By Ian Grant
Anthony Kyriakides
Bergkamp’s backhander
Dear Myles,
In your most recent article about Pires and the 2.5 assists at Blackburn, you state that you think the Bergkamp face slap was intentional.
I’d say it was accidental. Yes he was pushing and tugging to get away from the defender, but then he goes to hit the ball with his right foot. To play the pass he wanted he needed to get his balance correct, and that would involve swinging him swinging his left arm out.
Watch it again and let me know if you agree or not.
It is the same principle as people swinging arms when jumping, you need to do it to get the rest of your body to do the right thing. You can’t jump effectively without using your arms, and you can’t pass properly without also using your arms.
I always enjoy the site and comments. And i like the lo-fi approach where content is everything.
Thanks also for helping with my insight into Arsenal and football.
Yours sincerely,
Anthony
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mark parry
New crest
I have just seen the new crest on the BBC website.
I have to say that I am a little disappointed. While I am an advocate for change, it should be an improvement on what has gone before. The new ground is or will be but the new crest is not.
I really do not like the typeface used for ‘Arsenal’ it is neither modern nor distinctive. It also looks cheap with a lost sense of quality.
I only hope it grows on me because it is a major change in Arsenal’s image, or even better, that the BBC has got the wrong logo.
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Mark Burland
Del Piero
I also saw the penalty incident on Football Italia this morning. You could see on his face he knew what he was doing, and he deserves respect for doing that. Especially in a league that seems to be full of actors. Its a shame that the ref didn’t let the play continue, because Trezeguet scored with a delighful chip that no one would have saved.
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Kelvin Tan
New UGLY Crest!
Dear mr Palmer,
I have been following your review almost every day since 18 months ago when i stumbled into it while browsing sky sports website. I also want to Thank you for an entertaining read into the world of my favourite football club.
As i see, you have rub shoulders with some of the board members of AFC, and you have spoken to them on issues of players, funds, new stadium at islington etc. I hope you can convey what a lot of fans feel about our new CARTOON looking crest! Looks like something from POWER MORPHINE RANGERS!
On behalf of my unofficial AFC fan club here in the Far East, we are not gonna buy any new AFC shirts with the new crest.
Thank You.
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Paul Burland
Arsenal vs Soton
Quite right! We will NEVER win bringing Grimandi into a left midfield role! Edu is a touch of class, still young still learning but he has a FOOTBALL BRAIN! In Brazil they said of Edu ‘todo com razao’ (everything with a reason).
That’s Edu, he’ll open defences given the chance. He’ll sit back if needed. Finally he can play a long pass. Grimandi can’t even play a short pass!
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Dan
New badge
Just wondered if you were going to pass any judgements on the new Arsenal crest…? You’re about the only left who hasn’t…!
It would be nice to know your thoughts as I enjoy reading your stuff always intelligent and insightful… it’s good to read unbiased articles (ie. not the official site), which are level-headed and for once, show an understanding of football a rare treat!
Dan.
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Jeff
General AFC
Congrats on your web site. I like the way you tell it as you see it, rather than in the drab, state the facts, have no opinion whatsoever, manner that seems to grace all the newspaper reports of today. If a player was bad I want to know just how awful he was, not read a line such as “Jo Bloggs didn’t have one of his better games”. I’ve been reading through the previous comments that have been made and most seem to centre on PV4 and our goalkeeping problems. Though they may not be worth much, here’s my thoughts on the subjects:
PV4 is having a bad season by his own standards, though he’s still probably more useful to us than nearly any other centre mid in the Premiership. As far as I can see, there is a certain aggression lacking from his game this season. I watched the Newcastle match at Highbury and in the entire game, Paddy only went to ground once (and got booked for his troubles – his only foul of note – and they say that we’re not discriminated against!). This it not the player we know and love(d?). Either Arsene’s told him to calm down, the captain’s armband makes him think that giving away free-kicks is not allowed since it sets a bad example, OR, he doesn’t care anymore ’cause he’s off to Madrid in the summer! If the later is true then Paddy’s chant should be changed to “He comes from Senegal, he’s off to dodgy Real, oh Vieira!”.
Onto the keeping problem. This is not new. The Devine Ponytail (no, not Manu Petit), Dave Seaman has not been at his best since we did the double. The following year he contracted “rubber-back” syndrome (for evidence I site the Ryan Giggs and Batistuta goals) whereby the back goes all soft and spongy and you dive under the ball rather than get hit in the face. Then I site Owen’s second goal in the cup final last year, Dave would have saved that pre ’99, though the entire defence did look as though they were running in concrete as they went after Owen. We did need a new keeper, and, in hindsight, we should have bought Dudek (though at the time, having not seen Dudek play much, I was pleased we’d bought English). Wright and Taylor aren’t bad keepers, they’re just not world class – yet. They’ve both made mistakes through being young and inexperienced, Wright made a howler against Spurs through lack of concentration, while, as you pointed out, Taylor was at fault for the Riise goal. He had so much time to reach the ball and give it a big boot into row Z, it was painful. Having said that, I fully expect these two youngsters to develop into great goalkeepers, especially with the competition between the two and the coaching of Bob Wilson/Dave Seaman(?) to help them. Both need experience and I think they should be given the time they need.
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mark burman
GLOOM
Dear Myles,
you are always very positive about the setbacks but I find myself cast into despair. I’ve managed to miss by a combination of bad luck and stupidity Manure, Liverpool cup and Juve and everything else I have seen served up at home has only made me tear my hair out.
Brilliant away, utterly stupid at home. A goals against record easily the worst in the league and a maddening ability to concede from anything approaching a setpiece. This won’t win us the league and yet, and yet our away should.
You say Edu is worth a run but the key moments he has played at Highbury apart from his gritty performance in the Worthless cup he has scored an own goal and given away a foul that led to one.
Now mad luck may follow him luck a bleedin’ Albatross but I can’t believe we spend 5 mill, wait over a year and still get no return.
But most maddening of all is Wenger’s true blind spot. not what tackles he can’t see- he has to say that and do what he can in private. No, it’s the dogged faith in Luzhny who is now very slow, bereft of ideas and a severe liability. Grimandi – a bad, bad season brought on by the fact that he is appraently easily replaceable and Inamoto who has fooled no one, won’t be risked but is taking the berth of a youth player.
Okay they went out last night but they won it 2 seasons on the trot and seem only good enough to go on loan to Watford etc. I cannot believe there isn’t a right back amongs them to back up Lauren and a left back for Cole, a goal scorer and a midfield er for cover. We know they exist – Juan, Pennant, Itonga, Barrett, Voltz, Sidwell. They have to be blooded and surely they will be desperate to die for the cause, play their hearts out and make up for their inexperience with youthful elan. He has to play one or some of them now and he won’t and luzhny et al will kill us on that pitch sure as eggs is eggs. Think of Liverpool, Wlicox burning him off, falling over at Ewood and despair.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Great site
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marianne short
alan seifert’s article
i enjoyed reading the two new columnists to the site and like alan seifert was impressed to learn that patrick viera had foregone his holiday in an attempt to get fit – but then i realised that france have a friendly next week and surmised that he prabably didn’t want to lose his international place – am i a cynic or what?
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Ron
Nicolas $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Lads !
The Greedy ******* is back where he’s belong ; On The BENCH !!
Let “THE KOP” worry about him now !
CHEERS,
Ron
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Ron
Feb.10-029 (Whack EVERTON !! )
G’Day All of Ya’ Gooners out there !
You’re right ! PV should get his ‘House in order ‘ and make up his mind. If he wanna’ end up like another Anelka,… well he’s welcome. Anelka didn’t have enough brains to realize what a great club he was playing for, and look at him now; warming up 70-80 minutes on the sideline every game up north (far away from the “Sunny Mediteranian”)
There’s a lot of great midfielders out there, same as there was a lot of good strikers when NA left.
ARSENAL FC DO NOT GIVE IN TO ‘BLACKMAIL’ !!!!!
Sunday resdult : A: 4- E: 2
CHEERS !
Ron
M.U.
Could not said it better myself !
Cheers !
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Luke Schmidt
A message to Alan Seifert
To: Alan Seifert
How can you call R. Wright antother Manninger? When Seaman retires and Wright is Arsenal’s automatic first choice, he will become England’s first choice keeper as well.
Richard Wright was the main reason Ipswich finished
near the top of the Premiereship last year. Just look how Ipswich are faring without him. The only thing holding back Wright is that Wenger and Arsenal are trying to give Seaman one more World Cup.
When Arsenal win the league and F.A. Cup this year it will be
with Wright in the goal. If they lose the league or F.A. Cup it will be because Seaman was in the goal.
Dudek isn’t even worth mentioning, Liverpool licked up our scraps. If Arsenal or England are to win trophies it will be with Richard Wright.
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Ahmed Modibbo
ANR
Hello
It was great for me to bump into this site. I am an avid arsenal fan from Nigeria and i alwyas scrouge the net for arsenal sites. I think myles views are incisive and good. keep it up.
UP THE ARSE
AHMED
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Paul Ablett
The bell Polls
Having read the interview with Poll, my mind shot back to my child hood. Bullish teachers who used power and aggression to subdue pupils never won respect ,only fear. As you got older you realised that these personalities were probably bullied at school and looked for positions in life where they could wield control without comeback. You also realise that they are actually scared of people and lack the ability to empathise.
Look closely at the photos of Poll ‘fending off’ Henry and you will notice he can’t look Thierry in the eye. When they interview budding referees for the job, what do they look for? If this interview is genuine then Poll must have built a massive ego to overwelm his insecurity. That ego led him to say those things and wreck his reputation( such as it is.). The fact that the FA will not act over this speaks volumes about the inconsistency in the ivory tower and the way they hide behind characters like Poll. And what about the personalities of Durkin and
…….
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Ozi Kemal
Graham Poll
First and foremost thanks for an excellent site. i find your views, opinions, and all round critiscm/praise of my beloved Arsenal throughly great reading!!! Keep up the good work!
I’m just wondering what your and other ANR readers feelings and on TH14’s impending hearing with the FA in light of the allegations of Mr G Poll’s remarks about ‘sending players off to gain a hard man reputation’. Do you think the FA should consider this when they ‘charge’ Thierry?
regards
Ozi
PS are you planning on releasing any more ‘The Professor’ style books in the future? Great Read!!!
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Neil
Henry’s dsciplinary Hearing!!!
Firstly just like to say that I love the site, excellent articles and I find myself agreeing with you time and time again.
Henry’s hearing has been set for march the 6th, I guarantee you hear and now that however many games he gets banned for one of them will be the Manu game on the 14th of april after the appeal etc is heard and REJECTED. Any thoughts???????????
Also could you please point out the difference between what Henry did and what the entire Man Utd team did to Andy d’Urso some time back, except that the Arsenal game had been covered by sky and it made perfect news for them at the time.
Also that incident that vieira has been charged for happens in every game except player cam Had to be on him at the time. The FA are so easily led it’s unbeleiveable. Don’t get me wrong I think Sky’s coverage is brillant and love the fact the such a wide range of games (looking forward to Wed games Greece V Sweden and Spain V Portugal) but why when Sky SAY JUMP the FA say HOW HIGH?????
Anyway sorry if I’ve wasted your time but needed to get that of my chest.
cheers,
Neil, tipperary ireland.
Ps Bought the last copy of your book in Easons in dublin recently , looking forward to reading it. Hope it’s going well for you. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!
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Jonathan Nieuwland
Van Bommel
Just like to say that i disagree with you on a point you made in your article about Van Bommel.
You said that Holland and PSV play a totally different style from Arsenal. I think that is not totally true. Arsenal do “us the width a lot” and Vieira does spend a lot of time passing the ball around. he’s usually the pivot to Arsenal passing.
Cheers,
Jonathan Nieuwland
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Paul DeBruler
Last Train To Memphis
Myles –
I must say, I’m glad to hear you’re reading Last Train to Memphis. But, you definitely need to read the second part – the two volumes together make quite possibly the best biography I have ever read, music or otherwise. The first volume is all Elvis on the rise, a happy-go-lucky kid who seems genuinely excited by what’s happening to him, if a bit bewildered. The second volume is heartbreaking – it’s plain see what’s happening to him (and know it from watching him do it from a distance in the ’70s), and all I wanted to do was shout “LOSE YOUR FRIENDS, YOU MORON, BEFORE YOU LOSE EVERYTHING!!!!!”. It’s as dark as the first volume is bright, but just as essential to read. Peter Guralnick was the first person that I felt captured Elvis as a person, rather than as “the elvis story” as the set of popular cultural expectations.
I’ve been reading your arsenal commentaries for years now and it’s always a pleasure to find out that there’s more to somebody than the thing they’re an expert on. Your afc commentaries often give me back some optimism after losses, you can generally see why things have promise even though the picture looks fairly bleak on the surface. Thanks for that.
One other book you should read, if you have any interest in punk rock at all – it’s called “our band could be your life”, by Michael Azerrad, and it’s a series of stories of bands from the mid-80’s punk scene (husker du, minutemen, replacements, etc….) telling how they got to where they were. It’s more than that, as well – it’s a narrative of the building and sustaining of a scene before a “scene” was something the media created, and it’s a fascinating read. Check it out:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316063797/qid%3D1013562340/026-9280743-7734068
Thanks again for some entertaining and interesting insights over the years….
yours,
Paul DeBruler
Seattle, WA
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noel reynolds
Arsene the Gambler
When we signed Kanu I remember Arsene saying that it was a gamble, but that he liked to gamble on the football pitch and not at Monte Carlo. Well, now I feel it is time for Arsene to gamble once more. Injuries and suspensions are threatening to ruin our season and we must now take risks, not in the transfer market, but with the squad we have got.
Frankly, Luzhny and Grimandi are not up to the task. They have had countless chances and proved they are not up to it. Our youth squad won the last 2 FA Cups and are not being given a chance. Surely Volz can be entrusted to play at right back against Gillingham on Saturday. Is Pennant ever going to get a game?
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been an Arsenal supporter for 25 years now and the standard of football The Professor has given us is light years away from anything else I’ve had the misfortune of seeing at Highbury before. But take a gamble now Arsene as surely our callow reserves can’t do any worse than the likes of Luzhny and Grimandi.
Arsenal to win 3-0 on Saturday with Grimandi at left back! Incidentally, I love Stefan Hauser (the Earls Park manager in Footballers’ Wives). I wonder where the creators of that crock got their inspiration from.
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Hi,
I’m a reporter in staff at the italian daily “La Repubblica” and I would need to contact Alex Fynn? Do you have his e-mail? Could you forward it to me?
Many thanks
RS
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Simon
Sven causing injury to James!!!
Come on Mr Palmer! Sven’s a manager, not a puppet master. It was a freak accident (unless your guy actually tried to take James out which I don’t believe for a second but still makes more sense than blaming Sven).
I know you can do much, much better than that (I always check your site, even though Liverpool’s my team).
Best regards
Simon
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Andy Wright
Darius Vassell and Wayne Bridge must be in Sven’s 23 by Myles Palmer
A good article. Very pertinent comments regarding Le Saux and the left sided question. I fear for Coles defensive ability against the best of the world. Especially with the absence of an established leftsided midfielder in front of him.
Keep up the good work.
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Andy Gustavsson
Jumping…Arsenal-Gillingham 5-2
I’m playing “Jump” with Van Halen for the moment.
The song is perfect and give your body even more sadisfaction…
I say “more” because after Arsenal winning the game against Gillingham with 5-2, that’s what you have in your body, sadisfaction.
When you just look at the result,5-2, that’s maybe something you should expect from Arsenal these days…but this game had so much more.
Most of all, Tony Adams, THE leader was back in first team action again.
The crowd sand “Super Tony Adams” and “There’s only one Tony Adams” and they couldn’t have been more right.
Adams had a brilliant game from the start to the end and even scored…he showed determination and a leadership that only he has.
Did you look at Vieira?
Vieira, the player that has played poor so long, had a suberb game…why?
Tony Adams was on the field, he didnt dare anything else. Vieira’s fighting spirit and determination was back and he showed us class that we thought that he never would show us again in the Arsenal shirt.
Also, young brazilian left-back Juan, who did his first “real” game for the A-team was shaky in the 1:st half and the beginning of the 2:nd and. It seems like this is the “Hi and good-bye” for him this season but then he got his nerves under controle and started playing very well. He did runs that we only have seen Ashley Cole and Silvinho do in the Arsenal shirt lately.
The stand-in for Cole is not Upson or Van Bronckhorst, it’s Juan.
The other brazilian player in the team today, Edu, on the other hand had a very bad game and seemed to do everything wrong today.
It WAS a poor start from Arsenal in the game, nobody can say anything else, we expect more. But then, especially when Robby Pires and Thierry Henry got in the game started going on over-speed…
They once again showed why they are two of the worlds best players for the moment.
Another EuroChampion,Wiltord, was razor sharp today and scored not only once, but twice and was even close to make a Hattrick.
Wright was ok in the game but now it’s time for “Safe-Hands”…
After a game like this my suggestion to you is to play Jump with Van Halen and just enjoy what a fantastic team we have and what a brilliant captain we have in Tony Adams.
/Andy Gustavsson
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Bob
Re: After Gillingham, St.James Park
Can someone please tell Myles that Steve Howey plays for Manchester City and is unlikely to be quaking his boots at the prospect of Arsenal playing Newcastle.
Cheers
Bob.
ps – Keep up the (usually) good work ;o)
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