Diarra Signs / Carling Cup / Whippet Walcott

As the Transfer Window closed Arsene Wenger sneaked in a nice little signing. It was rumoured in earlier weeks that Arsene was trying to prize Lassana Diarra away from the Chavs’, it took him till the very last minute to actually do it.

The move was confirmed around quarter to midnight last night on Arsenals’ website. There is no doubt in Lassanas’ quality and huge potential but he comes to play in positions we already have ample cover for. Wenger said, “Lassana is a multi-functional player, making him a great addition to our squad.  Not only is he hard working, he has a creative edge and is comfortable playing in the middle of the pitch or at right back.” It is likely to give Flamini a real knock back in the squad as he plays a very similar role to the French International. Most Gooners seem very happy with the signing and an extra body certainly won’t hurt.

Lassana played 13 times for the Chavs’ and has made 3 appearances for the French national side. Lassana will take up the number 8 shirt, his last appearance for the Chavs’ was in the Charity Shield. He should be ready for the Arsenal squad away to the Scum.

Today saw the Carling Cup draw take place live on Sky Sports. Arsenal were given their first home Carling Cup tie at Ashburton Grove. It will be against Newcastle who will surely be seeing this cup as their only hope of silverware this season. Tickets are likely to be reduced for this fixture so keep an eye out for that. The match will be played on either 25 or 26th September. It was real comedy watching the scores come in on Sky today. With the scum 3-1 up, the commentator was giving Fulham no chance, the gods’ were shining down on us, and Fulham scored their equaliser in the last minute of the game. Come on!! “Champions League, your having a laugh”.

One thing Dein forgot to mention when he said Usmanov is a football fan, he supports the Manqs. Let’s hope the only thing he brings us from Old Trafford is the title.

There was a very light hearted but good article in the Mirror. The Whippet Walcott trains with his Dogs. No I am not joking and Theo recons they are pretty good, he said, “I’ve got a massive black Alsatian and a black Labrador and I play football with them in my garden. If you want to try to get past them, they’re brilliant and very tough.” Theo loves to play football and says he kicks a ball every chance he gets. Theo certainly sets his standards high, his target for the season is 10 goals and 10 or 15 assists. That won’t be easy especially if he can’t get more starts. With Hleb possibly out tomorrow it is another chance to impress. He tired against Sparta but hopefully the more he plays the better he will become in the latter stages. Walcott said, “Last season was about pushing on and playing the odd game. Now is the time for me to move on to the next level.” I hope he gets his chance.

Arsenal 3 - 1 Pompey

Tough game, nah, EASY EASY EASY!!!

Arsenal got that all-important early goal today, crazy David James pulled down Van Persie for a penalty and after just 8 minute Adebayor coolly converted the kick.

It produced a very good Arsenal performance, I’ve been wishing for this early goal for a long time, it allows you to relax and watch the game, and it must feel the same for the players as they really played some top football in the first half.

Before half time Arsenal were 2-up. Rosicky put the ball in from a corner a Gilberto got a head on it, it was blocked, but Cesc was first to react from close range, and turned it in. It was another one of those goals you felt we would not have got last year, but Cesc has lifted his game, and them team are giving their all to win every game.

At two-nil Arsenal were coasting, it was all good cheer at half time, of good beer perhaps! I am not sure what the ref was thinking just 4 minutes into the second half when he sent off Phillip Senderos. Personally I am surprised the ref even gave a free kick, god knows why he sent him off for the tackle on Kanu, especially considering David James had bought Van Persie down when he was past the keeper for the penalty in the first half. Bizarre.

It didn’t seem to faze Arsenal as they scored a third. It was a nice little goal. Cesc was over the ball with a tight angled free-kick, Pompey were sleeping so he slipped it to Tomas Rosicky on the edge of the box, he cracked it past David James. It was a deserved goal for Tomas who had given his all for the team.

Kanu got a goal back for Pompey seconds later, the cross came in and he put the ball in the back of the net, I am not sure what it came off, but it did go in. Almunia was beaten despite his strong performance.

Arsenal looked nervous, but I suppose we only had ten men, Pompey also had 4 up front to test us to the max. It was no good, Arsenal stood strong, Almunia was as athletic as ever and Flamini seemed inspired by the signing of Diarra. Well he gave it his all that’s for sure.

The game ended 3-1 and it was back to the rocket for a celebratory drink, which culminated in the chavs losing to Villa!! Oh and did the spuds lose yesterday, so all in all, the perfect weekend.

Arsenal: Almunia, Flamini, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Rosicky, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb (Denilson 61), Van Persie (Diaby 70), Adebayor (Eduardo 79).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Walcott.

Sent Off: Senderos (49).

Booked: Fabregas.

Goals: Adebayor 8 pen, Fabregas 35, Rosicky 59.

Att: 60,114.

Arsenal have enough, who needs names when we’ve got talent

Now this is when I start to get worried, everyone is talking up the Arsenal, I think I prefer it when we are slight under-dogs. It’s nice to see some positive headlines but as with all of these stories you always feel they are building you up to knock you down.

There has been a lot of pressure from the Media and a lot of Gooners for Arsenal to make big signings especially since Thierry left. Magic man Arsene Wenger was keen to point out he has added to forward line in a big way, “Well I signed Man Adebayor in January [2006] and he has worked extremely well,” and he also said, “Robin Van Persie was injured last year and I always knew he would come back. I bought Eduardo in the summer and, don’t forget, I have Bendtner back. Every other club in the Premier League seems to phone me to get him on loan. So how can I say that everybody wants you but we want you here and then go to buy someone new.”

Gilberto was also keen to point out you don’t have to spend big to be successful, “Yes Arsenal haven’t spent a lot of money,” but Gilberto went onto say, “we have been playing together for a few years. That makes a difference in the game because we all know each other - if I pass to Cesc he knows exactly where the forwards will be. “Other clubs have made very good signings and sometimes it can make a very big difference for them but we just need to concentrate on how we play. Arsène has his policy over signing players and he does what he believes it is right for the Club.”

I think most Gooners do not worry too much about how much money the club has because they would not expect Wenger to do a Moron-iho and spend millions on names no matter what their value to the squad is. Wenger is a little too ‘well read’ for that.

Dennis Bergkamp, Legend of Legends, has been voted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. It was voted for by the fans so it is a special award for the Dutch Master. Dennis will be present in Manchester to receive his award on 15th November.

The Arsenal Supporters Trust has been assured by Danny Fiszman that he will not sell his shares in Arsenal. The AST are seeking to meet with the new man on the scene Usmanov to identify his plans for the club. Trust chief Tim Payton said, “Arsenal is about its history and its supporters.” Here! Here!

It’s International week so the focus is on how shit England are, all we can hope for is that all the Gooners playing around the globe over the next week or so come back in the same condition they left us in. Gilberto is sure to be wiped out after a tour of the US of all things. At least the rest of the lads are staying closer to home.

Eduardo is gonna explode

Not a lot of Arsenal stories floating around today as everyone focuses on the Internationals that kick off with Switzerland Chile on Friday. As we expected our first European Match will be against Sevilla. They crushed AEK 4-1. This terrible death of Antonio Puerta may really inspire Sevilla to do great things this season, let’s just hope it’s not at our expense, maybe another UEFA Cup win for them.

Croatia manager, ex-hammer, Slaven Bilic, is ready to explode onto the Premier League scene.  It took Eduardo a few games to settle into the National team and then suddenly he hit form. Wenger also feels the same, he added to Bilics’ comments by saying, “For me Eduardo is a fantastic player.” It has taken a lot of top players plenty of time to settle into the Premier League and I think Gooners will be more than aware we won’t see the best of Eddy this season.

Wenger backed up my comments yesterday by saying “We want to be faithful to the policy in the Club,” and “We have a team that can develop in the next four or five years.” Arsenal do not need to buy the players other clubs do, we make them, Arsene went on to say, “I feel we are in the process of turning Cesc Fabregas, Denilson and Abou Diaby into world-class players.” I don’t think anybody out there now has the same potential Arsenal do, not even close, “It is important not to relate only success with money.” said Le Boss.

More tomorrow, Come on you Gooners.

£50 on Tomas for top scorer

Jens Lehmann is fit for Germany, so it begs the question, what was wrong with him for Arsenal? The German head coach says Jens’ injury is giving him discomfort but will not stop him player. Wolves striker, Freddie Eastwood, yeah you know, the guy who lives in a caravan, recons he’s gonna upset Jens. This guy thinks a goal against ManUre makes him a top striker. Eastwood said, “When you look at the form I’m in and the form he’s in, I definitely fancy my chances against him,” I wouldn’t normally say anything positive about Germany, but I hope the Germans hammer Wales. I also hope we get to trash Wolves in a cup competition this season.

The Sevilla gaffa is over the moon with Wengers comments about his team. He’s not gonna let it go to his head though. Ramos was keen to point out, “Every game in Europe is difficult. If the supposed easy game in the group is against a side that has beaten Ajax then what will the difficult games be like?” It sure won’t be easy but both Arsenal and Sevilla will be confident on making the knockout stage of the tournament.

According to Roma Midfielder Alberto Aquilani, Arsenal tried to sign him this summer. The £10Mil rated 23 year old plays a central role for Roma, he didn’t sign for the Arsenal because he didn’t feel he would get regular football. Maybe he is someone Wenger will go in for in the future.

Super Tom has told us the reason for the glut of midfield goals this season. I say glut, and in comparison to last season, it’s a massive glut. The Midfield scorers have had a little bet. Cesc, Hleb, and Tomas have discussed scoring more goals, Tom said of the bet, “I hope I can win it. It includes all competitions — Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. When you look at those competitions last year I would have been the winner.” They have left Gilberto out, I suppose his 11 goals last term is a little frightening. Cesc has taken the lead so far, if Tom can start cracking those long-range efforts we saw in Germany 2006, he’d be my favourite.

According Robbie Savage, Wenger and Van Persie are hypocrites, he said that football is a mans game and it is hypocritical of the Arsenal two to say Blackburn play with a ‘desire for violence’. Savages performance was a disgrace in the Arsenal game, he made no footballing impression on the match, he sole purpose we to stop Arsenal getting the ball, and/or passing it. You’d say that was a good tactic, but not at any cost, and certainly it should not mean that as a football player you do not consider yourself able to pass the ball or have a shot. If everyone played like that every game would be 0-0. Fuck off Savage you waste of space! Savage could be done under the trade descriptions act, footballer, your having a laugh mate.

Arsenals game against Newcastle in the Carling Cup has been confirmed as Tuesday 25th September 2007. This game will not be on TV and Arsenal have reduced ticket price as a ‘thank you’ for our tremendous support. Adult lower tier tickets are from just £10.

Well done to Arsenal for this, the temptation must have been to keep tickets at a higher price, especially with the opponents. It should be a good night with an excited atmosphere.

It’s official - Wenger signs to 2011

`Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that the manager, Arsène Wenger, has signed a three year extension to his current contract, taking his tenure at the Club to June 2011.`  Football Club is delighted to announce that the manager, Arsène Wenger, has signed a three year extension to his current contract, taking his tenure at the Club to June 2011.` This is the summer signing we have all been waiting for. At last an International break seems worthwhile. Wenger said at the weekend with the break he could look at his contract properly, it didn’t take him long. Why would he go anywhere else, this is his club, he has created what we now have. To keep Wenger at the club for 4 more years is the absolute best news we could have, Le Boss - Legend!!

It will lead to commitment on their futures from Cesc and other players around him. Real Madrid have been sniffing round both Wenger and Cesc but Arsenal is where you will see them both over the next few season and that will suit me fine. With the spuds in turmoil and looking to offload their manager it highlights the huge gap between the two North London clubs.Arsène said: “My heart is tied to this football club so signing a new deal was always my intention.   Arsenal is the club of my life.  I have been entrusted with complete freedom to implement and execute my plans on what will make the team successful and that means I have a responsibility to the fans to deliver silverware and also a responsibility to the players to help turn our potential into prizes. This Club has deep-seated roots and a tremendous heritage and it is my aim to uphold these important values and help create new history for future generations to recount.” 

Oh 2 be a GOONER!! 

Elsewhere, Bendtner is moaning he has been left out of the first team, and Jens say he’s still number 1.

Dein is all talk / Diarra plays for France

Good Old David Dein is back on the scene. I preferred it when he was quiet. Dein says that Wenger “wasn’t sure” he would stay at Arsenal. Interestingly he also said, “There is certainly no takeover plan at this moment.” Which seems strange, what is the point of Red and White Holdings?

Gilberto is top of Valencia’s shopping list come January. The Spaniards with launch a £10Mil bid when the window re-opens. An eight figure bid may interest Arsene with the amazing depth he has at the centre of midfield, nobody in there can claim to have the Brazilians experience though.

It was a big International day today, England won the cricket and the rugby, and even the football. It’s always lifting to see your country doing well in sports, even if the rugby was a little stuttery. Eduardo cracked in two more goals for Croatia and that can only lift his confidence ahead of his first North London Derby. Rosicky also scored for the Czechs who got a 3-nil win but it was only against San Marino. Lehmann was on ‘hand’ to keep a clean sheet for Germany away at Wales. Well done Mr. Eastwood you obviously really unsettled Jens!! Diarra also commanded a central midfield role for France. If he can live alongside Vieira, Gattuso, and Camoranesi he can’t be far off making to side to play against the scum next Saturday.

Let’s hope all the lads make it through the midweek Internationals injury free.

Win 2 Free Tickets to ARSENAL v SEVILLA

Block19.com is pleased to offer you the chance to come to a game with us. The first Champions League night at that. Sevilla are rated as being in the top four or five in Europe by Wenger and they visit us on Wednesday 19th September 2007. It’s all about creating a bit of noise at the other end of the stadium to the RedSection. For the Sevilla game we will actually be in Block 26 due to the numbers attending. If you want to join in all you need to do is join our mailing list by emailing info@block19.com. The winner will be informed by Friday 14th September 2007.

We got a glimpse of the Arsenal Opus today in The Times, it will be about all I will be seeing of it, £3,000 is stretching my budget too far on a book. Arsene fears his darkside, in that he has taken years to keep control of his temper, except when he was faced with Alan Pardew. Wenger says the reason he could lose his control at any time is because he is a “winner”. Le Boss said, “You can sometimes be surprised by your bad side. I have a dark side. You want to win so much that sometimes you forget that it is as well that you respect the rules. When you don’t win, you have to acknowledge the respect of your opponents as well. Sometimes I can’t do that. It is a dark side because the perfect side would be to say, ‘Well done. You played better’. You never know, in 50 years I might achieve it.” 

Arsene said that he felt Vieira and Petit were targeted in the early days because they were big and foreign, but opponents soon learnt that they were no push over. Vieira sometimes over-reacted, as Wenger says he would always support his players,  “I always try to support my players to the world outside the club. It doesn’t mean I always agree with them.” All Gooners support Arsene on this one, the spirit he has generated in his teams comes from this supportive nature. ‘Us against them’ has always been a useful tool in my book. Togetherness is important in football. That is one reason I can’t see Wenger sticking with Nicklas Bendtner after his recent out-burst. The only players who can get away with a little moan are the experienced lads that have earnt their right to speak.

I could go on an on about this interesting article but you can read it yourself, or if you’ve got a large £3K sized lump in your pocket you can buy the opus
http://www.arsenalopus.com/index2.html

I saw the Eduardo goals today on Sky Sports. They were both quality. An over head kick for the first and a drive from 20 yards for the second. Not bad at all. He can become a Gooner hero with a couple like that on Saturday.

According to a lot of websites out there David Beckham will be training with Arsenal at the end of the Major League Season in the States. His aim is to keep fit enough to remain in the England squad for the Euros. It is thought he is unlikely to play for Arsenal as it doesn’t suit LA Galaxy to loan him out.

So much for Bendtner moaning, Jens has also kicked up a stink, I knew he would, sooner rather than later, Jens said, “I know I will be playing again at Arsenal. The coach will let me play.  ”He knows it, and I know it - it doesn’t matter if I have another week out. “I have read that Almunia said he deserves to be the No 1 but until now he has not won a single important game.” Ouch, surely he’s not referring to the Champions League Final or the Carling Cup Final? Harsh Jens!! I can see the pressure piling on Almunia already, he will want to prove Jens wrong, a win against the Spuds would certainly help to do that, a clean sheet, even better. The fact of the matter is both keepers are liable to make a mistake, and both are good enough to make a top save at any given time, there’s also Fabianski but he’s too young to be thrown in yet, Jens words will tip the balance in Almunia’s favour for the Scum if you ask me.

Don’t forget to register for our Mailing List and those two tickets.

Arsenal not for Sale / Ade back in line for Togo

Cheers to all those who have joined the mailing list over the last 24 hours. Keep it coming. The draw is not until Friday. Just email us with the subject ‘join mailing list’ and you’ll be in the draw for the 2 tickets for Arsenal Sevilla.

The main Arsenal news today are taken from the words of Peter Hill-Wood. The Arsenal Chairman says Arsenal not for sale. Hill-Wood told BBC Sport, “The major shareholders have no intention of selling and wouldn’t welcome an offer.” But the Arsenal supremo would welcome a chat with new major shareholder Usmanov. Hill-Wood seems to have a different attitude towards a meeting with Dein, he said, “I see no major point in that, I’ve had 25 years of listening to him,” and Hill-Wood also said, “We have always run Arsenal as a business and kept within reasonable bounds.” That goes along with Arsene’s view, a club should not operate outside it’s own means. If you make £50Mil a season then you can spend it, if you don’t then you can’t.

It seems Adebayor will now play for Togo at this years ACN, Manu loves his country, and may miss our games against Fulham, Newcastle, City, and possibly a couple of cup ties.

That’s about all the Arsenal news there is today so it’s a rather short blog today, more tomorrow.

Lehmann out / Right backs?

Jens won’t be in goal for Germany tomorrow and he is likely to miss the trip to the scum, Lehmann injured his elbow at the weekend and has reacted to it in training this week.

There really isn’t all that much gooner news floating about today. One funny story hit The Sun, or the hut depending how you see it. Former Gooners Jerome Thomas, and surprise, surprise, Jermain Pennant took the headlines. The story goes, Thomas and Pennant jumped in the que at a takeaway pizza place, a customer didn’t like it, they had ruck and, both felt the long arm of the law. Will these two ever learn? Doubt it.

I don’t think Arsene will be too impressed with the French rushing William Gallas back to play against Scotland this week. I think we’d all like him to take it easy and make his comeback against the Scum on Saturday morning. You always feel more confident with Kolo and Willy at the back, with their pace they can’t be caught out easily. When one is out of position the other is back there in a flash. It would also be good to see Eboue at right back, that is one pacey defence with Clichy on the left. Eboue also has the fight needed for a North London derby.

Hoyte says he can fill the right back birth. Justin wants to make the position his, and said, “It just makes me more determined to work hard and get my place in the side.  I am going to fight and work hard. I want to be at Arsenal all my life.” It’s not gonna be easy, Flamini was even preferred to the young Englishman against Pompey. It’s always refreshing to see a little bit of loyalty out there though.

That’s about it for today, looking forward to getting these Internationals out of the way tomorrow, and cracking on with the build up for the scum on Thursday.