Posted in comment on Aug 30th, 2007 6 Drinks »
How strange, that on the day, almost at the same hour, that Arsenal were handed a relatively encouraging Champions League draw, David Dein should raise his head above the parapet once more. On the face of it the former assistant chairman has pulled a very fat rabbit out of an extremely large hat, from his […]
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Posted in match review on Aug 29th, 2007 Comments Off on You Can Only Beat What's In Front Of You
That is the message from tonight. Sparta arrived with a plan that was unhinged by their old boy Tomas Rosicky in just seven minutes, and showed no sign of recovering the situation they faced. The biggest problem that faced Manuel Almunia came in the shape of an underhit backpass in the second minute from Justin […]
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Posted in match preview on Aug 28th, 2007 1 Drink »
It is a strange evening to be looking ahead twenty-four hours to a Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague. I cannot pretend that the result isn’t extremely important to me, and probably most of you as well. Some semblance of perspective is imposed by the news of the death of Antonio Puerta following the Sevilla […]
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Posted in match review on Aug 26th, 2007 6 Drinks »
Don’t you just hate people when they say ‘I told you so’? When Johan Djourou was allowed to join Birmingham on loan there was a general sense of surprise around the blogs that Arsenal were effectively down to three central defenders. Within days William Gallas fell foul of his tender groin, and yesterday Philippe Senderos […]
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Posted in match preview on Aug 24th, 2007 2 Drinks »
Ahead of the visit of Manchester City most of the column inches are devoted to the absence of Jens Lehmann due to ‘injury’. Time may give us a clue just how genuine the knock is, and if the German is not back in a couple of weeks there may be some reason to assume that […]
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Posted in tongue in cheek on Aug 21st, 2007 4 Drinks »
An international week brings an opportunity to start planning ahead. Christmas was always going to be a tricky operation this year given the fixture computers warped sense of humour. Tottenham at the Grove on the Saturday before Christmas, I ask you! I know it is our turn to travel north and visit the grandholics. Careful […]
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Posted in match review on Aug 19th, 2007 5 Drinks »
…Jens clumsy hands in Blackburn, Lancashire! Sandwiched between a victory for Citeh in the Manchester derby, and a dropping of points by both Liverpool and Chelsea in a comedy at Anfield came the first suggestion that Arsenal will need to consider a change in a key area. For the second consecutive away match Arsenal found […]
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Posted in match review on Aug 16th, 2007 3 Drinks »
Apologies to those of you who arrived earlier looking for a comment on a thoroughly impressive 2-0 triumph at Sparta Prague. I have to confess, as well most of you know, it was a difficult game to follow last night, and I have just checked out the highlights. By now you will have gleaned the […]
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Posted in match preview on Aug 14th, 2007 2 Drinks »
From the look of the squad announced for the first leg of the Champions League qualifier in Prague it looks very much as though Arsenal will be unchanged from Sunday and the last gasp triumph over Fulham. The absentees on Sunday have not made the trip which means no Gilberto, Eduardo, Adebayor, Denilson, or Diaby. […]
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Posted in match review on Aug 13th, 2007 3 Drinks »
A midday kick-off on a Sunday is not ideal. Boarding the train at some ungodly hour yesterday morning were roughly equal numbers of Arsenal and Chelsea fans. The buffet car banter was predictable. “How will you boys do without Henry?” “Same as United without Van Nisteldonkey last season!” On the trip to the first game […]
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