Gallas is not that bad!

When we signed William Gallas as part of the Ashley Cole deal I was amazed. I was amazed because it was surprising that Chelsea would let him go. One thing for certain was Jose Mourinho didn't want him to leave Stamford Bridge despite getting the signature of Ashley Cole.

Jose Mourinho rated Gallas very highly and saw not just one player but three due to Gallas' versatility across the back line. I was very happy about the deal and to this day I still am. Gallas hasn't become a bad player overnight though if you listen to some Gooners you would think he is one of the worst players in the world of football!

I believe that the stigma attached to Gallas being an ex-Chelsea player goes against him. Some Gooners hate Chelsea so much that every little wrong doing on Gallas' part is held against him because of this. He can't change his past, he played for Chelsea but he doesn't anymore. He plays for our club and is our captain.

I think Gallas is our best centre back and is the right man to be Arsenal skipper. A lot of Gooners blame him for our defensive frailty's but its not just him at the back, there are three others. Kolo Toure is probably our weakest link at the back in his present form. The problem is we all love Kolo and rightly so, but this love leads to us being blind to his mistakes and believe me at the moment Kolo is making more errors than William Gallas.

Gallas is the most experienced player in the Arsenal side and highly respected in the dressing room by all the players. The players look up to him as the senior figure in the squad and you can the influence he has over them in the pre-match speech that he gives.

Gallas is far from perfect but is still one of the best defenders in the world. I'm happy that we have him here at the Emirates despite plenty of Gooners thinking otherwise.

Keep it Goonerish...........

A Spurs fan says Arsenal are a feeder club?!!!!

I've probably made this Spud's day by using his/hers/its comment as a reason for writing this article. Parts did make me laugh, mainly because of the content and the delusional aspect that the Spuds really have.

"Face it, the little shites off next summer, you'll except less than 20million for him and you'll be fucked cos the rest of the team is pathetically overrated and are a bunch of egotistical softies. you wont have the money to replace him cos your board will pocket the cash before they all naff of to switzerland and leave you at the hands of a corrupt russian who will rape the club piece by piece on his way to making a profit for himself. Your a feeder club now so face facts and deal with it. arsenal is a stepping stone you never keep any of your players anymore. why?? because your rubbish and cant, wont and dont win naff all."

Of course White Hart Warrior, protector of all things Tottenham is referring to Cesc Fabregas, his/her/its wisdom is astounding. We should all bow down to White Hart Warrior as clearly he/she/it has the knowledge that us mere Gooners do not possess.

The part of the comment that made me laugh was the feeder club jibe. I'm sorry White Hart Warrior but you are in no position to comment on Arsenal being a feeder club when it's blatantly obvious that Tottenham are Manchester United's feeder club.

It must be horrible buying players knowing after a couple of decent seasons Fergie starts sniffing around, the players head gets turned and as quick as they have arrived they are up the motorway to Manchester.

How can Arsenal be a feeder club? Are you referring to players like Henry and Vieira? Players who were at Arsenal for years and when Le Boss had seen the best of them allowed the player to leave on his terms.

I know whats coming next, Hleb and Flamini. The difference between those two, Henry and Vieira is that Hleb and Flamini had their heads turned by the lure of more coins in their back burner. That's all, we didn't fill the stomachs of Barcelona and Milan because we fed them Hleb and Flamini. They left for their bank accounts.

Arsene Wenger sells players when the time is right for him and Arsenal. When it happens it can appear unbelievable but how many times has Le Boss been proved right? His judgement in releasing players is usually spot on and not many have gone on to improve their careers after leaving Arsenal.

Fabregas will leave Arsenal one day. And I suspect that the club he leaves for will be Barcelona. But when it happens it will be the right time for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. Arsenal are NOT a selling club, but we are club who are going places. Where are Tottenham going? Maybe the Championship.

Keep it Goonerish.............

SHOCK SHOCK HORROR FABREGAS IS LEAVING!!!

You are a journalist and it's international week, nothing much is happening, nothing really to report on. So what do you do? Whip up a story from the past and watch everyone go mental about it!

The story that Cesc Fabregas dreams of a return to Barcelona is about as old as my pants. Of course he will return to Barcelona one day, I think most Gooners accept that.

This news has recycled itself time and time and it's starting to get boring. Fabregas is very committed to Arsenal, he says it enough and I thoroughly believe the man.

I don't think we need more assurances from Fabregas about his Arsenal future, I'm already assured. The Spanish media love to stir it up and act like whores in my eyes. They are like unofficial agents, trying to whore a move.

Fabregas wants to win things like any top player, but he also enjoys his football at Arsenal. He can win things at Arsenal and he knows it.

He won't be going anywhere anytime soon, but a day will come when Cesc will leave Arsenal. But Arsenal will still be standing, Arsenal remain bigger than anyone.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Are you going to miss the North London derby when Tottenham Hotspur are relegated?

Oh how the Spuds laughed at us last week but now they have been left with egg on their faces. All week I have suffered taunting from several Spuds I know over the Hull City defeat.

"It won't happen to us, the Lane is a fortress!"

"The season starts with Hull, we are too good for bottom place"

"Hull? We'll smash them, they are shit"

The Spuds were last relegated from the top flight in 1977, there is every chance they could suffer a similar fate this season.

There is a saying that goes around "We are too good to go down." I've heard it a lot lately but the fact of the matter is that the Spuds aren't too good to get relegated. It could happen.

The Spuds are showing relegation form. Losing becomes a habit as does winning, the Spuds have developed a habit for losing. They are in big trouble.

I'll miss the north London derbies if the Spuds do suffer an embarrassing relegation but I won't be shedding any tears. I'll be laughing too much.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Cheers Arsene, thats two weeks f*cked up for me!

I'm gonna be seriously fucked off for two weeks now and it's all Arsene Wenger's fault.

This result has left me even more pissed off than the defeat to Hull. We have to win games against sides like Sunderland or we can kiss the title goodbye.

Wengers tactics were wrong, AGAIN. We had an excellent win against the Portuguese champions on Tuesday so why try fixing what isn't broken?

It's not the first time it's happened, in fact I'd go as far as saying that Wenger's tactical know how is not his strong point.

After Hull City we played Porto almost straight away and that helped get the shock of that defeat out of our system. We don't have that luxury again with the international break coming up so I hope the players and Le Boss brood over this game for the next two weeks. I know I will.

I really hope the result hurts the players as much as it hurts me. Because I am seriously pissed off right now and want to punch someone, hard in the face.

I fucking hope that when they come back from international duty they buck up their ideas and that includes Wenger too.

Keep it Goonerish.........

My respect for Roy Keane (wheres the sick bag)

Roy Keane is a man that we Gooners love to hate. The rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United when Keane was captain of the club was at it's all time highest. There was nothing better than watching an Arsenal-Manchester United game with the two teams being led out by Keane and Vieira. It stood the hairs up on the back of your neck.

Why is it we hate Keane? It's because he played for those shit fucks, Manchester United. When I look back I think it was more than just him playing for United though. I think there was a slight element of fear about Keane. Not that I think he's hard but the fear that you know Vieira and co had to perform because players like Keane can hurt you.

Keane was a superb player and captain. I think he will become an even better manager. Le Boss says that Keane has the right ingredients to be successful and I totally agree with him. Keane has done a great job at Sunderland, and to be honest few could argue the fact Sunderland are the top dogs on the north east area. Keane has more than helped them achieve that.

As a player I thought Keane was a dick head, but I always had respect for him. How could you not? As a manager he seems a different person, almost to the point I think he's had a personality transplant! I can actually bear him now but maybe that's down to the fact the Manchester United tag isn't attached at the moment. When he takes over United I'm sure I'll hate him again.

There are plenty of ex-United players managing at the moment. Le Boss thinks that there will some ex-Gunners becoming gaffers in the future. I'd love Patrick Vieira to come back as Arsenal manager one day and renew hostility's with Keane. Paddy has ruled out management though, mainly because he is lazy git! Paddy will probably open some football schools in Africa and I applaud him for that.

Who could I see becoming a manager? I always thought Dennis Bergkamp but to honest the flying issue he has rules him out becoming a boss. He would make a good assistant though. Tony Adams has made no secret of the fact he wants to be in the Arsenal hot seat one day. I think Adams is an Arsenal legend but I don't agree with some of his methods. They baffle me at times.

A dark horse who could become a manager is Steve Bould. He has been doing some very impressive work behind the scenes in the Arsenal academy. He has the potential and is gaining experience all the time. What better example to follow than Arsene Wenger? I can't find one. But in the future don't be surprised to see a few ex-Gunners following in Keane and Co's foot steps and dipping their toes in the world of management.

Keep it Goonerish.................

Hungry? Arsenal should be starving, especially these three!

I'm not suggesting that Arsene Wenger has put the Arsenal squad on a diet and is starving them. What I mean is that Arsenal have been starved of trophies for four years and that the squad should be hungry to stop the barren run. And I think that they will.

I really believe that we will win some silverware this season and you know what I think we will win? I have a gut instinct that the Champions League trophy could be heading for the Emirates trophy room. Anyway, that's for another day.

The three players I think will help push us on to silverware are Eduardo, Rosicky and Diaby. They must be the hungriest players in football. How frustrating must it be for those three? To watch your team mates playing and not being involved.

In Eduardo's case we have just got to happy that he will even be playing again after his horrific injury. It will be tough for him when he gets back on the pitch but he is a tough lad and I think he will cope. The first tackle he receives will be the most important and I think he will be ready.

Rosicky is one of the most talented players in the Arsenal squad, it's a shame we don't see it often enough. He is one of the key players for Arsenal when fit and provides so much creativity. I love watching him play and hopefully when he regains fitness he can keep fit and prove to us how good he can be. Because trust me, he is mustard.

Diaby is only young but has proved very injury prone. Before he broke his leg a couple of years ago he was beginning to show glimpses of his talent. He has a lot to prove, especially as the role of partner to Cesc Fabregas is up for grabs. That spot in the team is there for the taking and many are tipping Diaby to take the chance with both hands. It will show a lot of his character when he gets fit. Will he take the opportunity or will he fold?

Those three have watched their friends play for a long time now. The hunger from each of them can only help Arsenal win things. They will be bursting to get on the pitch and I cannot wait to see them pulling on the Arsenal shirt and proving how hungry they are.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Are we over Flamini?

When Mathieu Flamini left Arsenal we all knew it would be hard to replace him. He was only a first team regular in his last season in an Arsenal shirt but what a first team regular he was.

He was one of Arsenal's best players last season and was a big factor in Fabregas playing so well. The two complimented each other and I firmly believed that they could have emulated the partnership of Vieira and Petit or been even better.

Since leaving Arsenal he has endured a slow start to his Milan career being on the bench more often than playing. You could say that he may regret leaving the Arsenal and is following the route of many who believe the grass is greener on the other side.

One thing is for sure, I think Arsenal miss him. Despite the controversial manner of his departure I still wish deep down that he was still an Arsenal player.

I mean no disrespect to the players we have but it's obvious that we are lacking in the midfield area. It's obvious that Arsene Wenger thought so too, after all, we have now found out that he put bids in for Alonso, Toure and Inler.

Le Boss seems to have put his faith in Denilson after the failed attempts to boost the midfield area. I like Denilson but despite his undoubted quality he is inconsistent with his performances. That is expected with his young age and lack of experience.

Diaby is the player a lot of Gooners would like to see given a chance in the middle with Cesc but we have more chance of seeing Spurs win the league! I rate him highly but Diaby is constantly on the treatment table. He has been likened to Vieira but Vieira he is not. He only looks like Paddy, he doesn't play like him.

Song is a player I'd like to see given a chance. He seems our toughest tackler and can do the dirty work allowing Cesc to weave his magic. Le Boss seems undecided on where Song should play though. Is he a defender or a midfielder? Arsenal.com say he is a defender so that gives an indication on where Arsene thinks he should play.

The midfield seems to be doing an Okay job at present but I think its really just papering over the cracks. We have not really faced a side of note and we have lost two games. I worry a little about when we face the midfield of Chelsea and Manchester United. With Flamini in the side I'd have no worries.

I'm not doubting that we have quality in the midfield but I still feel we are lightweight since the departure of Flamini. Le Boss thinks so too............

I think we can cope short-term without Flamini but we need another player added there in January. Denilson, Diaby and Song are potentially very good players and need time. At their age they have plenty of that! But I still feel that they need someone else to help guide them through this stage of their career other than the veteran Cesc Fabregas.

Keep it Goonerish...............

Are Arsenal letting you down?

I had an interesting comment on my blog yesterday and I'd like to hear my fellow Gooners views.

I wrote about Ian Wright having a little pop at Gooners for leaving the Emirates early and I must say I totally agree with him. So did the most part of the comments.

I hope you don't mind me using the comment Jonnie.

"Good post Wrighty7,

Something struck me while reading your post. Is the club letting you down?

Since day one, the stadium has emptied early be it a good or bad result on the night. The fans pay hard earned money to go to the Emirates.

Apart from fan demographics, is the club engaging properly with the Police, Transport for London and London Underground in a collaborative way to allow fans to stay until the death?

In my opinion, AW is more than capable of delegating this to his assistants to address this issue in a more effective manner as it does affect the team.Could IASA/Red Action or other bring this to the table?

Jonnie."

What do you, my fellow Gooners think? Are the club letting us down on these issues?

Keep it Goonerish............

Is Ian Wright right or wrong?

Ian Wright WAS my hero when I was a youngster. I loved the way he played and how he wore his heart on his sleeve.

The fact that he had the same surname as me helped to elevate him to superman in my eyes. He could do no wrong.

As a youngster I loved him so much that when I grew up I wanted a tattoo dedicated to him. I was going to get a number eight with his name above it and the amount of goals he scored for Arsenal underneath it.

Thankfully I saw sense and didn't get the tattoo!

His image in my mind has been soured in recent years. He has a column in the Sun and at times I couldn't believe some of his comments. He can be pretty harsh on Arsenal and that's tainted his image with some Gooners.

I read a comment he made in the Sun yesterday and there he was banging on about Arsenal again. This time he had a dig at the Gooners. However, for once I found myself agreeing with him.

"AS much as I love Arsenal, I’m giving a big thumbs-down to some of the club’s fans.
I could not believe the amount of empty seats for the remaining five minutes of Arsenal v Hull on Saturday.
They were trailing 2-1 and battering their opponents in what proved to be a fruitless attempt for a late equaliser. Football does not get a lot more exciting than this. The match was a cracker.
Yet for many locals, getting an early tube or train was the priority. Surely, this was the moment Arsenal’s players needed their fans most.
One day after 85 minutes, I’d like to see the Emirates more than two-thirds full."

I can understand why some fans leave early. It is murder trying to get away from the Emirates and if you don't leave early you can be stuck there for ages.

I didn't leave early because I felt that we could still go on to win. Although the side were letting us down losing at home to Hull, they still needed our support right to the very end.

Imagine you are on the pitch and you are chasing the game, you look around and see the ground rapidly losing numbers. I can imagine it would be disheartening.

Had this game been against Manchester United no-one would have left so just because it was against Hull it shouldn't have mattered. People should have stayed.

We have a poor reputation amongst other fans, frankly they can go fuck themselves for all I care. I know that when the Emirates gets buzzing it produces a top atmosphere.

I agree with Ian Wright. Lets stay till the end and get the ground rocking.

What do you think? Is Ian Wright right or wrong?

Keep it Goonerish....................

Porto are GUNNER get it!!!

I've a burning belief that Arsenal will destroy Porto tonight. The players should be stung by the performance on Saturday against Hull City and will be out to prove people wrong.

Porto are no mugs but I'm sure that Le Boss has got it drilled into the players that a big performance is necessary.

Its quite a touch that we have such an important game straight after the Hull debacle. It's also quite pleasing that the game is at home too. It's a chance for the squad to pull together and get the right result.

Its important we get back to winning ways and it's a chance for the team to show how they respond to such a defeat. We did it well earlier in the season after losing to Fulham and the players need to show a similar response.

I can see the side being 100% committed tonight which is about a 99.9% improvement from Saturday. If we aren't then I'll eat my autographed Arsenal football that I've had since I was about ten. So I'll be gutted if I'm wrong.

Porto will believe that they can get something from the game and it's up to Arsenal and 60,000 Gooners to show them they will get jack-shit.

So c'mon Arsenal, give it to Porto.

Keep it Goonerish.............

There is no room for sentiment-Toure must be dropped.

Its hurts to say but I think that Le Boss needs to drop Kolo Toure and bring Johan Djourou into the side.

It's obvious that the Toure-Gallas partnership isn't working. There is no doubt that both are superb defenders but as a pair they struggle.

Both need a dominant player alongside them. Toure was immense with Sol Campbell and Gallas equally as good with John Terry next to him.

Djourou can be the dominant centre back we require. Physically he is the right size and when he has played he has looked the part.

I have defended Gallas in the past and will continue to do so. Gooners are split on him and I imagine we always will be. He was blamed for Hull's second goal from the corner but it wasn't his fault. In fact it was Toure's.

Toure was actually marking Cousin and lost him. Gallas was trying to deal with it and was caught out by Toure losing his man.

I think Gallas brings more to the side than Toure and out of the two I'd say Gallas is the more in-form player. Toure hasn't been the same since coming back from the ANC in January and needs to be the player sacrificed.

I think the problem at Arsenal is complacency. Certain players are undroppable and they know it. Le Boss needs to shake things up and at the back is the first place I'd start.

We all love Toure and rightly so but we can't be blinded by that. He is the player that needs to be dropped in favour for Djourou and you never know, in the long run it will do him good.

Keep it Goonerish.........

Well done Hull City, you deserved that. Back to the drawing board Arsene!

I wrote before that underestimating Hull City would bite us on the arse and that has proved correct.

Hull City fully deserved the three points at the Emirates and credit is due to Phil Brown and the Hull players for the way they performed.

Hull were very impressive and they took advantage of a complacent Arsenal side who have to stop believing that they can simply turn up at the Emirates and wipe teams aside.

It doesn't work like that in football and Hull exposed some worrying flaws that are in danger of ruining our season.

We cant defend corners and our inability to take our chances may cost us any chance of silverware. How many times did our players decide to take an extra touch instead of just shooting? It is so frustrating to watch.

We cannot score the perfect goal every time, sure its pretty when it works but when the chance is there it needs to be taken.

I said before we need to bring Martin Keown back to help organise the defence and I haven't changed my mind on that. It worked well when Keown was drafted back in 2006 and I'm sure it will work again.

I'm not panicking, yet. Its too early in the season for the panic button. Despite two defeats Manchester United cannot overtake us point wise even if they win their game in hand. Nobodies writing them off and they are in a worse position than us.

I'm very disappointed at the result but the way we lost hurts more. Hull wanted it more than us and you have to question the Arsenal players commitment when the going gets tough.

Le Boss has put his faith in this Arsenal squad and it's time that they started to repay him for that.

Well done Hull City.

Keep it Goonerish............

I hate seeing Thierry Henry suffer at Barcelona.......

Thierry Henry is suffering at Barcelona and it breaks my heart to see the situation that he is in.

The man is a legend at Arsenal and I thought he would have ended his career with us. Obviously that didn't happen and although I, like every Gooner, was sad to see him leave, I wished him no malice and hoped he would be happy in Spain.

I wanted him to be successful at Barca (not at Arsenal's expense) because he is great player and provided us Gooners with so many great memories.

Thierry Henry is one of the greatest players of all time and we Gooners were privileged to have seen him in an Arsenal shirt for so long. Henry was privileged too, he had the best relationship with us and he knew it too. Hence the reason he has declared himself a Gooner for life.

To see him suffer like he is at Barca is a very sad sight. I believed he was about to tear the Spanish league up and become a Barca legend. If truth be told the move couldn't have gone more wrong for him.

He is played out of position all the time and isn't the main man at the club by far. He doesn't seem to get the adulation he received at Arsenal and that hurts him.

I believe Titi only left Arsenal for personal reasons. He suffered a bad break up with his wife and that is the main reason he left Arsenal for pastures new.

It's obvious that Henry needs to get out of Spain and quick. Would I want him back at Arsenal? No. My heart says yes but my brain disagrees. I couldn't bear to see Henry back at Arsenal struggling. He has suffered from injuries and isn't the same player we adored.

He needs to go to another club. Maybe Italy? The pace is slower and that may suit him. The USA has been bandied about. This makes sense for commercial reasons but the standard of football is way off the mark for a legend like Henry.

Whatever happens I want Henry out of Barca and enjoying his football again. I want to see that smile of his light up the pitch like we saw so many times.

Henry deserves better than his current situation and I hope that he gets it.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Dont underestimate Hull City or it may bite us on the arse...

On paper a home game against Premiership newbies Hull City should an easy three points. But life isn't paper and the reality is that Hull will not come to the Emirates and lay down.

They have a manager in Phil Brown who is basically a Sam Allardyce clone. He will have seen the problems that Bolton caused us under Fat Sam and will try to replicate them.

Expect a lot of long-balls and in general trying to kick the shit out of the Arsenal players. Hull have nothing to lose and wont expect anything from the game. That makes them dangerous.

That's why I call on Le Boss to play the strongest side available to him and NOT rotate the squad for this game. I'd love Vela and some of the Sheffield United killers to start but points are precious and I believe it will take a record number of points to win the league this season.

We dropped some stupid points last season which cost us the league title. We need to take advantage of the fixture list we have at present and gain some vital points on the board.

It's early in the season so fatigue shouldn't be an issue here, we don't need to rest anyone. I know we have an important game in the Champions League coming up but lets take it a game at a time and not think to far ahead.

I don't want an unexpected result to bite us on the arse at the end of the season. Hopefully it won't come to that and we have the points in the bag by the hour mark. Then it's time to bring on the likes of Vela and co.

Keep it Goonerish............

Who excites you most???.....

Gooners are raving about the awesome display of the Arsenal last night and rightly so!

It was a Rolls-Royce performance and it does get you very excited about the future when you see the amount of talent coming through at Arsenal.

The way the youngsters play is unbelievable. They are a carbon copy of the way the first team play, the coaches and Le Boss deserve a huge amount of credit for helping these players get to those levels.

It's difficult to pick out any individual player from the side last night, they all played excellent. But who stands out the most for you?

I know it's easy to say after the fella got a hat-trick but I can't stop thinking about how good Carlos Vela will be.

What a finisher the guy is! He reminds me of Eduardo or Robbie Fowler in his pomp when in front of goal. He is as cool as ice and I'd back him to score when he has a chance every time.

It's not just his finishing that impresses me. He grafts and is so good with the ball at his feet. It's no wonder that Le Boss waited three years for him.

Trust me, Carlos Vela will be one of the best players in the world sooner rather than later. Under Wenger's guidence he has the world at his feet.

Being Mexican he will be as tough as old boots because they usually are from there! So the bully boys won't kick him out of Arsenal and England.

We have plenty to smile about but who excites you the most and why?

Keep it Goonerish..............

Kevin Nolan is a mug and Kevin Davies is a thug!!!

I would say that I cant believe the comments made by Kevin Nolan but unfortunately it really doesn't surprise me.

The player is a mug and to tell a team mate to give a fellow professional a kick is a fucking liberty.

He tries to redeem himself and say that football is a contact sport, well I agree with that but football isn't a sport where you deliberately go around kicking people. If that's what Nolan wants his team mates to do then I suggest they all take up kick-boxing. The jumped up prick.

Players like Nolan are fucking idiots and its this idiotic muggy mentality that cause injury's. It's no wonder no one likes the English with dickheads like Nolan playing football. We don't need it.

As for the other Muppet, Kevin Davies, he's been doing it for years. He doesn't just put it about, I'm not buying that. He's a thug who has been doing tackles like that for a long time. Some of his tackles could result in him being arrested for GBH.

It's not a "poor Arsenal" attitude I have here. I'm just pissed off that sides resort to such tactics to stop Arsenal playing. If they were just physical then I'd have no beef but the fact is teams DO try to injure Arsenal players.

I fully expect Nolan to be fined or banned for his comments.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Djourou will be Gallas' replacement......

Johan Djourou has signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal and I believe that this is fantastic news for us.

I really rate Djourou and believe that he can go on and establish himself as an Arsenal regular in the future.

I can see him and Toure forming a formidable partnership in the heart of Arsenal's defence. I believe this partnership will flourish into one of the best.

Djourou has it all and I honestly think he can develop into one of the best defenders in the world. The ability is there, he just needs to believe it, gain confidence and work hard.

I still see Gallas as one of the best defenders in the world (a lot of Gooners may not agree with me there!) and I think that he can pass on advice to Johan.

I imagine that Gallas may probably only be at Arsenal for another year or two. I cant see him finishing his career at the club, so this will be perfect timing for Djourou to step into the side.

What do you think?

Keep it Goonerish......

We need this man back.....MARTIN KEOWN....

It was a fantastic result yesterday. We played some brilliant football and even some Spuds I know were forced to admit that Arsenal are looking good.

I couldn't resist telling them though that Spurs are the STRONGEST team in the league by far. After all, they are holding up 19 other clubs!!!

Something played on my mind despite another superb performance by Arsenal. It's our organisation at set-pieces and defending in general.

We are prone to sloppy defending at set-pieces. We have conceded only THREE goals this season in competitive action. But all have come from set-pieces.

Granted, one was a penalty but the other two goals we've conceded have come from corners. We have improved slightly in our open play defending but from set-pieces we are still vulnerable.

This does worry me. Sides like Chelsea will be aware of this and will attack Arsenal from this area. We seem to struggle to defend corners and free-kicks and this needs improving.

I've heard that Le Boss doesn't empathise a lot of work on defensive routine in training. Whether this is true or not I don't know. I do know that Wenger puts a lot of attention to detail in his preparation for games, but for me defending is something we can improve on, a lot.

A couple of years ago Le Boss brought Martin Keown in help with this situation. For me, Keown is absolutely perfect for this role. He has respect and the know-how to improve this side of Arsenal.

The man knows the club and is a person that Le Boss can relate too and trust in the role. He achieved great things at Arsenal and nobody could argue the fact he knows what he is doing.

Martin Keown is an Arsenal hero and would probably jump at the chance of working with such a talented group of players.

I reckon that we need Martin Keown back and that he would help improve the way we defend by ten-fold. Bring him back as a defensive coach Arsene!

Keep it Goonerish..............

The darker, nuttier, crazier side of Arsene Wenger!!.......

If Bolton beat Arsenal today then they had better hire a carpenter.

Bolton player Fabrice Muamba, formerly of Arsenal, said that when Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Bolton two and a half years ago Le Boss went mental and smashed down the dressing room door!

After reading that I reckon that Le Boss could take on hard man Roy Shaw in a fight. (Roy Shaw famously wrecked a cell door while in prison) They are the only two people I've heard achieve this so Frank Warren get it on!!!

This is not the first time I've heard that Wenger has lost it. Remember when Manchester United ended our unbeaten 49 game record? The buffet battle erupted soon after and Fergie claims that Arsene came up to him in a boxers pose before being saved by Cesc Fabregas lobbing pizza at him!

I would loved to have been a fly on the wall there. Seeing Wenger frame up to Fergie, Fergie pleading with Arsene to leave him alone and then pizza exploding over his face and new suit! How funny is that?

Remember the Alan Pardew touchline incident when West Ham scored a late winner a couple of years ago? I seriously thought that Wenger was going to deck him. If the cameras weren't focusing on the situation then Pardew would have been knocked out. No question.

Le Boss has a calm exterior but beneath that is a raging bull with a huge determination to win. And I wouldn't want him any other way.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Theo should get on the phone to mentor Thierry.............

Watching Theo get kicked about like a rag-doll last night was hard on the eyes.

It looked like a school bully picking on the younger kid but Theo will have to be prepared to face this sort of punishment in most games now.

He is a marked man. His hat-trick for England will have raised his profile and teams realise to stop him they may have to kick him. It could be the only way.

Theo will have to work out the answers to this punishment. He is smart enough but he will also need protection from the ref's as well.

It wont easy for Theo to have lumps kicked out of him but he must learn to deal with it. It wont be easy.

Maybe he should get on the phone to his mentor Thierry Henry. I'm sure he took the rough stuff early in his career. And let's be honest, who around has the explosive pace of Theo?

Only Henry DID have so Theo could learn a lot from how Thierry dealt with it. I'm sure Titi being the legend that he is would be happy to help.

Keep it Goonerish............

Yayawwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnn!!.......

I could have joined Arsenal, Wenger begged me, my brother pleaded with me, BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH! Frankly Yaya I don't care anymore.

I would have loved Le Boss to have signed you in the summer, lord knows I've spoke about it on my blog more than enough times!

But the reality is the signing never happened and probably never will happen.

I know why you have revealed that you snubbed Arsenal. It's because you are warming the bench at Barca and you want to show your loyalty to the club. You want to play. Clever really.

But in fairness I wont knock a loyal player, there aren't enough of those about and you have to admire Yaya. He certainly has a great attitude and won't give in easily at Barca.

Keep it Goonerish..............

Chicken Kiev??!! We were like TURKEY TWIZZLERS!!.....

Jamie Oliver would not have been happy with Arsenal tonight in Kiev as we resembled his least favourite food.

It was far from vintage Arsenal tonight and you have to say based on the performance a point from the game was a good one.

Arsenal could have had the game wrapped up though in the first half and missed some clear cut chances that really cost us. Kiev could have been buried at half-time and were just content to go in the half way mark level.

Fair play to Dynamo Kiev, they played well and deserved a share of the spoils. They stifled us and grew more in confidence as the game went on.

We seemed to be in first gear for long periods of the game and could have really stepped up the pace to take the game to Kiev.

I have to point out we looked solid when Song was on the pitch. When he came off the game opened up and it was Kiev who seemed the more dangerous side.

Kiev were obvious to Theo's danger. The lad was doubled up on every occasion he had the ball and was scythed down whenever he broke free. This was a good lesson for Theo. Teams will be more aware of him now than ever and it's up to him to figure out how to deal with it.

Cesc Fabregas was unusually quiet for long parts of the game. He had his usual work-rate but was unable to influence the match. He wont be happy with his performance but he can't perform miracles every time his steps onto the pitch.

Le Boss said a point would be a good result. Judging by the performance I'd agree. It isn't a disaster and we didn't lose face (as the commentators tried to say)

There are no mug teams in the Champions League (except Chelsea and Manchester United) so a point away to ANYONE is a good one.

The sides in the Champions League are there for a reason. They are the BEST sides in their countries so every game is difficult.

We have five games remaining, three are at home. Usually ten points get you through the group. I'm quietly confident we will make it.

Keep it Goonerish...............

Nicklas Bendtner upsets Steve Bruce!.....

Nicklas Bendtner has upset Wigan boss Steve Bruce.

Bendtner played under Bruce on loan to Birmingham in the 2006-07 season.

Bendtner helped the Brummies to promotion scoring plenty of goals. But it seems that Nicklas wasn't only scoring goals. It seems that he was also scoring with Bruce's daughter Amy!

Bendtner has now finished with Amy and by all accounts this ruined Bruce's recent Marbella holiday.

Lets hope Steve Bruce doesn't ask Adebayor to finish off what he started at Shite Hart Lane!

Keep it Goonerish............

My condolence's to Arsene Wenger......

I send my condolence's to Arsene Wenger after reading that he attended his father's funeral yesterday.

One thing for certain is Mr Wenger senior would have been a very proud father to Arsene.

Thought's go out to Arsene and his family....

Keep it Goonerish............

Does Djourou deserve a run in the side?........

The Gallas/Toure partnership has always been a talking point with Gooners.

On paper the pair look very strong together but the reality is the partnership has flaws and has been exposed many a time.

The pair are very similar players. I think it's obvious that both play better and look more comfortable alongside a dominant centre back instead of each other.

When Gallas was at Chelsea he had the dominating John Terry as his partner and Kolo flourished with Sol Campbell patrolling with him at the back.

Djourou can be that dominating defender for Arsenal. He has the ability and the size to do so. It's fair to say that when Djourou played in place of the injured Toure Arsenal looked more solid.

I personally felt that when Djourou played he looked one of our better players and deserved to kept in the side. The return of Toure demoted Djourou and I felt it was unfair.

Maybe that's why Arsenal can be complacent at times. There is no competition for places, certain players know that they will be picked if fit. Who knows?

We looked shaky at the back on Saturday despite a 4-0 win. To win the league we need to be more solid.

I think Djourou deserves a run in the side. But the question is who makes way? It's a tough shout between Gallas and Toure but I'd side with Gallas/Djourou being the partnership just based on what I saw in the earlier games.

I love Toure so don't think this a personal attack on him. It's just an opinion of mine.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Lets not go over the top with Theo.........

Theo Walcott has been praised to the high heavens over the past few days-and rightly so.

His performances for England have a nation bubbling and on Saturday he looked good at Blackburn.

I'm sorry to be a damp squid and burst the bubble but I think we need to calm down a little and get things into perspective.

The England supporters will no doubt expect that type of performance from Theo all the time he pulls on an England shirt. That is impossible.

The lad is 19 and to be hailed as England's messiah is very dangerous indeed. He is still learning the game and will be inconsistent.

He has shown what he can do, and it borders on genius, but let's remember not to put anymore pressure on his young shoulders.

Theo is a level-headed guy and I'm sure the euphoria around him at the moment wont affect him. But I worry if he has a poor game in his next England outing the fickle English fans will get on his back. We are after all, notorious for it!

Thats where we Gooners come in. Lets not get carried away by the Theo hype. We know how good he is already.

Lets support him through the good and bad times, because (although I hate too say it) the England faithful won't.

We have had a taste of Theo's potential and he is beginning to show it on a more regular basis. But let's support him (as we do) and not go over the top.

Keep it Goonerish..............

And I dont blame you either Mr Wenger!!...........

Le Boss has said that he would walk away if his authority was undermined by a director of football. And I can't say I blame him either.

It makes sense for the manager to run the football side of things at a club and I include transfer targets in that.

I could never quite get my head around a director of football buying the players and expecting the manager to include them in the squad.

How can a manager plan for the future when someone else is involved? It can't work and causes massive conflicts.

West Ham and Newcastle are proving the idea doesn't work and who in their right mind would want to manage either of those clubs knowing you are constantly being over-ruled?

Keep it Goonerish.........

Is now the time to forgive and forget Ade's summer antics?...........

If you go through my previous articles then you will see how much Ade pissed me off over the summer.

I was very disappointed by his flirting with Barcelona and AC Milan and I let it be known here on my blog.

Before his summer antics I defended him when others were knocking him. It seemed a personal insult to me when he outrageously believed his own hype, and possibly even believed that he was bigger than Arsenal.

If I felt that way (and I'm only a fan!) then only god knows how Le Boss felt. Arsene Wenger has nurtured Ade into the player he is today and it was almost thrown back into his face with Ade's behaviour.

Le Boss has forgiven Ade and given him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps I'm less forgiving than Le Boss but I'm still not 100% behind our Togo striker.

They say times a healer and Ade can only rebuild bridges with Gooners by scoring goals and helping Arsenal to success.

I want to forgive Ade fully but I'm a stubborn git at times and I can't give my full support to Ade yet. A hat-trick of course helps warm me to him but it will take a while for me to heat up all the way.

I believe he can become world-class under Wenger but he needs to prove that he is 100% committed to the Arsenal cause and not just after a pound note.

I think the crucial time for me is if he has another great season like last year. Next summer will he react the same as this one? Will he demand more money? Or will he just be happy that he has proved himself again?

I want to forgive Ade and I hope I will in time but I'm not convinced yet despite his hat-trick.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Could this man be Arsenal's next manager?....

Slaven Bilic anyone???.....

It's hard to say it but one day Le Boss will not be Arsenal manager anymore. I feel that this contract Le Boss is on will be his last at Arsenal.

I think it runs out in 2011 so we have a couple of years left from Arsene Wenger at the club (in my personal opinion)

Life will be very strange without Arsene Wenger and the hole he will leave behind will be massive. It will need a special type of person to fill the void and I believe that man could be Slaven Bilic.

I know he has no ties with Arsenal but in my eye's the Croatian is perfect for the job. I really rate and like the fella.

His Croatia team play good football and we Gooners have become accustomed to a side pretty on the eye. Bilic will provide this.

He is very good with the media and always conducts himself very well. He was humble in defeat to England in his post match interview and comes across as a very straight talking guy.

I'm sure Le Boss will have a lot of input into his successor at Arsenal. And I'm sure that he would give Bilic the thumbs up. I know Eduardo would! He and Bilic have a father and son relationship.

Nobody has a bad word to say about the guy and I honestly reckon that he is going to be a world-class manager.

This subject is not something that I like to think about but it's reality. One day Le Boss will be gone and he will leave a huge legacy.

The club will be in great shape and Arsenal will need a man brave enough and good enough to continue Arsene Wenger's legendary work.

When the time comes that man for me is Slaven Bilic. Slaven Bilic is a winner.

Keep it Goonerish.............

TTTHHHHHHEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Congratulations Theo, hat-trick hero.

You've done England proud, your family proud, Arsenal and Gooners proud but most of all, you've done yourself proud.........

Keep it Goonerish..............

Does Le Boss even speak Italian?.......

Le Boss speaks several languages in fluent tongue but if reports in Italy are to go by then he better get Italian added to his forte!

Apparently AC Milan are lining up Arsene Wenger as a potential replacement for boss Carlo Ancelotti after yet another poor start to the Serie A season for the Rossoneri.

Maybe there IS more to this story. Are Flamini and Senderos part of Milan's evil plan and have they conspired to join the club knowing that Le Boss will follow suit at the end of the season?

Or is it just an absolute pile of shit made up from the Italian press to pass the boredom of international week?

I'll let you decide, but I reckon that Frank Rijkaard is a shoe in for the job anyway.

Keep it Goonerish.............

Actually, I agree with Jamie Carragher..........

I've read the comments during the week of Jamie Carragher from his upcoming autobiography and I have to say that I agree with him on a certain subject.

He writes that losing with Liverpool would always hurt him more than losing with England......

He has taken some flak for this but let me explain why I agree with him over this quite sensitive subject.

Growing up I dreamed of, like many others, being a professional footballer. But I didn't want to be just any pro-footballer, I wanted to play for Arsenal.

I played for Millwall and Wimbledon at youth level but I really really wanted Arsenal to scout me so I could play for my dream club.

Being a Gooner it would have meant the world to me to have had the chance to wear the Arsenal shirt in front of my fellow Gooners.

Jamie Carragher has achieved his dream. He has played for his dream club, Liverpool, but ALSO has played for his country, England.

I've never had the chance to play pro-football but I can understand where Carragher is coming from. He has supported Liverpool his whole life so he must feel the same gut-wrenching pain we Gooners do whenever our respective clubs suffer a defeat.

Don't get me wrong, I would be proud to pull on the England shirt but not as proud as every time I pulled on the red and white of Arsenal.

I love Arsenal more than England and I'm not afraid to admit that seeing an Arsenal defeat hurts a lot more than seeing an England loss.

Carragher feels the same about Liverpool as we Gooners do about Arsenal. The only difference is he has had the pleasure of playing for a club that he loves and supports.

Imagine that opportunity, playing for Arsenal AND England. It would be a dream come true but I know that while I would be giving my all in the England shirt a defeat wouldn't hurt as much as one would whilst wearing an Arsenal shirt.

Keep it Goonerish...............

How many Tottenham players played for England last night?

Listen to Spuds and they will tell you they pride themselves on having an English spine and are forever goading Gooners with their foreign legion jibes.

Well, how many Spurs players were playing for England last night? NONE!

That's right, NONE! A club who have sooooooooo much English talent and not one can get into the England team.

Capello has sussed you Spuds right out. He knows that the English players at your club are really two-bob, especially that Gooner reject Bentley.

Fabio Capello realises that England need decent players, that's why Theo started and not your £17m superstar Bentley.

I really hope that Mr Capello sticks to his anti-Spud guns. Who can forget the then-Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson letting down the nation the last time we played in Croatia?

A message to you Fabio, keep out the Spuds, keep in the Gooner and England will go far.

Well done Theo!

Keep it Goonerish...........

CAN EBOUE EVER SHAKE OFF THE BOO-BOYS?......

There is no doubt that Emmanuel Eboue isn't the most popular of Arsenal players amongst Gooners.

He doesn't endear himself to the Gooner faithful with his sometimes infuriating antics. The play-acting and diving has to stop before he can begin to build bridges with the Arsenal crowd.

However, speak to members of the Arsenal squad and they absolutely love the bloke and say that he is great for team morale.

Is Eboue a bad player? I don't think so. I think sometimes we are so wrapped up in the things he does bad we forget about the good things he can produce.

I feel Eboue is a competent player. I think his best position is at right-back but lets face facts, Sagna is one of the best right-backs in the world and isn't going to be dislodged any time soon. I could think of a lot worse cover for Sagna than Eboue though.

We have to cut Eboue a bit of slack. Last season was his first in midfield and it will take time for him to adapt there. However I don't feel that the middle of the park is a place for him to be!

I reckon Eboue COULD shake off the boo-boys and regain some support from Gooners if he cut out the play-acting and diving.

If he committed himself 100% to the Arsenal cause and showed that he willing to change his ways and stop the silly shit that he does then he may begin to get some affection from us.

Only Eboue can achieve this. He needs to realise we don't like his antics and it's time for him to grow up.

If he wants to endear himself to us then he knows what he has to do. Its up to him to shake off the boo-boys and show how good he can really be.

Keep it Goonerish.............

I wish David Dein could be back on the scene......

The currently vacated post of COE at Arsenal is set to be filled and I cant help but wish that it was David Dein who was set to be appointed.

I know it is virtually impossible now for Dein to be appointed after he sold his shares and had a pretty big bust up with the board but there is no mistaking the fact that the man is Arsenal through and through.

The situation is now quite laughable. The man Dein linked up with, Stan Kronke, is now accepted at Arsenal and Dein is still an outcast with the next fellow he linked up with, the Russian geezer.

Dein and Le Boss are still great friends so it would make sense for them to link up again. After all, they worked very well together in the past and there is no doubt Le Boss needs the help. He has taken a lot on since Dein's departure.

I just wish that Dein and the board could put aside their differences, after all, they all want whats best for Arsenal don't they?

I know it wont happen but its something I wish could happen.

Keep it Goonerish........

Arsenal is in our blood........

My blood bleeds red and white, the same as the next Gooner's. I love the club and always will through the good times and the bad. True, I've found it hard to accept that the squad hasn't been strengthened but that is the situation and I'm gonna have to deal with it.

I want the club to do well so it deserves my support. I admit that sometimes things can be testing but I'm glad that I'm a Gooner.

Le Boss can be a pain in the arse but he is our manager and although I may not agree with everything that he does, I know he has Arsenal Football Club's best interests at heart. He has done great things for us and I'm sure he will do great things again. I wouldn't want another man in charge.

We needed a man in the middle of the park, it hasn't happened. It's time for someone to shine, just like Flamini did twelve months ago. Someone like Song or Denilson, maybe Diaby. I personally feel that Song is the man to step up and make the role his own, I think he deserves that chance.

We are lucky to support such a great club and the club are lucky to have such great support. Not many supporters would give a manager this much time without a trophy, not from the big four anyway. Le Boss has earned our respect and we trust he will deliver. That's why we wait so patiently.

And lets be honest, we have been patient...........

We have waited since 2005, it has been testing but we still need to have faith. This squad although light in numbers is heavy in talent. It's hard but its time to believe that this set of players can achieve the big things we want. Lets get behind them. They need us.

We have a great stadium, play great football and have a very talented group of players. Lets think of the positives and believe that we can have a great season against the odds. Victory this season will be the sweetest.

Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest managers in the world. If he quit Arsenal tomorrow then believe me every top club would want him. We have him, and should be grateful for that. But at the same time he should be grateful for having such wonderful support from us. We have given him the time to build and have shown great understanding.

Lets get behind the club now. We cant change the past but we can look to a good future. Arsenal is in our blood and I'm happy that it is.

Keep it Goonerish................

Everyone owes someone something.......

I must say that I'm gutted that Le Boss hasn't added to the squad but I'm hardly surprised by it. My old man said at about 6pm last night that Mr Wenger wouldn't sign anyone and although I kinda believed him I still had that hope that something would happen.

Hope is the main word here. I really "hoped" we would sign someone but we didn't. I felt somewhat muted at around 12:15am when it began to sink in that we wouldn't actually be signing anybody.

So what now then? I suppose we must just get on with things, but thats hard. I now sort of feel like Le Boss owes us Gooners something. We had the hope of a signing taken away after some good positive vibes coming from Arsene. So I feel that Le Boss owes us a trophy.

He has made his bed and its his head on the chopping block. He believes that the squad he has at his disposal is good enough so at the end of the season if we are again unsuccessful then he must take the most of the blame.

Now Le Boss has shown his faith in the current squad the players owe Arsene Wenger. He believes that they are good enough and they need to repay the faith shown in them. He has chosen to go into the season with this squad so they need to prove Le Boss right.

We Gooners owe nothing. We have waited and been patient for long enough. I actually believe we have been superb to Le Boss and Arsenal over the last few seasons. We haven't really grumbled until recently.

Could you imagine the unrest at Manchester United or Chelsea if they had gone this long without a trophy? The managers head would be called for. We Gooners respect what Le Boss has done for Arsenal but now it's time to deliver.

Keep it Goonerish.............

Arsenal to steal Berbatov?!

I was listening to TalkShite on the way home from work and a London cabbie text in a transfer rumour. According to this cabbie he was at Bethnal Green and he picked up a customer known to Gooners as the Gunnersaurus.

The Gunnersaurus has inside information and believes that Arsenal have stumped Manchester United and Manchester City to the Bulgarians signature. Whether this is true or not I have no idea.................Erm...............anyway moving on.

There are seven hours to go and at present Arsenal have no players added to the squad. Le Boss has in the past signed players at the last moment on dead-line day so expect a long night ahead.

I'm beginning to get quite excited at the prospect of a signing. I hope Mr Wenger does add to the squad. I really do believe that if we sign a central midfielder we will have a very strong season.

The squad is so talented, that player in the midfield will clinch it for me. And as I've said before, it's better late than never!

Anyway, here's hoping we get that player. Get ready for a nail biting evening my fellow Gooners!
Keep it Goonerish..............

Kevin Keegan is bang out of order!!!.....

Let me start by saying that I admire Kevin Keegan because he likes his football teams to play decent football. He gets them to play attacking attractive stuff and he is a great guy.

I like the Geordie public, they are great people and are starved of success in a football sense. This is not a direct pop at them.

I wonder who does Kevin Keegan think he is? He embarrassed himself at the end of yesterdays match by shouting and pointing his finger at Nasri and then having a go at Gallas.

I know that Mr Keegan is an emotional guy. That was proved in his infamous interview. But I think he over-reacted and made himself look stupid with his rants in the aftermath of the game.

Why did he even put Joey Barton on? The little prick sat there with arrogant smirk on his ugly chops all game and to even involve him was asking for trouble.

There is no doubt in my mind that Barton tried going through Nasri in that challenge. It was a lunge and could have been dangerous.

Keegan has taken a big risk on Barton and don't be surprised if Barton fucks up again. I know Kevin is trying to save Barton's career but I don't see why he has bothered. It isn't worth the trouble.

Nasri was rightly booked for the tripping of Barton but who's tackle was the more dangerous? A lunge or a trip?

I'm sorry Mr Keegan, I realise you are trying to defend your player but you can't defend the indefensible. I think that you are out of order for your attack on Nasri.

Keep it Goonerish.............

You cheeky little git!...........

I really hope that this comment I have read is not true.

"From the first moment it was clear to me Milan are really a top-class club, more than Arsenal. I hope to do well and to stay here for a long time."

Guess who? Yep, Phillipe Senderos.

It doesn't sound to me like the sort of comment Big Phil would say, especially as Arsenal are still technically his employers. But it doesn't bode well for his Arsenal future.

Looks like that loan period could be made permanent after all!.........

Keep it Goonerish.............

Is the boy made of glass???.....

Arsenal's performance tonight was sublime. It was an absolute pleasure to watch at times, we played some fantastic stuff.

Although I'm very happy with the result and the way we got it, I can't help but feel that the gloss of the performance has been taken away slightly.

The sight of Robin Van Persie hobbling off around the pitch with his boot in his hand dampened my mood.

He was immense today and you could really see the difference in his game. He was sharp and up for it. It's a shame his evening ended so soon as I was really enjoying watching him play.

We have seen RVP limp off the pitch so many times and for me it has got to the point where I worry for him when he makes a challenge. Today he even got injured taking a shot!

He is having an X-ray on his ankle as the extent of the injury isn't known. I'm seriously bracing myself for the worst.

Without doubt Van Persie is a very important player to this Arsenal side. When he is fit he makes a big difference to us.

It makes me feel for him when I see that he is beginning to show his true form and then out of nowhere he gets another injury.

Is Van Persie made of glass? I hope for his sake he can get over these injury problems or I say regrettably, he is becoming a liability for Arsenal.

Sorry for sounding pessimistic on a night when Arsenal performed superb.

Keep it Goonerish..................

Better late than never or never?...I think?!

I know. The title confuses me too but it does make sense in a way.

I read today that Le Boss has hinted at a signing if not two. I'm not taking anything that Le Boss says at face value anymore!

The amount of times that he had said something and the complete opposite has happened escapes me.

If Le Boss played poker he would win simply on the basis that you could never know what cards he is playing. He holds his cards very close to his chest.

I suppose on one hand its good that he is so secretive around potential signings although on the other hand its so frustrating to hear Le Boss say we need so and so but then completely contradict himself the next week by saying the opposite.

Nobody knows whether we will sign anyone before dead-line except Wenger. I know that most Gooners believe a signing or two will be great for the club.

So even if it takes until one minute to midnight on dead-line day a signing is better late than never. I just hope it isn't never.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Manchester United Legend In Arsenal medical?

I heard from my uncle that a man who owns a cat with a cousin twice removed has some exclusive news that a player who used to play for Manchester United is set to sign for Arsenal on Monday.

The only problem is that the man who heard it from someone has gone missing and is presumed drunk.

Or maybe its just Ian Wright talking gibberish again. Who knows?

All I know is its true because it is.

Keep it Goonerish...............

Arsenal's Champions League group!!!

Porto, Fenerbahce and Dynamo Kiev

Piece of piss. ;)

Keep it Goonerish.............

Is that enough composure Mr Hansen?........

Talk about putting your foot in your mouth! But then again Mr Hansen is good at that.

At half-time, "expert" BBC pundit Alan Hansen declared that Theo Walcott had no composure.

I sure Theo's goal may help to change your mind Mr Hansen!

It was very Thierry Henry, which translates "Composure at its very best"

Keep it Goonerish......................

We can kiss goodbye to Alonso.....

I realise that Arsenal are about to play in an hour but I'm gutted by the fact that Gareth Barry has decided to stay at Aston Villa until at least the end of the season.

This rules out any hope we had of signing Alonso from Liverpool who will remain at Anfield now.

I really thought that we would sign Alonso on dead-line day and that Liverpool would get Barry. Well, we can kiss goodbye to Alonso now.

The question is; Who are we going to sign in the middle of the park? Options are running out fast and so is precious time.

Keep it Goonerish...........

My wish has come true!........

Its seems that my wish has come true. The other day I wrote that I couldn't see the logic in sending out Johan Djourou on loan and that maybe Big Phil should be sent out instead.

Milan have stepped in and taken Philippe Senderos on loan for a year. This move is great for Arsenal and Big Phil.

Senderos has great potential but doesn't seem to be able to cut it at Arsenal and in particular the Premiership. The football in the Premiership is very fast compared to Italy and I feel that he will thrive in a league with a slower pace.

The move will help to freshen up his career which was in danger of stagnating. I really hope he does well at Milan and gets the games that he deserves.

I've always wanted Philippe to do well as he is a nice guy but I always had that nagging doubt at the back of my mind that a mistake was due at anytime. Perhaps a season of regular football at a top-class level will help his concentration and his career can push on.

I wonder whether he will return to Arsenal. My gut feeling says that his stay at the Rossoneri will become permanent in the future. I think he will enjoy it at Milan and will want to remain there.

Serie A will suit his game. A slower tempo brings the best out of Philippe and he can become one of the best defenders in Italy. I've always fancied his chances more in Italy than in England.

I'm disappointed he has gone but it is for the best really. As much as I want him to become the next Tony Adams it's not going to happen. He will do well at Milan and I wish him luck and thank him for the good times he had in the Arsenal shirt.

Good luck Big Phil!

Keep it Goonerish.............

Has Ade's "FLIRTING" hurt us more than we think?....

I'm trying to forget about Adebayor's behaviour over the summer. I'd love to try and move on and draw a line under the situation but I cant. So if I cant let go does that mean I'm not the only one?

What I'm saying is maybe morale in the squad isn't the greatest at the moment and maybe one or two players cant forget Adebayor openly offering his services to other clubs.

Things like this can affect performances on the pitch and it niggles away in the back of your mind. When Ade missed that chance against West Brom last week the first thought in my mind was why didn't you clear off in the summer? Who's to say some players didn't think the same?

Ade really undermined the rest of the squad with his pay demands. By asking for so much money he effectively was stating that he was the best player in the squad when clearly he isn't. By flirting with the big guns of Europe he was saying that he is too big for Arsenal. He isn't.

I'm not trying to add fuel to an already burning fire but this has to come into account for Arsenal's poor start to the season. Ade got a bit too big for his boots in the summer and I wonder whether some of the players resent his presence now in the squad.

Although I really hope I'm wrong and that isn't the case. But could Ade's summer behaviour be a factor in Arsenal's poor form?

Keep it Goonerish............

I just cant get my head around it!..............

I just cant understand the logic of sending out Johan Djourou on loan. The player has a very bright future and I want it to be in an Arsenal shirt.

He must feel disillusioned enough as it is. In the games previous to yesterday he was one of better players for Arsenal. It must be hard for him to do well and then be instantly replaced as soon as Toure or Gallas is fit.

Maybe that's why Arsenal can be complacent at times. There is no competition for places, certain players know that they will be picked if fit.

The arrival of Silvestre has increased the amount of players at the back so Le Boss feels the need to let one go. If so, why not let Senderos go out on loan? You never know, a whole season of first team action could be just what Senderos needs to get the best out of him.

I believe that Djourou is ahead of Senderos in development at the moment. I feel more confident of Djourou playing than his Swiss counterpart.

We've been linked with a player called Mbia who plays for Rennes, the club that Le Boss is willing to let Djourou join. Perhaps that's the real reason behind the move.

If that's the case then I'm gutted for Djourou. He shouldn't be sacrificed for a transfer target, he should be kept. Le Boss needs to stop being so tight and splash the cash for a change. Keep Djourou at Arsenal, the squad is weak in numbers.

It's simple, Djourou stays and Mr Wenger signs the DM we need. Because I feel if we let him go out on loan then he wont feel wanted at Arsenal and will leave. And that would be a big mistake.

Keep it Goonerish...........

UPDATE: Sky sports say Senderos could be going on loan to AC Milan for season with a fee of £2m being discussed.

Fulham wanted it more.................

It was a very disappointing result yesterday but for me it was the way we lost that hurts most. There was no passion and Arsenal simply ran out of ideas against a ordinarily looking Fulham side. Fulham didn't outplay us but they wanted it more.


I hope that this result serves as a wake up call for the players and especially Le Boss. It is a set-back but lets not forget that Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool will suffer shock results like this too.


The Premiership is a marathon and not a sprint so the title is not lost on the back of this one result. But these are the games that we need to turn up for, and as I've said before we should treat every game as a cup final.


One thing is for certain, Le Boss needs to strengthen the midfield, the sooner the better. With no disrespect meant to Denilson and Eboue they are not exactly going to set the league alight. We lost the game in midfield today. There was no-one willing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and Le Boss needs to act fast.


We cant make excuses for the players and Mr Wenger. It was simply not good enough and although we were poor we owe some credit to Fulham for showing us a bit about passion. We simply didn't turn up.


Fulham deserved the result and I really hope that this result will wake up the squad and of course Le Boss. It wasn't good enough for a team with title aspirations. We have 36 cup finals left, add that man in the middle of the park and we have a chance.


Keep it Goonerish...............

How do you sum up Arsenal's performance today?

SHIT..............

I'll leave it at that. Until tomorrow.

Keep it Goonerish...............

Fulham will be easy, right?

Wrong. But these are the games that we must win to sustain a title challenge.

This wont be easy today. It's a London derby and Fulham will be right up for this. Arsenal will need to focus completely and in all honesty every game from now to the end of the season should be like a cup final for Arsenal.

Fulham have bought well in the summer and as Le Boss says they are capable of causing Arsenal major problems. Especially that little git Jimmy Bullard who I met out drinking one night in Bexleyheath. Unfortunately for him at the time I happened to be wearing a full length granny dress.

So Gooners, I'm probably the first cross-dressing Arsenal blogger on the net! ;)

This game follows international games and its important that the players concentrate on Arsenal. It must be difficult for Le boss to plan for a game like this. He never knows who will come back from international duty fit and ready for action.

Van Persie though is fit and ready and today I think he will make a difference to Arsenal. He is fresh and confident after a superb goal for Holland in mid-week. It's vital he remains injury free this season, he is a match winner.

It's Fulham first home game of the season but I think Arsenal's extra quality will prevail. We have problems in the middle of the park but should have enough to see home the result. That's the key area today. Bullard wont let the Arsenal players rest for a second so our midfield will be in for a busy time.

I'd love a repeat of the score line last season at the Cottage but I'll go for one less this time. We were flying then and Fulham were struggling. Fulham wont be in a relegation battle this season but Arsenal will be in the title race. And this is a tight game we will win.

Wrighty's wager: Fulham 0-2 Arsenal.

Keep it Goonerish...................

POLL: Your country or your club?

On the top right is a poll. Please cast your vote.

Now before anyone says I'm only saying Arsenal because of the usual shit like Arsenal have no English players that's not true.

I'd love England to do well. But if I had a choice between Arsenal or England I would choose Arsenal all day long.

I can not raise anywhere near the same passion for England as I can Arsenal. I see Arsenal every week and it seems hard to support players who I normally cant bear to see do well.

Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard etc,.......

Obviously the Internet is worldwide so I'd love to hear people's views from other countries.

For example if you are French, it is Arsenal or France for you?

It should be interesting.

Keep it Goonerish.........

NOOooooo, thank you!................

So from next season England could have a Spanish goalkeeper playing for them. How shit have England become? Are we now so bad that we now rely on other nations to produce players for us! And we used to laugh at Scotland doing it!


So Manuel Almunia for England? Not for me. It's been said there is a possibility of Almunia playing for England to solve the England goalkeeper crisis. I think that this is wrong. He's SPANISH not English and should only represent Spain.


I'm sorry Manuel that you cant get into the Spain side. But maybe, just maybe, if you knuckle down at Arsenal and keep improving as you have been, then you may even get that chance for your home land.


Almunia should wait for a chance to play for Spain. If it doesn't happen, it's unfortunate. I hope England don't go down this road. I think other countries shouldn't do it either. We have a great player in Eduardo who's done it, but I still don't agree with it.


England should have an English team. And before anyone gives it about Arsenal having hardly any English players, shut up, that's not what this is about.


For me, its Arsenal first and England second. But that does not mean I want England to fail or go down this road to make us better.


I do however think it's alright to have a foreign manager. The manager should be the best man for the job, regardless of nationality.


We, after all want England to do well and we now have a good manager. Although in truth, it's more than just having a good manager, it go's deeper than that. Back to grass roots level.


Anyway, Almunia for England? Not for me.


Keep it Goonerish.............

BORING BORING ARSENAL, HAIL THE SILVER BULLET!.....

I'll admit that Arsenal haven't performed well in the opening two games of the season but we have won both and that is what counts.

We have one foot in the next round of the Champions League and have three points in the Premiership.

We haven't won the two games with our usual tantalising football but we have won in ways we have had trouble with in the past. We have ground out the results.

That is a promising sign. It is important to grind out results when things aren't going your way and we have done.

The media still pick on us. Had it been Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool grinding out results they would be hailed as well oiled winning machines. We get called lucky.

Fucking hypocrites springs to mind............

We have signed a ManUre reject. I think not.

Forget the reject calls, Silvestre will prove to be a decent signing for Arsenal. It came out from the blue but Mikael Silvestre coming to the Emirates is a shrewd move by Le Boss.

He has plenty of Premiership experience, and more importantly, has actually won the trophy. We needed a central defender and now we have one.

It will seem strange seeing him wear the Arsenal shirt, but lets get behind him. Forget the fact he played for United, after all, didn't Sol Campbell seem strange at first?

I only hope Djourou doesn't suffer for this signing. He has plenty of potential in my book and I'd hate to see him sacrificed for the season after talk of him joining Rennes on loan has surfaced.

Keep it Goonerish...............

I'M OFF...........

Right my fellow Gooners this maybe my last post until 21/08/08.

I'm going to Lanzarote for two weeks. I might be able to write while I'm away but I doubt it.

Lets hope by the time I'm back we are top of the league (after one game) Have one foot in the next round of the Champions League and have that experienced player in the squad.

Keep it Goonerish.............

WILL YOU STOP FLIRTING ARSENE!!!!.............

Le Boss has publicity stated that he may sign an experienced midfielder but he would also be happy to go into the season with the current squad that he has at his disposal.

WILL YOU STOP FLIRTING ARSENE!!!!

Will he, wont he?! I'm getting confused with Le Bosse's comments. I feel like I've asked a lady out for dinner and she says she MIGHT come.

Please just put me outta my misery Arsene!

Stop playing games with my emotions!

Keep it Goonerish................

The demise of an Arsenal favourite..........

What the hell has happened to Freddie Ljungberg?!

Things seem to go from bad to worse for him. He has now been released from his contract at West Ham after one injury plagued season.

OK the "mutual departure" has left Freddie with a huge amount of money in his back burner but there is even talk of him now retiring. He is 31!

Of course it would be lovely to retire at 31, but no footballer would want to retire at that age.

Even after an injury plagued season last year its believed his fitness had no bearing on the decision for him to part with the Hammers. He proved he was fit at the Euros.

Is he becoming a bad egg? He didn't have many decent comments about Arsenal when he left, many were unsavoury and he sounded pretty bitter.

In his last couple of seasons at Arsenal he didn't seem his usual self and it's obvious that Le Boss was correct in off loading Freddie when he did.

What has happened to our favourite Swede? I loved Freddie and his red hair. I'm disappointed that his career seems to be ending in such a shit way.

I only hope he puts all this behind him and has a fresh start at another club.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Micah Richards is a Gooner...But will he ever be a Gunner?

We all know how good Micah Richards is. The Manchester Citeh ace even made his debut against the Gunners on 22nd October 2005 as a sub and was given his full debut on February 12, 2006 against Charlton Athletic.

He played in the majority of Manchester City's matches for the rest of that season, and was named as the club's Young Player of the Year for the 2005-06 season. He even scored a 94th minute goal against Aston Villa in the Cup and swore live on television, and continued with the interview completely unaware!

On July 25, 2006 he signed a new four-year contract, quashing rumours of a move away from the City of Manchester Stadium. Throughout 2007, Richards was linked with a big money move away from Eastlands, with Arsenal and Chelsea the main contenders to sign the youngster for £15m or even more.

At the time Stuart Pearce was in charge of Citeh and said "I am not actively looking to sell Micah because he has a great future here. Whatever offers come in for him, it is going to take a ridiculously big offer to get him out of this football club.I would love to see Micah stay here, captain the club, and maybe be here for 10 years and carry the club on his back if he can. He is good enough to do it. I have not worked with anyone so good and so young.".

He has captained Citeh too, and has played for England 12 times and scored once for his country. When making his debut for England on November 15th 2006, he became the youngest Defender to ever play for England. And will surely one day be the rock in England's defence.


It's a well known fact that Micah is a Gooner. They were his boyhood team and his favourite players were Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira. He has admitted that he fancies a move to London one day but it would be to join the Gunners and not the roubles of Ch$lski.

"I was a big Ian Wright fan when I was younger, so I supported Arsenal. "Wright and Patrick Vieira were my idols so if the opportunity came to play for them one day I'd take it."

The only problem I see in Micah joining Arsenal one day would be the transfer fee. It would cost a huge amount to prise him away from Eastlands especially since he is English. Wenger has admitted that he will pay top prices for a "super-class" player and I wonder whether Micah is in this class in Wenger's eye's?....

I think Gallas will be at the club for another couple of seasons and then either hang up his boots or join another club in Europe somewhere. This is where Micah fits the mould to join. He would be the perfect long-term replacement for Gallas. Imagine Richards and Toure at the back!! That would be the dream defensive partnership, without a doubt.

Centre back is one of the few positions that we could improve on, and in my eyes Micah Richards would be the perfect signing as he is also versatile enough to play at right or left back. He has the talent to be one of the best in the world and with Wenger having a huge amount of money available to him if needed I would love it if he joined and fulfiled a boyhood dream.

So Micah is a Gooner, but will he ever be a Gunner?.....I hope so one day.

Keep it Goonerish.............

Xabi Alonso-The perfect tonic for Fabregas.......

If the rumours are true and Xabi Alonso is indeed coming to the Emirates then I would be a very happy Gooner.

I've always rated Alonso and I believe that he and Fabregas could form a devastating partnership in the centre of midfield.

Alonso is exactly what Arsenal need right now. He will fit into Arsenal's pattern of play, is an international and most important of all he has that important ingredient Arsenal lack.......experience.

He has all the requires that Le Boss has stated he wants,

A) Alonso has Premiership experience

B) Is a "special player"

C) Is very clever and tactical

Being Spanish would help his partnership with Fabregas. They have played together for Spain on occasions and linked up well together.

People will say that if Liverpool don't want him why should we? Well I say more fool Liverpool, he'd be ideal for us.

I'd be more than happy for this to materialise. It wont happen yet. It will happen on August 31st. Trust me, that will be the day that we sign Alonso and Liverpool sign Barry.

What do you think? Would Alonso be a good signing?.........

Keep it Goonerish............

Bridges to build & F1 driver to sign!...........

There is no doubt that Adebayor faces a humongous task to win over Gooners after flirting with Barcelona and Milan during the summer.

The badge kissing yesterday meant nothing to me. If anything it pissed me off. If Ade really wants to win back the fans then he needs to apologise for his antics and do it fast.

I'd have a lot more respect for him if he simply came out and said that he was wrong and that he is sorry for being a prize prat.

If he did say sorry we can begin to build bridges and he can restart his Arsenal career on a fresh page.

There are rumours gathering that we are set to sign Alonso, I heard he is quick and finishes very quickly.

Hold on I'm getting confused.............I mean there are rumours we are set to sign Xabi Alonso, the Liverpool midfielder.

Now this is a rumour I like. The Spaniard would be a very good signing for Arsenal and would be a good foil for Fabregas.

I did wonder whether the pair could work together. On paper it seems a dream but look at Gallas and Toure. On paper that partnership looks great but in reality it has its flaws.

I think Alonso and Fabregas would be good for each other though. And Alonso is very experienced.

I'd be more than happy for this to materialise. It wont happen yet. It will happen on August 31st. Trust me, that will be the day that we sign Alonso and Liverpool sign Barry.

Keep it Goonerish...............

They are talking the talk, can they walk the walk?.....

At 3:00AM GMT, I did a post about being a GATTERED GOONER. I will not lie, I was drunk as a skunk. I was letting my hair down and professing my love for Arsenal. Some objected, some quite liked it, all I'll say is this...I LOVE ARSENAL!

Anyway, I was out with a couple of Spuds yesterday. It seems that it's the year of the Cockerel and the Spuds are set for the top four......

(SIGH) How many times do they do it to themselves? Every summer its the same. They are really quite deluded aren't they?

They sign a couple of players at over-inflated prices and think they are kings of the world!

I'd feel sorry for them but its hilarious to watch them get all excited and set themselves up for a fall in spectacular fashion!

And I hope that the prat boy, David Bentley, fucks up at the Spuds. He has too much to say and he's saying it too loudly.

Deal with it mate, Wenger didn't want you. I sometimes wonder if Bentley only signed for the Spuds to try to get one over Le Boss.

I've read that Le Boss wont be signing a midfielder in a hurry. The way he has spoken lately I really really believe that we will be getting someone in. My gut feeling though says that it will a last ditch signing, a bit like Diarra last season.

I'll be up all night on 31/08/08 checking SSN for any activity..........

Keep it Goonerish............

GATTERED GOONER!!!..........

Gattered Gooner=Drunken Gooner

A) I'm drunk........

B) I'm drunk.....................

C) I love Arsenal........................LOADS!!!!!!!

Keep it Goonerish........................................................

Ham, egg and chips.......

I've just finished work and was starving so I popped into the cafe and had ham, egg and chips. It was lovely although the ham was slightly fatty.

Talking of hunger, Le Boss has spoken of the squad's hunger for honours this season. He believes we have a squad more than capable of challenging for the title.

The squad is exciting. We have a huge amount of talent in there. Can we challenge for the title? Yes........Can we win it? Yes........But only with a little more depth and experience.

The good thing is Le Boss is looking for an experienced midfielder. We don't want a 90 year old, because although that does guarantee experience it doesn't provide you with a player who can withstand three games in a week.

That's why Arshavin isn't signing, he is secretly 92 years old and that's the real reason he cant play three games in a week..........

The Gareth Barry rumours wont go away. He is the type of experienced player we need at the club. He could form a great partnership with Fabregas, I'd love to see him in the Red and White. And not the red and white of Liverpool......

A fresh face arriving is something to look forward to. We are flush after the Spuds gave us £7m (thanks for that tossers!) so Le Boss has money to burn.

Adebayor is set to sign a new deal, I think Arsene needs to put some kind of performance cause in the terms.

For every time Ade is offside he needs to donate £50 to a fund of some type. They'd make a killing..............

Keep it Goonerish............

The wally with the brolly and Ade to stay....FFS!!!!!

So the Champions League draw has paired us with Twente from Holland. Twente have recently installed a new manager who we English know very well.

The Wally with the Brolly aka Steve McClaren, returns to English soil for the first time since he inspired England to a 3-2 Wembley defeat at the hands of Croatia.

I must say I know little of Twente. I know that they were good on my football console game, One Nil, but that game is at least 14 years old so that they must have had a rebirth.

Being a Dutch side I'd expect them to be technical, but with new Gaffer Wally in charge, I'd imagine any ability that Twente have or had, will be sucked out from them.

In other Gooner news, the Togo Twat, Adebayor is signing a new contract.

I was one of his staunch supporters before the summer. Now he has to win me over after his antics.

I expect an apology for Gooners. Will we get one?

I wont hold my breath...........

There is no doubting he can become a great player in my mind, I just hope his attitude changes and he realises how lucky he is to be an Arsenal player.

It's not something that should be taken for granted, that red and white shirt is our pride and joy.

Ade, you've mugged us off over the summer now you have to repay us.

Keep it Goonerish............

They go together like flies and s*it!.........

So Arsenal reject, David "I'm sooooo good" Bentley, has finalised a deal to join the Spuds for a whopping £15m. The fee could rise even higher based on appearances!

Arsenal have done alright from the deal as well, pocketing a lovely £7m to boost the coffers. Not bad for a player who made one Premiership appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

Nice one Le Boss!

I think he's a good player, not great, but £15m?.......

It shows how ludicrous the market is nowadays buying English players. Mind you, the deal was probably only so high because Blackburn had to pay us such a high fee.

Never mind!

I don't like Bentley as a person and I don't like the Spuds, so I believe the pair go hand in hand like flies on shit!

It does make me laugh though. I'm sure I heard Bentley say he wants to play in the Champions League, so why he chose to go to N17 I'll never know. He's joined a club that have never been in the competition, so maybe his knowledge on his "beloved" Spuds isn't that great!

I wonder how much his wage packet will be?.........

Speaking of wage packets, watching Ade play last night just shows how laughable his £120,000 a week demands are.

Granted it was his first game back from pre-season, but judging from last nights performance I wouldn't pay him £120 a week!

It seems we are stuck with him but he will have to grovel and perform a lot better than that if he is too be forgiven for his bloody antics over the summer.

Keep it Goonerish..........

Bischoff signs, cheers Arsene I'm wetting myself!

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of French-born Portugal Under-21 international Amaury Bischoff.

He will wear the number 28 shirt and signs from German side Werder Bremen. He plays in the centre of midfield or on the right hand side.

While I'll admit I'm not wetting myself with excitement at the news, I will not pass judgement on the player until I've actually seen him wear the Arsenal colours.

I've no doubt that he must have some potential otherwise Le Boss wouldn't have signed him.

One thing that confuses me is where he is actually from. Is he French? Or is he Portugese? I hope Portugese because;

A) I can call him a Portugeezer,

and

B) He may progress to full international level for Portugal and injure Ronaldo in a training ground tackle.

Anyway, Le Boss has unearthed unknown gems before, I hope this is one.

I'm also hoping that Le Boss will spend some of the reputed 50% signing on fee we will receive from Blackburn selling Bentley to the Spuds on an experienced player.

Keep it Goonerish...........

Almunia V Lehmann-ITS OOOONNNNNNN!.......

It is similar to Mr Miyagi taking on the karate kid at the Mercedes-Benz Arena tonight. Teacher taking on pupil, father pitted against son......

OK, its not really like that but you get my drift!

Arsenal play Stuttgart and the goalkeepers, who have battled for the number one slot at Arsenal for four years, are pitted against each other.

Both have wanted to be number one, now both are.

THIS IS WAR!!!

Dont be surprised to see Almunia taken out by a rocket launcher from Jens's direction.

Almunia is playing it cool,

"Jens was always a very competitive goalkeeper who always wanted to win and play. I have much respect for him," said Almunia.

Although at the time of saying this he was loading his shotgun.

Expect a hug, then the fireworks will begin..

Keep it Goonerish.........

Fab: Maybe we lack experience

The great news is that Fabregas has insisted that he is happy at Arsenal and is there for the long-term.

"I have not spoken to any media so it's frustrating to read quotes that I have supposedly said about my future. "I have spent the summer relaxing with my family, friends and girlfriend and I return to training with Arsenal tomorrow.

"I think that some people are just trying to make mischief but my intentions are very clear." I am happy here at Arsenal, my future is with Arsenal and the priority is to achieve success and win trophies at Arsenal."

Well said that man!

But he has also warned that Arsenal need to develop a killer instinct if we are to win the title and hinted that it's because we lack the experience of Manchester United.

"We need to learn to kill games off. We play really well and dominate but the ball doesn't go in.

"United have lots of players who are experienced. They won things, know how to get a result, and know how to play in those games which aren't so nice.

"In our team, only Kolo and Gallas have won the Premiership so maybe we lack experience"

I agree with Fabregas. We do need to sign a couple of experienced players and then I truly believe we will be champions.

Maybe he is throwing a little hint to Le Boss, hopefully Le Boss will listen!

Keep it Goonerish...........

GOONERS, could you accept Henry in a Manchester United shirt?...

According to various sources Manchester United are preparing a £15m move for Thierry Henry. My reaction to this story? What a load of bollocks! Henry has always said that he would never play for another English club and I believe him.

But just imagine IF the move was actually on the cards and Titi DID sign for Manchester United, how would you feel about it?

Betrayed? Angry? Let-down?.......

Or would you be happy for a man quite rightly called an Arsenal legend because he is happy?

It would fill me with dread and disbelief!

Could you, my fellow Gooners accept this? Or would you be damn right aggrieved?

(Its all for fun, it'll never happen. I hope)

Keep it Goonerish........