Archives for: April 2008
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
You can imagine Wenger in the Arsenal boot room , or in his living room more like it, with the video of last Saturdays game between Manchester United and Middlesbrough just finishing.
This will have confirmed to him a few weaknesses in… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It is slightly unfortunate that Arsenal are now entering the most important series of games in their calendar without their main striker in Robin Van Persie.
It is a period where this young team will have to show its credentials agains… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It has been said many times before. Its not your first team players that win you trophies but your squad. And today, against Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal has to begin relying even more on the quality of the squad players.
This process had… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Does a football coach select his starting eleven according to whos on form?
Or according to the system that is the most appropriate for the particular game coming up?
Its usually a combination of both of course.
And if Robin Van Pe… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
"Samson is something of a Herculean figure, using massive strength to combat his enemies and to perform heroic feats unachievable by ordinary men.
Like wrestling a lion, slaying an entire army with nothing more than a donkeys jawbone an… more »
01st April 2008
Hi Fellow Gooners! Wrighty7 here
Are you like me and fed up of England raising your hopes only to be let down time and time again?
Well from now on, Im no longer English and I would like to set up a new Nationality ...."Goonerish"!
As you know, Ar… more »
01st April 2008
By Wrighty7
A few days ago when England lost to Russia I was fed up of the national team raising our hopes only to be let down time and time again.
I decided that I will no longer be English and set up a new Nationality ...."Goonerish"!
And judging b… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It was only a matter of time I suppose. Arsene Wenger is a world renowned figure, a perfectionist who excels at his chosen profession producing an output that is considered top top quality.
In the business world these are the attribute… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsene Wenger has hinted that Walcott may get a start tonight against Slavia Prague. Although there is no doubt that Theo has been playing well recently I doubt whether Wenger will go for this selection.
Lets start at the beginning.
E… more »
01st April 2008
By The Coach (who is really a crypto West Ham fan!)
I have never been an admirer of Sven Ericsson. But I have to admit he learned his lesson well after managing England for so many years.
It is almost impossible to make a winning team that is based pr… more »
01st April 2008
<!-- Author Start -->By 1970s Gooner<!-- Author End -->
<!-- Article Start -->Greek sports newspapers have been reporting, for some time now, increased interest from Arsenal in one of the hottest young Greek players to have emerged in… more »
01st April 2008
By The Coach and 1970s Gooner
Why is it that England has not excelled in the international arena since the 1966 World Cup which was held on home soil?
After this famous victory, the fortunes of England have followed mostly a downward direction.
For… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Bakary Sagna has been speaking from the base of the France National team at Clairefontaine about Arsenals fantastic start to this seasons campaign.
He feels that this is a result that has been partly prompted by all the critics and dou… more »
01st April 2008
By Eros, Arsenal Analysis resident season ticket holder at the Emirates (North Upper Stand Row Q)
Dear I Spy and Manchester United fans,
Thanks for your kind words about the site, I tried to be as objective as possible when writing the article! I am gl… more »
01st April 2008
<!-- Article Start -->The story so far: A Man Utd site, Absolutely United published its thoughts on which Arsenal players would make it in the current Man Utd team. Not surprisingly very few Arsenal players were selected.
Not to be outdone "Arse… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
After the pass the ball round that the kids of Arsenal used to play virtually all of last season now we have a new game being played on the lush green of the Emirates: anything you can do I can do better
Everyone predicted that, in t… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
There are good news for Arsenal coming out of the France camp prior to their next Wednesdays crucial game against Lithuania at Beaujoire.
Domenech is set to make some changes from the team that started in their 6-0 thrashing of the Far… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Bakary Sagna looks set to start for France tomorrow against the Faroe Islands in Thorshavn.
This follows some excellent performances for Arsenal after his recent move from Auxerre in the summer.
Another new Arsenal signing Lassana Di… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
He never stops this guy. He is a goal machine. He has now scored nine goals for Croatia in this qualifying campaign.
Croatia are now top of their group with 26 points from 10 matches and they will qualify on Wednesday if second-placed… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Fabregas agent is reported to have said that "If we received an offer from Barcelona, clearly we would listen to it. It is the club which taught Cesc everything and it would be a compliment if that happened."
Agents are no fools and th… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Awesome, fantastic, at a canter, untouchable. These are some of the eulogies that can be appropriately used to describe the performance against Derby at the Emirates.
The boys won without even breaking sweat. They were professional in… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It was not a great performance. The players looked a little jaded and could not get their flowing football going.
Maybe tiredness is beginning to set in with practically the same players playing in almost every game so far. There were… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
There are only five players in the current Arsenal squad that can play in the two forward positions against Steaua in Romania. Four of them are carrying injuries which make their participation doubtful.
They are Robin Van Persie (ankle)… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenals fantastic form this season has instilled a wave of optimism which has been missing for a long time.
After Henrys departure no one was giving the young guns a chance of achieving anything big this season.
After the first posi… more »
01st April 2008
By Aries, Arsenal Analysis odds analyzer
My betting suggestions are based on the overall prediction for the outcome of the game.
I find myself agreeing with the analysis presented by 1970s Gooner in his preview : Hleb is passed fit but who will replac… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
What stood out clearly during the victory at bogey team West Ham, as everyone of course acknowledged, was Arsenals new found resilience and tenacity to grind out a victory at an away ground where the opponents refused to let the young g… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
I made the time to watch Derbys last game against Newcastle at home which they won 1-0 with a wonderful long range effort from ex Wolves striker Kenny Miller. I did not see what I expected to see.
And that was Derby struggling to keep… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
This wasnt a total performance as many pundits or even Robin Van Persie will have us believe. And I am not saying this just to be a killjoy or to sound different from all the other eulogizing journalists or blogs dedicated to Arsenal.
Y… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenal Holdings Plc has announced bumper figures for the year ended May 2006.
The results include the hugely positive effect of the extra revenues arising from the move to the Emirates.
Arsenal now take in £3.1m per match day as opp… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
According to reports Hleb has been passed fit for the third away game of the season against West Ham United. The squad to make the short trip to Upton Park does not include the other wide midfield player, Rosicky, who has been impressive… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
So the 6-1 win that Spurs managed against the minnows of Cyprus, Anorthosis Famagusta, in the first round first leg tie at White Hart Lane last Thursday was not all down to good play.
Or even the weaknesses inherent in a team that has… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
One of the most satisfying aspects of last nights performance is that the style of football played throughout all the Arsenal teams from the youth level to the first team is the same.
It is a style of football that has been labeled bea… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It will be carling Cup team that Wenger will put out in the sense that it will consist mostly of fringe players whose chances of getting a game in the first team are for the moment limited.
But so bold has Wengers selection and loan po… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
While chatting over dinner the question was put to Arsene Wenger by some of the Arsenal directors:
What would you do if we gave you £100m to spend on new players? His answer was of course very revealing: I would give it back to you… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsene Wenger has a decision to make for the Champions League Group H encounter against Sevilla. Does he continue with Gilberto in central defence or does he opt for the returning Senderos.
This is a much more difficult decision than it… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Croatia beat Estonia 2-0 at home on Saturday, courtesy of two excellent goals from Eduardo da Silva. Croatia are now top in Group E with Russia and England lying second and third respectively.
Eduardo showed what he is capable of doing… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The news coming out of the French camp is that Gallas did not participate in the training session yesterday but had very light training with some floor exercises.
He is out of the game against Italy at the San Siro in Milan tonight.… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The news coming out of the French camp just before the game against Scotland is that Gallas is getting close to being fit again. However France coach Raymod Domenech has said that he will have the final word on whether he takes part in t… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
There have been a lot of press columns written recently about David Deins collusion with Russian investors and his stated desire to reinstate his influence within Arsenal Football Club.
His major argument is that the face of English foo… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Eduardo Da Silva bagged another goal for his adopted country, Croatia, to make it nine goals in this qualifying campaign.
Croatia put six past the hapless Andorrans in front of a crowd of just 200 spectators and are now top of Englands… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Everybody, including Wenger, is comparing Fabregas with Scholes.
The frame, intelligence in the game, passing ability and knowing when to go into the box. He is only 20 and people forget that." Said Wenger in his Portsmouth post match… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Frederic Kanouté speaking on the eve of Sevillas first Champions League game at the Emirates has pinpointed what he thinks is Arsenals major weakness and how Sevilla can beat them.
The Sevilla newspaper ABC.es quotes him as follows:… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Juande Ramos, the Sevilla coach coveted by North London rivals Spurs to take over from Martin Jol, does not intend to change the teams playing style for the game at the Emirates against Arsenal on Wednesday.
We have a style and a way o… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
In my preview of the game I was worried for Arsenal on two counts. The first was Gilbertos jet lag and related fatigue and the second was the persistent choice by Wenger to select Flamini ahead of Diaby.
Gilberto did indeed nearly prove… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
First it was Jol who a few days ago let the world of North London know that Aaron Lennon was ready to return to first team action.
Then Wenger had to reply with his dilemma of whether to start with Diarra in the right back position.… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
You are only as good as your weakest link. And for Arsenals last game we did unfortunately spot the weakest link in our preview. Sendeross red card nearly jeopardised a fine performance by this young, but now determined to prove everyone… more »
01st April 2008
By Eros, Arsenal Analysis resident season ticket holder at the Emirates (North Upper Stand Row Q)
I know its wrong as its too early but I am getting very excited by the prospect of what this team can achieve THIS year. Some passages of play against Port… more »
01st April 2008
By Eros and 1970s Gooner
It seems that Wengers decision to let Djourou go out on loan to Birmingham may come back to haunt him.
His thinking was of course admirable. The lad needed games and Premiership experience and at the time it did not look like… more »
01st April 2008
By The Coach and 1970s Gooner
Why is it that England has not excelled in the international arena since the 1966 World Cup which was held on home soil?
After this famous victory, the fortunes of England have followed mostly a downward direction.
For… more »
01st April 2008
By The Coach and 1970s Gooner
Why is it that England has not excelled in the international arena since the 1966 World Cup which was held on home soil?
After this famous victory, the fortunes of England have followed mostly a downward direction.
For… more »
01st April 2008
This is a video which shows that the Arsenal players are not only enjoying themselves on the pitch.
Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Emmanuel Eboue seem to really get it together in the Emirates car park in front of a few bewildered lucky fans and a ve… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenal enter this contest on a high. They have seen off Sparta Prague with a thumping 3-0 win to add to the 2-0 away victory.
They have also won both their home Premiership games this season albeit with a one goal margin on each occas… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
According to the Director of Honduras club Olimpia, Osman Madrid, the transfer of Wilson Roberto Palacios to Arsenal will be concluded tomorrow.
Speaking to the sports programme Rockn Pop as reported by the Honduran Newspaper Tiempo ,… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Everybody would of course blame poor Jens Lehmann for dropping a clanger and gifting Blackburn a very fortuitous equalizer. And it certainly looked that, despite Blackburns resurgence in the second half, Arsenal were going to hold out f… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
For regular visitors to this site my views have been made clear. Robin Van Persie is not really a centre forward in the sense that he is not a strong physical front target man.
He is better deployed behind or next to a strong centre fo… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenal have signed Lassana Diarra from Chelsea for about £2 million. Diarra 22, was in the final year of his contract.
He was brought in from French club Le Havre in 2005 as a natural replacement for Makelele.
But Chelsea still have… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Dein has not done what a lot feared. He has not sold his 14.7% shareholding in Arsenal to his friend Stan Kroenke! He has however found a new willing buyer.
He is Alisher Usmanov who forked 75m to aquire Deins stake. This places a valu… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It was an easier contest for Arsenal than originally anticipated.
Part of the reason was that Arsenal approached this game professionally and gave it the respect it deserved. There was commitment from all the players and a desire to ex… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsene Wenger has said that two legged ties are usually won in the first leg. This is of course a very true statement as rarely a team that accomplished an advantage from the first leg finds itself not going through.
Unless of course it… more »
01st April 2008
By Aries, Arsenal Analysis odds analyser
The suggestions contained in this posting should be read in conjunction with the preview of this game published on this site under the heading:
Arsenal Vs Sparta Prague: Will Arsenal shoot themselves in the foo… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Ever since we broke the story of how close Wilson Palacios is to getting a transfer to Arsenal we have received messages and comments from Honduras itself.
They are about the player and how the fans of Olimpia, his club in Honduras, vi… more »
01st April 2008
By Eros, Arsenal Analysis resident season ticket holder at the Emirates
Mathieu Flamini has seen his luck change almost overnight. He was on the brink of quitting Arsenal during the summer due to his frustration of not getting enough games and slipping… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
This away fixture at Blackburn is the equivalent of a real fitness test for this young but maturing Arsenal side.
All the football pundits are expecting Arsenal to return to their old ways. Their first away fixture in the North with ra… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Francesc FÃ bregas Soler is a wonderful midfielder playing football the way it should be played. He has vision, creativity and accurate passing which suits Arsenals intricate passing game.
But an addition to Fabregass armoury of talent… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The news coming out of Prague is that Tomas Repkas knee is a lot better. The swelling seems to have eased and this allowed him to be included in the squad that travels to London.
The Czechs are taking this game very seriously as Pavel… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenal didnt start well and allowed Manchester City to settle in the game in the early stages. The very late substitution during the warm up of Senderos with Gilberto was probably part of the reason.
Gilberto looked slow and kept makin… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
It looks that Wilson Palacios travels will have no end.
Steve Bruce the Birmingham manager has revealed that Palacios has been with them for the last three days having a trial.
This was after Bruce was contacted by Arsene Wenger and… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
You are only as strong as your weakest link. This is certainly very true in the highly pressured and ultra competitive Premier League where your every weakness is immediately exploited.
Arsenal will enter this encounter with some forced… more »
01st April 2008
By Aries (Arsenal Analysis odds analyser) and 1970s Gooner
Trying to arrive at a reasonable prediction for this game is a tough task. This is because there are still unknowns about both teams.
Arsenals line up is still to be decided with a doubt about… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
There were three very positive aspects to come out of this tough encounter in Prague (apart from the win).
The first was the resilience and character to tough it out against very physical opponents. The second was the midfielders findin… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenal have won all four of their matches against Sparta, each of which has come in the Champions League group stage.
Two seasons ago, a half-fit Henry marked his return from a six-week absence through injury to supply Arsenals goals… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
After reporting that neither Wilson Palacios s parents or his club, Olimpia, could confirm his whereabouts, the Honduran Newspaper Tiempo , has now been informed by Palacioss father that he is alright and living in London Colney!
His… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Last season, Sparta became the first club to record a league and cup double in the Czech Republic since the country split from Slovakia in 1993.
For the first two games of the current season Sparta have one win against Slovan Liberec FC… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Well who would have believed it? After spending 40m over the summer and reaching the dizzy heights of third biggest spenders in the league, after Manchester United and Liverpool, Spurs have plunged to such low depths where it matters. On… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The bookies, as to be expected, have installed Man Utd as favourites to win the title again followed closely by Chelsea.
Liverpool are priced at half of Arsenals odds and the rest, especially Spurs, are really nowhere. These are prices… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
According to The News of the World Arsenal are giving a trial to Honduran international Wilson Palacios.
However according to Honduran Newspaper Tiempo no one from the players club, Olimpia, or his family, when contacted, could confir… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
With only days remaining for the opening game of the new season and no more friendlies scheduled I would expect that Wenger will field what his starting eleven will be for the Fulham game tonight (against Ajax in the Amsterdam Tournament… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The bookies, as to be expected, have installed Man Utd as favourites to win the title again followed closely by Chelsea. Liverpool are priced at half of Arsenals odds and the rest, especially Spurs, are really nowhere. These are prices q… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
One aspect that seems to characterize this new Arsenal side is the real strength in depth that exists in the squad. And by real I mean that this squad has quality replacements in all positions. This has been very evident during the very… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
There were two tactical weaknesses apparent during Arsenals first game of the season against Fulham at the Emirates. The first concerned Hlebs positioning during the game and the other the obvious lack of a strong centre forward.
In my… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenals line up for the first game of the season against Fulham is not yet that clear. Nor is Fulhams.
Arsenal are giving a late fitness test to Eduardo who therefore looks likely to start if he passes it and partner Van Persie up fro… more »
01st April 2008
By Arsenal Analysis season ticket holder at the Emirates, South Stand: Row 5
The two pre-season tournaments that Arsenal participated in proved the perfect vehicle for fostering team spirit and bonding between the players. And this involved playing time… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
About ten days ago I began a four part series of analysing each of the top fours strengths and weaknesses and giving my prediction as to where they might end up by the end of next season.
These posts were:
Part I: Arsenal against the… more »
01st April 2008
<!-- Author Start -->By 1970s Gooner<!-- Author End -->
<!-- Article Start -->You knew what you were going to get from Fulham when Chris Coleman was in charge. Attacking football home and away, having a go at you with the midfielders a… more »
01st April 2008
Arsenals team in their first game for the Emirates Cup against PSG includes Bendtner being paired up front with Robin Van Persie. It seems that Wenger is trying out different combinations of pairings for the forward positions to test the compatibility an… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Its usually the other way round. Arsenal dominate, fail to score and at the end fall to the sucker punch. This was the story of Arsenal last season and it repeated itself in the friendly against Salzburg in Austria a few days ago. This… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The two most obvious aspects to come out of the game against Lazio in the Amsterdam Tournament are the frailties in defence and the ease in scoring that has returned to this young Arsenal team.
It is obvious and was to be expected of co… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenals official Web site has included Gilles Sunu in the list of Arsenal reserve and youth players stating that he joined Arsenal on the 31st of July 2007.
Sunu, who has been hailed as Europes best prospect, has according to the Dail… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Arsenes dealings in the transfer market so far are creating very large surpluses of cash that are burning a big hole in his pockets. They may soon find their way, I hope, on new signings. First it was Henrys sale to Barcelona then Ljumbe… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Theres no smoke without fire. First the Daily Mail and now Sky Sports are insisting that Lassana Diarra of Chelsea is close to agreeing a move to Arsenal. Sky Sports states that the two clubs are understood to be in talks over a deal.
I… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
The bookies, as to be expected, have installed Man Utd as favourites to win the title again followed closely by Chelsea. Liverpool are priced at half of Arsenals odds and the rest, especially Spurs, are really nowhere. These are prices q… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner on the friendly game at Salzburg
It was like watching one of the many games that Arsenal played last season. Domination throughout the pitch, playing the beautiful fame but lacking penetrative threat up front with no killer instinct when… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Never the mind the defeat. It was only a friendly and Arsenal played some beautiful football albeit without penetration again. But more on the game in a later posting. What has inspired me is Diabys performance. He is the new Vieira and… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
Ljumberg and Henry are the latest in a line of Arsenal stars to depart from that incredible team that was to be appropriately named the Invincibles .
But will they fade to grey as has Vieira or a lot of other ex Arsenal stars who dare… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
I did insist that Arsenal needed to recruit an out and out striker; and that Da Silva wasnt enough. He is a good goalscorer but he cannot lead the line that effectively from the front due to his size.
In order to utilise the three fant… more »
01st April 2008
By 1970s Gooner
My take of the Wenger interview on Sky is that he is more likely to stay at Arsenal football Club beyond his current contract rather than go!
All the newspapers and other electronic media have followed Skys spin on what the Arsenal mana… more »
01st April 2008
This is what I could find of Bakari Sagna in action.
He shows some really nice skills on the ball for a right back but as you will also see he can tackle too. A nice combination.
You only have to concentrate for the first 25 seconds though as the vi… more »
01st April 2008
Excellent news coming out of Arsenal. And it is not only from the footballing side. Wenger, remember, has an economics degree and he is not one to ignore the financial side of the football business.
Sagna apparently has undergone a medical and is set t… more »
01st April 2008
Some good news at last.
The Independent reports that Bakari Sagna was due last night in London to talk terms after Arsenal agreed terms with Auxerre.
The fee is believed to be in the region of £7.5m. Apparently Sagna will sign a five-year contract an… more »
01st April 2008
Dear William,
We all read your comments on your personal web site (with the help of translators). And to be truthful there is a lot of merit in what you are saying.
We are all concerned about the future of Arsenal Football Club and especially that of… more »
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