Usmanov Talks / Steaua Bucharest Away

Our friendly Russian shareholder today broke his silence to give an interview to Sky Sports News.

“There’s nothing wrong if Russian money is to be invested into the world’s best football club.

As a shareholder, and as a fan, I’m going to enjoy it and I will share my experience if our relationship with the club lasts long enough.”

It’s a bit vague what his intentions are really.. I certainly don’t buy the Arsenal fan story. He didn’t specifically mention his future plans - whether he wants to takeover, or whether he just wants to hold a certain percentage. I don’t like it at all.

Now, the football. Tonight we play Steaua Bucharest away in the Champions League, and it’s live on ITV4. Steaua the worst team in the group on paper, but I think we will have quite a tough game. We don’t usually do that great in Eastern Europe, and the Steaua team will be psyched up for the game. For them, it is a cup final. For their manager, Massimo Pedrazzini, it certainly is too. The Italian has told be will be fired if his team loses tonight. In team news, van Persie, Hleb, Adebayor, Flamini and Diaby all face fitness tests. Lehmann, Gallas, Eduardo and Song are all still out. This game could provide a good opportunity for the likes of Bendtner and Walcott.

Finally, Terje Hauge, the Norwegian referee we last saw in Paris, is the official tonight. Lets hope for a better score. Come on the Arsenal!

St. Bucharest 0 - 1 Arsenal

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Eboue (Gilberto 73), Adebayor, Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Diaby, Diarra, Denilson, Bendtner, Walcott.

Booked: Adebayor.

Goals: Van Persie 76.

Att: 21,000

Ref: Terje Hauge (Norway).

Kroenke / Usmanov / van Persie / Injuries

Following our 9th successive win in all competitions, and our 11th of the season, sadly the talk is back to the ownership issue.

The Times report that Kroenke was in London yesterday, and Edelman gave him a tour. Kroenke’s 12.19% holding could be vital in the club’s efforts to stop Usmanov taking over - with the boards shares, that would put a stop to any move by our favourite Russian. Several people cite good sources saying Kroenke sees Arsenal as a long term investment, and being in sport, understands the Arsenal fans attitude towards Usmanov, and thus is not interested in selling. Whether Kroenke attends the club’s annual meeting on October 18th will be very interesting - it would be a good sign of his support.

Usmanov says he is working to improve the relationship between Dein and the board. Also, there have been stories of journalists who have been flown out to see Usmanov, and put up in a 5* hotel, presumably on some sort of a charm offensive.. I haven’t found any articles from any of these journalists yet, but it would be interesting to read their thoughts on him.

In the football, Robin van Persie says he is not surprised by Arsenal’s start to the season.

“At the start of the season I said we will surprise - and everyone was laughing.

Now 12 games into the season, everyone says, ‘Ooh, look at Arsenal, they are a good team’. This I knew before and my mind has not changed.”

Fair enough, but I’d prefer the team didn’t say too much about how great we are at the moment - we have achieved nothing yet, and there’s a long long way to go to the silverware.

Robin also spoke about rotation, something that Liverpool fans are understandably pissed off about at the moment.

“I like the fact that we play together week in, week out. Some teams switch - for example Liverpool - that is OK if they choose that.

But when Cesc gets the ball I know what he is thinking about. When Ade gets the ball I know what I can do for him. Everybody knows their part.”

That’s good to read. Hopefully the team will be able to keep the pressure up without as much rotation as Liverpool and some other teams, and be challenging for the top trophies come April, May.

A final good piece of news is an update on the injury status of Lehmann, Willie, Rosicky and Song. They are all set to return to full training either today or tomorrow. It will be interesting to see what happens with Almunia and Lehmann.

That’s all for this evening. I’ll put up a preview of Sunday’s game with Sunderland sometime soon, and anything interesting that happens inbetween. Have a good one.

Arsenal 3 - 2 Sunderland

Great result keeps Gooners top of the league.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Eboue 68), Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby (Walcott 57), Adebayor, Van Persie (Gilberto 85). Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Bendtner.

Goals: Van Persie 7, 80, Senderos 14

Att: 60,098

I’m back! Usmanov, Cole, & Kaka

All fun and games while I was away, a good win against a decent looking Bucharest, and then 3 more Premier League points against Sunderland on Sunday. It looked like we were going to hammer Sunderland for 20-odd minutes. In a twist the lino and ref got involved, disallowed a Diaby goal for offside, which it wasn’t, and then Sunderland scored. Arsenal totally controlled the game but Sunderland scored again early in the second half, and it was game on. Walcott was introduced and Arsenal won the game, Theo gave it to Van who hit it early and found the back of the net with yet another lovely strike.

Off the field today, Hleb has a burning desire to reach a major international tournament. It won’t be Euro 2008 that’s for sure. Maybe South Africa 2010, a good draw will be needed.

Catching up on the last few days, Theo has made the Under 21 squad for this weeks fixtures and we have a strong string of players in the French squad, Gallas, Clichy, Sagna, Flamini, and Diaby all make it after their strong start to the season. Eduardo should also be back fit for Croatia.

Usmanov is still lurking around the Gooners, Silent Stan seems to be backing the current board further while I was away which is very encouraging. Usmanov has been trying to play the ‘good guy’ while I’ve been away but none of us fans will fall for it. Why do we need you? It’s not Dein that puts us off you, it’s you, your money, and your morals. Usmanov is now caught up in a diamond fraud row. Perhaps that will keep the Uzbek busy.

That Slut Cole has been slagging off Arsenal, does she think her husband is man enough to show up at the Grove this season? That’s the real question.  She obviously wants some more graffiti on her walls!

Song made his recovery from injury as Arsenal reserves beat Chavski reserves away in the Southern league. The game played on Monday night also saw Justin Hoyte, Denilson, and Traore get a run out.

King Kolo says we are really confident. The Vice-Captain said, “You think the win will come and that’s what is happening to us and we’re really happy with that.” Adebayor is purring about the form of The Arsenal too. Let’s hope all the lads make it through the International break without any injuries.

It’s coming towards the end of the year so media focus will turn to transfers. Arsenal are already being linked with Robert Green, Kaka, and Michar Richards. That would be some shopping trip, it is looking like Lehmann may be on his way, and Bendtner is also hinting at an exit.

More tomorrow.

Dinner ruined & Arsenal will win the double

Imagine sitting down for a nice meal in your favourite restaurant and that twat Cashley Cole is there. Er!! That was my dilemma tonight, I think my Mrs. would have murdered me if I’d made a scene, so he’ll have to wait for another day.

Paul Robinson (Dodgy Keeper) was also there with his agent, perhaps he’s looking for a decent club, if anyone is gonna show him how to be disloyal he’s in good company with Mr. Cole.

More Gooner transfer stories rumbling on, Lehmann is off to Man City, if Arsene offloads the German for £1Mil then he is sure to buy a keeper to fill the gap in the squad. Almunia has his own wobbly moments and Fabianski is untested, below him Howard is far too inexperienced.

Fran Merida has been hit with a fine from the Spanish courts after, according to Barca, he went back on a deal to stay at Camp Nou in favour of signing for Arsenal. Arsenal will foot the £2Mil bill but Wenger is likely to appeal the fine. The Spanish clubs are fine one’s to talk after constantly trying to unsettle players via the media. Today yet again the Spanish press link Cesc with a move back to Spain. Maybe it is time Arsenal got their lawyers to act on these rumours which amount to ‘Tapping Up’.

Thierry Henry will be joining us in the stands in Spain’s winter break, he’s welcome to sit next to me in Block 19 for the game against Brum? Open invite T’ just give us a shout. Legend Henry is tipping us to do the double this season, Europe and League all the way, better get booking those flights to Moscow. Henry said, “I know the young players there very well and they can definitely win the Premier League and Champions League this season.”

Thanks to ‘Casicky’, apparently I am not opinionated enough, calling Cole’s Mrs. a slut is sitting on the fence, I suppose a welcome back is too much to ask for!!

Arsene is backing Le English to beat the Russians in Moscow on a shitty plastic pitch on Wednesday. Thank God England are in such a piss poor group. England will pick up 6 points in this shambles of a qualifying campaign and end the International week with qualification in their hands. I am glad Sol is back in the fold, the former Gooner deserves it, under Adams at Pompey he has shown he can still hack it at the top.

I’d be pretty confident the French will do the same by getting 6 points over the next few days, Gallas should be back for them, and Lehmann will be back for the Germans. Proving he is fit and giving Wenger a decision to make for Bolton, Khan has been throwing some words of wisdom Jens way. Jens has been warned he needs regular football if he wants to be considered for the Euro 2008 squad. “I know I will play for Arsenal again and think it may well be in our next game. Maybe this break has been good for me. Maybe I needed it. I never like being out of the team, but look what happened last time.” Jens also said the break did him good 3 years ago, he’s bang on there, he was fantastic, but his age is against him this time.

Arsenal have had more TV games announced today, our recent form has picked up the pace of our TV appearances as it did last season. In December we’ll be on Setanta away at Villa on 1^st December 2007, away at Boro on 9^th December, and away at Everton on 29^th December 2007. We’ll be on ordinary Sky on 5^th December away at Newcastle, at home to Chelski on 16^th December, again at home to the scum on 22^nd December, and then again on Boxing Day away to Pompey. December is looking jam packed with games when you add in the home match against Bucharest, and possibly another League Cup quater final, I see a lot of mileage on the clock.
Cesc’s agent is not ruling out a move to Barca. Well he’s not going to, he won’t make any money unless he gets a big move so it will suit him fine whether it helps Cesc or not. His agent says he is unaware of a Barca bid but he went on to say, “If interest arose from Barca then we would listen to it, it is the club that taught him a lot and he would be flattered.” It is worrying that a guy who says this also represents Fran Merida, the next big thing!

What a day we have in store tomorrow, football and a massive egg-chasing match, I can’t say I’ll be sober for many hours!!

Stade de France again / Henry hindered Arsenal

Paris here we come, well done England in the Rugby. The Egg-chasing has stolen all the sporting headlines today. It doesn’t over shadow the joy we all got from seeing Casher Cole disappear down the Wembley tunnel with an injury for the National football team. Arsenal so far have come through the first round of Internationals injury free but there is still another set of games to go. Sagna started for the French as they stuffed the Faroe Islands 6-0. Lehmann kept a clean sheet for the Germans away to Eire.

Jens has said he is not happy with Almunia, “if I join a team in which No.1 goalie has been the No 1 for years and also won titles and then I fail to perform, I find those remarks disrespectful.”  Eduardo also scored again for Croatia as they kept their winning run up, he’s in a rich vein of International form, when you see him scoring in every game virtually, it is hard to see him being left out of the Arsenal team for long. Van Persie and Adebayor are fantastic together so Wenger has a tough decision to make. Maybe 3 up front when they are all fit would work especially with holding central midfield players in the centre, Flamini and Gilberto, Cesc just in front of them. Could be good to test it against a struggling Bolton side on Saturday.

Tezza has said he feel his seniority hindered Arsenal at times, no more so than Hleb in my opinion. Alex has come into his own this season, I think the pressure Henry sometimes put on Hleb was one of the reasons for him giving the ball away so much.Peter Hill-Wood has said that Stan Kroenke may join the lock down agreement put in place until April effectively giving the Arsenal board control of 60% of the club. That can only be good news for The Arsenal and us fans.

Arseshirts & Arfa

Welcome and thanks you to our new affiliate, arseshirts are backing the Block19ers this season, they do some top shirts including a new anti-Usmanov shirt.

Arsenal news is fairly low on the ground as you would imagine, most players will either be with their National teams or in a bit of light training. One bit of gossip still centres around Cesc Fabregas, apparently Barca won’t break the bank for Cesc, oh well you won’t get him then you chumps!! Good news really for Gooners, the Arsenal board would want a mammoth record breaking bid to let a potential legend go. Perhaps Barca can have Cesc cheap when he’s 31.

According the written press Arsenal are closing in on a Summer move for Lyon star Ben Arfa, the bid would be around the £10 Mil mark for the 20 year French midfielder. Arfa scored on his debut for France this weekend and is winning rave reviews in France. He could be another gem in the making and be the replacement for Gilberto should he decided to move to Juve. He certainly looks an exciting prospect.

Rosicky Doubt & Lehmann Expects Return

Real Arsenal news is very thin on the ground today.

Le Incredible Sulk will not be returning to Ashburton Grove this week as he picked up an injury in Frances’ last game. Bolton fans will be gutted about that. Rosicky looks like he may be a doubt for Arsenal and it has been revealed by Pavel Kolar (Czech Dr.) that Tomas’ consistent injuries may be as a result of a muscle imbalance. It is as frustrating for Tomas as it is for us fans, you can see he has the talent but every time he settles into the team he picks up a knock. Walcott wants his chance and is fit and playing for the Under-21s as I write this, rampaging up and down the right. The Irish certainly can’t handle him.

Lehmann expects to play!! I think he may be in for a shock, I can’t see Wenger dropping Manuel this time. I’d hate to be around to hear what Jens has to say when he’s told he’s on the bench, it will be cringe-worthy, it will also probably lead to Wenger being forced to get rid of the crazy German in January.

Still rumours fly around about Gilberto leaving, I feel the Brazilian is an integral part of the Arsenal squad. Sure Flamini has done a fantastic job filling in and Diaby is there too but Gilberto is captain of his national side and has the experience to lead Arsenal. He’s another big option for Wenger when Toure is at the African Nations. We’ll need a fit Gallas alongside one from Gilberto, Senderos, and Djourou to stand a chance of keeping pace at the top come January.

Young Traore revealed today he could have gone out on loan but prefers to keep on improving by staying at The Arsenal. I’m very glad he is still there to back up Clichy, I’m so impressed by Traore, he’s even better than Clichy at his age, Clichy’s place in the starting XI is safe for now on the back of some outstanding performances so far this season.

Goodnight Gooners