Arsenal FC - Ashburton Grove

[deathblade]

The headline making striker from Brazil ( Washington) could be making his way to Arsenal............... Meanwhile Duckfooted Wiltord could be on his way out juz after one season........with francis Jeffers also rumoured to be in...........:)

[sianz]

sigh..that's so sad, jeffers leaving everton. :(

[fatherboard]

well just dun make arsenal into a samba squad, is alright.
for Wahington, it seems like ok only.
as for Wiltord, please leave, his performance is not the best this season.
let's see if Sol Campbell is coming in, and Jeffers will certainly be another Nicholas Anelka in making. Talking about GK, it seems that Dudek is not coming, Feynoord keeps delaying the 10million pounds deal. While Gunners continue to search for a new GK, and being reported that Juve's Van Der Sar is being targetted for 6.5million.
while let's hope for some serious BIG signings this season for the gunners.
Wonder if Beckham or Anderton will comes too.....

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally posted by fatherboard
well just dun make arsenal into a samba squad, is alright.
for Wahington, it seems like ok only.
as for Wiltord, please leave, his performance is not the best this season.
let's see if Sol Campbell is coming in, and Jeffers will certainly be another Nicholas Anelka in making. Talking about GK, it seems that Dudek is not coming, Feynoord keeps delaying the 10million pounds deal. While Gunners continue to search for a new GK, and being reported that Juve's Van Der Sar is being targetted for 6.5million.
while let's hope for some serious BIG signings this season for the gunners.
Wonder if Beckham or Anderton will comes too.....

yes i believe they have table a bid for edwin at 6.5 million pounds
and they have oso made inquires on the availablities of alpay...
hope they can get better central defenders to cover for the aging
defenders... anyway i believe they need the right defender badly
cos as a wing back you need speed to counter the attacking wing
and dixon is just too old for that (as we can see in the FA cup
finals)....

[raveness]

EH!!! all the old threads gone ah??? :~~~(

[killu4ever]

yeah man everything is gone so tt bossman can post more crap hehehe :D

[ESP]

I heard that Arsenal is getting a new stadium?? Is that true??:)

Anyway, wat's so bad about this bossman??

[Arsene_Wenger]

i think it is expanding their stadium..but it is good..

[yellowsubmarine]

They should use Wembley, then Wembley no need to be demolished liao.

[raveness]

Originally posted by yellowsubmarine
They should use Wembley, then Wembley no need to be demolished liao.

YAHLOR!!! was soo hoping tat they would just move in to wembly :(
but hor...they kept losing there leh...:P haha

[fire]

Originally posted by fatherboard
Talking about GK, it seems that Dudek is not coming, Feynoord keeps delaying the 10million pounds deal. While Gunners continue to search for a new GK, and being reported that Juve's Van Der Sar is being targetted for 6.5million.


I believe Feynoord is not delaying the deal rather it is Arsenal who is refusing to pay the amt of 10million pound for Dudek...

[deathblade]

Originally posted by fire


I believe Feynoord is not delaying the deal rather it is Arsenal who is refusing to pay the amt of 10million pound for Dudek...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually it was rumoured that Dudek is a bit hesitant for he wants to play first team football to improve his chance in the international arena....... Anyway, 10 million for Dudek IS a bit steep...... Can't remember how much MU paid for Barthez......... Still think Wenger should go for Italian keeper, Toldo. Wenger is now trying to go after Nakata again......

[JirQUEST]

man utd paid 7++ million pounds i think....

[pyu]

infllation. price goes up.

also dudek's team wants that much money for him. if arsenal dun buy him, its not their loss as they want to keep him anyway...

[deathblade]

Bloody hell reports of Viera wanting to leave surfaced again..... somemore freddie lungberg also......... personally i think they won't... Pray.....

[dsi]

rumoured that if veira leaves.....pires will go too

he seems to think that veira is the key to arsenal's success...and besides he's got an offer from valencia which he is seriously considering

get rid of wiltord for goodness sakes...he's useless...cramming pires and henry out of the game...running all over the place...plus he looks like a duck

[deathblade]

Totally agree that Wiltord does not work wif Henry and Pires. But without Henry he's not bad like in the confederation cup now. But anyone will take Henry than wiltord.

[bizkit86]

beckham, imo, will -never- go to arsenal :D

[Souljer]

Did anyone see how Vieira shimmy his way from 3 brazilians to the penalty box during the second half? Too bad he was finally
tackled before he could score. But it was truly world-class. Pires'
volley was also awesome and did anyone notice he was playing in central midfield for France this time? Wonder Wenger will partner him with Vieria when EpL starts?

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally posted by bizkit86
beckham, imo, will -never- go to arsenal :D

who wants beckham any way???? :confused:

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally posted by Phatboy
Did anyone see how Vieira shimmy his way from 3 brazilians to the penalty box during the second half? Too bad he was finally
tackled before he could score. But it was truly world-class. Pires'
volley was also awesome and did anyone notice he was playing in central midfield for France this time? Wonder Wenger will partner him with Vieria when EpL starts?

stefan effenberg.... with nakata just in front of them and henry as
the lone striker.... robert pires on the left and ljunberg on right
with ray palour and bergkam as back ups... now we just need a
couple more defenders to take us to the top of every championship.....

[deathblade]

Francis Jeffers has signed a 5 year deal with Arsenal. Confirmed liao. Next target............ To sell whinning Kanu or Duckfooted Wiltord. Whoa if Nakata join lagi best.

[Souljer]

Next target.....Campbell! Hopefully.

[Arsene_Wenger]

I think Nataka should come in and Kanu should go and Wiltord should stay!

[deathblade]

Frankly i dun know wat to make about Campbell's possible move to Arsenal. We need defenders, but do we need an above average but not very good Central defender that will destroy Arsenal's wage structure............... So at the end of the day, no to campbell if al the reports about him asking for 100000........... pounds reports are true. Reasons
1. He is not that good.
2. Arsenal is not as rich as Man U
3. See what happen at Man u after they gave Keane a raise.........now everyone wants a raise............. probably haha even Silvestre, the Nevilles and Butt.
4. If Viera and Henry also want a raise????? They world cup winners leh how to argue they dun deserve the pay is cambell does????????????
5. They are cheaper alternatives to Campbell..........eg if we dun buy him , wenger may be forced to look at the Arseanl youth squad for a change................. Scarlly another ashley Cole???????????????

[Souljer]

The reason why we had to consider Campbell is because he is the finest English defender in terms of experience and strength.
We need a English backbone who are already adapted to the vigours and toughness of the EPL. There are no finer English defenders other than Campbell. Stepanovs just doesn't cut it for me as he is inexperiened and needs some time to get adapted. See how he fumbled during the match against manu. I think Gio VB will be a greater possibilty of joining us than Nakata.

[pyu]

if roma wins the serie a, dun think they will want to sell nakata...

[deathblade]

Originally posted by Souljer
The reason why we had to consider Campbell is because he is the finest English defender in terms of experience and strength.
We need a English backbone who are already adapted to the vigours and toughness of the EPL. There are no finer English defenders other than Campbell. Stepanovs just doesn't cut it for me as he is inexperiened and needs some time to get adapted. See how he fumbled during the match against manu. I think Gio VB will be a greater possibilty of joining us than Nakata.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree that Campbell is the finest young Central Defenfer in England and of course i also know that arsenal needs someone like him................... But if he is asking to be paid higher than people like Del Piero, Batistuta.............. dun u think he is pushing it?:(

[raveness]

Yippee!!! :D

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/afc/vieira_rosskinnaird_150x200.jpg

from soccernet:

Vieira: I've no reason to leave Arsenal
By Andy Hooper

France midfielder Patrick Vieira looks to have ended the speculation over his future by pledging his loyalty to Arsenal.

Vieira: Gunners pledge
(RossKinnaird/Allsport)
The Premiership player of the year has been the subject of transfer talk linking him with a host of top European clubs - including Manchester United, Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona - but has now vowed to remain with the Gunners.

'There's no reason for me to leave,' Vieira told the Sunday newspaper News of the World.

'It's irrelevant to talk about leaving I feel great here. We don't reach every goal but the motivation and spirit are there.'

Arsenal's 2000/01 season ended in bitter disappointment with a distant runners-up finish in the Premiership behind Manchester United, an away-goals defeat to Valencia in the last eight of the Champions League - and a disastrous late collapse in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool.

But, after a week in which the Highbury club reinforced its attacking strength with the £8million signing of striker Francis Jeffers from Everton, the news of Vieira's intention to remain in North London will come as a further boost to manager Arsene Wenger.

And the midfielder paid tribute to his countryman boss by adding: 'We all want to give our best. We should all be grateful to Arsene Wenger - he has certainly done a lot for my game.'

[deathblade]

Great news defintely! Now if Rires can carry his confederation Cup form to the next season, Kanu and Bergkamp back to their magical form they had.................. Henry and Viera again improving plus Jeffers proving his worth................ Ashley and others from the Arsenal youth squad replacing the old defenders and the import of Nakata , Gio and maybe campbell............. we can mount a serious challenge to anything. Oh i forgot please sack wiltord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Souljer]

Its either Gio or Nakata. Dun u guys realise we have too many midfielders now? Lauren, Parlour, Pires, Ljungberg, Vieria, Grimandi and not to mention Pennant who might be given a run on the senior team due to his strong performance in wining the FA Youth Cup this year.

[deathblade]

It's official Arsenal has signed Dutch International VanBrhronst From Ranger.........................

[Souljer]

Hope he can fill Petit's boots. And that means Nakata should be staying in Roma. Midfield and attack settled liao, now for the defence and goalkeeper.

[Theychosenone]

That means he'll probably play on the left side of midfield or in the centre. It'll allow Pires to play on the right, which is better as Pires is dominantly right footed(but his left foot isn't bad at all too). Good signing by Arsenal. Now to get a decent long term replacement for Adams or Keown..

[raveness]

keown?? noooo!!! he stil has a few good years left wat! :(
tink must getting backup for Dixon more impt lah...sigh dun wan to say bad bout him also lah

[Theychosenone]

True lah Keown still doing well..he Adams and Dixon have served the club well, but they really need some back-up centrebacks and rightbacks, as those guys can't go on forever! The current reserve defenders like Stepanovs and Grimandi aren't really doing well (needs more time) , Arsenal needs a quick fix solution if they are to do well next season. Campbell is good but with 200K offered a week to him by Barcelona surely he'll be flying off to Spain..

[Souljer]

Arsenal's very own Van The Man.
http://www.icons.com/images/news/b/bronckhorst1.jpg

[deathblade]

I still think Nakata will leave Roma........ Whre i dun know but i think we should give Pires a go at central Mid. After his sterling performance on that position in the Conferderation Cup.

[C1ndere11a]

Is it true 5 million pounds for richard wright.........??

Can feel it man, Wenger taking proactive steps..........now for some defenders and we are there!!

[deathblade]

It is offcial Richard wright has signed for Arsenal............... HAHA ...................... 1 more right back, preferably another Ashley Cole( From youth squad ) & 2 more central back.............. Then power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pyu]

Richard Wright would be earning 50,000 pounds a week... and he's not even an established international yet. :p

[Theychosenone]

I think Richard Wright's signing is not official yet, it's not written on Arsenal's website. But I have to agree that Arsenal is getting very strong for next season..

[paladin]

Originally posted by dsi
rumoured that if veira leaves.....pires will go too

he seems to think that veira is the key to arsenal's success...and besides he's got an offer from valencia which he is seriously considering

get rid of wiltord for goodness sakes...he's useless...cramming pires and henry out of the game...running all over the place...plus he looks like a duck

Pires wouldn't go Valancia, cos Valancia lost its Champions league place.

Arsenal is signing Richard Wright from Ipswich Town. End of Alex Manniger, full-stop

Arsenal also released Stefan Malz liao to FC Kaiserslautern

[paladin]

Originally posted by deathblade
I still think Nakata will leave Roma........ Whre i dun know but i think we should give Pires a go at central Mid. After his sterling performance on that position in the Conferderation Cup.

Pires...er..hehe..not combative enuff..

[deathblade]

F U C King Cantona non of his freaking business be comes and ask Viera to leave Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go to hell cantona!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Souljer]

I'm not surprised that Cantona has been asked by manu to persuade Vieira to join them. Especially since manu supporters have been demanding their club to sign a world-class player to boast their European campaign's chances. With Veron, Thuram and Zidane staying in Italy, their shopping list of world-class players looked to be getting shorter and shorter. It's no wonder they would cast an envious eye on our paddy by getting their French connection(Cantona) to test or shall i say unsettle the waters first before casting their nets.

[deathblade]

Originally posted by Souljer
I'm not surprised that Cantona has been asked by manu to persuade Vieira to join them. Especially since manu supporters have been demanding their club to sign a world-class player to boast their European campaign's chances. With Veron, Thuram and Zidane staying in Italy, their shopping list of world-class players looked to be getting shorter and shorter. It's no wonder they would cast an envious eye on our paddy by getting their French connection(Cantona) to test or shall i say unsettle the waters first before casting their nets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whoa the rumours are coming fast and furious about King Viera's future with Arsenal............ Now his agent has proclaimed that Viera had told Dean and Wenger about his desire to leave............. Me becoming really sad.......................

[dexterkid]

HAHhaX ArSenAl SuckS to thE CoRe!!! MAnchestEr UniETd Rulez!!!

[deathblade]

sTupid kid go start ur own Manyooooooo thread dun kajiao us okay siam a side.

[fatherboard]

if Vieira gonna leave Gunners,
i really have serious doubts over next season challenge against Man U and Liverpool. Well if talking about the truth, Veiria should leave Arsenal, simply Gunners are not strong enough for trophies next season. Sol Campbell insist of high wages and Wenger seems not too interested in getting campbell anymore......
i guess Jeffers will have to take time to settle in London, as well as Gio. As for Richard Wright, he's a good GK, but Wenger seems like he's aiming for Dudek all the way.

If Vieira gonna leave Gunners for italy, i can say we lost a midfield general. Gio is still new to english football, althought he has been playing in Scotland for years..... As for Grimandi and Pires, one is totally defensive, one is really fanciful...which none has the character and leadership of Vieira.

We should get Petit back, and hope for a midfield like; Gio on the left, Vieira, Petit in the centre, and Pires on the right, that will be a fearsome midfield.


Even the most loyal Arsenal Fan gonna say, it's a difficult task next season.



Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[raveness]

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! :sad:
wahlau...just last week...Vieira: I've no reason to leave Arsenal (http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2001/0617/20010617afcvieira.html)
now!! wahlau...dam stoopid leh sigh dunno wat to say also :(
is it a agent's ploy to get more $$$?
or was it tat ** Cantona!!! :mad: wahlau...wan to win by making their closest rival weaker grrrrr :P heehee
aiyah IF its true and he really wanna go...let him go lah...i dun wanna support a player that so fickle n unloyal anyway! :P wahaha
Comeon!!! VIEIRA!!! say it isn't so...:sad: ...n sack tat agent of yours wahahah :D

[deathblade]

Guess wat that i think is the same agent who pried Anelka from Arsenal.............. Patrick is always a favorite of the Gunners fans and now he is demanding to leave............... Soccernet, Zoomsoccer and football 365 all had reports......... Cmon pat dun let us down. If u have to leave, give Wenger another year to find a replacement....... More challenge.....????????? Champs league, EPL league, Fa Cup not enough challenge?????????? Juz one more year.

[fatherboard]

it's rather confirm that Vieira has ask for a transfer.

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/afc/vieirashirt_br.jpg

it seems like Gunners Boss and Wenger are unable to keep Vieira for another season.....
well the greatest mistake is to take away Petit and Overmars....
and that resulted in poor performance, we have lost two cup finals in two years.....
Any top-class player would like to be in a winning team.

guess it's another new start of arsenal.


Victoria Concordia Crescit

FB.

[Souljer]

More bad news.....it seems that those @&*$$@# devils
are trying to lure Petit to OT. Seems like they want to re-create
the Vieira / Petit partnership at OT.

[deathblade]

Pissed off liao........... If Viera goes that's the end of this wonderful era at Arsenal...........

[123kidy]

- From Soccernet -

Vieira: Arsenal are not good enough

The war of words between Patrick Vieira and Arsenal Football Club is getting more extreme by the day.

Vieira: Wants to go
(RossKinnaird/Allsport)
The player's latest comments reported in The Sun newspaper on Monday are the most scathing so far, as he takes on his team-mates and the club in general. The club's board are meeting today to determine a response.

The French international appears determined to leave Highbury at any cost - and he will do anything it takes to make remaining there impossible.

'I need to leave because I want to win more trophies and I just cannot see that happening at Arsenal. Certainly not over the next few years, anyway,' The Sun reports him as saying.

'Comparing Arsenal to the big clubs in Europe this season is going to be quite ridiculous.

'I do not honestly see Arsenal finishing in the top five in the league - and you can forget the Champions League.'

--------------

wow this guy really wants to leave

[deathblade]

Dutch winger Marc Overmars, who demanded a move from Arsenal to Barcelona last summer and could now be set to link up with Vieira again at the Nou Camp, told his icons site: "Patrick's ambition has made him feel he wants to see if he can get success elsewhere. That's totally understandable and even though he's a massive favourite at Highbury, people just need to accept and respect his feelings. He's done so well for them there, they can't begrudge him ambition."

Overmars also revealed that he has no regrets over his own move from Arsenal despite difficulty in securing the transfer: "They don't let you move easily at Highbury. They didn't want me to move when I left but I was quite determined that I wanted to test myself somewhere new. I'm glad I made that move."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy is really a F U C K Er !!!!!!!!!! if he leaves then leave . But he always have some smart alec remarks to mede ......... Go and Die ASSHOl;ES............ I still dun believe that Viera has said what the papers had written.

[paladin]

all I can say is...haiz!!!!

All so gian rui!!!

[yellowsubmarine]

If Veira wanna leave then let him leave lor. Hope Arsenal can rebuild their squad around some other players instead.

What for having a player in your squad whose heart says "I dont wanna play for Arsenal anymore".

But then if Viera leaves, Wenger/Pires/Henry may leave too right?

[assaltus]

Originally posted by yellowsubmarine
But then if Viera leaves, Wenger/Pires/Henry may leave too right?

That is precisely why Wenger is trying so hard to keep Veira. It will affect the entire squad.

[deathblade]

VIERA PLEASE DUN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :( :( :( :(

[assaltus]

No point keep him if his heart not with Highbury...even if we can keep him for this coming season, he will threaten to leave again on the next if Arsenal didn't win any trophies...

I personally believe Pires/Grimandi/Henry and especially Wenger must have tried their best to persaude him to stay....Football is a team game, Arsenal will not die just because of one player. GO GUNNERS!

[Arsene_Wenger]

yup..i DUN see there is any need for Arsenal to stop veira from leaving since he wnt to go...


I WILL SUPPORT ARSENAL FOREVER EVEN WITHOUT HIM!! but i will still ADMIRE him but not supporting the club he is going

[Souljer]

He may be a world class footballer but as a human being he is a scum in a cesspool, an ingrate who bites the hand that feed him.

[assaltus]

Pity Wenger to always end up with ungrateful players - Anelka, Petite, Overmars...and now Viera. Groomed into star players and now see how they bad-mouth Arsenal, especially Overmars :frus:

[fatherboard]

Brett Emerton.
http://www.soccernet.com/images/global/australia/emerton_nm.jpg

Arsenal are considering a move for Feyenoord's £6million-rated midfielder Brett Emerton after front-runners Leeds cooled on the idea of signing the 22-year-old Aussie.

For more Details [click here] (http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2001/0629/20010629afcemerton.html)

well it seems that Wenger is getting himself a right-midfielder. Which possiblilities that Pires and Gio are playing centre, while Ljungberg playing on the left. We have to see how it goes....


Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[Jorgensen]

Originally posted by assaltus
Pity Wenger to always end up with ungrateful players - Anelka, Petite, Overmars...and now Viera. Groomed into star players and now see how they bad-mouth Arsenal, especially Overmars :frus:

Guess there's no such thing as grateful and ungrateful in modern soccer.What happen if Aresene Wenger leave Aresenal one day?Are u branding him as ungrateful?No way.If the team can gel together,that's fine.Otherwise it break as easy as that.No right and no wrong IMHO.

[deathblade]

Guys!!!!! Relax!!!!!! U People Are Jumping the Gun here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did u see a recorded telecast of Viera saying what the Tabloits had written???????????????????????????????? No rite......... Any reports from Juve , Man U, or Real that they had secured Viera through the idiot Marc Roger........... No rite............ If we r to believe all that the tabloits had said then Fowler is already training in Arsenal liao........ Remember he was linked to us extensively last year............ So why r u people condeming Viera liao........................
Let's look at the facts................ He worked like a dog as a Gunner for the past 5 years............. He has always said he love the fans.......... these are facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What has the reporters at the papers done to earn ur trust???????????????
See if Viera really said those stuff then he should be dammed............ However let's wait before we pass the verdit kay.........
I still very "Tian Zhen". Viera will wear the silly Golden new gunner away strip at Old Trafford and avenge the 6-1 defeat we had suffered...............

[assaltus]

Originally posted by stavridis10


Guess there's no such thing as grateful and ungrateful in modern soccer.What happen if Aresene Wenger leave Aresenal one day?Are u branding him as ungrateful?No way.If the team can gel together,that's fine.Otherwise it break as easy as that.No right and no wrong IMHO.

I think the key is leave in goodwill. But look at Overmars, he seems to be telling everyone not to join Arsenal b'cos it sucks. That's biting the hand that feeds IMHO. He was a relatively unknown player who was injured and almost out of play for 1 year before Wenger took him...

[deathblade]

Alright, now that campbell has signed for Arsenal and Petit's statement about his loyalty to Arsenal supporters.........( He coose not to join Spurs) ............. The mood is slightly better........... Now with Grimandi and Wenger both insisting that Viera did not say what was reported........ With Viera with Gio, Lungberg, Henry, Bergkamp, Campbell, Adams, Cole, Kanu, Keown, Parlour, Dixson, Seaman, maybe Wright.......... Silvino...................... The team looks good and if they gel, Man U and Pool beware...........

[assaltus]

Can Wenger spend 1 mil to hire an assasin and finish off that agent?:mad:

If Viera stays, will he put in 100% :confused:

[fatherboard]

the pic we all gunners fan are waiting:

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/afc/solwenger_jm.jpg

right now with campbell joining us, our defence are much or less ready for battle. With GK problem being solved by signing Richard Wright, and strikers, we have Henry and Jeffers. Only part is that the midfield is rather not orgnaise.
Even with Vieira in the middle, we still lacks the bite, that Petit has given us. Gio is still new, while pires is too much a fancy player.
As for Grimandi, i think he's best as a sub, rather to work with Vieira.

So what's next, gunners?
it seems like next season will be a fiery one.......


Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[Souljer]

Dun write off Gio straight away. From what i gathered, he's quite used to the roughness of Brit football having played in SPL. He's also quite good at long-shots and having played at leftback for Holland, I think he can tackle back as well as Petit. As for going forward, that's something we have to watch and see. Does anyone find him quite Asian looking?

[deathblade]

The important thing is midfield. Parlour, Lungberg and if Gio is also hardmanish then good....... Cos par;our IMo doesn't have the proper touches..... so if Gio has that and with Pires and hopefully Viera, the midfield will be superb............... Frontline with Henry, Bergkamp(creator), and Jeffers if he is really good......................backline.......... Cole or Silvino, Adams or Keown and Campbell, notice still no replacement for Dixson and Wright.............. A good team on paper.

[LiteMan]

Wah, I didn't realise that there were so many Arsenal fans here...

[raveness]

hmmm i wonder wat vow viera made leh...
taken from soccernet...

`...The signing of Campbell came on the day that boss Arsene Wenger claimed he had a 'vow' from Vieira over his future. Exactly what that means is open to interpretation, but there is every chance that he has now decided to stay. '

[raveness]

Inamoto looks set to join Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is looking to tie up a £4million deal to bring Japan's Junichi Inamoto to the club.
The 21-year-old midfielder impressed Wenger when the Frenchman was in Japan last month working as a television analyst during the Confederations Cup.

Wenger said: 'We are very close to agreeing a deal with J League club Gamba Osaka to sign Inamoto. He has been a target for some time. We had a very good squad last year but were short in some areas and I'm very confident the players we've signed will strengthen it.'

Inamoto, whose goal against Yugoslavia this week sealed the Kirin Cup for Japan, said: 'If I get the chance to play for Arsenal I'll be delighted and we are working out the final details.'

Wenger, who yesterday completed the signing of goalkeeper Richard Wright and agreed extensions for Lee Dixon and David Seaman, has already spent £25m this summer.

[yellowsubmarine]

Originally posted by raveness
Inamoto looks set to join Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is looking to tie up a £4million deal to bring Japan's Junichi Inamoto to the club.
The 21-year-old midfielder impressed Wenger when the Frenchman was in Japan last month working as a television analyst during the Confederations Cup.

Wenger said: 'We are very close to agreeing a deal with J League club Gamba Osaka to sign Inamoto. He has been a target for some time. We had a very good squad last year but were short in some areas and I'm very confident the players we've signed will strengthen it.'

Inamoto, whose goal against Yugoslavia this week sealed the Kirin Cup for Japan, said: 'If I get the chance to play for Arsenal I'll be delighted and we are working out the final details.'

Wenger, who yesterday completed the signing of goalkeeper Richard Wright and agreed extensions for Lee Dixon and David Seaman, has already spent £25m this summer.

Woah Japanese player sia!! Now Japan supporters not only support Parma but also Arsenal liao.

[guoxian]

If Inamoto really signs, then there is a potential of huge income from Japan. I haven't seen him play b4. BTW, is he adored in Japan?

So many signings may pose a problem if integration to the team is not adequate. However, I still harvest hope that next season is a fruitful one.

[123kidy]

just my opinon (not attacking arsenal ok?)

arsenal have way too many strikers. i'm sure wenger will play Henry as his 1st choice..leaving wiltord,bergkamp,kanu and jeffers to fight for one place? dat's crazy considering howfustrated wiltord,bergkamp n kanu r last season..not getting regular football

midfield - only real class player is viera (n he isnt happy), girmandi can forget it , GIO ? from Scottish league- possiblly lousiest league u can ever find. enough said. pplayers like lauren, edu arent excalty gona challenge the midfield of manutd's. parlour hardworking without being outstanding.pires never had the impact overmars had. n japanese player??? he wont make it ..he will never be 1st chioce i'm sure of dat. buy him waste money like edu

manutd buy veron..they buy who?players like GIO n jap player...
they buy van nisterlrooy..they buy who? waste money buy jeffers
u seriously think jeffers better den bergkamp n kanu? NAH

u buy players only if they r better or can improve the current squad
nisterlrooy is definitely better den the crappy strikers manutd have
veron better den any of the midfield...he will improve them

defence old n aging ..
buy sol campbell
reported 200,000pounds a week
all i can say is stupid pple play dat kind of stupid wages
he's not DAT outstanding anyway
so many other good defenders ..montero,nesta, cannavaro,thuram n they dun get DAT MUCH!!!
shows how desperate arsenal is

buy wright for when seaman is still England's 1st choice under eriksson
so who is wenger gonaa play?
i think seaman will play ..with wright understudy.
there u go ..buy keeper n rot him ..wasting money

[raveness]

Originally posted by 123kidy
(not attacking arsenal ok?)

...sure looks like it :P

arsenal have way too many strikers...

...so how many is enuf? 2?
ever hear of rotation? burnout? loss of form


midfield - only real class player is viera......

...leave it to wenger to `polish' them up :P its not your bluddy problem...

manutd buy veron..they buy who?players like GIO n jap player......

wats wrong with jap players? never heard of nagata ah?
ars not as `rich' (n stoopid) to get exp players wat...wan to tok bout wastin $$$....

stupid pple play dat kind of stupid wages
yupyup stoopid...stoopid to get him FREE...with the amt we saved we can easily pay his wages :P
really wonder wat your attention span is leh...on one hand say stupid to page high wages...on the other tok bout montero,nesta, cannavaro,thuram...u mean they would ask for LESS???

buy wright for when seaman is still England's 1st choice under eriksson
u yorself say he is gonna understudy seaman...is tat consider rotting? wright made the RIGHT choice...all he has to do is learn wat he can from the master n b ready to take over next year both for team N country :P

lastly...obviously u are not an ars fan...so why dun u just stop being a hyprocrite n `not attacking arsenal ok?' in tis thread...
tank u wwf fan...:P

[123kidy]

wow y u so sound so offended

wwf fan?
wat does it got to do with wwf?
oh my nick? attacking me huh


hey i just type wat i feel..isnt this wat this forum is for?
i'm not anti arsenal k, sounds like to u ..isnt always is. i find them a pretty decent team. i mean which team can finish second 3 yrs running..not many ok..hehe

anyway i just find dat their signings r questionable.

n no, wat i am saying is players like nesta r earning lesser den 200,000k a week.
do u seriously think a player deserves 200,000k a week even if he is free?

so he made the right choice in moving to Arsenal?
staying in the reserves n ruin his chances of making to the wc2002...
ic ic
hehe

[Bossman]

no .....a big no.

in this EPL forum, you cannot write anything against the epl players or team coz you will get BANNED.


even the admin are against anti-epl......so watch your back.:D

[Souljer]

Originally posted by 123kidy
just my opinon (not attacking arsenal ok?)

arsenal have way too many strikers. i'm sure wenger will play Henry as his 1st choice..leaving wiltord,bergkamp,kanu and jeffers to fight for one place? dat's crazy considering howfustrated wiltord,bergkamp n kanu r last season..not getting regular football

No, Wenger will definitely sell one of the strikers. Whether it is Kanu or Withord, one will go definitely.

midfield - only real class player is viera (n he isnt happy), girmandi can forget it , GIO ? from Scottish league- possiblly lousiest league u can ever find. enough said. pplayers like lauren, edu arent excalty gona challenge the midfield of manutd's. parlour hardworking without being outstanding.pires never had the impact overmars had. n japanese player??? he wont make it ..he will never be 1st chioce i'm sure of dat. buy him waste money like edu
Wenger like to work with unpolished players and crafted them into classy players. Case in point: petit, former leftback for Monaco
but with wenger's touch, became the best midfield pairing with Vieira in Epl. Henry, former Juventus and Monaco winger, now leading France's attack. As for pires, did u ever see his performances for France at Conferderation Cup? As for Grimandi,
well u are rite about that. Lauren: give him some time will ya. Jap player? No comments.

manutd buy veron..they buy who?players like GIO n jap player...
they buy van nisterlrooy..they buy who? waste money buy jeffers
u seriously think jeffers better den bergkamp n kanu? NAH

Jeffers will provide us the directness in attack that 'creative' players like Kanu and Bergkamp lack. After all these 2 will provide
and Jeffers will add in the finishing touch.


u buy players only if they r better or can improve the current squad
nisterlrooy is definitely better den the crappy strikers manutd have
veron better den any of the midfield...he will improve them

No, we dun have the financial resources to compete with manu in terms of signing players. After all, we are only a 'small' club with the smallest stadium in epl. So how can we sign soccer superstars like Thuram and Zidane? That's why Vieira wants to leave us for richer pastures, remember?

[fatherboard]

there's no need for comments about arsenal current squad.
anything, we have to see the performance of it, to comments.
have you seen Giovanni Van Bronckhorst play before?
scottish league maybe one of the "lousy" leagues, but Viduka came from there too, and is targetted by MILAN.
well Arsenal signings too have some questionable points, just like 4 years ago, Wenger signs Petit, Overmars....one is not establish, one just return from injury, and yet both prove they are able to make an serious impact, and win the championship.

we are not anti-Seria A, we are not basketballers turn to footballer. we are just supporting what we love, and that doesn't mean u like to eat chicken rice, means you must know the history of chicken rice. bossman, you get what i mean?

as for sol campbell, we can only comments after he play. Right now, who had seen him play in an Arsenal shirt? As for the japanese, i don't know about that guy seriously. But same go to Vieira, who knows him 5 years ago....




Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[Arsene_Wenger]

Originally posted by fatherboard
there's no need for comments about arsenal current squad.
anything, we have to see the performance of it, to comments.
have you seen Giovanni Van Bronckhorst play before?
scottish league maybe one of the "lousy" leagues, but Viduka came from there too, and is targetted by MILAN.
well Arsenal signings too have some questionable points, just like 4 years ago, Wenger signs Petit, Overmars....one is not establish, one just return from injury, and yet both prove they are able to make an serious impact, and win the championship.

we are not anti-Seria A, we are not basketballers turn to footballer. we are just supporting what we love, and that doesn't mean u like to eat chicken rice, means you must know the history of chicken rice. bossman, you get what i mean?

as for sol campbell, we can only comments after he play. Right now, who had seen him play in an Arsenal shirt? As for the japanese, i don't know about that guy seriously. But same go to Vieira, who knows him 5 years ago....




Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

Bravo!!

[Bossman]

well...fatherboard, you are right that if you eat chicken rice you do not need to know the history of it.BUT THIS FOOTBALL my fren!!!

you do not claim yourself as a fan if you do not know the clubs history and its rise to cult status coz if you do you are the typical epl fair weather fan!!

look at me..i stopped supporting liverpool coz i know its history.the history which is started by Bob Paisley.he started the one touch football for british football and thats the reason why liverpool is a success under him.but i feel cheated when graeme souness abandon that playing style.they can be ultra popular but i do not care if they abondon their famous one touch play.when is the last time you see a liverpool team always come back from a goal down.last time when you play liverpool , it is never over till the last whistle.

and please henry is still lousy,petit is lousy,pires is lousy.why ? lool at petit, he plays so well at arsenal but when play with the big boys, what happen ?

pires plays well at the confederation cup ? yeah right..look at the players on display..there is no rivaldo,no carlos,no zidane,no emerson and other big names....of coz he will shine!!! playing with second string mexico,the jap and a reserve brazil is nothing to shout about.!!!!!

wake up!!!

[deathblade]

Originally posted by Bossman
no .....a big no.

in this EPL forum, you cannot write anything against the epl players or team coz you will get BANNED.


even the admin are against anti-epl......so watch your back.:D
Somebody is whinning about the banning incident again...............
Aiyah, stop whinning lah my poor little girl..........If u have a spine leave this forum else quit whinning..........
ENOUGH SAID

[deathblade]

and please henry is still lousy,petit is lousy,pires is lousy.why ? lool at petit, he plays so well at arsenal but when play with the big boys, what happen ?

I hate to say this but i agree with u about Petit........ Pires i'll say give him another year............ Anyway the Brazil squad is the no. 1 choice of the sacked coach............ Too bad.................. About ur history crap hor.............. Forget it ur Ronaldo will never be a better striker than Henry after his injury.........

[Bossman]

Originally posted by deathblade
Forget it ur Ronaldo will never be a better striker than Henry after his injury.........

he is already better than Henry now.

First he won the Fifa world player twice while Henry has none.

Second he is still surviving at Serie A while Henry has left Serie A for a lower league.

Third he has his own customed made boots by Nike while Henry has none.

Fourth , he is great enough to be Inter Milan shareholder while Henry is just a player.

Henry can ever hold a candle to Ronaldo -R9.

[pyu]

frankly, i hope Ronaldo can recover. :angel:

[123kidy]

1st of all, i dun think viduka is not as good as pple say
ok so he scored how many?18 last season?
apart from the 4 goals he scored against pool..which means he only scored 14 in like 50+ games? now dat's Lousy

Gio, if he's good ..he wont be playing in the scottish league

as for campbell, i'm sure he will turn out good for arsenal. i'm just saying he dun deserve 200,000 a week. nobody does

n the jap player? wat can i say! he's asian! how many asians can be regular in a english club
div 1 or 2? got or not? let alone Arsenal


Originally posted by fatherboard
there's no need for comments about arsenal current squad.
anything, we have to see the performance of it, to comments.
have you seen Giovanni Van Bronckhorst play before?
scottish league maybe one of the "lousy" leagues, but Viduka came from there too, and is targetted by MILAN.
well Arsenal signings too have some questionable points, just like 4 years ago, Wenger signs Petit, Overmars....one is not establish, one just return from injury, and yet both prove they are able to make an serious impact, and win the championship.

we are not anti-Seria A, we are not basketballers turn to footballer. we are just supporting what we love, and that doesn't mean u like to eat chicken rice, means you must know the history of chicken rice. bossman, you get what i mean?

as for sol campbell, we can only comments after he play. Right now, who had seen him play in an Arsenal shirt? As for the japanese, i don't know about that guy seriously. But same go to Vieira, who knows him 5 years ago....




Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[fatherboard]

Originally posted by 123kidy
1st of all, i dun think viduka is not as good as pple say
ok so he scored how many?18 last season?
apart from the 4 goals he scored against pool..which means he only scored 14 in like 50+ games? now dat's Lousy

Gio, if he's good ..he wont be playing in the scottish league

as for campbell, i'm sure he will turn out good for arsenal. i'm just saying he dun deserve 200,000 a week. nobody does

n the jap player? wat can i say! he's asian! how many asians can be regular in a english club
div 1 or 2? got or not? let alone Arsenal


anyway,
this thread is for arsenal news and updates, anything more, i dun wish to comment. if you need to argued or debate certain points or question certain players, please go and create another thread.

Viduka's main purpose is not just scoring, he's not Ian Rush or Gary Lineker. His pressence in the penalty box is fearsome, and he create space for fellow team-mates. That's Leeds' football, i dun care.

As for Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, if he's not good, he won't be in the national squad.
And for Campbell, he deserve the money or not, has he play yet? nope, so wait till he plays or score own goals, maybe you can come and mock at us or jeer at us, right now, nothing to prove your point.
As for the jap player, he have to prove his trade, and only when he had play, i'll comments.

right now, i just want to tell you, anything you want to qestion about, post another thread. We will debate there, here is for arsenal news and updates, for all arsenal fans to see and look.




Victoria Concordia Crescit

FB.

[fatherboard]

Originally posted by Bossman
well...fatherboard, you are right that if you eat chicken rice you do not need to know the history of it.BUT THIS FOOTBALL my fren!!!

you do not claim yourself as a fan if you do not know the clubs history and its rise to cult status coz if you do you are the typical epl fair weather fan!!

look at me..i stopped supporting liverpool coz i know its history.the history which is started by Bob Paisley.he started the one touch football for british football and thats the reason why liverpool is a success under him.but i feel cheated when graeme souness abandon that playing style.they can be ultra popular but i do not care if they abondon their famous one touch play.when is the last time you see a liverpool team always come back from a goal down.last time when you play liverpool , it is never over till the last whistle.



Yes, good.
you understand what i meant. i know liverpool history, that doesn't mean i'm a liverpool fan. You are just another Sol Campbell in making, if you are a loyal LFC supporter, would you jump ship? yes, Bob Paisley's football has been thrown away, but after him, a succession of European winning team from LFC has emerged too. You are not supporting LFC because of Graeme Souness, and that explained you are not a loyal supporter.
a Die-hard fan, supports the club, even it's a third division or a relegated club, he will wait for the club to be better again, stronger once more, that will bring back the golden years once again.

You are right in certain ways that many Man U supporters are just supporting man u because of beckham, giggys......But not forgeting you might hurt many REAL MUFC supporters in the process. Those who supports MUFC long enough, they love the football, they love the club, just like we are. They are really MUFC die-hards, ppl i seen like; inix, jirquest......all die-hard fans.
a bunch of young kids supporting man u, and you say they are just looking for idols, well you are one of them before, bossman.
when you are supporting LFC, there are lots of Anti-LFC clubs too.
but people dun labelled you as one, and now you labelled EPL supporters as basketballers? In many ways, good football in italy or Spain doesn't means you have to diehard supports them.

I loved italian football, and i just enjoy and see it. i dun abandon Arsenal, just because they play craps, because Arsenal is once i adore and admired, the club spirits lives within me.
bad play or lousy footballers, i dun care. it's the club we supports.
sad to say, i hate Grimandi, but that doesn't meant i dun support Arsenal.



Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[Bossman]

fatherboard and the rest..you guys dun get do you ? cannot even understand simple english...

why i supported liverpool. reason is because of their slick passing football that similar to brazil.no epl team at that time plays that kind of football.that is what keeps liverpool apart from the rest.but when graeme souness comes, he plays the traditional english style that is not only ugly it is a disgrace to football.yes, you can still win things playing that way but a true football fan do not abandon what he beliefs in for glory.

look at brazil at the wc 1994.they won the world cup but they still get bashed for playing defensive football.ppl in brazil is attached to the beautiful game.winning in style is everything.look at epl teams esp liverpool vs barca game.barca is trying to play flowing footbal but liverpool deploy the ugly method.yup liverpool win but its an injustice to football.11 men behind the ball ? my god ...bo lampa i guess....

look at traditionaal giants germany and italy.they still play to their traditional football.one is efficiency whereas the other defensive counter attacking football at its very best.

football is not al about glory.its about what you believe in.why i support ac milan ? coz no team has a better defence system than them till now.....

[fatherboard]

bossman.

it's not that we dun understand engish.
it's just different thinking, you got your ways of "die-hard", we got ours. You search for perfection in football, but we support the team, since our childhood days.

what influence us, is what we seen from our young days. In the 80s, arsenal is not strong, neither it's playing beautiful football or entertaining football. We support what we loved, and it's the way we go on, and that's what we call: Die-hard fan.
In your thinking, you are sadden by the tactics used by LFC or EPL clubs, well indeed it's sad to see LFC playing those kinda lousy football. But in football there's nothing such as play beautifully and winning it. there's no perfection, italian football plays counter attacking style, defending nuts. and they still got thought to the final of euro2000. Germany has been playing the sweeper formation for years, right now it has changed too.
Football is forever changing, and it's up to you to accept the fact and move on.
Arsenal playing style, seriously it's neither good nor effective. But 1 say this once and for all, a die-hard supporters will supports the club even it play lousily, even it's not the best.
we can loved italian football, like me, have been watching roma since the days, totti is just collecting balls. I love italian football, but i love arsenal passion, and inside my heart, forever i'm an Arsenal Fan.

You can labelled me as stupid, not appreciating good football and supports lousy non-dribbling footballers, but it's the club i supported since the days where adams is just a newbie.



Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.

[Bossman]

Originally posted by fatherboard
bossman.

it's not that we dun understand engish.
it's just different thinking, you got your ways of "die-hard", we got ours. You search for perfection in football, but we support the team, since our childhood days.

what influence us, is what we seen from our young days. In the 80s, arsenal is not strong, neither it's playing beautiful football or entertaining football. We support what we loved, and it's the way we go on, and that's what we call: Die-hard fan.
In your thinking, you are sadden by the tactics used by LFC or EPL clubs, well indeed it's sad to see LFC playing those kinda lousy football. But in football there's nothing such as play beautifully and winning it. there's no perfection, italian football plays counter attacking style, defending nuts. and they still got thought to the final of euro2000. Germany has been playing the sweeper formation for years, right now it has changed too.
Football is forever changing, and it's up to you to accept the fact and move on.
Arsenal playing style, seriously it's neither good nor effective. But 1 say this once and for all, a die-hard supporters will supports the club even it play lousily, even it's not the best.
we can loved italian football, like me, have been watching roma since the days, totti is just collecting balls. I love italian football, but i love arsenal passion, and inside my heart, forever i'm an Arsenal Fan.

You can labelled me as stupid, not appreciating good football and supports lousy non-dribbling footballers, but it's the club i supported since the days where adams is just a newbie.



Victoria Concordia Crescit


FB.


well ..fatherboard, if you support football since your child hood days then thats good.i got nothing against you.

its just that i despice fans who knows nothing about football years ago and playing basketball all of a sudden support newcastle then blackburn then leeds and liverpool then man u.and then they claim they know everything and is a die hard fan.
yeah right!!!

they cease supporting a club that is no longer famous or anything their ah lian girls cannot relate to.only recently i saw an ah beng kia wearing a Roma jersey..pui!!!!

and the main culprit here are yellowsub,zipzilla.

typical losers.

[yellowsubmarine]

Originally posted by Bossman



well ..fatherboard, if you support football since your child hood days then thats good.i got nothing against you.

its just that i despice fans who knows nothing about football years ago and playing basketball all of a sudden support newcastle then blackburn then leeds and liverpool then man u.and then they claim they know everything and is a die hard fan.
yeah right!!!

they cease supporting a club that is no longer famous or anything their ah lian girls cannot relate to.only recently i saw an ah beng kia wearing a Roma jersey..pui!!!!

and the main culprit here are yellowsub,zipzilla.

typical losers.

dear friend here.....
yes its true i only start supporting Blackburn in 93/94 but since then have i say in any threads in FFF that i no longer support ROVers and start supporting pool or manutd???
i'll always be a Blackburn fan.

u find me THAT thread ! :D

I've been playing soccer since i was P5, though i admit my soccer skills is not as good as the HWZ people here. But Rovers was the only club i supported so far, mind you. And sorry hor uncle, i've never really like basketball.

get your facts right before you made those comments..
i dont go around like some people support one english club then suddenly support an italian club...who knows next, Spainish club?

pathetic loser....shame on you..someone who watch soccer for so long making such comments...nus grad somemore...

[raveness]

Originally posted by Bossman
fatherboard and the rest..you guys dun get do you ? cannot even understand simple english...

Originally posted by fatherboard


anyway,
this thread is for arsenal news and updates, anything more, i dun wish to comment. if you need to argued or debate certain points or question certain players, please go and create another thread.

right now, i just want to tell you, anything you want to qestion about, post another thread. We will debate there, here is for arsenal news and updates, for all arsenal fans to see and look.

Victoria Concordia Crescit

FB.

sigh...wonder whos the one who doesn't understand english...
as FB has already said...tis thread is for ARS Fans...i am not really interested in y u wan to watch seria A or Y u tink EPL sux or Y u dun support Pool anymore...so dun have to post here....u have to ask yorself tis...
is your life tat empty...or seria A tat boring tat u have to come to a thread for arsenal fans and start yapping...y cant u find your own group of seria fans n dissuss watever u wan...
pleaseplease...i beg of u...leave us pathatic epl fans to our own little world...if not...i might have to start watching WWF :P
lastly...when I say enuf said...i mean it...

[hehehe]

Originally posted by Bossman



well ..fatherboard, if you support football since your child hood days then thats good.i got nothing against you.

its just that i despice fans who knows nothing about football years ago and playing basketball all of a sudden support newcastle then blackburn then leeds and liverpool then man u.and then they claim they know everything and is a die hard fan.
yeah right!!!

they cease supporting a club that is no longer famous or anything their ah lian girls cannot relate to.only recently i saw an ah beng kia wearing a Roma jersey..pui!!!!

and the main culprit here are yellowsub,zipzilla.

typical losers.
so wat if there are basketball fans turned football fans? can't they have a switch of interest? not happy? ban them lor.

[raveness]

...heres hoping for the best :D

Dein: Vieira will be with us for kick-off
By Joe Melling

EXCLUSIVE: David Dein prides himself on being a smart-suited manipulator, operating quietly behind the scenes both at Highbury and within the FA hierarchy.

Vieira: Still a Gunner?
(PhilCole/Allsport)
The need for public pronouncements is anathema to the Arsenal vice-chairman, a multi-millionaire who sweetly made his fortune in the sugar market.

But Dein has become a man with a mission. And the issue he says he has made his 'personal crusade' is centred on the Arsenal future of their brilliant midfield giant, Patrick Vieira.

On that highly combustible topic, Dein has been driven to raise his head above the parapet with an unconditional assurance for Arsenal fans that, should he be proved wrong, will surely cost him dearly in terms of personal credibility.

Vieira, insists Dein, will definitely be in Arsenal's team to begin the new Premiership season at Middlesbrough next month - and not only that. By then, he adds, Arsene Wenger will also have signed on as manager for at least a further two seasons.

The two matters are, of course, inextricably linked.

Should Vieira be allowed to leave Arsenal, despite three years remaining on his agreement, Wenger would undoubtedly high-tail it out of Highbury the moment his current contract expires next summer.

But Dein, asked about the speculation linking the hugely marketable Vieira with any number of world football's big spenders, has a simple response.

'Turn up on August 18 and see if Vieira is wearing the Arsenal shirt. He will be,' he insisted. 'Otherwise Arsene Wenger, the other members of the Arsenal board and myself will be wasting our time.'

Dein's certainty, however, is more than just a reassuring message for the Arsenal faithful. The real target is Manchester United.

Should the chance arise, Old Trafford would welcome both of these richly talented Frenchmen with an open chequebook as well as open arms - Vieira as just the latest multi-million pound addition to a squad who need to challenge seriously for European honours, and Wenger as a celebrated successor to the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson after the manager's final season in charge.

Dein is also aware that, where Vieira is concerned, there is a need, as he puts it, 'to take a stand on behalf of all clubs up and down the country'.

His stance is a direct result of the torment Arsenal endured over another Frenchman, Nicolas Anelka. Dein said: 'Certain things have happened with Vieira which we regard as unsavoury.

'Contracts have to be respected. Arsene tells me he has spoken to Vieira and words have been attributed to him which did not actually come from his mouth. I have been on a personal crusade about this sort of thing since the Anelka saga a couple of years ago. We will not give in on this one. We will not go down that path again.

'I don't want to say any more on the subject except that Vieira is an Arsenal player and he is not for sale at any price. I am very optimistic about the future of Arsene at Arsenal. Of all the people I have met in football there is noone more honourable. It is his intention to sign an extension to his contract.

'But his priority has been to try to ensure we have a successful team and there has been adequate proof of that through the signings we have made. We have brought in players on long contracts and we want him to extend his.'

With Wenger appeased on the Vieira issue and poised this week to complete his fifth signing of a hectic summer in the form of the Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto, the Arsenal boss admits he is now clear to sit down and talk about his own future.

'It will all be sorted out before the start of the season,' said Wenger. 'I respect the contracts I sign so I have the right to sit down and discuss the terms of my agreement with my board of directors and get satisfaction.

'But even if I had been offered two or three times more money to move elsewhere during my current agreement, which runs until the summer of 2002, I would not have been prepared to discuss it.'

The fact that Arsenal will have sunk close on £30million into the bid to close the Premiership chasm between themselves and United is likely to confirm Wenger's continued presence at the helm.

And he, too, is adamant that Vieira will remain a similarly massive influence at Highbury.

Wenger said: 'I have spoken to Patrick and I am completely, totally confident he will be with us at the start. I believe he will show his commitment to the club and that we will have a successful season.'

[raveness]

wooah a few interesting items in tis article...
arsene might leave??? NOOOO!!!! :sad:
steve macca coming??? :P
inamoto more or less confirmed?
SILVINO N KANU OUT??? :sad:


Boss keeps Arsenal in a sweat on new deal
By Martin Lipton

Boss keeps Arsenal in a sweat on new deal
By Martin Lipton

Arsene Wenger condemned Highbury fans to another five weeks of nail-biting tension on Friday night when he refused to commit himself to signing a new Arsenal contract.

Arsene Wenger with one of his summer signings, defender Sol Campbell
(JamieMcDonald/Allsport)
In May, two days after the FA Cup Final defeat by Liverpool, the Highbury manager attempted to lift spirits at the club by promising he would put pen to paper on a two-year extension after 'a maximum of two meetings' with vice-chairman David Dein.

As recently as Tuesday, Wenger maintained the contract talks were on track. But, when pressed by Soccernet to give an assurance that he would stay beyond the end of the new season, the Frenchman was equivocal.

Wenger, ready to make Gamba Osaka's Junichi Inamoto his fifth capture of the summer and still weighing up a possible approach to Real Madrid for Steve McManaman, said: 'I've had no time at all to discuss my contract because I've been busy with the contracts of the players.

'A decision will have to be made before the season starts and I hope to sign before then.'

Dein remained determined not to lose the manager. He said: 'There's no plan B. Personally, I'd rue the day we were without Arsene. He has another year to go on his current contract but has given the board his assurance that he has the will to commit himself.

'These things take time and let me just say I'd be extremely disappointed if he did not extend his stay here. I expect him to sign.

'We're very ambitious and Arsene is very ambitious. It was a big disappointment to fall behind Manchester United and I'm sure he wouldn't have made all these signings if he didn't intend to stay around and see them through.'

...Brazil defender Silvinho - targeted by Valencia, Barcelona and Parma - and Nigeria striker Kanu are likely to leave in the coming weeks, but Wenger believes his summer transfer dealings will give him a genuine chance to challenge United.

He said: 'I felt we had a very good squad last year but maybe there were one or two areas in which we were a bit short. I'm very confident this year but the truth will come out on August 18 at Middlesbrough.'

[shmily]

Originally posted by Bossman


well ..fatherboard, if you support football since your child hood days then thats good.i got nothing against you.

its just that i despice fans who knows nothing about football years ago and playing basketball all of a sudden support newcastle then blackburn then leeds and liverpool then man u.and then they claim they know everything and is a die hard fan.
yeah right!!!

they cease supporting a club that is no longer famous or anything their ah lian girls cannot relate to.only recently i saw an ah beng kia wearing a Roma jersey..pui!!!!

and the main culprit here are yellowsub,zipzilla.

typical losers.

so what exactly are you trying to say??? u despice fair weather fans. well and good. but does it give u the right to put down the clubs, then the league and finally the country??? so now u see ah beng wearing roma jersey, and for that matter i too saw one yesterday. so can i now say all roma fans sucks, roma sucks, serie a sucks and italy sucks. use your brain and think.

like what fb said, football is an evolving game. no teams play similar style throughout. look at brazil and compare it with the brazilian of the 70's. look at ac milan and compare it with the era of the 3 dutch musketeers. the playing style of a team is a direct relation to the players on hand and the coach/manager style. so do you keep changing alliance whenever any of these changes?

the bottomline is... if u are not happy with those fair weather fans, by all means target them. by just shooting anyhow and stepping onto all others' toes will not do u any good.

[shmily]

Originally posted by Bossman



well ..fatherboard, if you support football since your child hood days then thats good.i got nothing against you.

its just that i despice fans who knows nothing about football years ago and playing basketball all of a sudden support newcastle then blackburn then leeds and liverpool then man u.and then they claim they know everything and is a die hard fan.
yeah right!!!

they cease supporting a club that is no longer famous or anything their ah lian girls cannot relate to.only recently i saw an ah beng kia wearing a Roma jersey..pui!!!!

and the main culprit here are yellowsub,zipzilla.

typical losers.

everyone started watching footballing/supporting a club for some reasons. everyone has their own unique stories behind. some bcos of their parents' influence, some attended a football match at national stadium one fine day and started to fall in love with the game, some went to pub with friends and got hook to the tv which was showing some football games, etc. i give as much respect to the former and the later. i despice those who think that they have watched football for much longer and look down and everyone else, much more than those fair weather fans.

[pyu]

bossman has his own opinions. but i agree he is a stubborn fool who probably failed all his human resource management modules in NUS if he ever took them.

[yellowsubmarine]

Originally posted by shmily
the bottomline is... if u are not happy with those fair weather fans, by all means target them. by just shooting anyhow and stepping onto all others' toes will not do u any good.

ya..thats right. not anyone here is a fair-weather epl fan like what he thinks. Just becoz i support Blackburn means i'm a fair-weather fan? pui...

[deathblade]

Originally posted by Bossman


he is already better than Henry now.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAHAHAHAHAHA in having a gay relationship with the Physio?????????????????????
haha he juz recovered leh ask him to prove it in a match..........................

First he won the Fifa world player twice while Henry has none.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That was last time.......... He was really good then but after the injury??????? Oi girl, We talking about Ronaldo not Zidane......In that case u can say Pele at his age is better than Ronaldo Now cos............. NUS grads cannot differentiate time?
Oh, how many World Cup did ronaldo win with him playing?????
Henry 1, Ronaldo 0........ HAHA Henry started for quite a no. of games .....................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second he is still surviving at Serie A while Henry has left Serie A for a lower league.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ur Serie A juz had Vorn gone to MAN U, ZiDane to Malrid ........ HAHA...... and hey so..................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Third he has his own customed made boots by Nike while Henry has none.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHJAHAHAHAH stupid! childish! Sooooooooooooo That means Beckham is better then FiGo cos he has Brycream sponsorship ????????????? HAHAHA

Fourth , he is great enough to be Inter Milan shareholder while Henry is just a player.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAHAHAHAHA stupid! childish! Spastic!!!! No connection !!!!!!!!

Henry can ever hold a candle to Ronaldo -R9.

[Souljer]

From the official press release:

" Arsenal FC are to release their first ever DVD on July 23rd with ARSENAL END OF SEASON 2000 - 2001. The PT Video DVD release will feature the entire end of season programme, which has been released on video, cataloguing the club's successful season, but also boasts a host of additional material.

All the season highlights are included in this release; the defeats of both Chelsea and the auld enemy, Tottenham, on the way to the Cardiff Cup Final, Thierry Henry's goal of the season contender against Manchester United, the team's progress through Europe and their battle for the Premiership title - it is all here.

With interviews from Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Arsene Wenger, and rising star, Ashley Cole, as well as highlights of the Ladies amazing treble and the FA Cup success of the youth squad, this is the definitive history of Arsenal's first season of the new Millennium.

The DVD will also include an entire additional 60-minute programme as a bonus feature, Highbury Highs, which was released on video last year, along with player profiles and a complete record of last season's statistics from the season.

Arsenal: The Official End of Season Review DVD will be available, priced £19.99, at all major DVD and video retailers from 23rd July. "

Can any sane Gooner bear to watch the 6-1 thrashing and the FA Cup final all over again?

[Bossman]

Originally posted by Souljer
From the official press release:

" Arsenal FC are to release their first ever DVD on July 23rd with ARSENAL END OF SEASON 2000 - 2001. The PT Video DVD release will feature the entire end of season programme, which has been released on video, cataloguing the club's successful season, but also boasts a host of additional material.

All the season highlights are included in this release; the defeats of both Chelsea and the auld enemy, Tottenham, on the way to the Cardiff Cup Final, Thierry Henry's goal of the season contender against Manchester United, the team's progress through Europe and their battle for the Premiership title - it is all here.

With interviews from Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Arsene Wenger, and rising star, Ashley Cole, as well as highlights of the Ladies amazing treble and the FA Cup success of the youth squad, this is the definitive history of Arsenal's first season of the new Millennium.

The DVD will also include an entire additional 60-minute programme as a bonus feature, Highbury Highs, which was released on video last year, along with player profiles and a complete record of last season's statistics from the season.

Arsenal: The Official End of Season Review DVD will be available, priced £19.99, at all major DVD and video retailers from 23rd July. "

Can any sane Gooner bear to watch the 6-1 thrashing and the FA Cup final all over again?

another way of making $$$.......:p

[aqf]

Who will buy?Better to watch the new season

[rainydae]

Got Vcd or not ah?
:D

[assaltus]

Hai...what is Wenger and gang up to? No news so far about Viera...

[rainydae]

i think vieira will stay for at least one season lohz...
so what do you think will be arsene lineup for the opening match?
prolly no place for freddy?

[Theychosenone]

I guess it'll be
3-5-2 to accomodate Campbell Keown and Adams

Seaman
Campbell Keown Adams
Pires Parlour Vieira Van Bronckhorst Cole
Henry Wiltord (Jeffers may not be playing so soon yet)

[LK]

Originally posted by Theychosenone
I guess it'll be
3-5-2 to accomodate Campbell Keown and Adams

Seaman
Campbell Keown Adams
Pires Parlour Vieira Van Bronckhorst Cole
Henry Wiltord (Jeffers may not be playing so soon yet)


er...... get rid of that Wiltord!!!!!

[rainydae]

i would still prefer kanu or bergy...
rather than wiltord...
hopefully like what he stated...he wanna explode with the club...
but then explode is like a short while only lehz..after that are all those ashes...

maybe we should give him some time?

[yellowsubmarine]

Originally posted by rainydae
i would still prefer kanu or bergy...
rather than wiltord...
hopefully like what he stated...he wanna explode with the club...
but then explode is like a short while only lehz..after that are all those ashes...

maybe we should give him some time?
wahliewa..arsenal got so many stars still not happy...haha
my blackburn want also dont have.....anyway agree willtord aint such a good signing..his control not very good..aiming also not good.. :D
certainly not anywhere near ian wright...yet....

[Souljer]

YellowSub, I really love your signature! Bravo! *CLAP*CLAP*CLAP*

[Bossman]

Originally posted by yellowsubmarine

wahliewa..arsenal got so many stars still not happy...haha
my blackburn want also dont have.....anyway agree willtord aint such a good signing..his control not very good..aiming also not good.. :D
certainly not anywhere near ian wright...yet....

hhahahah..i almost fall of my seat looking at your sig....damn funny though sarcastic......kakakka

a nice reflection though..Good job.Seriously:D

[assaltus]

lolz...well done Yellowsub! I like the sarong! haha...

[Souljer]

YelloSub, u forgot to add in the songkut.

[Theychosenone]

I agree Wiltord's not as good as he's supposed to be, but I doubt Wenger will get rid of him so soon.. probably if he still sucks in the new season then he'll go.

Btw nice signature pic Yellowsub..hahha Can see the artistic flair and creativity in you. That deserves a CAP score of 5.0 in my humble opinion.

[yellowsubmarine]

Originally posted by Bossman


hhahahah..i almost fall of my seat looking at your sig....damn funny though sarcastic......kakakka

a nice reflection though..Good job.Seriously:D
i've never seen you before. whenever i see your bossman post, that face come to my mind directly.

[raveness]

...any of u guys watch the footabor channel showing `best' of ars games???
wahlau...watch also geksim ah...dunno wat kind of `best' they mean...just now show the 2-2 draw with sunderland :sad:

[rainydae]

hopefully they dun play that 6-1 loss to man u...
best of losses?
:o

[raveness]

Vieira back for Gunners training
By Chris Borg

Patrick Vieira has joined Arsenal's pre-season training at Colney despite summer reports that he had demanded a move from Highbury.

Vieira: In training
(Alexlivesey/Allsport)
French international Vieira had been quoted as criticising some of manager Arsene Wenger's summer signings and insisting that he needed a new challenge.

The player, who joined the club from AC Milan in a £3.5million 1996 deal, has been linked with moves to Real Madrid - whose world record signing Zinedine Zidane has recommended him to club bosses - Juventus and Liverpool.

He was quoted as saying: 'I need to leave because I want to win more trophies and I just cannot see that happening at Arsenal.

'Comparing Arsenal to the big clubs in Europe this season is going to be quite ridiculous.'

But Arsenal have insisted that Vieira will not leave the club, and Wenger remains confident that he can persuade him to stay.

The player was frustrated as the Gunners finished trophyless again last season, losing in the FA Cup final and finishing a distant second to Manchester United in the Premiership.

But he later said: 'I am a professional and would not let you or the club down. I will report for training.'




Arsenal will ask shareholders to approve plans to form a new company to oversee their proposed 60,000-capacity stadium.
The holding company, called Arsenal Holdings plc, would oversee the Gunners' plans to relocate to the state of the art 60,000-seat stadium just a short distance from their current Highbury home.

But a Gunners spokesman denied that the proposed restructuring is designed to pave the way for the club to be floated on the stock market later this year.

[Souljer]

I heard Arsenal is playing Roma in a friendly on the 1st of Aug.
Dunno whether SCV will be showing it.

[Souljer]

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Can anyone figures out what's wrong with the picture below?

http://www.arsenal-world.net/reportpics0102/210701_2s.jpg

[assaltus]

er....there's more than one ball at play? :D:D:D

[adamgoi]

The latest news is that Arsenal has just confirmed the signature of Junichi Inamoto as their fifth major signing of the summer.

[yellowsubmarine]

Originally posted by Souljer
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Can anyone figures out what's wrong with the picture below?

http://www.arsenal-world.net/reportpics0102/210701_2s.jpg
haha...hmm..thats big...

[Souljer]

At least he got the balls where else i can't say the same for some bapok here who chickened out of a match.

[rainydae]

Silvinho quitting Gunners

Arsenal have revealed that Brazilian full-back Silvinho is leaving Highbury and is being tipped to join Barcelona in a £6million deal.
Silvinho, who joined The Gunners from Corinthians for £4million in June 1999, was in and out of Arsenal side last season after failing to hold off strong competition from Ashley Cole.

Silvinho, who has kept Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos out of his national side in the past, fears that the competition with The Gunners' home-grown ace could wreck his long-term international prospects and has vowed to move on.

The Brazilian defender is a highly popular member of the Highbury squad and, while the club will be sorry to see him leave, the emergence of Cole - who won full England recognition in his debut season in the Arsenal first team - has left Silvinho, in his mind, with no other choice.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein confirmed the imminent departure of Silvinho at yesterday's London Colney press conference, where the club unveiled the arrival of Japanese international midfielder Junichi Inamoto.

The club had hinted at a surprise development when they announced the Inamoto press conference but the news of Silvinho's impending departure did not emerge until this morning.

Dein, however, refused to confirm which club, if any, had come in for Silvinho, although Spanish giants Barcelona are known long-term admirers of the left-back, who was initially brought to Highbury as Nigel Winterburn's successor.

The news that Silvinho is quitting Highbury will come as no real surprise to Gunners supporters, and although the player recently pledged to fight for his Arsenal shirt with Cole, the chance to claw back part of their cash outlays after a major summer of investment at Highbury will no doubt suit all parties concerned.

[assaltus]

What is Wenger up to again? Selling Silvinho? We need someone young and skillful keep the defence strong. Maybe train Cole to take over Dickson on the right flank who is getting old.....Bad news for Arsenal if he really goes.... :(

[rainydae]

Dickson? :confused:

Dixon lahz...;)

[adamgoi]

Maybe he's trying to balance the books before he spends again...got rumours he's interested in the Danish Striker Marc Nygaard from Roda JC...even say that Kanu may be leaving soon

Arsenal need a long term replacement for Dixon...how old is he? 35, 36? Unless Wenger has identified a potential 'right sided Ashley Cole' from the youth setup?;)

[Souljer]

I think Wenger has again proved to be a astute businessman
as clubs are willing to buy Silvinho for 10-12 million pounds. Considering that Silvinho was bought for 4 million pounds, that's
a very good deal! As for filling in for Dixion, there's a German youth fullback by the name of Moritz Volz who is considered a
good prospect.

[jmi]

Originally posted by Souljer
I think Wenger has again proved to be a astute businessman
as clubs are willing to buy Silvinho for 10-12 million pounds. Considering that Silvinho was bought for 4 million pounds, that's
a very good deal! As for filling in for Dixion, there's a German youth fullback by the name of Moritz Volz who is considered a
good prospect.
Silvinho for 12 million pounds is a bit rich, don't you think? Considering he's at best only an average player. A decent player at best. I highly doubt any non foreign non-English clubs is stupid to buy him at that price except those in the EPL.

[assaltus]

Originally posted by rainydae
Dickson? :confused:

Dixon lahz...;)

oops...:o

:D

[Arsene_Wenger]

Originally posted by jmi

Silvinho for 12 million pounds is a bit rich, don't you think? Considering he's at best only an average player. A decent player at best. I highly doubt any non foreign non-English clubs is stupid to buy him at that price except those in the EPL.

Of course there is some clubs who r damn rich and they r willing to pay that much!

[raveness]

WOOHOO!!! :D

http://www.soccernet.com/images/england/afc/solpat_sb.jpg

Yes, Vieira's back in an Arsenal shirt
By John Grechan

Patrick Vieira ended a summer of uncertainty by finally pulling on an Arsenal shirt last night.

Vieira (right) shares a giggle with Sol Campbell in Austria
(ShaunBotterill/Allsport)
The France midfielder, 25, who said he wanted leave Highbury because he doubted their ability to match Manchester United, came on at half-time in the 4-1 defeat against Turkish unknowns Kocaelispor.

Vieira had not played since the final match of the season at Southampton, and many felt that would be his last appearance for Arsenal.

But manager Arsene Wenger and executive vice chairman David Dein stood firm in the face of player power, persuading their most valuable asset to stay for at least another 12 months - though Vieira has yet to publicly voice his views.

Wenger said last night: 'Patrick back? He was never away in my mind. For me it was obvious as soon as he came to our training camp. When players don't come back to training, that's when there is a problem.

'But it's good for the supporters to see him playing for us again. He looked a little tired, but he has been working hard.'

Vieira, booked for a foul on Aleks Yordunov in the 64th minute, didn't appear to be hugely affected by his eventful close season as he took his place in midfield next to new signing Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Sven Goran Eriksson continued his drive to overtake Michael Palin as the world record holder for air miles by appearing at the Alpenstadion in Wattens, confirming that he intended to take in all three of Arsenal's friendlies in Austria.

The England coach spent 15 minutes chatting with Wenger, before engaging both Sol Campbell and Richard Wright in conversation.

Arsenal fans will have to wait until Monday's match with Real Mallorca to see former Tottenham captain Campbell consummate his contentious move across north London, the ankle injury sustained against the Gunners in last season's FA Cup semi-final still not quite right. Wright and Francis Jeffers were also missing, though Junichi Inamoto started in central midfield - watched by five Japanese TV crews.

The danger of fielding patchwork line-ups just to give everyone a run was illustrated with only four minutes gone when Oleg Luzhny dithered and Bulgarian Zdravko Lazarov slid the first goal past David Seaman. A similar mix-up allowed Lazarov to net his second.

Ray Parlour replied but after Wenger brought on every available substitute at half-time, Nuri Colak and Serdar Topraktepe made it 4-1.

There was further bad news at home, where Arsenal's hopes of signing Crewe's teenage striker Dean Ashton appear to have disappeared.

Arsenal's £1m bid, before Ashton had even made his Crewe debut, was rejected and after reports that the Gunners had doubled their bid, Crewe chairman John Bowler said: 'We have not had an offer for Dean and nor would we entertain one.'

[Souljer]

It's kinda of funny and weird to see Campbell in a Arsenal shirt!

[Arsene_Wenger]

Originally posted by Souljer
It's kinda of funny and weird to see Campbell in a Arsenal shirt!


ahaha...get used to it!!

[rainydae]

FULL TIME REPORT
ARSENAL vs Kocaelispor
1 - 4
Attendance : TBA

Patrick Vieira returned to the Arsenal side to a heroes reception in the tiny Alpen Stadion but it was to be the only bright spot in a disappointing defeat at the hands of Turkish side Kocaelispor.

Patrick came on a second-half substitute, and took no time to get back into the groove as he was booked after just 19 minutes for a heavy challenge on the Turks' Aleks Yordunov.

By that stage Arsenal were already two-one down after a flurry of goals in the first quarter of an hour. The first came after just five minutes when Kocaelispor took advantage of a mistimed offside trap, with Zdravko Lazarov racing through and finishing past Seaman.

The second, seven minutes later, was also down to generous defending. Matthew Upson, playing at left-back, was beaten down the line by Cem Sinan Vergul who crossed for Lazarov to net his second.

England manager Sven Goran Eriksson was at the game but will have to wait a little longer for Sol Campbell's first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. Our new signing sat this one out, but could make his debut as early as next week either against Real Mallorca or Roma.

Ray Parlour pulled one back on 15 minutes, smashing in a half-cleared Pires cross but following wholesale changes to the Arsenal side in the second half the hard-working Turks added further goals through Nuri Colak and Serdar Topraktepe.

Despite the defeat new signing Junichi Inamoto made a promising debut and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst also showed the skills that will have Arsenal fans licking their lips for the new season.

Manager Arsene Wenger said "We were exposed on the counter attacks because we were pushing too far up the field.

"But I saw some combinations that might work next season and it's good that no-one got injured and that everyone got a game."

With top Spanish side Real Mallorca and Italian Champions AS Roma up next week, Wenger and the team know that there is still room for improvement.

[raveness]

WTF :sad: holiday footbor??? :(

[Arsene_Wenger]

Dun worry ..just pre season match!

[rainydae]

It was a night for debuts in Austria as Giovanni van Bronckhorst scored his first goal and Sol Campbell and Richard Wright made their first appearances.

The Gunners dominated much of this surprisingly physical game against Spanish team Real Mallorca, who finished third in the Primera Liga last season.

The opening ten minutes saw neither team gain a real advantage, although Luque was unlucky to see his left-footed volley go wide.

New goalkeeper Richard Wright had little to do until almost 15 minutes in, when he came out well to punch clear a corner kick from Ibagaza.

Challenges were coming in thick and fast from both teams and the game suffered as the referee blew his whistle frequently to calm it down, but eventually the Gunners began to gain the upper hand.

Thierry Henry had the best shot of the first half, rocketing in a shot from the right of midfield which goalkeeper Leo Franco did well to tip over the bar.

With almost half an hour on the clock the deadlock was broken. Pires made a run from deep in the Arsenal half and passed to Vieira, who knocked the ball square into Dennis Bergkamp's path.

Bergkamp bore down on goal with two defenders closing him down and, before he could release a shot, defender Fatih Akyel knocked the ball under Franco and into the goal.

The rest of the half saw only bad news for Arsenal, as first Matthew Upson and then Martin Keown were both taken off injured.

Wholesale substitutions at half time saw the Gunners, now with a completely new team, regain dominance once more.

They kept the ball well and played it around nicely, although there were still plenty of hard tackles flying in from both sides - resulting in a few yellow cards apiece.

Arsenal extended their lead in the 72nd minute when Giovanni van Bronckhorst capitalised on some goalmouth confusion to open his scoring account.

Pennant whipped in a cross from the right flank and Jeffers was there to take a shot. Substitute 'keeper Carlos Roa blocked it, but before Mallorca's defence could clear the ball van Bronckhorst rolled it into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Tempers began to simmer after that, with all the players involved in a brief altercation after 75 minutes of play.

But that was overshadowed when Sol Campbell pulled on an Arsenal shirt for the first time and entered the field to great applause from the travelling Arsenal fans.

With only ten minutes to play Campbell did not have much time to make an impact on the game, but at least it shows his fitness is returning and he may make a longer appearance in the game against AS Roma on Wednesday.

When the final whistle blew it was clear that the Gunners had deserved their victory, having dominated large periods of the game. But Real Mallorca's determined defending stopped it from becoming a rout, and full credit to them.

[rainydae]

Seem like Wenger trying to convert Lauren into right back.
2 matches liao and the substitution is always lauren replacing dixon and vice versa..

[raveness]

woohooo finally win heehee
but :sad: keown injured...

[assaltus]

With the pending 3 game ban on him, he won't be able to play either....just hope that Campbell can recover by 18 Aug...

[rainydae]

Arsenal lost by a solitary goal in this tight, taut, game against Italian champions AS Roma, but came away with some healthy indications of the season to come.

A goal in the final seconds of the first half by Vincenzo Montella gave victory to the Italians, but the Gunners were far from outplayed for much of the game.

Freddie Ljungberg almost put Arsenal ahead after just over five minutes when released by a lovely short pass from Patrick Vieira. But the onrushing Swede put his shot across the face of the goal and wide of the right-hand post.

Thierry Henry fired in a cracking shot just over a minute later, which came from the left of the box and through Roma's defence only to be well saved by young 'keeper Ivan Pelizolli.

Roma soon grew into the game with dangerman Francesco Totti, a thorn in the Gunners' side until his substitution at half time, having the first shot at goal. David Seaman shepherded the ball wide, however.

Argentinian superstar Gabriel Batistuta was the next to have a go, with his shot straight into Seaman's arms, then Tomassi capitalised on a nice passing build-up but fired his shot over the bar.

Roma were running the game for long spells in the first half, but Giovanni van Bronckhorst showed off his cracking left foot with a free kick which Pelizolli managed to keep out with a great reaction save.

The Italians were next with a chance on the half hour when a super-fast break saw Totti outpace Sol Campbell, only for Seaman to get a fingertip to the ball and push it wide. Within seconds Roma were on the attack again, with Montella getting onto the end of a cross but managing to head the ball onto the crossbar.

Sol Campbell almost headed the ball in and Ljungberg put a shot wide, but it seemed as if the half would end goal-less.

But with almost the last kick of the half Batistuta chipped the ball over the advancing Seaman and watched it bounce towards goal. Tony Adams charged back to hook the ball away on the line, but it only went as far as Montella who poked it home to give Roma the lead.

A spate of substitutions at half time and Arsenal entered the second half as the stronger team. Lauren, impressive in the rightback position, forced a save from Pelizolli with a long range effort and Ljungberg, busy throughout, also made the U21 goalkeeper work for his money with a quick turn and shot.

But there were few shots on target from either team for the rest of the game as both defences showed how solid they could be.

Ashley Cole had Arsenal's best effort of the half with eight minutes to go when he latched onto the end of a corner and headed it goalwards, but once again Pelizolli managed an excellent save.

So a loss, but no reason to feel bad about it. This was great practice for both teams as they go towards the Champions League next season and a valuable pre-season workout.

~ taken from www.arsenal.com ~

[rainydae]

TEAM LINE UP against Roma:

Seamman
Lauren
Adams
Campbell
Cole
Pires
Vieira
Van Bronckhorst
Ljungberg
Wiltord
Henry

SUBSTITUTES:
Luzhy (for Campbell, 46)
Grimandi (for Ljungberg, 70)
Jeffers (for van Bronckhorst, 70)
Inamo