By Ian Grant
DECEMBER
The Jekyll and Hyde performances continue – but you can’t criticise too much when Arsenal are top of their leagues.
Cole and Keown continued an underlying theme of the season being charged by the FA.
The capturing of Philippe Senderos, to add to the growing collection of young talent at Arsenal, is fantastic news… and a good note to end what has been a great year for Arsenal Football Club:
Servette defender Philippe Senderos will join Arsenal at the end of the season. The 17-year-old central defender with the Swiss club, said to be the hottest young property in European football, spurned overtures from Sir Alex
Ferguson and Gerard Houllier, and was wanted by other European clubs.
The fee is said to be in the region of £500,000 and one of the reasons was that Arsenal would let him carry on with his education. He is good at history, apparently.
Martin Keown has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following his spat with Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in the game at Old Trafford earlier this month. …
FAME Academy voice coach Carrie Grant has got a new challenge – teaching Arsenal fans to sing. The red head, an avid Gunners fan, has been recruited by brewer Carling to pass on a few hints to fellow fans in the Highbury
stands.
According to the Sunday Times, transfer speculation ‘in’ focuses on Danny Mills, Stephen Carr and Stephane Dalmat while the ‘outs’ feature Francis Jeffers and Igors Stepanovs.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Arsenal are interested in Geremi, following reports Middlesbrough are stalling on a £8m permanent deal.
Ronaldo said he harbours dreams of playing for Arsenal or Man U one day.
Johan Cruyff believes this year’s European Player of the Year award should have gone to Arsenal’s Thierry Henry and not Ronaldo.
Arsenal have won the most corners in the Premiership this season at 135.
Luton manager Joe Kinnear is ready to offer former Arsenal striker Christopher Wreh the chance to relaunch his career in England when the transfer window reopens next month.
Lauren, 25, announced his retirement from the Cameroon international team.
It is the first time Arsenal have lead the Premiership on Christmas day. The previous two occasions in 1986 and 1989, they finished fourth both times.
Manchester United and Arsenal could be on a collision course over the of their crucial Premier League fixture at Highbury from Easter Monday. Man U want it earlier. Arsenal want it later.
Robert Pires has confirmed in French sports paper L’Equipe that he has opened negotiations with the club over extending his contract by two years to 2006.
Dennis Bergkamp, has been found guilty of improper conduct during the Blackburn game and fined £5,000 by the FA.
In the BBC documentary on David Seaman he said: “There’s no way a goalkeeper can say, `I’m not going to make a mistake’,” His agent co-produced the programme incidentally.
Bob Wilson believes that David Seaman is capable of playing on at the top level beyond the end of this season.
Les Ferdinand is banned for three matches after his sending-off in a reserve game against local rivals Arsenal following a tussle with Stathis Tavlaradis.
Rumours of Arsenal and Spurs playing permanently at Wembley were scuppered by Brent Council planners last week.
Meanwhile, the club has asked the merchant bank Rothschilds to seek the backing of two more banks to raise a £200m loan, which will be secured on the value of the land and on the future income of the club. The plan is due to be examined by the banks’ credit committees this week.
Robert Pires has written off Liverpool’s title chances and warned that Merseyside rivals Everton pose a bigger threat to Arsenal’s bid to retain their Premiership crown.
Valencia’s Miguel Angel Angulo was banned for their next three Champions League matches by European soccer’s governing body UEFA after his sending off against Arsenal.
Graham Poll will take charge of Arsenal’s Boxing Day game at West Bromwich – his first Gunners’ game since his infamous bust-up with Thierry Henry 12 months ago.
By the Independent’s reckoning, Patrick Vieira is the best player at the club on 6.9/10 for the season.
Wenger said: “There is a long way to go and we have decided to go from game to game. It is difficult to maintain the level of concentration and commitment for 11 months. You have dips, subconscious ones.”
Arsene Wenger revealed he consulted Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier as he aims to bridge the recent gap in class between sides from the Premiership and La Liga. Valencia beat Liverpool twice in this year’s Champions League
ties.
The Football Association will investigate the clash between Martin Keown and Ruud van Nistelrooy during the match at Old Trafford on Saturday. Keown has accused van Nistelrooy of provoking him, by threading on his foot. He is the
fourth Arsenal player this season to be investigated by the Football Association for on-the-field misconduct.
According to the Daily Star, one of the reasons Arsenal lost on Saturday was that they were staying in the Lowry Hotel, the same time as Coronation Street’s Christmas bash. At one stage Arsenal officials asked the hotel’s security staff if the noise could be toned down.
Manchester United went from 7-2 to 7-4 to win the Premiership with Blue after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Paul Merson told the Express he has serious doubts as to whether Matthew Upson has got what it takes to make it at Arsenal. Upson is back At Arsenal after three months on loan at Reading.
Upson says he will quit Highbury if he fails to win a place in the Arsenal side. He said: “I will keep my head down, work hard and see what happens, but if I don’t make it then I will definitely have to leave for the sake of my career.”
Robert Pires, back in action after seven months out with a knee injury, told Reuters he is expecting to reach his best form in March next year.
Thierry Henry, prior to the Valencia game was branded a show pony who goes missing in big matches by Valencia midfielder Vicente Rodriguez.
Arsene Wenger warned Arsenal to use their defeat at Old Trafford as a “wake-up call” even though he defiantly insisted it would be “crazy” to under-estimate their title chances.
The Irish Times said Wenger’s boast that Arsenal could go through the season unbeaten, “is a certain entry in the “Famous Last Words” section of Cassell’s Sports Quotations.”
According to Football 365, Arsenal are still hoping to add to their batallion of goalkeepers, with the next recruit likely to be Bastia’s Nicolas Penneteau.
Oxford United edged past their local rivals Swindon and were rewarded with a trip to holders Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper and football presenter Bob Wilson advised Jerzy Dudek that, “When I made a mistake I couldn’t sleep, paced around all night and drank a lot of tea.”
Meanwhile Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack, who is on loan at Beveren, does things differently. He has become the toast of Belgian football after punching fans who ran on to the pitch following his side’s 3-1 win over Antwerp.
Granada has yet to make a £30million payment towards building Arsenal’s new soccer stadium. Granada agreed the payment as part of a deal to take a stake in the football club four years ago. However, after the collapse of
ITV Digital there have been worries over the financial state of the company.
Arsene Wenger will oppose any moves to lure unheralded assistant Pat Rice away from Highbury. Rice has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant England coaching post.
The lack of Francis Jeffers’ first team appearances is saving Arsenal money. Everton would collect another £1m after Jeffers started 30 games for Arsenal and another £1m for his next 30 starts. In 18 months Jeffers has started just five games for Arsenal.
Tony Adams said: “The most crucial area of any game is getting the numbers and balance right in midfield. Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires are wonderful players going forward, but I don’t think you can play them both
away from home.” He predicted a United win last weekend.
The Sunday Mirror says Real Madrid have gone public with their interest in Thierry Henry. A spokesman said: “Even though the club have signed Ronaldo, they would always be interested in Henry.”
Early December
Arsenal remain the team to beat in the Premiership, according to Kenny Dalglish, the former Liverpool player and manager. He said that double winners of the quality of Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry were so good that
you really have to go and watch them.
Ashley Cole, the Arsenal has been charged with misconduct for alleged remarks to referee Paul Durkin after the 3-2 Premiership defeat at Southampton last month. The England left-back has been charged under rule E2 which refers to insulting and/or abusive language or behaviour to a match
official. He has 14 days to respond.
Thierry Henry joined Zola and Shearer and Beattie heading the Premiership scoring charts on nine goals this season. Wiltord, van Nistelroy, Owen and Anelka have eight apiece.
Wenger said on Henry: “I think every team that plays against us is worried about him. He is extremely strong and recovers so well. You need a special strength to deliver that kind of performance.” He added that Henry has to remain humble to further improve.
“Heading is certainly the main area where he can improve as he can jump to the sky if he wants. It’s just a decision that he has to make – do I want to be strong heading the ball? Once he has made that decision, he will be it as
he has the technique to do it. He’s already frightening without it. With it, he will be even more so.”
Wenger hailed Thierry Henry as better than Brazil’s World Cup hero Ronaldo after the French striker made it five goals in two games, and is one of the favourites to win European footballer of the Year award.
Arsenal moved to 1-2 favourites for the title after the week-end matches. Man U went from 9-2 from7-2 from 9-2 Manchester United to win the Premiership with Blue Square with Liverpool, who have been eased from 11-4
to 7-2.
Ron Atkinson said the more Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva play together, the better they become as a pair. “People might think of them as defensive midfielders but we saw again on Saturday how their partnership has made
Arsenal an even stronger attacking force.” Ron Atkinson expects Vieira to score ten a season, if his shooting improves.
However he blew it when German cable TV viewers heard what he said off air during the Roma match: “He actually looks a little t**t, that Totti. I haven’t been a big fan … Are there any sandwiches?”
Spanish international keeper Jose Canizares looks set to miss Valencia’s Champions League Group B clash at Arsenal next Tuesday after being carried off in the 0-0 draw at Alaves with a knee injury.
Pires said: “When you are in this team, with the atmosphere at Highbury, you just want to be back as quickly as possible. I am getting stronger and will last the whole 90 minutes at my best very soon. I’m feeling better and
better.”
Arsenal had the second youngest team out on Saturday at 25 years 3 months. Spurs had the eldest at 29.3 months.
According to the People, Roy Keane is being lined up for a return in Manchester United’s Premiership title crunch with Arsenal tomorrow. And it says David Beckham could also be back after his rib injury.
Wenger said of Kolo Toure’s brother who plays for feeder club Beveren: “He is still young (19) but he has true potential. I see Yaya Toure as a future great player for Arsenal.”
However, his manager at Beveren and Arsenal players, Stack and Halls say although he has more talent, he takes it easy too often and doesn’t have the personality of his elder brother
George Graham was 58 this week.