I Hope The Barcelona Supporters Pissed Cesc Off!

Was it just me or did you hear the Barcelona supporters whistle at Cesc Fabregas when he was substituted the other night too?

Perhaps whistling people in Spain during a football match is a compliment?

This is not me being ignorant, I don't know the Spanish culture too well, nor would I claim that I did, but surely its almost equal to booing someone?

When we actually strung two passes together they began to whistle at us so I should imagine its not a good thing. Unless they fancied us.

Perhaps Cesc will keep this in mind when we are subjected to another campaign of will he leave/will he stay throughout the whole of summer.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

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

And Who Said Arsenal Couldn't Defend?

Arsenal impressed me during the first half in the Camp Nou the other night. We defended very well indeed.

People have said we were slaughtered like Amy Winehouse, well I'd agree we were in the second half. When down to 10 men.

However the first half we defended our goal like a bunch of old women defending their knitting needles. I was happy with that display.

I think Arsene Wenger set the team out to defend like we did. And if memory serves me correctly Barcelona had only 2 shots on goal other the actual goal itself, which came from a mistake.

Of course Barcelona had 99% of possession, something Arsenal are used to having, but they wasn't causing us too many problems.

In fact, I'd say that we had them rattled more than a rattle snake and had we gone into half-time at 0-0 their confidence would have been affected. We conceded a goal at the worst possible time.

Had Chelsea defended like we did in the first-half you would have said they were resolute. Because Arsenal don't play that way, and people say we can't defend, we were outplayed.

You are not going to have any choice other than to defend in long periods against Barcelona and I don't think we got enough credit for the way we handled them until we went down to 10 men.

That said we didn't do what we usually do very well. We gave the ball away a lot. It was like a hot potato at times.

Had we kept the ball better, I firmly believe the longer the game went on we would have won.

Credit must go to Barcelona though. Despite us frustrating them they kept to their principles and kept going. Do they have a plan B? Probably, but so do Arsenal now.

It can be ugly to watch 10 men defending behind the ball, we've seen that more times from the opposition than any, but it does frustrate the other team and can work.

Like my sisters pay-as-you-go phone I don't think Arsene Wenger has received enough credit.

It's said he can be tactically naive at times, something I agree with to a certain extent, but he wasn't during the first half in Barcelona.

He set up our stall to defend in numbers and it worked marvellously until injury time.

Arsenal can definitely defend well its just we won't ever get the chance to show it regularly because its not every day we face a team like Barcelona.

Teams usually do it us and receive loads of credit. Its a shame it doesn't work the other way round.

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

Talk About Spitting Your Dummy Out!

No I am not talking about any sulking Gooners either because we have every right to have the hump!

I wet my knickers with laughter though after reading that Alex Ferguson was 'seething' after Manchester United's hiding at Anfield earlier.

Fair enough, United were beaten. I suppose that would make him slightly annoyed.

However, what made me chuckle was that he refused to do an interview. That is not the end of it though. He didn't allow his players to talk to the media either.

Now, I can understand being pissed off at losing such an important game but talk about spitting your dummy out!

Could you imagine the uproar if Arsene Wenger had done the same?

I have no doubt that every form of media would go into overdrive. Wenger would be hung, drawn and quartered. By his balls.

It would be on the front few pages of every newspaper, pushing murder stories to page 8, for at least a week.

Sky Sports would be going mental. Absolutely crazy in fact. Probably more crazy than Gennaro Gattuso on a sugar rush looking for Joe Jordan.

There would be more breaking news about it than an MC Hammer vs Vanilla Ice break-dance off.

Yet Alex Ferguson seems to get away with it. Why?

People love to have a pop at Arsene Wenger about some of his interviews but at least he does them. And I'm sure he does them all the time too.

Win, lose or draw, the Arsenal gaffer is there and always answers EVERY question put to him. You might not like his answer but he will always reply.

Can you say the same about Fergie?

Why Alex Ferguson gets so much respect from the media is beyond me. Harry Redknapp is the same but the less I say about him the better. I cannot bear that baggy-faced mug.

It has to be fear. The media are worried about receiving the famous 'Fergie hairdryer' treatment so they treat him with kid-gloves.

Maybe Arsene Wenger needs to tell an interviewer to 'fuck off' like Redknapp, maybe he needs to impose a media ban for his club like Ferguson.

Maybe, just maybe, Wenger might get the respect he deserves and not be treated with contempt from the media despite giving them all the time in the day.

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

Bottle-Jobs, Too Reliant On RVP And Cesc, Just Plain Unlucky?

........Or a combination of all three?

I feel very proud and privileged to be a Gooner but at times it can be so frustrating.

I don't know what would be more frustrating, watching that game today, or pulling Kelly Brook on a drunken night out and then being too pissed to get it up.

Probably an equal footing.

All I know is we dropped some very impotent, sorry IMPORTANT, points today and I hope it doesn't cost us at the end of the season.

It's been said that Arsenal have less bottle than Audley Harrison but I don't know if that is the case.

We do rely on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie a lot but I believe that any club would miss players of that quality.

Perhaps we miss Cesc more than RVP. I know Robin scores loads of goals when he isn't at the doctors but this system we play is built around our skipper and when he isn't involved we can lack creativity.

Why on Earth Arsene Wenger doesn't put Samir Nasri in the middle when Cesc is missing I'll never know. Surely that could go someway to solving that problem?

But then we do know that Arsene can do things a little differently at times.

That said I think its difficult to blame the gaffer for today. We battered Sunderland and at times I thought Arsenal were playing a sausage.

We didn't have the little bit of luck needed. We did everything but score and I honestly believe we wouldn't have scored in a brothel. Unless Wayne Rooney signed for us.

Andrey Arshavin had a goal disallowed and that was a liberty. It was never offside. Cheers Anthony Taylor. You minge.

I suppose it was just one of those days that do your head in but why do we seem to get them more than any other club? Are we cursed? Did we upset a Gypsy who supports Manchester United?

Again it's another day when the opposition 'keeper gets the M.O.M award and I often wonder if these goalies save their best for Arsenal. Like they get some kind of special 'played well against Arsenal' award at the end of the season.

A little bit of credit must go to Sunderland. They came for a point and they earned it.

So all in all, like every Gooner in the universe, I'm very disappointed but lets try and remain positive. There is a long way to go yet and we are still very much involved in a title race.

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

Kolo Toure - Innocent Until Proven Guilty And Deserves Our Support

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that Kolo Toure had failed a drugs test.

And I wasn't hallucinating from illegal substances when I saw it either.

All jokes aside though, here is a man, a devout Muslim family man at that, who gave his all at Arsenal for seven seasons and I think he deserves our support.

There is no way that Kolo would take illegal drugs knowingly so there has to be an innocent explanation for this.

I have no doubt that he will receive a huge amount of stick for this episode but he won't get any from me. And I'm sure most, if not all Gooners, feel the same.

In this country you are innocent until proven guilty and I'd like to remind everyone of that.

Toure is an icon at Arsenal and I hope that he is cleared of any wrong doing. Which I'm sure he will be.

Keep your chin up Kolo!

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

Gooners Can Help Heal RVP's Knee, Says Uri

Uri Geller called on Arsenal fans to help heal RVP's injured knee by rubbing a photo of the Dutchman (below).

Geller, a spoon-bending psychic and former best-mate of deceased pop star Micheal Jackson, believes that Gooners can create a huge surge of energy powerful enough to help the Arsenal striker regain his fitness.

He said: "I know it sounds light-hearted, but it is actually very serious."

"Send him healing energies, visualise the knee ligament knitting together, unleash your healing powers. Send the energy to that knee."

Uri Geller has claimed to be behind many extraordinary events. The Tottenham Hotspur Lasagne-Gate of 2006 was the most famous to date and even incurred a police investigation.

However surely getting Robin van Persie back to full-fitness would be a step too far. Even for the powers of Uri Geller.

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

Tony Pulis Set To Unleash The Kraken!

I'm slightly perturbed by Tony Pulis. In fact, I'm a little more than freaked out.

Usually the man takes every chance possible in his stinking existence to have a pop at Arsenal. Today he kind of gives us a little gee-up.

To say I'm surprised is an understatement and I've come to the conclusion that he has either taken a whack on his head or he has fallen out with his posse.

Alex Ferguson, Phil Brown and Sam Allardyce will be disgusted and sickened that Pulis has given Arsenal a compliment.

I wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if they threw him out of their gang forever. He has some serious sucking up to do.

Rule Number One in their crew is to hate and try to dig out Arsenal or Arsene Wenger at every opportunity given.

What the Stoke City manager has said in the link above is blasphemy of the worst kind. The 'c-word' has nothing on this.

I expect a Tony Pulis backlash after the game tomorrow night.

Fergie would have been on the phone and will demand an apology of biblical proportions.

Not only that, he will want Pulis to pull out the big guns and verbally, if not physically, attack Arsenal in the most outrageous way ever.

In the next 48 hours I predict that Tony Pulis will unleash the Kraken of all slagging offs. And even Perseus will be shocked by it.

Keep It Goonerish........

I'm Manuel Almunia...Get Me Out Of Here!

Poor old Manuel Almunia really looks like he has had enough doesn't he?

He looks about as interested in playing for Arsenal as Elton John would be in a threesome with Megan Fox and Cheryl Cole and about as nervous as a virgin in the same situation.

To be fair who could blame him?

The Spaniard has never been a favourite with Gooners but even the most battle-hardened Almunia hater would admit that he was badly treated by Arsenal last summer.

Essentially he was hung out to dry, like my delicates, by a very public Arsenal chase for Fulham 'keeper Mark Schwarzer.

How Wenger could ever have expected Almunia to be at his best (no matter how bad that is) after being undermined like this I will never know.

Manuel has been like a dead-man walking ever since. I've seen more life in a tramps vest.

Arsene wanted a new number one and that was more obvious than Peter Crouch at a midget convention. He should have let Almunia go then.

Instead we have a keeper licking his wounds, someone who doesn't want to be here.

Despite Gooners reservations over him, he didn't need deserve this treatment because by all accounts Manuel Almunia is a nice guy.

He should have been allowed a dignified exit.

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

Well Played Leyton Orient. That's The Magic Of The FA Cup!

Why am I not pissed off?

We have just drawn against a side that are two divisions below us and I am not the slightest bit annoyed.

In fact, and this is a proper fact, I was more annoyed when I rolled in dogs shit during my Sunday league match earlier than when Leyton Orient equalised.

Maybe the romantic side has come out in me. The romance of the FA Cup has a lot to answer for.

What a result for Leyton Orient. They get a replay out of us and earn a few more quid too.

Who really can begrudge them that? I know I can't.

The FA Cup can be more magical than David Blaine at times and today was a perfect example.

This will mean everything to everyone associated with Leyton Orient FC, and you can tell how much it meant to them at the final whistle.

How often will these players get the chance to play at a ground like the Emirates?

How often will the Orient fans get the chance to watch their team at a ground like the Emirates?

That's why the FA Cup is special.

Well done Leyton Orient. You deserve all the credit you get.

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

Arshavin's Goal Was Better Than Rooney's

I'm not taking anything away from Wayne Rooney here. His goal (despite flying in off his shin) against Manchester City was a marvellous one.

Sky Sports certainly thought it was. Since the goal I must have seen it replayed more times than Rooney has banged call girls.

However, despite the media having a gangbang over it, I still think that Andrei Arshavin's one against Barcelona the other night was better.

Call me biased, call me a twat, I don't care. As Paul Merson would say, Arshavin's goal was a 'worldy'.

I've heard that Rooney's was special because it happened in the Manchester derby. The most important derby since 1345. Well, given the circumstances, I agree with that. It was special.

The game was neck and neck, mano el mano and needed something out of the ordinary to win the game. Rooney provided the finish and United won. Well done.

I'd argue that Arsenal's second against Barcelona was more important and the game far more bigger than the Manchester derby though.

According to most people this Barcelona side are the greatest team on planet Earth. Some even say that they are the greatest team in the universe. Ever.

Like others I really rate this Barca team too and I have to say that their gaffer, Pep Guardiola, is a wonder. In fact, I'd love him to take over us when Arsene Wenger leaves the club.

Because of all this it was vital that we took something to the Camp Nou and because of our fantastic winner we will do.

The way we took Barcelona apart to score that goal was nothing short of magical. We cut them open more than a surgeon performing a heart bypass.

The ITV commentator (a right tool) said it was a Barcelona goal scored by Arsenal. Wrong. It was an Arsenal goal scored by Arsenal and not only that, it was better than Rooney's.

The importance of it is unrivalled, the execution was more deadly than Saddam Hussein's, and the whole build-up and finish didn't rely on one ounce of fortune.

It was football, and Arsenal, at its purest.

Had it come from Barcelona or, dare I say, Manchester United, people would have gone into a orgasm frenzy of epic proportions.

Rooney's strike, albeit brilliant, could have ended up on planet Mars. It didn't and was a great goal.

Arshavin's goal, at the end of a move tearing the best team in the world a new arsehole, was better. Much better.

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

An Open Letter To Xavier Hernández:

Dear Mr Hernandez,

Can I call you Xavi? Or, as Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses or Gypsies would say, can I call you Chavvy?

Let me begin by saying that I think you are a marvellous footballer. I love to watch players like yourself play the game. At times its like watching my mate Phil play Fifa 2003 on Playstation 2 and he was well good at that game.

In the past I've heard you mention a lot about DNA. So much so, I thought you were a part-time genetic scientist or something during your spare time after training. You have mentioned Cesc Fabregas' FC Barcelona DNA loads. I only have normal DNA but I wish I had Arsenal DNA. That would be sooooo cool.

Recently Chavvy you have said quite a lot of naughty things and at times I think you are a nasty man but then I remember you have FC Barcelona DNA too and when people with that get older sometimes they have a mutation of the mind and it makes them go crazy. Well, that's what my teacher told me in Biology years ago.

I didn't know that you were a psychic either. But you aren't very good at that though are you Chavvy?! I remember reading this just before I went on holiday last summer and I thought 'Wow, this man is a scientist AND a psychic'.

You said that Cesc might join you at Barcelona in January when Arsenal are out of the title race and that the Gunners are just not competitive. You were wrong! What happened? Did your crystal ball break?

Not only are Arsenal still in the title race and in the running for four trophies, we are proving to be very competitive indeed. So competitive in fact we have just beaten YOUR team in the Champions League. I really, really, really hope you kept the receipt for that crystal ball Chavvy.

I'm not going to be arrogant like you Chavvy. I know that it will be a very hard game in Barcelona and we will have to do very well to knock you out but my advice to you would be to show a little humanity and a little less of the cockiness because it can bite you on the arse.

Yours,

Wrighty

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

Arsenal Midfielder Jack Wilshere Agrees To Join Barcelona In Summer - Report

Jack Wilshere has agreed to leave Arsenal for Barcelona and will move to the Camp Nou in the Summer.

The Daily Bullshit claims that the England international will wear the famous red and blue next season after agreeing a deal with the Catalan giants.

The 19-year old will be given the number 4 jersey and is expected to pen a long-term contract until 2025.

The only sticking point in the deal is Arsenal's reluctance to sanction the transfer. However this will not stop the move from happening because FC Barcelona are the masters of the universe.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi, best known as 'el gallo' (the cock) spoke to the Daily Bullshit after the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal;

"Wilshere is part of Barcelona's DNA.

He would adapt perfectly to the club and the team. He is a fantastic player.

His Father bought him a FC Barca keyring in 2001 during a family holiday to Spain. It is his destiny to play with us.

We are pleased he is coming, Arsenal can't hold him against his will for much longer."

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

Could You Do To Gooners What Andy Carroll Has Done To The Toon Army?

Some footballers can really sicken me. Even more so than a bottle of cheeky Tequila.

I cannot believe the transfer of Andy Carroll from Newcastle United to Liverpool. It really confuses me.

The fee is as unreal as Pamela Anderson's bangers. Seriously do you think that Andy Carroll is worth the reported fee of £35m?!

Carroll is a good player, maybe worth a punt at £12-15m but not what Liverpool have paid for him.

This is a player with no Champions League experience, less than a years worth of Premier league experience and one England cap to his name.

If Carroll is worth that, then how much is Nicklas Bendtner, a player slated all the time, worth?

In my opinion the football world has gone ab-so-lutely ga ga. Lady Gaga has nothing on the money spent by these clubs.

Of course Andy Carroll is full of potential, potential being the key word here, and the fee Liverpool paid for him is not his problem. But while the the transfer fee itself makes me dizzy, the fact that Carroll put in a transfer request pisses me off.

If someone like Andy Carroll puts in a transfer request then what hope is there for loyalty in the game?

Carroll is a player who support(s)ed Newcastle United and apparently dreamed of wearing the number 9 shirt with the club. He achieved that. He also signed a five-year-deal with the Toon in November and wanted to stay with the club forever.

Andy would have had the world at his feet whenever he stepped out into the city of Newcastle and would have been treated like a God. They love a local lad up there, especially one wearing the number 9 shirt.

So why hand in a transfer request?

Carroll is now saying that he was forced out of Newcastle. I'm sorry but I don't buy that. Nobody 'forced' him to request a transfer. He could have just said I don't want to leave and that is that.

If I played for Arsenal and was as loved by Gooners as much as Carroll was by Geordie's I would never leave the club. I wouldn't dream of it.

In fact, not even a loaded gun pointed to my head and the threat of being forced to watch Harry Redknapp interviews all day would force me.

Here we have a player who has fulfilled every Newcastle United supporting fans dreams and now let them down. Could you do to Gooners what he has done to the Toon Army?

There is not a lot of loyalty left in the game today. Every player is motivated by money and I think that the days of one-club-players have gone and won't be back.

And that is a sad situation.

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

My Gut Feeling Says We Won't Sign A Defender

I've got a feeling brewing in my guts and I'm sure it isn't the Peking duck from the Chinese take-away I had last night taking its revenge or the whack on the knackers I received from my pal's two-year-old either this morning.

This feeling has been growing the longer this transfer-window has gone on and I'm starting to think that maybe it has a point. As the days go by so does my hope that we sign a much needed defender.

You never know with Arsene Wenger what will happen in a transfer-window but his comments that a loan-signing would be best for Arsenal today have swayed me more to the fact we won't be bringing anyone in.

Obviously the gaffer has a more extensive scouting system than I have but I've been wracking my bonce since I saw this and I cannot for the life of me think of anyone who would be available for loan in this position.

I suppose although myself and many others think that Arsene should bring someone in at the back it's not worth getting frustrated over. There is nothing we can do but sit and wait until the window closes and see what has happened.

January transfer windows are very annoying though. You wait for it and hope that problem areas in the squad can be rectified and then you wait some more. Then some more. Then some more and finally its all done and you realise you have just spent a month looking at Arsenal websites with your eye-balls hanging out your head.

I'm just going to take some deep-breaths and not be pissed off if we haven't brought anyone in by February 1st. I'm gearing myself up to believe we won't be signing anyone so I can avoid the inevitable disappointment if we don't.

Keep It Goonerish........

I Don't Think We Are 'Gunner' Sign Gary Cahill But I Reckon Christopher Samba Could Be On The Cards

I've seen that Bolton have finally signed Middlesborough defender David Wheater.

So I suppose many people will now assume that an Arsenal move for Gary Cahill is on the cards.

I don't think it's going to happen.

For me David Wheater isn't a signing to replace Gary Cahill. The most probable player he is replacing is Andy O'Brien who left Bolton to join Leeds United permanently only recently.

Gary Cahill will cost a fortune and I don't think Arsene Wenger will spend huge money on a centre-back this January, that's even if he signs one at all.

In my opinion Wenger sees Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen as his first choice pairing at the back and an injury to our Belgian pal will not alter Arsene's long-term vision for them being a partnership.

Arsene won't jeopardise his ideas will he? We've seen that in the past when Arsenal have been crying out for a signing and it hasn't happened.

The figures bandied about for Gary Cahill are between £15-20m. Can you honestly see the Arsenal gaffer spending that much on a player? Especially a defender because I certainly can't!

That's why if we actually make a defensive signing I think it will be Christopher Samba.

The Blackburn man wants out of the club so could be available, speaks French, would be a lot cheaper than Cahill, and most importantly, is proven in the EPL.

Blackburn have apparently offered Samba a new contract to try and settle him but I think he will wait until the transfer dead-line passes or until Arsenal sign someone before he decides what to do.

I'm sure Samba would jump at a move to Arsenal. I don't know if he could make the step up in level but I do know he is a solid defender who doesn't mess about.

There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger would improve him as a footballer however but it would be refreshing to see a 'no-nonsense' defender at the club. I'd argue the last one of those we had was Martin Keown.

True Christopher Samba is no super-star but when does Wenger ever sign one of those? I think the Blackburn man is the target but whether we sign anyone is debatable.

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

They Can't Remain Unbeaten All Season Can They? CAN THEY?!

I gotta admit I'm starting to shit myself a little bit here. I'm getting a tincey wincey bit nervous.

Watching Manchester United grind out a goal-less draw with Spurs today had me thinking, it had me thinking something bad. What I was thinking of was horrendous, more horrendous than the jumper my Nan lovingly knitted me for Christmas.

What was going through my mind might upset you, it may even scare you, you might want to look away for it could scar you for life.

I've tried knocking my head against a wall to remove this thought from my brain but alas it remains and the wall is battered. Are you ready for this monstrosity? Are you ready for this sick thought?

Could Manchester United remain unbeaten for the season? Could they do what we did? Be Invincible over a campaign?

The thought sends shivers down my spine but it is a realistic possibility.

United are more notorious than Biggy Smalls for becoming a stronger force in the second half of the season and they haven't seemed to have hit top gear yet. But they remain unbeaten!

That said they could go unbeaten and not actually win the league, it is that tight at the top of the table.

Luckily they have a lot of hard games to play, including playing us at the Emirates so it will prove to very difficult for them to equal our fantastic achievement but it is achievable none the less.

I hate the thought that they might do what we did. That is our fame to claim. We are the Invincibles, not them.

The image of Fergie with that bright red nose crowing over the fact they can claim to be invincible too, sickens me. It sickens me more than vomit.

They can't do it can they?

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

Barcelona Striker Lionel Messi Agrees To Join Arsenal On Five-Year Deal - Report

Lionel Messi has agreed to leave Barcelona for Arsenal and will move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

The Sunday Bullshit claims the Argentine international will don the famous red and white shirt next season after agreeing a deal with the North London giants.

The 23-year-old will also be given the number 100 jersey and is expected to pen a twenty year deal until June 2031.

However, Arsenal will have to negotiate a transfer with Barcelona who would be resistant to a move.

But, £10.74 and a packet of Pickled Onion flavour Monster Munch could be enough to convince L'equip Blaugrana into parting company with their man.

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

Roberto Mancini Has Just Killed Your Poxy Excuses And Mugged You Off!

If a team assembled together at a cost totalling over a trillion pounds, 1973 pure gold bars, 45 Ruby's, a diamond mine and a sack of potatoes come to you and play pure lock-down tactics then I think they are paying you the ultimate compliment.

Its either that or the club has an Italian manager in charge.

Of course its easy for us to mock Manchester City for coming to the Emirates with such a negative attitude but the truth is they came for that 0-0 result and that is what they have achieved.

I prefer to mock them with the fact that they have long grumbled about only having ten men when we whopped their rich asses 3-0 at the Eastlands earlier this season. Excuses, excuses in my book.

This time the match began and ended with an even amount of players on the pitch but still they couldn't defeat us. So that argument is done. They can no longer try to use the excuse of only having ten men in that loss.

City had eleven players until the final minute and despite this numerical fact their supporters have completely embarrassed themselves because Mancini has shown that even with an equal number of players on the pitch, he will do just whatever possible to avoid defeat.

Despite Manchester City's obvious lack of ambition, Arsenal showed the complete opposite and were very unlucky not to have won the game. On the other hand lady luck smiled on the Sky Blues all night, so much so, you would thought they were shagging her. If they had managed to have signed John Terry the other summer then they probably would be.

I thought Arsenal were excellent last night. So excellent in fact I could waiver the fact we only picked up a point when on another day it would have been three. Look at it like this, had a genie or Mystic Meg came to you in the summer and said these very words; "You will take 4 points from Manchester City this campaign" you would be happy right? I would have bitten her hand off there and then.

On that note its quite obvious how far they have come and that they are serious title contenders this season. Whether you like it or not, City are here to stay even if it means parking that big blue bus at every ground this season.

Arsenal too are very much in the title race and the signs are that the squad is beginning to believe it. Of course they will be frustrated at not winning last night but believe me if we perform like that for the rest of the season we have a great chance of winning the league.

Talking about Manchester City I have to add this. Until this sudden influx of Arabian cash came flooding in like a flock of mice who have spied a cheese sandwich I found Manchester City fans quite charming. I actually liked the fact they were humble but I'm afraid now some of this cash richness has gone to their swedes.

I remember the same happened to Chelsea fans (although Chelsea fans have always been arrogant). They began to think they were a huge club straight away and demanded to be cast in the same league as the elite. They became very arrogant.

I would hope that City fans wouldn't do the same. Use the example of Chelsea and do the exact same opposite. Yes you struck gold but be humble with it, and endear yourselves to people like you used too.

Other clubs supporters are not jealous of you and all your green, we just don't like it to rubbed in our noses every five minutes. Manchester City are more loaded than an AK47 or Amy Winehouse after visit to the bogs, we know that, but we don't need to be reminded of it.

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

Lets Just Hope That The Manchester City Squad Don't Start Liking Each Other!

How many bust-ups has Roberto Mancini had to deal with in his time at Manchester City? I stopped counting at 3421.

It seems every week that the Italian has to deal with yet another spat between his players. To me it appears there are too many big time charlies at Eastlands with massive egos.

Emmanuel Adebayor probably has the biggest opinion on himself on this planet. I'm sure this is a humongous reason why Arsene Wenger snatched up the £25m for him offered by City.

The Togolese man has to decide whether he wants to box his team-mates or play football with them. I see today he has had another tear-up, this time with another former Gunner Kolo Toure.

Now Kolo is a very mild-mannered player and peaceful person. We saw that in all his years with us, so for him to decide that he wants to be Rocky for 5 minutes says a lot about the tension up at Manchester.

It's not in Kolo's nature to act this way, especially towards a team-mate, so I blame Adebayor. The man is a pure liability, despite having ability, and having someone like him in the squad is bound to cause serious grief.

Looking at the amount of arguments and bare-knuckle fighting going on at Manchester City tells me that things aren't all rosy behind the scenes at the club. Despite this they sit third in the table and I think Mancini is doing a good job there.

People say it's good to have feisty players and that a little bit of fighting between players is better than having a group of softies but I don't 100% agree with that. Of course you want winners but surely its better to have a bunch of players who get on?

You sense that with the Arsenal players. Arsene Wenger has had this squad together for a while now and its clear that they all get on. There is plenty of harmony within the Arsenal ranks, something that clearly isn't there at City.

That's why I think Mancini is going a good job keeping Manchester City in the title race. It must be hard trying to keep on top of several egotistic footballers desperate to be the number one player at the club.

Its easy to say that the players are professionals and a few disagreements shouldn't affect performances on the pitch but in the end I think it will tell. I can honestly see Manchester City self-destructing this season.

At the moment they are challenging for honours so these minor boxing matches can be overlooked but there could be a moment things take a turn for the worst and I can vision a Royal Rumble at the City of Manchester that not even Hulk Hogan could referee.

If the City squad actually began to like each other like Arsenal's do then the rest of the Premiership would probably be in serious trouble. You can say all you want about them spending more money than Elton John does on flowers, in my opinion they have the most talented squad in the league.

Luckily for the rest of us they don't seem to like each other much so a melt-down of extra-large proportions is most likely to be round the corner. We of course can take advantage of that, especially tomorrow at the Emirates. Maybe that is where the spectacular fall-out begins.

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

Could FC Barcelona Cope In The Barclays Premier League? I Don't Think So!

Ever since Arsenal were drawn against FC Barcelona in the Champions League people have said that we are on a hiding to nothing and that it will be like men against boys.

Pretty much everyone on this Earth, and their dog, believes that it is simply a formality that Barcelona will crush us. We will be destroyed, or if you like, Barcered.

In fact, we might be Barcered so bad, that it could be an embarrassment.

Luckily I don't follow this herd. Of course I know it will the hardest test we come up against this season. Barcelona ARE the best team in the world but the best team in the world doesn't always win. The law of averages won't allow it.

Who knows? When the time comes around to play these beasts of football they might not look so good. They could be out of sorts, whereas we could be liquorice allsorts, I mean, bang-in-form.

Football is a funny ol' game of sorts.

Of course Barcelona against English teams over two-legs can look superior but how would they cope with the rigours of the Barclays Premier League week-in week-out like we do?

Teams kick the shit out of Arsenal in most games, that is a scientific fact, and I often wonder how Barcelona would deal with playing against sides determined not to be taken the piss out of all the time.

Could you imagine Barcelona having to play away, in winter, in consecutive games at grounds like Ewood Park and the Britannia Stadium? Imagine how Carles Puyol and the like would deal with a 100 yard throw-in by Rory Delap or Christopher Samba in your face for 90 minutes?

Don't get me wrong, I believe Barcelona are mustard but I don't think they could handle the English Premier League every week.

A lot of people think that the standard of the English league has dropped slightly. Maybe in regards to the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea this is true. However the other clubs in the division have improved hugely, more hugely than Frank Lampard's arse over Christmas.

The Spanish league is lovely to watch but seriously, in my opinion, it is a glorified Scottish League in truth. I mean no disrespect to the Scot's but they know the truth. The SPL is a poor league and of course the standard in La Liga is higher than that but you can predict the top two every year.

I don't think that Barcelona could walk away with the title in England like they do in Spain. Of course they would challenge for it but I would love to see how they would cope in our league over a season.

I love the way they play football and could watch them all day long. Could they do that week-in week-out though with teams beating the granny of out them?

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

Is Drogba Still In Djourou's Pocket?

At last Johan Djourou is beginning to gain some recognition.

I've rated this fella for a long time and have always believed that he could become a top-class centre-back.

The other night he had Didier Drogba in his pocket so much so I wouldn't be surprised if Drogba was still in there next to some lint and a two bob note.

Granted, the Chelsea man has chewed up our defence and spat them out more times than a Native American munching on tobacco but what a performance by Johan! He was smoking.

The geezer was immense and it seems at last we have someone in the ranks who can handle a powerful striker and lets be honest, they don't come more powerful than Drogba.

In the summer I think a lot of people had Djourou down as Arsenal's fourth choice centre-back, that was something I didn't agree with, but the fact he is getting so much praise now is testament to how far he has come.

Gooners now believe in him and that is very important. It will mean a lot to Johan and now I'm sure he will have even more belief in himself.

Of course he has had injury problems, like many have in our squad, and if he can overcome the niggles and grief I have no hesitation in saying that Djourou will become one of Europe's best defenders.

When Thomas Vermaelen returns from injury I'm sure that it will be him and Johan as the first choice pairing at the back. I'm more than happy with that.

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

Some Chelsea Fans Are Just Bitter W*nkers!

I've thought this for a long time but I have to say that it was finally confirmed to me about 22:34 last night; Chelsea fans irritate me more than any other.

I'm not knocking all Chelsea supporters. I'm sure that there are some nice ones out there. This fella on the Chelsea Daft blog seems like a reasonable bloke. He even gives us some credit.

But most of the others (not on that blog in particular) are just bitter wankers.

You have to admit that their recent silverware collection is quite impressive but with that trophy haul the Chelsea fans have developed a very arrogant attitude. Fuck knows why. They were fuck-all until a Russian gangster saved them from extinction.

To be truthful I'd have thought that maybe they would be a little more humble considering they were on the brink of going more skint than MC Hammer. I might have thought being humble would have been a good option after being outplayed for 90 minutes and soundly beaten, but no. The arrogance and bitterness still shone through.

Especially at 22:34 last night.

I have to hold my hands up here, I did begin the wind-up as soon as the final whistle went at the Emirates. I had typed a text message into my mobile phone ready to be sent to two Chelsea supporters I know. It simply stated; "Too easy".

Now this may seem as arrogant as those mugs but there was a reason I sent it. Earlier in the season when Chelsea beat us I received that exact message myself from one of those pals of mine. So really me sending it back is just a bit of friendly banter right?

What I got back made laugh and realise that I can't stand Chelsea fans, even more so than Spurs supporters. It was solid abuse and to be honest they made themselves sound like spoilt little brats. They proper spat their dummies out.

You know the funniest text I got? That we were lucky. Now I'm not sure what game the sender of that message watched but to suggest that Arsenal were fortunate to win is at best deluded.

It's this arrogance and mugginess that I can't bear and Chelsea fans have both in abundance. I know that the Gooners sworn enemies are Tottenham but I'd say that I hate Chelsea fans more than them.

In the Gunners pub last night I saw a Gooner with the words on back of his Arsenal shirt saying "You can't buy history". That couldn't be more true and unfortunately though it appears that you can buy pure 100% unadulterated arrogance.

The bitterness shone through last night. I can understand being disappointed at being beaten, especially by a club they usually rob three points off every game but just show a bit of decency and admit defeat. It might even endear people to you a little bit.

Keep It Goonerish.......

So, What Is The Difference Between Fabregas, Rooney And Tevez Then?

Since Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney handed in transfer requests something has really bugged me.

Why does nobody really question either players loyalty to their clubs?

They both told their employers that they wanted to leave, made it public, and put it in writing.

Of course the pair retracted the requests in the end but to me it almost seems as though the fact both want(ed) to leave has been swept under the carpet.

Especially in Rooney's case.

In the summer it was clear that Cesc Fabregas was torn between staying at Arsenal or leaving us for a club very close to his heart.

Barcelona, the club he has supported his whole life, managed by his footballing idol Pep Guardiola, made a very public chase for him.

No wonder he was torn between staying with us or leaving.

One thing he never did was throw his toys out of his pram. Fabregas never did what Tevez and Rooney have done.

Cesc never put in a transfer request yet his loyalty to Arsenal is forever being questioned, tenfold now we have drawn Barcelona in the Champions League again.

Fabregas never went as far as either of those two yet the story of him joining Barcelona still lingers.

Why?

As far as I am aware Fabregas has shown a lot of loyalty to Arsenal and yet his integrity towards the club is always questioned.

Rooney and Tevez went a lot further than he did yet it appears that they have been forgiven and the episode forgotten.

Why can't Fabregas be given the same treatment?

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

Why Not Try Thomas Vermaelen (When Fit) At Left Back?

I agree with many Gooners out there that Gael Clichy has been out of sorts in recent times.

It's a shame because he is a such a loyal player to the club and is the last link we have to the Invincible team of 2003/04.

It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason why Clichy seems to have regressed.

Maybe the current formation doesn't suit him as he doesn't seem to get a lot of protection from whoever plays in front of him.

I'd say that Gael looks a lot more comfortable in the 4-4-2 formation Arsene Wenger used to use.

So much more comfortable in fact a couple of years ago I was confident that he would one day become the best left-back in the world so I'm certain that he can't have turned into a bad player overnight.

Maybe Gael needs a time-out to recharge his batteries and get his head together.

Obviously Kieran Gibbs is next in line for the left-back slot but his injuries are so common at the moment a regular run in the side for him is impossible.

I feel for Kieran. He clearly has potential but every time he gets a chance to shine he gets injured. Despite him being injury-prone I've no doubt that he will be Arsenal and England's future left-back.

Whilst Clichy has been inconsistent and Gibbs spends a lot of time in the treatment room I think that Thomas Vermaelen could be a short term answer to the position.

Of course he is injured at present but when he recovers he could play there and a back four of Vermaelen-Djourou-Squillaci-Sagna looks very solid in my book.

There is the problem that Vermaelen is probably our best centre-back so it may seem daft to take him out of the centre of defence but surely it would tighten us up at the back?

Thomas plays left-back for Belgium quite regularly and did so for Ajax too. He is used to the position so I'm sure he would be comfortable there.

We all know he likes to get forward and Wenger encourages his full-backs to roam forward at every opportunity so he would enjoy it.

The most important aspect though in my opinion is that he defends first and obviously is a natural defender, definitely more so than Clichy and Gibbs at present.

And Arsenal need to defend better.

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

VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT Or In Some Cases; NOT!

I never thought I would say this but sometimes I am sick to death of the whining and whinging of my fellow Gooners.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. I respect that. But sometimes the criticism of Arsene Wenger, the players and the club in general borders on the verge of hatred.

VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT is our motto. It means VICTORY GROWS OUT OF HARMONY.

Look around and you will definitely see that isn't a lot of harmony amongst Gooners at the moment.

Supporting a club is about being there for the good times and the bad times. We are lucky that we love and support a club like Arsenal.

We should uphold our motto, we have a duty to and we need to do so, especially with the challenges ahead of this season.

Who knows? In a months time things could so much more rosier. And, if you are completely honest, things aren't really that bad at present are they?

Of course things can be frustrating, I will never deny that, but surely a little harmony amongst us Gooners would go a long way?

Supporting a club is about respecting everything about it. Its history and what a club stands for. Sometimes I wonder whether some Gooners do that.

In my opinion constructive criticism is fine but when I see some Gooners slagging off Arsenal just for the sake of it and with no real reason to do so it annoys me.

I'm not suggesting that everything is perfect at the club, I know that and you know that, but at the moment there is a real split amongst us and that is worrying.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me on this but surely we should uphold our motto a little more?

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

I'm Glad We Didn't Sign Joe Cole Now

I'm soooooooo glad we didn't sign Joe Cole in the summer now.

In fact, I even wonder whether Wenger made an inquiry at all?

Don't get me wrong, Cole is a very good player but he hasn't exactly hit dizzy heights at Anfield has he?

I admit I was slightly gutted when Liverpool signed Joe Cole on a free transfer. I concede that I really really wanted him to arrive at the Emirates.

Here was a player, available on a free transfer, who from what I heard, wanted to sign for Arsenal.

I thought it would have been a great signing and another added bonus would have been we nicked him off Chelsea under the noses of Spurs!

When I think about it now maybe I was blinded by the fact Cole is a big name player.

We don't seem to sign many of those and the excitement could have caused me to be slightly blind to the fact we had an emerging player coming through the ranks who was ready to make a breakthrough into the first-team.

Had we brought Cole to the club then obviously it would have blocked young Jack Wilshere's path into the side.

Wilshere has been brilliant this season and is probably my favourite Arsenal player these days.

Don't get me wrong, Joe Cole is an experienced player with plenty of ability but I'd rather have Jack Wilshere all day long.

While I don't doubt that Cole would have done a decent job with us I'm glad that Arsene Wenger knew better than the likes of me and resisted signing him knowing that Wilshere was ready for first-team action.

I've always rated Jack but if you would have told me 12 months ago he could be starting at Old Trafford, in such a crucial match, I would have been slightly worried.

Now I have no such worries and I believe he is ready to play anywhere despite his age.

Wilshere played at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and more than held his own. In fact, he was marvellous that day and impressed so much.

The boy has so much talent and the fact he has been raised through the ranks with us makes him extra special.

I hope he starts tomorrow night against Manchester United. I really believe he would shine there.

He has the potential to become an Arsenal great and I cannot speak highly enough of him. I'm so pleased that he is a first-team regular.

Sometimes we criticise Arsene Wenger for his dealings in the transfer market.

Of course sometimes he gets things wrong. Who doesn't?

What I will say is this is one decision he got spot on.

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

Patrice Evra's Comments Should Be Taken As A Complement

I'm sure many Gooners will be pissed off with Patrice Evra after his comments that Arsenal were a 'training centre' and that we have 'nothing' on Manchester United.

Do not give him the satisfaction of letting him wind you up! The gobby little shite wants a reaction and wants to get underneath Arsenal's skin.

Arsene Wenger's team-talk has now been done for him. He only has to pin this up on the changing room wall before the game and that is motivation in itself.

The reason Evra pipes up about Arsenal every time we play them is because he sees us as a threat.

He rarely says anything about any other club and for some reason we rile him.

Perhaps it is jealousy? Perhaps its because Wenger loves signing French players and Evra feels left out?

All I know is Patrice Evra sees Arsenal as a rival, and perhaps at the moment, the direct rival to Manchester United for the Premiership title.

He can say what he likes. I quite like it. It reminds me of the days when Vieira and Keane did battle. It means we are back and in the mix.

I'd love a new decade of Arsenal and Manchester United dominance. Those were good days and exciting to watch.

Now we have to contend with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City too.

For Evra to dig us out makes me feel that Arsenal and Manchester United are proper rivals again. I see it as a backhanded complement.

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

Yeah It Was Laboured, Yeah It Was Sh*t, But It Can't Always Be Sublime!

Right, lets be honest, that performance was an absolute pile of shite. Pure and utter dookie.

But really who cares?

The main thing is that we are through to the last 16 stage of the Champions League isn't it?

Sure it was more painful to watch at times than having an ingrown toe nail but at the end of the day our name is in the hat for the next round.

Of course we know we can play better than that, in fact my Nan could play better than that, so things can only get better. Right?

Obviously the performance was pony and Wenger left the changes too late (in my opinion) again but we won. That's all that counts.

Maybe we have been too spoiled over the years. We expect super sublime performances every game and that is just not possible.

Footballers have off-days too, they are human, and tonight was an off-night.

There are question marks over whether we can win the Champions League but when have we ever done things easy?

We should have qualified to the last 16 in the Stone Age but we decided to make it hard for ourselves.

That's cool.

We face one of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Schalke. Not the easy route but I guarantee none of that lot will fancy playing us.

You have to play the best to win the Champions League. Bring 'em on!

I wasn't expecting to play any big guns until later in the competition but shit happens.

We've scored the most home goals in Champions League group history and the best progression rate to the last 16 of the English teams involved.

Not too bad eh?

A win is a win. Ugly or beautiful. They all count.

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

Adebayor Has F*cked Himself

I'd love to say that I feel sorry for Emmanuel Adebayor but I just can't.

The man has completely and utterly fucked himself. His career at the moment is right in the balance and it appears that nobody wants him.

It seems Manchester City, his employers, do not want him and even that shlaaaaaag Harry Redknapp, who tries to turn all his clubs into mini-Arsenals, has turned a blind eye.

It could have been all so different for Adebayor.

Had he stayed at Arsenal I firmly believe that he could have progressed into one of the worlds top strikers. Honestly.

He can say all he wants that we should be grateful for receiving the sum we did for him from Manchester City but deep down I'm sure he regrets leaving Arsenal.

Of course Adebayor earns huge money at City. Those earnings probably soften the pain from the splinters in his arse gained from the bench, but surely playing regularly is what most professional footballers want to be doing.

Under Arsene Wenger he could have become an Arsenal icon. Instead he saw pound notes waved in front of him and took the bait.

His career and reputation is in tatters and I remember all those City fans coming on here to gloat when they signed him.

Now they curse him.

When at Arsenal Adebayor needed the right guidance. He isn't the brightest bulb in the box. Instead he got the wrong advice and look where he is now.

I know almost 99.9% of Gooners were glad to see the back of him, I was one of them. But he had talent and nurtured the right way would have made the most of that talent.

The money maybe greener but the grass isn't always greener and Adebayor has truly mangled his career.

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

Andrey Arshavin Has Got His Enthusiasm Back!

Samir Nasri has been Arsenal's best player so far this season and quite rightly is the name on all Gooners lips.

I'd even go as far as saying that had he been born on these shores then the English media would be wanking furiously over him just like they are over Gareth Bale.

Unfortunately a French man will never get the plaudits like a British man over here!

Thanks to France leaving him out of their World Cup squad Nasri seems to be a man possessed this campaign.

Eager to prove himself and France wrong, he has been a revelation. Dragging us through sticky situations he has been compared to past Arsenal greats Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg for his new-found goal scoring ability from midfield.

I kind of feel for Samir. He has been compared to so many players. The new Zidane, the new Pires and the new Freddie. I think he is just Samir Nasri and a player in his own right.

The summer of 2010 has seen a new Nasri. Reborn with a point to prove. And we are reaping the benefits!

As I've said Nasri is THE man at Arsenal right now but someone else's recent improving form has gone relatively unnoticed.

Like Samir Nasri's, Andrey Arshavin's form is getting better in recent weeks too.

I don't know if its anything to do with the weather conditions in England getting rapidly colder but I have definitely seen an improvement in the little Russian lately.

I think it would be fair to say that over the last 12 months we have only seen glimpses of Arshavins talent and what he can actually do.

It appeared that he lost a lot of enthusiasm for the game after his country, Russia, were beaten in the World Cup 2010 qualification play-offs against Slovenia and although its taken a long time to get rid of that hang-over I think he is finally turning the corner.

He has that ability to do something special and he is a match-winner. Frustrating at times but an important player none the less.

If Arshavin can continue to improve his form and get back to the top of his game then he will be just as important to Arsenal as Nasri is proving to be.

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

Are Gooners Hypocrites Or Just Desperate?

In a way I find it slightly embarrassing that we are chasing the Carling Cup 'trophy' after dismissing it as being 'Mickey Mouse' in recent years.

When the Spuds won it I laughed. It wasn't a 'real' trophy and we had better things to aim for. Watching them parade the Carling Cup had me pissing my knickers.

We were the mighty Arsenal and 'that' trophy was beneath us.

Even the FA Cup, a competition Arsene Wenger used to take seriously, took a backseat as we pursued the major honours in the game.

The Premiership title and Champions League were our targets. Especially Arsene Wenger's.

Now what? Finally the Carling Cup is being taken seriously because we haven't won a thing for nearly six years.

I don't buy it. How can I?

Sorry, I know it would be great to actually win something after so long (despite the longer periods of not winning things in our history) without silverware but for some reason I'd feel a bit hypocritical to celebrate winning the Carling Cup.

Of course I want Arsenal to win the damn thing. I want Arsenal to win everything but we usually 'dismiss' the Carling Cup as a youth exercise and that is down to Arsene Wenger.

Over the years Wenger has blooded his youngsters through this competition and now we have to win it, to keep the pressure off him, we are using stronger team-sheets and it all seems slightly fake to me.

I know the players are professionals and should aim to win every trophy but they would have noticed that Wenger in recent years has seen the Carling Cup as second-rate. A cup not really worth winning so why now?

I hate having a pop at Wenger, believe me I do, but how can we go from not caring about the Carling Cup to it suddenly becoming a major honour again?

By treating the Carling Cup (and FA Cup) as being not that 'important' to win Wenger has bred complacency in the squad. They are both more than winnable competitions and maybe if taken a little more seriously in the past, and not just now, we wouldn't have gone without a trophy since 2005.

On the positive side winning the Carling Cup could springboard this Arsenal squad onto future success. That would be brilliant and of course that is the view of a lot of Gooners these days.

I do understand that reasoning. I believe that could be the case too.

However I think raising the Carling Cup is more down to keeping people off Wenger's back. People have been banging on about us not winning things for a while now and Arsene is under-pressure, probably the most pressure in his Arsenal career, to win something.

I'm just finding it hard to get excited about the Carling Cup. I've spent so long not even considering it as a 'proper' trophy that I feel a bit embarrassed that now it is considered a priority.

Maybe I'm just being a mug and should be more grateful that we are in with a serious shout of winning something but its just the way I feel.

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

The Invincibles Would Have Gone TWO Seasons Unbeaten These Days!

In recent weeks Arsenal have left me more gutted than a Tuna fish fresh from the Atlantic Ocean.

In fact, the way things are going we might even be watching Arsenal on a Thursday night in the Europa League!

Arsene Wenger really needs to kick this lot up the arse. And quick. No more excuses, just be brutal.

The Premiership is there for the taking and yet we seem to be bottling it. This could be the easiest title that Wenger has ever won for Arsenal.

We should have qualified from the Champions League group stage already. Instead we are left sweating it out in the last game.

Just what is going on?

I used to laugh at teams having a serious go at winning the Carling Cup. I called it a joke.

Now I realise by disregarding it, and in some ways the FA Cup, Wenger has just bred complacency throughout the club.

That winning mentality has left the club.

"The Invincibles" would have smashed this seasons Premiership title by a record number of points.

In fact, "The Invincibles" would have gone TWO seasons unbeaten.

I'm telling you now, the state the Premiership is in now that side would crushed any fucker in the way.

It's not that the other teams in the division have improved rapidly, its that the so-called top-four have deteriorated and gone down in standards.

If any team put a run together then the title is theirs. That's what frustrates me.

We lack winners and that's why I worry so much. Cesc Fabregas looks like a beaten man. He is a World Cup and European Champion. He wants to win.

He looks round at this side and how many are winners?

His team-mates are bottling it. But they are not completely to blame.

Arsene Wenger needs to shoulder some blame too. He built this side but it has been built on complacency. As long as they play pretty football its ok. Winning isn't everything.

That's what most of this squad believes, with a couple of exceptions.

We need to change something. Maybe its the back-room staff that needs a shake-up? It's obvious Wenger needs to buy players who have won things.

What ever it is, something needs to be done or we will be kicking ourselves come May that we haven't won the easiest title we ever could.

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

JET Wonder Goal, If Ronaldo Or Messi Did This You Wouldn't Hear The End Of It!

My mate just sent me this via the wonderful creation that is 'e-mail'.

I tells ya, this JET fella must be knocking on the door to the first team harder than those little gits banging on my door on Halloween the other night.

Just look at the size of the geezer! And too have that much skill, ability and the damn right cheek of actually attempting this tekker!

All I could do was sit there with my mouth open wide and dribble.

If Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi scored this goal I have no doubt that football fans across the globe would be cumming in their pants/knickers.

Just enjoy it. I did. Gone through five pairs of pants.



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

Kick 'Em Up The Arsenal Arsene!

I know Arsene Wenger is a genius and I am a mere mortal but I'd love it if sometimes he just lost the plot in an interview.

People probably won't agree with me here but I'd find it refreshing if Arsene really gave it both barrels to the squad in public after suffering such a sloppy defeat like we did against Newcastle United.

Don't get me wrong, in my opinion, Chris Hughton's side deserved the win but that was a game we should be winning if we want to nick the title off Chelsea this season.

Maybe Wenger gave it to the players in the changing room, maybe a few tea-cups were thrown around, but I still feel a public dressing down would give these players a kick up the arse.

For me saying we were unlucky in defeat just breeds a little complacency. Sure I can understand Arsene wanting to protect his players but sometimes a bit of tough love can go a long way.

I saw Jack Wilshere's twitter (he said it was just a bad day at the office) and whilst I agree to a certain extent it has to be more than that.

Was losing at home to West Brom a bad day too? If so we are fast running out of 'bad days lives' and need to address it. Sharpish.

We were bailed out by Chelsea losing too but that doesn't really make me feel any better about it. I view it as losing vital points and ground in the title race.

The next three league games will shape our season. Three games tougher than the steak I had at the weekend and we have to bounce back. Hard.

Arsenal cannot afford many more slip ups. We face some potential banana skins in the next couple of weeks. Its a big big test.

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

Robin van Persie Needs To Take A Leaf Out Of Michael Essien's Book!

I cannot believe that Holland have called-up Robin van Persie for their friendly with Turkey on November 17.

What surprises me even more is that van Persie will actually join up with the Dutch.

Surely Arsenal should be Robin's priority?

It seems he has spent more time off the pitch than on it in recent years so doesn't he owe it to Arsenal to get fit, actually play for us, earn his wages, and not swan off to play in a meaningless friendly?

Of course I can understand that being called-up for your country is a major honour and privilege but look at Michael Essien. The Ghanaian has stopped playing for his nation in the short-term to focus on playing for Chelsea.

Maybe Robin van Persie should do the same thing and focus his career on Arsenal, the club who nurse him though the injuries, the club who pay his wages, and the club who stay loyal to him despite him never being available.

I'm not having a pop at van Persie here, I just think his priorities are wrong. He owes it to Arsenal, Arsene Wenger and us, the fans, to begin playing regular football.

Robin, for me, loves Arsenal and clearly loves playing for his country but he needs weigh things up. I'm sure a break from international football would help him in the long-run despite it being painful turning down Holland in the short-term.

Essien has done it, so can van Persie.

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

When Will Gael Clichy Ever Learn?

I love Gael Clichy. I think he can be an amazing left-back.

A couple of years ago I even thought he was going to surpass Ashley Cole and become the best left-back in the world.

In fact, I even believed Clichy could have become the best left-back I've ever seen in my whole entire stinking existence.

So what has happened?

For some reason in the last couple of years he has appeared to go backwards and not pushed on with that potential he has shown in the past.

He seems to have a major error in him at least once a game. Sometimes we are punished when he cocks up, tonight being an example, and at other times we get away with it.

I don't think there is anything wrong with his ability. But I think there is a slight problem mentally perhaps. I'm not saying he is mental like William Gallas or Britney Spears but he must suffer from some kind of mental block at times.

Clichy seems to get a rush of blood to the head and he loses concentration at crucial times. Either that or he is worried to kick the ball out of play in case he busts a spectators nose or something.

I'm not trying to kick a man when he is down but his mistake was just basic. And that is embarrasing for someone who plays football for a living.

If this was just a one-off I'd keep my mouth shut but he has done it so many times in the recent past.

Cutting out these mistakes can put Gael back up there with the best of them. Ability-wise there isn't a left-back in the world miles ahead of him. He isn't far off the likes of Ashley Cole in that respect but his errors will always hold him back.

Arsene Wenger needs to do something. It isn't just down to Gael Clichy. Get someone in to help and advise him. And the rest of the defence too. Because if not these mistakes will continue to haunt us.

Step forward Martin Keown on a full-time basis and not just part-time.

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

Who Cares?

I have no doubt we will hear a lot of moaning and groaning about us 'only' beating rock-bottom West Ham 1-0 today but truthfully I couldn't give a shit.

A lot of people were expecting a cricket-score but football doesn't always go as expected.

Personally I think Robert Green deserves a gee-up for his performance.

Once again he was outstanding against Arsenal. I've never really rated Green but for some reason he seems to turn into a brick-wall whenever he plays us.

I think he might hate Arsenal or something.

If Chelsea won 1-0 with a late goal then they are resilient and its a reason that they are champions.

We win 1-0 with a late goal and we are lucky.

See the difference?

Who cares that it was a late winner? Who cares that we didn't win by four?

At the end of the day, its three points on the board and another win.

I'm starting to feel really confident in Arsenal again. In the days when Thierry, Patrick and co were in the side I was confident that we would overcome any hurdle.

Be it playing against side intent on putting everyone behind the ball or being 2-0 down, I'd still have the belief that Arsenal would come through.

We have been too soft for too long and finally we are becoming strong again.

For the last few years watching Sky Sports News during game time could be torture. Hearing a 'goal in the Arsenal game' made me nervous. Who scored us or them?

Now I'm confident when Jeff Stelling utters those words WE have scored. Like I used to be.

Grinding out results is what champions do. We cannot win by hammerings every week. Even if the opposition are bottom of the table.

A win is a win and I will take that every time.

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

Sorry To Burst 'The Manchester City Bubble'!

I haven't wrote a blog for a while (really getting lazy!) but thought that whilst the missus is watching the X Factor I'd get behind the keyboard again. I should do it more often really as I find it very therapeutic and wonderfully invigorating (check out my big words) especially after nine pints and two cheeky tequilas.

What a fantastic performance today and I'm very proud to be a Gooner but going by the commentators on Sky Sports I think we upset them a little ickle bit. I know Andy Gray is a lead commentator every week but I'm not sure who was alongside him today. I hope it wasn't Martin Tyler because I actually quite like him.

All I know is (and its all I kept hearing) Manchester City were 'very courageous' and were unlucky. Courageous? In what way? Because they went down to ten men? Do me a favour! And before anyone grumbles that Arsenal only won because Manchester City only had ten men better think again.

Of course the numerical advantage helped us but the way we played today they wouldn't have beat us even if they started with twelve players. I have no doubt we will hear plenty of moans about the sending-off but the truth is it was the right decision and Boyate gave the ref no choice.

I think hardly anyone expected Arsenal to go to the City of Manchester Stadium and win, let alone win so convincingly. And it was massively convincing too. The commentators did their best to take their shine off the Arsenal win and their tongues were so far up City's arse it was unbelievable.

Had Chelsea or Manchester United gone to Eastlands and won 3-0, albeit against ten men, we would be hearing nothing but praise and how ruthless they were. All I heard today was of Manchester City's bravery. Did everyone think they were going to just lie down?

I think we burst the Manchester City bubble today, from the media point of view. Nobody gave us a chance and every man and his dog wrote us off. We really upset the form book.

In the bookies for the first time in my whole entire stinking existence (that I know of) Manchester City were favourites to beat us today. Not surprising when they've spent a record £3456324 billion on players really.

I really fancied us to win 3-1 and Nasri to score first. The odds? 200/1. So on goes a fiver. I think its the only time in my life I wanted the opposition to score. My arsehole was really going when we scored the third and when Fabianski saved in the last minute I really rued the day he became good. Wanker.

Anyway we've proved we can beat a 'strong side' like Manchester City so maybe a mental barrier has been lifted. It's true we've struggled to pick up points against sides like City, Manchester United and Chelsea recently but maybe this is the turning point.

I'm sure some people were urging us to lose today just so they can say 'I told you so', well we've stuck two massive fingers up at them and given them the wanker sign. Any doubts that we can win the league surely have evaporated. We CAN win the league and we CAN beat the so-called other big-guns no matter what the likes of Andy Gray say.

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

At Least We Don't Defend It You Mugs!

I'd be a bit of a hypocrite if I didn't say that Jack Wilshere's tackle on Nikola Zigic was out of order.

After all, if it had happened to an Arsenal player I have no doubt I would be doing my nut.

The only reason I can think of for Wilshere making the 'challenge' on Zigic was that he was looking for a little bit of revenge.

Earlier in the game, despite it seeming impossible because of the height difference, the Serbians shoulder had connected with Jack's face.

This is no excuse though.

Wilshere's tackle was wrong, plain and simple, but at least he admitted it and apologised.

And guess what? Arsene Wenger admitted the red card was the right decision. He doesn't suffer from myopia all the time as suggested.

Of course tackles like this are becoming the scourge of our game. It seems every week a bad challenge is being made. We Gooners should know, it usually happens to an Arsenal player.

From my point of view it couldn't have happened at a worse time for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger either.

Wilshere's sending-off for a rash tackle will give the likes of Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce some much needed ammo to have yet another dig at us.

The Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers mugs/manager don't need an excuse to have a pop and I have no doubt that in the next week or so there will be some bleating coming from their direction in one form or another.

While none of us are defending Jack Wilshere I do believe that Arsenal cannot win.

If we are kicked off the park then we are too soft but the minute we kick back then we are hypocrites and cannot moan about being booted around the pitch.

That's not to say I agree with what Wilshere did though.

Jack will learn from this. It seems he has that 'nasty' side to his game, a bit like Dennis Bergkamp, which I suppose is a good thing. He can look after himself. But it has to be in the right way.

How do you stop the naughty tackles though? I suppose the only thing the referee can do is send players off but is that going to be enough?

How do you prove intent in a tackle? How do you prove that a player deliberately wanted to hurt someone?

It's so tough.

I've seen the idea bandied about that if a players commits a dangerous tackle, injures a player, and the injured party is out for a long time, then he should be banned for the amount of time that person is injured for.

Maybe this the way forward. At the very least these reckless tackles should be punished by being banned for a long period of time. In my opinion at least a five match suspension.

Nobody wants tackling to be outlawed. It is an art unto itself. Like passing, shooting. A skilled attribute to have. What we want is the recklessness squeezed out from the game.

What Wilshere did was reckless and luckily for him, Arsenal, Wenger and us, a bone wasn't broken in Zigic's ankle. Or we, and the Birmingham striker, would be fucked.

See the difference though? At least we accept that Wilshere was in the wrong.

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

Would You Take Him Back?

Scrolling and rolling through the NewsNow headlines I was intrigued to see one of the top stories in the last couple of days was one that involved Lassana Diarra 'demanding a January move to Arsenal or Tottenham'.

It was from the Metro newspaper and I would to know how the story came about. Could it be possible that Diarra would come back to the Arsenal? I can't see it. But would I have him back? I'm not sure!

I know he was a little fucker when he was here but if he had been a little more patient I have no doubt he would have developed into one of the top defensive midfielders in the world and been a crucial player for us.

I could kind of understand why he wanted to leave us after only five months at the club. It must of been frustrating to sit on the bench despite having obvious quality.

He was in the same situation at Chelsea before he joined us so he probably felt he was just switching one bench for another. The splinters in his arse must have been excruciating.

I think Arsene Wenger dropped a bit of a clanger here. Despite the fact Mathieu Flamini was playing out of his skin, Diarra should have been given more game-time because Flamini's future wasn't secure at Arsenal as his contract was running out at the end of the season.

Since his departure Lassana Diarra has been less than complimentary about Arsene Wenger. That's what makes this story about him coming back appear more fishy to me than Diarra's dolphin shaped head.

He seems to get upset when he isn't played and is up to the same tricks now at Real Madrid. Threatening to leave another club again gives me the impression he throws his toys out the pram rather quickly.

The question I'd like to ask is would you take him back? On the pitch I rate him very highly and in my opinion he is one of the best in his position. The question is his attitude. It's clear he can be a petulant little bastard but I think if he is playing regularly then you wouldn't get a peep from him.

I'd take him on loan, if possible, to test the attitude.

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

Are Things Really That Bad?

Oh the despair! The agony! The torture!


On a serious level are things really that bad?


Blimey the way some people are going on I'd have thought that the world was just about to end.


Of course yesterday was frustrating and disappointing but take a reality check!


We have just lost to the champions, worthy champions at that, on their home turf. No disgrace for anyone.


In fact, I'm proud of the way the boys played and proud of the fact that Chelsea, the champions, completely changed their usual pattern of play just to deal with us.


How often do you see Chelsea put ten men behind the ball, for the most part of 90 minutes, at home? I guarantee you will not see them play like that at home again this season.


At the end of the day, in my opinion, Arsenal are the better side. Yes, I said it, better than Chelsea. BUT, and there is a but, Chelsea are miles ahead of us tactically.


Obviously Arsene Wenger needs to learn how to beat Chelsea again, he used to be able to, but I really think a big factor in the defeat was the choice of players available.


Don't get me wrong, I hate to use injured players as an excuse, but we lacked a cutting edge and I have no doubt that had Cesc, RVP and Walcott been available we would have won yesterday.


The game was made for van Persie and especially Cesc Fabregas. A game where you have so much possession needs a cutting edge. Those two would definitely have provided that.


Things aren't as bad as they might seem and Arsenal are certainly not as bad as people are suggesting!


The title isn't decided in October. True, we aren't in the position we'd like to be but I'm sure we will still compete for the championship.


Look at it this way, things could be worse. We could be in Liverpool's position.


Keep it Goonerish......

I Think Arsene Wenger Deserves A Gee-Up!

In recent times Arsene Wenger has taken a lot of stick. In my opinion some of it is right and some is wrong.

He is often criticised for his transfer policy. I'll admit that it can be frustrating at times. Especially when you see the likes of Manchester City spending more money on players then Katie Price does on botox.

But they are on another spending level to us and everybody else. While it must be nice to have unlimited cash available and signing all these superstars it must be slightly worrying to think it could all go tits up if the sugar-daddy gets fed up and jogs on.

We have no such worries under Arsene Wenger. I know we have no 'pimp' in charge but rest assured we know he won't take the piss with the club's cash and make us skint.

Of course I would like him to sometimes 'push out the boat' and spend a little more than he could be willing to but at least we know our future is safe. And I'm sure in years to come we will be thanking Wenger for being so prudent.

As I've said, Arsene has been under the cosh for his ways of using Arsenal's money but he always seems to pull a little gem out of somewhere doesn't he?

Marouane Chamakh has been a great signing and will be become a key figure for Arsenal. You could say he is now but the little gem I think Wenger has pulled out of the bag is the signing of Sebastien Squillaci.

The Frenchman isn't a massive name in football but he has been a very good purchase for Arsenal.

After the departures of four million experienced centre-backs Squillaci arrival has been welcomed and after the start he has made, even more so.

He cost about a fiver and I'd rather Wenger went out and spent that sort of money on players than spending £24m on a player like Joleon Lescott.

Sebastien has settled in at Arsenal with ease. I have to admit I was a little worried at how quickly he would become accustomed to the English premiership but he seems comfortable here.

He will be tested by Didier Drogba this weekend but if truth be told the Chelsea striker will test anyone. Even Superman.

I think Arsene Wenger deserves a gee-up for getting Squillaci's signature.

People are quick to jump on his back for his lack of spending but in this case he has done well. An experienced classy defender who cost less than a cheese and onion sandwich from Tesco.

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

And We Think We've Got Keeper Problems!

Take at look at this link here.

You gotta feel for the poor bastard aint ya?

I've heard a rumour this fellow is on his way to Arsenal in January.

A big talking point is who will be between the sticks against Chelsea this Sunday.

I can't see Arsene Wenger throwing Wojciech Szczesny in goal despite the young Polski claiming he is the best goalie in the history of the universe.

Szczesny is like the Nicklas Bendtner of the goalkeeping world. He believes he is better than what he is.

Whilst this self-confidence is admirable it can also be seen as delusional. Declaring he is better than Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon put together is an amazing claim.

And while I made the last sentence up I have no doubt that he actually believes it.

I like a bit of self confidence in a keeper though. The best all have that arrogance and from I've seen of Wojciech (and heard about him, a pal of mine plays for Brentford) he has what it takes to go all the way.

I just feel the Chelsea game would be too much for him.

I wish he could lend a bit of that confidence to Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. It has to be said though that Fabianski is probably feeling the most confident he has ever been in an Arsenal shirt.

Surely Lukasz is number one choice for Sunday?

I seriously think that Manuel could run off the pitch like the keeper does in the link above if he made another serious mistake in a match. Especially in a game as high profile as this one.

Almunia is a confidence keeper and his must be at an all-time low. There is no way (in my opinion) he is injured at the moment. In his frame of mind the last place he wants to be is in between the goal-posts.

I feel for Almunia. It was clear that Arsene Wenger wanted a new keeper over the summer and truth be told he should have got one.

By failing to succeed all Wenger has done has undermine the Spaniard. It was only a matter of time before he fucked up and when he did it is clear to see the effects of him.

He is gone. Devastated, and I wonder how much more we will see from this season. Seriously. I reckon that is it.

I asked for support for Manuel at the beginning of the season, well now we just need to support whoever is in goal.

Perhaps we could play monkey-rush?

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

Are Barcelona Not "Mentally" Tough Enough Either Then?

Today's performance was piss-poor and painful to watch. In fact I'd rather have the raging hangover I had this morning again than watch that pile of shite. And that hangover was bad.

But I must say this, while we were worse than my Sunday morning football team, West Brom thoroughly deserved the win. Well done the Baggies.

Of course this is a set-back in our title bid, but it hasn't killed it. It's how we react to the defeat that counts.

I've no doubt that we will hear the critics loud and proud and maybe they will feel justified by watching us lose at home to a newly-promoted side but shit happens sometimes.

I'm not happy with the performance and I feel that we succumbed to our old ways a little by thinking all we had to do was just turn up and we would win. Maybe it was arrogance, I think it was complacency.

All I know is that I hope it gives us a massive boot up the arse and we realise we have to at least match the opposition for effort or you get nowhere.

I'm sure we will hear that Arsenal probably don't have the mental strength for a title push and that Manchester United or Chelsea wouldn't have lost like we did to a newly-promoted side.

Well Barcelona did......

A couple of weeks ago I watched Barca beaten at home by Hercules. Not the Greek demi-god, but a real football club recently promoted. And Barcelona are the greatest side in the entire universe. And beyond.

So it does happen and even the masters of the universe can be beaten by newly-promoted sides deemed inferior to themselves. Not just Arsenal suffer from this disease.

It may seem like an absolute disaster today but if we learn from the mistakes then we will be okay. Barcelona reacted with three straight (not gay) wins.

If we react the same then the defeat will be forgotten in no time. But we must learn, and learn fast.

It's not the end of the world but it is a kick in the nuts. Please though don't be suckered into thinking that Arsenal aren't title challenging quality on the back of a disappointing performance and defeat.

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

He Amazes Me!

This kid. He amazes me.

Jack Wilshere, in my opinion, could have the world at his feet. And what's so thrilling is the fact he plays in the red and white of Arsenal.

I love the boy already.

This might sound crazy but I'm more excited about his breakthrough than Cesc Fabregas's. Of course I'm not saying he is better than Cesc, but when both were 18? Who knows?

Fabregas had the guidance of several world-class players whereas Wilshere doesn't. I only hope that Cesc is helping Jack with advice and that the young Englishman is taking it on board.

Jack has come through the ranks at Arsenal and I genuinely believe that he could remain at the club his whole career and be a future skipper. That may seem a little over the top but I hope it can happen.

Then again, I thought Ashley Cole would have been a Gunner forever and the leader of the players one day!

Many English people knock Arsenal for our lack of English players. Personally I don't care for where a player comes from as long as they do the business for Arsenal.

But regarding Jack, I think the English public will be thanking Arsenal for a long time. This kid is special.

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

Get Behind Almunia Now

Sorry for the lack of posting recently only I was 'kidnapped' by the missus and taken hostage on the sunny isle of Lanzarote for two weeks.

It was horrible. All that boozing, eating and all those late-night activities.

I'd much rather have been in rainy England......

Anyway I'm back now and pissed off. I miss Lanzarote but I'm pissed off today that we haven't signed a keeper.

I suppose there is no point dwelling on it anymore. We can't do anymore about it.

So moaning and bitching that we are stuck with Manuel Almunia between the sticks isn't going to do anyone or anything any good.

Especially Almunia's confidence.

We need to get behind Almunia now. Yes, Wenger should have signed a better keeper but he hasn't. What more can we or Manuel do about it?

He was brilliant against Blackburn and more than dealt with everything thrown, kicked or hurtled in his direction.

That's the Almunia we need to see more of.

I said in the past (rather naively) that the Spaniard had become one of the top keepers in Europe. I must have seen something to say that. Or I must have been pissed.

All I now is at the moment he is the Arsenal number one. Like it or not.

Personally I'm glad that Mark Schwarzer hasn't signed. I don't think he is any better than Manuel Almunia so he wouldn't have improved us in anyway.

The Aussie has played near on 15 years for clubs like Bradford City, Middlesborough and Fulham. If he was any good he would have played at a higher level ages ago.

I know Almunia's former clubs list the dizzy heights reached of Sabadell and Albacete but I still don't think Schwarzer would have been an improvement on him.

It may feel like a kick in the mouth but its the hand we have been dealt with. Its not Almunia's fault so support him. He'll need it.

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

Double Standards From Arsenal?

I don't want anyone to get their knickers in a twist but is the official Arsenal website taking the piss?

All summer long we have moaned (and rightly so) about the way Barcelona have conducted their business in their chase for our skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Is it me or is this story on the site a tincey wincey little bit of double standards?

Cool, we haven't gone into a whole summer of tapping-up overload with this chap, and I haven't heard Bacary Sagna talk about Emir Spahic's Arsenal DNA, yet, but surely after the summer we have had, Arsenal would have used their noddle.

How can we grumble when this is on the actual Arsenal website?

We can't scream and shout about Barcelona when we are doing it ourselves. Of course Barca took tapping-up to another level. In fact, it was an outrageous level, but we aren't exactly doing ourselves any favours here.

Maybe I've got this wrong. Maybe I'm being a little touchy. But in my opinion, after what we have been through since May, we shouldn't be putting out things like this on our official site.

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

He Is The New 'Mr Arsenal'

In my opinion Robin van Persie is now 'Mr Arsenal' at the club.

In recent years I have been really impressed with how he conducts himself on and off the pitch.

He says all the right things and I don't think you could ever doubt his commitment to Arsenal.

I hope that he gets a bit of luck and stays fit this season. If he does (and this might sound outrageous to some) then Arsenal have a great chance of winning the league.

Van Persie has become a very important member of this Arsenal squad. Now one of the senior players, he had to become a leader. And I think he has.

He'll be the next captain of Arsenal and Thomas Vermaelen will be his understudy.

I know its only a shirt number but now he has the number 10 on his back I believe he will get even better. He feels privileged to wear it and will want to live up to Dennis Bergkamp.

What a challenge!

At the end of the season I reckon he will be named the Premiership player of the year. I think we are in for quite a treat regarding the Dutch Man this campaign.

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

Exclusive: Cesc Fabregas Is Back In England.

I love the word 'exclusive'.

Anyway, just a quick one.

A few moments ago a pal of mine text me saying that he has just seen Cesc Fabregas at Heathrow Airport Terminal 3.

He couldn't speak to him.

Our skipper is back home. And home is the right word despite what those prats at Barcelona think.

Show him the love. Show him Arsenal is the club for him.

Barcelona have had all summer to love him up. Now it's our turn.

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

Too Proud For Manchester City's Cast Offs?

Two years ago I would have said it would be unreal to even suggest signing any of Manchester City's cast offs.

Now I'd probably welcome one or two!

City are signing anything that moves and with this new 25-man squad rule coming in force, and baring in mind they have about 326 players in their camp, they are gonna need to offload a few.

I know Arsene Wenger isn't going to scroll through Arsenal News Now, see the title of this blog and think to himself, hmm that Wrighty7 fella has given me an idea now, but the thought may have crossed his mind to raid the blue half of Manchester.

Of course Manchester City might not want to help a rival by selling us any players but they have to sell and Arsenal need to buy.

It could be the perfect solution!

I can think of one or two I'd gladly take off their hands.

People say Micah Richards has gone backwards but I'd snap him up in a flash. Form is temporary, class is permanent. I honestly think he could be a very good partner to Thomas Vermaelen.

And he is a Gooner too.

We need a keeper. Neither Joe Hart or Shat Given will settle for a place on the bench. Maybe either of those two could be an option. I'd prefer Hart but I'd still be happy with Given.

Do we need to strengthen in defensive midfield? Alex Song has come on leaps and bounds and Emmanuel Frimpong looks to have a bright future. Are they enough?

Manchester City have about a million of this type of player, especially now Yaya Toure has joined. Could Nigel De Jong be an option? Stephen Ireland perhaps? Both could be surplus to requirements at City now.

Obviously this is a fantasy post. But would you take any of their 'unwanted' players?

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