

He is rapid, works hard, can score goals, and is very versatile. Kalou wouldn't need time to adapt to England, and from what I have read in the past, would love to join us.

What more do you want?

The fact that Chelsea want him to sign a new contract with them speaks volumes to me. They clearly still want him there, so if they rate him surely he isn't the 'shit player' I've seen him called?

This is the sort of signing I can see Wenger making. Yes it may appear like another stingy deal, but Kalou is a player that the Arsenal gaffer has admired from afar for a long time.

Kalou has six months left on his current Chelsea deal. Arsene is not being 'tight' nor is he hunting round the bargain bucket again.

This a real opportunity to gain a decent acquisition to the squad at a very good price.

Put it this way, if S*urs signed Salomon Kalou for £3m then I would be very pissed off and would question why Arsenal didn't.

Wouldn't you?

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7.

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Arsenal Need This FA Cup

2012-01-07T15:13:00.001Z

Being realistic the FA Cup is the last throw of the dice for Arsenal to win silverware this season.

We have as much chance of winning the league as Frank Lampard trying Diet Coke, are out of the pint of Carling Cup and the way Barcelona are playing UEFA may as well hand them the Champions League trophy now.

Now I know that Arsene Wenger counts getting into the aforementioned Champions League as a trophy but I don't.

You can not hold Champions League qualification above your head to thousands of Gooners like a cup can you?

That's why I think Arsenal need to win the FA Cup this season more than ever.

Arsenal need a trophy to shake that trophy-less monkey from our backs. We need to shake that little bastard hard.

People say that the FA Cup is a little disrespected these days, that it takes a back seat in the priorities. Well, I'd agree with that.

Maybe to get the magic of the cup back it needs a little shake up.

Perhaps the winners should gain entry into the Champions League instead of 4th place in the league?

Then, if we won it, I'd actually agree with Wenger that getting into the Champions League was like winning a trophy!

Whatever the case, Arsene must take the FA Cup even more serious than ever.

In the past the Arsenal gaffer and the FA Cup had a love affair deeper than the Mariana Trench. He loved the cup and the cup loved him.

We need that passion back. We need the FA Cup to flirt with Wenger and bring out his romantic side again because I truly believe winning it would launch Arsenal into competing again.

Arsenal just lack that winning mentality. That's why losing the Carling Cup final last season had such a deep impact on the rest of the season. We collapsed in a spectacular way after that defeat.

Who knows? If we had won that final we may have gone on and had another historic season.

This campaign hasn't been ideal for Gooners. At times I have wanted to pull my hair out and find a little bloke to beat up. Unless he is hard.

Winning the FA Cup would be wonderful. We need it. We need it bad.

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Arsenal Should Raid The Bundesliga Again. And Then Again.

2012-01-05T20:36:00.002Z

As we know the transfer window is open and that means its silly season time again.

Arsenal will be linked with every Tom, Dick and Harry from the Tombs of the Nobles to Outer 'order' Mongolia.

Some of the rumours will make you laugh, others you can take more seriously.

Lukas Podolski is a player that Arsene Wenger is supposedly looking at. And by all accounts he is a serious possibility.

If the German joined the club I should imagine that at least 99% of Gooners would be happy with his arrival.

He would be welcomed to the home of football by his compatriot Per Mertesacker, who I think should start talking about Podolski's Arsenal DNA in the press.

I read today, and was quite intrigued, that Wenger was looking at a Bayern Munich player too.

For a change it wasn't Franck Ribery, a player mooted to join the Gunners by Nostradamus in 1547.

It was a winger though, and a very good one at that.

Arjen Robben is that player.

Now whether or not there is any substance to the Dutchman rumours I don't know, but I would welcome him to the club with open arms.

I know that Robben is a bit of bitch at times, to say he doesn't like getting stuck in is an understatement, but there is no doubting his quality.

Of course he has had injury problems in recent years so that would be a worry, especially with our injury record!

However with Theo Walcott's contract situation, and Andrei Arshavin's lack of form, Arsenal could do with a decent wide signing.

Some will dislike Robben's Chelsea connections but personally I wouldn't give a shit about that and if it meant he would sign then I would go collect him myself.

I have no doubt that Robin van Persie would be over the moon if Robben joined and if Lukas Podolski signed too he would probably pen a new contract within seconds.

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St Totteringham's Day Or Champions League?

2012-01-04T16:41:00.000Z

When I look at the league table I get a shudder down my spine.

Of course S*urs sitting higher than us in the league table contributes to that shudder massively, but what really causes that horrible feeling is that we sit outside the Champions League places.

Now don't get me wrong, the thought of that lot finishing above us is indeed truly horrific. It hasn't happened since I started puberty in 1995 so I guess it is taken for granted.

But the most important thing, in my opinion, is that Arsenal qualify for next seasons Champions League. Even if that means finishing below S*urs.

I have no doubt that there will be Gooners aghast having read that and I fully understand why. I just feel the most important thing for the club is too be involved in the most elite European competition.

Maybe we have started to believe we have a divine and holy right to be in the Champions League as we have been involved in it for so many years. It becomes something we can take for granted.

But believe me, you have to earn your right to play alongside the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Apoel Nicosia season after season.

For 14 years we have earned our place amongst the cream of Europe and I want to be there again next season regardless if St Totteringham's Day happens this campaign or not.

Some of my pals are Spuds and the banter can be quite amusing. One thing I love taking the piss out of them about is the fact they compare themselves to us all the time.

For me, there is no comparison. Check the history. They are in our shadow and the Rafa Benitez fact of the day is they would rather finish above Arsenal than win the league.

Over the the years they have become infatuated with us and truly believe finishing higher than Arsenal is the be-all and end-all. Lets not become like them

Our ambitions have always been higher so I am not going to start worrying about them.

Years and years have gone by since they finished above us and one day it is bound to happen.

They think it's wrapped up for them already and that's fine by me. Personally I believe that the Premiership is a marathon, not a sprint. There is a long time to go and football is a funny 'ol game.

So I am not panicking any time soon and the only time I will be is if our Champions League place is very much on the line.

Despite S*urs making massive strides and impressing, I actually think they will blow up sooner or later and we will catch them.

But if we didn't, and if that was the case, I would sacrifice St Totteringhams all day long to make sure we were in the Champions League.

Or maybe we should get the Lasagne out again.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

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Perhaps The ACN Can Rejuvenate Marouane Chamakh

2011-12-30T16:25:00.003Z

Maybe I am clutching at straws here. Or maybe I have completely lost the plot in more ways than one.

But I am really hoping that Marouane Chamakh will come back to Arsenal, after the African Cup of Nations, a completely rejuvenated player.

Fingers crossed, hopefully he might even come back as Lukas Podolski.

Who knows though? A change of scenery might do the Moroccan the world of good. A couple of goals definitely would.

It's fair to say that Chamakh has had a bit of annus horribilis.

2011 hasn't been the greatest time for him. In fact, I've even seen it mooted that he is the worst striker to have ever worn the Arsenal shirt.

Now I wouldn't go that far. Clive Allen gets that honour for me. At least Chamakh's early form lasted longer than a pre-season. Just.

The question is can Marouane turn his Arsenal career round?

I'd like to see it because in his early days with the club he looked quite good. And that is not just his slick hair looking good either.

He was an asset to the team and I could see why Arsene Wenger wanted to sign him.

Then came along 2011 and the next thing you know, he not only looked like a giraffe, but began to resemble how one would play on a football pitch.

It looks like the striker will be at the club until the summer at least. Wenger never gives up on his players easily.

So I am hoping, wishing, that Morocco have a great tournament and that Chamakh comes back to North London completely full of confidence.

It could be like signing a new player.....

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Diaby Shouldn't Be Blocking A Move For Gourcuff

2011-12-28T19:19:00.000Z

Yoann Gourcuff has been linked with a move to Arsenal for a long, long time.

Since the summer this 'rumour' has grown bigger than Gervinho's forehead and won't go away despite Arsene Wenger denying it will happen.

Wenger's reason for not bringing in Gourcuff is that Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby will be back from injury soon and there will be a lot of players in the midfield area.

That's true I suppose, but does Diaby actually count as an actual option?

On his day the Frenchman can be a handy player to have but he is injured more often than not.

In the past he has been mooted as the new Patrick Vieira whereas I think the new Darren Anderton is a more sensible assessment.

I feel for Abou Diaby, I really do. It must be lonely being in that treatment room all the time but frankly if a move for Yoann Gourcuff is not possible because of him then I'm astounded.

I hate to be negative about any of the Arsenal players, it destroys me inside like a Marriot Hotel lasagne special.

And of course, during his career with us, Diaby has been very unlucky with injuries, but there has to be a time when enough is enough.

Understandably Wenger wants to give Abou every chance possible to make it with Arsenal. He truly believes in him.

But the bigger picture is that the club must come first and if Abou Diaby has to be sacrificed for Arsenal to be successful then so be it.

Despite peppering relegation rivals (ahem) Wolves goal yesterday its clear sometimes that we need that creative 'spark'.

When Wilshere comes back that will help massively. Will Diaby help? Of course but how long until he gains another injury is any ones guess.

Gourcuff can be that man who unlocks the door when the opposition plays a 9-1-0 formation. He is a very clever player and one, who I am sure, would love to play under Arsene Wenger.

We all know that Arsene is very loyal. Especially to the club, but to the players he believes in too. So I can understand why the boss sticks by Diaby.

But the truth is we don't know whether Abou will ever be able to sustain his fitness long enough to have an extended run in the side.

Previous campaigns suggest not.

So in my view, if Wenger wants Gourcuff, or anyone else for that matter, then he should go get them because there is too much to lose if he doesn't.

A Gourcuff could be what we need to propel us into the top four. An unfit Diaby won't.

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How Can This Man Be Described As A Panic-Buy?

2011-12-19T18:43:00.000Z

The more and more I see Mikel Arteta play in an Arsenal shirt, the louder I laugh at the fact some people out there called him a 'panic-buy'.

When he signed for us I was over the moon.

I loved watching him play when he was at Everton, and I love him even more now he wears the shirt of Arsenal.

Yesterday, in my opinion, he ran the midfield better than Paula Radcliffe runs a marathon.

You could have bought two-and-a-half Arteta's for what Manchester City paid for Yaya Toure and the Spaniard had him in his pocket.

Neat and tidy, Mikel gets better with each passing game. And I have to ask, does he ever give the ball away?

Arteta is like Arsenal's clock. He continues to keep us ticking over. He keeps the ball and does the simple things with it.

Players like Arteta are often overlooked in a game because they aren't always spectacular. But you need someone like him in the side because he is a steady influence.

I often wish that we had had him in our ranks in previous years. Him and Cesc would have been deadlier than a Puffer fish together.

A lot of people said that his best years were behind him. Well I happen to think his best years are in front of him and I'm glad that Gooners will get to see it.

For Arteta it's bad luck that he is Spanish. Not that there is anything wrong with being a Spaniard, but because at the moment Spain have the best midfield in the history of football, he can't get in their side.

Had Mikel been born in another era I am sure he would have been a regular for his country. It goes to show though how good Spain are when someone like Arteta doesn't get a look in.

If Arteta continues to play as well as he is maybe that will change as, unlike Samir Nasri, he will still get to show his talents in the Champions League.

So one day, that deserved international call-up, may just happen for him.

As for now, I will continue to squeal with delight when I see Arteta trotting out to the pitch wearing an Arsenal, and carry on sniggering that he was described as a 'panic-buy'.

He's more like a 'super-buy' in my book.

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Was Ju Young Park Bought For Shirt Sales?

2011-12-15T14:38:00.000Z

Since Ju Young Park arrived from Monaco in August he has made less than a handful of appearances for Arsenal.

Now I understand there is always going to be a period of 'transition' for a player coming in from a different country, but at times I wonder whether Park is actually real or a figment of my imagination.

I keep seeing on the Arsenal website that Ju Young is ready for action. Well, to be honest, that news is beginning to get older than Stonehenge now.

There is no doubt that the South Korean has a good record at international level. And he is one of the most popular players in South Korea too.

So why doesn't he feature more for the Gunners? And more importantly, why did Arsenal sign him?

Of course he is lower than Flo-Rida in the pecking order at the club. Park will get more of a chance in January when Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh leave for the African Cup of Nations.

Or Perhaps Wenger doesn't actually feel that he is ready for first-team action yet despite saying that he is.

I have a more cynical view of things though. And I hope that I am wrong because Park seems a nice fella.

The reason I think Arsenal bought Ju Young Park is for shirt sales. There I said it, please don't hate me.

There is a huge market in Asia. Footballers from that area are treated with a status that even Status Quo do not receive.

Simply put, if Ju Young Park stepped a foot into South Korea he would be received like a God.

Global branding is what football clubs want these days. Arsenal are no different.

I think signing the captain of South Korea is a move the club made because most of the people there will now rush out and buy an Arsenal shirt with 'Park 9' on the back.

Its obvious that Park can play a bit. His goal in the Carling Cup against Bolton was magical.

But I believe that the motive to sign him was a financial one for Arsenal. Pay between £3m-5m for him and the club probably earned that money back in 15 minutes.

We did the same thing in 2001 with Junichi Inamoto. Within 24 hours most Japanese people supported Arsenal.

I haven't written this to offend any body whatsoever. And to be honest, I really hope that I am wrong, that Park becomes a regular and shoves these words down my throat.

But I just get that vibe about this deal. And that is not the players fault I know.

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Arsene Wenger Could Save Fernando Torres

2011-12-14T18:52:00.002Z

I know many people reading the headline of this article will probably think that I have gone completely crackers.

Damn, a little part of me even thinks so too.

But there is another part of me, deep down, that truly believes that Fernando Torres would flourish at Arsenal, under Arsene Wenger.

Its true that Torres hasn't exactly set the world alight since his £50m move from Liverpool to Chelsea last January.

Going by his recent standards he probably couldn't set a candle alight.

It could even be said that the Spaniard has flopped in a massive way.

However, I still think that the Chelsea striker is still a top, top class player who is just at the wrong club.

There is a saying that form is temporary and class is permanent.

Well, I would agree it seems that Torres has been out of form since 1843, but he can still show flashes of the form he showed when he first appeared on our shores.

The man may appear past his best but can he really be washed up at the age of 27?

Especially when you take into account that strikers usually peak between the ages of 28-32.

I honestly feel, that if Chelsea are really offering him out for £20m, that he will make a great signing for someone.

Arsene Wenger would be ideal for Torres. He has proved in the past that he can rejuvenate players who appear out-of-sorts.

Not only that, Arsenal's style of football and system is made for someone like the Spaniard.

It's been said that Robin van Persie wants Wenger to make signings of intent and bringing Torres to the home of football would make a big, big statement.

Arsenal need another striker. In fact, we need another striker more than Frank Lampard needs cake.

Being labelled the highest costing flop in football known to mankind must be hurting Torres inside.

He will have a point to prove that he is not finished. He is at a club where the manager, and even his team-mates, seemingly doesn't want him any more. A club where the football doesn't suit him.

Arsenal should make that £20m move. We are geared up to create chances for the strikers.

Torres, and Robin van Persie especially I'm sure, would love it if the Spaniard pulled on the red and white shirt.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish........

I Am Gutted For André Santos

2011-12-12T18:13:00.005Z

For a long long time I have said that I would love Arsene Wenger to play Thomas Vermaelen at left-back.

In fact, when blowing the candles out on my (ahem) 18th birthday cake last year I wished that the Belgian would become a regular there.

I have always felt that Arsenal would be so much more solid at the back with him playing there.

Imagine a back-line of (from left to right) Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Sagna.

That defence, in my opinion, would be Arsenal's strongest 'defensive' back-four.

A defenders job, first and foremost, is too defend isn't it? And those four mentioned love to defend as much as I love BBQ Spare Ribs.

Of course my plan means taking, who many consider to be, our best centre-back from his favoured position and shifting him to the left-back slot.

Well, due to the injuries we have suffered, it appears my wish that Vermaelen has an extended run at left-back may come true.

However, I should have been more careful what I wished for!

Thomas will have to play there, not through merit, but because Wenger's first-choice, André Santos, is out for three months.

I am genuinely gutted for Santos because he has become my most favourite Brazilian. I even like him more than Pamela Anderson's Brazilian.

When he first joined the club I thought he was Frank Lampard's distant South American cousin. He was that fat.

Not only that, it appeared he couldn't defend to save his life.

André's kamikaze forward runs meant we were exposed at the back and his obvious lack of fitness didn't help either.

He needed time to adapt to the English league and earlier in the season, we were struggling, so we didn't have that time.

So some people made quick judgements on Santos and many thought he wasn't up to scratch.

This was unfair on him. How can a player be judged in such a short space of time?

Especially when you consider he had no pre-season with Arsenal and had signed from the Turkish league. A league with all due respect, that is weaker than its English equivalent.

I think André Santos has come a long way in a very short time since arriving at Arsenal.

His fitness has improved, he is finding his feet, and every week he is beginning to show that he can actually defend too.

Santo is proving the doubters wrong all the time and that is why I am gutted for him that this injury has come now.

Fingers crossed he makes a quick recovery and doesn't end up plumper than he was before he joined!

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish.....

If Only Nicolas Anelka Had Stayed At Arsenal

2011-12-07T16:43:00.008Z

Sometimes I look at Nicolas Anelka and I just think what a waste.

Don't get me wrong, he has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world.

Arsenal, Real Madrid, Paris-Saint Germain, Liverpool and Bolton is quite an impressive list for any footballer.

But he has also undermined and stained his career by playing for smaller clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City.

I glance back to the summer of 1999 (how long ago?!) when Anelka left Arsenal and I am sure he must have some regret.

His brothers, Claude and Didier, had become his agents and they decided that Nicolas would be better off elsewhere.

Being young, easily influenced, and after being given several chinese-burns by Didier, he took their advice and left for Real Madrid.

After leaving for the Bernabeu his career appeared to go downhill faster than Wayne Rooney chasing the 10:46 OAP coach trip from Manchester to London.

He drifted from club to club and never really settled down.

That was until he found religion. Anelka became a Muslim, moved to Turkey with Fenerbahce and finally appeared to find some balance in his life.

Where he found faith, he lost something too. His brothers.

Its also been said that one of his team-mates at Fenerbahce had a Destiny's Child album and Nicolas played the 'Independent Women' track over and over again.

And it was that, and religion, that made Anelka become more independent from his brothers.

I can't confirm this though.

If only Nicolas Anelka found religion or Destiny's Child released that track in the summer of 1999.

He most probably would have stayed at Arsenal and become an absolute legend at the club.

Anelka and Thierry Henry was the partnership that Arsene Wenger had sweet dreams about.

Wenger has said in the past he wishes he had had the chance to pair the two Frenchmen together in an attack more potent than Pele on Viagra.

He never got that opportunity and I believe it is a real shame we never saw Henry and Anelka wearing the red and white of Arsenal at the same time.

Nowadays it appears Anelka is on the move again. He has realised that Chelsea aren't even the biggest club in Chelsea and he could be on his toes.

Rumours are he is heading off to the Far East. Shanghai Shenhua of China are the favourites to sign him. Although Millwall are in the running too.

Had he stayed at Arsenal, under Arsene Wenger, I firmly believe he would have become a legend with us Gooners.

Not only that, like Thierry Henry, he would have been known as one of the greatest players of the last decade.

Instead most people see Anelka as a footballing nomad. A man who couldn't stay at one place.

And that, is a shame.

Follow me on Twitter please @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish........

Lukas Podolski Would Be Ideal For Arsenal

2011-12-04T17:50:00.003Z

I keep seeing these rumours Arsenal are in the hunt for Lukas Podolski and I have to admit that it excites me a little.

Of course, they are only rumours, but if there was some truth in the talk around town, then he would be an ideal acquisition to the squad.

He has plenty of experience at the top-level in football and can play as striker or as a wide player.

Whenever I have seen Podolski play he has always impressed me. That left foot of his is sweeter than honey. With sugar on top.

He has played nearly 100 times for Germany at the ripe old age of 26 so he has undoubted quality.

The man himself has bigged up Arsenal recently too. Flirting and batting his eye-lids away like a good 'un.

Now, whether this flirting is a come-and-get-me plea I don't know, but I have seen that he has only 18 months left on his contract with his club FC Köln.

So, like many others in the past, Lukas could be using the good name of Arsenal Football Club to get a new deal with Köln.

That is the sceptic in me. However, he could actually like Arsenal and want to move to us.

Lukas Podolski is, by all accounts, a boyhood FC Köln fan. It could prove difficult for him to leave them.

He has done in the past though, leaving for Bayern Munich.

It is all ifs and buts, and the main question is whether Arsene Wenger actually wants the player.

I have no doubt Wenger admires him but who knows what goes through the bonce of the gaffer?

In my opinion, not that it is worth much mind, I think that the German would be a fantastic signing for us.

He is high-profile, high-quality, would be a purchase of intent, and lastly show that Arsenal mean business.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish........

I Thought We Were In A Relegation Battle?

2011-12-03T21:27:00.003Z

At the beginning of the season it was fair to say that Arsenal were playing shit.

We seemed a bigger shambles than a pissed up David Hasselhoff trying to eat a hamburger.

At the time there many people jumping on an RIP Arsenal Football Club bandwagon. A bandwagon that was gaining more speed than Keanu Reeves on a bus.

Unbelievably, in my eyes, some were even suggesting that we were, in fact, in a relegation battle!

Now I have heard of extremes, but this was an extreme of the highest order.

I cannot, for one second, actually believe that there were people out there, some of them Gooners too, who could have thought Arsenal were in a relegation scrap.

That is not me being arrogant, but this was just one of the biggest exaggerations I have ever seen in my whole entire stinking existence.

We had a bad start to the season, after losing our best player, but we would always recover.

And we have recovered. Arsene Wenger put us in the recovery position, gave us the kiss of life, and now we are at the right end of the table.

I love seeing the doubters proved wrong. Not just for Wenger's sake, but for the actual club.

Where are those psychic's now? The so-called experts who said we would be playing in the Championship with Derby County or Crystal Palace next season?

I'll tell you where. They are in hiding. Waiting for the next 'so-called' crisis of Arsenal to happen.

And I'll tell you what, they want a crisis to happen so they can say 'I told you so'.

Arsenal were never going to be relegated, and I know we can improve a lot more.

But I wonder if those people who said the Gunners were a sinking ship will hold their hands up and say they were wrong.

I doubt it somehow.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish........

Why Are The Spuds Crying About Jack Wilshere?

2011-12-01T10:34:00.002Z

The messages I have received about Jack Wilshere tweeting stuff on S*urs has gone off the richter scale.

Sure, from their point of view, at times, it probably may seem a little annoying.

However, surely they can see it is only a bit of banter?

If one of the S*urs players was tweeting about Arsenal I would have banter back and tweet a reply.

I wouldn't begin to cry about it.

Twitter is refreshing because it gives us a chance to interact with people we would never be able to interact with normally.

If a S*urs fan doesn't like what Wilshere has to say then just unfollow him. Or, and this may seem completely outrageous, ignore it.

They should just realise that Jack wants to endear himself to Gooners, is a Gooner, and is having a little bit of fun.

And let's not forget he is only a young man.

When we play S*urs will the Spuds not taunt the Arsenal players? Will they not chant that horrible Wenger song?

Why shouldn't Wilshere be able to give a bit of stick back?

It is harmless fun and had I said the same thing to a Spud down the boozer they would probably laugh about it.

They need to get off their high-horses, crack on, and maybe, just maybe, realise that Jack Wilshere is having a laugh.

By crying and whinging about it they are making themselves look silly.

Then again, it doesn't take a lot for a Spud to make themselves look daft does it?

Keep It Goonerish.........

Away Day Gooners, I Salute You!

2011-11-21T17:26:00.003Z

People always knock Arsenal fans for being as quiet as a library that is situated in a cemetery but I think that is unfair.

Sure, the Emirates probably doesn't have the greatest atmosphere in the world, but it has it's moments though.

Who can forget how the place was rock and rolling louder than an Elvis Presley concert when Manchester United came in the Champions League semi-final?

The place was buzzing more than Lindsay Lohan's favourite vibrator on top speed. There was a fantastic vibe around the place. Then United fucking ruined it.

We get mocked for this 'lack-of-noise' by rival supporters all the time and I suppose it is something we have learnt to live with.

Despite this, and until the day I croak it, I will always say that the atmosphere at our ground isn't any less than that of other big clubs in England.

As I have said, our 'lack' of loudness at home is well documented. However, one thing is for certain, they can not knock our away fans.

Away day Gooners, in my unbiased opinion, are the best bunch of supporters in the English Premier League.

They do us proud at every stadium they flock too and in my view deserve the upmost respect.

Not only do they provide fantastic support for the team but they continue to sell out the allocated seats every game.

A Norwich fan wrote on the Sky teletext letters page that he was a season ticket holder at Carrow Road for 30 years and the Arsenal faithful on Saturday was the best away support he had seen there.

That, for me, speaks volumes and just enforces my view that Gooners are the best travellers on the road in the league.

Every away day Gooner out there gets a massive thumbs up from me. I salute you in every way possible.

Keep it up, and keep doing us proud like you always do.

Keep It Goonerish......

Where Was Delia Smith?

2011-11-19T15:11:00.005Z

What a thoroughly entertaining game of football that was. Even Robbie Williams, the greatest entertainer known to mankind, had nothing on that.

The only thing missing was a pissed up Delia Smith coming onto the pitch and cooking a Sunday roast (on a Saturday) at half-time.

To be fair though Norwich City were roasted enough as it was and had Delia showed then she would have only overcooked them.

Sure City battled valiantly, but the score of 1-2 truly flattered them. I swear I do not exaggerate when I say Arsenal created enough chances to have won at least 6 or 7 games

If we continue to play, and create, like that, someone will get a bigger hiding than the one Joey Barton suffered at the hands of Gervinho when bitch-slapped earlier in the season.

At times we were a joy to watch. The football flowed like a river and not the one that Justin Timberlake cried about.

Theo Walcott, for all his doubters, put in the type of shift that proper wingers would be proud of.

He was marvellous and I haven't seen that type of performance from a winger in an Arsenal shirt since Glenn Helder in 1995.

Seriously though, and I mean seriously, Theo did everything we wanted and more today. Except score.

Walcott wasn't the only player had a decent performance either. There were so many candidates for man-of-the-match it was unreal.

I thought it could easily have gone to several Arsenal players. Or Delia Smith.

I said on Twitter (follow me @_Wrighty7) that I'd give it to Delia Smith for her 'lets be aving ya' chant in 2006, but I think in fairness the right man in RvP shaded it for his match-winning goals.

We have won 5 games in a row in the league now and still the commentators and Sky media continue to try and create some kind of crisis at Arsenal.

Alan Smith, a former Arsenal player, appears to knock the club at every chance possible and if the mute button hadn't of been invented I think I would head-butted my TV.

Not TV as in Thomas Vermaelen, because quite frankly I think he would knock me clean out, but my actual television.

Its a shame that most of the ex-Arsenal playing pundits seem to act this way but I will not let Smith take the gloss from a great win.

I have to add my support to Per Mertesacker as well.

Yes the giant German's mistake led to Norwich's goal, a mistake that could have cost us due to woeful finishing, but in the end it didn't matter.

Let's not jump on his back because;

A) We wouldn't reach

and

B) He will become an icon with the club.

Mark my words Per will become a hero with us one day. Of that I am sure.

Keep It Goonerish..........

The Tide Will Turn For Marouane Chamakh

2011-11-17T15:06:00.003Z

From a Gooners perspective there are many opinions on Marouane Chamakh.

My own thought is that I think there is still a great player there but one that has hardly any confidence these days.

Like Austin Powers his mojo has been stolen.

With Robin van Persie in the form of his life Chamakh knows that he is back-up at best.

It's no coincidence that we saw the best of Marouane when he was leading the line and very much first-choice at the beginning of last season.

Most of us believed that Arsene Wenger had pulled off a master-stroke the way the Moroccan begun his career with us.

Chamakh shot out the traps quicker than John Terry nipping round Wayne Bridges house and seemed to adjust to the English league right away.

The form he showed in his early Arsenal days convinces me that deep down there is still a decent player in him.

A player who still has a part to play for Arsenal this season.

If Marouane Chamakh can gain back his self-belief then we have an asset. A different option.

He is being linked with a move back to Bordeaux but he brushed talk of that away and confirmed his commitment to Arsenal.

Isn't that what we want? Players committed to the club?

I am not saying that Chamakh will ever be a world-beater but he is a decent squad player who needs to believe in himself again.

He earned a move to Arsenal and that ability to do so hasn't gone. Just his confidence.

When he gains that confidence back I'm sure he will win round the people who doubt him.

Keep It Goonerish...

Gooners = United (But For How Long?)

2011-10-31T20:34:00.003Z

What a Van-tastic weekend!

Smashing Chelsea easier than a plate was absolutely brilliant.

I am still buzzing more than a Bumble bee high on speed and its not only the result that made me that way.

Scrolling round the Arsenal interweb since the Stamford Bridge massacre I have found that Gooners seem to be really, really happy.

So much so, we even appear to be getting along!

Now, for me, this is one of the best things that could have happened since the invention of pornography.

These days I am so used to seeing Gooners being as divided as a mathematicians dream come true that it shocked me to see fans united.

The terms AKB's, D&G's. ABC's and whatever else Arsenal supporters can be labelled with went out the window.

For the time being the bickering has disappeared like a David Copperfield illusion and hopefully it can remain that way for a long time.

Seeing the disharmony develop amongst Gooners in recent times has been John Terryble to witness.

There have been arguments, blatant disregard, cussing, and at times no respect shown whatsoever between fellow Arsenal fans.

This saddens me as much as suffering from SAD so to view a little bit of that spilt being closed by a deserved victory over Chelsea makes me happy.

I am not that naive to know that people can't always get on well. There will always be a difference of opinion and I'm fine if that is portrayed in the right way.

But perhaps now we can move in the right direction.

We all want what is best for Arsenal Football Club, our club, and Gooners uniting will become a huge stepping stone for good things to happen.

I've loved seeing the happiness spread faster than Wayne Rooney smearing chocolate sauce all over a sprawling naked OAP's body amongst us this weekend.

And I would love it even more if this feel-good factor could remain. For ever.

I can dream can't I?

Keep It Goonerish....

Charlie Nicholas Puts Most Other Ex-Arsenal Pundits To Shame

2011-10-22T14:05:00.002+01:00

There have been many times when I have blasted ex-Arsenal players, that have become TV and newspaper pundits, who continue to knock Arsenal when we are down.

These 'experts' claim to love the club yet jump on a bandwagon that has gained more pace than Frank Lampard chasing an ice-cream van down a hill.

Its easy to follow the herd and repeat what a lot of others say when you don't have a brain or your own opinion.

Paul Merson is the greatest example in recent years. He contradicts himself left, right and centre.

One minute he says Arsenal need to spend money, and when they do, he says its panic buying. Indeed.

Merson, like a lot of other ex-Arsenal players who have to turned to punditry, says he only wants what is best for the club and that he love the Gunners with all his heart.

Bollocks. It is more fashionable than Gok Wan with a mullet to have a pop at Arsenal at the minute and easier than shagging Lindsay Lohen to do so.

When people have a go at Arsenal it makes my blood boil hotter than a kettle could.

I can keep my cool if the argument or criticism against the club is justified.

But when it is apparent that person is so anti-Arsenal, for whatever reason, it drives me insane in the membrane.

That's why Charlie Nicholas is like a breath of fresh in the world of these TV 'experts' and has been for a long time.

Charlie needs a gee-up because you just know that he genuinely loves Arsenal.

When criticism of Arsenal is needed he will criticise. But he does it more fairly than the football TV rights in Spain.

What I like most about him though is that he defends the club better the famous back-five of Seaman, Dixon, Bould, Adams and Winterburn.

During his job on Sky Sports, with other pundits, if Arsenal are knocked, then watch the way Nicholas sticks up for the club.

It is lovely to watch and I only wished that the other ex-Arsenal pundits took a leaf from his book.

Maybe then I wouldn't dislike most of them them the way I do. It hurts to say I don't like ex-players of the club. The same people I used to idolise.

Keep it up Charlie Nicholas. You go up in my estimation all the time.

Keep It Goonerish..........

Fabregas' Shadow Looms Over Arteta

2011-10-18T20:06:00.004+01:00

When Cesc Fabregas left us to follow his dream people asked how can you replace him?

No word of a lie, the truth is you can not replace someone like Cesc. He is irreplaceable.

As soon as Mikel Arteta signed for Arsenal it was proclaimed that he would be the man to fill our former skippers boots. And become Tomas Rosicky's new shower buddy.

That is not fair.

Mikel Arteta is Mikel Arteta. Not Cesc Fabregas. Not Fabregas Lite. And he is certainly not a vampire.

The comparisons need to stop because how can Arteta thrive at Arsenal with Cesc's shadow looming over him?

In time Mikel will settle into life with the club. He already looks comfortable in the team and will only get better.

Taking a pay-cut shows how much Arteta wanted to join us. Well that, and the shot-gun Pat Rice was pointing at his head.

He was desperate to play for Arsenal.

That alone makes me believe we should give him room to stamp his own authority on the pitch and not become Cesc 2.

I was very excited when Sky Sports announced that Arteta had beaten the transfer dead-line by 2.9 seconds to sign for Arsenal.

In fact, I was nearly as excited as the time I saw Rihanna posing topless on a tractor in a field.

I think he is that good and I hope that in the future people will stop the Cesc comparisons because he is his own man.

Keep It Goonerish....

Theo Walcott Needs A Fresh Challenge

2011-10-17T20:24:00.002+01:00

I look at Theo Walcott and I see a frustrated figure.

To me, he is in danger of becoming as stale as the loaf of bread that's been in my bread bin since 2007. Though he isn't as mouldy.

At the moment Theo doesn't look like he is enjoying his football.

His body language is worse than my French and his face looks like a smacked arse.

Walcott needs a new challenge. Bad.

Not necessarily one away from Arsenal as I have seen written on some websites, but a new one with us.

On the wing he needs to use his footballing brain. Many have said that he lacks one of those though and that the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz has more savvy.

I'm sure Chris Waddle has had a pop at Theo in the past saying 'he doesn't understand the game'.

To be fair I can't understand what Waddle says full-stop and how a man who had the dodgiest hair-cut of all time can say anything I don't know.

So piss off Waddle.

The notion that Walcott has no brain is unfair because I know for a fact that he must have at least 1 brain-cell.

After all, he goes out with Melanie Slade who is an absolute winner.

Walcott is all about instinct. He needs to act and do things without thinking.

Not because he thick, but that is just the player he is.

That's why he needs to be in the box. On the end of things and not trying to create stuff because it usually ends in frustration. Or row Z.

We will see the best of Theo when he plays upfront, getting in behind defences and finishing moves off.

It can be said that Walcott finishes better than Ron Jeremy in a porn-film. I'd like to see him given that chance more often.

His pace would scare the shit out of defenders. Honestly they would resort to wearing nappies.

That should be Theo's new challenge. Not making defenders mess themselves, but playing upfront.

Its down to Arsene Wenger and I'm sure he is just waiting for the right time to move Theo up alongside Robin van Persie.

For me that time needs to be sooner rather than later or Walcott might stagnate.

Keep It Goonerish........

Drogba Is A Gooner. Would You Take Him?

2011-10-12T20:27:00.004+01:00

I have read in the past that Didier Drogba is an Arsenal fan and I am 99.6% sure that I saw him supping on a pint of Guinness in The Gunners Pub way back in 1999 before a home game against Everton.

Now my judgement that day may have been cloudy due to the 3 bottles of lemon Hooch (remember Hooch?) I drank before entering that superb venue, but I am positive he was joining in on a chorus of '1-0 to the Arsenal'.

That for me says enough about the man to suggest he is a Gooner and to see an Arsenal man wearing the red and white of the club would be a fantastic sight.

We appear to have several Arsenal supporters in the actual squad these days. Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere are the biggest fans and I am sure that they would welcome Didier Drogba to the club with open arms.

This would mainly be due to the fact that Drogba would no longer be able to score against us or even more so because he is a fucking great lump who, despite diving as bad as Jurgen Klinsmann from time to time, looks like one hard bastard.

Arsene Wenger has admitted in the past that he admires Drogba as much as he admires the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg. Which incidentally, is an art museum in his home town of Strasbourg. And the Chelski man is indeed a work of art.

Wenger missed out on signing Drogba when the player was at Le Mans in France for £100,000. Rumours were that he told Le Mans £47,874 and a Firestick Peperami was his final offer and we lost the deal.

Well that can be redeemed within the next few months. Drogba is in the final year of his contract with Chelski and, despite being 67 years of age, I am sure he could still do a massive job for us.

We need another striker and someone with the quality of the Ivorian man of steel would still be a fantastic asset to the club.

As I have said, age may well be against Didier.

But the man can still cut it at the top level of English football and I think if he doesn't agree a new deal with our West London neighbours of Russian descent, then he would be available at a cut-down price or a free transfer.

It could well be the time to make Drogba's dreams come true in putting on the Arsenal shirt and I would take him faster than Usain Bolt running for his pre-race meal of Chicken Nuggets.

Keep It Goonerish..........

I Hope Henri Makes It At Arsenal

2011-10-11T19:20:00.002+01:00

After Thierry Henry a man with the name Henri will always get my backing to well at the Arsenal.

Not only that, a local boy like Henri Lansbury will get my backing even more than trap 4 in the 12:17 at Crayford dogs.

Lansbury hasn't had many first-team chances at Arsenal.

In fact, he has been loaned out more the dirty magazines I found under my brothers bed when I was 13.

But I hope he has a future with the club. Turning 21 years old tomorrow he certainly has time on his side.

I wish I was 21 again....

Lansbury has been at the club since he was a schoolboy in 1999. I even heard he was a Gooner. So one thing is for certain, he loves the Arsenal.

Every time I've seen him play I have been impressed. Especially since he scored on his full-debut for us against S*urs.

For the England u21's he looks a very decent prospect. I'd go as far as saying I'd rather have him than £16-20m Jordan Henderson.

And that is no joke.

Henri has had some bad hair-cuts in his time but I'll put that down youthful exuberance or just the fact that he let Tomas Rosicky cut it for him.

But I won't hold that against him. He's sorted it out now.

When he returns after his latest loan period away from the club I'd like him to be given the chance to be part of the match-day squad more often.

I think he is good enough to establish himself as squad player.

Especially if Denilson played nearly 100 times for the club.

Keep It Goonerish.....

Robin van Persie Owes Arsenal

2011-10-09T17:39:00.002+01:00

If Robin van Persie doesn't sign a new contract at Arsenal in the next few months, the rumours that he is leaving will be off the Richter Scale.

Any theory that made Dinosaurs extinct will have nothing on this.

Robin's reluctance to agree to a new deal is apparently linked to what Arsene Wenger does in the January transfer window.

I can understand him wanting to see Arsenal ambitions in the transfer-market before he commits his long-term future to us but he owes Arsenal.

He has been at the club since 2004 and I can count on one hand the amount of appearances he has made.

I suppose it is not van Persie's fault that his body is made of glass but it's fair to say he has spent a huge amount of time in the treatment room being put back together.

We've stuck by him through every tear, break and reconfiguration of his body parts and I think the least he could do is repay back the club by signing a new deal.

If Robin signs a new contract it will be a huge boost for the club amid all the negativity being thrown at us in recent times.

Not only that it gives Arsenal the added protection of knowing we will get a decent transfer fee if he decided to leave in the future.

It's clear that Robin loves Arsenal, and even clearer that Gooners love him too.

He is our best player by miles.

If he left then I really believe I will lose the plot and end up dribbling in the corner of my room whilst sucking my thumb singing and clapping to 'Robin van Persie, clap, clap etc'.

I owe my Dad a fiver but our new skipper owes it to Arsenal to sign a new deal.

Most clubs wouldn't give a player his own treatment-table or as many chances as we have given to van Persie.

Wenger has turned him into a genuine world-class player (when fit) and that faith in him should be returned back to the club by him showing his faith in Arsenal.

Keep It Goonerish......

Clive Allen Should Look In The Mirror

2011-10-05T18:39:00.005+01:00

Before calling Arsene Wenger 'Two-Bob' perhaps Clive Allen should take a long good look in the mirror.

Mind you, I don't think there is a mirror out there powerful enough to withhold his ugly mug for longer than a second.

If Clive Allen was dignified in victory then maybe Wenger would have shook his hand in the aftermath of our defeat against the Spuds.

Instead, Allen had the look of a deranged lunatic intent on winding up Arsene and then acted like a petulant teenager when ignored.

In Harry Redknapp our gaffer shook hands with the most important person he needed too. He didn't need to shake anybody else's.

Like many others Clive Allen is trying to paint Wenger as a sore loser here and believes he was in the right.

In fact, Allen was more out of order than the condom machine down my local and was just stirring up the situation.

We all know that Arsene Wenger can be a bad loser but this was just kicking a man when he is down.

Allen tried to play on this and by calling Wenger 'Two-Bob' he has made himself look like a stupid little brat.

If the shoe was on the other foot and Arsenal had won, would Allen have chased Wenger from the bench to the tunnel like some lovesick stalker?

And did Harry Redknapp shake hands with all the Arsenal backroom staff?

I didn't see Vic Akers running after Redknapp waving Gervinho's dirty sock at his face because he didn't shake his hand.

Perhaps Allen holds a grudge against Arsenal.

After all, we did buy him and then sell him two months later because his body odour destroyed all the arm-pits of the Arsenal training kits.

Or perhaps Allen wanted to thank Arsenal for his fantastic career at the club and believed the only way to show this was by shaking Wenger's hand.

Whatever the case he has made himself look like a goading infant and would go a long way by apologising to Wenger because he showed him a complete lack of respect.

Keep It Goonerish......

Per-leeeeeease!

2011-09-29T18:44:00.002+01:00

On a serious level, and I mean deadly serious, I cannot believe that I am seeing Per Mertesacker being criticized for his Arsenal performances.

The man has played less than a handful of games for the club and some people are writing him off quicker than Mel Gibson's 2008 Maserati.

Ze German has played for his country at least 1000 times and has top-level experience in the Champions League.

Given these facts I think he should be given at least until next week to prove his worth.

We Gooners will give him time because he was a much-needed signing.

And given that Per is a self-confessed Gooner, who used to sneakily watch the Arsenal games at Highbury by peering over the North Bank stand, I believe he will get our support.

Some people need to remember the speed of the English game is far faster than its equivalent in Germany and we all know that Mertesacker isn't blessed with pace.

But I honestly think that after a few nights on the piss, eating some kebabs, and a court case for assault, Per will be up to speed like an Englishman in no time.

It seems more fashionable than Gok Wan at the moment to have a pop at Arsenal and these media 'bully's' are loving kicking us whilst we are seemingly down.

Per Mertesacker is an easy target, and not just because he is taller than the Eiffel Tower, but I have no doubt that he will make the 'doubters' eat their words once he has settled down at Arsenal and has a regular partner at the back.

He has too much class and in six months time that ability will show when he is adapted to the English game.

Keep It Goonerish........

My Toughest Time As A Gooner

2011-09-18T19:24:00.008+01:00

Being a Gooner these days is becoming a very frustrating time.

It seems to me that Arsenal fans are torn more than a Michael Owen hamstring.

The Arsenal faithful appear to be at each others throats and it is a sight more disturbing than watching Harry Redknapp perform a lap dance.

We used to be so united.

Of course difference of opinions is more than welcome. Debate can be healthier than an apple a day.

But most of the time these days Gooners don't debate a thing. We argue.

Some of the things we say to each other disgusts me. We slag each other off like we are talking to a lippy Sp*rs fan.

All because we have a difference in how we think!

I've been accused of being an 'AKB' so many times that I've lost count. Well, I can't count past 1285 but that's not the point.

Because I believe that Arsene Wenger is still the man for the job I have been slated in the past.

Listen, I know that the situation we are in at the moment is down to Wenger and I know for a fact that he has made many mistakes in the past.

I just think he is still the right man for Arsenal.

Just as there are people who insist Arsene can do no wrong there are others who think his time is up.

That's fair enough, it's that persons choice.

But for airing their views they don't need to be vilified more than a person who has just let rip in a packed out elevator.

I want the best for Arsenal Football Club because I love the damned thing more than I love my own country.

No matter what I will always support the club through thick (Rooney) and thin (Crouch).

What gets me down lower than Paris Hiltons thong is watching my fellow Arsenal chums take lumps out of each other. Every day.

Of course seeing, before my very own eyes, Arsenal struggle on the pitch pisses me right off. It pisses me off more than actual urine.

But flicking through Arsenal websites and seeing actual civil war between people who all want the best for Arsenal destroys me.

One of the reasons I haven't written much over the past few months is because I can't handle seeing the infighting. It almost primal.

I'm actually debating whether to continue writing the blog. I want too but it does my nut in when I see Gooners calling each other 'cunts' and other obscenities.

Writing a blog I am there to be shot at. I understand that and can take it but witnessing the way we talk to each other is badder than Michael Jacksons Bad or a bad ass rapper.

There is hardly any respect these days for each other and that is so terrible to see.

Keep It Goonerish........

Champions League? We Wanna Worry About The Championship!

2011-09-17T19:40:00.003+01:00

In my whole entire stinking existence I have never seen Arsenal involved in a relegation scrap.

There is always a first for everything I suppose!

People say Arsenal will find it tough to get into the top four this season.

Well, at the moment, I'd be happy if we finish outside of the bottom four!

In all seriousness I am becoming a little worried. And I don't like that because I've always been a glass half-full kind of fella.

Of course I don't believe we will be sucked into a relegation battle.

I'm still very confident of a top four finish too.

What I am worried about is the fact that we no longer seem to be able to compete with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

That hurts me bad. Real bad. In fact I'd rather suffer a year in a room with no doors and Harry Redknapp as my only companion than feel this pain.

I think its time I admit it to myself.

Arsenal are no longer title contenders but are the best of the rest after the Manchester clubs and Chelsea.

My ambitions for my beloved club have been lowered lower than Wee Man from Jackass doing the Limbo.

For the moment our 'title' is fourth place.

Any less and this season will be a spectacular flop. Floppier than a floppy disk with impotence.

One piece of silverware, and I mean ANY silverware, a place in the Champions League qualifiers for 2012 will be a fantastic season for me now.

From there we can build, again, and next season actually challenge for the Premiership title.

Keep It Goonerish........

Double Standard Mugs

2011-09-01T19:46:00.002+01:00

Some people out there make me laugh harder than when I'm watching Harry Redknapp having a twitching fit when S*urs are losing.

Many said Arsene Wenger needed to add to the squad and 'spend some fucking money' or Arsenal would free fall into the Orpington and Bromley Division 5 Sunday league in no time.

Well, Wenger has finally dusted the cobwebs from the Arsenal chequebook and brought in several dead-line deals and all the sudden he has panic-bought!

It does my head in more than Marmite, and I hate Marmite, so gawd knows how Arsene Wenger feels.

Look, don't get me wrong, it would have been better if Wenger had had a settled squad a few weeks ago but it didn't happen.

However, he was rectified that now with some very good signings so how this is panic-buying I will never know.

If that 'diamond geezer' Harry Redknapp had done the same deals as Wenger the media would be absolutely creaming their knickers.

Sky Sports News would be going mental.

Imagine the breaking news banner at the bottom of the TV screen. It would have gone into meltdown faster than Usain Bolt having a sprint on the sun.

Harry would be proclaimed as a genius or the messiah and we should bow before him or his twitch would strike us down in fury.

Arsene still gets stick and he has done exactly what people wanted him to do!

How can he win?

These players that Wenger has brought in are of high quality and still he receives grief.

Its double standards of the highest order if you ask me.

Keep It Goonerish........

Samir Nasri, Its A Shame

2011-08-18T13:08:00.005+01:00

For me, there is no way back now for Samir Nasri.

As soon as he had a little pop at us Gooners that was it.

His Arsenal career is as dead as the dead-leg I received at football training last night.

Cast yourself back six months. Could you imagine feeling like this towards Samir?

I hate clowns and the colour brown but even if he had worn a brown snood with clowns on it I'd have put that aside.

Because I felt he was one of us.

It's shame because I believed that he could become an Arsenal icon. Maybe he could have been as loved as much as Robert Pires.

Instead, if as expected he leaves for Manchester City shortly, he will become a hate figure with Gooners.

Nasri may even be disliked as much as Emmanuel Adebayor.

He, like many others, will go to Manchester City because they have been hypnotized by pound notes.

Now I hold my hands up here. If I was approached by a rival Window company and offered 3 times my salary I would run around my office naked screaming 'I quit'.

So I can understand why his head has been turned.

The difference though between myself and Samir Nasri is that I'm not a top-level professional footballer who could earn SIX figures a week.

I have to make ends-meet. I have to feed my BBQ spare rib addiction.

Nasri could have become an even bigger cult-hero amonst us Gooners had he snubbed the money on offer at City and signed a new, very well-paid, contract at Arsenal.

Instead we will see him as a greedy little bastard who sold his soul.

Forget the fact Nasri wanted to see our ambition in the summer with who will sign for the club because it wasn't about that for him.

It was all about money.

Samir had a fantastic first half of the season in the last campaign and then his form died off.

Why?

I think he was tapped up more than a tap dancing competition.

When Samir saw the money on offer at Manchester City or Manchester United his eyes went bigger than Beth Dittos left arse-cheek.

His agents eyes went bigger than the right cheek.

We were challenging for trophies when we first offered him a deal to stay at the club so his chat about 'ambition' is shit.

I suppose we might expect too much loyalty in this day and age from footballers. Especially me.

Well it appears that loyalty is an attribute that most of them don't have.

And in Samir's case that is a shame.

Especially when it will end more bitter than sucking a slice of lemon soaked in a dose of pine nuts.

Keep It Goonerish.......

Arsenal FINALLY Have A Better 'Keeper Than Manchester United!

2011-08-15T20:53:00.002+01:00

Since Jens Lehmanns (first) departure from us the position of goalkeeper at Arsenal has been a source of amusement for supporters of other clubs.

I, like many other Gooners, didn't find it funny.

In fact I'd rather have stuck pins in my eyes and pull out the hairs from my eyebrows one-by-one with chopsticks made of wasps than laugh along.

It was a liberty. And a liberty of the highest order.

Finally now though we can laugh back at the jokers. We no longer have a bad Eminem look-alike Spanish waiter between the sticks.

No we don't.

We have a monster. A tall confident beast of a man who may one day become one of the best 'keepers in the world.

And he doesn't have Barca DNA. I hope.

Wojciech Szczęsny will not become a figure of fun like the poor unfortunate Manuel Almunia did.

Like the Great Wall of China he is destined for greatness.

And now, for the first time in ages, we can laugh at others.

Finally Arsenal have a better 'keeper than Manchester United. And one that didn't cost £18m either.

I have no doubt that David De Gea will become one of the best goalies in the world eventually too.

But I know who I would rather have as my number one right now. And it aint the Spaniard.

De Gea weighs about as much one of Szczęsny's legs and I hope that opposition sides notice this.

Arsenal 'keepers have been bullied mercilessly since Lehmann left the club. I'm sure the United keeper can be too.

Wojciech will not be bullied. He is too big and nuttier than peanut butter.

Ability-wise I think our young keeper is better too. Much better.

It's nice to know that we are stronger in such a key part of the field. And I don't mean that just because Wojciech would eat De Gea for breakfast.

At last we have a man of genuine class between the posts.

I have to admit, at one time, I thought Almunia was as good as the elite. I was wrong and hold my hands up to that.

But I'm sure everyone would agree with on this.

Keep It Goonerish.......

I Like Gervinho Already

2011-08-14T17:56:00.002+01:00

I like the looks of Gervinho.

Not his actual looks. Because to be honest, he is quite an ugly bastard.

But I like the way he plays football.

And I also like the fact that he bitch slapped Joey Barton with an open hand.

Very WWE indeed.

Usually players from abroad need a period of settling in. They need time to adjust to the way English football is played.

I think that Gervinho will hit the ground running. Or he will hit Joey Barton again. One or the other.

I was very impressed with him yesterday. Almost as impressed as when the barmaid in the boozer I was drinking in bent over and I saw her thong.

It was blue by the way.

Gervinho appeared more direct than Mike Ashleys very own Sports Direct empire.

And that is a welcome change from 'crab football'.

Arsene Wenger has done a good bit of business here.

I only hope that he doesn't try to turn Gervinho into a left-back or something like he tried to turn Nikki B into a winger.

Its a shame he was red-carded, although to be fair if you strike someone in the face then the rules are clear. Its a straight dismissal.

I only wish that he proper, and I mean proper, knocked Barton out.

It would have been banter if he had ripped off his shirt Hulk Hogan style and performed a Suplex or a DDT on the little mug.

I couldn't see the logic when we were after Gervinho at first. Then again I couldn't see the logic of Ryan Giggs doing Imogen (but then I realised that she is lovely).

But he is something that we needed. A direct player who runs at people scaring the shit out of them.

And lets face it, John Terry and co will be bricking it because they've seen how hard Gervinho can slap.

After his 'rest' I'm sure Gervinho will impress me even more. That doesn't take a lot though.

Keep It Goonerish......

Just Set A Deadline For Gawds Sake!

2011-07-20T07:54:00.006+01:00

This Cesc Fabregas saga is beginning to do my head in a little bit.

I'm starting to feel like I'm having a Déjà vu.

I'm starting to feel like I'm having a Déjà vu........eh? I swear I wrote that a minute ago.

To be honest I'm still very confident that Cesc will be an Arsenal player next season.

I know he is suffering at Arsenal, so much so he'd rather join Millwall than stay with us, but unfortunately Barcelona don't seem to value him that much.

If they did, then they would put his transfer as a priority over the Sanchez deal.

Instead they continue to flirt with Cesc like the time, and I swear on this, Rihanna did with me in a strip club one night.

Then I woke up. Sweating.

Barcelona continue to flash their knickers at our skipper in the hope he will put in a transfer request to pull those knickers down.

Well, I can't see him doing that because;

A) Despite him being in an Arsenal 'hell' he does genuinely love us,

and,

B) By all accounts he has a mega monster munch whack of loyalty money he would miss out on if he asked for a transfer.

Now Pep Guardiola has said his club have until 31 August to do a deal with us for Cesc.

Arsenal should say bollocks to that. And they should say it in public too.

And by the way, I would love to see Arsene Wenger saying bollocks.

Call a press conference and tell the whole wide world and its entire stinking existence that Barca have until 30 July to meet our terms or they can just jog on.

After that date we will ignore them like my guvnor does me when I ask for a pay-rise.

This saga is taking over our summer and I'm sure that preparations for the new season must be being affected by it.

If we are spending all our time fighting Barca off then how can we concentrate on getting the players in that we need?

Also these players might want to see if Cesc is still at Arsenal before they sign.

It is fast turning into Farcelona more than Barcelona and this farce needs to end before I go more loco than Britney Spears.

Keep It Goonerish........

Yeah, Course We've Been Snubbed By Phil Jagielka!

2011-07-18T21:19:00.002+01:00

So Arsenal have been snubbed by Phil Jagielka apparently because of our 'fading appeal'.

I'm sorry, but I haven't seen anything as funny as this since I saw those newly weds dancing to 'I like big butts' on Youtube.

Seriously, I'm not being arrogant here, do you honestly see Phil Jagielka turning down a move to Arsenal if the chance arose?

I like Everton, don't mind them at all, but I'm sure Jagielka would see Arsenal as a huge step up and any ambitious player would jump higher than an Olympic high jumper with a hot poker up his arse at the chance.

Maybe Arsenal have enquired about him in the past, I don't know, but I doubt very much that Arsene Wenger would put in a bid for him over £6-8m.

And that's a fee I'd agree with too.

The fee I've seen bandied about for him, £14-18m is more crazier than Tom Cruise on the Oprah Winfrey show during a sugar rush. Incredible.

I know what I find more credible, Arsenal refusing to meet that price and definitely NOT Jagielka rejecting us.

Yet again the 'knock Arsenal whilst they are supposedly down' bang-wagon is out in full force.

What next? Shaun Wright-Phillips rejecting us for Swindon Town?

I dunno, maybe it will be Stuart Downing favouring a move to Liverpool over us. Oh....wait.

Keep It Goonerish........

Wrighty7: Cesc Fabregas So Determined To Leave Arsenal He Would Be Willing To Move To Accrington Stanley

2011-07-13T20:00:00.004+01:00

Accrington Stanley, who are they?

Exactly.

But I know for a FACT that Cesc would go there just to get out of his Arsenal 'hell'.

If I make things up like this more often do you think I could get a job as a 'journalist' with Sky Sports?

I only ask because their Spanish 'expert' Graham Hunter, aka Sloth from the Goonies, seems to love inventing stories and I'm sure he is highly paid for the privilege.

His most recent fairy-tale is that Cesc is soooo determined to leave Arsenal he would join Manchester City.

Even a deaf and blind Dalmatian with herpes could tell you that Fabregas would only leave Arsenal to join his boyhood club FC Barcelona.

Where does Sloth, I mean Hunter, get these ideas from?

I mean, do they just randomly pop into his egg head and the likes of Sky and Talksport fall for it?

Apparently he is well respected but I'm sorry, making stories up more fictional than Bugs Bunny doesn't make me respect him.

In my opinion he spouts more shit than an arsehole and I just can't take him seriously.

In fact, I believe he should change his name by deed poll to Graham Cunter. Because he is a massive c-word.

He is always trying to come out with these 'Spanish' exclusives.

Only last month Cunter was adament that Cesc made it 'absolutely clear he wants to go Barcelona".

What will it be next month? That paella is made mainly from rice?

Maybe I'm being a little harsh on the man. For all I know he might have been dropped on his head as a child and these 'illusons' just appear before him.

What I do know is that every transfer window since 1652 Graham Hunter has said that Cesc Fabregas is leaving Arsenal.

Of course I don't doubt that one day that will happen (and Cesc will join Barca NOT Man City) and Hunter can rejoice in his brilliant prediction that no one else predicted.

But is there any chance he could tone down the make believe stories please?

Otherwise Sky will drop the Revista De La Liga show and instead have the 'Graham Hunter Fibbing But Lets Show It Anyway Show'.

And I would cancel my Sky subscription if that happened.

Keep It Goonerish......

Let Arsene Wenger Work His Magic Charm!

2011-07-06T21:33:00.002+01:00

I'm assuming that Samir Nasri and Arsene Wenger will be having a chat sometime soon.

A nice face to face talk with hopefully no slimy agents any where near the vicinity. I'm sure a Rottweiler or Martin Keown could guard the door.

We all know that Wenger can be very persuasive when he wants to be.

Players in the past have had their mind set on leaving only to be 'convinced' by Le Gaffer to remain at the club.

In Samir's case he says he wants Arsenal to strengthen the squad before he signs a new deal.

That is the biggest load of waffle, and not the Birds Eye potato kind, that I've ever heard.

A month ago he was saying that this Arsenal squad was the best in the league! The link is here.

It's simply a case of money.

Nasri's head has been turned by huge wage offers elsewhere because his agent has whored him around more than the P.I.M.P that is Snoop Dogg.

I can understand him thinking of the salary he could earn at a club like Manchester City but wouldn't it be refreshing if he turned his back on those riches?

That said he wouldn't be going skint at Arsenal would he?

It will be hard for Nasri to remain at the club.

He hasn't exactly endeared himself to the Gooner faithful but I'd say that maybe that is down to bad advice from his agent.

Nasri has alienated some Gooners just as much as ET alienated Elllllliott.

If he stays, and I'm sure that Wenger can persuade him too, it will take more than a six month cameo to win over those who doubt him.

There is loads of speculation but lets see what happens after Wenger has spoken to him.

Keep It Goonerish......

8 Weeks To Go And People Are Worried?

2011-07-05T21:06:00.004+01:00

There is 8 weeks to go until the end of the transfer window and I see that a lot of people are having a panic up that Arsenal haven't really dipped into it yet.

Of course it is frustrating to see us linked with every Tom, Dick and Harry in the footballing world yet make no signings thus far but have a little more patience.

I can understand every Gooners worries. To the outside world, and many Arsenal fans, it may appear that we are in crisis. Believe me we are not.

The hype surrounding us at the moment is unreal. It is more unreal than the fake ID I had at 15 years old. It worked though.

It's easy to have a pop at us at present because its easy to kick someone when they are 'supposedly' down.

Negative reporting is far easier to do because there are a lot of Arsenal supporters out there who are concerned for the club. They feed off our fear like Hades.

I'm not worried. The only time I would be concerned is if we were in the same situation come September and I firmly believe by then things will look more rosier.

There is plenty of time for Arsene Wenger to make signings and regardless of people saying he hasn't got a plan, I beg to differ.

Every summer we are in this situation of 'crisis' and people write us off quicker than Usain Bolt running for his chicken nuggets.

That's why I'm not bothered yet. Or concerned.

As much as any Gooner I would love to open Arsenal News Now tomorrow and see that we have made a signing.

But if we don't, we don't because plenty can happen until September.

I don't have a problem if some Gooners disagree with me over this. As I've said I can completely understand their reasons for worrying.

You won't catch me slagging them off because it's their opinion and I value that.

I suppose I'm either deluded, or maybe I'm so laid-back I'm horizontal!

However you won't catch me doing my nut. Yet.

Keep It Goonerish.......

"I really believe if you are a player who thinks only about money then you could end up at Manchester City."

2011-07-04T20:40:00.003+01:00

Words of wisdom?

Nope.

These words were spoken by Gael Clichy when Emmanuel Adebayor left us for Manchester City in 2009.

"I really believe if you are a player who thinks only about money then you could end up at Manchester City."

"You have to think if you want to play for a big club and have your image or if you want to play for a good club and earn big money."

"When you ask someone to move for something like £300,000 a week it is just crazy."

In the next few days I fully expect to hear how 'excited' he is to be part of Manchester City's crusade. Like a knight.

I just hope Clichy doesn't bad-mouth us in the future. It would be surprising if he did, but it wouldn't shock me.

I guess it just shows that money is the be-all and end-all of most footballers these days.

Even someone like Gael Clichy, someone I thought was loyal.

Keep It Goonerish.....

The English Media Claim The Premier League Is The Best In The World. So Why Do They Try To Weaken It?

2011-06-29T10:50:00.003+01:00

The English Premier League.

The greatest spectacle on this earth. Even more spectacular than Rihanna in a pair of hot pants.

It is hyped up so much you would think it was on Amphetamines.

The English media love to portray the English Premier League as the number one venue for football in the whole wide world.

So why do they continuously try to weaken it?

This Cesc Fabregas business says it all for me.

The papers, and whoever else, are trying to get all the 'exclusives' and out do each other with the most ludicrous of stories at times.

The latest I heard is that Cesc will go on 'strike' to leave Arsenal. The only place he will go on strike is at bowling.

You see what I mean though? All these ridiculous fairy-tales are made to try and unsettle Fabregas and the media use it as gospel.

I've hardly heard a peep about when Cesc said he was happy to stay at Arsenal the other day.

That story had about as much coverage as Beth Ditto using a hand towel as a duvet.

The Spanish papers stick up for their clubs and use loads of propaganda to help them. Our papers stick their fingers up at our clubs and help to weaken them.

Arsenal are in a position of strength over this 'Cesc saga'. Not Barcelona. So why does it seem that Barca hold all the cards?

Its because every day we are seeing and hearing that the Spaniards are in charge, and that is from our own English media.

The same English media who claim that the English league is the most fantastic place to be.

Surely they must get bored writing and repeating the same things over, and over, and over, and over, and over again like a broken record?

If indeed the English league is the best thing since sliced bread then maybe, just maybe, it would be to our advantage to keep it that way.

That means keeping our best players, and Cesc is one of the best players, in this country.

Not trying to help move the likes of Fabregas on.

Keep It Goonerish........

Blah! Blah! Blah! Blah!

2011-06-27T19:32:00.004+01:00

The words 'You never know what you have got until it's gone' couldn't be truer.

I don't use these words for a bereavement, nor do I use them for Samir Nasri's loyalty.

I use them for T'internet.

To not be able to go on online after several years being able to do to so was a shock to the system.

In fact, I'd argue I suffered more of a shock than Ted Bundy did in 1989.

The only positive in this horrible episode was that my sanity remained because I wasn't able to access Arsenal News Now.

Usually I scour this very useful source for Arsenal information at least once every 30 seconds.

My missus does her nut over this. Especially when I'm in the middle of 'business'.

However when I looked today at News Now, for the first time since forever, I was amazed.

I was amazed because its the same news that I saw the last time I looked at the site.

At the moment Arsenal news is slooooooooow, very frustrating and more regurgitated than a chicks dinner.

Some of us are looking enviously at Man Utd getting their transfer act together and finished early doors whilst Arsenal drag theirs on.

But then I think of the 'others'.

Man City and Chelsea aren't doing much either and I honestly thought that City would have bought Pele, Maradona and a family bucket from KFC by now and that Chelsea would have sacked their new manager.

So while the news is repeated that Cesc Fabregas is 'about to join Barca' for the 124353th time, and that Arsenal are 'about to sign unknown Argentinian', surely it can't get any worse right?

The only way is up!

We all know that Arsene Wenger is looking to strengthen the squad and it will happen because it has to.

Don't lose your sanity like Britney Spears with an umbrella. Be a little more patient because I think we will surprised with who comes in.

I can feel it in my bones.

Keep It Goonerish......

Can We Draw A Line Under The Cesc Fabregas Saga Now?

2011-06-15T14:31:00.002+01:00

Every summer us Gooners are treated to a 'will he, wont he' saga.

Whether its Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, or Pascal Cygan, every year we are pulling our hair out over one/some of our players 'wanting' to leave.

The biggest story in recent times (and its been bigger than Frank Lampard's derby) has been our skipper being linked to FC Barcelona. Over, and over, and over, again.

We have heard it all from his Barca DNA, to his desire to wear Barcelona knickers, and Carles Puyol wanting to keep him as a pet. In his el jardín.

Now finally this speculation can end. And it can't come quick enough.

Cesc Fabregas has come out and said he is happy at Arsenal and his future is down to Arsenal Wenger. The link is here.

Now Arsene Wenger recently said that Cesc is going to be at the club for a 'long time' so I fully expect to see Fabregas leading us out as captain next season.

This is fantastic news for Gooners but it is especially brilliant news for my knackers.

If you follow me on Twitter you will know that I said I am confident of Cesc staying at the club and if he left then all my followers could kick me in the gonads.

So thank you for saving my manhood Cesc.

Of course there will be doubts from some about the comments made by him. The more pessimistic of Gooners will say he is still leaving but I'm more than happy with what Cesc said.

Barcelona will still make noises, they can't help it, but the truth is unless they pay Arsenal what Wenger thinks he is worth then he will still be a Gunner.

From my point of view the speculation of Cesc's future, like Ryan Giggs' injunction, is over. Finito.

Any little rumours can jog right on. I will laugh in those rumours faces.

Cesc Fabregas will still be an Arsenal player next season and my balls have breathed a sigh of relief.

Keep It Goonerish......

At Least We Are In The Market

2011-06-08T16:52:00.002+01:00

By all accounts Phil Jones is expected to sign for Manchester United after snubbing Arsenal. This despite having a cup of tea and a personal chat with Arsene Wenger.

Well, sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles I suppose!

Don't get me wrong, its gutting that one of our targets has opted to move elsewhere but at least it shows that Wenger is actually acting on signing players.

We signed Carl Jenkinson earlier (I know he isn't the major player we wanted) so the gaffer is definitely cracking on with his dealings.

Of course there are people who will say its another 'nearly' purchase and I understand that completely but its promising to see.

Since the end of last season I have said that this summer will be an exciting one for Gooners and I stick by that.

I have no inside information nor do I possess a crystal ball but I truly believe that Arsene Wenger will revert to the Arsene Wenger of old where he wasn't afraid to spend a few quid.

In my opinion I think this the end of era for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger Mk3 is over. The five-year plan since the new stadia was built is finished and will be ripped up.

2011/2012 will see Arsenal Wenger Mk4. A new direction (not the boy-band) and I'm excited.

If, by 01/09/2011, I am wrong and still Gooners aren't satisfied, I will hold my hands up and admit it, I just hope that others will too.

Keep It Goonerish.......

Samir Nasri Needs To Be Careful

2011-06-05T14:48:00.005+01:00

There is loads of speculation surrounding Samir Nasri at the moment.

Will he, or won't he, sign a new contract at Arsenal? I don't know to be honest because I'm not a psychic, his mind, or his agent.

What I do know is Nasri needs to be careful. He needs to be careful because things can change rather quickly.

Before this contract situation arose Samir was becoming quite a hero amongst Gooners. A bit like Superman.

However, now there are a few disgruntled remarks coming from some Arsenal fans, especially when we see that he is flirting a little bit with Manchester United.

Views can change quicker than Usain Bolt these days.

Look at Emmanuel Adebayor, loved at the club, a few silly comments later and most Gooners would now gladly give him a slap.

These players need to realise football fans are alienated easily. We know that greed is rife throughout the game and loyalty takes second place.

Nasri has had one half decent season since he arrived in 2008. The rest of his time with us has been spent showing flashes of what he can do.

Does this warrant him getting a contract to put him on a par with Cesc Fabregas on the payroll? I don't think it does.

The reason he hasn't yet signed a deal is down to pound-notes. Arsene Wenger said so the other week.

If this is the case then in my opinion the club cannot be held to ransom by Nasri, his agent or international kidnappers.

Of course I want him to stay, but nobody is bigger than the club. Especially a player who been here three years and has only performed for six months of that time.

That may sound harsh, but I think it is fair.

People question Cesc Fabregas' future all the time but you cannot question his loyalty to Arsenal. To be with a club the length of time he has been with us in this day and age is rare.

Nasri would do well to think about that.

Samir has developed into a fantastic player at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger's tutelage.

He should show a bit of loyalty to the club, Gooners and Arsene Wenger and not talk about other clubs like Manchester United because opinion on him will change.

If he doesn't sign a deal then fair enough, leave. He'll find the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

But don't disrespect by hinting about other clubs. Or you will go from a hero to a hate figure in no time Samir.

Keep It goonerish........

How Can Cesc Fabregas Be Barcelona's No1 Target?

2011-05-31T20:15:00.006+01:00

There hasn't been many peeps out from the Camp Nou regarding Cesc Fabregas lately but I'm sure there will be over the summer.

I have heard and seen little snippets. Apparently after the Champions League final Carles Puyol said: "I'm convinced Cesc will play with us soon."

It does make me wonder though. Are FC Barcelona really, and I mean really, desperate to get our captain like they say?

By all accounts last summer the bastards put in a bid that wouldn't even have bought Andy Carroll. Bit of a piss-take don't you think? Was it a sick joke?

For all the 'Barcelona DNA' and 'We love Cesc' bollocks Barcelona are, for the second summer in succession, set to announce a major big-money signing before even making a bid for Fabregas.

Last year David Villa signed for the Catalans and this time it is believed that Giuseppe Rossi is set to join the club.

So for the second year running Cesc Fabregas could find himself the 'second-choice' transfer target. Hmmmmm, they really want him don't they?

All Barcelona will do this summer is butter Cesc up and flirt with him, trying to turn his head and wanting him to put in a transfer request.

He isn't their number one target and surely the 'supposed' capture of Rossi should confirm this to him.

Of course on the other hand it shows Barca's ambition by trying to get both players but the truth is they can't afford both at their market price.

Rossi will cost a fortune and so will Cesc but I honestly feel for a second summer running FC Barcelona will leave our skipper hung out to dry.

They will toy with him but will not put in a 'proper' bid. Cesc needs to realise that Barca don't want him as much as they say and knuckle down.

Keep It Goonerish.........

Arsenal Show Class But Will Barcelona?

2011-05-25T19:13:00.005+01:00

When I saw that Arsenal have given Barcelona a helping hand by letting them use our training ground as a base for their 'Cup final' this weekend I thought to myself; Why?

After all their disgraceful tactics in trying to lure Cesc Fabregas back to the Camp Nou (and it has been a liberty) we have done them a favour.

Either we are Barcelona's bitches or we are the classiest club in the history of mankind.

If it was down to me when they asked to lend the facility's at London Colney I'm afraid my language may have been more colourful than Joesph's Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In my opinion Barcelona play the greatest football of all time but as a club they stink. They stink more than Isonitriles. Now I don't know what an Isonitrile is but, by all accounts, it is the sixth worst smell in the world.

Arsenal have shown an amazing amount of courtesy to Barca here. And loads of class. The media would do well to remember this in the future when they slag us off.

As for the Champions of Spain I hope they remember this.

We have shown them a huge amount of respect, more than I can show them, in doing this so I hope they respect us as much too. Especially regarding Cesc Fabregas.

If Pep Guardiola enquires about our captain and gets a knock-back then that should be that. No more of this talk about Cesc's Barca DNA or him wearing Camp Nou print underwear.

Leave him be and respect Arsenal's wishes. Our act of kindness should not be forgotten by the Catalans.

Sadly I reckon their memories are like a Goldfishes.

They are probably laughing at us behind closed doors. Not only do they try to tap-up our players they also talk us into letting them use our training ground.

You couldn't make it up.

I hope that they show the class we have shown them this summer. Unfortunately I'm not too confident Barcelona, and anyone associated with them, have any.

Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7

Keep It Goonerish........

Arsene Wenger Has Had Enough

2011-05-18T20:16:00.003+01:00

I've never seen Arsene Wenger look as frustrated as I did on Sunday during the defeat against Aston Villa.

He looked like a man who was told he could spend the night with Nicole Scherzinger but, unfortunately for him, he suffers from impotence.

His demeanour and the angry looks tell me a thousand words. He is pissed off.

I know people will say that Wenger is a stubborn man and that he won't change his policies but I honestly think he will this summer.

Wenger put a lot of faith into this squad and a lot of them have let him down. Massively.

The five-year-project has failed, like my car failed it's MOT, so it will be ripped up and Arsene Wenger will start again.

I'm sure some of the players have been playing for their futures recently and I expect some will be out the door quicker than you can fart.

Arsene has received a lot of criticism lately, some justified, some not. He hasn't become a bad manager over night but he does need to make changes. And he will.

The summer of 2011 will be the start of a new era for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Mark my words.

Players with better attitudes are needed. I'm sure players with the desire of Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere will be brought in.

A few tweaks and Arsenal will be champions next season.

Things seem like a load of bollocks at the moment. I know that as much as anyone. These are frustrating times.

But don't listen to people like Ian Wright saying Arsenal will struggle to get into the top five next season.

Things aren't that bad!

Wright said that last summer. And the summer before. And the summer before that. He was wrong. Like many others.

With the right departures and acquisitions we will be in the mix next season. I'm very confident of that.

Wenger knows that too. He knows how close we were this season. And no matter how bad things appear to be at the moment we were close whether you like it or not.

(Follow me on Twitter @_Wrighty7)

Keep It Goonerish...........

Robin van Persie - A Shining Light In The Darkness

2011-05-15T22:00:00.004+01:00

(I would like to start by saying that I have succumbed to modern technology and I am now on Twitter. @_Wrighty7)

I don't really want to write about the shambles that we saw earlier in the day. The less said about that the better in my opinion.

Because, the more I think about it, the more I want to go out and pick a fight with someone smaller than me. Knowing my luck I'd start on a Ninja or something, so I'll leave it.

We all know since the end of February this Arsenal team have struggled. They have struggled more than my old man making a bacon sarnie without burning it.

Players have underperformed, Wenger has underperformed, and more most important of all, the UK underperformed on the Eurovision song contest.

But throughout all that under performing, and the 'darkness' surrounding the club like Beth Ditto's shadow, one man has shone like a beacon.....

Robin van Persie.

How I love this man. I love him like a brother or close family member.

Sometimes I wish that some other members of the squad had half his commitment and desire for Arsenal Football Club.

You can tell how much pulling that red and white on means to him. He loves the club. The Arsenal, and he loves us too.

This last couple of months he has tried his heart out for us. He could do no more.

It is not RvP's fault that some of the other players don't match his attitude but I wish they did.

Early in his career with Arsenal I would never have believed how important he would be to the club and how much influence he would have like he does now.

How much has he matured this season?

If Robin had been fit for the whole campaign he would have finished top scorer in the league by at least 5-7 goals. Easily.

He has gone up so much in my estimation and I hope that next season he remains injury-free. He deserves it.

If we had more players with his attitude I doubt we would be moping today. We'd be celebrating because we would have just won the league.

Wenger needs to look at van Persie and get players in who have his desire for winning and showing fight for the Arsenal.

(Don't forget Twitter @_Wrighty7)

Keep It Goonerish..........

Sales Not That Good Merse?

2011-05-13T18:01:00.002+01:00

What is it with former Gunner's these days?

Most of them can't wait to have a pop at Arsenal or Arsene Wenger.

The latest is from 'comedian' pundit Paul Merson.

By all accounts during his time with Wenger at Arsenal players were given a 'yellowy product' and a 'dark tablet'.

In my opinion Merse is a sandwich short of a picnic and knowing how dopey he is it was probably banana milkshake and a jelly bean.

If indeed players were injected with a 'yellowy product' why wouldn't they question what it was?

I wouldn't want anything injected into me unless it meant I could shit out £50 notes after.

I can only think that Paul's book isn't selling that well.

To me (maybe I'm being paranoid) he loves to having a little dig at Arsenal whenever he gets the chance.

Maybe he feels a little bitter at his exit from the club but it has to be pointed out that he left for money not Arsene or Arsenal forcing him out.

I just wish that some ex-players would big up the club a little more.

We have enough people slagging us off, let alone our supposed 'own' jumping on the band-wagon.

I don't mind constructive criticism, but when the likes of Paul Merson love to have a go because its fashionable to do so then it really gets my goat.

Then again if you spunked a few quid up the wall on horses and drugs and have a book to sell, I suppose its okay to 'invent' some stories or dig away until you reach Australia.

Keep It Goonerish.......

The Gooners Who Went To The Britannia Stadium Deserve Their Money Back

2011-05-08T19:43:00.004+01:00

I'm annoyed with that performance today but if I was one of those Gooners who went to the Britannia Stadium I would be very, very, very, very pissed off.

I know players can have an off-day, they are only human after all.

But when there appears to be no effort whatsoever then that is taking liberties.

I can accept defeat if the players have given their all but some of those lot today wouldn't have even needed a shower after that game.

You would never have believed that there was an outside chance of still winning the title would you?

I concede that chance was very small. Smaller than an ants dinner but there was still a chance.

Yet what sort of performance do we get? It was the most diabolical shambles of shit I've seen in a long time.

I can count on one hand the amount of players who grafted and tried today. Szczęsny, Sagna, Wilshere and van Persie.

The others were strolling around the pitch like my Nan on an OAP's day out in Brighton.

Do the players not think about the fans who travelled for miles and miles to see a disinterested pile of crap like that?

Only the other day I saw a video where the likes of Song and Walcott were geeing up the supporters. That's nice I thought, they really do care.

What a mug I was.

Of course it isn't all down to the players. Arsene Wenger is to blame too.

Has he lost his motivational skills? I don't know. What I do know is that this squad have let him, and us, down time and time again.

They have been mollycoddled and babied so much they only turn up when they want.

Complacency is breed throughout and its all began since we treated the domestic cups with utter contempt.

How can Wenger say that the Carling Cup has no meaning but was desperate to win it this season? It's double standards.

I don't want Wenger to go. I want him to have a shake up, and I think he will, to refresh this squad.

Believe me this squad is highly talented. In my opinion it is the most talented in the Premiership but the attitude is terrible.

Arsene Wenger will rectify that this summer. He has too.

People are losing faith rapidly and with performances like today's who could blame them?

The club has made a lot of bad PR errors recently.

They would go a long way by offering the Gooners who travelled there today some kind of refund or gesture.

Our away fans are the best in the league. They deserve so much more than what they saw today. We all do.

Apart from those players mentioned (in my opinion) the others should hang their heads in shame.

Keep It Goonerish.........

Am I A Dope...For Still Having Hope?

2011-05-04T20:54:00.002+01:00

I might be a little deluded.

In fact I could even be strung up and tossed into a mental institution for thinking such an outrageous thing.

But I can't help it.

I can't help believing that the title is not beyond Arsenal, that we can still win it.

I know it seems there is less chance of Arsenal winning the league than spotting Osama high-fiving Obama after fooling us all but it's possible.

Miracles can happen.

Over the last month I have kept my mouth firmly shut. I wanted to see how the season panned out.

To me it seems we have thrown it away. It was ours for the taking but we haven't taken it.

Arsenal have put themselves into a position of what 'might have been'.

However, despite these sick feelings, it is still not 100% over.

Whilst I concede I would probably be more likely to see Harry Redknapp do at least 46 winks and twitches a second before Arsenal win the league I'm still clinging to the hope that miracles do exist.

I may well be a dope, I may well be dumb, but if Chelsea beat Man Utd this weekend, and we win too, Arsenal will be only 3 points off the top with 2 games to play.

Had you been offered that, when all the experts were saying Arsenal would come 6th, at the beginning of the season I'm sure you would have taken it.

Yes I know the last couple of months have felt like Mike Tyson continuously punching you in the genitals.

Yes I know we have 99.9% thrown it away.

Yes I know Wenger has made mistakes.

But I do know something else too. Until it is mathematically impossible for us to not win the title then I will believe we can until my last breath.

Or until Beth Ditto, the largest female singer of all time, sings at the top of her voice naked on a mountain.

Keep It Goonerish..........

How To Win In Madrid

2011-04-05T22:06:00.005+01:00

(Cheers Gooner Chris!)

Keep It Goonerish........

Does This Kid Remind You Of Jack Wilshere?

2011-04-04T19:52:00.002+01:00

Every time I see this Disneyland advert I can't help but think of Jack Wilshere.

About 12 seconds into the clip there is a little kid dancing about on the bed wearing blue and white checkered pyjamas.

My girlfriend can't see it but for some reason he really reminds me of Jacky boy!

I dunno if its the fact the child looks a little cheeky, and his barnet looks a little like Wilshere's does, but I think there is a resemblance there.

I swear if Jack scores this season and celebrates his goal like this boy celebrates going to Disneyland then I will piss my knickers.

Does anyone follow him on Twitter? If so could you pass a message on to him and see what he thinks.

Keep It Goonerish........

Am I Bothered Though?

2011-04-03T20:02:00.005+01:00

That killed me yesterday.

You would have thought that Arsenal were playing in a pre-season friendly the way they performed.

Arsene Wenger described the performance as 'flat'. Well I'd use another term to be honest. Very shit.

And that's being generous too.

I can't believe that the players were not up for this game. It was the start of a run of cup-finals and just like the Carling Cup final we didn't turn up.

My great, great, great, great, great great, great, great Nan has more urgency than that Arsenal side yesterday and she has been dead over 150 years. I think.

In the past Wenger has always advocated that this Arsenal squad has strong 'mental-strength'. They just drive me mental.

I will always support any player wearing an Arsenal shirt and I try my best to be upbeat in any given situation but yesterday I couldn't defend them.

The way the players strutted about made me feel more deflated than Donatella Versace lips after someone has attacked them with a pin.

Did they really care? Do they care enough? They talk a good game that's for sure.

I'm not going to jump on the Arsene Wenger out band-wagon that is gathering pace quicker than Road Runner can do the 100 metres but he needs to do something before its too late.

I know he isn't Merlin but we need him to do some magic.

The attitude of these players at the moment has to be questioned. I can't work whether they are bottle-jobs or just not bothered enough.

They are running out of opportunities and I'd say we are in last chance saloon now.

I really hope they are hurting like us Gooners are right now. They don't get the stick on a Monday morning at work like we do.

Keep It Goonerish.........

I Want Him As The Next Arsenal Manager

2011-03-28T20:35:00.007+01:00

Did anyone else watch the programme on Sky Sports News about Thierry Henry just now?

He still holds a massive torch for Arsenal. Its bigger than the one the Statue of Liberty holds which is ironic given that Thierry plays in New York these days.

The man loves Arsenal so much and its great to see such a legend speak so fondly of the club.

Its clear, if possible, he would return to Arsenal in some capacity. He has even joked in the past that he would be the kit-man.

I'd go one further.

It might sound a little crazy, hell, it may be more loony than Tom Cruise and his Scientology pals, but I'd make him the next Arsenal manager.

Maybe I'm just feeling a little sentimental after watching my most favourite Arsenal player in my entire stinking existence on the TV but I would love Henry to be back with us one day.

As the gaffer.

Of course it would be a risk. Thierry would be a managerial rookie. He would have less experience than Frank Lampard has at a salad bar but I think its a risk worth taking.

People say he would be too nice, couldn't make the hard decisions, I disagree.

The next Arsenal gaffer has to have an affinity with the club. I don't see anyone out there who loves us as much as him.

He is an intelligent guy and with the right people surrounding him at the club I believe he could become an inspired choice.

Keep It Goonerish.......

I Think Nikki B Is On His Toes This Summer

2011-03-23T18:40:00.004Z

It seems every week there is speculation about an Arsenal player leaving the club.

Most of the time we hear that Cesc Fabregas is on his way out. His Barcelona DNA, alongside Xavi and Iniesta, is dragging him back to Catalonia quicker than you can fart.

Nicklas Bendtner is always linked away with a move away too. The only difference between him and Cesc is that most Gooners, and his team-mates, are more than ready to help finance his departure.

The Dane has so much belief in himself it is untrue. It's just a shame his feet do not.

To be honest, I actually think there is a very good player deep down inside Nikki B. He may seem deluded at times but he there is a chance he might fulfil his own egos potential one day.

Unfortunately I reckon that will be away from Arsenal though.

Have you ever heard foxes mating? That awful sound? Well in the past Bendtner has made more racket than that.

His father (and agent) is even worse. He is louder than Ruby Wax with a fog horn on cocaine and speed.

Arsene Wenger might soon become tired of Nikki and his Dad's ramblings.

To get rid of the worst combined headache and earache the gaffer has ever had, he might consider letting the Danish striker go.

Even if most Gooners don't, I believe Wenger rates Nicklas highly.

Because of this Arsene will be reluctant to offload Bendtner but the constant badgering and undermining he receives through the press might make his decision for him.

The only other alternative is for the striker to sack his Dad as his agent or at least tell him to calm it down and stop larging it.

I don't think neither is an option really for Bendtner. I think we might see pigs flying first.

I've said I reckon that Arsene will have a bit of clear out from this squad in the summer. I reckon that Nikki B could well be on that list.

It would be a shame because I think he will eventually be a force in the game, just not at Arsenal.

Keep It Goonerish...........

The Remedy To End The 'Feud' Between Gooners

2011-03-16T10:43:00.003Z

Make no mistake about it, there is a civil war amongst Gooners these days. Its almost as bad as America in 1861.

I would love for this conflict to end, I really would.

The split between Gooners amazes and saddens me at the same time. There appears to be no middle ground although that is where I firmly sit.

Following Arsenal's 'cup collapse', like a deck of cards, tensions are running deep. Some fans are furious whereas others are more optimistic.

I suppose it depends whether your glass is half-full or half-empty. Or if you prefer a bottle then I don't know where that leaves you.

As I've said before I can understand both sides of the argument.

For me I appreciate what Wenger has done for Arsenal, is doing for Arsenal but I also acknowledge his faults too.

Despite that something needs to be done to end this 'feud' between Gooners.

How do we stop the bickering? How do we stop any more blood from being shed?

Of course winning the title should repair a lot of the damage but I still don't think that would be enough.

In this day and age most clubs out there are spending more money than Frank Lampard does on Pukka Pies and what Wayne Rooneys splashes out on granny-banging.

It makes us jealous. It does.

I admit I get envious when I see the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea weighing out for players but at the same time I'm realistic enough to know that Arsenal won't and can't spend those sorts of sums.

We are in an era where sugar-daddies don't pick up young women anymore. Instead they pull football clubs.

And I think this is the problem. Gooners just want Arsenal to spend some money.

I honestly believe that if Arsene Wenger went out and spent £50m on players this summer then the bitter split between Gooners would end. Till next summer at least.

Everything would be hunkydory.

Its apparently well documented that Arsene Wenger has money to spend but is too stubborn to spend it. I agree to a certain extent.

Personally I don't want Arsene to spend money just for the sake of it like I did at Stringfellows on my 25th. It's not big and its not clever.

But, if he pulls out the cheque book, dusts it off, and signs a few players in the summer, then I predict that there will be harmony between Gooners again.

Some will not want Wenger at the club by then but I don't go down that route.

All things need is a little freshening up and I honestly believe this summer that will happen.

If we go into next season as champions, with a couple of new players, then there will be an almighty love-in between Gooners and maybe then we can end this AKB and DAG nonsense and be united.

Keep It Goonerish..........

Get Well Soon Eric Abidal

2011-03-15T22:17:00.006Z

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the news that FC Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is to have an operation on his liver to remove a tumour.

I'm gutted for him.

From what I've seen of him though he is a real fighter so I hope this strength gets him through this.

It kind of puts things into perspective doesn't it?

I'd like to wish Eric good luck in his battle and all the best, as I'm sure all Gooners will do too.

Keep It Goonerish.......

Does Arsene Wenger Really Deserve Such Hate?

2011-03-13T18:37:00.008Z

I swear that some Gooners spit more venom than a King Cobra.

The abuse that I have seen with my very own eyes towards Arsene Wenger is a sick joke. It sickens me more than Sambuca.

Here is a man who has provided Arsenal Football Club, our club, with some of the best moments in its history.

Yet that doesn't stop people slagging him off with the kind of hate I would say should be reserved for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea though.

Why has Arsene Wenger become so despised by some sections of Gooners? I really can't get my head around it.

Sure the man can frustrate. He has done my head in on more than one occasion but that doesn't mean I will subject him with the kind of insults and vitriol I see thrown his way on a regular basis.

Of course Arsene Wenger isn't above the club, nobody is, so constructive criticism of him is fine in my book.

However, he deserves a lot more respect from certain Gooners than he is currently getting at the moment.

Listen, I'm no Wengerite. I don't have a shrine to the man. But what I will say is be careful what you wish for.

We are lucky that he doesn't just walk away. I bet if he read half the shit written about him on the interweb he probably would be tempted.

Who would blame him?

I'm telling you now, if Wenger became available every club in the world would love to take him on. Even before the darling Jose Mourinho.

Arsene has his faults. Even Stevie Wonder can see that but please show the man a bit more courtesy.

I accept these are frustrating and annoying times. Its been a difficult two weeks but I bet these fans who slate Wenger will be praising him to the hilt if we win the title.

Just like they did when we beat Barcelona at the Emirates.

If you don't think he is doing a good job that is fine. That is your opinion. I think he could do some things better too.

But don't slag him off. Don't insult him. There is no need for that. He deserves so much better.

Keep It Goonerish.............

Gael Clichy - Take A Bow!

2011-03-10T21:14:00.002Z

Well there you have it. Wrighty7 is like a bus. You wait ages for an article and then three come along at once!

I don't know why I have blogged so much today. It could either be pure unadulterated boredom or just that I have a lot on my mind and plenty of time to write today.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I thought Gael Clichy was fantastic in Barcelona and is showing signs of being his old self again.

I think the last couple of years have been difficult for Gael. His form has been up and down more times than Katie Price's (aka Jordan) knickers.

Its difficult to pinpoint why he has been inconsistent but it could be down to the formation Arsene Wenger likes to use these days.

Maybe Clichy has just taken a while to get used to it and is now getting to grips with the system.

I remember saying that Gael Clichy would become the best left-back in the world when Ashley Cole left and I still think that could well be the case.

You may think I am madder than a hatter for making such an outrageous statement but the talent is there and time is definitely on his side.

Its easy to forget that Gael is only 25 years old. He seems to have been about since the Stone Age doesn't he?

I think I read somewhere that defenders peak on average from 27 onwards so we have yet to see the best of Gael Clichy if that is the case.

It's easy to criticise when players are struggling (I hold my hands up, I've done it in the past too) so its only fair to give praise when its due and in my opinion Clichy deserves some.

If he can continue to show his recent form till the end of the season then I believe we can have no complaints about him.

Whats that saying? Form is temporary, class is permanent. Well if Gael can become more consistent I might not sound so mad!

Keep It Goonerish.........

I Hope The Barcelona Supporters Pissed Cesc Off!

2011-03-10T14:38:00.005Z

Was it just me or did you hear the Barcelona supporters whistle at Cesc Fabregas when he was substituted the other night too?

Perhaps whistling people in Spain during a football match is a compliment?

This is not me being ignorant, I don't know the Spanish culture too well, nor would I claim that I did, but surely its almost equal to booing someone?

When we actually strung two passes together they began to whistle at us so I should imagine its not a good thing. Unless they fancied us.

Perhaps Cesc will keep this in mind when we are subjected to another campaign of will he leave/will he stay throughout the whole of summer.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Keep It Goonerish..........

And Who Said Arsenal Couldn't Defend?

2011-03-10T13:51:00.004Z

Arsenal impressed me during the first half in the Camp Nou the other night. We defended very well indeed.

People have said we were slaughtered like Amy Winehouse, well I'd agree we were in the second half. When down to 10 men.

However the first half we defended our goal like a bunch of old women defending their knitting needles. I was happy with that display.

I think Arsene Wenger set the team out to defend like we did. And if memory serves me correctly Barcelona had only 2 shots on goal other the actual goal itself, which came from a mistake.

Of course Barcelona had 99% of possession, something Arsenal are used to having, but they wasn't causing us too many problems.

In fact, I'd say that we had them rattled more than a rattle snake and had we gone into half-time at 0-0 their confidence would have been affected. We conceded a goal at the worst possible time.

Had Chelsea defended like we did in the first-half you would have said they were resolute. Because Arsenal don't play that way, and people say we can't defend, we were outplayed.

You are not going to have any choice other than to defend in long periods against Barcelona and I don't think we got enough credit for the way we handled them until we went down to 10 men.

That said we didn't do what we usually do very well. We gave the ball away a lot. It was like a hot potato at times.

Had we kept the ball better, I firmly believe the longer the game went on we would have won.

Credit must go to Barcelona though. Despite us frustrating them they kept to their principles and kept going. Do they have a plan B? Probably, but so do Arsenal now.

It can be ugly to watch 10 men defending behind the ball, we've seen that more times from the opposition than any, but it does frustrate the other team and can work.

Like my sisters pay-as-you-go phone I don't think Arsene Wenger has received enough credit.

It's said he can be tactically naive at times, something I agree with to a certain extent, but he wasn't during the first half in Barcelona.

He set up our stall to defend in numbers and it worked marvellously until injury time.

Arsenal can definitely defend well its just we won't ever get the chance to show it regularly because its not every day we face a team like Barcelona.

Teams usually do it us and receive loads of credit. Its a shame it doesn't work the other way round.

Keep It Goonerish..........

Talk About Spitting Your Dummy Out!

2011-03-06T17:20:00.004Z

No I am not talking about any sulking Gooners either because we have every right to have the hump!

I wet my knickers with laughter though after reading that Alex Ferguson was 'seething' after Manchester United's hiding at Anfield earlier.

Fair enough, United were beaten. I suppose that would make him slightly annoyed.

However, what made me chuckle was that he refused to do an interview. That is not the end of it though. He didn't allow his players to talk to the media either.

Now, I can understand being pissed off at losing such an important game but talk about spitting your dummy out!

Could you imagine the uproar if Arsene Wenger had done the same?

I have no doubt that every form of media would go into overdrive. Wenger would be hung, drawn and quartered. By his balls.

It would be on the front few pages of every newspaper, pushing murder stories to page 8, for at least a week.

Sky Sports would be going mental. Absolutely crazy in fact. Probably more crazy than Gennaro Gattuso on a sugar rush looking for Joe Jordan.

There would be more breaking news about it than an MC Hammer vs Vanilla Ice break-dance off.

Yet Alex Ferguson seems to get away with it. Why?

People love to have a pop at Arsene Wenger about some of his interviews but at least he does them. And I'm sure he does them all the time too.

Win, lose or draw, the Arsenal gaffer is there and always answers EVERY question put to him. You might not like his answer but he will always reply.

Can you say the same about Fergie?

Why Alex Ferguson gets so much respect from the media is beyond me. Harry Redknapp is the same but the less I say about him the better. I cannot bear that baggy-faced mug.

It has to be fear. The media are worried about receiving the famous 'Fergie hairdryer' treatment so they treat him with kid-gloves.

Maybe Arsene Wenger needs to tell an interviewer to 'fuck off' like Redknapp, maybe he needs to impose a media ban for his club like Ferguson.

Maybe, just maybe, Wenger might get the respect he deserves and not be treated with contempt from the media despite giving them all the time in the day.

Keep It Goonerish............

Bottle-Jobs, Too Reliant On RVP And Cesc, Just Plain Unlucky?

2011-03-05T17:15:00.006Z

........Or a combination of all three?

I feel very proud and privileged to be a Gooner but at times it can be so frustrating.

I don't know what would be more frustrating, watching that game today, or pulling Kelly Brook on a drunken night out and then being too pissed to get it up.

Probably an equal footing.

All I know is we dropped some very impotent, sorry IMPORTANT, points today and I hope it doesn't cost us at the end of the season.

It's been said that Arsenal have less bottle than Audley Harrison but I don't know if that is the case.

We do rely on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie a lot but I believe that any club would miss players of that quality.

Perhaps we miss Cesc more than RVP. I know Robin scores loads of goals when he isn't at the doctors but this system we play is built around our skipper and when he isn't involved we can lack creativity.

Why on Earth Arsene Wenger doesn't put Samir Nasri in the middle when Cesc is missing I'll never know. Surely that could go someway to solving that problem?

But then we do know that Arsene can do things a little differently at times.

That said I think its difficult to blame the gaffer for today. We battered Sunderland and at times I thought Arsenal were playing a sausage.

We didn't have the little bit of luck needed. We did everything but score and I honestly believe we wouldn't have scored in a brothel. Unless Wayne Rooney signed for us.

Andrey Arshavin had a goal disallowed and that was a liberty. It was never offside. Cheers Anthony Taylor. You minge.

I suppose it was just one of those days that do your head in but why do we seem to get them more than any other club? Are we cursed? Did we upset a Gypsy who supports Manchester United?

Again it's another day when the opposition 'keeper gets the M.O.M award and I often wonder if these goalies save their best for Arsenal. Like they get some kind of special 'played well against Arsenal' award at the end of the season.

A little bit of credit must go to Sunderland. They came for a point and they earned it.

So all in all, like every Gooner in the universe, I'm very disappointed but lets try and remain positive. There is a long way to go yet and we are still very much involved in a title race.

Keep It Goonerish.............

Kolo Toure - Innocent Until Proven Guilty And Deserves Our Support

2011-03-03T21:39:00.003Z

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that Kolo Toure had failed a drugs test.

And I wasn't hallucinating from illegal substances when I saw it either.

All jokes aside though, here is a man, a devout Muslim family man at that, who gave his all at Arsenal for seven seasons and I think he deserves our support.

There is no way that Kolo would take illegal drugs knowingly so there has to be an innocent explanation for this.

I have no doubt that he will receive a huge amount of stick for this episode but he won't get any from me. And I'm sure most, if not all Gooners, feel the same.

In this country you are innocent until proven guilty and I'd like to remind everyone of that.

Toure is an icon at Arsenal and I hope that he is cleared of any wrong doing. Which I'm sure he will be.

Keep your chin up Kolo!

Keep It Goonerish.............

Gooners Can Help Heal RVP's Knee, Says Uri

2011-03-03T14:40:00.019Z

Uri Geller called on Arsenal fans to help heal RVP's injured knee by rubbing a photo of the Dutchman (below).

Geller, a spoon-bending psychic and former best-mate of deceased pop star Micheal Jackson, believes that Gooners can create a huge surge of energy powerful enough to help the Arsenal striker regain his fitness.

He said: "I know it sounds light-hearted, but it is actually very serious."

"Send him healing energies, visualise the knee ligament knitting together, unleash your healing powers. Send the energy to that knee."

Uri Geller has claimed to be behind many extraordinary events. The Tottenham Hotspur Lasagne-Gate of 2006 was the most famous to date and even incurred a police investigation.

However surely getting Robin van Persie back to full-fitness would be a step too far. Even for the powers of Uri Geller.

Keep It Goonerish..........

Tony Pulis Set To Unleash The Kraken!

2011-02-22T18:57:00.005Z

I'm slightly perturbed by Tony Pulis. In fact, I'm a little more than freaked out.

Usually the man takes every chance possible in his stinking existence to have a pop at Arsenal. Today he kind of gives us a little gee-up.

To say I'm surprised is an understatement and I've come to the conclusion that he has either taken a whack on his head or he has fallen out with his posse.

Alex Ferguson, Phil Brown and Sam Allardyce will be disgusted and sickened that Pulis has given Arsenal a compliment.

I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if they threw him out of their gang forever. He has some serious sucking up to do.

Rule Number One in their crew is to hate and try to dig out Arsenal or Arsene Wenger at every opportunity given.

What the Stoke City manager has said in the link above is blasphemy of the worst kind. The 'c-word' has nothing on this.

I expect a Tony Pulis backlash after the game tomorrow night.

Fergie would have been on the phone and will demand an apology of biblical proportions.

Not only that, he will want Pulis to pull out the big guns and verbally, if not physically, attack Arsenal in the most outrageous way ever.

In the next 48 hours I predict that Tony Pulis will unleash the Kraken of all slagging offs. And even Perseus will be shocked by it.

Keep It Goonerish........

I'm Manuel Almunia...Get Me Out Of Here!

2011-02-21T20:34:00.004Z

Poor old Manuel Almunia really looks like he has had enough doesn't he?

He looks about as interested in playing for Arsenal as Elton John would be in a threesome with Megan Fox and Cheryl Cole and about as nervous as a virgin in the same situation.

To be fair who could blame him?

The Spaniard has never been a favourite with Gooners but even the most battle-hardened Almunia hater would admit that he was badly treated by Arsenal last summer.

Essentially he was hung out to dry, like my delicates, by a very public Arsenal chase for Fulham 'keeper Mark Schwarzer.

How Wenger could ever have expected Almunia to be at his best (no matter how bad that is) after being undermined like this I will never know.

Manuel has been like a dead-man walking ever since. I've seen more life in a tramps vest.

Arsene wanted a new number one and that was more obvious than Peter Crouch at a midget convention. He should have let Almunia go then.

Instead we have a keeper licking his wounds, someone who doesn't want to be here.

Despite Gooners reservations over him, he didn't need deserve this treatment because by all accounts Manuel Almunia is a nice guy.

He should have been allowed a dignified exit.

Keep It Goonerish..............

Well Played Leyton Orient. That's The Magic Of The FA Cup!

2011-02-20T18:28:00.003Z

Why am I not pissed off?

We have just drawn against a side that are two divisions below us and I am not the slightest bit annoyed.

In fact, and this is a proper fact, I was more annoyed when I rolled in dogs shit during my Sunday league match earlier than when Leyton Orient equalised.

Maybe the romantic side has come out in me. The romance of the FA Cup has a lot to answer for.

What a result for Leyton Orient. They get a replay out of us and earn a few more quid too.

Who really can begrudge them that? I know I can't.

The FA Cup can be more magical than David Blaine at times and today was a perfect example.

This will mean everything to everyone associated with Leyton Orient FC, and you can tell how much it meant to them at the final whistle.

How often will these players get the chance to play at a ground like the Emirates?

How often will the Orient fans get the chance to watch their team at a ground like the Emirates?

That's why the FA Cup is special.

Well done Leyton Orient. You deserve all the credit you get.

Keep It Goonerish...........

Arshavin's Goal Was Better Than Rooney's

2011-02-19T17:11:00.002Z

I'm not taking anything away from Wayne Rooney here. His goal (despite flying in off his shin) against Manchester City was a marvellous one.

Sky Sports certainly thought it was. Since the goal I must have seen it replayed more times than Rooney has banged call girls.

However, despite the media having a gangbang over it, I still think that Andrei Arshavin's one against Barcelona the other night was better.

Call me biased, call me a twat, I don't care. As Paul Merson would say, Arshavin's goal was a 'worldy'.

I've heard that Rooney's was special because it happened in the Manchester derby. The most important derby since 1345. Well, given the circumstances, I agree with that. It was special.

The game was neck and neck, mano el mano and needed something out of the ordinary to win the game. Rooney provided the finish and United won. Well done.

I'd argue that Arsenal's second against Barcelona was more important and the game far more bigger than the Manchester derby though.

According to most people this Barcelona side are the greatest team on planet Earth. Some even say that they are the greatest team in the universe. Ever.

Like others I really rate this Barca team too and I have to say that their gaffer, Pep Guardiola, is a wonder. In fact, I'd love him to take over us when Arsene Wenger leaves the club.

Because of all this it was vital that we took something to the Camp Nou and because of our fantastic winner we will do.

The way we took Barcelona apart to score that goal was nothing short of magical. We cut them open more than a surgeon performing a heart bypass.

The ITV commentator (a right tool) said it was a Barcelona goal scored by Arsenal. Wrong. It was an Arsenal goal scored by Arsenal and not only that, it was better than Rooney's.

The importance of it is unrivalled, the execution was more deadly than Saddam Hussein's, and the whole build-up and finish didn't rely on one ounce of fortune.

It was football, and Arsenal, at its purest.

Had it come from Barcelona or, dare I say, Manchester United, people would have gone into a orgasm frenzy of epic proportions.

Rooney's strike, albeit brilliant, could have ended up on planet Mars. It didn't and was a great goal.

Arshavin's goal, at the end of a move tearing the best team in the world a new arsehole, was better. Much better.

Keep It Goonerish............

An Open Letter To Xavier Hernández:

2011-02-17T14:41:00.003Z

Dear Mr Hernandez,

Can I call you Xavi? Or, as Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses or Gypsies would say, can I call you Chavvy?

Let me begin by saying that I think you are a marvellous footballer. I love to watch players like yourself play the game. At times its like watching my mate Phil play Fifa 2003 on Playstation 2 and he was well good at that game.

In the past I've heard you mention a lot about DNA. So much so, I thought you were a part-time genetic scientist or something during your spare time after training. You have mentioned Cesc Fabregas' FC Barcelona DNA loads. I only have normal DNA but I wish I had Arsenal DNA. That would be sooooo cool.

Recently Chavvy you have said quite a lot of naughty things and at times I think you are a nasty man but then I remember you have FC Barcelona DNA too and when people with that get older sometimes they have a mutation of the mind and it makes them go crazy. Well, that's what my teacher told me in Biology years ago.

I didn't know that you were a psychic either. But you aren't very good at that though are you Chavvy?! I remember reading this just before I went on holiday last summer and I thought 'Wow, this man is a scientist AND a psychic'.

You said that Cesc might join you at Barcelona in January when Arsenal are out of the title race and that the Gunners are just not competitive. You were wrong! What happened? Did your crystal ball break?

Not only are Arsenal still in the title race and in the running for four trophies, we are proving to be very competitive indeed. So competitive in fact we have just beaten YOUR team in the Champions League. I really, really, really hope you kept the receipt for that crystal ball Chavvy.

I'm not going to be arrogant like you Chavvy. I know that it will be a very hard game in Barcelona and we will have to do very well to knock you out but my advice to you would be to show a little humanity and a little less of the cockiness because it can bite you on the arse.

Yours,

Wrighty

Keep It Goonerish..........

Arsenal Midfielder Jack Wilshere Agrees To Join Barcelona In Summer - Report

2011-02-17T14:03:00.006Z

Jack Wilshere has agreed to leave Arsenal for Barcelona and will move to the Camp Nou in the Summer.

The Daily Bullshit claims that the England international will wear the famous red and blue next season after agreeing a deal with the Catalan giants.

The 19-year old will be given the number 4 jersey and is expected to pen a long-term contract until 2025.

The only sticking point in the deal is Arsenal's reluctance to sanction the transfer. However this will not stop the move from happening because FC Barcelona are the masters of the universe.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi, best known as 'el gallo' (the cock) spoke to the Daily Bullshit after the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal;

"Wilshere is part of Barcelona's DNA.

He would adapt perfectly to the club and the team. He is a fantastic player.

His Father bought him a FC Barca keyring in 2001 during a family holiday to Spain. It is his destiny to play with us.

We are pleased he is coming, Arsenal can't hold him against his will for much longer."

Keep It Goonerish..........

Could You Do To Gooners What Andy Carroll Has Done To The Toon Army?

2011-02-01T12:57:00.006Z

Some footballers can really sicken me. Even more so than a bottle of cheeky Tequila.

I cannot believe the transfer of Andy Carroll from Newcastle United to Liverpool. It really confuses me.

The fee is as unreal as Pamela Anderson's bangers. Seriously do you think that Andy Carroll is worth the reported fee of £35m?!

Carroll is a good player, maybe worth a punt at £12-15m but not what Liverpool have paid for him.

This is a player with no Champions League experience, less than a years worth of Premier league experience and one England cap to his name.

If Carroll is worth that, then how much is Nicklas Bendtner, a player slated all the time, worth?

In my opinion the football world has gone ab-so-lutely ga ga. Lady Gaga has nothing on the money spent by these clubs.

Of course Andy Carroll is full of potential, potential being the key word here, and the fee Liverpool paid for him is not his problem. But while the the transfer fee itself makes me dizzy, the fact that Carroll put in a transfer request pisses me off.

If someone like Andy Carroll puts in a transfer request then what hope is there for loyalty in the game?

Carroll is a player who support(s)ed Newcastle United and apparently dreamed of wearing the number 9 shirt with the club. He achieved that. He also signed a five-year-deal with the Toon in November and wanted to stay with the club forever.

Andy would have had the world at his feet whenever he stepped out into the city of Newcastle and would have been treated like a God. They love a local lad up there, especially one wearing the number 9 shirt.

So why hand in a transfer request?

Carroll is now saying that he was forced out of Newcastle. I'm sorry but I don't buy that. Nobody 'forced' him to request a transfer. He could have just said I don't want to leave and that is that.

If I played for Arsenal and was as loved by Gooners as much as Carroll was by Geordie's I would never leave the club. I wouldn't dream of it.

In fact, not even a loaded gun pointed to my head and the threat of being forced to watch Harry Redknapp interviews all day would force me.

Here we have a player who has fulfilled every Newcastle United supporting fans dreams and now let them down. Could you do to Gooners what he has done to the Toon Army?

There is not a lot of loyalty left in the game today. Every player is motivated by money and I think that the days of one-club-players have gone and won't be back.

And that is a sad situation.

Keep It Goonerish.............

My Gut Feeling Says We Won't Sign A Defender

2011-01-25T13:41:00.002Z

I've got a feeling brewing in my guts and I'm sure it isn't the Peking duck from the Chinese take-away I had last night taking its revenge or the whack on the knackers I received from my pal's two-year-old either this morning.

This feeling has been growing the longer this transfer-window has gone on and I'm starting to think that maybe it has a point. As the days go by so does my hope that we sign a much needed defender.

You never know with Arsene Wenger what will happen in a transfer-window but his comments that a loan-signing would be best for Arsenal today have swayed me more to the fact we won't be bringing anyone in.

Obviously the gaffer has a more extensive scouting system than I have but I've been wracking my bonce since I saw this and I cannot for the life of me think of anyone who would be available for loan in this position.

I suppose although myself and many others think that Arsene should bring someone in at the back it's not worth getting frustrated over. There is nothing we can do but sit and wait until the window closes and see what has happened.

January transfer windows are very annoying though. You wait for it and hope that problem areas in the squad can be rectified and then you wait some more. Then some more. Then some more and finally its all done and you realise you have just spent a month looking at Arsenal websites with your eye-balls hanging out your head.

I'm just going to take some deep-breaths and not be pissed off if we haven't brought anyone in by February 1st. I'm gearing myself up to believe we won't be signing anyone so I can avoid the inevitable disappointment if we don't.

Keep It Goonerish........

I Don't Think We Are 'Gunner' Sign Gary Cahill But I Reckon Christopher Samba Could Be On The Cards

2011-01-20T10:02:00.006Z

I've seen that Bolton have finally signed Middlesborough defender David Wheater.

So I suppose many people will now assume that an Arsenal move for Gary Cahill is on the cards.

I don't think it's going to happen.

For me David Wheater isn't a signing to replace Gary Cahill. The most probable player he is replacing is Andy O'Brien who left Bolton to join Leeds United permanently only recently.

Gary Cahill will cost a fortune and I don't think Arsene Wenger will spend huge money on a centre-back this January, that's even if he signs one at all.

In my opinion Wenger sees Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen as his first choice pairing at the back and an injury to our Belgian pal will not alter Arsene's long-term vision for them being a partnership.

Arsene won't jeopardise his ideas will he? We've seen that in the past when Arsenal have been crying out for a signing and it hasn't happened.

The figures bandied about for Gary Cahill are between £15-20m. Can you honestly see the Arsenal gaffer spending that much on a player? Especially a defender because I certainly can't!

That's why if we actually make a defensive signing I think it will be Christopher Samba.

The Blackburn man wants out of the club so could be available, speaks French, would be a lot cheaper than Cahill, and most importantly, is proven in the EPL.

Blackburn have apparently offered Samba a new contract to try and settle him but I think he will wait until the transfer dead-line passes or until Arsenal sign someone before he decides what to do.

I'm sure Samba would jump at a move to Arsenal. I don't know if he could make the step up in level but I do know he is a solid defender who doesn't mess about.

There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger would improve him as a footballer however but it would be refreshing to see a 'no-nonsense' defender at the club. I'd argue the last one of those we had was Martin Keown.

True Christopher Samba is no super-star but when does Wenger ever sign one of those? I think the Blackburn man is the target but whether we sign anyone is debatable.

Keep It Goonerish.........

They Can't Remain Unbeaten All Season Can They? CAN THEY?!

2011-01-16T21:15:00.004Z

I gotta admit I'm starting to shit myself a little bit here. I'm getting a tincey wincey bit nervous.

Watching Manchester United grind out a goal-less draw with Spurs today had me thinking, it had me thinking something bad. What I was thinking of was horrendous, more horrendous than the jumper my Nan lovingly knitted me for Christmas.

What was going through my mind might upset you, it may even scare you, you might want to look away for it could scar you for life.

I've tried knocking my head against a wall to remove this thought from my brain but alas it remains and the wall is battered. Are you ready for this monstrosity? Are you ready for this sick thought?

Could Manchester United remain unbeaten for the season? Could they do what we did? Be Invincible over a campaign?

The thought sends shivers down my spine but it is a realistic possibility.

United are more notorious than Biggy Smalls for becoming a stronger force in the second half of the season and they haven't seemed to have hit top gear yet. But they remain unbeaten!

That said they could go unbeaten and not actually win the league, it is that tight at the top of the table.

Luckily they have a lot of hard games to play, including playing us at the Emirates so it will prove to very difficult for them to equal our fantastic achievement but it is achievable none the less.

I hate the thought that they might do what we did. That is our fame to claim. We are the Invincibles, not them.

The image of Fergie with that bright red nose crowing over the fact they can claim to be invincible too, sickens me. It sickens me more than vomit.

They can't do it can they?

Keep it Goonerish.........

Barcelona Striker Lionel Messi Agrees To Join Arsenal On Five-Year Deal - Report

2011-01-09T18:20:00.004Z

Lionel Messi has agreed to leave Barcelona for Arsenal and will move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

The Sunday Bullshit claims the Argentine international will don the famous red and white shirt next season after agreeing a deal with the North London giants.

The 23-year-old will also be given the number 100 jersey and is expected to pen a twenty year deal until June 2031.

However, Arsenal will have to negotiate a transfer with Barcelona who would be resistant to a move.

But, £10.74 and a packet of Pickled Onion flavour Monster Munch could be enough to convince L'equip Blaugrana into parting company with their man.

Keep It Goonerish.........

Roberto Mancini Has Just Killed Your Poxy Excuses And Mugged You Off!

2011-01-06T14:16:00.006Z

If a team assembled together at a cost totalling over a trillion pounds, 1973 pure gold bars, 45 Ruby's, a diamond mine and a sack of potatoes come to you and play pure lock-down tactics then I think they are paying you the ultimate compliment.

Its either that or the club has an Italian manager in charge.

Of course its easy for us to mock Manchester City for coming to the Emirates with such a negative attitude but the truth is they came for that 0-0 result and that is what they have achieved.

I prefer to mock them with the fact that they have long grumbled about only having ten men when we whopped their rich asses 3-0 at the Eastlands earlier this season. Excuses, excuses in my book.

This time the match began and ended with an even amount of players on the pitch but still they couldn't defeat us. So that argument is done. They can no longer try to use the excuse of only having ten men in that loss.

City had eleven players until the final minute and despite this numerical fact their supporters have completely embarrassed themselves because Mancini has shown that even with an equal number of players on the pitch, he will do just whatever possible to avoid defeat.

Despite Manchester City's obvious lack of ambition, Arsenal showed the complete opposite and were very unlucky not to have won the game. On the other hand lady luck smiled on the Sky Blues all night, so much so, you would thought they were shagging her. If they had managed to have signed John Terry the other summer then they probably would be.

I thought Arsenal were excellent last night. So excellent in fact I could waiver the fact we only picked up a point when on another day it would have been three. Look at it like this, had a genie or Mystic Meg came to you in the summer and said these very words; "You will take 4 points from Manchester City this campaign" you would be happy right? I would have bitten her hand off there and then.

On that note its quite obvious how far they have come and that they are serious title contenders this season. Whether you like it or not, City are here to stay even if it means parking that big blue bus at every ground this season.

Arsenal too are very much in the title race and the signs are that the squad is beginning to believe it. Of course they will be frustrated at not winning last night but believe me if we perform like that for the rest of the season we have a great chance of winning the league.

Talking about Manchester City I have to add this. Until this sudden influx of Arabian cash came flooding in like a flock of mice who have spied a cheese sandwich I found Manchester City fans quite charming. I actually liked the fact they were humble but I'm afraid now some of this cash richness has gone to their swedes.

I remember the same happened to Chelsea fans (although Chelsea fans have always been arrogant). They began to think they were a huge club straight away and demanded to be cast in the same league as the elite. They became very arrogant.

I would hope that City fans wouldn't do the same. Use the example of Chelsea and do the exact same opposite. Yes you struck gold but be humble with it, and endear yourselves to people like you used too.

Other clubs supporters are not jealous of you and all your green, we just don't like it to rubbed in our noses every five minutes. Manchester City are more loaded than an AK47 or Amy Winehouse after visit to the bogs, we know that, but we don't need to be reminded of it.

Keep It Goonerish.................

Lets Just Hope That The Manchester City Squad Don't Start Liking Each Other!

2011-01-04T13:30:00.009Z

How many bust-ups has Roberto Mancini had to deal with in his time at Manchester City? I stopped counting at 3421.

It seems every week that the Italian has to deal with yet another spat between his players. To me it appears there are too many big time charlies at Eastlands with massive egos.

Emmanuel Adebayor probably has the biggest opinion on himself on this planet. I'm sure this is a humongous reason why Arsene Wenger snatched up the £25m for him offered by City.

The Togolese man has to decide whether he wants to box his team-mates or play football with them. I see today he has had another tear-up, this time with another former Gunner Kolo Toure.

Now Kolo is a very mild-mannered player and peaceful person. We saw that in all his years with us, so for him to decide that he wants to be Rocky for 5 minutes says a lot about the tension up at Manchester.

It's not in Kolo's nature to act this way, especially towards a team-mate, so I blame Adebayor. The man is a pure liability, despite having ability, and having someone like him in the squad is bound to cause serious grief.

Looking at the amount of arguments and bare-knuckle fighting going on at Manchester City tells me that things aren't all rosy behind the scenes at the club. Despite this they sit third in the table and I think Mancini is doing a good job there.

People say it's good to have feisty players and that a little bit of fighting between players is better than having a group of softies but I don't 100% agree with that. Of course you want winners but surely its better to have a bunch of players who get on?

You sense that with the Arsenal players. Arsene Wenger has had this squad together for a while now and its clear that they all get on. There is plenty of harmony within the Arsenal ranks, something that clearly isn't there at City.

That's why I think Mancini is going a good job keeping Manchester City in the title race. It must be hard trying to keep on top of several egotistic footballers desperate to be the number one player at the club.

Its easy to say that the players are professionals and a few disagreements shouldn't affect performances on the pitch but in the end I think it will tell. I can honestly see Manchester City self-destructing this season.

At the moment they are challenging for honours so these minor boxing matches can be overlooked but there could be a moment things take a turn for the worst and I can vision a Royal Rumble at the City of Manchester that not even Hulk Hogan could referee.

If the City squad actually began to like each other like Arsenal's do then the rest of the Premiership would probably be in serious trouble. You can say all you want about them spending more money than Elton John does on flowers, in my opinion they have the most talented squad in the league.

Luckily for the rest of us they don't seem to like each other much so a melt-down of extra-large proportions is most likely to be round the corner. We of course can take advantage of that, especially tomorrow at the Emirates. Maybe that is where the spectacular fall-out begins.

Keep It Goonerish..............

Could FC Barcelona Cope In The Barclays Premier League? I Don't Think So!

2011-01-03T14:45:00.008Z

Ever since Arsenal were drawn against FC Barcelona in the Champions League people have said that we are on a hiding to nothing and that it will be like men against boys.

Pretty much everyone on this Earth, and their dog, believes that it is simply a formality that Barcelona will crush us. We will be destroyed, or if you like, Barcered.

In fact, we might be Barcered so bad, that it could be an embarrassment.

Luckily I don't follow this herd. Of course I know it will the hardest test we come up against this season. Barcelona ARE the best team in the world but the best team in the world doesn't always win. The law of averages won't allow it.

Who knows? When the time comes around to play these beasts of football they might not look so good. They could be out of sorts, whereas we could be liquorice allsorts, I mean, bang-in-form.

Football is a funny ol' game of sorts.

Of course Barcelona against English teams over two-legs can look superior but how would they cope with the rigours of the Barclays Premier League week-in week-out like we do?

Teams kick the shit out of Arsenal in most games, that is a scientific fact, and I often wonder how Barcelona would deal with playing against sides determined not to be taken the piss out of all the time.

Could you imagine Barcelona having to play away, in winter, in consecutive games at grounds like Ewood Park and the Britannia Stadium? Imagine how Carles Puyol and the like would deal with a 100 yard throw-in by Rory Delap or Christopher Samba in your face for 90 minutes?

Don't get me wrong, I believe Barcelona are mustard but I don't think they could handle the English Premier League every week.

A lot of people think that the standard of the English league has dropped slightly. Maybe in regards to the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea this is true. However the other clubs in the division have improved hugely, more hugely than Frank Lampard's arse over Christmas.

The Spanish league is lovely to watch but seriously, in my opinion, it is a glorified Scottish League in truth. I mean no disrespect to the Scot's but they know the truth. The SPL is a poor league and of course the standard in La Liga is higher than that but you can predict the top two every year.

I don't think that Barcelona could walk away with the title in England like they do in Spain. Of course they would challenge for it but I would love to see how they would cope in our league over a season.

I love the way they play football and could watch them all day long. Could they do that week-in week-out though with teams beating the granny of out them?

Keep It Goonerish...........

Is Drogba Still In Djourou's Pocket?

2010-12-29T14:57:00.002Z

At last Johan Djourou is beginning to gain some recognition.

I've rated this fella for a long time and have always believed that he could become a top-class centre-back.

The other night he had Didier Drogba in his pocket so much so I wouldn't be surprised if Drogba was still in there next to some lint and a two bob note.

Granted, the Chelsea man has chewed up our defence and spat them out more times than a Native American munching on tobacco but what a performance by Johan! He was smoking.

The geezer was immense and it seems at last we have someone in the ranks who can handle a powerful striker and lets be honest, they don't come more powerful than Drogba.

In the summer I think a lot of people had Djourou down as Arsenal's fourth choice centre-back, that was something I didn't agree with, but the fact he is getting so much praise now is testament to how far he has come.

Gooners now believe in him and that is very important. It will mean a lot to Johan and now I'm sure he will have even more belief in himself.

Of course he has had injury problems, like many have in our squad, and if he can overcome the niggles and grief I have no hesitation in saying that Djourou will become one of Europe's best defenders.

When Thomas Vermaelen returns from injury I'm sure that it will be him and Johan as the first choice pairing at the back. I'm more than happy with that.

Keep It Goonerish.........

Some Chelsea Fans Are Just Bitter W*nkers!

2010-12-28T17:56:00.003Z

I've thought this for a long time but I have to say that it was finally confirmed to me about 22:34 last night; Chelsea fans irritate me more than any other.

I'm not knocking all Chelsea supporters. I'm sure that there are some nice ones out there. This fella on the Chelsea Daft blog seems like a reasonable bloke. He even gives us some credit.

But most of the others (not on that blog in particular) are just bitter wankers.

You have to admit that their recent silverware collection is quite impressive but with that trophy haul the Chelsea fans have developed a very arrogant attitude. Fuck knows why. They were fuck-all until a Russian gangster saved them from extinction.

To be truthful I'd have thought that maybe they would be a little more humble considering they were on the brink of going more skint than MC Hammer. I might have thought being humble would have been a good option after being outplayed for 90 minutes and soundly beaten, but no. The arrogance and bitterness still shone through.

Especially at 22:34 last night.

I have to hold my hands up here, I did begin the wind-up as soon as the final whistle went at the Emirates. I had typed a text message into my mobile phone ready to be sent to two Chelsea supporters I know. It simply stated; "Too easy".

Now this may seem as arrogant as those mugs but there was a reason I sent it. Earlier in the season when Chelsea beat us I received that exact message myself from one of those pals of mine. So really me sending it back is just a bit of friendly banter right?

What I got back made laugh and realise that I can't stand Chelsea fans, even more so than Spurs supporters. It was solid abuse and to be honest they made themselves sound like spoilt little brats. They proper spat their dummies out.

You know the funniest text I got? That we were lucky. Now I'm not sure what game the sender of that message watched but to suggest that Arsenal were fortunate to win is at best deluded.

It's this arrogance and mugginess that I can't bear and Chelsea fans have both in abundance. I know that the Gooners sworn enemies are Tottenham but I'd say that I hate Chelsea fans more than them.

In the Gunners pub last night I saw a Gooner with the words on back of his Arsenal shirt saying "You can't buy history". That couldn't be more true and unfortunately though it appears that you can buy pure 100% unadulterated arrogance.

The bitterness shone through last night. I can understand being disappointed at being beaten, especially by a club they usually rob three points off every game but just show a bit of decency and admit defeat. It might even endear people to you a little bit.

Keep It Goonerish.......

So, What Is The Difference Between Fabregas, Rooney And Tevez Then?

2010-12-21T19:08:00.005Z

Since Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney handed in transfer requests something has really bugged me.

Why does nobody really question either players loyalty to their clubs?

They both told their employers that they wanted to leave, made it public, and put it in writing.

Of course the pair retracted the requests in the end but to me it almost seems as though the fact both want(ed) to leave has been swept under the carpet.

Especially in Rooney's case.

In the summer it was clear that Cesc Fabregas was torn between staying at Arsenal or leaving us for a club very close to his heart.

Barcelona, the club he has supported his whole life, managed by his footballing idol Pep Guardiola, made a very public chase for him.

No wonder he was torn between staying with us or leaving.

One thing he never did was throw his toys out of his pram. Fabregas never did what Tevez and Rooney have done.

Cesc never put in a transfer request yet his loyalty to Arsenal is forever being questioned, tenfold now we have drawn Barcelona in the Champions League again.

Fabregas never went as far as either of those two yet the story of him joining Barcelona still lingers.

Why?

As far as I am aware Fabregas has shown a lot of loyalty to Arsenal and yet his integrity towards the club is always questioned.

Rooney and Tevez went a lot further than he did yet it appears that they have been forgiven and the episode forgotten.

Why can't Fabregas be given the same treatment?

Keep It Goonerish................

Why Not Try Thomas Vermaelen (When Fit) At Left Back?

2010-12-16T18:14:00.002Z

I agree with many Gooners out there that Gael Clichy has been out of sorts in recent times.

It's a shame because he is a such a loyal player to the club and is the last link we have to the Invincible team of 2003/04.

It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason why Clichy seems to have regressed.

Maybe the current formation doesn't suit him as he doesn't seem to get a lot of protection from whoever plays in front of him.

I'd say that Gael looks a lot more comfortable in the 4-4-2 formation Arsene Wenger used to use.

So much more comfortable in fact a couple of years ago I was confident that he would one day become the best left-back in the world so I'm certain that he can't have turned into a bad player overnight.

Maybe Gael needs a time-out to recharge his batteries and get his head together.

Obviously Kieran Gibbs is next in line for the left-back slot but his injuries are so common at the moment a regular run in the side for him is impossible.

I feel for Kieran. He clearly has potential but every time he gets a chance to shine he gets injured. Despite him being injury-prone I've no doubt that he will be Arsenal and England's future left-back.

Whilst Clichy has been inconsistent and Gibbs spends a lot of time in the treatment room I think that Thomas Vermaelen could be a short term answer to the position.

Of course he is injured at present but when he recovers he could play there and a back four of Vermaelen-Djourou-Squillaci-Sagna looks very solid in my book.

There is the problem that Vermaelen is probably our best centre-back so it may seem daft to take him out of the centre of defence but surely it would tighten us up at the back?

Thomas plays left-back for Belgium quite regularly and did so for Ajax too. He is used to the position so I'm sure he would be comfortable there.

We all know he likes to get forward and Wenger encourages his full-backs to roam forward at every opportunity so he would enjoy it.

The most important aspect though in my opinion is that he defends first and obviously is a natural defender, definitely more so than Clichy and Gibbs at present.

And Arsenal need to defend better.

Keep it Goonerish.........

VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT Or In Some Cases; NOT!

2010-12-14T17:17:00.005Z

I never thought I would say this but sometimes I am sick to death of the whining and whinging of my fellow Gooners.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. I respect that. But sometimes the criticism of Arsene Wenger, the players and the club in general borders on the verge of hatred.

VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT is our motto. It means VICTORY GROWS OUT OF HARMONY.

Look around and you will definitely see that isn't a lot of harmony amongst Gooners at the moment.

Supporting a club is about being there for the good times and the bad times. We are lucky that we love and support a club like Arsenal.

We should uphold our motto, we have a duty to and we need to do so, especially with the challenges ahead of this season.

Who knows? In a months time things could so much more rosier. And, if you are completely honest, things aren't really that bad at present are they?

Of course things can be frustrating, I will never deny that, but surely a little harmony amongst us Gooners would go a long way?

Supporting a club is about respecting everything about it. Its history and what a club stands for. Sometimes I wonder whether some Gooners do that.

In my opinion constructive criticism is fine but when I see some Gooners slagging off Arsenal just for the sake of it and with no real reason to do so it annoys me.

I'm not suggesting that everything is perfect at the club, I know that and you know that, but at the moment there is a real split amongst us and that is worrying.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me on this but surely we should uphold our motto a little more?

Keep it Goonerish...........

I'm Glad We Didn't Sign Joe Cole Now

2010-12-12T21:46:00.002Z

I'm soooooooo glad we didn't sign Joe Cole in the summer now.

In fact, I even wonder whether Wenger made an inquiry at all?

Don't get me wrong, Cole is a very good player but he hasn't exactly hit dizzy heights at Anfield has he?

I admit I was slightly gutted when Liverpool signed Joe Cole on a free transfer. I concede that I really really wanted him to arrive at the Emirates.

Here was a player, available on a free transfer, who from what I heard, wanted to sign for Arsenal.

I thought it would have been a great signing and another added bonus would have been we nicked him off Chelsea under the noses of Spurs!

When I think about it now maybe I was blinded by the fact Cole is a big name player.

We don't seem to sign many of those and the excitement could have caused me to be slightly blind to the fact we had an emerging player coming through the ranks who was ready to make a breakthrough into the first-team.

Had we brought Cole to the club then obviously it would have blocked young Jack Wilshere's path into the side.

Wilshere has been brilliant this season and is probably my favourite Arsenal player these days.

Don't get me wrong, Joe Cole is an experienced player with plenty of ability but I'd rather have Jack Wilshere all day long.

While I don't doubt that Cole would have done a decent job with us I'm glad that Arsene Wenger knew better than the likes of me and resisted signing him knowing that Wilshere was ready for first-team action.

I've always rated Jack but if you would have told me 12 months ago he could be starting at Old Trafford, in such a crucial match, I would have been slightly worried.

Now I have no such worries and I believe he is ready to play anywhere despite his age.

Wilshere played at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and more than held his own. In fact, he was marvellous that day and impressed so much.

The boy has so much talent and the fact he has been raised through the ranks with us makes him extra special.

I hope he starts tomorrow night against Manchester United. I really believe he would shine there.

He has the potential to become an Arsenal great and I cannot speak highly enough of him. I'm so pleased that he is a first-team regular.

Sometimes we criticise Arsene Wenger for his dealings in the transfer market.

Of course sometimes he gets things wrong. Who doesn't?

What I will say is this is one decision he got spot on.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Patrice Evra's Comments Should Be Taken As A Complement

2010-12-10T12:52:00.004Z

I'm sure many Gooners will be pissed off with Patrice Evra after his comments that Arsenal were a 'training centre' and that we have 'nothing' on Manchester United.

Do not give him the satisfaction of letting him wind you up! The gobby little shite wants a reaction and wants to get underneath Arsenal's skin.

Arsene Wenger's team-talk has now been done for him. He only has to pin this up on the changing room wall before the game and that is motivation in itself.

The reason Evra pipes up about Arsenal every time we play them is because he sees us as a threat.

He rarely says anything about any other club and for some reason we rile him.

Perhaps it is jealousy? Perhaps its because Wenger loves signing French players and Evra feels left out?

All I know is Patrice Evra sees Arsenal as a rival, and perhaps at the moment, the direct rival to Manchester United for the Premiership title.

He can say what he likes. I quite like it. It reminds me of the days when Vieira and Keane did battle. It means we are back and in the mix.

I'd love a new decade of Arsenal and Manchester United dominance. Those were good days and exciting to watch.

Now we have to contend with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City too.

For Evra to dig us out makes me feel that Arsenal and Manchester United are proper rivals again. I see it as a backhanded complement.

Keep it Goonerish..........

Yeah It Was Laboured, Yeah It Was Sh*t, But It Can't Always Be Sublime!

2010-12-08T21:49:00.005Z

Right, lets be honest, that performance was an absolute pile of shite. Pure and utter dookie.

But really who cares?

The main thing is that we are through to the last 16 stage of the Champions League isn't it?

Sure it was more painful to watch at times than having an ingrown toe nail but at the end of the day our name is in the hat for the next round.

Of course we know we can play better than that, in fact my Nan could play better than that, so things can only get better. Right?

Obviously the performance was pony and Wenger left the changes too late (in my opinion) again but we won. That's all that counts.

Maybe we have been too spoiled over the years. We expect super sublime performances every game and that is just not possible.

Footballers have off-days too, they are human, and tonight was an off-night.

There are question marks over whether we can win the Champions League but when have we ever done things easy?

We should have qualified to the last 16 in the Stone Age but we decided to make it hard for ourselves.

That's cool.

We face one of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Schalke. Not the easy route but I guarantee none of that lot will fancy playing us.

You have to play the best to win the Champions League. Bring 'em on!

I wasn't expecting to play any big guns until later in the competition but shit happens.

We've scored the most home goals in Champions League group history and the best progression rate to the last 16 of the English teams involved.

Not too bad eh?

A win is a win. Ugly or beautiful. They all count.

Keep it Goonerish...............

Adebayor Has F*cked Himself

2010-12-06T15:12:00.003Z

I'd love to say that I feel sorry for Emmanuel Adebayor but I just can't.

The man has completely and utterly fucked himself. His career at the moment is right in the balance and it appears that nobody wants him.

It seems Manchester City, his employers, do not want him and even that shlaaaaaag Harry Redknapp, who tries to turn all his clubs into mini-Arsenals, has turned a blind eye.

It could have been all so different for Adebayor.

Had he stayed at Arsenal I firmly believe that he could have progressed into one of the worlds top strikers. Honestly.

He can say all he wants that we should be grateful for receiving the sum we did for him from Manchester City but deep down I'm sure he regrets leaving Arsenal.

Of course Adebayor earns huge money at City. Those earnings probably soften the pain from the splinters in his arse gained from the bench, but surely playing regularly is what most professional footballers want to be doing.

Under Arsene Wenger he could have become an Arsenal icon. Instead he saw pound notes waved in front of him and took the bait.

His career and reputation is in tatters and I remember all those City fans coming on here to gloat when they signed him.

Now they curse him.

When at Arsenal Adebayor needed the right guidance. He isn't the brightest bulb in the box. Instead he got the wrong advice and look where he is now.

I know almost 99.9% of Gooners were glad to see the back of him, I was one of them. But he had talent and nurtured the right way would have made the most of that talent.

The money maybe greener but the grass isn't always greener and Adebayor has truly mangled his career.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Andrey Arshavin Has Got His Enthusiasm Back!

2010-12-06T11:54:00.010Z

Samir Nasri has been Arsenal's best player so far this season and quite rightly is the name on all Gooners lips.

I'd even go as far as saying that had he been born on these shores then the English media would be wanking furiously over him just like they are over Gareth Bale.

Unfortunately a French man will never get the plaudits like a British man over here!

Thanks to France leaving him out of their World Cup squad Nasri seems to be a man possessed this campaign.

Eager to prove himself and France wrong, he has been a revelation. Dragging us through sticky situations he has been compared to past Arsenal greats Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg for his new-found goal scoring ability from midfield.

I kind of feel for Samir. He has been compared to so many players. The new Zidane, the new Pires and the new Freddie. I think he is just Samir Nasri and a player in his own right.

The summer of 2010 has seen a new Nasri. Reborn with a point to prove. And we are reaping the benefits!

As I've said Nasri is THE man at Arsenal right now but someone else's recent improving form has gone relatively unnoticed.

Like Samir Nasri's, Andrey Arshavin's form is getting better in recent weeks too.

I don't know if its anything to do with the weather conditions in England getting rapidly colder but I have definitely seen an improvement in the little Russian lately.

I think it would be fair to say that over the last 12 months we have only seen glimpses of Arshavins talent and what he can actually do.

It appeared that he lost a lot of enthusiasm for the game after his country, Russia, were beaten in the World Cup 2010 qualification play-offs against Slovenia and although its taken a long time to get rid of that hang-over I think he is finally turning the corner.

He has that ability to do something special and he is a match-winner. Frustrating at times but an important player none the less.

If Arshavin can continue to improve his form and get back to the top of his game then he will be just as important to Arsenal as Nasri is proving to be.

Keep it Goonerish.........

Are Gooners Hypocrites Or Just Desperate?

2010-12-01T17:37:00.004Z

In a way I find it slightly embarrassing that we are chasing the Carling Cup 'trophy' after dismissing it as being 'Mickey Mouse' in recent years.

When the Spuds won it I laughed. It wasn't a 'real' trophy and we had better things to aim for. Watching them parade the Carling Cup had me pissing my knickers.

We were the mighty Arsenal and 'that' trophy was beneath us.

Even the FA Cup, a competition Arsene Wenger used to take seriously, took a backseat as we pursued the major honours in the game.

The Premiership title and Champions League were our targets. Especially Arsene Wenger's.

Now what? Finally the Carling Cup is being taken seriously because we haven't won a thing for nearly six years.

I don't buy it. How can I?

Sorry, I know it would be great to actually win something after so long (despite the longer periods of not winning things in our history) without silverware but for some reason I'd feel a bit hypocritical to celebrate winning the Carling Cup.

Of course I want Arsenal to win the damn thing. I want Arsenal to win everything but we usually 'dismiss' the Carling Cup as a youth exercise and that is down to Arsene Wenger.

Over the years Wenger has blooded his youngsters through this competition and now we have to win it, to keep the pressure off him, we are using stronger team-sheets and it all seems slightly fake to me.

I know the players are professionals and should aim to win every trophy but they would have noticed that Wenger in recent years has seen the Carling Cup as second-rate. A cup not really worth winning so why now?

I hate having a pop at Wenger, believe me I do, but how can we go from not caring about the Carling Cup to it suddenly becoming a major honour again?

By treating the Carling Cup (and FA Cup) as being not that 'important' to win Wenger has bred complacency in the squad. They are both more than winnable competitions and maybe if taken a little more seriously in the past, and not just now, we wouldn't have gone without a trophy since 2005.

On the positive side winning the Carling Cup could springboard this Arsenal squad onto future success. That would be brilliant and of course that is the view of a lot of Gooners these days.

I do understand that reasoning. I believe that could be the case too.

However I think raising the Carling Cup is more down to keeping people off Wenger's back. People have been banging on about us not winning things for a while now and Arsene is under-pressure, probably the most pressure in his Arsenal career, to win something.

I'm just finding it hard to get excited about the Carling Cup. I've spent so long not even considering it as a 'proper' trophy that I feel a bit embarrassed that now it is considered a priority.

Maybe I'm just being a mug and should be more grateful that we are in with a serious shout of winning something but its just the way I feel.

Keep it Goonerish.............

The Invincibles Would Have Gone TWO Seasons Unbeaten These Days!

2010-11-23T22:07:00.004Z

In recent weeks Arsenal have left me more gutted than a Tuna fish fresh from the Atlantic Ocean.

In fact, the way things are going we might even be watching Arsenal on a Thursday night in the Europa League!

Arsene Wenger really needs to kick this lot up the arse. And quick. No more excuses, just be brutal.

The Premiership is there for the taking and yet we seem to be bottling it. This could be the easiest title that Wenger has ever won for Arsenal.

We should have qualified from the Champions League group stage already. Instead we are left sweating it out in the last game.

Just what is going on?

I used to laugh at teams having a serious go at winning the Carling Cup. I called it a joke.

Now I realise by disregarding it, and in some ways the FA Cup, Wenger has just bred complacency throughout the club.

That winning mentality has left the club.

"The Invincibles" would have smashed this seasons Premiership title by a record number of points.

In fact, "The Invincibles" would have gone TWO seasons unbeaten.

I'm telling you now, the state the Premiership is in now that side would crushed any fucker in the way.

It's not that the other teams in the division have improved rapidly, its that the so-called top-four have deteriorated and gone down in standards.

If any team put a run together then the title is theirs. That's what frustrates me.

We lack winners and that's why I worry so much. Cesc Fabregas looks like a beaten man. He is a World Cup and European Champion. He wants to win.

He looks round at this side and how many are winners?

His team-mates are bottling it. But they are not completely to blame.

Arsene Wenger needs to shoulder some blame too. He built this side but it has been built on complacency. As long as they play pretty football its ok. Winning isn't everything.

That's what most of this squad believes, with a couple of exceptions.

We need to change something. Maybe its the back-room staff that needs a shake-up? It's obvious Wenger needs to buy players who have won things.

What ever it is, something needs to be done or we will be kicking ourselves come May that we haven't won the easiest title we ever could.

Keep it Goonerish.............

JET Wonder Goal, If Ronaldo Or Messi Did This You Wouldn't Hear The End Of It!

2010-11-12T09:15:00.004Z

My mate just sent me this via the wonderful creation that is 'e-mail'.

I tells ya, this JET fella must be knocking on the door to the first team harder than those little gits banging on my door on Halloween the other night.

Just look at the size of the geezer! And too have that much skill, ability and the damn right cheek of actually attempting this tekker!

All I could do was sit there with my mouth open wide and dribble.

If Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi scored this goal I have no doubt that football fans across the globe would be cumming in their pants/knickers.

Just enjoy it. I did. Gone through five pairs of pants.

Keep it Goonerish.........

Kick 'Em Up The Arsenal Arsene!

2010-11-09T18:29:00.004Z

I know Arsene Wenger is a genius and I am a mere mortal but I'd love it if sometimes he just lost the plot in an interview.

People probably won't agree with me here but I'd find it refreshing if Arsene really gave it both barrels to the squad in public after suffering such a sloppy defeat like we did against Newcastle United.

Don't get me wrong, in my opinion, Chris Hughton's side deserved the win but that was a game we should be winning if we want to nick the title off Chelsea this season.

Maybe Wenger gave it to the players in the changing room, maybe a few tea-cups were thrown around, but I still feel a public dressing down would give these players a kick up the arse.

For me saying we were unlucky in defeat just breeds a little complacency. Sure I can understand Arsene wanting to protect his players but sometimes a bit of tough love can go a long way.

I saw Jack Wilshere's twitter (he said it was just a bad day at the office) and whilst I agree to a certain extent it has to be more than that.

Was losing at home to West Brom a bad day too? If so we are fast running out of 'bad days lives' and need to address it. Sharpish.

We were bailed out by Chelsea losing too but that doesn't really make me feel any better about it. I view it as losing vital points and ground in the title race.

The next three league games will shape our season. Three games tougher than the steak I had at the weekend and we have to bounce back. Hard.

Arsenal cannot afford many more slip ups. We face some potential banana skins in the next couple of weeks. Its a big big test.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Robin van Persie Needs To Take A Leaf Out Of Michael Essien's Book!

2010-11-04T17:07:00.002Z

I cannot believe that Holland have called-up Robin van Persie for their friendly with Turkey on November 17.

What surprises me even more is that van Persie will actually join up with the Dutch.

Surely Arsenal should be Robin's priority?

It seems he has spent more time off the pitch than on it in recent years so doesn't he owe it to Arsenal to get fit, actually play for us, earn his wages, and not swan off to play in a meaningless friendly?

Of course I can understand that being called-up for your country is a major honour and privilege but look at Michael Essien. The Ghanaian has stopped playing for his nation in the short-term to focus on playing for Chelsea.

Maybe Robin van Persie should do the same thing and focus his career on Arsenal, the club who nurse him though the injuries, the club who pay his wages, and the club who stay loyal to him despite him never being available.

I'm not having a pop at van Persie here, I just think his priorities are wrong. He owes it to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger and us, the fans, to begin playing regular football.

Robin, for me, loves Arsenal and clearly loves playing for his country but he needs weigh things up. I'm sure a break from international football would help him in the long-run despite it being painful turning down Holland in the short-term.

Essien has done it, so can van Persie.

Keep it Goonerish...........