Aston Villa will get the historic honour of playing the first ever game against Arsenal in the new 'Emirates Stadium' when they travel to North London on August 19th.

Designed by HOK Sport (who are also responsible for the new Wembley), the new 60,000 all-seater Emirates Stadium will actually hold its first game a month earlier, on July 22nd for Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial.
The stadium cost an estimated £400 million - £100 mill of which came from Emirates Airline in exchange for 15 year name rights.

Its worth noting that many Gooners will probably carry on calling it 'Ashburton Grove', in the same way as they've always called Arsenal Stadium 'Highbury'.

It is expected that the increased club revenue from £100 mill. a year (currently) to an estimated £175 mill. It is anticipated that this will put the club on the same financial footing as Manchester United by the year 2010.

Dennis Bergkamp is in the last few months of his fantastic career at Arsenal and being a Dutchman, he is not afraid to speak his mind if he feels the need. Well he's certainly done that in a revealing interview with The Times


The Ice Man takes his football very seriously, a point that becomes more than apparent as he talks of his frustations with the season ... a feeling most Gooners share.


On the Thierry Henry situation
He offers a firm warning to the Arsenal board, saying:

"What would I do if I was Thierry? It's difficult for me to say because I am in a down position and he is playing every week,” Bergkamp said. “He can probably see the talent in the young players but it is just a question of how long he thinks he has left. He needs to see some signs

On the Sale of Patrick Vieira

Bergkamp's dogmatic, noting:

"When you hear he (Vieira) is going to be sold, you try to think of a team without him

and you have the confidence in the board and the coach that they have something in mind. You can't just let Patrick go without having someone coming in.
"But nothing happened and slowly you get into a new season and realise it will be a tough one.
"We didn't expect the dip to be this big. It is okay to take one step back if you are taking two forward, but it doesn't seem like that at the moment. Somehow we got into a transitional year and it wasn't necessary.

"People ask where you can find the new Vieira but we already had him. You can imagine how much more Abou Diaby would learn from playing alongside Vieira.

"In some positions the team is lightweight, it is just not strong enough. Maybe that will come in the future but at the moment it kills us".

I don't think he is saying anything that we don't all feel here but I'll bet it doesn't go down too well in the marble halls.


In Other News:

It seems Sol Campbell is back at training, so lets hope he gets himself sorted......and soon.

The Boss seems to be putting out a side that means business for the 2nd leg of the Carling Cup. Only mentalist Jens Lehmann gets a breather from the side that lost at Everton Saturday.


“We have no injuries from Saturday,” said Wenger on Monday lunchtime. “But then nobody really comes back apart from Dennis Bergkamp, who will be involved in the squad tomorrow, and Robin van Persie.


“You will certainly see the same defence [as Saturday]. We have not much choice especially with the left-footed players out plus Toure and Eboue being out for the African Nations Cup.”


“Lehmann will not play, Alumnia is in. But Campbell will play and Henry will certainly play. Pires is in the squad but I don’t know whether he'll start or not.”
more on the Arsenal website.




Fancy a punt on the result ? here is the latest betting



Arsenal to win 2/5 Bet

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