Bleacher Report - Articles by Tim Love

Dear Brett Favre and the NFL: A Solution

Tim Love — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:22:54 -0400

(Sigh)… it seems like only yesterday that I was
writing about Favre Retiring from Unretiring. Yet here we are again, the annual saga we’ve come to know and love. However, if you’ve come looking for an article debating whether or not the once great quarterback should play again, you’ve come to the wrong place.

On this page, I’m going to suggest to you guys an electrifying theory that I’ve been working on for about a year now. This is a big moment, here goes…

I PROPOSE THAT THE NFL, THE NFL NETWORK AND BRETT FAVRE FORMALISE THIS ANNUAL EVENT BY AGREEING A CONTRACT WHICH STATES FAVRE MUST RETIRE AND THEN UNRETIRE EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT DECADE.

I know, it’s controversial, terrifying and potentially ground breaking. But allow me to explain.

Firstly, what’s in it for Favre? Well, the big man has clearly struggled with not being the centre of attention and not playing football. With this contract, he gets every single movement he makes tracked for the whole of summer covered by the media and is then ensured loads of interest in him once the regular season gets underway.

And the NFL? Well, the NFL and the NFL Network have an enormous off-season to deal with. Heck, if I worked for either organisation, I’d be worried myself. How do you fill seven months of non-playing time with news stories when nothing is happening on the field?

The draft speculation fills up the majority of February through to the event itself, and post-draft reaction works well for a couple of weeks too.

But then May comes round and stories about how well the rookies are doing in their team’s minicamps become slightly dry, and the harsh reality of lack or stories available becomes clear.

And this is where my plan will come to the rescue. I feel like Poirot does every time he is about to reveal that he knew who the perpetrator was all along as I reveal my conspiracy suggestion. So Deep breath…here goes…

1) Favre retires. This is an essential part of the process, obviously.

By having a contract, we can look forward to it each year, bet on which franchise is taking Favre for the year, and not have the dread of wondering whether or not the saga is going to take place

2) Whisperings begin that suggest Favre is missing the game and that he might want to play again. These rumours then get responded to with a half-hearted denial. This year’s entry: ‘At this time, I am retired and have no intention or returning to football.’ Excellent. Truly perfect. 9.26/10 on the Favre Unretirement Denial Scale.

3) I just remembered that Brett’s middle name is Lorenzo. That’s quite funny.

4) Teams begin to be linked with Favre, this year it’s the Vikings. The coach of the said team will neither confirm nor deny that they will sign Brett, but will pointedly suggest that the situation is ‘something we’re looking at’.

5) Favre’s agent sets out Favre’s case for a return to football e.g. "he might want to play again blah blah blah."

6) The media storm is now truly up and running. All parties allow speculation to reach fever pitch and wait until the very last minute to reveal that the big man will indeed join up with a franchise.

The process takes a few months, right up to the start of training camps (at the earliest), or preseason.

By having a contract, we can look forward to it each year, bet on which franchise is taking Favre for the year, and not have the dread of wondering whether or not the saga is going to take place (which is arguably the worst part of the current process).

I’ve been waiting to get this idea off my chest for a good year now. What do you guys reckon?

Thierry Henry: Please, please don't move to MLS!

Tim Love — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:36:00 -0400

I had a dream. I had a dream that Thierry Henry scored a hat-trick against United to knock them out of the Champions League. I had a dream that he twined Wes Brown, kicked Rio Ferdinand in the balls, turned Patrice Evra and smashed the ball into the top right corner of the goal past Van Der Sar. I had a dream that Thierry Henry played against United like we know he can.

Of course, none of this happened. Thierry didn't start the game last night, and although he looked lively when he came on for the final 15 minutes he did not manage to score the goal which would have made me incredibly happy. Still, I have a feeling that he will score at Old Trafford and send shivers down the spines of Arsenal fans once again... Anyway, there has been talk of Thierry being unhappy at Barcelona all season. A combination of injuries, being played out of position, adapting to a new club, missing his daughter and generally being out of form have all played a part in what is being called a terrible season for the legend by the Spanish media. Indeed, in the second leg of Barcelona's Champions League quarter final against Shalke, the Frenchman received the dreaded 'white hanky' treatment (for those of you that do not know, this is the ultimate indication of discontent from the Barca fans, God knows why).

All of these factors and the reaction to him by the Barce fans have led many to believe that Henry might be looking for a transfer away from the Nou Camp this summer. It has been suggested he might go to another Premier League team (highly unlikely, as if he would play against Arsenal) or perhaps another top club in Europe. However, today on Sky Sports News, Graham Hunter suggested that Thierry is considering following David Beckham into the MLS. I nearly dropped my vitamin C drink upon hearing this. It is not news that Henry would like to play in the MLS one day. Indeed, he recently said that he would love to finish his career there, but he also uttered the critical words, 'not yet'. The idea that he might go and play in America from next season feels me with no emotion other than sadness, and there is a good reason for this.

Yesterday, the imaginitively titled 'Thierry Henry: Legend' DVD fell through my post box. Well, not really because our letter box is ridiculously small, so the post man just left it outside my door. What a treat someone would have got had they have stolen it! How unfortunate. Anyway, I watched some of his goals last night; some from the early Henry days, and some from during his last season at the club. I particularly enjoyed his goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup, where he passed the ball to himself, sped away from Jamie Carragher from the centre of midfield, left him for dead on the turf and side footed the ball past Dudek into the Liverpool goal.

All of this after just coming back from injury. The significant point here is that this excellent goal was not scored 5 years ago; it has only been just over 12 months since that moment of magic. Thierry has not lost his brilliance in this short space of time. I believe he would be making a catostrophic era to leave for America at the age of 30 with several very good seasons left in him.

I can understand the draw of the MLS for Henry. He has often spoken of his admiration of the US and the sporting set-up they have over there, and it would give him the opportunity to join David Beckham as one of the European stars attempting to bring football to the mainstream in a country which has typically been uninterested by the sport. However, whereas Beckham a)never had the talent of Henry and b) went there as a 32 year old with no pace and c) has not been a great player for several seasons, Thierry is still only 30 and looks great on the ball when played as a striker. One only needs to look at his fantastic goal against Celtic in the second round of the Champions League to see that his goal-scoring touch is still well and truly there.

I am not opposed to the MLS, nor am I snobby about it. But Thierry Henry is still, despite what people may say, one of the best players in the world. He should be playing on the centre stage of world football, not in a league which is still very much in its infancy. To me, it would taint his legacy somewhat if he were to bail and move to the MLS at this stage of his career. Make no mistake, Thierry Henry will always be an Arsenal legend and perhaps the best player our club has ever seen. But the great man is too good to play in the MLS for now, and I do not want his final few years of top level football to be wasted.

How Not to Support a Team

Tim Love — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:05:00 -0400

There are some things in life which will never change. The weather in Britain will always be unpredictable, Sam Allardyce will always be a twat and Sky Sports News will always be breaking news about Ricky Hatton calling Floyd Mayweather a knobhead. Of course, I and many other people do not care about these forseeable events taking place. There is one predicable aspect of life I would change; the fans of Arsenal FC being miserable pricks at every home game at the Emirates Stadium.

Every time I attend an Arsenal match, I hope against hope that things will have changed. I pray that the fans won't get on the back of the players if the team is not winning within 5 minutes, people won't groan and shout obscenities because of a misplaced pass, people won't shout 'shoooooooot' when Phillippe Senderos is 35 yards out with 3 defenders in front of him... the list is endless. As I approached the stadium last night for the most important game of the club's season, I was relatively optimistic that the fans might be able to create a positive atmosphere with a little bit of noise for once. Looking back on those hopes, I was being incredibly naiive.

As I sat in my seat last night, I was unfortunate enough to be sitting next to the most miserable git I have ever had the displeasure of listening to. He did not stop moaning and criticising the team the entire way through the match. He did not join in songs, or clap the team, he simply stood there and complained about every single aspect of Arsenal's play for the entire match. Of course, none of this was constructive or informed, his comments were simply the ramblings of an enormous twat. Unfortunately, there are many Arsenal fans of this build, and this was particularly evident during the match against Liverpool.

I am not suggesting that watching a football team is never frustrating. Of course it is. We want the team we support to win, and sometimes this urge can be so strong that we act irrationally. However, I have no excuse for the Arsenal fans who 'support' the team in this manner every single game. Who do our fans believe that it is helpful to moan and groan for pretty much the entire 90 minutes? If they (or 'we) believe this is helpful, then they really need to rethink what they think the affect this has on the team. When Hleb misplaces a pass, does shouting 'oh for fuck's sake Hleb, you're shit' spur him on to perform? When the team walk off at half time having tried their bollocks off to play well and nobody claps, do the Arsenal fans think this will inspire the team to come back and play better in the second half? Well, it doesn't. It is counter productive, and does nothing but spread a feeling of negativity amongst the players.

It is interesting how people discuss holding the second leg at home in a Champions League tie being a massive advantage. For some clubs it might well be. Liverpool, for example, have excellent home support, and there is little doubt that their supporter's vociferous nature and never-say-die attitude gives the players an extra spring in their step and desire to perform for the thousands of people who are behind the team. However, it is never an advantage for the second leg to be played at the Emirates. All one needs to do is look at the match against PSV last season. Again, I turned up at the stadium praying that the fans would get behind the team and show some appreciation for their efforts, but all I got was the usual silence pierced only by the moaning of people who do not realise how fortunate they are to enjoy such excellent football on a very frequent basis.

Arsenal supporters need to take a long, hard look at themselves and think about why they support the club and the manner with which they get behind the team. If they find they really care about the team, perhaps they will spend more time cheering on the players, singing and giving their full support to the players who are representing the club. You never know, perhaps they might even enjoy smiling and the positivity of it all? And pigs might fly...

How Not To Support a Team, by Arsenal Fans

Tim Love — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:48:02 -0400

There are some things in life which will never change.

The weather in Britain will always be unpredictable, Sam Allardyce will always be a twat, and Sky Sports News will always be breaking news about Ricky Hatton calling Floyd Mayweather a knobhead.

Of course, I and many other people do not care about these foreseeable events taking place. There is one predicable aspect of life I would change; the fans of Arsenal FC being miserable pricks at every home game at the Emirates Stadium.

Every time I attend an Arsenal match, I hope against hope that things will have changed. I pray that the fans won't get on the back of the players if the team is not winning within five minutes, people won't groan and shout obscenities because of a misplaced pass, people won't shout "shoooooooot" when Phillippe Senderos is 35 yards out with three defenders in front of him... the list is endless.

As I approached the stadium last night for the most important game of the club's season, I was relatively optimistic that the fans might be able to create a positive atmosphere with a little bit of noise for once.

Looking back on those hopes, I was being incredibly naive.

As I sat in my seat last night, I was unfortunate enough to be sitting next to the most miserable git I have ever had the displeasure of listening to. He did not stop moaning and criticising the team the entire way through the match.

He did not join in songs, or clap the team, he simply stood there and complained about every single aspect of Arsenal's play for the entire match. Of course, none of this was constructive or informed, his comments were simply the ramblings of an enormous twat.

Unfortunately, there are many Arsenal fans of this build, and this was particularly evident during the match against Liverpool.

I am not suggesting that watching a football team is never frustrating. Of course it is. We want the team we support to win, and sometimes this urge can be so strong that we act irrationally.

However, I have no excuse for the Arsenal fans who "support" the team in this manner every single game.

Why do our fans believe that it is helpful to moan and groan for pretty much the entire 90 minutes?

If they (or we) believe this is helpful, then they really need to rethink what they think the affect this has on the team. When Hleb misplaces a pass, does shouting "oh for fuck's sake Hleb, you're shit" spur him on to perform?

When the team walk off at half time having tried their bollocks off to play well and nobody claps, do the Arsenal fans think this will inspire the team to come back and play better in the second half?

Well, it doesn't. It is counter productive, and does nothing but spread a feeling of negativity amongst the players.

It is interesting how people discuss holding the second leg at home in a Champions League tie as being a massive advantage. For some clubs it might well be.

Liverpool, for example, have excellent home support, and there is little doubt that their supporter's vociferous nature and never-say-die attitude gives the players an extra spring in their step and desire to perform for the thousands of people who are behind the team.

However, it is never an advantage for the second leg to be played at the Emirates. All one needs to do is look at the match against PSV last season. Again, I turned up at the stadium praying that the fans would get behind the team and show some appreciation for their efforts, but all I got was the usual silence pierced only by the moaning of people who do not realise how fortunate they are to enjoy such excellent football on a very frequent basis.

Arsenal supporters need to take a long, hard look at themselves and think about why they support the club and the manner with which they get behind the team.

If they find they really care about the team, perhaps they will spend more time cheering on the players, singing and giving their full support to the players who are representing the club.

You never know, perhaps they might even enjoy smiling and the positivity of it all?

And pigs might fly...

Arsenal-Liverpool: The Importance of Style

Tim Love — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:37:00 -0400

The whole 'entertainment Vs results' debate is an interesting one. Some people do not care if they see dross football as long as their team wins, and a smaller amount of fans want to see good results and flair on the pitch.

Unfortunately, the latter is very difficult to find in the Premier League.

This topic reared its ugly head for me this weekend, as I settled down to watch Chelsea Vs Middlesbrough. The match was absolutely appalling, genuinely some of the worst and most boring football I have ever seen played.

The cost of a ticket to Chelsea is approximately 50 quid. Now, I cannot honestly believe that people were happy to leave Stamford Bridge because they had seen a Chelsea victory. The 'entertainment' on offer was of such a poor standard that you could have heard a pin drop in the stadium. There was nothing to shout about, nothing to get excited about, nothing decent on the field, no... there were simply 22 people running around a football pitch, and one of them happened to score a goal.

It was mind numbing.

When I go to football matches, I want to be entertained. I am spending the money I have earned to watch a good sport.

Yes, I support Arsenal and yes, I want to see them winning football matches, but I would prefer to see a thrilling display of football and get a positive result, than continually see drab 1-0 wins like the Chelski faithful have to sit through.

I did not always think this way though.

For a long time, I agreed with the principle that victory was to be taken over entertainment at all costs. It took me far too much time to realise that both winning and enjoying the football on show are possible, and for that I must thank Arsene Wenger, and to a MUCH lesser extent, Alex Ferguson.

It has got to the point now where I will never understand the mindset of people who do not care how the football is played, as long as victory is secured. After all, do we not support football teams to be entertained and take enjoyment from the sport rather than watch uninspiring rubbish?

It is true that once you have started to support a team, you are linked with them for the rest of your life and there is little you can do about it. I am not suggesting that one should stop supporting a team because they play terrible football, but the problem is that so many teams put results above playing good football that there is barely any excitement in many Premier League matches any more. A lot of teams will score a goal then not bother trying to score another, and play defensively for the rest of the match.

Unfortunately, our opponents tomorrow are a team built of this ilk which is perhaps why they have been so successful in the Champions League. Liverpool score a goal, then put 11 men behind the ball to essentially stop teams from playing the game, which is how teams play European football.

I can understand this method, but I do not respect it.

Indeed, Liverpool have lost the reputation of the 70s and 80s where they were known to play champagne football, and in their desperation to return to the elite of the game they now play for results rather than for the love of the game.

It is a sorry state of affairs for such an important football club.

I believe Arsenal will win this Champions League tie. Wenger will set out the side to win the game, and will not sit back on a 1-0 lead like so many other teams would. To be honest though, as much as I would love Arsenal to go through (and I really would), I only want that to happen the Arsenal way- win, and win with style.

Indeed, thankfully Wenger thinks the same way.

And if there is any justice in football, his attacking mentality will take Arsenal through to the Champions League semi finals.

EPL: Entertainment Must Come with Results

Tim Love — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:54:15 -0400

The whole "entertainment vs. results" debate is an interesting one. Some people do not care if they see dross football as long as their team wins, and a smaller amount of fans want to see good results and flair on the pitch. Unfortunately, the latter is very difficult to find in the Premier League.

This topic reared its ugly head for me this weekend, as I settled down to watch Chelsea Vs 'Boro. The match was absolutely appalling, genuinely some of the worst and most boring football I have ever seen played.

The cost of a ticket to Chelsea is approximately 50 quid. Now, I cannot honestly believe that people were happy to leave Stamford Bridge because they had seen a Chelsea victory.

The 'entertainment' on offer was of such a poor standard that you could have heard a pin drop in the stadium. There was nothing to shout about, nothing to get excited about, nothing decent on the field, no: there were simply 22 people running around a football pitch, and one of them happened to score a goal.

It was mind numbing.

When I go to football matches, I want to be entertained. I am spending the money I have earned to watch good sport. Yes, I support Arsenal and yes, I want to see them winning football matches. But I would rather see a thrilling display of football and get a positive result the majority of the time than continually see drab 1-0 wins like the Chelski faithful have to sit through.

I did not always think this way though. For a long time, I agreed with the principle that victory was to be taken over entertainment at all costs. It took me far too much time to realise that both winning and enjoying the football on show are possible, and for that I must thank Arsene Wenger, and to a MUCH lesser extent, Alex Ferguson.

But the problem is that so many teams put results above playing good football that there is barely any excitement in many Premier League matches any more. A lot of teams will score a goal then not bother trying to score another, and play defensively for the rest of the match.

I can understand this method, but I do not respect it.

Indeed, thankfully Wenger thinks the same way. And if there is any justice in football, his attacking mentality will take Arsenal through to the Champions League semi-finals.

Misery in Words: The Situation at Arsenal

Tim Love — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:32:00 -0400

My great friend and chief Arsenal friend James Loveday wrote me the following message following yesterday's horrendous results:

Fuck. It's not even that result that's pissed me off but that we needed a result at Stamford Bridge. We should never have been in that bloody position. If and when Man United storm the fucking thing and Chelsea nab second it's not gonna be our results against the big teams that matter. Look at last season, what the fuck did our wins mean then? It's our slovenly form over the whole of February and into March. Drawing with Birmingham? Twice? Boro? being held by teams like Wigan. Christ, that's the way to win titles, you can't ever rely on beating serious fucking teams - and away - so don't. And don't leave the whole of your season hanging in the balance of a result against Man united at Old Trafford. We've fucked ourselves right in the arse.

What more can I possibly say? We were unfortunate to lose to Chelsea, but that is not the result which ended our title ambitions. The shite once against teams we must beat have done. We could still have been in the race for the Premier League had we won 2 of the past 5 matches. The fact of the matter is, as James said, results against the shitty, pointless teams in the Premier League are what will win you the title. We have failed to finish off teams who are not even worthy of playing our beloved side, and now we are paying the ultimate price. Times our tough, but given that the predictions for this season were so grim in August I guess we should be reasonably happy with how the league has played out this year. However, after such a magnificent run, it is very difficult to accept that we have fallen behind due to the same problems with suffered with last season; a lack of killer instinct, and no plan B when the going gets tough. This must change next year; the question of how to do this is another matter. For now, we must focus on winning our remaining league games (thus enabling us to finish in second place and avoid the Champions League qualifiers) and proceeding in the Champions League. What could possibly be more satisfying than defeating Drogba and those other soul-less bastards in the semis of the competition? I can't think of anything. Onwards we proceed.

Mathieu Flamini: Attitude of a Winner

Tim Love — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:18:00 -0400

We'd just settled into our seats for the first game of the season at the Emirates against Fulham when it happened. Eagerly anticipating Arsenal's rise back to the summit of English football, I listened out for the team, fully prepared for the fact I was not going to hear Thierry Henry's name. What I was not ready for was the fact that Mathieu Flamini was going to start the game. I am ashamed to admit it now, but at the time my overriding thought was 'Oh bollocks'. This is not due to the fact he had played badly for Arsenal in the past, but rather because to me, he did not represent an important cog in the enormous wheel you need to work exceptionally well if you are to challenge for the Premier League title. I think it's safe to say I've been proved wrong.

Indeed, Flamini has become the quintessential defensive midfielder, and his emergence this season has been incredibly impressive. It is now hard to imagine the team operating without such a hard working, energetic player who never gives up. There are many players who have these qualities yet do not actually have all that much talent, but Flamini does not only play with a wonderful attitude but also with immense skill. This came to the fore in the recent match against AC Milan. His tackling was absolutely sensational, and he cleanly took the ball from the Milan players on many occasions. But it is not just his enthusiastic and sublime talent which have endeared him to Arsenal fans. No; it's his attitude towards the game.

In the aftermath of our lacklustre 0-0 draw with Wigan at the weekend, a lot of the talk was about the pitch. I totally agree with what everyone has said about the horrendous state of it, and also that in the future there should be some sort of penalty for teams who purposely ruin their turf in order to prevent teams who are better than them from passing the ball. However, the fact of the matter is that the team drew against a side who are threatened by relegation. Mathieu had this to say:

"The pitch was horrible but it was the same for both teams. Of course we like to play and we had to play more long balls, so it was more difficult for us. But you cannot moan. You just have to score goals and we didn't, so now we have to work harder in training and be ready for Middlesbrough on Saturday. When you want to win the title you have to be ready to fight."

It is very easy for players who are not used to dropping points to make excuses and divert attention from the fact that their team is not playing well. I do not believe this is the way to improve things, and Flamini has the attitude of a winner. Rather than blame factors beyond Arsenal's control, the result has simply spurred him on to get the side working harder and preparing for the next match. In an era when footballers are being consistently moaned at for a perceived lack of passion for winning and the clubs they are playing for, it is incredibly refreshing to see such a fired up attitude.

Arsenal might not have signed many players last summer, but Flamini's emergence this season as perhaps one of the best defensive midfielders in the world sure does feel like Wenger has brought in a wonderful new player.

Mathieu Flamini: A Born Winner

Tim Love — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:30:39 -0400

We'd just settled into our seats for the first game of the season at the Emirates against Fulham when it happened.

Eagerly anticipating Arsenal's rise back to the summit of English football, I listened out for the team, fully prepared for the fact I would not going to hear Thierry Henry's name.

But I was not ready to hear that Mathieu Flamini would start the game.

I am ashamed to admit it now, but at the time my overriding thought was, "Oh, bollocks."

This thought was not due to the fact that he had played badly for Arsenal in the past. Rather, to me, Flamini did not represent an important cog in the enormous wheel you need to work exceptionally well if you are to challenge for the Premier League title.

I think it's safe to say I've been proved wrong.

Indeed, Flamini has become the quintessential defensive midfielder, and his emergence this season has been incredibly impressive. It is now hard to imagine the team operating without such a hard working, energetic player who never gives up.

There are many players who have these qualities yet do not actually have all that much talent. Flamini does not only play with a wonderful attitude, but also with immense skill.

This came to the fore in the recent match against AC Milan. His tackling was absolutely sensational, and he cleanly took the ball from the Milan players on many occasions.

But it is not just his enthusiastic and sublime talent which have endeared him to Arsenal fans. No; it's also his attitude toward the game.

In the aftermath of our lackluster 0-0 draw with Wigan at the weekend, there was a lot of the talk about the pitch.

I agree completely with what has been said about the horrendous state of the pitch. I agree, too, that in the future there should be some sort of penalty for teams who purposely ruin their turf in order to prevent better teams from passing the ball.

However, the fact of the matter is that the team drew against a side threatened by relegation. Mathieu had this to say:

"The pitch was horrible, but it was the same for both teams. Of course we like to play and we had to play more long balls, so it was more difficult for us.

"But you cannot moan. You just have to score goals and we didn't, so now we have to work harder in training and be ready for Middlesbrough on Saturday.

"When you want to win the title you have to be ready to fight."

It is very easy for players who are not used to dropping points to make excuses and divert attention from the fact that their team is not playing well.

I do not believe this is the way to improve things, and Flamini has the attitude of a winner. Rather than blame factors beyond Arsenal's control, the result has simply spurred him on to get the side working harder and preparing for the next match.

In an era in which footballers are being consistently criticized for a perceived lack of passion for winning and for their clubs, it is incredibly refreshing to see such a fired-up attitude.

Arsenal might not have signed many players last summer. But with Flamini's emergence this season as perhaps one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, it sure does feel like Wenger has brought in a 20m rated individual despite Mathieu having been at the club since 2004.

Arsenal-Milan: A Magical Night

Tim Love — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:24:01 -0500

It's incredible what one football result can do. The media and fans had pretty much written off the Gunners prior to this match. Such criticisms as Wenger's squad being too small might well be true, but speaking for every Arsenal fan, I can say this: right now, it is very difficult to care.

As I wrote yesterday, the Champions League frequently excites me more than any other tournament. Indeed, the final of the 2006 competition is one of the most emotional nights of my life, and perhaps the most involved with a sporting event I have ever felt.

We all know the result, and we all know the manner with which it happened, but I was so proud of the team that night. Yesterday's match at the San Siro against AC Milan brought all of those feelings flooding back.

I am rarely optimistic before an Arsenal match, but having watched the first leg I was fully aware of the fact that Wenger's men were stronger than the Milan side. I was expecting—no, hoping—for a score draw, as I did not believe that we could win the game. But as the match progressed, it became crystal clear that only one team wanted to finish the match in regulation time.

I was nearly eating my own arm off when Senderos and Eboue missed glorious chances to put us in the lead, but the boys did not let their heads drop and showed incredible strength to press on and keep creating openings. Of course, it was a stunning 30 yarder from Cesc Fabregas which won the tie; and the moment that shot hit the back of the net, I felt a release I have not felt since Arsenal beat Villarreal in the semifinals of this wonderful tournament two years ago.

People come out with rubbish about Arsenal not being an English side, but last night I believe that the Gunners showed the English footballing spirit that so many teams would love to be able to.

Each and every player fought for every ball, but I want to reserve special mention for a player who most embodies the fighting qualities of this Arsenal side. Mathieu Flamini produced one of the most magnificent defensive midfield performances I have ever seen. He was all over the pitch, closing down the Milan players and making brilliantly calculated tackles. He is the spirit of this Arsenal side and I sincerely hope that Wenger gets him to sign a new 10 year deal as soon as possible.

I am a jaded football fan. But last night, my enthusiasm and love for Arsenal and the game of football came flooding back. Thank you, Mr. Wenger.

Garth Crooks: Still a Penis

Tim Love — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:48:50 -0500

I waited several days before writing this article. I have had several email requests to write a follow-up to my original Crooks post, but I felt I needed to cool down slightly before I commented on something that has burned me right down to my very soul.

The issue at hand? Garth Crooks. I think I actually hate him. (That picture above of him looking like a smug twat is reason enough.)

Several months ago, I wrote a piece regarding Garth Crooks and his general ability to be an utter knob. He is constantly making ludicrous statements, pulling stupid faces when he tries to convey sincerity and commenting consistently on Arsenal's shortcomings.

Usually I can pass these off with a quick 'shut up you cock' comment, but those times have come to an end. On Saturday, following Eduardo's upsetting and horrendous injury, Mr. Crooks disgraced himself more than ever before.

You would imagine that, as a former professional (albeit an absolutely terrible, pathetic one) Crooks would feel some sympathy for a player whose leg has nearly fallen off. Perhaps he might even feel a smidgen of sadness for his manager, who was clearly shaken up by the events of the day and upset at the extent of the injury inflicted by a terrible tackle.

Well, maybe he would if he wasn't a ridiculous individual without feelings whose soul purpose it is to piss people off with his 'witty' punditry skills. Here are two of the comments that utter wanker made on BBC 1's Score on Saturday evening:

"I'm inclined to say that Arsene Wenger's words are more reckless than Martin Taylor's tackle."

We all know what Arsene said after the game. We all know that he retracted the comments. We also all know that he was deeply upset by a possible career-ending tackle by a rubbish player on a fantastic one. But, as per usual, Garth Crooks feels the need to not only insult Arsenal, but also the intelligence of everyone watching the show.

All the viewers were fully aware that Arsene made the comments in the heat of the moment and was devastated by the consequences of a studs up tackle that is made on Arsenal players frequently. His emotions were high. His comments were understandable.

They were so many other things Crooks could have said. For example:

"Totally understand Arsene's comments, but I think they are very harsh."

"I think the thing we need to focus on is Eduardo's injury, which is horrendous. Wenger made those comments in the heat of the moment."

"I'm a total bellend."

But he didn't. He always has to be controversial, always had to slag off Arsenal. The worse comment was the following:

"This was not a horrendous or reckless tackle."

I'm going to take a deep breathe before commenting on this....

OK. I'm going to attempt to remain as pragmatic as possible. I agree that the tackle was not 'horrendous', but how can one possibly say that a late challenge with studs raised, with intent to knock someone in the shins, is not 'reckless'? I simply cannot get my head round this. When I heard him say the words, it took me about five minutes to process the comments through my brain and come up with a response to say to the TV. In the end, they were simply 'you utter tosser'.

If the same thing had happened to his beloved Berbatov, would he have said the same thing? Of course not. He'd have done that annoying thing with his face that makes him look like a frog and commented on the 'dreadful piece of play'.

I would perhaps expect these comments from someone on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports News, as they are paid to make controversial comments, but the BBC is not a tabloid channel. Why do we have to put up with this kind of shite?

When someone's career is hanging in the balance, the football world should pull together rather than make petulant little comments because someone does not like the football team concerned with the incident. It is infuriating that a pundit cannot retain just a slight bit of pragmatism even if the team concerned are the subject of one's hate.

In the words of Jackie Chiles, the comments of Crooks are 'outrageous, egregious, preposterous.'

So, to the final matter at hand: Is Garth Crooks a penis in disguise? Well, the investigation is ongoing. I think the best thing I can liken him to is the feeling you get when you have a horrendous hangover and go for a whizz. It burns your penis ever so slightly (or maybe that's just me). He is similar to that feeling. He manages to make me pull the same face as I do when I get the burning sensation: teeth clenched, eyes closed ever so slightly. Anger.

Conclusion: Garth Crooks is a 'Burn as you piss penis'. Is there anything worse than that? I doubt it.

Adebayor Loves Henry

Tim Love — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:49:19 -0500

Just a quick note today due to a story that brought a tear to my eye on this sunny London afternoon.

In news that truly touched me, Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed that he has been getting frequent encouragement from the legend that is Thierry Henry.

I have consistently enjoyed reading comments by Thierry about being an Arsenal fan, always checking the results and watching our games when possible.

I know that these are predictable things to say, but I get the impression that he is a very genuine man and really does passionately care about the club.

I don't believe there are many footballers with the emotional capacity to feel this way about a football team, and it's fantastic that Henry's life is intertwined with so many fantastic moments at Arsenal.

I look forward to the day when Thierry returns to the club in some capacity (although I hope he never becomes manager) and wields his influence over our young squad. If Adebayor's statements are anything to go by, this can only be a good thing for everyone connected with Arsenal FC.

Arsenal-Blackburn: An Opportunity for the Gunners

Tim Love — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:41:29 -0500

Like every other Arsenal fan, I am very nervous about tonight's game.

However, these are nerves of expectation rather than fear, as the game against Blackburn tonight represents an excellent opportunity to gain a serious advantage in the title race.

With Manchester United amusingly losing to Manchester City and Chelsea falling further behind in the table after playing Liverpool in what could be considered as "the match most likely to have made me eat my own leg with boredom," the Gunners have the opportunity tonight to gain a five point lead in the race to win the Premier League title.

It is a wonderful position to be in, and the aforementioned nerves of expectation are in stark contrast to the feeling I have felt many times over the last two seasons: a fear of failure.

It has been a stunning turnaround for the team this season, and I can shamefully say that I did not expect to have the butterflies fluttering in my stomach after playing 25 games. The truth is, I thought we would be battling for fourth. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong.

Last season, my brother Eggbert and I went to the Arsenal vs. Blackburn game at the Emirates, a match that resulted in a 6-2 win and wonderful pre-Christmas 2006 memories.

Whilst I will always be fond of that game, a dour 1-0 win tonight would mean so much more. It feels like it has been such a long time since our last title challenge, and it has taken 25 games for me to truly believe that this side can win the Premier League title.

Games like tonight will define how far this Arsenal side have come. Have we got the bottle to beat a good side at home and take the opportunity to go five points ahead of the pack? Can our squad cope with the various injuries and absentees we currently face? Two months ago I would have said 'possibly', but with a smile on my face I can now confidently say "definitely."

I'm just happy to be discussing the squad's on the field antics. At a time when off the field antics and business are discussed almost as much as actual football matches, the Gunners represent an oasis of calm, only slightly disrupted recently by David Dein and Big Man Usmanov.

I am happy to support a team where the main points of discussion are based around our performances rather than ownership, and of the "The Big Four" we are the only club to have avoided long, drawn out, dull as dishwater discussions about whether we would rather be owned by Americans or a consortium based in Dubai called DIC.

Until we become more pragmatic about the influence of money in football—which will inevitably happen—people will continue to search for major clubs which have maintained an aura of dignity throughout the influx of investors and battle for ownership that many football clubs now face.

Despite Usmanov's best efforts, Arsenal have maintained their nobility. The fact that nearly all the stories concerning our side have been to do with actually playing football says it all.

The nerves of expectation are tingling, which can mean only one thing: Arsenal FC are challenging for the Premier League title, and tonight the team can take one step closer to etching their names into the history of this glorious football club.

For more, go to www.arsenalinsider.blogspot.com.