By Ian Grant
12 March
Wenger said on the Champions League Group:”The two teams that come out of this group will have a very strong feeling they can win the trophy because this group is very difficult.”
The Scottish Daily Record reckons ex-Arsenal boss George Graham is in the frame for the Everton job, should Walter Smith be sacked.
On Henry’s suspension Wenger said: “I thought Henry would get nothing and he got three games so perhaps if people bet that Patrick will get three he will get nothing.”
On the up-side, he added:”Thierry Henry is a player who needed a breather because he is one that has played most of the games this season. As a manager it’s always difficult to give him a breather if you are not forced to do it. That is why on the one hand maybe it will be the only useful side of his suspension.”
Nwankwo Kanu’s brother was robbed at gunpoint at their home. The gang escaped with clothes, mobile phones and cash from the house in Enfield, North London. Police said they could not rule out a link with a number of recent raids.
The March 23 league match with West Ham has been put back because of the Newcastle Cup replay and the Charlton clash on April 1 will also be off if Arsenal reach the Champions League quarter-final.
Wenger said: “When you have so many fixtures and injuries, it’s a problem finding the right balance in every game. We have some big games coming up but I think we will be able to cope. However, if we have any injuries at the back, it will be a big problem for us.”
According to the Mirror, Arsene Wenger is tracking Valencia’s £20m rated midfielder David Albelda. The Arsenal coach sent scouts to watch the 24-year-old Spanish international in Valencia’s 2-0 win over Seville on Sunday. The versatile stopper can play in a defensive midfield role and at centre-half.
Mark Lawrenson said Deportivo aren’t that good a side away from home.
Dennis Bergkamp said his secret was that: “I kept training and my first game back was at home against Leverkusen and the form was there straight away. For me, that was a big moment because normally it takes a couple of games to get it back.”
He added: “I’d hope that circumstances will mean I decide to stay at Arsenal beyond my current contract. Towards the end of next season, I’ll have a think. At that point, I’d have the choice about whether to stay for another year or two at Highbury, return to play in Holland for a while or just retire. My body might start telling me to retire. We’ll have to wait and see.”
According to the Manchester Evening News, Arsenal are monitoring PSV defender, Kevin Hofland as well as Manchester United.
Ajax coach Ronald Koeman, is worried about losing the teenage midfielder Rafael van der Vaart to Arsenal this summer. “If Patrick Vieira left he would be the ideal replacement,” said Koeman
Asked about an Arsenal title challenge in 1988, Terry McDermott said: “The two best clubs in London are still Stringfellows and the Hippodrome.”
The BBC claimed victory in the latest ratings battle, with the Arsenal v Newcastle quarter-final netting a peak of 8.4 million viewers. It averaged 6.7m viewers, compared with Cilla Black’s Blind Date, which had 6m.
It also attracted a higher audience than last season’s FA Cup final, which peaked at 7.3m and averaged 6.7m.
Real Madrid have declared an interest in Michael Owen, taking some pressure off Patrick Vieira.
Fulham striker Steve Marlet is happy the FA Cup semi-final draw has pitted the club against local rivals Chelsea and not Arsenal.
Van Nistelrooy has gone ahead in the Premiership scoring charts on 21. Henry has 20.
Thierry Henry said: “I love life at Arsenal, there is no better place in the world at the moment. And if the board wanted me to sign away my life to the club, I’d probably do it at the moment. I’m only in my third season with Arsenal. But you get a feel for a place and a sense of belonging, and life couldn’t be better.”
This week in 1992, a week after playing his 700th game for Arsenal, David O’Leary was sent off for the first time, playing for Gunners’ reserves.
Arsenal Ladies have opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table with a 6-0 victory over a depleted Barry Town side. The Welsh team arrived with only 10 players and midway through the first half Lowri Davies was taken off injured. Two minutes after the break Kelly Melville went off with a broken ankle to leave Barry with only eight players.
Alex Ferguson reiterated that he considers Arsenal to be his United side’s chief rivals in England. “Absolutely, and that will still be the case in the next three years, even if Liverpool and Newcastle are in constant progress,” Ferguson said.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the race to sign PSV midfielder Mark van Bommel is now down to Arsenal and Leeds – but it says O’Leary will not be able to meet the £14m asking price until he gets some money in.
According to the S.Mirror, Arsenal are set to move for Deportivo La Coruna’s £8m midfield dynamo Juan Valeron. Arsenal who want left-sided cover for injured Gio van Bronckhorst, have already held talks with the Spanish club over a summer deal for the 26-year-old.
Arsenal have launched a new £15m bid for Owen Hargreaves to replace Patrick Vieira, says the Observer.
Arsenal are still watching Tottenham defender Stephen Carr, says the Observer.
5 March
Things change: Arsenal didn’t get a single red card in their last three matches.
Arsenal have gone from 14-1 to 10-1 to win the Champions League with Chandler following the display against Leverkusen.Arsenal are 40-1 to win the Champions League plus the premier league and FA Cup.
Arsenal are 20-1 with bookmakers William Hill to win the FA Cup-Champions League double, 16-1 for a Premiership-Champions League double, and only 11-2 to repeat their Premiership-FA Cup double of 1997/8. They offered 200-1 at the beginning of the season.
Arsenal have scored in every League game since being held to a goalless draw at St James’s Park last May. And they haven’t lost a game since the Newcastle game in December.
Newcastle could be developing another London hoodoo. They’ve now lost at home to Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs this season.
This week-end in 1992, David O’Leary played his 700th game for Arsenal.
The Mirror insists that Arsenal are likely to allow Nwankwo Kanu to join Real Madrid for £5m.
According to Ron Atkinson the lack of anyone capable of getting behind the Arsenal defence with a diagonal run on Saturday meant Sol Campbell and Igor Stepanovs could get really tight to Shearer and Shola Ameobi. This meant the two centre-halves restricted their opponents to very little space.
Wenger asserts that he rates “every player exactly the same” at Arsenal.
According to the Inependent’s Premiership index, Robert Pires is Arsenal’s best player on a 6.9 average. Arsenal have six players in the respective top tens, besides Pires: Sol Campbell, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry.
Thierry Henry still leads the Premiership charts with 20 goals in 26 games at an average of 0.77. Van Nistelrooy has 19 in 25 at 0.76/game.
Sky’s Jeff Stelling confessed his most embarrassing moment as a broadcaster. In the Eighties he went through an entire interview with the then Arsenal defender Chris Whyte thinking he was Paul Davis.
The Sunday Times says Arsenal were the first First Division club to install floodlights, playing under them for the first time in a friendly in 1951. The Football League and Football Association banned their use in official games until 1955.
The paper also says that Arsenal’s second string team features two Brazilians, three Africans, a German, an Icelander and a Frenchman who are all 21 or younger.
According to the Sunday Times, Robert Pires is paying £10,000 a week for a home in one of the grandest Regency terraces in London. The house, on the south side of Regent’s Park, is valued at £7.5m.
At the launch of BBC4 Greg Dyke also a Man U director was heard to say: “Arsenal are going to win it this year.”
Patrick Vieira and Freddie Ljungberg won’t be able to rub Vicks into their chests, in Japan this summer as they do at Highbury. The Japanese class the menthol stick as a stimulant, and it is illegal to use it under the country’s strictly enforced anti-stimulant drugs law. Gary Lewin is said to have introduced the idea last season to help breathing during matches.
An ITV audience of 6.1 million for the 4-1 destruction of Leverkusen means Arsenal are still without an entry in the top 10 of the most-watched club games this season.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Charlton fancy Ipswich defender Titus Bramble, says the Observer.
26 February
Thierry Henry said Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord have an almost spooky understanding: “One of our characteristics is that we can pass the ball well. Everyone is moving at the same time. We know each other well.”
Leeds’ Chairman Peter Ridsdale has denied any interest from Arsenal in Bowyer and said the midfielder would sign a new contract by the end of the season. Arsenal have denied interest.
The Daily Star reports vice-chairman David Dein found himself on a train packed with Spurs fans on his way to Cardiff on Sunday morning and also en route home after the Worthington Cup final. Dein said: “There was no animosity, far from it. In fact I was treated very well.”
Graeme Souness has taken issue with Wenger’s attitude to a Worthington Cup Euro spot: “Wenger obviously sees it solely from his point of view. There are only a handful of clubs who are like Arsenal but there are an awful lot of clubs who are not like Arsenal. He is seeing it only one way. Everyone outside the top five in the Premiership would see it differently.”
The Champions League match on Wednesday, was Bayer Leverkusen’s first trip to England in 79 competitive games of European football.
Police arrested a 19-year-old at Highbury, north London, a Scotland Yard spokesman said on Saturday. The man is being held at Islington police station on suspicion of throwing a coin onto the pitch during the FA Cup fourth-round tie between Arsenal and Liverpool on January 27.
Bayer manager, Klaus Toppmoller said: “Like Arsenal they can spend heavily on star names and then afford to have them sit on the bench. That’s not our style. We put our faith in our own young players and, so far, it’s not worked out too badly.”
The Standard reports that Thierry Henry has a three-year Coca-Cola contract.
Inter Milan’s and ex-Arsenal defender Nelson Vivas sustained suspected ligament damage in a practice match. Inter’s official website reported that Vivas has suspected torn cruciate ligaments.
Ray Parlour admitted: “I have made a few rash tackles and sometimes we do go in a bit stupidly when we are already on a booking.”
Prior to Saturday, Patrick Vieira’s last goal for Arsenal came in the FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham.
Oleg Luzhny served the fourth of his four-match ban on Wednesday.
Some papers report that Arsenal are ready to field a B team against Newcastle United in the quarter final of the FA Cup clash a week on Saturday.
The Sunday Mirror reckons Nicolas Anelka will move back to Arsenal after the World Cup this summer.
On Thierry Henry’s substitution on Saturday, Wenger said: “It’s like when you’re at a fantastic dinner and someone tells you to leave ten minutes before the end – you don’t like it.”
19 February
Arsenal aren’t the only club to suffer from Cameroon’s African Nations Cup victory [via Lauren]. Striker El Hadji Diouf went missing from Lens.
David Trezeguet is not in talks with Arsenal but he has been contacted by Liverpool and Real Madrid, according to his father, Jorge. The Juventus striker insists he wants to stay with the Serie A club.
Bayer Leverkusen manager Klaus Toppmoeller sees the Arsenal match decisive. “Four points against Arsenal would see us through,” he said.
Arsene Wenger is furious at the scheduling of his side’s FA Cup quarter-final at Newcastle at 5.35pm. Wenger wanted the game at noon at the latest, because of the Deportivo match on the following Tuesday
Leeds chairman, Peter Ridsdale said: “No talks have taken place for a while [with Lee Bowyer], but I hope to arrange a meeting in the near future. This situation must be resolved because if he does not want to sign a new deal, we would have to address the matter in the summer. Bowyer’s current deal runs out next year, but rather than let him walk away on a free transfer, Leeds would sell him at the end of the season – with Arsenal a likely target – if he continues to stall.
Wenger said: “In the last two months Sol [Campbell] has been tremendous. The away record we have in the league is as much down to him as anyone. But in Europe our form has been the opposite and that is because we have always been too timid at the start of games, not just in attack but at the back.”
Auxerre’s £30m-rated striker Djibril Cisse says he wants to move to the Premiership after several clubs – among them Arsenal, saw him score twice for France Under-21s in last week’s 5-1 win against Belgium.
Junichi Inamoto is expected to join the Japanese squad to face Poland.
At time of going to press, Arsenal are 10/3 third favourites in their Champions League group. They are 16/1 to win the Champions League.
According to the Daily Star, Arsene Wenger has employed the services of a sports psychologist in a bid to cure Arsenal of their travel sickness in Europe.
According to the Daily Star, Patrick Vieira should pick heads when the euro coin is tossed in Euro-games, as the heads comes up more than the other side.
If he signs his new contract, Alex Ferguson will be the Premiership’s highest-paid manager, ahead of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal were dumped out of the AXA FA Women’s Cup by Doncaster Belles, who won their quarter-final 2-1.
Arsenal are 9/4 favourites to win the FA Cup with William Hill
According to the Birmingham Post, Steve Bruce has told Darren Purse to sign the new contract offer or leave. Purse has been tracked by Arsenal.
Nigeria’s decision to sack coach Shaibu Amodu and promise a new look team for the World Cup could spell the end of Kanu’s international chances, according to international wire services.
Wenger said on Vieira: “At the end of the season, Patrick has two years left to go and he will, of course, be offered a new contract. We will keep our wage scale right and do what we can do. He will naturally be among our top employees but the rest we want to keep secret. I believe it will be enough, but the difference will not be made by money. I think he wants to stay.”
According to the News of the World, Arsenal have received a £3m bid for Lauren from Spanish side Valencia.
Southampton manager Gordon Strachan will make St Mirren defender Sergei Baltacha his eighth signing if he impresses in the reserve match against Arsenal.
11 February
Arsene Wenger claimed the Barclaycard Premiership title race could go to the last goal, the last point.
On the Everton game, he said: “I thought we were unlucky to have five bookings. As for Thierry, I don’t think he had any intention of hurting anyone, he was just trying to block the clearance.”
Sven-Goran Eriksson stressed David Seaman was still at the forefront of England’s World Cup plans: “I know David is back in training and we will see what happens in the next few months. I’m not worried though. Even if David took a long break then, with his routine, I don’t think that would be dangerous at all. It’s important that he’s fit and, if he’s fit, then he’s a very good goalkeeper.”
Arsenal defender Matthew Upson has suffered a leg fracture and could be out for at least six weeks, Arsenal said on Monday.
France coach Roger Lemerre has not yet ruled out Nicolas Anelka for his World Cup squad but is worried that the striker has so far failed to win a regular first team place at Liverpool.
The Express said, with Lady Luck on their [Arsenal’s] side the future may yet be lined with silverware.
After the week-end matches, Hills offer Arsenal at 3-1 for the title, with Chelsea at 40-1 and Leeds at 50-1. Manchester United shortened to 8-13 with, Liverpool 9-2, and Newcastle 9-1.
According to the Northern Echo, Arsenal are preparing a stunning £16m bid for Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips.
According to the News of the World, Sergei Rebrov has claimed: “Arsene Wenger wants me to join Arsenal”. Wenger replied: “I was interested in Rebrov before he went to Tottenham but we already have five top-class strikers and we also have other youngsters like Jermaine Pennant and Jeremie Aliadiere as back-up.”
Arsenal hope Thierry Henry and Robert Pires will agree on new contracts to stay at Highbury, according to the Sun. The two have already held talks with Arsenal about extending their English premier league careers.
According to reports in the Sunday People and Mail on Sunday, Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have their sights on 23 year-old, £15m central defender Jorge Andrade of Porto.
Ray Parlour will miss the away match at Newcastle on 2 March following the latest yellow.
The Mirror says Arsenal are considering offloading Oleg Luzhny to Schalke, who have enquired.
Ex-Arsenal striker Chris Wreh, on St Mirren’s books, is on loan to Darlington.
According to some reports Barcelona have made former Arsenal winger Marc Overmars available for transfer. Barca hope there will be interest from Liverpool, who are in the market for left-sided players.
Arsene Wenger said of Ferguson’s extension: “What would I do if Alex wasn’t around? I would have no one to keep me on my toes or to fight. So of course I am pleased he changed his mind. I enjoy our rivalry. It is good for Arsenal, good for Manchester United and good for both of us.”
Manchester United went through the 800-point mark in the Premiership last week-end. Arsenal are on 659.
The FA confirmed that the hearing into Thierry Henry’s alleged tirade against Graham Poll has been postponed – yet again.
Readers of El Grafico magazine in Argentina have voted ex-Arsenal back, Nelson Vivas the country’s most boring player.
Arsenal was the eighth most popular term on Microsoft Networks; search engine for the first week in February, beaten by Harry Potter, and Bob the Builder, but ahead of Man U, Liverpool and Britney Spears.
Wenger said of Francis Jeffers: “It is because of my faith in him that I didn’t try to sign Fowler – although if I had done I might have bankrupted us.”
David Seaman revealed how his latest shoulder injury made him consider quitting football.
Robert Pires has been given an 8-1 quote by Sporting Odds to win the Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year award. The long odds have raised a few eyebrows.
Arsenal are 8-1 to score in every remaining league game this season.
Hill have also opened a book on how many more red cards Arsenal players will pick up in the Premiership: 5-2 none, 9-4 one, 5-2 two, 5-1 three, 10-1 four and 12-1 five or more.
Sylvain Wiltord was 5-1 with Hills and Ladbrokes, of getting the first goal on Sunday.
Emmanuel Petit has admitted: “I’m not settled in 100 per cent. I have missed so much time that I am still lacking rhythm and competition.”
Kanu has been warned to return home in time, after the African Nations Cup.
Wenger said: “The worry for me is fatigue because Kanu told us it is unbelievably tiring as they have had to play in 40 degrees in some games. He has lost eight pounds already and if you know Kanu, well, after losing that amount of weight you could send a paper plane to get him home.”
5 February
Mark Viduka said of the Keown incident: “All I’ll say is if I really wanted to elbow him (Keown), he’d have been lying in the back of the stand.”
Gary Neville said: “We got the score with about seven minutes to go that Southampton had equalised at Arsenal so it was a good day for us.”
Arsenal’s Ashley Cole is now sidelined by the knee ligament strain which could keep him out for three weeks, Southmapton’s Wayne Bridge seems certain to be drafted into England’s squad for the friendly against Holland.
Wenger said: “This was a disappointing result but there is still a long way to go. United will drop points. They still have some of the big teams to play. My team are up for winning the title and they will keep fighting to the very end. I am not concerned by injuries and suspensions. Kanu and Lauren will be back soon, and Francis Jeffers will soon be fit.”
Dennis Bergkamp’s appeal against his red card during Arsenal’s FA Cup fourth round win over Liverpool has been dismissed by the Football Association. A statement on the FA website on Monday said their video advisory panel had recommended that the striker’s punishment should stand.
The FA also said that Thierry Henry has not yet had a date arranged for his personal hearing regarding improper conduct following an outburst after Arsenal’s defeat to Newcastle United in December.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has told Arsenal to buy Rangers’ Barry Ferguson, according to Planet Football. “It’s so important Barry picks the right club. I think Arsenal would suit him best – we’re an attacking side.”
According to freegoal.com, another midfield option for Arsenal could be Gerard of Barcelona. The former Valencia star has been out of favour at Camp Nou for six months and could be bought out of his contract for about £13m.
Arsenal Ladies beat beat Leeds 3-0 at Borehamwood in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
George Graham has claimed he turned down the chance to be the next Scotland manager. He said: “I was approached but I just indicated that I would rather stay involved with the club side of things. I’m 57 and my next job could be my last so I want it to be the right one.”
Wenger believes Vieira has a “small chance” of recovering in time for Arsenal’s trip to Everton next Sunday.
Arsenal have scored in a record 26 Premiership games on the trot after Sylvain Wiltord’s goal against Southampton.
FA Premier.com said last week”Ten-men Arsenal beat Blackburn, Chelsea easily overcome Leeds, and Newcastle overturn a defecate to win …”
Wenger said on red cards: “There is something about the size of the pitch at home. It is tighter and more compact. We have a dynamic way of playing. Everyone defends well, and we put opponents under pressure – so there’s more physical contact. On a bigger pitch, you have less contact.” Arsenal are sixth in the latest International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) rankings. The IFFHS uses league, cup and international competition results to formulate its monthly club rankings.
Hasselbaink and van Nistelroy have caught up Thierry Henry with 18 goals in the Premiership this season.
On Man City’s latest red card, Kevin Keegan said: “If any of my players think they play like Arsenal they should have different thoughts. We are a million miles away from what they’ve achieved.”
Tony Adams said this week: “The target I have in mind is the game at Everton next Sunday. But I am determined to come back as quickly as possible. I have not ruled out carrying on playing for another year – maybe more than that.”
29 January
The Women’s FA Cup has thrown up an interesting tie:Barry Town or Doncaster Belles v Arsenal or Leeds United. Matches are to be played Feburary 10.
John Halls, 19, the young Arsenal defender who is on loan with Colchester United, has been having a bad time. He was blamed for an opposition goal, and on Saturday suffered the third loss on the trot, conceding a penalty.
Blackburn Rovers will meet Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup.
Police have launched an inquiry into the Jamie Carragher coin throwing incident and have been studying closed-circuit television footage to try to identify the initial culprits. Carragher, is likely to be interviewed by police.
The Football Association announced it would await the outcome of the police investigation before deciding whether to charge the Liverpool defender with misconduct.
Arsenal have appealed for anyone with information which could identify the coin-thrower to contact their stadium manager’s office on 020 7704 4000.
Dennis Bergkamp will miss Everton on 10 February, Bristol Rovers or Gillingham on 16 February and Fulham on 23 February.
Martin Keown also misses the Everton match and the FA Cup tie against Gillingham or Bristol Rovers.
Martin Keown will be left out of the England squad to face Holland. He will be serving the domestic ban at the time of the international. Sol Campbell therefore has a greater chance of playing.
According to the Express, Arsenal have bid £15m for PSV’s Mark van Bommel. The paper says Arsenal are van Bommel’s first choice, and allege that he has fallen out with PSV coach Eric Gerets.
Leeds United will claim at a Football Association disciplinary hearing that diving by Ashley Cole, the played a part in the dismissals of Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills when the clubs met earlier this season.
According to the company, John Letters of Scotland, the design of a new golf ball is based on a physics theory which states that the less energy absorbed by one material when it hits another the further it will travel. They say this is known as Young’s Modulus, possibly in honour of Willie Young, an Arsenal centre-half from the 70s who regularly used to put it to the test by applying his toe-end to the shins of opponents.
Arsene Wenger said: “I wouldn’t like to comment (on the sendings-off) – just to congratulate my team because they’ve had three difficult games this week and shown fantastic behaviour in the three. It was a real cup tie – I don’t think it was a dirty game. Physically there were a lot of committed challenges and our unbelievable character carried us through.”
Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle United, have all dedicated recent matches to the holocaust memorial.
Arsenal midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst reckons Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers would probably finish in the top six if they were allowed to enter the English Premier League.
Tony Adams tested his injured foot in a reserve match against Fulham this week. Adams has not played a first-team game since September 22 last year. Wenger said: “I am amazed at how quickly Tony has come back again.”
Arsenal were 10/11 with one bookie to win Sunday’s game.
According to the Observer, David Trezeguet says: “He [Patrick Vieira] called to ask for information about Juventus. He asked me what it was like to play for them. And I know he has done the same with Zidane at Real.”
Kanu claims a host of French clubs are keen to sign him. He said: “I have been told a number of clubs in France are interested in me. I have spoken to Patrick Vieira about French football.”
West Ham are ready to offer Nigel Winterburn a coaching role once he stops playing.
The S. Mirror reckons Middlesbrough are ready to offer young Arsenal striker Carlin Itonga a trial.
In order to beat stress, Wenger said: “I try to lead a life where I am physically capable to resist, and so I live my life like a sportsman. I go running or I go to the gym first thing in the morning.”
According to the Liverpool Post last week, Wenger will be hoping to avoid a stressful afternoon when Arsenal face Liverpool.
George Graham would like to get back into soccer with Aston Villa, according to the manager’s agent.
Spurs architect, Igal Yawetz, has produced plans to extend White Hart Lane’s capacity to 55,000. A third tier will be added to stands on three sides of the ground, and the club’s East Stand will be completely demolished and a new one constructed in its place.
22 January
This week in 1927, a game between Arsenal and Sheffield United was the first match broadcast on radio.
Ukraine’s CSKA Kiev are considering renaming the club Arsenal as a reminder of their military links, according to the city’s mayor. The city of Kiev is now CSKA’s majority owner .”Arsenal sounds like an appropriate name for our club – it should give us more fire power,” Mayor Olexander Omelchenko said.
Arsenal became the first Premiership club to reach 50 cautions for the campaign. But to put it in perspective, Leeds have 48 Chelsea have 49.
Freddie Ljungberg who limped off against Leeds after falling heavily and twisting his ankle could be back in three to four weeks.
Arsenal’s John Halls had a bad on-loan debut for Colchester, when he gave away the winner to Chesterfield in the 75th minute. It contrasts with Jermiane Pennant who won man of the match award at Watford, at the week-end.
Kanu, who recovered from injury came on a half-time in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Algeria, and missed several chances in the African Nations Cup. Nigerian team doctor Abdulkadir said there was some fluid on the knee and some bruising around the patella when he arrived.
Martin Keown said after the Leeds match: “It’s a good point for us. Not many teams will come here and get a point. To go a goal down here against such a good side, I think we’ve done well to get back into it – it was a hard game for us. I think we showed the quality we need if we are going to win the championship.”
Video evidence of Mark Viduka’s clash with Arsenal defender Martin Keown is to be examined by the English Football Association.
Ex-Arsenal striker Niall Quinn plans to pledge the total proceeds from a benefit game celebrating his international career to charity. Ireland v Sunderland is at the Stadium of Light on 14 May.
Spurs are reportedly set to beat Arsenal in the battle to clinch a sponsorship deal with the mobile phone operator mm02. Sponsorship deals at both clubs are coming to an end. MmO2 has refused to comment but it is understood the two clubs want £3m in addition to marketing deals worth £2m.
Bob Pires is suspended for the match against Southampton on 2 February.
Although Thierry Henry still tops the Premiership scoring charts, Ruud van Nistelroy has a higher goal/ game ratio at 0.79 to 0.76.
Arsenal were 8/5 to to win at Leeds.
Ex-Arsenal midfielder, Stefan Schwarz, 32, has rejected a loan move to Coventry. He wants to end his career by moving to former club Benfica. His wife is Portuguese.
In the indiscipline league (adding fouls, red cards and yellows in a formula) Arsenal have a total of 547, ahead of Leeds on 539 with Leicester on 522.
According to the S.Mirror, Arsenal have told Italians Parma not to bother making a bid for Kanu. Parma made contact last week but boss Arsene Wenger insists the striker is staying even though the Italians are prepared to pay about £6m.
Arsene Wenger said on referees: “They are more under pressure to stick to the rules, to use less common sense, because every week they get together and say, `Look at this foul! We should have given a yellow card there’. If you isolate them too much, keep them too much among themselves, there is only them and the rules.”
Dennis Bergkamp tops the Independent’s striker ratings charts so far this season with seven – the same as Ruud van Nistelroy. Henry is fifth.
Arsenal have given a £200m contract to build its new stadium, if and when it goes ahead, to construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine. The contract includes the construction of three bridges, roads and site infrastructure, a waste recycling centre, a council depot, office accommodation and a community sports centre.
15 January
The African News Service says the Nigeria remains optimistic that Kanu will get better in time for their opening match against Algeria on January 21. Kanu is expected to partner Germany-based Victor Agali.
Three years ago this week, Kanu joined Arsenal from Internazionale for £4.5m.
Freddie Ljungberg said:”If you look at the squad, the football we play and the fact we can improve, I think this is our best chance [of the title].”
Arsene Wenger said on the Liverpool match: “We are very disappointed and frustrated to have gone ahead but then given away a goal because we were naive. It was a collective mistake and not something you expect to happen.”
Granada is preparing to raise its stake in Arsenal Football Club to 9.9% and is negotiating a raft of new commercial rights to go with its increased investment. Granada, which bought a 5% stake in Arsenal two years ago, may be looking at commercial rights related to Arsenal’s new £400m stadium. Granada is expected to invest roughly 30 million, according to press sources.
The Guardian asks: “At the beginning of the season who would have predicted that Man Utd would be top, with Arsenal throwing away points at vital moments and Leeds losing all sense of discipline on the field. Have we ever seen a title race like it?”
The Times said: “Arsenal had a slim chance to go top, but instead played like one that on a lonesome road doth walk in fear and dread, and having once looked round walks on and turns no more his head, because he knows a fearful fiend doth close behind him tread.”
This week 54 years ago Manchester United v Arsenal drew a Football League record crowd of 83,260. The game was played at Maine Road, because of bomb damage.
Speaking on his experience in England, Robert Pires said: “I’ve even changed my look a bit. For example, I’ve let my hair grow… I can do that here in England, where we’re judged on our performance not on our appearance.”
“I’m concentrating on playing reliably so Arsene will use me every game.” Pires should be available for selection for Sunday’s match against Leeds.
Chelsea md Colin Hutchinson said on reported transfer speculation: “Emmanuel Petit has been very unfortunate with injuries, but he is still a very important member of the team.”
In their time at Arsenal, Nicolas Anelka had 0.35 goals per game to Thierry Henry’s 0.59; 77 shots on target to Henry’s 161; a shooting accuracy 47% to 54% and a conversion rate 14% to 17%.
Jermaine Pennant has moved from Arsenal to Watford on loan, and says Gianlucca Vialli wants him to create chances. He’ll be with ex-Gunners Stephen Hughes and Poalo Vernazza.
Pennant said: “I spoke with the manager and he told me I needed to go out on loan and toughen up. The First Division is the best place for me to that and I intend to use this spell as a springboard to get back into the Arsenal team.”
Tony Adams, 35, who has been out of first team action for nearly four months with a stress fracture of the foot, was forced off after just 20 minutes of his comeback game in the Arsenal reserves last week with an inflammation of the same injury.
Wenger said: “It is very frustrating for Tony but we are saying to him … don’t take any decision now. The next three or four weeks will be crucial.”
Arsenal, will play the postponed New Year’s Day fixture at Leicester City on January 23.
Arsenal Ladies beat Loughborough Students 0 7 in the Ladies FA Cup.
Darren Purse is set agree his new contract at Birmingham City this week. Purse has been tracked by Arsenal.
Patrick Vieira said: “Anything is possible. I don’t see any reason for me to leave. Now the club has the chance to have a new 60,000-seater stadium, Arsenal will be one of the big clubs in the future. I want to be part of it so I don’t see why I should want to leave.”
Not so according to a Chinese wire service: “25-year-old Patrick Vieira is set to visit C-league side Shenyang Jinde on 10 January to discuss the terms for a possible move. The Jinde club are looking to sign a seven-month on-loan deal which is worth US$ 1.8 million.”
Nicola Keown, the wife of Arsenal defender Martin Keown, says she lives a “normal life” in a village well away from London: “When we go and watch the children play football, we are just some other parents,” she told the Sunday Times.
In comparing his performance this season with last season, Sol Campbell has won 77% of tackles compared to 73% and has a pass completion rate of 80% against 70%.
Premiership referees plan to set up a legal watchdog to protect them from damaging personal attacks by players or managers. Their move follows Noel Whelan’s recent outburst against referee Andy D’Urso at Highbury.
Thierry Henry said of the Graham Poll incident after the Newcastle game: “I didn’t do anything wrong. I just wanted to ask him something. It looked bad because my team-mates were holding me back.”
The People reckons Dennis Bergkamp could leave Arsenal at the end of the season due to lack of first team chances.
It has nothing to do with a quote allegedly from him to the NoW: “As a strike partner, Nicolas Anelka was possibly the best I’ve had at Highbury in terms of understanding.”
The Sunday Mirror says: Matthew Upson, 21, is set to be rewarded with a new four-year contract.
It has emerged that Arsenal fan Frankie Dettori told off Michael Owen after he scored for Liverpool against Arsenal in the Cup Final, at a star reception.
According to the Observer, Arsenal are lining up a £3.5m move for West Brom wing-back Neil Clement.
8 January
Phil Thompson says of Michael Owen’s injury: “He will have to make sure he is 100 percent before we play him, but if he fails to make it, he will definitely be fit for the weekend trip to Arsenal.”
And on his potential replacement: “We have heard a lot about Nicolas [Anelka], but he seems a sensible intelligent young man, who if anything is a little bit shy and quiet. He has been first-class with us.”
Anelka said: “Perhaps, when I look back on the past few years, it would have been easier to have stayed and continued the progress I’d made under Arsene Wenger. It is easy to look back on Arsenal with a great deal of happiness because I had a very understanding coach who played to my strengths.”
Leeds Rio Ferdinand could miss the game against Arsenal following his injury on Sunday.
Middlesbrough striker Noel Whelan has apologised to referee Andy D’Urso for comments made after last month’s 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.
Wenger said on the Liverpool FA Cup draw: “It will obviously be a tough match for us, but we certainly have the ability to come through it, and obviously we are pleased to be drawn at home.”
The Women’s FA Cup has thrown up a strange draw: Lougborough Students or Arsenal v Newcastle or Leeds.
Arsenal defender Liam Chilvers has extended his loan deal at Second Division Notts County for an extra month. Chilvers, 20, has played eight games for the Magpies.
With Arsenal hosting Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup, they are now 5/1 second favourites with Newcastle. Manchester United are favourites.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, below, finally got his cup revenge on former Old Firm rival Ramon Vega after waiting 11 months following a 3-1 drubbing by Celtic in February.
Eric Carpenter writes in the Guardian that time should be called on David O’Leary’s hairdo. “Putting a Braun Independent on your Christmas list at the age of 43 is neither big nor clever.”
According to the Liverpool Echo, the FA CUP is only third on Arsene Wenger’s list of priorities.
It quotes Wenger as saying:”It may not be our highest priority but the FA Cup is important for us because in the last four years we’ve been in two finals and a semi-final replay. And even our foreign players know how much it means. In any case you just want to keep winning and be consistent no matter what competition it is.”
The Independent claims that Martin Keown, during the Newcastle game, at the critical moment, was seeking to apply his own unique interpretation of interactive by preventing Sky’s cameraman from doing his job.
Surprisingly Fulham have as many French first team players as Arsenal, five each according to an Observer survey, the highest number in all four leagues.
Wenger said: “I recall the first time I came to England, I said to myself: ‘Without a doubt, football was created here ‘ “There is a deeper connection between the public and the players. One never ceases to feel that.’ “
The passion says Wenger, is why all French players have improved over here.
And: “The symbolic change of power happened after the England-France match at Wembley [10 February 1999]. To come to their home and to beat them was a shock [to the English]. They suddenly understood France had overtaken them.”
And: “I am still obsessed with football, but I am more ‘cool’ now. I only spend 90 per cent of my waking hours thinking about football.”
At time of writing, the Nigerian Football Association has conceded that Kanu has made himself an exception to the deadline for preparation for the African Nations Cup.
Lauren, has told Cameroon that he has an ankle injury that would be best treated in England, allowing him the possibility to play against Liverpool, and then catch up with his countrymen in Mali.
Arsenal may head the yellow and red card league, but not the ‘foul’ league. That ‘honour’ goes to Everton with 363. Arsenal recorded 354 to date.
Thierry Henry is out in front in the all competitions scoring charts, but Ruud van Nistelroy is catching up with 20. Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord are on nine.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Arsene Wenger is having Crystal Palace’s £10m rated striker Clinton Morrisson checked out.
Denis Irwin says he’ll get his eighth title medal if Manchester United beat Arsenal at Old Trafford in April : “If we finish above Arsenal, I’m pretty confident that we’ll keep the title.”
Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira have made it to UEFA’s team of 2001.