Bleacher Report - Articles by Maire Ofeire

Didier Drogba Leads Chelsea to A Simple Three Points Against Arsenal

Maire Ofeire — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:33:51 -0500

Three more points for Chelsea and what looks like another season of woe for Arsenal in the English Premier League as the Pensioners overcame the Gunners with relative ease at The Emirates.

Arsenal started the game well, running at Chelsea and creating half-chances. However, none of these chances were capitalised on as the Arsenal players seemed afraid to take any shot in anger.

Carlo Ancelotti's men dealt easily with anything thrown at them while Drogba and Anelka caused continual problems at the back with their pace and power.

The sucker punch came as a double whammy shortly before half-time as a combination of Drogba and terrible defending lead to the home side's undoing.

If Arsene Wenger didn't realise he had problems before, he surely must now.

Up front, Eduardo Da Silva was all at sea. The Gunners badly missed the influence of Robin Van Persie who they somehow must do without for most of the season.

Andrey Arshavin played well for the opening twenty minutes before looking decidedly disinterested once again.

Making only his second start of the season, Samir Nasri floated in and out of the game and has to take his share of the blame for letting Ashley Cole free to swing in the two killer crosses.

Bacary Sagna had another day to forget as his defending was average and attacking threat awful.

Twice the Frenchman failed to close down Cole who swung in two crosses that most strikers dream about.

Didier Drogba showed perfectly the benefits of having a powerful target man as he snuck in between Vermaelen and Gallas to slot home.

The second goal came minutes later as once again Cole whipped in the ball, except this time Drogba was spared the effort of scoring as Vermaelen turned into his own net.

Why Manuel Almunia did not shout and come and collect is anyone's guess as first Gallas and then Vermaelen failed to clear.

Arsenal came out all guns blazing in the second half, but to no avail as Drogba put the nail in the coffin with a well taken free kick. Again Almunia has to be called into question as he moved to his right where the wall was covering.

If the result taught us anything it is that Arsenal cannot do the basics well and upon doing the basics Chelsea won. They defended well, played as a unit, whipped in balls, used their physical presence, and went home with three points.

Arsenal lacked any communication between goalkeeper and defence while any attack was played out in front of the Chelsea back-line who never looked threatened.

The stats may tell you Arsenal had more possession, but it all counts for nothing if it is played out in the middle of the park. Chelsea were happy to take their chances as they came and looked like they had another gear in attack if needed.

Unlike Arsenal, Chelsea's two front men allowed them the opportunity to either play down the middle with cutting passes or else to whip in dangerous balls.

With Eduardo, Vela, and Arshavin not known for their heading skills and all not tall or overly physical this was not an option for the Gunners and in the end they couldn't breach Chelsea's well organised unit.

Indeed, even if Arsenal had Nicklas Bendtner available there seems to be no player capable of whipping in a dangerous ball for Arsenal.

Bizarrely, at half-time, Wenger replaced Arsenal's only protection of the back four Alex Song with Theo Walcott who for a finish became invisible.

Carlos Vela came on for the ineffective Eduardo and created little although he had limited chances.

Samir Nasri was replaced by Tomas Rosicky all too late with the Czech having no chance to influence the game.

Perhaps it is now time for Arsene Wenger to stop with the excuses and start fixing the problems. This wasn't a freak result, you don't do the basics right, you don't deserve to win.

As for Chelsea, they look like the team to beat this season and Carlo Ancelotti should take pride in the unit he has created.

The Pensioners will be the team to beat come May while Arsenal now fall back into the group fighting for a Champions League place.

As it stands the Gunners are behind bitter rivals Tottenham albeit with a game in hand. Arsenal fans don't like losing the North London bragging rights, Arsene Wenger take note.

Thierry Henry's Hand & Roy Keane's Mouth Remind Me Why Football Is Great

Maire Ofeire — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:26:53 -0500

Shay Given sits on the French turf and contemplates what might have been, his state of dejection is mirrored by the Irish fans at the other end of the stadium and by the millions at home in Ireland watching it on RTE as Eamon Dunphy declares "We were robbed."

Bleary-eyed from being up at six in the morning to catch the game on Australia ESPN, I sat in disgust as Thierry Henry, not once, but twice, handled the ball to set up William Gallas' winner and doom the Republic to another summer of inaction.

The disgust turned to rage as I text everyone and anyone who would read them that the "Thierry Henry 14" shirt that has made home in my closet since the Arsenal Invincibles era was no longer wanted.

Immediately Theirry Henry's indiscretion became global. Both Australian and International networks ran the story for days, the titles cliche ridden:

Henry Gives France A Helping Hand to South Africa.

Henry Hands France Victory.

The Irish media were not as kind, branding Henry as 'Le Cheat '. And what Henry did was cheating what ever which way you chose to look at it but at the end it proves so much why I and so many millions more love this game so much.

It opened an endless debate. Is Henry a cheat? Should France be made to replay the match? Is Raymond Domenech a cowboy coach who doesn't deserve to manage at the World Cup?

Was its Ireland's fault for not taking their chances? Did the French nation feel the embarrassment as embodied by Arsene Wenger's response?

Is Roy Keane a sideshow who needs to worry more about Ipswich and less about John Delaney? Should video technology be introduced?

As the dust has settled on my own cloud of anger I endeavour to answer these questions now.

Is Henry a cheat?

To put it simply, yes. What he did was cheating and the manner in which he celebrated made it worse.

The constant argument for the pro-Henry side has been that he was merely doing what any other professional would do to get his country to a World Cup.

Forgive me for being naive but perhaps he could have ran more? Tried to impact the game with his skill and speed?

What France got over the two legs was not the Henry of old and in the end he resorted to something from the lowest common denominator.

Surely a team that boasts players from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Lyon can pull something better out of the bag than a blatant handball?

If Arsenal fans are being honest, Henry was always prone to the odd dive and over the top reaction - just ask Carlos Puyol - but it is really not something that I expected to happen. He was playing Ireland but it wasn't Gaelic Football!!

His pitiful "remorse" afterwards made it even harder to bare. His only remorse was that the handball will stick with him and his career forever, not that he actually did it. Like a husband who has cheated, his only regret is been found out, not the act itself.

As a die hard Arsenal fan Henry's reputation has been tarnished somewhat in my eyes which leads to an important and valid point.

Is it only becomes I am Irish I care so much? If it was against England, Germany or Italy would it have even bothered me?

Would Thierry Henry still be the all time leading goalscorer for my club instead of the man who cheated my nation? Perhaps........probably!!

Should France be made to replay the match?

In a perfect world it would be a nice gesture for the French to offer a replay but its not going to happen, it would set a bad precedent.

Is Raymond Domenech a cowboy coach who doesn't deserve to manage at the World Cup?

Oui, Oui, Oui!!!

It would have been nice for Giovanni Trapattoni to get one last crack of the World Cup whip but alas it is not to be.

Its also a loss that Guus Hiddink couldn't guide Russia to South Africa but well done to Slovenia who fought their way there.

Raymond Domenech didn't get his players to South Africa, they got him their by fair means or foul.

Was its Ireland's fault for not taking their chances?

No. The game had penalty shoot-out written all over it. It's not like France took any of their chances either.

Did the French nation feel the embarrassment as embodied by Arsene Wenger's response?

Yes. They are a proud footballing nation who not so long ago won a World Cup and European Championship back-to-back. The bad press was world wide and the country enter the World Cup with a large shadow overhead.

Is Roy Keane a sideshow who needs to worry more about Ipswich and less about John Delaney?

This is like one of those situations where a bad pop act is on The X Factor and you'd rather not hear or read about them. Stop listening to them and they will go away.

Some say he is entertaining, many more will argue boring and attention seeking.

He claims it was Ireland's fault for not clearing the ball in the last few minutes, took Keane himself a while to get that through to the Ipswich players.

He seems to think he has more of a right to talk on the matter than Arsene Wenger as he is "Irish." Jeez, where in the world is Arsene Wenger from? France!! Now why does that country seem relevant.

All we appeared to have learnt is that Roy Keane likes himself, doesn't mind cheating because it is part and parcel of the game and feels hard done by, by the whole world.

Should video technology be introduced?

Yes. Mark Hughes and Arsene Wenger both made compelling arguments for video technology after the incident.

Wenger claimed it an injustice that two billion people worldwide could see it was a handball but one man couldn't, he being the most important.

FIFA have long campaigned against the introduction of replays stating they would break the flow of play.

As Mark Hughes rightly pointed out, doesn't the goal itself not break the flow anyway? What is a couple of more seconds to look over play going to change?

It works effectively in Rugby Union so why not at least test it in football?

So you see, while what Thierry Henry did was very wrong, his actions make you remember why you love the game so much.

His one action has created a mass of debates that has certainly kept me entertained in the pubs, on the internet and just in the street.

It is the pain you get from watching the game you love.

Chin up fellow people of the Emerald Isle, at least we have yet another moral victory to add to our collection.

As Stan Kroenke Ups Arsenal Share, Will Team be Americanized Before Arsenalized?

Maire Ofeire — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:15:57 -0400

During the summer, members of the Arsenal board and Arsene Wenger announced that the club's stadium, The Emirates, would go under a process of redecoration three years after its opening.

This process became known as "Arsenalisation" with many new features being added to the stadium.

One side of the ground had the club's famous cannon emblazoned on the seats.

Ongoing work is being undertaken on murals that will feature players and significant moments in the club's past and present, both inside and outside the ground.

When work is completed on the outside, a ring of 32 players will embrace the stadium. So far Liam Brady, Cliff Bastin, Tony Adams, and Thierry Henry have been added.

Meanwhile on the inner concourse, special moments along with quotes run along the walls. Included are the "Up for Grabs" victory over Liverpool in 1989, the Herbert Chapman era and the "Invincible" season.

All this work is being done to make The Emirates feel more like "home" for the Gunners' faithful with many lamenting the move from the much loved Highbury.

With this work ongoing over a period of time it well could be that Arsenal FC are Americanized before the process of Arsenalisation has been completed.

News has emerged today that majority shareholder Stanley Kroenke has upped his stake in the club to 28.7 percent after buying 80 shares at £8,500 each.

Should he increase his stake by a further 1.2 percent, it would take him to the magic 29.9 percent mark which would force the American to make an offer on the remaining shares.

His closest rival for the club is the Uzbek, Alisher Usmanov who has a 25 percent stake through his Red & White Holdings group.

Usmanov is widely detested around the club—both by fans and the current board.

Last season, Arsenal's main supporter group RedAction marched against his involvement in the club while he has not been invited to join the club's Board of Directors despite his large stake.

On Sept. 19, 2008, Kroenke was invited and accepted his place as a director of Arsenal Holdings PLC as a non-Executive Director.

Part of him getting this role was his agreement in not increasing his stake beyond 29.9 percent within 12 months of this announcement.

The time limit on this agreement has now ceased.

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood has spoken of his desire to see Arsenal continue as they always have done—by sustaining themselves and not under the management of one man.

However, many of the Old Etonians who have a long family tradition with the club have recently departed with many selling their shares to Kroenke.

The most crucial of these is Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith who left the board over growing feuds but still retains her shares.

It is been said that she is willing to sell her shares to the highest bidder. With 15.9 percent being at stake, whoever does buy them will see their percentage rocket.

It is highly unlikely that it will be Danny Fiszman who has a 16.1 percent share, so it could well be that Usmanov and Kroenke will vie for the rights.

Rumors have been gathering apace that the winner in this race will be Kroenke as Lady Nina was known to opposing the involvement of Usmanov at the club. Furthermore, Kroenke was seen in the Directors Box at the recent home tie against Wigan. Some suggest it was to discuss a possible increase in his stake.

Another person lurking in the background in all this is former vice-chairman David Dein.

It was Dein who brought Arsene Wenger to the club and despite a falling out over club direction, the two men are said to have remained close friends.

During his 14 years with the club, Dein was instrumental into make it the force it is today.

He saw the managerial vision in the then little known French manager whilst he also gained Arsenal entry into the elite G14 group of major European football clubs.

Relations between Dein and the club soured as a move away from Highbury was mooted.

While it was agreed that a bigger capacity stadium was needed to move the club forward, the board wanted to keep the club's address in the N5 postcode. Dein wanted to obtain land in the much cheaper King's Cross area of London where property would cost less.

The board won out and since then the club have been restricted on the field by the need to pay off the loan for the stadium. This debt has been compounded by the difficulty in selling off the flats at Highbury Square.

With relations already strained over the site of the new ground, they became unfixable when Dein suggested that in order to make such a move, Arsenal needed to sell the club to a major tycoon or group so as to survive financially. This would be akin to Roman Ambramovich's buyout of Chelsea FC.

Dein suggested the American businessman Stanley Kroenke.

The board of directors claimed they didn't "need his [Kroenke] sort" and Dein quit his role and sold his shares of 14.58 percent to Red & White Holdings, owned by Alisher Usmanov, for £75million in 2007.

He would serve as Red & White Holdings chairman until September 2008 but stepped down in order to improve relations between the group and the Arsenal board.

Despite his falling out with the board, Dein is still Arsenal at heart and could well look for a way back into a role with the club. With his links to both Kroenke and Usmanov, this well could happen.

There is also the slightest chance that Dein could snap up Lady Nina's stake.

However, all things considered the smart money would be on Stan Kroenke.

He has been invited to the club's Board of Directors, has been seen talking with Hill-Wood at the Wigan game while the recent appointment of Ivan Gazidis as CEO had Kroenke's prints all over it.

Tomorrow marks Arsene Wenger's thirteen year in charge of the club.

When he joined, the aim was to progress into the modern era. This has been achieved with flowing football, Premier League titles, an unbeaten league season, constant European football and a superb new stadium.

However, Wenger is now under pressure to deliver on the pitch with his latest team.

Last week the club announced record profits for the year with over £100million coming from match days at the Emirates.

So the decision to move to a new ground looks like the right one. However, will David Dein be proved correct when he said that a money laden investor is needed to continue success on the pitch?

Arsenal and football fans could soon find out.

Americanization before Arsenalisation? Don't bet against it.

Champions League: Can Arsenal Gun Down the Greek Champions Olympiacos?

Maire Ofeire — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:05:10 -0400

Tuesday and Wednesday night see the second lot of matches in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

On Tuesday night at 19:45 GMT, Group H sees Arsenal entertain Olympiacos at the Arsenal Stadium (not known as the Emirates for European games due to sponsorship issues).

Both sides started the group with a win.

Arsenal came from two goals down to eke out a 2-3 victory away to Standard Liege while Olympiacos were victorious over AZ Alkmaar by the slenderest of margins.

Since then, Arsene Wenger's men have collected six points in the English Premier League, defeating Wigan at the Emirates by four goals to nil while digging out a win at the weekend in a hard-fought game against Fulham.

In these games, a usually porous Arsenal defence managed to keep two clean sheets.

The first came as a result of a timid Wigan attack (who made up for this against Chelsea), while the second was very much thanks to young Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Arsenal's third choice keeper rightly earned rave reviews for his performance at the weekend (only his fourth senior appearance for the Gunners) where he made at least three key saves to earn his team maximum points.

With first choice Manuel Almunia still suffering the effects of a chest infection and second choice 'keeper Lukasz Fabianski recovering from a knee injury, Mannone will keep his place in goal for the tie against the Greek side.

Also missing for the Gunners will be long-term absentees Samir Nasri and Johann Djourou.

They have been joined in the treatment room by Brazilian Denilson, who has suffered a fracture to his back. He will be out for at least two months, according to Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger.

Also sidelined for this game is Danish International Nicklas Bendtner, who suffered minor bruising in a car accident on Sunday.

Bendtner is expected to be back for the home game against Blackburn on Sunday, where he should be joined by Theo Walcott, who will miss out on tomorrow night's game due to a lack of match fitness.

However, good news for the Gunners comes in the form of Andrey Arshavin and Carlos Vela who are available for selection.

Arshavin made his return from injury against Fulham, while Vela came on as substitute against West Brom in the Carling Cup to turn the tie in Arsenal's favour.

On paper, Arsenal face tough opposition on Tuesday as the Greek Champions pay a visit.

As with most Greek teams, Olympiacos save their best form for home games and tend to suffer on away trips.

Sitting second in the Greek Super League, Olympiacos have had a change of manager in recent weeks with Temuri Ketsbaia been replaced by Brazilian Legend Zico.

The Reds enter the game off the back of two victories.

First, they beat AEK Athens 2-1 with Vassillis Torosidis striking twice.

This was followed up by a 1-0 win at home over Panionios with the goal coming from Jaouad Zairi.

To date the Greeks have an almost watertight defence, leaking only two goals in ten competitive fixtures to date.

Arsenal's choice of firepower should put this defence to the test with Wenger having the options of Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin, Robin Van Persie, Carlos Vela, Eduardo Da Silva while Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas have been weighing in with goals from set pieces.

Arsenal are one again expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Expected Starting XI:

Mannone

Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Clichy

Song Diaby

Fabregas

Van Persie Eduardo Arshavin

Team (from): Mannone, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin, Eduardo, van Persie, Szczesny, Rosicky, Eboue, Silvestre, Ramsey, Gibbs, Wilshere, Vela, Watt.

Verdict: Arsenal to secure another three points with a bit to spare.

Arsenal's Carling Cup Kids Coming Back Out to Play against West Brom

Maire Ofeire — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 07:38:10 -0400

The end of September sees the big guns from the Premier League enter the race for the Carling Cup.

For many of the bigger sides, it is an opportunity to give some of the younger and reserve players a run out in competitive games.

To many, Arsenal are the forerunners in giving youth its chance and this season will be no different.

Speaking after the victory over Wigan at the weekend, Arsene Wenger said his aim is to combine youth and experience.

This mixture is evident in the seven names that Wenger gave as definite starters: Phillipe Senderos, Mikael Silvestre, Kieran Gibbs, Wojciech Szczesny, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, and Sanchez Watt.

The defense are all but named with 19-year-old Polish keeper Szczesny between the posts.

The youngster had a terrible time with injury last season.

In a freak accident, he managed to break both his wrists. On his return to training, he ended up with a broken big toe, ruling him out once again.

However, he has fully recovered and was involved in preseason training in Austria.

With injuries to Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski, Italian Vito Mannone has played the last two games for Arsenal. Despite keeping a clean sheet against Wigan, Mannone looks far from comfortable in goal and it seems Wenger is now willing to give the confident Pole his chance.

In front of him in central defence will be the experienced pair of Mikael Silvestre and Phillipe Senderos.

Senderos has got somewhat of a second chance at Arsenal as it seemed he was on his way out of the Emirates in the summer.

With a long-term knee injury ruling fellow Swiss Johann Djourou out for the season, the Carling Cup offers Senderos a chance to push his way back into Wenger's plans.

Arsenal are well covered at left back with both Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore more than capable of taking over from Gael Clichy.

The manager has given the nod to the U21 English International, who impressed many last season and who is expected to put increasing pressure on Gael Clichy over the coming seasons for a starting spot.

With no mention of Bacary Sagna or Emmanuel Eboue in the provisional squad, it appears that the race for right back is between Gavin Hoyte and Craig Eastmond.

Eastmond featured in last season's double winning youth team, but it is expected that Gavin Hoyte will get the starting berth against West Brom.

The youngster played in Arsenal's Carling Cup run last season and made his Premier League debut in the 3-0 defeat away to Manchester City.

Midfield probably sees two of Arsenal's most exciting prospects in Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.

Already this season, Ramsey has been getting more game time in the Premier League and Champions League often coming on as a sub with 20 minutes to go.

Beside him in midfield will be Jack Wilshere who performed so well in the Emirates Cup.

Fran Merida is another young player who is causing a stir around North London having been labeled the next Cesc Fabregas.

Following a heart to heart with Wenger in the summer, Merida turned down the opportunity to move on loan to Spanish side Levante and will be expecting his chance to shine.

Others looking for their opportunity in midfield will be Mark Randall, Francois Coquelin, Emmanuel Frimpong, and Nacar Barazite.

Up front, Wenger has confirmed that Sanchez Watt will start the game.

He could be joined by any of Luke Freeman, Carlos Vela, Rhys Murphy, and Gilles Sunu.

The return of Vela from injury will be welcomed by many who remember his chipped goals from last season's Carling Cup.

With Arsene Wenger favouring the 4-3-3 formation this season, Neil Banfield has the reserves playing the same system, so expect the same style from Arsenal tomorrow night.

Speaking to Arsenal.com Wenger said:

“You will see Wojciech Szczesny, Ramsey, Gibbs, Wilshere, and certainly Vela,” said Wenger. “Traore will play.

“Some experienced players will guide the team like Senderos and Silvestre. But overall it will be a very, very young team as usual.”

Expected Starting XI:

Wojciech Szczesny

Philippe Senderos

Mikael Silvestre

Kieran Gibbs

Gavin Hoyte

Mark Randall

Aaron Ramsey

Jack Wilshere

Nacar Barazite

Fran Merida

Sanchez Watt

Provisional squad

Mannone, Gibbs, Senderos, Silvestre, Hoyte, Ramsey, Merida, Wilshere, Randall, Watt, Sunu, Szczesny, Bartley, Coquelin, Freeman, Frimpong, Murphy, Traore, Eastmond, Barazite, Vela.

Trivia

There are 10 English players included in the Arsenal provisional squad. Seems there are some at Arsenal after all.

Arsenal-Wigan: Gunners Entertain Wigan in Must-Win EPL Game

Maire Ofeire — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:39:56 -0400

The Manchester and London derbies taking place this weekend are occupying all the headlines, but on Saturday, Arsenal entertain Wigan in what is bound to be an open game of football.

Arsene Wenger and Roberto Martinez both profess to play open, attacking football.

Last season, when Wigan were under the stewardship of current Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, Arsenal ran out winners on both occasions.

Arsenal's 1-0 home win was overshadowed by the booing of Emmanuel Eboue, who suffered the indignity of being subbed although he himself was a substitute.

To his credit, Eboue kept his head down, didn't run to the media with the "woe me" tales and has played in any position Arsene Wenger has asked of him.

In the return fixture at the then JJB Stadium, Arsenal ran out 4-1 winners.

Wigan went 1-0 up early in the first half through Mido, but the Gunners came roaring back in the second half with goals from Mikael Silvestre, Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin, and Alex Song.

Arsenal

The London side come into this game off the back of two successive defeats in the Premier League as they lost on both trips to Manchester.

However, they will be boosted by their stirring comeback in midweek against Belgian Champions Standard Liege in the UEFA Champions League.

Being down 2-0 with barely five minutes on the clock, Arsenal fought back with three unanswered goals from Nicklas Bendtner, Thomas Vermaelen, and Eduardo da Silva.

Although the performance was as far from vintage as they come and the second goal was very fortuitous, the Gunners can take heart from winning a game that they may have folded in previously.

Arsene Wenger has plenty of injury worries ahead of the game.

Manuel Almunia has not fully recovered from his chest infection, and with Fabianski still injured, third choice keeper Vito Mannone will continue in goal.

Meanwhile, midfielder Denilson's back injury is worse than originally feared and he will be out for weeks.

Theo Walcott is not yet fully fit to take his place on the bench, while Andrey Arshavin is rated as having just a 10 percent chance of taking any part.

Samir Nasri, Johan Djourou, and Carlos Vela all remain on the long-term injury list.

Good news comes in the form of striker Robin van Persie, who is expected to be passed fit for tomorrow.

The continual good performance of Tomas Rosicky must also give Arsenal heart as he shows little rustiness from his 18 months on the sidelines.

Wigan

It has been a topsy-turvy start to Martinez's stewardship of Wigan.

Bringing with him the fluid football for which he became known for at Swansea, Martinez started his tenure with an impressive 2-0 away victory over Aston Villa.

That was followed by successive defeats of Wolves, Manchester United, Blackpool, and Everton.

In their last game, Wigan overcame West Ham in a scrappy affair thanks to a strike from Hugo Rodallega.

Unlike Arsenal, Wigan have no injury worries ahead of their trip to the Emirates.

They welcome back midfielder Oliver Kapo from a knee ligament injury, although the best he can hope for is a place on the bench as he is yet to get back to full fitness.

Prediction

This is a must-win game for Arsene Wenger's side if it doesn't want a repeat of last season, which saw it fall away from the leading pack very early in the season.

Both sides are capable of scoring goals, but are also capable of getting caught out at the back.

If Wigan come to play an open game of football, it will suit Arsenal perfectly in front of their own fans.

Expect goals and an Arsenal victory.

Arsene Wenger Must Stop Making Same Mistakes If Arsenal Are To Challenge

Maire Ofeire — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:33:45 -0400

Four games played; two lost, two won.

Not exactly a great start, nor a terrible one either. There is a long way to go in the Premier League yet and with Chelsea and Manchester City the only undefeated sides to date, one can count on it been a good race this season.

Whether Arsenal will be in the race or not is another matter.

Two defeats to date isn't ideal but shouldn't raise panic stations among Arsenal supporters just yet.

Arsenal haven't the biggest squad in the English Premier League and it may not be the best but questions must be asked whether Arsene Wenger is using it to its full potential?

Since preseason, Wenger has championed the 4-3-3 formation which proved so successful for the all conquering Barcelona team of last season.

Against Everton, Portsmouth, and Celtic it seemed to work quite well and Arsenal got positive results in all three.

The formation was combined with an added work rate in an attempt to win the ball higher up the pitch to elevate pressure on the defence.

Signs that this was beginning to crumble came in the second half of the defeat to Manchester United.

After conceding the equalising goal, Arsenal seemed to fall apart. Belief went and in a state of confusion where there should have been none, Abou Diaby headed the ball into his own net.

While the game at the City of Manchester Stadium has been dominated by one name—Emmanuel Adebayor—it would be folly to overlook the mistakes Arsene Wenger made in his team selection.

The same mistakes he has made time and again.

One of his first mistakes was starting Manuel Almunia in goal. Unfortunately, this is one that is now beyond his control because of inactivity in the transfer window and injuries to other options.

Almunia is a decent goalkeeper but he has rarely induced confidence in the Arsenal faithful.

Often times he is indecisive, not knowing whether to stay on his line or come for the ball.

It would be an interesting project to compare Almunia and Manchester City's goalkeeper Shay Given on Saturday.

Almunia seems to have a problem communicating with his defenders, and on the two occasions I have seen him play live at the Emirates, he doesn't seem to overly use his vocal chords.

In comparison, Shay Given continually gives out orders to his defenders.

When Jens Lehmann made two mistakes in as many games, Wenger was quick to replace him with Almunia.

At least three goals this season came about by Almunia's indecision and yet he remains in goal.

The only other option is the injured Fabianski.

While a brave keeper, Fabianski needs to be tied by a rope to the goalpost for fear he would run to the half way line to claim the ball.

Having a shaky goalkeeper is a worry, particularly if he is playing in front of a shaky defence.

To his credit, Wenger did well in signing Thomas Vermaelen in the summer for €10m.

Vermaelen has struck up a decent partnership with William Gallas to date although they were torn apart at times by Manchester City—although I argue that those problems started further up field.

Most Arsenal fans would be content enough to see a starting central defence of Gallas and Vermaelen, but the problems start when one of them inevitably gets injured.

The options aren't great to say the least.

Johann Djourou has been ruled out for the season following a knee operation, leaving Phillipe Senderos, Mikael Silvestre and Alex Song as the only options.

Wenger gave Senderos the option of leaving Arsenal in the summer, one he seemed keen to take up.

However, proposed moves to Everton, Aston Villa, and Hull all fell through leaving Senderos in no man's land at Arsenal.

The Swiss is a decent defender but prone to massive mistakes.

The other option is Mikael Silvestre, another error prone option.

Wenger can, if needed, drop Alex Song back into defence but then there is a feeling the midfield may lose some steel as it is the Cameroon international who protects the back four.

Don't get nightmares Arsenal fans, but what happens if Vermaelen and Gallas both get injured or suspended at the same time?

A trio of Almunia, Senderos, and Silvestre defending the goal is very worrying.

This 4-3-3 formation that the Arsenal boss has persisted with so far has seen Alex Song sit in front of the back four and to date he has done quite well.

Joining him in midfield has been Denilson and Cesc Fabregas.

In a perfect world, Song would cover the left hand side of the defence with Denilson covering the right side of defence leaving Fabregas in a central role to work his magic.

Sadly this isn't the world Wenger inhabits.

On Saturday, for reasons known only to himself, Wenger played Fabregas wide on the right, nullifying much of his effect.

Fabregas' forte is spraying passes forward from the midfield to his forwards, not playing on the right side.

Coupled with this mistake, Wenger played Nicklas Bendtner in front of him.

Bendtner has come in for a lot of criticism from Arsenal fans who believe he is not up to it.

However, who honestly thinks that Bendtner is cut out to play on the wing?

Bendtner is the nearest thing Arsenal now have to a target man, yet he was the one on Saturday making the crosses into the box instead of been on the receiving end.

Robin Van Persie was yet again played in a central role.

Is Van Persie a good target man? No.

Is Van Persie good at winning headers to knock down to the on rushing midfielders? No.

Does Van Persie have the strength to play the central role? No.

Bendtner scored two goals for Denmark in the internationals playing in the central role while Van Persie scored for the Netherlands while playing wide right.

It begs the question—why not play Bendtner central and Van Persie on the right of a front three?

To compound these mistakes, Wenger then made every Arsenal fan close their eyes in fear as Abou Diaby came in for the injured Andrey Arshavin on the left.

Abou Diaby on the left wing! Again!

Diaby gives the ball away more often than not. He can't cross. Rarely does he find a team-mate and he doesn't track back. So why does he get a starting berth out on the left wing?

Is it mere coincidence that three of City's goals come down the Arsenal left?

Two of them were mistakes by Gael Clichy but it is evident that Clichy is not happy with Diaby in front of him.

Arshavin and Samir Nasri both make attempts to do their defensive duties and track back to help, Diaby just lazes around the pitch.

The Frenchman's best position is either behind two front men or coming from midfield to score goals. His performances to date hardly warrant a starting place, yet going on Wenger's history he will start again against Standard Liege on Wednesday.

In the past Wenger has cited Diaby's defensive qualities as to why he plays him left wing.

As most other people fail to see this it begs the question as to why Kieran Gibbs didn't get the nod on Saturday.

He filled in more than adequately for Clichy last season when he was injured and the young Englishman is in fact a left winger who has been converted to a left back.

Hence, you get someone who knows how to defend but who also likes to get forward and can whip in a good cross.

With Diaby having two bad games in a row now, will Wenger finally give Aaron Ramsay or Fran Merida there shot to claim a place? There is also the option of the left footed Jack Wilshere.

The best Arsenal fans can hope for is that Tomas Rosicky remains fit and will play left wing until Arshavin and/or Nasri return to full fitness.

Just to put the icing on the proverbial cake, Eduardo was left on the bench until it was too late.

He is another who could play left wing if needed.

The Arsenal manager claimed he wanted to keep Eduardo "fresh" for Wednesday. Problem is, Eduardo may not play Wednesday if UEFA uphold his two match ban for diving.

Saturday's game at Eastlands also saw a return of the much hated Arsenal over passing.

One could only imagine what the players were saying on the pitch:

"You shoot" *ball is passed* "No, you shoot" *ball is passed* "No, you shoot" *ball is passed* "You shoot" *ball is passed* "No, you shoot" *ball is passed* "No, you shoot" *ball is passed*

Until eventually possession is lost or it has gone out over the end line.

It wouldn't do much harm for Arsenal to take a leaf out of the Frank Lampard notebook. Have a lash and if it doesn't go straight in it might very well get a deflection.

So, Arsene Wenger can blame the referee, the weather, the internationals, the water bottles, the "stupid" defending but hopefully when he sat down on Sunday to watch the Manchester City vs. Arsenal game again he will realise that a lot of the blame rests on himself.

The Frenchman may claim that he hasn't much money to spend in the transfer market on players and that may be true but at the moment he isn't getting the best out of what he has got.

Play the players in their proper position Arsene, you never know what might happen!

EPL Preview: Manchester City v. Arsenal Is Going To Be A Cracker

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:50:23 -0400

With the transfer window shut and internationals out of the way for now, it is time for the English Premier League to get back to business, and what a lineup is in store.

The meeting of current high fliers Tottenham Hotspur and champions Manchester United has caught the eye of many.

However, two other teams from the same cities will meet before Spurs and United lock horns in what is bound to be a cracking match.

At 1500 GMT on Saturday, Manchester City will host Arsenal at the City of Manchester Stadium.

The teams served up two lop-sided affairs last season, with City carving Arsenal open with ease last season to win 3-0 at home while the Gunners returned the favour at the Emirates by easing home 2-0.

Saturday should be a very different affair.

Although a loss wouldn't by any means be catastrophic for either club, Mark Hughes will want to keep his side on a winning roll while Arsene Wenger will not want to lose any more ground to the front runners following the defeat to Manchester United.

Manchester City

The side who every one is keeping an eye on this season have started well, albeit without playing to their full potential.

Their records states: played three, won three.

With a host of top new signings joining the club in the summer window, it has been Gareth Barry and Emmanuel Adebayor that have caught the eye to date.

Former Aston Villa player Barry has settled with ease into the City midfield, spraying around passes to his attacking colleagues while also doing his lion's share of the donkey work.

However, it has been the £25 million signing from Togo that has stolen all the headlines with his three goals so far for City.

Following his acrimonious exit from the Emirates, Adebayor will be chomping at the bit to prove his worth for his new club.

This game offers both Adebayor and Kolo Toure a chance to get one over their old club.

Indeed, Kolo Toure will take the captain's armband for Manchester City for the first time against his former club. Toure takes over captain duties from the departed Richard Dunne.

He will be joined in the heart of defence by fellow new signing Joleon Lescott who is making his second start in the blue of City.

The international break has claimed one big casualty for Mark Hughes with Carlos Tevez been ruled out with a knee injury.

There is also questions marks over the fitness of Brazilian Robinho who will be assessed before a decision is made.

Arsenal

City's opponents on Saturday have also got off to a good start in the EPL before it was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Unlike City, Arsenal were quiet in the transfer window with only Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen joining the North London club.

The former Ajax Captain has impressed in his apperances to date, so much so that he has been named Arsenal Player of the Month for August.

Vermaelen has brought an added steel to Arsenal's defence, forming a good partnership with the rejuvenated William Gallas.

Arsenal's form has been aided by the coming-of-age of Cameroon international Alex Song who has grown in stature since last season.

The new 4-3-3 formation favoured by Arsene Wenger sees Song play in front of the back four, much like Yaya Toure does for Barcelona, while he also fills in for Vermaelen or Gallas when they venture up field.

Wenger has also asked for increased work rate from his players, with the likes of Robin Van Persie, Eduardo Da Silva, Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin pressurising the opposition from the front.

The international break has gone well for Arsenal players involved with no reports of any injuries.

Making his return from injury, Cesc Fabregas played an important role in sealing Spain's place in South Africa by scoring the opening goal against Estonia.

Eduardo and Bendtner joined Fabregas on the score-sheet for their respective countries while Arshavin shrugged off any injury doubts by playing ninety minutes for Russia.

An added bonus for Arsene Wenger comes in the shape of long term absentee Tomas Rosicky playing over 50 minutes for the Czech Republic in their 7-0 hammering of San Marino.

"Mozart" is expected to make the bench for Arsenal on Saturday, as is England's Theo Walcott who is returning from a back injury.

Samir Nasri, Johan Djourou, and Carlos Vela are the only confirmed absentees to date.

Prediction

This is one of those games where you can see either of the teams coming away with the win.

Manchester City have got off to a flier without ever have reached top gear.

However, they have yet to be tested by a top team and their new defence will be put under pressure by Arsenal's attacking threats of Van Persie, Fabregas, Arshavin, Eduardo, Bendtner while also having the option of calling on Rosicky and Walcott from the bench.

City too will have firepower in numbers and Adebayor would dearly love to score against his own club.

This one is hard to call, but one thing is for sure, it won't be a 0-0 bore.

Edit: Andrey Arshavin has been confirmed as injured and will miss Arsenal's next three games at least.

Are Barcelona and Manchester City Breaking the Same Rule as Chelsea?

Maire Ofeire — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:40:05 -0400

"Any person subject to the FIFA Statutes and regulations (club officials, players' agents, players, etc.) who acts in a manner designed to induce a breach of contract between a professional and a club in order to facilitate the transfer of the player shall be sanctioned."

So read the FIFA statement which accompanied the announcement that Chelsea FC are prohibited from registering any new players until January 2011.

The London club owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich stand accused of "inducing" French youngster Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens and sign for Chelsea in 2007.

This is not a first for FIFA with Roma given a similar, but shorter ban for their courting of Phillipe Mexes in 2004.

Swiss club FC Sion are currently fighting their case after they were found guilty of the same charge when signing Essam El Hadary from Al-Ahly before his contract had expired.

FIFA's stance in cutting out what in effect is "tapping up" is commendable, but are they picking and choosing who they punish, or must the clubs who lose the players fight a long battle to bring it to their attention?

My take on the Kakuta deal is that Lens had a player that they did not want to lose, but a player Chelsea badly wanted.

Chelsea flashed the cash, promised a teenager the world, and finally got their man, despite his current club not willing to sell.

On that premise, and in the very words of FIFA, haven't Manchester City and Barcelona done the exact same thing?

Over the summer, Manchester City signed some big names in the form of Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure, Roque Santa Cruz, and Emmanuel Adebayor.

These signings are all fine, as these players wanted to leave their respective clubs and their current employers were happy to take the large sums of cash offered.

However, the problem arises in the Joleon Lescott deal.

Everton clearly did not want to sell one of their prized assets. David Moyes clearly did not want to lose one of his defensive stalwarts. Alas Lescott is now at Manchester City.

Moyes reacted furiously to City's constant approaches for Lescott, until, as Everton claimed, "The player's head was turned."

Evidently, it was the large wages and promises of challenging for titles that made Lescott want to join City so dearly and Everton got a good deal for their man.

In essence, have Manchester City done what Chelsea stands for doing?

Lescott left Everton against their wishes (although I am sure they readily accepted the hefty fee), before his contract had ended. Can this be viewed as "inducing" to breach a contract?

Despite the transfer window being shut, we see the exact same thing happening with Barcelona's pursuit of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas has declared his wish to stay at Arsenal, although, he hopes to return to Spain one day. At only 22, he has plenty time to accomplish this.

Furthermore, Arsene Wenger certainly does not want to lose the focal point of his young team and the fans; the board doesn't want to see "Fab4" head for the exit either.

However, Barcelona's pursuit of the Spanish international is relentless.

President Joan Laporta describes Fabregas as a "special case" while players Lionel Messi, Carlos Puyol, and Gerard Pique have spoken of their wish to see Fabregas in a Barcelona shirt "sooner rather than later."

Every week the Spanish triple winners are making it public how much they "love" Fabregas.

Again, is this not breaking FIFA rules?

Is Barcelona trying to "induce" a player to break his current contract?

Am I way off the mark, or have Manchester City and Barcelona broken the same rule that saw Chelsea punished so severely?

Stan Collymore Joins Moral High Ground Police and Slams Eduardo and Wenger

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:09:32 -0400

The Eduardo incident just rolls on and on with more ex-players, pundits and commentators joining in to condemn the Croatian international for inventing the art of diving.

The latest to get involved in this saga is former Liverpool player Stan Collymore.

In his day, Collymore was an angel on and off the pitch and he had this to say:

"Wenger said UEFA’s treatment of Eduardo is a 'witch-hunt' and vowed to protect his player.

"But having seen the footage, I cannot believe Wenger can support Eduardo so strongly.

"I would like to see managers like Wenger acting to protect the integrity of the game and helping to stamp out diving by condemning it.

"As it is, UEFA have decided to get involved and good luck to them.

"But their threat of a two-game European ban for Eduardo is not enough and personally, I’d happily see all cheating players giving an eight-game ban.

"There is no point hitting a millionaire in the pocket by fining him so you have to start looking at other punishments as an effective deterrent.

"If a player can’t play for eight games he would think twice about diving because he would probably lose his place in the team.

"Managers like Wenger who also harbour and protect cheats should get a four-match touchline ban.

“It needs to be done to clean up the game and rid it of cheats."

So by this standard, if every diving player was to get banned for eight games per dive, opposing teams would never have to worry about seeing Steven Gerrard play against them again as he would be constantly in the stands.

Of course, Rafa would be beside him for not coming out and condemning his most important player and Stan Collymore would be perfectly okay with all this.

Get back on your high horse son and ride on!!

Whether you read the Bible or believe in it there is a beautiful saying present. It goes "Let him without sin cast the first stone."

There have been a lot of stones thrown at Arsene Wenger and Eduardo Da Silva this week—I never knew so many in football were without sin.

Eduardo's Dive: British Xenophobes Must Quit Blaming "Johnny Foreigner"

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:58:19 -0400

The picture above shows Eduardo Da Silva coolly slotting home a first-half penalty that put Arsenal well on the road to victory in their Champions League Qualifier against Celtic at the Emirates last night.

Sadly, from a sporting point of view, it never should have been a penalty.

The Croazilian (Brazilian-born and playing for Croatia) took great liberty of the onrushing Artur Boruc to brush off his knee and theatrically go down in the box.

As an Arsenal fan sitting at home watching the game, I was shocked when Spanish referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez pointed to the spot. Eduardo's theatrically executed dive gave a hint that he was looking for it.

The Arsenal fan in me wanted him to score to put the tie to bed. The sports fan in me wanted Boruc to save it to notch off the injustice of it all.

As it was, Arsenal went 1-0 up, and since then the debate has raged.

I have heard and seen some of my fellow Gooners claim Eduardo dived to "avoid" Boruc as he still held mental scares from his horrific injury which saw him suffer a leg break.

Personally, this doesn't wash.

One replay from behind the goal clearly shows Eduardo giving a cheeky grin when the referee points to the spot. He knew what he was doing.

Now, before any Arsenal fan accuses me of abandoning my team no matter the right or wrongs, answer me this: Had it been one of the Arsenal scapegoats of Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner, or Alexandre Song that dived, would your opinion be different?

Eduardo has Messiah-like status in North London and rightly so, but that doesn't mean we should turn a blind eye to what is in essence cheating: We don't like when it happens to us, do we?

The unthinkable happened with even Arsene Wenger stating that having watched replays he thinks the penalty should not have been given, calling it "very soft."

While what Eduardo did was very wrong, the manner in which he has been treated by the British media since last night is despicable. One would think Eduardo created the art of diving.

As I usually do, I watched the game on Irish channel RTE with pundits Johnny Giles and Ray Houghton. They went through the penalty decision at length, labeled Eduardo's actions as a disgrace and upsetting, but agreed it was systematic of a wider illness in the game. Basically, he had done what many did before him.

Giles and Houghton then went on to offer a constructive resolution to diving in the game. They suggested that a panel be put in place where actions like this can be punished in retrospect.

The goal and result would still stand, but should Eduardo be found guilty of unashamed diving (in this case he would be), he should be banned for three games and fined. As they both agreed, no manager or player wants to see someone banned for such an offense for three games, so it would drastically cut down on this aspect of the game.

Fair enough, I thought; Eduardo can be viewed as having cheated, and if such a panel were in place, not he, Wenger, or Arsenal could have much argument. Indeed, he probably never would have chanced it.

With the programme on RTE breaking for adverts, I then switched over to English channel ITV to listen to their views on the matter.

When I heard what I did, I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or throw a shoe through the television.

Kenny Dalglish, a legend in the game, claimed Eduardo dived because he is a foreigner. A foreigner!

Apparently, the "foreigners" aren't too bothered about this type of unsporting behaviour in comparison to their British counterparts.

It just hit me as typical British tabloid rubbish. Everything that is wrong with the British game is the fault of "Johnny Foreigner."

Those on ITV must have very short memories, but I don't.

Last season in the Champions League, Liverpool were trailing Atletico Madrid at Anfield by a goal. Coming into injury time, it seemed that the Spaniards had the game wrapped up. Not for the first time, Steven Gerrard stepped up to save his team.

Except this time he cheated.

Feeling the slightest of slight touches from a defender, he executed the most wonderful of star jumps, and incredibly the referee pointed to the spot. As Eduardo did, Gerrard slotted home. It was as blatant a dive as the one last night.

Except that is not the way ITV viewed it. Oh no! According to them, Gerrard had "played the captain's role in gaining his side an advantage when they needed it most."—Funny, isn't it?

When Eduardo dives, he is a "Johnny Foreigner" ruining the beautiful game. When Steven Gerrard does it, he is "helping his team."

When Dalglish was then corrected by the host, who said, "English players do dive too," Dalglish incredibly suggested that again it was the foreign players' fault and the British players only do it because they see the foreigners doing it.

Isn't it a bit insulting to be calling British players sheep?

So tell me then, Kenny Dalglish, which "foreigner" put the gun to the head of Michael Owen in 1998 to dive and win England a penalty against Argentina? Of course, I forgot—the British media at the time claimed Owen "earned" his team an advantage, not cheated to get it.

Last season, when Wayne Rooney dived, Alex Ferguson laughed it off as Rooney "having learnt it off Robert Pires." The media laughed with him—All "Johnny Foreigner's" evil doings once again.

This contraction and double standards took me back to the Chelsea vs. Barcelona game at Stamford Bridge last season.

Whether you agree or disagree with the decisions the referee made, his place of birth and country of residence should have nothing to do with it.

Unless, of course, you go by the name of Jamie Redknapp, who lambasted the fact that Norwegian refs are working at the top level. It should be the reserve of the bigger and better football countries, he claimed...Because English referees are perfect, aren't they, Jamie?

Tell me again, how many yellow cards do you need to receive before you get sent off? Three! Only if you are Graham Poll, former England referee.

This isn't an attempt to paste the British media as some kind of evil, but exactly what good are they doing for the game in the country? By blaming the foreign contingent in the game, they are exacerbating the problem, not finding a solution.

Have a go at Eduardo for what he did, but what about having a go at Gerrard?

Why is Didier Drogba a cancer on the game when Wayne Rooney is a shining light?

Kenny Dalglish and the rest are doing what they have often blamed "Johnny Foreigner" Arsene Wenger for doing—sticking their head in the sand and not seeing what they don't want to see.

There must be some form of irony lurking there somewhere.

Maire Ofeire Is Gunner Go: Arsenal Co-Community Leader Steps Down

Maire Ofeire — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:22:47 -0400

Unlike Arsene Wenger, I know when the going is good sometimes it is best to move onto pastures new.

Okay, I kid, I kid, I'm still 95 percent behind Le Boss but I feel that it is right to call time on my role as Arsenal Co-Community Leader here on Bleacher Report.

Since stumbling on this site nearly a year ago I have encountered some great people with some wonderful views on World Football and various other sports, some I know a good bit about and others that are alien to me.

Ninety percent of my time has been taken up with all matters Arsenal which led me to becoming Arsenal Co-Community Leader in the space of a few months.

I suppose last season was a journalist's dream considering the ups and downs at the club. Imagine, Arsene Wenger's tenure was actually called into question!

However, as a fan journalist it hurt to see the club in turbulence and trying to be objective on matters was often difficult. I did try my best and my main aim was always to give a positive.

I'll be the first to hold my hand up and say I can get carried away at times in defending the club, or Paolo Maldini or anyone else I happen to like. Hence, it is good to know that my fellow Co-Community Leader is as level headed as they come and often saved me from myself.

From the moment I joined, Shyam has always made me feel welcomed on Bleacher Report and encouraged my writing and views.

It is a loss for Bleacher Report and Arsenal in particular that Shyam is also stepping down as Arsenal Community Leader.

It is mere coincidence that we are both leaving Bleacher Report at the same time. Shyam has his own reasons while I personally have decided it is time to travel and see a bit of the world.

We came to the agreement that we would step down together so that the Arsenal Community could promote brand new Leaders that can progress the Arsenal Community even further in whatever way they see fit.

What better time than the start of the new season?

I, like Shyam, will attempt to contribute to Bleacher Report as much as possible but would not be around enough to be worthy of a Community Leader role.

So that just leaves me with a few people who I would like to thank for their continued support.

Willie Gannon though he is a Spud is a top notch Irishman, the same can be said for Keith Griffin who, God bless him, thinks it a good idea to support Manchester United.

Thanks must go to Andrew and Salaar for running the World Football section and making it the beast it is today.

To those that have continually read and contributed to my articles: Barney, Jamie, Marzia, Michelle, Deepak, Callum, Anthony, Carolina, Danny, Stefan, Joe, Eldin, Salomon, Yoosof, and Todd I thank you.

Special thanks to Alex, Ryan, Mosang, and Gem for editing and tidying up my work.

Outside the World Football Community I would like to tip my hat to Sarah, Long John Silver, and Michael Griffith.

To anyone I forgot, I'm sorry but believe me I am grateful.

Finally, I would like to congratulate Zander and Co. for this wonderful site and continued success to them.

Bleacher Report has been a wonderful journey and I hope to stay involved somewhat.

I can only think of one way to finish this:

C'mon Gunners, trophy next year!!!

Keep it Goonerish,

Mary.

P.S. I'll still be lurking in the shadows so don't think anyone can have a sneaky pop at Arsenal, just like Arsene, Mary Knows!

Sir Bobby Robson: Farewell to a Legend and a Gentleman

Maire Ofeire — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:58:07 -0400

After a long, hard and brave battle with cancer, Sir Bobby Robson has passed away at the age of 76.

Bobby was perhaps best known for his work with Newcastle United when he took them to the lofty echelons of the Premier League and secured them a Champions League berth in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.

In what is an ever rare occurence in modern sport, he was loved by all involved in football. Robson was recognised as a gentleman and someone who was in the game merely for the love of it.

His playing career in the 1950s and 1960s was spent with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion.

He went on to play 20 international games for England, scoring four times.

It was as a manager that Robson would make his name, managing some of the biggest names in European football including PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and of course Newcastle.

Robson's first successful stint came at Ipswich Town where in a reign covering 13 years he lead them to a runners' up spot twice in the league and captured the UEFA Cup in 1981 by defeating AZ Alkmaar.

In recognition of his achievements with the club, there is a life sized statue of Robson at Portman Road and in 2006 he was named honoury president of Ipswich Town.

He then went on to manage the English national side between 1982-1990 with varying success.

England failed to qualify for the 1984 European Championship but did make it to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where they were knocked out in that infamous game against Diego Maradona's Argentina.

The Euro 88 championship saw England knocked out in the group stage but they followed this up with a great showing at the 1990 World Cup in Italy where they finished third.

With his contract up with England, Robson took up the challenge of managing Dutch side PSV Eindhoven where he won the league in the 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 seasons.

From there he went to Sporting Lisbon and worked with Jose Mourinho who would interpret his message from English to Portuguese for the players.

Despite taking the club to the top of the league, Robson was sacked by the club's chairman with whom he had a volatile relationship. Rivals Porto were quick to snap him and Mourinho up and they lead Porto to league and cup victories.

In 1996, Robson and Mourinho were again on the move, this time to Barcelona where he signed Ronaldo.

Barca won the Spanish Cup, Super Cup and Cup Winners Cup before Robson briefly retook the reigns at Eindhoven.

In 1999 Robson moved back to England with Newcastle.

In the space of a year, he took the Magpies from the bottom of the table to the Champions League.

Despite the leaps he made at Newcastle he was fired by then chairman Freddy Sheppard who cited discontent in the dressing room. As is quite clear now, the problems at Newcastle go far deeper than that.

Not one to be out of the game, Robson took up the role of football consultant to Steve Staunton in the Republic of Ireland setup in 2005. However, Staunton's tenor is better forgotten and Robson stepped down from his role in 2007.

With the news of Robson's death today, tributes have been flooding in for a much loved football icon.

"It's devastating. Everybody knew it was coming. The people who have seen him at the weekend at the charity game, you could see he wasn't a well man. It shows the courage of the man to actually turn up in front of 33,000 people and get the fitting send-off he deserved because he's a fantastic football person." - Terry McDermott

"I met up quite a few times with him when he was Newcastle manager and that passion was still there. I think that was still there to this very day. He had a genuine, refreshing love the game. He'll be sadly missed." - Glenn Hoddle

"It's a sad day for football and football people. He had such honesty and enthusiasm for the game as a player and manager. Even right up to the very end, when he spoke about football the enthusiasm still shone through how much he loved and cared about the game." - Ray Clemence

R.I.P. Sir Bobby Robson 1933-2009

* All quotes are taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/31/sir-bobby-robson-tributes

Michael Schumacher Returns: Finally F1 Is Worth Watching Again

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:04:04 -0400

Seeing Michael Schumacher above in a headset just doesn't seem right, he should be in a helmet with his backside firmly planted in the latest Ferrari F1 car.

Roughly three years since his retirement, the rain master is back.

First off, I must state that it is somewhat wrong and inappropriate that he should make his temporary comeback because of the injury that has befallen Brazilian Felipe Massa.

However, what matters is that Massa will be okay, suffers no long-term damage and is around to see his unborn child grown up.

Speaking of children growing up, I grew up watching Michael Schumacher circulating a track in Formula One and boy, did I love it.

I have no special interest in cars, I can't even drive. I do like how they look, the Mini Cooper being my favourite, but talking about aerodynamics and tyre compounds is akin to talking the most difficult of physics with me—I don't get it.

Despite this seeming disinterest, I used to get up at crazy hours in the morning to watch the opening race of the F1 calender which was then held in Australia. It didn't matter the time or the place, I'd be planted in front of the television cheering on Jordan and Michael Schumacher.

Following Jordan is quite understandable as for those that know me know I am Irish and proud. Here was a small team from a tiny country mixing with the big boys.

However, it was really Michael Schumacher that caught my attention.

What a sportsman!

Since his Benetton days I have been in awe at his brilliance.

Okay, on occasion Schumacher took the idea of sport and its rules to the limits but very rarely did he break them.

Yes, he tried to shunt Damon Hill off the track but he paid the price.

This was a guy that was so good at his sport that they had to change the rules to try and catch him. I suppose the brains of Ross Brawn and the speed of Michael Schumacher is a hard thing to equal, never mind surpass.

Schumacher, though, was in his element in the rain. Then again he was in his element in the dry, or fog, or glaring heat. He was in his element just driving.

I also think I loved him because sections of the British media hated him, a combination of him being so dominant and German. They seemed to think he must be cheating, someone or something that isn't British shouldn't be so good.

Schumacher put them back in their box and kept them there [Please note I am speaking of the xenophobic British media and not the British in general].

So, for 12 years I watched every F1 Grand Prix I could.

Then Schumacher stopped, so I stopped.

Jordan was already gone and with Schumacher's departure the last real character of F1 had disappeared.

I've watched parts of the last two F1 in parts to be honest it bored me.

The qualification seems messy, the current World Champion has the personality of paint drying and everyone is fighting.

Where are the Mika Hakkinens? The Juan Pablo Montoyas? The Eddie Jordans?

Where are the personalities that made this sport a spectacle?

Speaking of the current World Champion, he seems a bit of a bully boy in races. Don't get me wrong, fair play to him, to win you need to do certain things but let's see you try and push Michael Schumacher off the track. You'll know what a sand trap is like then Lewis.

I guess we will find out soon.

I've not planned to watch a Formula One race in years but rest assured the weekend of the 21st-23rd of August is marked in my diary.

Welcome back Michael Schumacher, you have been missed.

As Wenger All But Confirms Kolo Toure's Exit, Is It Deja Vu for Arsenal?

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:05:49 -0400

“We’ll see what’s happening in the next 24 hours…we have many centre-backs, seven centre-backs and I’m in a position where we have to play some in midfield…but of course Kolo is a very good player—we’ll see what happens in the next 24 hours.”

In the latest interview given by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, he has all but confirmed the departure of the last "real" Invincible who played a key part in Arsenal's unbeaten season.

Nearly two weeks after the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, it seems his former team-mate will be joining him in a move mooted at £15 million.

Kolo Toure joined Arsenal in 2002 from Asec Mimosas and since then has worked himself in the hearts of the Gunners faithful.

While Adebayor's exit to the Eastlands was vastly well received by Arsenal fans who had grown tired of his lack of effort, offsides and constant disrespect for the London club, the man labeled King Kolo will see his impending departure viewed differently.

Toure is a man loved by Arsenal fans. He is a hard-working defender who has always put the interest of the club first. At his best, he was neigh on impossible to get past with Sol Campbell by his side.

He is also one of Arsene Wenger's "captains" who is meant to lead by example on and off the pitch. So, is this a bad move by the Arsenal management?

On one hand, it looks like a clever move.

Since the last African Cup of Nations Tournament in 2008, Kolo Toure has looked somewhat out of sorts after his bout of malaria.

With another ACN coming up in January, Arsenal are effectively getting £15 million for a player who will only be available until January and who is on the last year of his contract.

However, there is more to Toure's drop in form than the African tournament.

To play at his peak, Toure needs a commanding, aggressive center-back beside him. This he had with Sol Campbell during Arsenal's best seasons in recent years.

However, the latest Arsenal partnership of Toure and William Gallas hasn't worked on many levels. For one, Gallas isn't the commanding figure that Sol Campbell was which has affected Toure's play.

Secondly, the pair don't get on, on a personal level. This came to a head in the winter months and saw the Ivory Coast international hand in a transfer request. Toure ended up staying and forged a better partnership, albeit still shaky, with Gallas but it appears that the wounds were never fully healed.

The signing of Thomas Vermaelen was a welcome boost to Arsenal fans who are fully aware of the need for extra spine at the back. But surely if Toure does leave, Arsenal haven't enough cover as Arsene Wenger may claim?

He says we have seven center backs but quantity doesn't equal quality.

William Gallas is a top class center back on his day, but is prone to temper tantrums and moments of madness. He has also become quite injury prone and with one year left on his contract, is expected to leave on a free next summer.

New signing Thomas Vermaelen is unproven in the Premier League and it is surely too soon to throw him into the deep end.

The return of Phillipe Senderos will hardly draw sighs of relief. While a good honest player, all he needs to turn into a mess is the sight of Didier Drogba.

Johan Djourou seems to have played for Arsenal for years without making a real impact, but at 22 is a very good back up player.

Alex Song played the majority of last season in midfield with average success, although he does look like a player who can step in at central defence if called upon—as proven towards season's end. However, he will also be playing in next year's African Cup of Nations for Cameroon.

Then there is Mikael Silvestre. That he is at Arsenal at all has confused Arsenal fans for months, so there is no thought of him becoming a valuable player in the Arsenal line up.

So if Kolo Toure does move on to pastures new, that will be the players Arsenal currently have on the roster who can play central defence. Apart from William Gallas, none of the rest look quite up to scratch as of yet at least.

Djourou, Song, and Silvestre all are players that can play in the odd match should they be needed for an injury or on a squad rotation basis but not as one half of a guaranteed starting central defence.

Meanwhile, Thomas Vermaelen may become one of the best defender's to grace Arsenal and the English Premier League, but with the North London club having such a tough start to a vital season, can the chance be taken of the Belgian settling in immediately?

Surely Arsene Wenger can't be tempted to enter next season's competitions with the lot he currently has?

Last season, when Arsenal fans watched in dismay as Gilberto, Flamini, and Hleb all left, we were sure to see replacements come in.

Inler, Cana, and Alonso were all banded about. But only teenager Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri came.

Surely, it won't be deja vu for Arsenal. Wenger must have someone lined up to replace Kolo Toure.

If the rumours are to be believed that Wenger's intention is to replace Toure with a £15 million capture of Fulham's beast Brede Hangeland, then this may indeed be a very smart move.

Fulham, however, are verily against selling one of their prized assets from a team that performed so well last season.

The Frenchman better have an ace up his sleeve or Arsenal's season could be a bigger mess than last season's, with only three weeks to go to the opener with Everton.

Some may think I am getting carried away but George Graham was correct in thinking winning teams are built from the back.

If Arsenal's defending was bad last season, what will it be like now, after losing one of its better, more experienced players?

There better be some new arrivals at the Emirates soon to galvanise this team or else a few more may start believing that we are content with just fourth place and a Champions League spot.

From Arsenal's New Prodigy to the New York Mets' Fastest Pitcher: Sports Greatest Hoaxes and Pranks

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:31:29 -0400

If only every hoax and prank came with a neon light it may save the blushes of many. Since the beginning of time their have been elaborate pranks played on the public, only later emerging as massive hoaxes. Some will tell you that man never walked on the moon, it was all recorded in a television studio. While this eeks of a fact been made a conspiracy theory, there have been many sporting events and occurrences that have fooled many a person and indeed media outlets. With the internet every growing and blogs becoming ever more popular, a rumour by a 12-year-old fan can turn into "War of the World" type mass knowledge in the space of an hour. Some go to great lengths to convince people that their tale is true. So, just what are the greatest sporting hoaxes and pranks of the last few decades?

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Samir Nasri Out for Up to Three Months: Screw It! Bring Back Alex Hleb

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:23:57 -0400

Darn preseason, darn broken bones, and darn those Arsenal players made out of glass.

This morning at Arsenal's annual preseason summer camp in Austria, French international Samir Nasri suffered a fractured right fibula that could put him out of action for up to three months.

Considering that Tomas Rosicky sustained a "short-term injury", only to return on Saturday against Barnet after an 18-month layoff, I'll not hold my breath.

I digress.

Just when things were looking up on the fitness front for Arsenal with Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, William Gallas, Andrey Arshavin, and Tomas Rosicky all reaching full fitness, this happens.

With the sale of Alex Hleb and injuries to Rosicky and Walcott, Nasri was used in various midfield positions last season following his move from Marseille.

In total, he made 44 appearances and scored seven goals, including his memorable winning double against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

Although his first season at the club was a bit stop-start, with the Frenchman flitting in and out of games at times, overall it was a pretty successful first season.

The 2009-2010 season should see Nasri become an even more integral part of the squad, as Arsene Wenger's side must push for success, be it in the League, Champions League, FA Cup, and at this stage, the Carling Cup.

Even in the most dour of times, Arsenal were a club accustomed to winning silverware, and a fifth season without success would be unthinkable considering what the club promised fans prior to the move of stadia.

This upcoming season is pivotal for Arsenal; a repeat of last season will warrant a major rethink with Manchester City bound to progress up the league.

The start of the season is a hard one for the Gunners, who will need to get off to a flying start.

Arsenal have a tough away fixture at Everton, followed by the first leg of the final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

This is followed by; Portsmouth (h), the second leg of the qualifier, Manchester United (a), Manchester City (a), and the first round games of the Champions League should the club make it through.

All this will have to be done without the services of Nasri.

There is, of course, no way Wenger could have foreseen this. Nasri isn't a "crock" bought on the cheap; it was a freak training accident that unfortunately saw Nasri come out the worst.

However, what Wenger can do is act.

He still has plenty of time left in the transfer window to find a solution, and not gamble on youth as last season.

Yes, you may say we have Rosicky and Walcott.

Rosicky is a gamble who is just back from a long-term layoff. Prior to his injury it was a gamble banking on his fitness anyway, so following his layoff it is even more of a gamble, one Arsenal can't put any chips on.

While we all love Walcott and so dearly want him to succeed, he hasn't fulfilled his early promise and is too inconsistent. In short, neither can be relied upon at a vital time for Arsenal.

We don't want to put Emmanuel Eboue in midfield again, do we?

So that leaves Wenger with a choice: He can gamble in believing in what he has, or else he can do something he has never done at his time with Arsenal.

He can bring back a player he sold.

Wenger was pondering bringing Nicolas Anelka back to Arsenal before he signed for Chelsea, so it's not beyond the realms of reality. On Arsenal's official website, Nasri is described as "a ready-made replacement for Alex Hleb."

With Nasri now out, that begs the question, why not bring back the original? Okay, Hleb may not be everyone's favourite ex-Arsenal player, considering the manner in which he left the club. He certainly isn't mine, and I chuckled at him sitting it out on the bench at Barcelona.

However, one thing that cannot be denied is how good a player Hleb is. He may not score many goals (Shoooooooooooooooooooot), but he has immense dribbling skills and the ability to draw in defenders, affording other Arsenal players space.

Added to that, in recent days Hleb has admitted he was wrong to leave to warm Barcelona's bench, and that this was no way to win a Champions League medal.

“When you mostly sit on the bench, winning titles brings very little joy, while getting to the last eight of the Champions League with Arsenal was unforgettable," said the Belorussian winger.

"I regret my move from London, but unfortunately nothing can be done about it now

"For me, Wenger was like a father. I consider him one of the best managers in the world.

"For such a boss one wants to die on the pitch. Arsene managed to create a smashing team with a wonderful atmosphere inside of it."

Is this a come and get me plea for a player that seems surplus to requirements at Barcelona? It is been muted that Hleb will form part of any deal that may involve a Samuel Eto'o plus cash swap for Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

However, from my recollection, Hleb wasn't a major fan of Jose Mourinho. With his comments above, would it be easy to tempt Hleb back to the Emirates? Would he rather "die for father Wenger" than play for Mourinho?

The pros for a move are immense.

Hleb knows Arsenal, he knows the EPL, he can play Wengerball, he regrets moving, and he would want to prove himself on his return.

The cons may be slight animosity between him and the Arsenal faithful, but with silverware in short supply at Arsenal and Hleb repenting, I think hard feelings would be in short supply in North London.

A one-year loan may work in favour of all concerned.

Barcelona don't seem to want him, Arsenal need cover in midfield, and Hleb wants to play first team football. Hleb is virtually saying he was wrong, so Wenger will have none of his pride to swallow should he seek to re-sign the player, even short-term.

Arsenal fans will come around to the idea. Those on Avenell Road have, and after just half an hour of the thought, so have I.

Hleb back at Arsenal? Of course...if it helps us push for silverware.

Germany or Italy? Aston Villa or Feyenoord? Who Has the Best Football Shirt Of The Year?

Maire Ofeire — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:01:00 -0400

Part of a club's identity or increasingly a tool to gain more pennies from a club's loyal fans? Whatever way one looks at them, football shirts or jerseys are part and parcel of the footballing experience. We all like to laugh at the ones with the strange designs, terrible colours or double meaning sponsors. But what about those that fans should be proud to wear as not alone showing your pride in your given club, but also as a fashion statement. Down through the years there have been many fine jerseys that have now become iconic. Now though they chop and change so often it is hard to keep track. In the last year however, eight shirts have stood out from thousands around the world. As part of the "Football Boot Awards" on www.footyboots.com the renowned experts from Footballshirtculture.com nominated eight teams who they felt stood out from the crowd. Here you will find a list and pictures of those shirts. Which will get your vote? Forget the club, which shirt deserves the honour of been crowned the best of the year 2009?

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Adebayor Deal Is Done, But More Important For Arsenal, Mozart Is Back

Maire Ofeire — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:46:35 -0400

Finally the deal has been done and Emmanuel Adebayor has signed for Manchester City on a five-year contract.

Seen as the vast majority of Arsenal fans were planning parties on his departure, more important news comes today in the form of the start of Arsenal's pre-season against annual hosts, Barnet.

Arsenal was captained today by an old face making a return and a brand new face and both went by the name Tomas.

After 18 long months out with injury, Tomas Rosicky, the man known as Little Mozart, made his return for Arsenal much to the delight of the Arsenal faithful.

To mark his comeback, Arsene Wenger handed the Czech the Captain's armband for the first half.

With 10 of the 11 starters being replaced on 46 minutes, the only player to play the full 90 minutes was handed the Captain's duties for the second-half. This player was the central defender Tomas Vermaelen captured from Ajax last month.

The game saw a mixture of experience and youth with Arsenal lining out at the start with:

Manuel Almunia, Johan Djourou, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Mikael Silvestre, Jack Wilshere, Mark Randall, Emmanuel Frimpong, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin, and Sanchez Watt.

Arsenal looked disjointed at times during the first half, but this was to be expected considering the names involved and the long lay off since their last outing.

Happily for Arsenal fans, Tomas Rosicky got involved in play as much as possible and showed no sign of shrinking from any tackles.

Andrey Arshavin continued where he left off from last season, making some clever runs, one of which lead to the opening goal.

Sanchez Watt did good work out on the left, before looking up and picking out the Russian's run for a tap in.

Barnet got back into the game on the stroke of half-time with Yakubu heading home after Gallas failed to clear from a free-kick.

Half-time saw a rash of changes with only Vermaelen surviving to play the second half.

On came Vito Mannone, Craig Eastmond, Luke Ayling, Jay Simpson, Nacar Barazite, Thomas Cruise, Gilles Sunu, Conor Henderson, Francis Coquelin, and Jay-Emmanuel Thomas.

On 51 minutes, the Gunners were back in front after great work by Barazite.

The 19-year-old showed great confidence to take on a shot when it seemed the chance was gone.

With his back to goal, Barazite turned and curled a shot beyond Viner in the Barnet goal.

However, the game was destined to end and draw and so it came to pass as Charles equalised for Barnet in the 83rd minute after turning Cruise and Mannone desperately missing out on his first attempted block.

Emmanuel-Thomas did have the chance to win it for Arsenal but dragged his shot wide. However, he did extremely well to set up the chance.

In his debut for Arsenal, Tomas Vermaelen did quite well and appears to have good positional sense. A close eye will be kept on him in upcoming games.

Bonuses for Arsenal came in the form of Emmanuel Frimpong, Andrey Arshavin and Sanchez Watt who all had good 45 minutes. The of course there is the return of the man in the number seven shirt.

I think it would be remiss of me to end this article without saying something about the biggest news of the day, so from me to you:

Welcome back, Super, Super Tom, Super, Super Tom, Super, Super Tom, Super Tomas Rosicky.

Emmanuel Adebayor's Arsenal Career in Pictures

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:51:37 -0400

It is as yet unsure whether Emmanuel Adebayor will join the revolution at Manchester City, but one thing is for sure and that is the Togo international will not be playing in an Arsenal shirt next season. His bridge has well and truly been burnt with Arsenal Football Club. The 25-year-old arrived from Monaco in 2006 and for the first two years of his time at Arsenal he was seen as a hardworking forward and an increasingly important part of the squad. Then came last summer and it all changed. Here is Emmanuel Adebayor's career at Arsenal in pictures.

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I Know Arsenal Won't Buy Him but Still I Will Suggest David Trezeguet

Maire Ofeire — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:08:46 -0400

Following on from other articles in the series started by Deepak Israni, I have chosen to nominate Frenchman David Trezeguet as a player I suggest Arsenal to buy although I know they probably won't.

With the news today of Emmanuel Adebayor reportedly been sought by Manchester City, Arsene Wenger may well be on the look out for a new striker.

Yes, Arsenal have many options up front despite the increasing possibility of losing the Togo international.

Robin van Persie, Eduardo Da Silva, Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey Arshavin, Carlos Vela, and Jay Simpson to name but six of his options, however each come with a "but."

Van Persie is not a leading striker who can guarantee Arsenal 20-plus goals a season.

While Eduardo Da Silva has undoubted talent and could be Arsenal's answer to the fox-in-the-box striker, it remains to be seen can he fully recover from his horror injury and the knock on effects of that.

Towards the end of last season, Nicklas Bendtner came on leaps and bounds to prove his value to the squad. However, he is still prone to missing sitters and needs perhaps another season or two before he can really began to claim an automatic starting place in the Arsenal.

Although used out on the left wing for the second half of last season, Arshavin's play is more suited to that of a second striker, causing havoc by floating around in front of the defence.

That leaves the unproven Carlos Vela and Jay Simpson.

David Trezeguet: Fact-file

Age: 31
Position: Striker
Current Club: Juventus
National Team: France
Honours: Monaco - Ligue 1 (1996-1997, 1999-2000), Juventus - Serie A (2001-2002, 2002-2003), Serie B (2006-2007), Italian Super Cup (2002, 2003), France - World Cup (1998), Euros (2000).
Serie A Footballer of the Year 2002

Frenchman, Trezeguet has been at Italian club Juventus since the year 2000, staying with the club even when they were relegated to Serie B.

Although plagued by injury in recent seasons, Trezeguet has a goal ratio that compares with the best in the business letting him the claim the title of the highest scoring non-Italian to play for the Turin side.

His 6ft 3in frame would added much needed height to the Arsenal team with Trezeguet as formidable in the air as he is on the ground.

He was also bring with him a bucket load of experience that is badly needed at the Emirates.

David Trezeguet to Arsenal: Pros and Cons

Pros

Experience
Goals to game ratio is impressive
Has only two years left on his contract and at 31 should be relatively cheap
Could teach Nicklas Bendtner how to put away good chances
He's French - a big plus for Arsene Wenger
He's a winner
His height
Good friends with Thierry Henry
He knows the offside rule

Cons

Injuries over the last few seasons
His age
His possible wage demands
He's French - Have Arsenal enough of a French influence at the club already?

Signing David Trezeguet may be somewhat of a gamble for Arsene Wenger although he is a known admirer of the World Cup winner.

His experience and goal scoring abilities would be most welcome at Arsenal although his injury problems would be a worry.

However, it would be nice to see a leading striker play at the Emirates who knows the offside rule.

I know Arsenal won't buy him but still I suggest David Trezeguet.

Andrei Arshavin: Either Dennis Latcher Is Deluded or the Media Are Bored

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:51:59 -0400

Arsenal's Russian assassin—particularly if you are Pepe Reina's goal—Andrei Arshavin has enjoyed such a tremendous start at the Emirates, that most Arsenal fans have taken to nicknaming him "AK-47".

As enjoyable as Arshavin has been on the pitch, he has also been as enjoyable off it.

Not one to shrink from giving his opinion, Arshavin has given his thoughts on women, driving, economics, and football itself.

However, virtually from the time he arrived at Arsenal he has had to put up with the idiocy of the British gutter press.

At the time of his signing, numerous media outlets claimed that the deal had fallen through and Arshavin had been spotted at London City Airport to hop a flight back to Russia.

In fact, he was having dinner with his new employers.

Oh, and the airport was shut due to heavy snow.

Over the next months he was continually linked with a move to Barcelona—a team he has long admired.

I doubt Arsenal fans are as deluded to think that if Arshavin had a choice in January between the North London club and Barcelona, the Russian would not have chosen Barcelona.

However, Barcelona failed to take the gamble, one indeed they didn't need to take, and Arshavin put pen to paper in North London.

Now that Real Madrid has signed Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema, and Albiol, the British rags have decided that Barcelona must be feeling left out, so have linked them with Andrey Arshavin yet again and crazily based on quotes made even before he joined Arsenal.

Today, Sky Sports News and that bastion of honesty Goal.com have decided that Arshavin is "unhappy" at Arsenal and his agent is begging Barcelona to make an offer.

"Before anything else, Barcelona should make a formal offer," Lachter told COM Radio.

"Then we can sit down and speak."

This quote appears both on SkySports.com and Goal.com under the respective headlines "Barcelona to make a formal bid for Arsenal star Andrey Arshavin" and "Barcelona Should Bid For Arsenal's Arshavin—Agent, Arsenal will not be happy after Andrey Arshavin's agent invited Barcelona to try and sign him..."

However, Sky Sports in its "article" goes on to admit that Arshavin in fact parted company two weeks ago with his "agent" Dennis Latcher.

The following appeared on Andrey Arshavin's own web site (via translation):

“The official site of Andrey Arshavin reports about the curtailment of collaboration between the Russian team captain and Arsenal player Andrey Arshavin and Dennis Latcher.”

So either Dennis Latcher is a very deluded man who still thinks he is agent for a player who parted ways with him after the end of the season as he sought to represent himself.

Or perhaps Latcher wasn't talking about Arshavin at all. Not once in that little snippet of a quote is Arshavin mentioned.

Indeed, the quote could be a year old when Arshavin was looking for a move away from Zenit St. Petersburg.

Either way it is a sad indictment of Sky Sports who acknowledge that Latcher no longer is the player's agent but ran the story nonetheless.

What's even more disturbing is that the story first appeared on Goal.com and a slightly different copy ran on SkySports.com about 10 minutes later.

Perhaps Rupert Murdoch needs to put a sand pit with buckets and spades into his employees' offices because they are getting so bored now that they aren't bothered if the story is complete trash.

Then again, did they ever care?

*The Goal.com "article" has since been removed

Arsenal Buy Four, Sign Four, and Release 10 in Squad Reshuffle

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:49:19 -0400

Tomorrow is July 1, the day the transfer window officially opens as managers and players return from their summer rest.

In the last number of transfer windows, Arsenal have been accused of being too slow in their dealings and missing out on key players as a result.

However, so far this summer Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been quick to address the first team's defensive frailties with the signing of Belgian international Tomas Vermaelen.

There has also been some key signings at under age level as well as a number of youth players have been released or seen their contracts terminated.

Who is in?

The most prominent signing thus far for Arsenal has been former Ajax captain Tomas Vermaelen.

The 23-year-old arrived at Arsenal for an initial fee of £8 million which could rise to as much as £10 million depending on add-ons.

Vermaelen is primarily a central defender but can also fill in at left back if needed.

Although young for a center back, Vermaelen has made 143 first team appearances for Ajax, including some in the UEFA Cup and Champions League, while he also has 21 caps for Belgium.

Whether he will come straight into the first team or be forced to fight it out for a spot with William Gallas and Kolo Toure depends largely on the future of the aforementioned pair. Regardless, he is a welcome addition to a squad lacking defensive quality.

At the youth level, Arsenal have made three further new signings in defensive areas.

The most expensive of these is Irish U-17 keeper Sean McDermott from Norweigan side IK Vag in a deal that could rise to £4.3 million.

Although just 16, McDermott was second-choice keeper for his hometown club and Arsenal had to beat off stiff competition from several English and Scottish clubs to secure his signature.

He will begin next season as first choice keeper for Arsenal U-18s although he has his sights set a lot higher.

"I think I can be the first choice keeper there when I'm a little over 20 years old. I'm not going to Arsenal for nothing—I will be the first choice keeper."

Confidence that would put Nicklas Bendtner to shame.

Following him to North London is Swiss youngster Martin Angha-Lotscher and Englishman Jamie Edge.

Angha arrives from Arsenal from Zurich for an undisclosed fee and with a massive reputation from his homeland.

The 15-year-old is a tall and quick central defender who is expected to slot straight into the club's U-16 team.

Joining the U-18 side will be former Cheltenham player Jamie Edge who joins the Gunners for a fee of £100,000.

Although Edge can play at centre back, he is seen more as a defensive midfielder where his dominant and aggressive approach is said to suit the position.

Added to the new arrivals, is the signing of four youngsters from the FA Youth winning side on professional terms.

Luke Ayling, James Shea, Cedric Evina, and Craig Eastmond have all earned their contracts after impressive seasons at Arsenal.

Once again, all are players who operate in defensive positions.

Last season, Ayling formed a considerable partnership with Kyle Bartley in central defence for the U-18 side which saw him getting a call up to Neil Banfield's reserve squad.

The Englishman, would can play in the center of defence or at right back, played every minute of Arsenal's Youths side run to FA Cup success.

Joining him on pro terms is the goalkeeper of that winning side, James Shea.

Shea's appearances for the youth side also saw him break into the reserves towards the end of last season.

He is more known for his shot stopping abilities and has many areas still to progress on, a chance that Arsenal have afforded him.

The other two players to get a contract are right-back Craig Eastmond and left-back Cedric Evina who has been at the club since he was nine.

With Eastmond now 18 and Evina 17, both will be looking to continue their careers at Arsenal by breaking into the reserves side.

Who is out?

The "biggest" name to leave Arsenal so far this summer is Portuguese U-21 midfielder Amaury Bischoff, who arrived only last summer from Werder Bremen on a one-year contract.

His signing was seen as a typical Wenger one, a player who was cheap, largely unknown, young, and injured.

This is one of the few that didn't work out for Wenger as Bischoff made no impact, making just four appearances for the first team and spending his time playing in the reserves.

He has been released after his contract ended today.

Following him out of the club are youth and underage players: James Dunne, Rui Fonte, Abu Ogogo, Paul Rodgers, Rene Steer, Vincent van den Berg, Anton Blackwood, Charlie Mann, and Jonas Rasmussen.

Reserve midfielder James Dunne signed professional terms with Arsenal in 2007 but never made the breakthrough that was expected. He joined Nottingham Forest on loan last September but failed to make a first team appearance.

Perhaps a shock departure is that of Portuguese striker Rui Fonte.

The U-21 international was on a three-year development contract at Arsenal where he made his debut for the first team in the Carling Cup last season. He also teamed up with his brother at Crystal Palace on loan for a period but Arsenal have declined to take up their option on the player. He has now returned to Sporting Lisbon.

Despite having made the most reserve appearances for Arsenal in the 2007/2008 season, Abu Ogogo found his chances limited last year and was sent on loan to Barnet.

The 19-year-old defender yesterday signed terms with Dagenham and Redbridge.

Fellow defender Paul Rodgers also signed with his new club Northampton yesterday.

He had made his first team appearance for Arsenal last season in the defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor in the Carling Cup and subsequently went to Northampton on loan who have now decided to sign him on a full time contract.

Yet another defender to exit is Rene Steer.

Steer joined the club at 13 and rose through the ranks to the reserves before joining Gillingham on loan last season for four months.

Another hot prospect who failed to reach the grade is Dutch winger Vincent van den Berg whose contract has expired.

The young Dutch man has sadly been blighted by injury during his time at the club and his loan spell at FC Zwolle was also frustrated by injury issues.

He was to suffer a third heart-breaking blow when Sparta Rotterdam offered him a lifeline and gave him a chance to impress when he was thrown straight into the first team for a game against NEC's youth team.

Shockingly, after just 15 minutes he was subbed after suffering a hamstring injury, ruining any chance of earning a contract.

Also moving club is defender Anton Blackwood who signed from Northampton for the 2007/2008 season and played in Steve Bould's Youth team. However, he failed to make an impression in the reserves and has been released.

Blackwood has joined Tottenham on a free.

Following the signing of Sean McDermott, underage keeper Charlie Mann expected his chances at Arsenal to be limited and has decided to join Crystal Palace on a free.

Mann has been at Arsenal since the age of nine and was due to sign scholarship forms with the club this summer. However, failing to receive assurances over playing time he has decided to seek a new challenge.

Meanwhile, the decision to release Danish winger Jonas Rasmussen comes somewhat as a shock as he was seen as doing well at the club.

He is expected to sign with Danish division two side Viborg FF in the coming days.

Round-up of events

Tomas Vermaelen, Ajax—£8 million can rise to £10 million

Sean McDermott, Ik Vag—Deal could rise to £4.3 million

Martin Angha-Lotscher, FC Zurich—Undisclosed

Jamie Edge, Cheltenham Town—£100,000

Professional Terms

Luke Ayling—Defender

James Shea—Goalkeeper

Craig Eastmond—Defender

Cedric Evina—Defender/Left Winger

Out

Amaury Bischoff, Club Hunting—Released

James Dunne, Club Hunting—Released

Rui Fonte, Sporting Lisbon—Development Contract Expired

Abu Ogogo, Dagenham and Redbridge—Released

Paul Rodgers, Northampton—Released

Rene Steer, Club Hunting—Released

Vincent van den Berg, Club Hunting—Contract Expired

Anton Blackwood, Tottenham—Free

Charlie Mann, Crystal Palace—Free

Jonas Rasmussen, Viborg FF—Contract Terminated

Thomas Vermaelen Confirmed as Arsenal's First Signing of the Summer

Maire Ofeire — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:01:05 -0400

Arsenal FC today announced their first signing of the summer transfer window.

It is, as expected, the 23-year-old Belgian international and former Ajax skipper Thomas Vermaelen.

Vermaelen has been linked with the Gunners for the last number of weeks and has spoken of his joy at joining the North London side. With neither Arsene Wenger nor either club denying the claims, it always seemed a matter of when and not if.

The club's official website claim the deal to be "long term" and "undisclosed." However, many believe it to be a four-year contract worth in the region of £10 million.

As someone who is not too familiar with Dutch football, I contacted fellow Bleacher Report member Guido Merry to get as much information as possible about Vermaelen last week in view of an impending transfer.

"Vermaelen is a solid defender. Strong, tall, good in the air. His on the ball skills are also quite decent, but nothing spectacular. He has a decent pass too. He can play as a centre-back or as a wing-back. Personally, I believe his strengths are best applied in the centre. He is best when man-marking an opponent, whereas he lacks the pace to bomb forward down the wings as a wingback."

He continued: "Ajax don't really want to sell. Vermaelen has a lot of potential, so in a few years time, he will be even more expensive."

Former Dutch great Jaap Stam has also spoke of his admiration for the young Belgian.

Although I say young, it is in a good way, so fear not Arsenal fans.

At 23, he has plenty of experience under his belt both at the club and international level. It will be hoped that he can slot into the squad with relative ease.

Arsenal fans must wait to see if Vermaelen is at the club to create competition for places with the return of Phil Senderos or if there is to be a defensive exit from North London.

Unlike the protracted Samir Nasri transfer of last season, it is good to see Arsenal get a player in early and ready for preseason.

Hopefully one or two more signings will be coming our way shortly, and Arsenal can get back to winning ways.

Welcome to North London, Thomas Vermaelen. We can only hope your stay is a good one.

The Two Sides of the Roy Keane Coin

Maire Ofeire — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:55:05 -0400

Captain fantastic or over zealous thug?

Someone who knows when to walk away or someone who quits when the going gets tough?

If anyone has divided people into lovers or haters it is former Manchester United and Rep. Ireland Captain, Roy Keane.

The current Ipswich Town manager is never one to shy away from revealing his thoughts off the pitch and never shrunk a challenge on it.

His playing career was pitted with massive highs and some awful lows.

Having already got booked and assured of missing the Champions League Final of 1999, Keane gave the performance of his life against Juventus in Turin to assure his team mates would walk out at the Nou Camp.

Then there is the side of Keane that saw him commit the most awful of tackles on Manchester City's Haaland, which ended his career.

Even his short career in management to date has seen him fully in the limelight.

He took over a Sunderland who were near the bottom of the Coca Cola Championship and lead them to the title and earned promotion to the Premier League.

A season and a half later, Keane left the club.

Looking at some of the main topics of conversation of Roy Keane's career to date, Irish Bleacher Creatures Maire Ofeire and Willie Gannon both take a side of the coin to try and pit both the pros and cons of one of Ireland's most celebrated footballers.

Maire Ofeire will look at the negatives which will be labeled "tails" while Willie Gannon will look at the positives of each situation and as such will be labeled "heads".

Tails: Roy Keane was a central figure in Manchester United's midfield for years. He brought fear onto the pitch, a fear that made some of the opposition quake in their boots.

However, this fear didn't come about from his fantastic skills or ability to pick a pass, it came from his willingness to commit bone crunching tackles. Keane was a dirty player whose best tactic was to dig his studs into the nearest member of the opposition.

Heads: "The most influential and consistent player of the Premier League generation" as quoted by Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, Oliver Holt, Henry Winter, Eamon Dunphy, John Giles, and a multitude of others. And rather than being a central figure, he was the central figure in gaining United's dominance.

Keane has become the epitome of what a modern midfielder is. A superb passer of the ball, statistically he had the highest percentage of completed passes in the Premier League when he was a player, great in the tackle, incomparable tactical awareness, and above all a supreme competitor.

All too often the battle was won when his opponent met his icy glare.

Tails: Two words but one name: Alf-Inge Haaland. Yes, Haland had annoyed Keane over claims that he feigned injury but to commit such an awful tackle four years later, to bare such a grudge for such a long time that he ended a fellow professional's career shows Keane's lack of respect for others.

Heads: There is no way to defend the "second" tackle on Haaland. Vicious and brutal and deserving of a red card. But it hurt Keane to the bone, when Haaland stood over him gloating and shouting and calling him a diver and that he faked the injury, one that kept him from the game for almost a year.

And just like Brian Clough, whose career finished the same way, with a player claiming he dived and was faking. Clough went on to harbour those thoughts without retribution until he died. Keane had a chance to put the story straight, asking Haaland "Who respects who now?"

Tails: A man's word is meant to be, well his word. In 1992 he had agreed to join Blackburn Rovers but instead on the day the deal was meant to go through he announced he would be joining Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.

Keane had broken his word, a verbal contract, and it wouldn't be the last time either. Maybe Brian Clough was right, he was just a "greedy child."

Heads: Blackburn were on the way to buying the league. They were a club without a soul, and the only bidders for Keane until Fergie called him. And over a game of snooker with his soon manager to be, Keane decided to join Fergie's revolution, and take a wage cut into the bargain. Never motivated by money, always by the challenge ahead.

Tails: As a Captain of a club, in particular one that is in the public eye and as acclaimed as Manchester United, one would expect Roy Keane to be discreet in his actions.

If he feels something isn't happening to his liking at the club, it is best to go direct to the manager and air his grievances. Instead, Keane being Keane he had to get his moment in the spotlight and attacked his colleagues on television in that infamous MUTV interview.

What other option had Ferguson but to make him leave? He had undermined the club, his fellow players and his manager. This eeks of a man who wanted to leave the club but didn't have the balls to do so, so instead he made the manager sack him as Captain and sell him.

Surely you would expect a lot more from a professional who at that stage had been playing at the top level of football for quite a long time.

Heads: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Manchester United, at the time were floundering in open sea. Too many of their players thought that they had made it, just by joining a prestigious club.

His outburst on MUTV was not aimed at getting himself into the media spotlight, like one of David Beckham's many pr stunts. No, it was designed to wake his club and manager from their slumber, and let them know that just being there and accepting second place is not good enough, never mind a 4-1 mauling by bloody Middlesbrough!

The end result was Keane leaving, but his outburst still echoes around the halls of Old Trafford, as his team have never showed the same complacency since.

Tails: Keane isn't one for respecting those in charge is he?

In 2002 he was very distressed at how the Rep.Ireland national team were preparing for the World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Yes, there was a lot that could have been done to a more professional standard by the FAI but once again it seemed it was Keane's way or the highway.

Mick McCarthy was the manager of Ireland and Keane should have respected his authority. As Captain he had a right to air grievances of the team but Keane just seemed to be airing his own. Once again he used the media to do so in his interview with Tom Humphries of The Irish Times.

Ireland don't qualify for too many major tournaments and for our best player and Captain to walk out on his country on the eve of a World Cup is criminal. It was meant to be a joyous time in Ireland, instead Keane divided the nation and caused endless debate.

Heads: Far from not respecting others, Keane wants the very best for all he plays with. Where did Ireland go for training a month before the World Cup? Saipan. What is Saipan most famous for? Being a stag-party destination.

The FAI had brought the Irish press core on a "jolly", and the only training pitch on the island was a field behind a hotel that was as hard as a road. And just to top it off the FAI "forgot" to bring the training gear. Makes you wonder what the FAI had in mind for those two weeks?

And the only inflammatory thing in the entire Humphries interview is when Keane describes the difference between him and more skillful players in the Irish camp was desire and not settling for second best.

McCarthy, who felt undermined in the countries best players presence, chose this to fight with Keane on. And then accused him of faking injury to avoid internationals, in front of the entire squad. Roy saw red, and walked.

Keane was right in his stance against mediocrity, bad preparation, and the un-professionalism that has dogged the FAI since it's inception.

The end result was the "Genisis Report" which found everything in Keane's favour and ordered a complete re-structuring of the footballing federation, which has seen the FAI's approach to international and domestic football improve dramatically.

Tails: Speaking of walking out, Keane did it once again in 2008 having decided the going had got tough at Sunderland.

It would be foolish to deny he did a great job in getting Sunderland up to the Premier League as Champions considering where they were when he took over, however been a manager in the top level of English football is a different kettle of fish, it is a pressure cooker and Keane couldn't handle the heat.

Sunderland had backed him with the finances to do well and he spent strange amounts of money on players that didn't look worth it. Yes, he kept them up the first year but the second year is always the hardest.

Reports out of Sunderland claim neither the club or players were happy as Keane wasn't at training everyday as he still lived in Manchester—hardly very professional for a top level manager.

Sunderland lost a few games, Keane buckled under the pressure and decided he would be better off taking his dog for a walk instead of getting the club out of the mess. I wonder how long he will last at Ipswich?

Heads: Although Keane "walked out" on Sunderland, it had little to do with the poor form the team were showing at the time.

After dragging a team, who were bottom of the Championship after Mick McCarthy's ill fated reign, Keane achieved promotion at the first attempt. A superb achievement. The following season, the squad improved by a few percent and survived life in the Premiership gold-fish bowl.

The following season, the squad was improved again, but beset by injuries to key players, Sunderland had to re-structure and change formation. This was taking time to bed in, before Ellis Short got involved.

For Sunderland to take that extra step into becoming a guaranteed Premiership side, Niall Quinn needed extra finance, and so, American businessman Ellis Short came on board. And no sooner was he is the door, then he started to undermine his manager.

No manager spends everyday on the training pitch with his team, and indeed managers like Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill, Harry Redknapp, and the great Brian Clough spend minimal time training the players, that is what assistant managers and first team coaches are for, just like Ricky Sbragia.

Who benefitted from Keane's demise? The man who was speaking to the owner.

Keane didn't buckle under the pressure, he resigned because Short had moved the goalposts that worked perfectly well for two years.

Ipswich have benefited from Short's poor management skills. Expect the Tractor boys to be in the EPL within two years, if not one.

So the arguments have been made, but where does your opinion on Roy Keane fit in?

Is he a negative influence on football and those around him?

Did and does he use bully-boy tactics to get his way on and off the pitch?

Or is a player and manager who is aware that he has limitations and uses sheer passion to compensate for this?

Flick the coin!

Arsenal Youngsters: What Will Be Next Season's Carling Cup Team?

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:36:42 -0400

Already looking forward to next season, there is not too much Arsenal fans can be sure of seeing.

Will William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor still be at the club?

Will Arsene Wenger and the board have loosened the purse strings a bit and bring in some experienced players?

One thing however that all Gooners can be certain of is that the Carling Cup team will be once again used to blood youngsters with perhaps the odd experienced head thrown in.

Conversing with fellow Bleacher Report Gooner Deepak Israni, we decided that it was time to deviate away from transfer rumours and to have a look at just who may make up next season's Carling Cup team.

Goalkeeper

The man between the sticks could be any one of three players.

Polish international Lukasz Fabianski got numerous opportunities last season, playing in the Carling Cup and FA Cup for Arsenal up to the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

He also filled in for the injured Manuel Almunia in nine premier league games and three European Champions League outings.

With Fabianski now confirmed as Arsenal's number two, and having made twenty six first team appearances for the side last season, Arsene Wenger may feel it is time to look at other up and coming options.

The battle for the goalkeeping spot may come down to Italian Vito Mannone and Polish youngster Wojciech Szczesny.

Mannone signed from Atalanta in 2005 and saw his status as third choice keeper confirmed when he made his senior debut for the club in the last game of the season against Stoke, a game Arsenal won 4—1.

Meanwhile, Szczesny has had a tough time this season with injury.

In a freak accident he somehow broke his two wrists and in a horrible twist of fate, broke his big toe on his first training session back.

However, he is now back playing for the reserves and was called up to the bench for the home game against Stoke.

He is yet to make his senior debut for Arsenal but has first team experience with his home side Legia Warsaw who played him in goal at just 15.

Defenders

So to the back four.

The left-back position looks like being a battle between Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore.

The 19-year-old Gibbs has made a name for himself around the Emirates this season. He gave some fine performances for Arsenal as he filled in for the injured Gael Clichy which saw him play in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and the Carling Cup.

Starting life as a left winger, Gibbs also has an eye for goal. It's a part of his game he showed with aplomb by scoring two in mid-week for the England U21 side.

Competition is sure to come in the form of Frenchman Armand Traore who spent last season on loan with Portsmouth.

Despite having Clichy and Gibbs ahead of him in the pecking order, Traore has the right mindset claiming he wants to come back to Arsenal and fight for his place.

In contrast, the right-back position may prove harder to fill.

Despite Craig Eastmond doing reasonably well with the youths this season, it is hard to see him stepping up to the senior team so quick.

Gavin Hoyte is an option although he may find himself out on loan at a lower league club next season to get so much needed first team experience.

For this reason I expect Wenger to fill in this spot with an "old" head in Emmanuel Eboue who has seen his first team chances at right—back limited by Bacary Sagna.

The two center back spots could depend on what Arsene Wenger does in the summer transfer market.

If Gallas and Toure stay and more defensive signings are made, Johan Djourou may once again be relegated to substitute appearances and the Cups.

He may well be joined in the side by Mikael Silvestre who is not going to command a starting place in the first team.

Of course, Wenger does have the opportunity to promote the youth team duo Luke Ayling and Kyle Bartley, who worked so well together as a unit in last season's double winning team.

Harvard Nordveit is also an option although he may continue his loan spell with Lillestrom.

Young Spaniard Ignasi Miguel made the step up to the reserves last season and made two appearance and is also an option although it may be a year too soon.

Arsene Wenger does have a number of options in this area where he could also use Cameroon international Alex Song if needed.

Midfield

This area of the field has many prospects that has Arsenal fans waiting in expectation.

Perhaps the youngester that made the biggest impact last season was Jack Wilshere who is touted as the next Liam Brady.

At just 17 years of age, Wilshere has already featured eight times for the Arsenal senior side, scoring once.

He famously won Man of The Match for his performance against Sheffield United in last season's Carling Cup but was too young to accept the champagne award.

Another youngster who will expect to once again appear in the Carling Cup at the very least is Welshman Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal fought off Manchester United to sign the ex-Cardiff man but he has found his first team chances limited this season, often finding himself on the bench.

Cardiff have seen their attempts to lure back Ramsey on loan dismissed by Arsenal, hinting at more chances next season for the young international.

Two other young players who will be yearning for a shot in the Cup sides next season are Fran Merida and Francis Coquelin.

Merida arrived at Arsenal from the Barcelona academy and indeed has been touted as the next Cesc Fabregas. He has made eight first team appearances including two as a substitute in last season's Premier League.

Coquelin meanwhile arrived from French side Laval last summer and has made an immediate impact in the youth side, often dominating midfield in games. It is suggested he may be Arsenal's answer to a tough defensive midfielder in the next few years.

The options continue in midfield for Arsenal with Henri Lansbury who spent most of last season on loan with promotion winning Scunthorpe and it must be said he came back a better player following his spell away from the club.

Then there is current U18s Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who muscular appearance belies his youth.

Two others who may have a shout of a look-in are Englishmen Mark Randall who rarely lives up to his promise and free shooting Emmanuel Frimpong.

All in all options a plenty in midfield.

Forwards

Again this is an area that could be affected by what Arsenal do in the transfer market.

Emmanuel Adebayor staying or going may affect whether Nicklas Bendtner is fully promoted to the first team or is once again making numerous appearances for the first team but also a starter for the Carling Cup team.

Realistically, I can envision Bendtner playing no part in next season's Carling Cup with Wenger instead giving opportunities to more youngsters.

One who is certain to start is Mexican Carlos Vela who delighted Arsenal fans with his chipped goals to date.

He has the real making of a star of the future but needs to get more playing time under his belt. Although he can play on the left wing, I can see him been pushed up front next season in the Carling Cup at least.

His partner up front could be Jay Simpson who is returning from his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. Again this depends on whether Simpson is happy with making limited first team appearances or whether he will go back out on loan or indeed look for a first team spot elsewhere.

Other options open to Wenger are the three youth players Sanchez Watt, Gilles Sunu and Rhys Murphy who all impressed at various stages last season in the underage teams.

There is even the slightest possibility that Wenger may use the first round of the Carling Cup games to see if Theo Walcott can play as a striker in the Thierry Henry mould. A small chance but a chance nonetheless.

Possible Squad

All things considered, here is what I venture may be next season's Carling Cup team.

Mannone

Eboue (C) Djourou Song Gibbs

Coquelin

Wilshere Ramsey Merida

Simpson Vela

Subs:Szczesny, Traore, Ayling, Randall, Emmanuel-Thomas, Lansbury, Sunu

Of course all this may change drastically but hey its better than reading another transfer window article isn't it?

Denilson of Arsenal an Example of the Side of Footballers All Too Often Ignored

Maire Ofeire — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:49:32 -0400

Nicklas Bendtner falling out of a nightclub at three AM in the morning with his jeans around his ankles.

Half the Tottenham team seemingly incapable of finding anyone else to sleep with but Danielle Lloyd.

The flash cars, big houses, lavish lifestyles, swish holidays, continuous nights on the tiles.

So go the stories about footballers that fill space not on the back but front sections of today's tabloids.

Despite what the papers would have you believe, footballers in general are probably good blokes who want to give back to the community.

How come we barely hear in the media about the good work these professionals do? How they give back to the community in which they were raised and those in which they now live?

Each season, Arsenal FC select a charity of choice where they raise funds throughout the given year for a chosen association. The motto states, "Be a Gooner, Be a Giver," and fans are encouraged to donate while players and the manager give up both time and money.

Last season (2008-2009), all proceeds raised from charity events, car auctions, and players donating a day's wages went to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Furthermore, the players and Arsene Wenger spent a lot of time with the sick children in their ward, which no doubt brought them unending joy.

One of those to do so was young midfielder Denilson.

The Brazilian was born in Sao Paulo in 1988. His childhood was spent in extreme poverty, and his mother died when he was just 10.

Denilson's father quit life as a footballer to help raise his children and keep them away from a life of drug dealing and crime.

Jose's passion for football and helping others wore off on his son, who first signed for Sao Paulo in 2005 before moving to Arsenal a year later.

Aside from those charity events that he attends as part of Arsenal FC, this summer he will travel back to his homeland with Porto forward Hulk to raise money for underprivileged kids.

He wants to give them the chance of seeing there are positives in life and that crime isn't the only answer.

Another ex-player who wants others to learn from his past experiences is Ghanaian Nii Lampety, who has opened a school in Accra so children can learn at the very least to read and write.

Only in recent years has Lampety realised that he lost out on money in transfers and signing on fees, as he was unable to read the contract put in front of him. It was only when he moved to Aston Villa he was made aware that he should have had a greater income.

The work being done by Arsenal, Denilson, Hulk, and Lampety is only a small drop in a big ocean.

Others that do charity work include:

Nwankwo Kanu: UNICEF Ambassador and founder of the Nwankwo Kanu Heart Foundation.

The current Portsmouth player has long suffered from a heart ailment and in 2000 established the foundation to raise money to help underprivileged children and adults in Africa to obtain the cardiac surgical operations needed.

http://www.kanuheartfoundationng.com/

Ivan Klasnic: Donate an organ, life hat trick

The talented young Croatian has suffered one failed kidney transplant from his mother, but his body accepted one given by his father. He is now part of a campaign in his homeland to encourage organ donation whilst also taking time to visit ill children.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Involved in various charity work, including AIDS projects.

The Manchester United midfielder may divide opinion on and off the pitch, but he too does his share of charity work. He is part of the UNICEF campaign, and his main aim is to raise money and awareness of a HIV prevention scheme.

Frederic Kanoute: Founder of the Frederic Kanoute Foundation

Devout Muslim Kanoute is involved in helping the community in Seville and his home Mali. In 2007, he saved Seville's only mosque from being shut down, paying out over half a million of his own money to do so.

At first he refused to wear a Seville shirt with their sponsors 888.com on the front, as their gambling business was against his religion. However, he came to an agreement with the club that he would wear the shirt if a donation was made to an Islamic charity. His own foundation aids Orphans in Mali.

While many footballers earn an extravagant amount of money, most are only too willing to give something in return.

Photo copyright: Be a Gooner, Be a Giver

Find out more at http://www.beagoonerbeagiver.org/

Arsenal Youths Gun Down Liverpool in FA Cup Final, Do the Club Proud

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:25:20 -0400

Twenty years ago to the day, Steve Bould was part of the famous Arsenal side who defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to claim the 1989 English First Division title.

Tonight, the Arsenal Legend leads his young Arsenal side to their first FA Youth Cup victory since 2001.

The Gunners took a comfortable 4-1 lead to Anfield and never looked like relinquishing it; indeed, they added a 2-1 away win to take the title on an aggregate of 6-2.

At the Emirates, Liverpool were slightly disappointing, offering no real threat to Arsenal and seemingly having no answer to the Gunners slick passing.

Within 35 minutes of the first leg, Arsenal were 2-0, thanks to Gilles Sunu and a Jack Wilshere penalty.

Kacaniklic got one back for Liverpool with a sweet volley, but the Merseysiders had no response to the Gunners imperious second half.

Young Englishman Sanchez Watt, an early substitute for the injured Emmanuel Frimpong, restored Arsenal's two goal lead within minutes of the restart with a sublime chip, not too unlike those Carlos Vela has provided for the Senior side this season.

Captain Fantastic Jay Emmanuel-Thomas made four with a header in the 66th minute.

And so too tonight and the second leg on the anniversary of one of Arsenal's finest hours.

Liverpool came out with more intent and looked a far better footballing side than they did at the Emirates.

However, it was Arsenal who hit the front after Sanchez Watt launched on to a through ball and slotted past Dean Bouzanis in the Liverpool goal.

Dalla Valle got Liverpool back on level terms seven minutes into the second half after wrong footing the Arsenal defence, but Arsenal regained the lead they never gave up on 70 minutes when Watt's cross was deflected in by Ayala.

The traveling Arsenal support taunted the home support with chants of "You Watt, You Watt, You Watt, You Watt, You Watt."

From therein, the young guns played a professional game, retaining possession and keeping the ball around the corner flags.

At the end it was left to Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to lift the trophy aloft.

This result sees the Arsenal Youths do the double, having already won the Academy League.

With the Arsenal Ladies having claimed a domestic treble this season, the onus is once again on the Senior team to start bringing home some silverware.

A big "Well done!" to the Arsenal Youths, Steve Bould, Liam Brady and all involved in the set up who have done the club mighty proud.

Most of these boys have played on the same team since the age of 9, and one hopes that they will continue to blossom at Arsenal for many years to come.

FA Youth Cup Final 2009: Five To Watch—Arsenal

Maire Ofeire — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:45:55 -0400

On Friday, May 22nd the first leg of the 2009 FA Cup Final will take place at the Emirates Stadium between Arsenal and Liverpool. The competition is one of the biggest of its kind at the U-18 age level and is a prestigious reward for a hard year's work. The Arsenal Academy has been banded around as one of the best in Europe for some time and this two-legged tie offers Steve Bould and his charges the opportunity to show just what they can do. But who are the real stars in the making in the Arsenal youth setup? Just who do the fans think will become the next Kieran Gibbs and step into the first team squad? Indeed some have made this step already having played in Carling Cup games and sat on the bench at Premiership games for Arsene Wenger's senior side. While all the team are talented, here we look at those who have stood out to date and who to watch for over what promises to be a tight affair in the finals

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Wenger, Hill-Wood, Fiszman, Gazidis: What Is Going on At Arsenal?

Maire Ofeire — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:48:10 -0400

'Victoria Concordia Crescit'. Translation: 'Victory grows out of harmony.'

The motto of Arsenal Football Club and one that adorned the club's crest for many years. However, one has to ask just where is the harmony at Arsenal in recent years? Per chance is this the cause of a lack of trophies?

From this Arsenal fans perspective there is a distinct lack of harmony between the Arsenal board, manager Arsene Wenger and the fans.

Peter Hill-Wood and Danny Fiszman tell the Arsenal fans that Arsenal have enough money to buy a "superstar", "£30million on one player" while Arsene Wenger claims "We are a rich club but not that rich."

So who are we to believe—the board who control the money? Our most succesful manager? Neither?

I am of the opinion that Arsene Wenger is a frugal manager, one that will not pay out over the odds for a player, however I do not think he lacks intelligence, and if pushed, would stretch the budget to get a player he wants.

Last summer, the big story surrounded the possible and almost completed signing of Liverpool midfielder Xavi Alonso.

Having seen Gilberto and Mathieu Flamini exit the Emirates, midfield needed reinforcement and Alonso seemed the man to compliment fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas.

In an effort to keep things short, the deal fell through.

Now many an Arsenal fan will have you believe that Arsene Wenger called off the deal as he felt Alonso was overpriced, various sources will have you believe that Alonso was looking for £200,000 too much on his wages or Liverpool were looking for £2million more than what Wenger valued him at.

However, a more reasonable person will tell you that the Alonso to Arsenal deal was pending on the Gareth Barry to Liverpool deal.

Rick Parry refused to free up the funds for Liverpool to sign Gareth Barry, thus Barry stayed at Aston Villa and Alonso stayed at Liverpool.

Now which sounds more likely, A or B?

If you are getting a player of Alonso's quality for in and around the £13million mark you don't nit pick over what in football comes down to peanuts.

Gokhan Inler too was poised to come in but even more rumours suggest that the deal fell through as he failed a medical.

Hence, Wenger knew before the season started that a ball-winner in the middle of the park was desperately needed.

Xavi Alonso, Gokhan Inler, and Lorik Cana were all names banded about, yet none came.

Come the start of the season it was left to then 20-year-olds Denilson and Alex Song to try and fill in the gap.

Neither at the moment can be said to be adequate for a team with hopes to mount a serious title challenge, however it would be unfair to say that neither are good enough for the Arsenal squad.

Denilson is up there with the aforementioned Alonso as one of the players who has completed the most passes in this season's Premier League.

Yes, they may not be eye-of-a-needle passes that spilt defences but they are neat and ball retention is key to a team like Arsenal.

In the last few weeks Alex Song too has shown he has improved.

Wenger has wheeled out the line all season that he didn't purchase any of the mentioned names as he did not want to "kill" Denilson, Song or Diaby, but this hardly sounds right does it?

Personally it sounds like a motivational tool to keep the young players, who he has no other choice but to play, confident.

It seems that since 2006 Wenger is on some sort of crusade to win with young, inexperienced, cheap players, but is this all true?

Since then many an experienced player has joined the club and at a reasonable price.

Aliaksandr Hleb joined in 2005 from VfB Stuttgart for a price believed to be around £10.3 million. At the time he was 24.

Emmanuel Adebayor joined in 2006 at the age of 23 from Monaco for what is reported to be a fee of £3.1 million. However, with West Ham having a fee of £6million turned down previous to this move the other figure of £7million seems more likely.

Others to come in those years include Tomas Rosicky, William Gallas, Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin. All are mid-20s or older and all apart from Gallas came for a reasonable fee.

So it is not only "children from France and Africa" that Wenger buys. Yes, perhaps too many come in but is it out of want or necessity?

Just how much "financial constraint" is Arsene Wenger working under?

Time and again he has alluded to the fact that he knew when he signed his current contract that funds would be tight, but just how tight?

Does he have to keep buying the younger players or can he afford more established stars like Andrey Arshavin?

Arsene Wenger seems to think that he is running a tight ship while Hill-Wood and Fiszman suggest the belts could be loosened slightly.

Last Thursday at a Q&A session, Wenger opened up the floor to questions from shareholders and by all accounts was taken aback by some of the vitriol aimed at him.

The Times reported today:

‘He is particularly exasperated at the supporters’ failure to appreciate the financial constraints under which he must operate, a feeling that reached its height after he was subjected to criticism and aggressive questioning when he attended a meeting of the club’s shareholders last Thursday.’

Lee Dixon came out in support of the manager and asked for fans to calm.

"He feels the frustration just like anyone else," Dixon said. "He has produced one of the best training grounds in the world, one of the best stadiums in the world and some of the most attractive football ever been played. And people still just say 'we haven't won anything'. They just have to be a bit more patient.

"I want him to succeed because I can't speak highly enough of him and about how he goes about running a football club.

"When he came he was going to get rid of us all because we were 32. I ended up playing until I was 38 - six years under him and I won two doubles.

"He is a man of integrity and he does not deserve to be treated in this way by a section of his own fans."

Chairman Peter Hill-Wood too chipped in, in defense of the manager.

"Frankly, some of the questions were quite disgraceful," he told the Daily Mirror.

"There you have the most successful manager in our history and two or three of the shareholders made the most negative and somewhat hostile and sarcastic comments, which I think were completely out of order.

"I was very upset by the questions, I have to say. We, and he, kindly agreed to have this meeting and whether we have another one is a moot point.

"Arsene was very diplomatic and honest in his answers and deserves great credit for that. But I wouldn't have been anything like as polite if they had asked me."

However, did Mr.Hill-Wood ever stop to think about why fans and these shareholders fail to appreciate what Wenger is doing?

Perhaps it is because Hill-Wood and the board members keep telling us, the fans, that Wenger has "£30million to spend on one player" if he so wishes.

Which is it Mr. Hill-Wood, is Wenger operating a tight ship or been a stingy man obsessed with a dream?

Hill-Wood and the Arsenal board smack of people who want their cake and to eat it.

They charge the biggest entrance fees to view games, food is charged at a premium and all the while fans are told to sit in their seats and clap politely by the neo-Nazi stewards.

I personally, and many may not agree, have been of the view that the board are to blame for Arsenal's woes and fan unrest.

If Arsene Wenger is running a tight ship and doing his best then stop telling us that he has millions to spend, bring down ticket prices slightly and lower expectation.

If however he has money to spend and refuses to do so, put him under more pressure. Tell him he must at least win the FA Cup.

If Arsene Wenger is chasing some Utopian dream of winning with cheap kids is it still not the fault of the board for letting him continue?

Perhaps they are all too happy to let him continue as long as they have money in the coffers.

If Arsene Wenger has too much power at Arsenal then who let him have it? The board perhaps?

It wasn't the fans that unveiled a bronze bust to him.

Either way the 'Victoria Concordia Crescit' motto must be returned to Arsenal if this club wants to keep moving in the right direction because at the moment it seems a bit of a mess.

Peter Hill-Wood, Danny Fiszman, Ivan Gazidis must come out and echo the same thing. Don't blame the fans at being angry, it is the board who have caused the confusion that has lead to this anger.

This article may have raised more questions than answers because frankly I don't know what or whom to believe anymore.