The Goon Blog

Morning all. How do you interpret this from Hull chairman Paul Duffen?

“if there was an accommodation between the football clubs, that would be an elegant way of moving forward”

Right lets just pretend Cesc did spit at Horton.

What could be an ‘accommodation’ between the two clubs? Maybe it could be an apology from Cesc….but that would draw more media attention and that would hardly be an ‘elegant way of moving forward’, would it?

On first, second and third looks the meaning behind that sentence is: “give us a few hundred thousand and this issue will just, simply…disappear. The report to the FA this morning will just get…lost in the mail”.

Now, back to reality. Cesc Fabregas deserves the players, clubs and fans unequivocal support, there is no evidence against him and his actions since the claim have been those of a decent, respectful young man. He has been repeatedly bombarded with accusations from Horton, Brown, Hull City FC and the cretinous media, he has not once hit out at anyone, all he has done is reaffirm his innocence despite numerous attempts to dirty his character.

First Brown performed a character assassination of our club captain and the club in front of national television with millions of viewers.

Secondly they dug up the Ballack video: Bayern Munich and Fabregas have both said nothing happened.

This whole thing reeks of trying to hurt Arsenal Football Club for sending Hull City crashing out of the FA Cup in the quarter finals, Hull are not the most financially secure club in the league, add that to the threat of relegation, the recession and missing out on a big pay day at Wembley you can see why they are trying to blag a bit of money out of us.

Its not the actions of Cesc Fabregas the FA should be investigating; its the actions of the chairman, manager and assistant manager of Hull City Football Club.

Oh and one last thing: If they wanted the whole thing over and done with as they so claim, why ask for an extension to the deadline for the ‘report’ they are filing? Hmmmm.

Moving on: it seems Mark Randall is on his way out of Arsenal. From watching him personally and talking to Sanderson from Youngguns.wordpress.com last week it looks like he is not going to make it at Arsenal. He has been compared to David Bentley in his attitude and whilst i do not by any means want to criticise a 19 year old’s personality whom i have never met, that is not the example to follow. His performances for the reserves have been appalling of late and with a poor disciplinary record i think he will be off on loan for the rest of the season and then sold in the summer. Its never nice to see a player fall short but i do hope he goes on to have a good career if he doesn’t quite make the grade.

Andriy Shevchenko talks about Andrei Arshavin’s talent. He knows what he is talking about, shame he moved to chelsea.

This is the best article i have read in a long time, a touching and very real recollection of the most important and fateful season in English football history. Worth a read – trust me.

Onto injuries, the word around is that Niklas Bendtner had a knee problem before the game on Saturday for Denmark, if that is true it is sure to piss off Arsene because its out of order and it will be a setback to a player who was really starting to make an impact. More on that tomorrow when there will be more information on the extent of his problem.

They have broken him and will now send him home:

“There is a high probability that we must send him home to England,”

Thanks Denmark, you really know how to build a good club/country relationship don’t you? Muppets.

Fabregas just can’t seem to get out the limelight at the moment, there is a storm brewing between Arsenal and Real Madrid by the look of things here. Arsene threatened to sue Real Madrid for illegally talking to Fabregas about a move without Arsenal’s permission in the summer of 2007. It is claimed Fabregas talked about it to a Spanish newspaper but i am not sure on the reliability and timing of these comments and i will have a look round to check they are legitimate and recent. I do not want to have a full scale bitch at a club when its an event from nearly three years ago.

But if i find this is true holy mother of God i will have a full scale rant/bitch/verbal explosion right here on this blog.

Oh don’t i just hate the Spanish press and Spanish football clubs…

Just to put everything into perspective on Monday morning, 19 people have died at the Ivory Coast match due to a crush and a stampede due to a collapsed wall. Terrible, brings back images of Hillsborough.

Right, try to enjoy your Monday. Ive got a whole heap of stuff to do including a 5-a-side game that will almost certainly result in one hell of a beating for my team. By god i can’t wait!

Oooops is that my hamstring gone? Shame that…

’til tomorrow

I’m not really a fan of  Thursday’s to be honest, i think its a day designed to taunt and tease you about Friday, you are so near to it yet you have another painful morning to wake up on. It really is not very nice at all.

Straight to the rather startling news that Amaury Bischoff rejected the chance to play against Hull City on Tuesday night in favour of training with the Portugal national team. To tell you the truth it has shocked me a bit as i was expecting him to be greatful to Wenger for giving him a chance to actually have a football career. He said:

“Arsene Wenger wanted to play me on Tuesday night against Hull City. But I absolutely wanted to train with the national team. It is important to me.”

Arsene wanted him to play so he should have played, i think it is the height of disrespect after we waited and waited for him to be fit to give him a chance to play football again at a high level. We give him a chance to play in the world’s oldest cup competition and he says no!

Anyone fancy a bet on the first player to leave this summer?

On his Arsenal future he said:

“I will reach the end of my contract with Arsenal, which remains my priority. However, I am free to do what I want. I know FC Porto and Sporting are following me. I have a preference for Sporting. It is a very prestigious club that plays a beautiful Football.”

Oh how lovely! I thought this guy could have a chance of a future at Arsenal – a far far better side than Porto or Sporting Lisbon. He has just thrown it away i think, sorry mate but after all the effort the medical staff have put in to get you fit you re-pay the club like this? It really is poor form.

Sadly the rumours circulating around after the game on Tuesday night overshadowed one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from an Arsenal youngsters and it was the performance of one Kieran Gibbs. He was fantastic from start to finish, solid in defence and very dangerous coming forward whilst also having a very good cross on him, he looks a goal threat coming forward and maybe its worth giving Gael Clichy a few games on the bench so we can see more of this guy; he looks a real talent.

Some of the youngsters may just start to appear out from under the cover of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey – namely Kieran Gibbs and Jay-Emmanuel Thomas who looks one hell of a talent. He is the top goalscorer for the reserves and scored another crucial goal last night to get us a win away at a team that hadn’t lost this season in Manchester City. Where has all the criticism gone of us not having and bringing through enough English players?

Onto our speedster Theo Walcott and he has admitted that the second goal was offside but thinks you need that kind of luck to win a competition such as the FA Cup:

“In a way, the winning goal was the sort of luck you need to win the FA Cup, The cameras showed it was offside and it’s the referee’s decision in the end. We can’t do anything about that but we deserved it. I suppose that’s the FA Cup for you. As long as you get through it doesn’t matter how you play. We played very well at stages, we got the win and we are going to Wembley which is brilliant for all the lads and the fans.”

The next three months are massive in the development of this team and you have to wonder that if in three months time Arsenal are trophyless how many of the youngsters will still be here. Winning something of importance could really be the making of this team, and not winning something could be the breaking of it. Thats my take on it.

Now, sadly, we have to move onto the inevitable. There have been a few developments today, the first one being Hull’s assistant manager making an official complaint (which really makes you wonder what happened). The second development was a shoddy interview by Phil Brown on radio 5Live this morning that GilbertoSilver from Gunnerblog was on.

Its HERE and worth a listen, he really really squirms.

Note: He denies comments he said on the Setanta interview (which is linked on the last blog). He denies shaking Wenger’s hand at the 2-1 loss at the Emirates in September and the return fixture at the KC stadium, though these pictures prove him wrong.

Handshake at Emirates. and handshake at KC stadium.

My thoughts on it have not changed since yesterdays blogs and it was probably the most angry blog i have written in the eight months i have been writing. I would like to apologise for my language as it was not acceptable but im sure you can see my take on it, and him as a manager and person.

Right i will leave you with that today. ’til tomorro’

Morning all: been an eventful evening to say the least.

First the game; it was tough fought but we were deserving of our victory in the end, even Hull’s constant time-wasting did not mean time ran out to soon for us to grab the winner. A bit of Karma bit Hull in the arse last night, they constantly wasted time, every time their keeper had the ball he deliberately wasted as much time as he possibly could. This came back and royally fucked them over when the ball took the slightest touch off Djourou and then the keeper for Gallas to head home the winner after Robin Van Persie’s equaliser.

See the goals here.

After the game a very, very bitter Phil Brown said this to the Setanta cameras:

“For their club captain – Cesc Fabregas – to spit at my assistant-manager at the end of the game just shows you what this club is about.”

You what? Well you can fuck right off Mr Brown, enjoy the championship next season because all you have done this season is prove what an utter nob you look with that ridiculous fucking headset round your noggin. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

If Cesc did it why hasn’t their assistant manager come in front of the cameras and accused Fabregas?

It is worth noting that immediately after the incident Cesc came out and said it was not true:

“I categorically deny that I spat at anybody after the match. I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing? I can understand the frustration of losing a game to a dubious goal, that has happened to me many times in my career as well. But this is not the fault of me or any of the Arsenal play”

Right, i believe him. He did not do it and its Phil Brown and his cronies looking to drag our name through the mud.

They can fuck off. I am going to listen to a Phil Brown interview on 5live at half past 10 and see if he retracts his comments.

The one thing that has really really really really pissed me off is the fact that he has criticised our fans of getting on the back’s of their players. Isnt that part of being a football fan?

What is wrong with giving the opposition some stick?

Fuck Hull. Fuck Phil Brown and his stupid headset. Fuck Nick Barmby. Fuck his stupid assistant manager and fuck their claims.

They are unfounded and total and utter bollocks.

We then have this tit writing something on a game he obviously didn’t watch! Fuck him too.

Then, some stupid fucking journo says that Nick Barmby can give Arsenal fans a lesson in loyalty! Who the fuck are Hull City? Who the fuck is Oliver Brown – the author?

Jesus christ the world is mad. Why does everyone insist on bad mouthing our football club? After all, we did go through a season unbeaten and the jealousy must still be rife.

This stinks of unsettling us in the FA cup too. Fuck off Rafael – who the fuck are you anyway?

What gives these people the right to judge our football club? A club that has brought some of the world’s best players to these shores and helped the Premier League become one of the best in the world. It makes me sick and angry because this club does not deserve it, Wenger gets dissed every time he stands up for something but when Fergie does it its ‘funny’.

It is despicable.

Now beware of the media witch-hunt that will surround Fabregas and Arsenal over the coming weeks; you just wait.

One last word in this very angry post goes to the referee last night – it was the poorest game of so called officiating i have ever seen.

Lets just say if he had his dick out as many times as his notebook he would have every STI going.

Right, i will leave it there before i get sued or something. ‘Til tomorrow.

These games are coming along rather fast and this is another game i am confident of winning, but as we know Hull can pull off suprises.

Just remember back to that very, very dull September evening.

It is the FA cup so Almunia will be on the bench, (he is injured anyway after that goal molester nearly snapped his ankle), Gibbs is set to start with Ramsey not being involved due to tiredness. At his age they really do have to watch out for that, it does sound a bit of a ’soft’ excuse but from personal experience pushing yourself too far in your younger years can hold you back for the rest of your life.

Eduardo misses out again due to that groin injury which is a shame.

The biggest doubt is over Arshavin who had to have eight stitches into his foot at half time against Blackburn, apparently he is ‘desperate’ to play:

“Arshavin had eight stitches in his foot but he is still in the squad we will make a decision tomorrow. He is desperate to be involved. He just wants to play. He couldn’t practice today but we’ll assess him tomorrow morning.”

I have a feeling he will start, he comes across as a player that would play with one leg if he had too. Injuries like that tend to be alright after 24/48 hours and by tomorrow night the pain should have subsided almost entirely, they can always give him an injection to make it a little less painful on the off chance it could still hurt.

One player that will probably shine will be 20 year old Theo Walcott and Wenger has been singing his praises from the rooftops. There have been times when his development has really had question marks over it but at the tail end of last season he really started to shine and that England hat-trick has transformed him into a hell of a player. It really is amazing what a little confidence can do and this Arsenal side are buzzing with it at the moment. Back to Theo, and Wenger said:

“Compared to one year ago there is no comparison,That is what people have problems to accept because at that age every three months you improve. You can never predict how much he will improve but there is still a lot more to come from Theo. He had a good start [against Blackburn] and he became stronger and stronger,” continued Wenger. “He gives us something which is important as well when we play at home when he goes behind the defenders. He creates room and has a direct game. We need that. I don’t know [how big a player he will be in the rest of the season] but it’s important to have him back because he gives you something that can make a difference in any game.”

His pace gives defenders nightmares and in a one on one situation there are two outcomes, Theo goes flying past the defender or the defender clatters Theo and takes him down. He is a player that defenders do not like to see on the teamsheet.

One rather amusing comment by Wenger was on Diouf’s attempted assault on Almunia with Wenger admitting if it had been Jens in goal he would have headbutted Diouf:

“I spoke to him about it at half time of course. I had some experience with Jens Lehmann before – I think he would’ve headbutted him [if he was on the end of that sort of tackle].

That would be one thing i would have paid to see, this moment still cracks me up!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNHOBdHyRfM]

Good ‘ol Jens, a legend!

Just before i leave you there is some sad news about Thomas Rosicky who has suffered another two week setback. He is due to be back after two weeks after the two weeks after the two weeks. Another two weeks after that he will return to training. Seriously, i hope he does recover because he is a fantastic player and it would be a real shame for everyone for his career to end on such a sour year.

Good luck Thomas, you can return.

Right, heres to a good win tonight and our boys visiting the overpriced show ground in the West for the first time!

Up the Gunners!

’til tomorrow.

Ade Opens Scoring

Does it say something when you worry about a trip to Hull City?

I was pretty apprehensive before this fixture, after seeing Man Utd sneak a win, Chelsea rise from the dead and Aston Villa cheat their way to three points, i was positively crapping enough bricks to build myself a house.

We started pretty well, not near our best but the best i have seen for a while, the passing was that bit more nippy and Eboue was certainly direct giving their defence a few problems with a few neat flicks too, sadly his passing was still erratic.

The game started to turn our way when Van Persie smacked a powerful free-kick against the bar, it turned out that Myhill got a fingertip on it, a splendid save of the highest quality.

From the resultant corner Adebayor jumped and plopped home a header, a good little header and hopefully it will get him going again, though credit has to go to Robin with a fantastic delivery.

We threatened after but couldn’t get the all important goal, then disaster struck and Cousain stuck a header home.

I was not a happy bunny, i thought it would end up a draw if im honest.

Then some Van Persie magic set Nasri free and a world class finish with his weaker foot put us in front, it was a fantastic feeling, and him and Van Persie are forraging a fantastic partnership.

Bendtner wrapped it up with a finish into the bottom corner after more fantastic work from Van Persie, what a player he is at the moment, probably the Premierships most in form player. Bendtner celebrated by cupping his ear to the Arsenal fans which is fine because he deserves the chance to give some stick back but i think it shows he is off in the summer. His relationship with the fans is at an all time low and unless he wins us something with a last gasp goal i can never see him becoming a loved player.

Its three important points, but with our next game being Everton away its an even bigger test of this team and if they come through it i see no reason why we can’t get fourth.

Now as is probably predictable by now, onto Arshavin.

GoonerTalk used some initiative and got Lachter’s details off the FIFA website, all agents details are on there.

He contacted him and said this; (taken from his article)

Just days after refusing to give out any interviews to the International media, I posed a simple, but effective question to Israeli-born agent Lachter.

Will Arshavin – in your eyes – be an Arsenal player by the end of the current transfer window?

“I do believe that Andrey will be an Arsenal player.” he replied.

The credibility of this has been debated on that site, but for what its worth, its not Goal.Com or anything so i do beleive its genuine and credit to him for taking the bull by the horns as it were.

It is being claimed that a deal is complete in the NOTW, they are experts in the field of making up total and utter worthless tosh, the price of £17 million is also waaay over what we would pay for him..

Back to Wenger and he was pleased with the teams performance, he said;

“It was a good battle. I believe that in the first half we were really on top of the game, with a lot of fluency. At 1-0 we wanted to keep them under pressure but they made a real battle of it with a lot of long balls and a high line. They scored from a deflected cross and after that we had the mental resources to come back and win in a convincing way because we kept going, and kept going.”

I think AW is really feeling the pressure at the moment, you only needed to see how barmy he was going on the touchline, he is determined to make this team succeed. On Van Persie’s performance he was more concise;

“He was outstanding.”

That he was.

Today promises to be a day of unfounded rumoury so lets ignore all these hacks that drum up stories that my little toe could come up with.

God i hate them.

Right, thats your load for today, pop back tomorrow for more,

Til then!

It seems that we have stepped up our chase of Andrei Arshavin with Ivan Glazidis set to fly out and complete the deal with Zenit, it seems they want £12 million and we are only offering £10 mil, i think we will have him by this time next week.

Zenit have invited our officials out there as a sign that they want to do business with us, its a sign to us, and to Andei Arshavin. A Zenit spokesperson has said,

“Zenit have invited Arsenal officials to St Petersburg next Tuesday, This is to show that Zenit do want to find an option which will be acceptable for everyone.”

I think that Glazidis has pulled a fast one here, he has used Alisher Usmanov to his advantage, being the leading shareholder in the club and using his ties with Zenit and Gazprom he has probably persuaded Zenit to do a deal at a lower price. Glazidis may have seen the link between the two and urged Usmanov to do his bit for the club he owns a large stake of. It would be clever thinking from the new CEO.

Now onto the Hull game, i want revenge, every Gooner wants revenge so lets hope we get it. Id love to pummel that scrawny necked ostrich lookalike Phil Brown’s team into the ground, they humiliated us now we want to do the same.

But i have a feeling that it will be a very tough call if we even get the three points…

They have just signed Manucho from the Mancs on loan, and he is brilliant in the air. That threat will not go away, though he is probably short of match fitness so hopefully he won’t be there all day. I think we will need to use width against a big defence, its too much to ask Vela to start the game but i expect him to feature with Nasri starting on the left, Eboue on the right with Denilson and Song in the center. We need to stretch their defence because they have a tall defence and will not think twice about parking the proverbial bus.

I think we will draw today for what its worth, we are still lacking that cutting edge and with an added areal threat to our defence in the shape of Manucho we could well find ourself’s drawing 1-1.

There are unsubstantiated rumours flying around that Mathew Upson is having a medical today, the more i hear il bring right to you so keep an eye out for any updates.

I will post links to the game in the comments section, feel free to have your say on Matty upson, Usmanov’s involvement in the deal with Arshavin and the team for Hull.

More tomorrow Goons