Posted in match review on Jul 30th, 2008 75 Drinks »
The big guns came back. Arsenal fielded six players returning from competitive summer fixtures, whilst Stuttgart started with six who had seen recent action in the Intertoto Cup. Not surprisingly the pairing of Gallas and Djourou looked like strangers. Give them another game or two, because we don’t have that many options at centre-half. The […]
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Posted in match preview on Jul 29th, 2008 19 Drinks »
Well ok, it may not be ‘blood and thunder’ competitive given we are facing three games in five days and Stuttgart are preparing for a UEFA Cup qualifier, having edged past the challenge of Russian club, FK Saturn Ramenskoje, in extra time of their Intertoto Cup clash on Sunday. This will, however, be a more […]
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Posted in match review on Jul 29th, 2008 169 Drinks »
The contest with a Burgenland XI will remain only in the statisticians’ memories. You may care to remember this in a decade or two when you are asked ‘against whom did Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere score their first Arsenal goals?’ For the record Nicklas Bendtner was on target four times, Carlos Vela three, Jack […]
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Posted in comment on Jul 28th, 2008 14 Drinks »
A quick Monday morning question is running around my thumping head. Cesc is widely quoted thus this morning. “I didn’t tell Ramon Calderon no, I told him that now wasn’t the time to go to Madrid. That you are wanted by Madrid, one of the biggest teams in history, is important.” Let me understand what […]
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Posted in history on Jul 24th, 2008 51 Drinks »
Anybody logging onto just about any Arsenal site in recent weeks cannot fail to have noticed the dramatic about-turn in most Gooners perception of Emmanuel Adebayor. That bad feeling manifested itself in the singing of the ‘Greedybayor’ song at Barnet last weekend. That was a first in my memory. I cannot remember a current Arsenal […]
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Posted in match review on Jul 23rd, 2008 10 Drinks »
“Come on, we’re having drinks and nibbles in the garden.” “But Arsenal are on the box?” “I said….” So it came to pass that I didn’t get to watch the hastily-taped contest in Hungary against the team with the unpronounceable name until very late last night. In fact today had started by the time the […]
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Posted in match review on Jul 19th, 2008 14 Drinks »
Thank you, football is back. At Barnet we witnessed just why Aaron Ramsey cost five million pounds. The summer capture from Cardiff was the shining light in an otherwise extremely disappointing first-half performance. His range of passing and impressive workrate stood out as many around him were clearly in need of this first outing. Credit […]
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Posted in comment on Jul 16th, 2008 15 Drinks »
A curt announcement on the official Arsenal site confirms the departure of Alex Hleb to Barcelona. I cannot recall such a transparent parting shot to a departing player as that attributed to Arsene Wenger. “We are comfortable with our decision to let him go and we are all looking forward to continuing our preparations for […]
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Posted in comment on Jul 11th, 2008 19 Drinks »
The worst kept secret of the summer finally came to fruition this morning with the official announcement of the signing of Samir Nasri being revealed. If some had been excessive in their impatience as his arrival was delayed, then so we should guard against proclaiming the ‘second coming of the Messiah’ now he has been […]
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Posted in tongue in cheek on Jul 8th, 2008 30 Drinks »
Monday afternoon, and I get the call I’ve been waiting for. “Nasri will show tonight”. I feel the tingle of anticipation. I want to be among the first to see his initial appearance. It’s easy to get excited. There is a touch of Arab in Nasri that adds to some romantic notion of his pending […]
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