Seven Ominous Days

A hell of a lot happened in Gunnerworld in the past seven days. A hell of a lot that may have huge, huge impact on the season ahead.


Let’s try to see how.


Firstly, Cesc Fabregas. He appeared before very anxious fans to lead the rest of the players out on Members’ Day at the Emirates. Smiling, relaxed and free as a spirit. Twenty-four hours later, he committed himself to remaining at Arsenal; laying to rest all the season-long rumours, antics, remarks and underhand tactics from Barcelona. Not for him any denial or play on our collective intelligence.


He came out like a man and confessed that going back to Barca was quite tempting and he was tempted; but he is choosing to stay and lead the team with the responsibility entrusted on him by so many. Wise words indeed.


Two days later, Arsenal rounded up their pre-season with a game against Legia in Warsaw. It was supposedly part of the deal that brought Lukasz Fabianski from there. Almost naturally, Lukasz started the game in goal. And almost naturally still, he flapped his way to a disastrous three-goal deficit by half-time. The look on Wenger’s face as the cameras zoomed in while the goals rained in probably said it all – Lukasz won’t make it here. Not now. Not in the future. Probably not ever. Though Arsenal eventually overpowered the Poles 6-5, the No 1 thought on the minds of all Gunners watching was a message to Wenger; Buy a goalie – fast!


Later that evening, Jack and Kieran earned their first call-ups to the England national side. And how they have earned it! Nice one guys. Keep the Arsenal flag flying.


On Tuesday afternoon, August 10, Ulsterman Martin O’Neill threw in the towel and walked out on Aston Villa, just four days to the start of the Premier League. Despite finishing sixth and running both Tottenham and Man City close for the Champions League fourth spot, O’Neill deemed Aston Villa not ambitious enough to match his own lofty heights.


Arsenal haven’t beaten Villa at Villa Park since 2007 when a Flamini scorcher helped us to a 2-1 win. Since then, O’Neill has splurged his American benefactor’s cash to break into the top four and earn himself some much-needed respect. He even hung onto Arsenal’s coattails for so long in season 2008-2009 before we finally shook them off and nicked fourth place.

Oh no, not another horror show!!

Now the Americans are tightening the purse strings and O’Neill can’t handle it. From all indications, Villa’s season is imploding before the first ball has been kicked. One less thing for Wenger to worry about, it seems.

Wednesday night, England beat Hungary 2-1 in their first game since the World Cup debacle. All the Arsenal lads did well and acquitted themselves respectably. All the Arsenal lads, including consistently-inconsistent Theo Walcott. When was the last time Arsenal had three players on the pitch in an England game? You’ll have to go back more than ten years when late Bobby Robson was manager of England.

So, what a week it has been! A mixed bag surely, but there seemed to have been more cause for cheers than fears innit for all Gunners.

Hope springs ahead of the new season. Just as long as Wenger learnt the lessons of Warsaw and ships Lukasz out on loan somewhere. In a week where 18year-olds Kieran and Jack announced their arrivals on the international scene with relish, 22 year-old Lukasz rubber-stamped his mediocrity.

It’s a new season please Mr Wenger. Surely we can’t start with our hearts in our mouths yet again. We can’t afford the calamity that Lukasz has become, this season.

Emmanuel IV

I watched last Saturday’s Emirates Cup game against AC Milan in the smoky, noisy confines of a pub in Yeoville - a predominantly- migrant suburb in the heart of Johannesburg.



A teetotaler and a nonsmoker that I am, it must be very odd the sort of company I keep. Truth be told however, I wasn’t meeting anyone there. The demands of my multiple commitments which involve driving around the city on weekends forced me to dive into the nearest place that offered cable tv in order to catch a glimpse of the latest version of the Gunners - class of 2010.


Repeatedly, as the game progressed, many of my co-onlookers kept on referring to a Gunner player donning the No 35 shirt as Eboue. Of course, they were all wrong. Mercifully however, their misjudgement wasn’t a case of befuddled eyesight on account of one too many bottles. Their mistake was in the confusion caused by the similarity in size, style and skill levels of the player in No 35.


The game had long stretched in to the second half before someone in the audience pointed out that Eboue himself was actually on the pitch donning his usual No 27 shirt. So who was this person in No 35?




 The game was almost over before the smarter ones amongst them managed to decipher the name, Frimpong, at the back of the No 35 shirt.


A mystery he may have been to bewildered Gunner faithful in faraway South Africa, but to better-informed, or better-opportuned Gunner faithfuls elsewhere, he is the latest revelation from Arsene Wenger’s production line of rough diamonds.


Emmanuel Frimpong has barged his way into our consciousness. And very impresssively too. Just 18, the Ghanaianborn British boy is finally the answer to all those calls for an understudy to Alexander Song. Just as Alex himself defied everyone to cement his place at the heart of the Arsenal midfield two seasons ago, Frimpong is treading the same path to glory.


At the conclusion of the Emirates Cup, Wenger made a rather surprising declaration that Frimpong along with his midfield co conductor, the inimitable Jack Wilshire had both changed his transfer plans. That could only mean one thing if you are familiar with Wengerspeak. No new players were being considered by the manager for the midfield. Not after what he had seen all through the pre season of Wilshire and Frimpong.


Wilshire we all knew all along as a prodigy. A gifted ball player who with time might even supplant the highly regarded Cesc Fabregas. He was always destined for great things. A modern day Michel Platini, Liam Brady, Jean Tigana all rolled into one.


But Emmanuel Frimpong? Where on earth did he spring from? Oh what a player? What a bundle of energy? What a walking six pack of muscle and tenacity?


Quite easily, he could have been cut from the same cloth as Chelsea’s midfield enforcer and fellow countryman, Michael Essien. In appearance, discipline, style of play, composure you couldn’t tell them apart. Except of course, Essien wasn’t this good at 18. 18 for Christ’s sake!


As the game progressed last Saturday against AC Milan and Frimpong kept breaking up play and winning individual battles against the venerated, three-time Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf and ex-Gunner Mathieu Flamini, the cameras also kept zooming in on the face of Alex Song, sidelined by injury and sitting up in the stands.


It could only mean one thing. That the lad down on pitch had emerged to challenge the supremo in the stands.


Yet again, another star is born. Yet again, another Emmanuel, the fourth player to answer to that most-popular-of-Arsenal-player-names, will be delighting all Gunner hearts this season.


Long live Emmanuel IV.

Who art thou, No 35?

The Mind of a Mastermind

It is not often that we on the outside get to have a closer look at the inner workings of Arsenal FC.



It is not often also that a mystery man like Arsene Wenger - whom Myles Palmer rightly labelled the Titanium Man – comes into contact with football. Not just football at any level rudimentary level, but football at the stratospheric sphere in which Arsenal FC operates.


That Wenger has completely created a club after his own image is not in doubt. That the man will probably still be there at the helm tweeking and fiddling away behind the iron curtains of Ashburton Grove for the rest our lives, is almost a real possibility.


Jose Mourinho was the one who once described him as unsackable, if there is such a word.


Wenger has proved time and time again how very different he is from your average manager. Avuncular, aloof, sophisticated and stylish. he has moved mountains to stamp his unique authority on a club once regarded as “boring, boring Arsenal”.

The Master and his pupil

Looking at the ongoing Cesc Fabregas-Barcelona saga helps to understand the character of the man Wenger a bit more. Just a bit.

Long, long before now he saw what most people could not in the prodigy that Fabregas was to become. Interestingly, master and pupil share a lot - too much - in common. Both were dedicated, single-minded people. Both are men of few words. Both are deep thinkers. Both are perfectionists. Both were midfielders. Both believe in the same blend of football. Both men are hungry, passionate people whose outward expressions belie the fierce fire burning within.


On a cold winter evening in 2005 in Sheffield, Arsenal were involved in a do-or-die FA Cup replay against Sheffield United. It was an away game against a typical, battling British side managed by the bullish Neil Warnock. The scores stood at 1-1 deep into the game when Wenger signaled for 17year-old Fabregas to come off the pitch.


Even at so tender an age, you could se the disappointment and quiet fury on his baby-face as the pupil made his way, sullenly to the bench in near-protest at his master’s decision. Though Arsenal went on win the game in a penalty shootout after Almunia emerged hero with two saves, the image of a frustrated Fabregas remained my abiding memory of that game.


Wenger must have seen it too certainly.


When three years later William Gallas imploded and ripped his teammates apart in full view of the world, Wenger had little hesitation in taking the captaincy from him and coronating his protégé. For him, Fabregas’ time had come to assume his long-anointed position as a leader of men. Wenger’s men.


Before then, the master had secured the services of his servant with an almost-unheard-of eight year contract. For someone so young then (aged 20), it was unimaginable to be tied down to such an everlasting contract in this day and age. Raul, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Tony Adams, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi apart, hardly any other players in Europe have been known to commit themselves to being a one-club player. All the aforementioned nonetheless, are either retired or on the last legs of their careers.


Could the young Fabregas be toeing such a line with so much promise and potential ahead of him?


Long before Barcelona began their present provocative ‘bring Cesc back home’ campaign, Wenger knew that the day would come when the desire to go back to his Catalan roots would stir up in Fabregas. Nothing wrong with that. Except that between master and pupil, there still remained some unfinished business.


When Cesc arrived unheralded at Arsenal in 2003, he came bearing the scars of a fresh divorce between his parents, Francesc Fabregas Snr and Nuna Soler. Young, impressionable and vulnerable, Wenger took him under his wing as a father would a son; offering protection, a semblance of stability and bonding that the young man had been denied from a broken home.

Cesc chilling out with Fabregas Snr

He was put in a house, which he shared with Spanish-speaking, Swiss-born Phillipe Senderos and the club got them a cleaning lady who came round to attend to their domestic needs. Alone in a strange country, the club provided Cesc with the support base that enabled him to concentrate and hone the skills that have now made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in the whole world.


Unlike most of his peers back then, Wenger never sent him away on loan. He needed to be close to him. He needed to mould him into the exact shape he wanted.


Many years and lots of hardwork later, the fruits of all those hard labour is what we are all now witnesses to. At 22, Fabregas is already both a European and World Cup winner. For a lad whom Wenger paid the ultimate compliment as having the vision of Platini, success has come quite early in his career.


But to complete his transformation, Wenger needs some payback for all the investment poured into his protégé. He needs Fabregas to lead his team to glory and trophies. His response to Barcelona sums it all up: “He (Fabregas) is our captain and we have worked very hard for him to be the future of our team and that’s why we are always adamant about not letting him go”


Which is why he keeps dismissing Barcelona’s efforts as “noise”. Which is why he remains supremely confident that Fabregas is going nowhere. Which is why he is breaking part of his golden rule and signing the players that will provide the platform for Fabregas to excel this season. Which is why at least four new signings will have joined Arsenal by close of the transfer window.


Which is why we are all getting a glimpse into the way the mind of this mastermind works.

The Curious case of Mr William

Whoever it was that coined the phrase, 'silly season' surely does deserve a warm pat on the back.
It must have come to the attention of Gooners everywhere that Mr Wenger was in South Africa all through the period of the 2010 World Cup finals. Officially, his presence was explained as doing some commentary work for Canal France. Nothing new about that.

But unknown to most Gooners, Mr Wenger was also invloved in some promotional work for Nike, who were opening a state-of-the-art soccer facility in the South West Township of Johannesburg - better known worldwide as Soweto. The facility lies across the road from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital which is reputed to be the largest medical complex in all of Africa.
Mr Wenger was very well-received at the Nike complex and the glee on the faces of many youngsters was quite obvious seeing this very-famous man within arms' length.
One other thing you wouldn't have read on any websites, anywhere, was that Mr Wenger was very much in touch with Arsenal players involved in the World Cup. Altogether, there were 11 of them in South Africa with their various countries - not including Phillipe Senderos who had since upped tent and signed for Fulham after an uninspiring spell at Everton.
One of the things you definitely wouldn't have read anywhere was that Mr Wenger spoke at length with Thierry Henry in the French camp, as well as with William Gallas on the days leading up to the kick-off. Details of their conversation would forever remain a secret, but as it affects Arsenal FC, Mr Wenger tried to talk Gallas around to re-consider the club's offer of a contract extension.
Gallas, in deference to the man who has been his manager these past four years, promised to speak with his agents again and see if something could be done. Yeah right!
Unknown to him however, Raymond Domenech, the under-pressure French coach had decided against giving Gallas the captain's band for the World Cup finals.
Unknown to Wenger, Domenech was merely taking a leaf out of Wenger's own action of stripping the Arsenal captaincy from Gallas in December 2008 after his open verbal attacks on teammates that compromised the team's solidarity - something that is simply anathema to Wenger.
Bitter, disappointed, letdown and seething, Gallas played with the handbrakes on throughout France's three soulless games at the finals - his actions igniting all manner of revolts, infighting and uprisings in the Les Bleus as they bombed out of the World Cup.
Clearly, something Gallas never told Wenger in all their conversations, was how much he calculated on being the captain at the World Cup finals. How much it meant to him and his twilighting career. How much it would enhance his profile and give him a good bargaining hand as a free agent to negotiate with whatever clubside wanted his services after the World Cup. Which was why he never took a second look at Arsenal's offer of a one year extension - the norm for Wenger with all players over 30.
Unfortunately for Mr William, man is not a master of his fate.
The events surrounding France's tragic World Cup 2010 story blighted his reputaion and put paid to any plans of a glorious ride into the sunshine of his career.
Now, from pocketting GBP90,000 weekly at Arsenal, which would naturally not have been reduced significantly despite the offer of a one-year extension by the club, he finds himself haggling with Greek side Panathinaikos for GBP35,000. The Greeks of course cannot afford the bumper paypackets English clubs splash out every week, so for them it is take-it-or-leave-it.
For Mr William, there have been no stampede of offers from the Real Madrids, Barcelonas, AC Milans, etc. Instead, it has been only the Greeks so far who have put their money where their mouths are.
Frustrated for the second time in one summer, he is reportedly casting anxious eyes at any English clubs who may be interested. This time however, Arsenal and Chelsea cannot be expected to show any interest after the way they were both treated in the past four years by Mr William. Cashkings Manchester City wouldnt want him either considering it is now the home of his arch-enemy Kolo Toure, whom Mr William forced out of Arsenal just 12 months ago.   
Don't be surprised therefore to eventually find Mr William plying his trade in some struggling side fighting for its life somewhere in mid-table, anywhere on the continent.
For someone with the ego the size of Mr William's, it sure must be a season of supreme silliness indeed.

A good housekeeper

News filtered in yesterday night that Forbes, the very respected, very influential money-monitoring publication has ranked our beloved Arsenal, the second-most-valuable football clubside in the world. Second only to Manchester United. Dizzy heights indeed.


This is a position we have found ourselves in, well and above the likes of Russian-Roubles-Chelsea, more-than-a-clubbing Barcelona, pretenders Manchester Sheikty, and even the King’s Real Madrid. Wuthering heights these are indeed for modest Arsenal.

Forbes valued Arsenal at GBP 860million – a whole GBP 90million more than the Galacticos of Real Madrid, who snucked in third behind us. Crucially, only Man Utd, Arsenal and Madrid made it into the top ten of the world’s richest sports clubs.

Interesting.

One man who must be sitting with a smug smile on his wrinkled face at this news would be none other than Monsieur Arsene Wenger. It is his incredible vision, tenacity and stubbornness which has led a club that shares the first five letters of its name with him, to this vaunted position. It was him who seized the club by the neck, dragging it from its mundane, laidback past into the heady present and straight onto the 21st century.

No one could have scripted it better 14years ago when he ghosted in from the backwaters of the J-League to assume the mantle at Highbury. No one, probably, except the man himself.

Perennial under-achievers that we were, Le Professor has moulded Arsenal into a global brand and a money-spewing machine that proves his Economics degree was actually well-earned. All along, his teams have kept producing a unique playing style year-in, year-out.

The man has been around the club for so long he’s become part of the wallpaper. He’s become such a legend at Arsenal that some of his ex-players have gone on to become coaches and even tasted sackings, while he is still here. Cue Tony Adams.

He has inspired a decade-and-half of unbelievable changes at modest Arsenal. Taking it from a club happy to remain in the top-flight, to title-winners, Champions League ever-presents and now, the 2nd richest club in the world.

It has not all been plain-sailing however.

The Holy Grail of Champions League success still eludes him.

Myles Palmer reckons also that the man, who is the subject of a well-publicised autobiography by Myles himself, is fundamentally flawed, stubborn, obstinate and unbending to a fault. He doesn’t trust English players; he can’t teach defence.; he is on a secret mission to groom and build the French national side; he manipulates the media; he overpampers players; he rewards under-achievement.

The criticisms of him are a legion. So it is with anyone who has attempted to re-write history.

Of course, the man Wenger is not perfect. He has made mistakes like everyone else and will make some more before his time is up. In that sense, he is only human.

But on account of Forbes’ listing, give the man a break. And a pat on the shoulders as well.

To put his achievements in better perspective, the global recession ravaging much of European clubs has seen ‘more-than-a-clubbing, all-conquering Barcelona, the mighty three-time European champions that they are go aborrowing last month just to pay their players. On the same day Forbes released its rankings, another Spanish club, Real Mallorca was excluded from UEFA competitions this year for being indebted to the tune of GBP78 million.

It is the same scenario in almost all leagues across Europe as clubs continue to cringe and wince under the weight of ballooning debt. The effect of excessive player-wages and splurging on average talent. More especially in Skytv-fuelled English Premier League.

Wenger, for all his flaws and stubbornness, remains a good housekeeper. The sort most clubs would kill to have on their books. He may not be able to teach defence. I sometimes even get frustrated with his blind loyalty to some underachieving players. But he’s proved time and time again, that ‘Arsene knows’.

Take a bow Mr Wenger. Long may you live!

A good housekeeper

News filtered in yesterday night that Forbes, the very respected, very influential money-monitoring publication has ranked our beloved Arsenal, the second-most-valuable football clubside in the world. Second only to Manchester United. Dizzy heights indeed.



http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2010/07/22/2037837/manchester-united-retain-number-one-spot-in-forbes-rich-list

This is a position we have found ourselves in, well and above the likes of Russian-Roubles-Chelsea, more-than-a-clubbing Barcelona, pretenders Manchester Sheikty, and even the King’s Real Madrid. Wuthering heights these are indeed for modest Arsenal.


Forbes valued Arsenal at GBP 860million – a whole GBP 90million more than the Galacticos of Real Madrid, who snucked in third behind us. Crucially, only Man Utd, Arsenal and Madrid made it into the top ten of the world’s richest sports clubs.


Interesting.


One man who must be sitting with a smug smile on his wrinkled face at this news would be none other than Monsieur Arsene Wenger. It is his incredible vision, tenacity and stubbornness which has led a club that shares the first five letters of its name with him, to this vaunted position. It was him who seized the club by the neck, dragging it from its mundane, laidback past into the heady present and straight onto the 21st century. Along the way, unearthing rough diamonds and turning them into world class stars. Not toi mention the cash-cow project called Emirates Stadium.

No one could have scripted it better 14years ago when he ghosted in from the backwaters of the J-League to assume the mantle at Highbury. No one, probably, except the man himself.


Perennial under-achievers that we were, Le Professor has moulded Arsenal into a global brand and a money-spewing machine that proves his Economics degree was actually well-earned. All along, his teams have kept producing a unique playing style year-in, year-out.


The man has been around the club for so long he’s become part of the wallpaper. He’s become such a legend at Arsenal that some of his ex-players have gone on to become coaches and even tasted sackings, whilst he is still here. Cue Tony Adams.


He has inspired a decade-and-half of unbelievable changes at modest Arsenal. Taking it from a club happy to remain in the top-flight, to title-winners, Champions League ever-presents and now, the 2nd richest club in the world.


It has not all been plain-sailing however.


The Holy Grail of Champions League success still eludes him.


Myles Palmer reckons also that the man, who is the subject of a well-publicised autobiography by Myles himself, is fundamentally flawed, stubborn, obstinate and unbending to a fault. He doesn’t trust English players; he can’t teach defence.; he is on a secret mission to groom and build the French national side; he manipulates the media; he overpampers players; he rewards under-achievement.


The criticisms of him are a legion. So it is with anyone who has attempted to re-write history.


Of course, the man Wenger is not perfect. He has made mistakes like everyone else and will make some more before his time is up. In that sense, he is only human.


But on account of Forbes’ listing, give the man a break. And a pat on the shoulders as well.


To put his achievements in better perspective, the global recession ravaging much of European clubs has seen ‘more-than-a-clubbing, all-conquering Barcelona, the mighty three-time European champions that they are go aborrowing last month just to pay their players. On the same day Forbes released its rankings, another Spanish club, Real Mallorca was excluded from UEFA competitions this year for being indebted to the tune of GBP78 million.


It is the same scenario in almost all leagues across Europe as clubs continue to cringe and wince under the weight of ballooning debt. The effect of excessive player-wages and splurging on average talent. More especially in Skytv-fuelled English Premier League.


Wenger, for all his flaws and stubbornness, remains a good housekeeper. The sort most clubs would kill to have on their books. He may not be able to teach defence. I sometimes even get frustrated with his blind loyalty to some underachieving players. But he’s proved time and time again, that ‘Arsene knows’.


Take a bow Mr Wenger. Long may you live!

Good luck Edu..

Well, finally, finally we've managed to get pulses racing and chit-chat rooms buzzing. Someone has finally sparked some real transfer movement - this time, out of the door.
Its one of the good guys however, not vermin like Adebarndoor(!) or fellow-hellraiser in the person Mr William Gallas.
Venerable good guy Eduardo Da Silva has left the house. Confirmation filtered through all of yesterday that the likeable Crozilian is being shipped off to Shaktar in the mines of Ukraine. He was much loved in these parts and sadly will always be remembered for that horrific, horrific leg break in February 2008...(drown in your yellow urine, Martin Taylor)
After about two-and-half years of service in the red and white of the Gunners, the taciturn Crozilian called it a day on his Arsenal career and closed what has been quite an unhappy chapter in both his and the club's history.
Not that he wouldn't have fancied to hang around. You sensed it in the whole transfer saga. Sadness hung over the whole busines like a long, sinister shadow.
But sadly also, Mr Wenger has since lost faith in him. We all watched week in, week out as the last season bobbed, heaved and swayed to-fro, taking us through unexpected highs and dreamland of title aspirations, before it all petered out with head-scratching defeats to the likes of Spurs.Yes we all watched week in, week out as Mr Wenger left Eduardo languishing on the bench while the entire team cried out for inspiration and a spark and yes...goals.
Clearly, the gaffer had lost faith in Edu. All denials and double-speak to the contrary were just typical Wenger-talk. The Crozilian's number was up and it was now a matter of when..not if.
We wish him all the luck in the world and he sure needs it after the wretched last two years he has had.
He will be fondly remembered for his classy goals and intelligent movement on the pitch and the sweet left foot he allowed us to savour.
I for one will never forget his delightfully taken double strike against Everton in a league game one cold December night in 2007 at Goodison Park after we had been 1-0 down at halftime. What a player!
Meanwhile the lads got down to business in the Austrian alps last night as pre-season got really serious.
They were scheduled to play Sturm Graz in a real friendly tune-up (as if any friendly game can be anything less than real).
Already, shots from the camp confirm that the World Cup contingent are back. There were shots of Comrade Eboue, Alex Song, Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby. Couldnt locate Gael Clichy though but we are sure he was somewhere by the bushes playing catch-up with the locals and strectching his fingers signing paper-cuttings of Raymond Domenech. Just as long as you don't believe all the stories that we are about to flog him to all the relegation-threatened clubs in Spain.
That should do for tonight.
We are still a very, very young blogsite and so far, we would love to hear comments form anyone desperate enough to be reading this.
Cheers and thanks!