Arsenal Category
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Uncanny Lookalikes: Arsenal Players Kieran Gibbs And Oxlade-Chamberlain (Spotted By Andre Marriner)
ARSENAL were two goals down to Chelsea when referee Andre Marriner sent off Kieran Gibbs for playing goalkeeper. Gunners fans will ague that the ball wasn’t going in, so it can’t be a red-card offence.
But any argument directed at Marriner will fall on deaf ears. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tried to tell the ref that it was he and not Gibbs who’d used a hand to stop the shot going out for a goal kick. Oxlade-Chamberlain could be seen telling Marriner “It was me”.
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Arsenal Balls: Ozil’s Convenient Humiliation
ARSENAL Balls: The Sun’s Steven Howard has more to say on Mesut Ozil, who suffered a hamstring injury against Bayern Munich:
EURO FOOTNOTE: MESUT OZIL has been flayed alive after his poor display at the Allianz Arena.
Mainly by reporters who filed their copy before it as realised the German player was injured. One writer went as far as to say hurting your hamstring is an “humiliation”. We look out for footballers being shamed by broken limbs and embarrassed by concussion.
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Arsenal Balls: Ozil Is ‘Humiliated’ By His Injury
WHAT did the Press say about Arsenal’s Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich? Well, most focused on Mesut Ozil:
In the rush to be first with the news The Metro posted this:
The Germany play-maker, who scored and turned in a fantastic shift for the Gunners against Everton at the weekend, had to come off at half-time during the clash with Bayern. It was initially thought that the substitution was tactical, with Tomas Rosicky coming on, but it later emerged that Ozil has picked up a knock.
No. Not a knock. He was carrying an injury.
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Arsenal Balls: Per Mertesacker Happy Reads The BFG
ARSENAL’S big German defender Per Mertesacker was pleased to find a book all about him at his local Islington library.
Spotter: Pies
Arsenal Balls: Manchester United Pay £7m Over Asking Price For Thomas Vermaelen
ARSENAL Balls: The Sun leads with an “exclusive” on “Arsenal misfit” Thomas Vermaelen.
DAVID MOYES has targeted Arsenal misfit Thomas Vermaelen to replace Manchester United hero Nemanja Vidic. The Belgian central defender is no longer a regular at the Emirates, but the Gunners would still demand a £12million fee from one of their rivals.
He is a close pal of Robin van Persie and the pair share the same agent in Kees Vos.
Why Arsenal would sell another captain to a rival side – and why the Belgian would want to play for an average United team from which Van Persie might well depart in the summer – is a mute point for the Sun’s Charlie Wyett. As is the news that his exclusive is that the player said back in 2012:
“I have no intention of leaving this club. I feel at home in London and I feel that I have become a real Gunner. Arsenal is my club. In my eyes, they belong to the absolute elite of European top clubs. When I was young, I dreamed of playing for Ajax and Arsenal. Both dreams have come true.”
In November 2013, he said:
“I keep reading stories that I want to leave. But that’s not the case.”
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Posted: 9th, March 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Sky Sports Presenter Calls Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker A ‘Big F***ing German’
ON Sky Sports, German Sky TV journalist Christopher Lymberopoulos calls Arsenal’s tall Per Mertesacker “a big f****ng German”.
And with that a chant is reborn. Cue the BFG:
Arsenal Balls: Theo Walcott Eats, Shoots And Leaves
THEO Walcott is going to be adad for the first time. The Arsenal winger is delighted.
His wife, Mrs Melanie Walcott, is simply amazed. She tells Hello!:
“I was quite taken aback by how quickly it happened.”
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Destroys Arsenal And The Daily Mirror
IN the Daily Mirror, stereotypical shy, conservative Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic is talking about Arsenal, the team he never did sign for:
“England is a very strong league, with three or four of the best teams in Europe – but, if I had played there, I would have destroyed it, like I have everywhere else. Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows – but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more, Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?”
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1954: Arsenal Players Lark About In Dressing Room Before Moscow Match
FLASHBACK to September 30th 1954: – Arsenal players at the Highbury ground, North London.
Centre forward Tommy Lawton tries on a Russian fur hat in the Arsenal dressing room as a preliminary to Sunday’s trip to Dynamo Moscow with the ‘Gunners’. Other Arsenal players are – left to right – Alex Forbes, Walley Barnes and Jack Kelsey.
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Posted: 23rd, February 2014 | In: Arsenal, Flashback, Sports | Comment
Arsenal Balls: The Dennis Bergkamp Statue Captures A Sublime Moment In Time
Arsenal Balls: Arjen Robben’s Sweaty Palms Land Him In A Spit Of Bother
MOST football fans would like to believe that Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben spat on Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna during their Champions League last-16 tie at the Emirates. It’s not because we dislike the French defender; it’s because we think Robben is an irritating tosser. Being annoying is not an offence worthy of sanction, unlike spitting, say, which is.
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Arsenal Balls: Robbie Savage Tips Gunners To Finish 1st, Second And Fifth
ROBBIE Savage Watch: in this week’s opinion to deadline, Savage tells his Daily Mirror readers (Feb 6):
Football’s Mr Marmite is sticking with the Gunners when many predict a repeat of the 2011 collapse which saw three trophies go up in smoke in just a few days…
Those would be the Gunners Savage tipped to finish fifth?
Three months ago in this column, I revised my pre-season prediction that Arsenal would finish outside the top four, and said what other pundits could not bring themselves to admit – namely that Wenger could win the title this season. And although Manchester City, my tips before a ball was kicked last August, have the superior firepower, I’m not deserting the Gunners just yet.
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Arsenal Balls: Cracking Photo Of Kim Kallstrom In 1999
ARSENAL FC new boy Kim Kallstrom as seen in his 1999 Panini sticker pose:
Arsenal Sign Language Balls: Jack Wilshere Was Asking Manchester City For The Toilet
ARSENAL’S Jack Wilshere is innocent. Sure, it looked as if he was giving Manchester City fans the finger at the Etihad.
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Manchester City’s Pelligrini And Arsenal’s Wenger Are No Alexis Fergusoni
JOHN Dillon says Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini “realises being cool doesn’t count if you can’t add up”. Had City scored more they would have topped their Champions League group. This, it turns out, is a sign of foreign stupidity.
Here’s something that English coaches can do which apparently not all of their highly exalted foreign rivals can manage. They can count.
If Pellegrini’s oversight is a sign of foreign idiocy are Alan “exciting” Shearer’s bon mots symbols of English brain power?
Pelligrini might look like an accountant, but it turns out he’s not all that good with numbers.
Pellegrini, however, belied his suave, refined image and miscalculated… The fashion during the last decade or so has been for imported bosses. They are seen as more sophisticated, cooler, more advanced and more tactically inventive and flexible than their British counterparts.
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Arsenal Balls: ‘Gunzalo’ Higuain Weeps For ‘Dire’, ‘Superb’ And ‘Assured’ Gunners
HOW bad or good were Arsenal in last night’ Champions League defeat to Napoli? The Gunners qualified the contest’s knock-out stages in second place.
Daily Mail: “Napoli 2 Arsenal 0: Slack Gunners are let off the hook after Higuain and Callejon bag a goal apiece as Arteta sees red”
Arsenal had looked so assured, so accomplished as they saw off the threat of Napoli’s braying mob up in the stands and the willing figures doing the running for them on the field. Then it went wrong — badly wrong. Gonzalo Higuain scored for Napoli after 73 minutes and Mikel Arteta was sent off two minutes later for a second booking. As captain of Arsenal he ought to know better.
The Serie A side began brightly, but were restricted to few opportunities by a resilient Arsenal defence in the first-half…
Arsenal started to become more of a threat and in-form striker Olivier Giroud had a superb chance to silence the home fans, but saw his shot stopped by Napoli goalkeeper Rafael Cabral. As the first-half went on the Gunners continued to frustrate and restricted the home side to few clear cut chances.
As the match entered the final 18 minutes, Arsenal began to unravel slightly as Higuain turned Metesacker and struck a low effort into the bottom corner to give Napoli the lead. Only three minutes later Arteta, already on a booking, brought down Callejon and was given his marching orders by referee Viktor Kassai.
Arsène Wenger’s team are in the knockout phase of the Champions League for the 14th season in succession and, in truth, their progress was never in doubt…
Arteta and Flamini exerted their influence, Santi Cazorla delighted in little bursts and Laurent Koscielny showed his composure on the ball, Arsenal gained control…
Arsenal kept their composure and, although Callejón went through to lob Szczesny, the die was cast.
Arsenal stood firm early on. Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny were stoic in central defence, while Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky marshalled the midfield with quiet defiance.
Or as the Mirror puts it: Arsenal were “dire” and have suffered a “devastating” set back”.
If you want to see just how devastating it all was for Arsenal, look at Gonzalo Higuain weeping in the above photos. And, of course, as the Sun tells us, Gonzalo is a Gunzalo the Gooner…
Arsenal & Manchester United Balls: Wise Garth Crooks’ Puts His Champagne On Ice
GARTH Crooks, the most earnest man in sport, for whom every comment is weighed with the wisdom of Solomon and the pressed palms of a Saint contemplating the spiritual meaning of a John Terry header. And then he pauses. As if deep in thought. And then speaks slowly in short sentences, so that scribes may best be able to jot down his words exactly. He picks. His team. Of the week. For the BBC. It’s not a team, of course. It’s just XI names who have done well over the previous Premier League weekend. This week he made his choices.
Garth gaze upon Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey:
I don’t think there can be any greater accolade than when a former player acknowledges respect for his former club by not celebrating a goal.
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Posted: 4th, December 2013 | In: Arsenal, Sports, Spurs | Comment
Arsenal Balls: Flamini and Gunnersaurus Are Fit To Wear The Shirt
SO. Arsenal’s feisty midfield Mathieu Flamini will abide by the club’s shirt-sleeve rule that states all players must wear the same shirt as the captain – long sleeves or shot sleeves. Flamini, a Frenchman, is not cut from the same satin-lined cloth as compatriot and former Gunner Samir Nasri who has favoured the snood and gloves ensemble.
Flamini is a man for short sleeves in all weathers. Before Arsenal’s games against Manchester United and his native Marseilles, Flamini broke the club rule by cutting the long sleeves off (see above).
Today he went with the rule book and opted for long sleeves rolled up. And he duly scored against Cardiff City.
Were the sleeves lucky for Flamini? Maybe. What is certain is that this Arsenal tradition is bunkum. Gunnersaurus wears short sleeves. And he’s 120million years old. Short sleeves it is and should be. Always.
Arsenal Balls: Liverpool Legend Says Spurs Show Wenger The Right Way Forward
ON August 31, Graeme Souness told Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger that football is “not rocket science”. The Gunners need not shoot for the moon. The former Liverpool tough nut wrote in the Sunday Times:
Once again, Arsenal have neglected to bolster the spine of their faltering team as rivals Spurs stock up on talent
And:
Spurs raise stakes and shame Wenger
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Arsenal Balls: Giroud Goes From Critics’ Zero To Know-All Hacks’ Hero
HOW well are Arsenal doing with Olivier Giroud in attack? John Cross knows. He writes in the Mirror:
Giroud may not be Suarez but he is a key reason why Arsenal are top of the Premier League.
No “may” about it. He isn’t. He’s Olivier Giroud. He “leaves the critics on their knees”.
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Arsenal Balls: Reasons Why Spurs Will Finish Above Arsenal (According To Experts)
THE Daily Arsenal: Spurs have been thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City. Arsenal are top of the Premier League. Let’s review what the experts said:
Gary Lineker: “I think they’ll probably finish above Arsenal. Well, the interesting thing is that normally clubs… if they sell a huge player, they always say, oh, we’ll spend the money, we’ll put it back in the team but they invariably don’t, whereas at least you can say for Spurs they’ve had a plan and they’ve spent that money – and they’ve spent it actually before they got it really – so I think actually they’ve bought pretty well on the whole.”
Harry Redknapp: “I wouldn’t compare the two squads. Tottenham are much stronger, no doubt. There’s no reason they can’t challenge to win the league. They can be bang there. They’ll finish top four and who knows where they could finish after that?”
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Posted: 24th, November 2013 | In: Arsenal, Sports, Spurs | Comment
Daily Arsenal: Jack Wilshere’s Non-Injury Injury Row
ON Thursday, the Daily Mail led its sports coverage with the news that Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was crocked and in another “contentious” episode:
Jack Wilshere is involved in another club versus country row after suffering an ankle injury against Germany.
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Transfer Balls: The 15 Players Arsenal Are Buying In January
TRANSFER Balls: A look at Arsenal speculation presented as fact in the nation’s Press. Last summer, the media reported that no fewer than 38 players were heading to Arsenal. Can they better that number in the January transfer window? These from today:
Daily Star: Julian Draxler
Football.co.uk: Diego Costa
GiveMeSport: Stephan el Shaarawy
Tribal Football: Carles Alenà, Carles Pérez and Ayoub Abiu Oulam.
GiveMeSport: Abdisalam Ibrahim
SoccerLens: Zakaria Bakkali
GiveMeSport: Pirlo
GivMeSport: Angel Di Maria
Ten more names for the pot.
This comes after other names were introduced this week: Cesc Fabregas, Robert Lewandowski, Toni Sanabria, Halilovic and Alessio Cerci.
Fifteen names so far heading to Arsenal. Any more we’ve missed?
Transfer Balls: Fabregas, Lewandowski, Sanabria, Draxler, Halilovic and Cerci To Arsenal
TRANSFER Balls: Anorak’s look at the movers and non-movers in the January transfer window. Let’s begin with a look at Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas. These headlines are all from this month:
Fabregas joins Arsenal!
IB Times: “Fabregas Hints That Heart Remains At Arsenal”
Fabregas stays at Barcelona!
Daily Star: “Arsenal and Man Utd handed Fabregas setback as Spaniard rules out transfer from Barcelona”
Fabregas leaves!
CaughtOffside: “C Barcelona midfield player Cesc Fabregas has dropped a massive hint that he is not happy with his current playing situation at Camp Nou”
Any other players heading to The Gunners?
GiveMeSport: “One man who Arsenal have been linked with is Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski.”
And there are more.
Daily Star: “Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City set to poach starlet Toni Sanabria from Barcelona”
Daily Express: “Julian Draxler entertains ‘dream’ move to Arsenal or Manchester United”
The Hard Tackle: “Arsenal FC Look To Snatch Halilovic Under The Nose of Tottenham Hotspur”
Talk Sport: “The January transfer window is just around the corner and Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and Spurs are all thought to be vying for the signature of 26-year-old Italian, Alessio Cerci.”
Add it to the 38 players Arsenal ‘bought’ over the summer.
Such are the facts…
