By Ian Grant
5 April
The Western Mail said Arsenal resembled a squadron of spitfires attacking out of the hazy sun, last Saturday.
Arsenal have set a club record by scoring in 33 consecutive League games, including every one this season.
Charlton were unbeaten in 12 London derbies since Boxing Day 2000.
The Premiership hotshot race is almost as exciting as the title itself. Theirry Henry with 22 goals has moved ahead of Hasselbaink and van Nistelrooy both with 21.
On-loan Arsenal winger Jerome Thomas, caused mayhem down the left flank for QPR against Notts County on Saturday.
Pires said he also expected Arsenal to flourish despite his absence and take the league and FA Cup double: “This is our time. We’re very strong and we’re not afraid of anybody. I’ve already won everything with France so, in one way, if I do miss the World Cup it’s not such a drama – but I have no trophies with Arsenal. At the end of a career, it doesn’t matter if someone says that you were a top player. What counts is what you win. You’re only a top player if you’re a winner.”
Arsenal are now 4-6 to land the title.
Sefan Iversen said:”We know how much it means to our fans for us to win and stop Arsenal.” Glenn Hoddle said: “We have some tough games coming up and a depleted and fatigued squad, but the incentive is there.”
Arsenal have suddenly borne a reputation for scoring in early bursts. But the number of goals relative to the 15 minute match sequences this season reads: 10, 11, 11, 10, 10, 14.
Juan Sebastian Veron could be out of action for up to a month. Manchester United’s record £28million signing has been sidelined with an Achilles problem.
At time of going to press, papers are reporting that Ashley Cole is likely to be out for at least six weeks after picking up a medial ligament injury.
Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports. “He says it is not as bad as the first time. He looks optimistic, but he will be out for Saturday. He tried to play on with it but he couldn’t.” Wenger thinks he’ll be OK for the World Cup though.
Arsenal ladies crisis? Arsenal were beaten 2-1 by Toulouse, in the quarter-finals, second leg of the inaugural Uefa Women’s Cup. Fulham have made a transfer bid for Angela Banks, the England forward, described as a disgrace by manager Vic Akers. Marieanne Spacey, the striker, confirmed her decision to retire next month.
Spacey said: “I stayed on this year so I could play in Europe, but I won’t be changing my mind. Hopefully I’ll stay with the club on the coaching side, but I’m definitely going to stop playing.”
Young Djibril Cisse, being chased by the Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal says he is determined to stay with Auxerre for at least one more season. “My brother and I have formed a career plan that sees me spending one more year in Burgundy,” said Cisse on www.onefootball.com.
Liverpool’s Patrick Berger said: “We are up there with the best and on a par with Manchester United, Arsenal and the best in Europe.
Arsenal’s game in hand at home against West Ham has been rescheduled for April 24. The Manchester United game will take place either on the May 5 or 8 – depending on whether Arsenal reach the FA Cup final.
Sylvain Wiltord isn’t shy about moving, according to the Planet Football website. “If another big club was to offer me more of a goalscoring role then I would leave.” (www.planetfootball.com).
The NoW says Wiltord would consider leaving Highbury if Arsenal persist in playing him in midfield rather than up front.
The People says Barcelona will make Rivaldo available at £10m at the end of the season, with Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle and Chelsea nominated by the Brazilian as possible destinations.
The NoW says Lazio may tempt Arsenal with a £12m bid for Freddie Ljungberg.
The Scottish Daily Record says: “Baz [Barry Ferguson] looks certain to leave in the summer with Liverpool, Leeds United and Arsenal watching his progress.
Following Newcastle’s Freddie Shepherd’s adopt a club scheme, the Mirror says Arsenal could adopt QPR with the latter’s best young players transferring and joint marketing deals.
This week in 1979, Arsenal reach the FA Cup final for the second consecutive year by beating Wolves 2-0 at Villa Park with goals from Frank Stapleton and Alan Sunderland.
The Express on Sunday reckons a figure of about £5 million is likely to be the starting point for any negotiations for Gavin McCann. Arsenal and Spurs are allegedly interested.
ANR understands, star architect Piers Gough, who met the author of this column recently, has a number of startling housing blocks planned around the new Arsenal stadium.
The Sunday Mirror says Arsene Wenger has been alerted by Damien Duff’s claim that he will leave Ewood Park if Blackburn are relegated. The Arsenal manager needs left-sided cover following injuries to Robert Pires and Giovanni van Bronckhorst and could launch a £12m bid.
Francis Jeffers and Edu are likely to be part of Arsenal’s cost-cutting clear-out, according to the People, which says the Gunners want to bring back Marc Overmars from Barcelona on a 12-month loan while Pires recovers from injury.
Arsene Wenger has revealed that Kanu has a niggling knee injury, but is prepared to play through the pain for Arsenal. “When you are a manager and you play him, it is like having another coach on the field. He is a very important figure for us.”
Bet Direct offer 2-1 for 1st Arsenal, 2nd Liverpool, 3rd Man Utd.
Fabien Barthez says: “At Manchester United, and also the French national side, they understand that footballers are not robots. That is not the situation at other clubs. It is not easy to ask one’s manager for a breather. For clubs like Arsenal, United or Real Madrid, all their matches are important and they always need everybody. Even when they play the bottom team in the league, they’ll be up against a side treating it as their game of the season.”
Arsenal was the 12th most popular term in the MSN search engine last week. It was the only football team among names such as Will Young and Bob the Builder, Harry Potter and Barbie.
The Evening Times (Scotland) says, Barcelona’s Frank De Boer’s on a Bosman and has been linked in Spain with a move to Arsenal next season.
29 March
Last month Giovanni van Bronckhorst, had a similar operation to Pires’s, which will rule out the Dutchman for most of 2002.
Pires said:”I know I’ll have to watch the World Cup from the sidelines. Obviously it’s tough, as every player wants to play in such an event, but I’m not going to cry over myself.”
Roger Lemerre said: “What we must realise is that some of our players, like Robert or like Thierry Henry, are weakened because they have already played a lot of matches. Some of them must have played over 40 or 50 games since the season started.”
The long-term absences of Van Bronckhorst and Pires could force Wenger to rethink his summer transfer strategy, says one paper. Arsenal have PSV midfielder Mark van Bommel in their sights, but they may now make a left-sided attacker a priority, with the return of Marc Overmars from Barcelona a possibility.
Another said Wenger may switch Freddie Ljungberg to the left and use Sylvain Wiltord or, when fit again, Ray Parlour opposite.
Pires said on the injury: “On this particular move, I was not focused on what I was doing. When I leapt to avoid the tackle I was not ready to land on the ground. In my head I felt weak at this very moment. I was not paying full attention. If you add some tiredness to this, it was just enough for my knee to twist. I don’t want to put the blame on someone or on something. There might be tiredness stemming from playing so often, but I have always liked to play every three or four days and I am not going to change my mind now.”
Ashley Cole has suffered a reaction to his knee ligament injury, training for England.
Despite the loss of Pires, Beckham still regards Arsenal as favourites for the Premiership title
French team boss Roger Lemerre said:”I think it will affect the whole of France. It is sad news for the world of sport. Pires symbolises the values and the qualities of the French team. And to be honest with you, I am finding it difficult trying to get over the news.”
One paper pointed out the left flank has been unlucky for Arsenal, with Ashley Cole, Matthew Upson and Van Bronckhorst all sustaining injuries.
Patrick Vieira has publicly confirmed for the first time that he is talking about a new contract that will keep him at Arsenal until 2005.
Vieira said: “If I stay it is because I want to win. It has nothing to do with being in a good country. I have two seasons left on my contract at Arsenal and my position is clear. My life with Arsene Wenger is fantastic and I have started to talk with my club about another contract.
“London is one of the most beautiful capitals in Europe and I like the way Arsenal is run. It is a quiet club. You never see anybody from the office on the pitch.”
Wenger somewhat unusually said: “I guarantee it [Arsenal winning the championship, 100 per cent. I hope Sir Alex Ferguson is watching, because he will be seeing the Premiership champions.”
Arsenal went evens from 13-8 to win the Premiership title with Hill’s, despite not playing a league game over the weekend.
According to www.footballrtransfers.net, Arsenal and Spurs have joined Liverpool in the race for the Parma defender Martin Djetou. The Frenchman would cost £5m.
There is speculation that Fabio Cannavaro is also likely to leave the Italian strugglers in the summer. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal were all alerted when the centre-back said: “The club is looking at its options and I will make a decision at the end of the season.”
Liverpool’s victory came at a cost on Saturday: a groin strain is likely to keep Gerrard out of action for a fortnight and a foot injury that left Riise requiring X-rays after the final whistle.
Harry Redknapp agreed to replace sacked Graham Rix as manager of Portsmouth.
The new date television bosses want for the league showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal is May 7 or 8 in the final week of the league season.
Arsenal’s FA Cup Final loss could be blamed blamed the bad vibes on the Bristol Channel and railway lines running behind the Taff End of the stadium, according to Feng Shui guru Paul, from Nottingham. He said if stadium bosses want it to remain permanent they will have to paint one wall red.
Hills make Arsenal 16-5 to complete the League-FA Cup double.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona are all monitoring Sunderland keeper Thomas Sorensen.
Paul Ince will miss the FA semi with Arsenal after being booked on Saturday for handling when he stopped a Paul Scholes cross from hitting his face.
Pires was best player in the Independent’s Premiership Index on 7.
Leicester have nearly overtaken Arsenal in the bad boys league with 64 yellows and five reds, to Arsenal’s 63 and 6.