While the Arsenal players have been gallivanting around the world, resting their weary bodies and minds, the fans and media have been working themselves into a frenzy, speculating about current players’ futures, and future players signatures. Here’s a little glimpse at what a few of our current boys have been up to.

Dogs and their owners?

Cesc, Carlos and chums do the Grand Canyon

Robin (Miami Vice) Persie

Suddenly, without prior warning, the potency of the Paparazzo has been reduced. Courtesy of one particular social networking site, the divide between proletariat and prince has been bridged. By clicking one button, an individual, with an account, is able to glimpse through a space-time continuum portal and discover the everyday happenings of their favourite, or not-so-favourite, players, also with an account. This has of course paved the way for mega gaffs and slight hiccups to occur, enter Carlton Cole. Fueling the media fire that Sky Sports News and online news sources keep blazing 24 hours a day. It also grants players the opportunity to vent their own opinions without the misinterpretation of a foreign news channel, or the misquoting that so regularly occurs. While it must be fantastic to live on £70,000 a week, the ground is a lot further down from up there. But the opportunity for players and mass amounts of fans to interact is a futuristic idea, taking place right now. Which begs the question: if Twitter is the present, what does the future hold? Press conferences on Ustream from Alex Song’s living room? Bendtner’s match analysis blog? Nasri’s Arsenal player wish list on Amazon? Eboue’s standup comedy Youtube channel? Who knows…

Ian James

Stay tuned for Arsenal’s Worst Premiership XI.

Howdy all…!

My wallet is feeling alot lighter since yesterday, unfortunately I didn’t hit it big time at Royal Ascot – heartbreak.

Big reports today that we’re set to make an approach for Joey Barton. He’s a talented player no doubt and he has cleaned up his act, but I personally don’t see why we would go for him. Yes he’s experienced, but I agree with Ray Parlour who I just listened to on Talk Sport, we should go for Scott Parker. With Ramsey back to full fitness, he will provide us with much of the creativity that Joey Barton could. I remember last season at Newcastle, with Song suspended and Diaby being his usual useless self and  getting sent off, we lacked a defensive general. We have for a long time. Scott Parker may not be the most talented but he will provide good competition for Song who was perhaps disappointing at times last season.  Parker also fits into our formation well and can provide that holding role which would allow the likes of Cesc and Nasri (who hopefully stay) the freedom to attack.

‘The News of the World’ today reports  that Mr Wenger has now been awarded a £60 million transfer kitty because the club has sold property on Queensland Road. I can imagine Arsenal fans choking on their Coco Pops reading that this morning and waving their arms in the air with excitement. However, fans have to remember that this is probably the usual ’News of the World’ nonsense that we read every week. Also, even if it is true, much of that will be invested into clearing debt I believe.  Put it this way – I can’t see any BIG name signings resulting from this transfer kitty.

What made me laugh today was listening to Big Harry Redknapp banging on to BBC Sport that Spurs can match Modric’s ambition and that he wouldn’t be sold to Chelsea for any price. If you say so Harry, if you say so. Anyway, he’s clearly taken time out from his busy schedule to mention that Defoe like Modric won’t be leaving. Defoe is an interesting one, alot of Spurs fans seem content for him to leave. Like Ray Parlour I would be happy to see him at Arsenal, we create alot of chances and I think he could be that ‘Fox in the Box’ striker we so need. Only time will tell if we actually make a formal approach.

According to Skysports. Chris Samba is keen for a switch to North London. I reckon he could make a good partnership with the potential signing of Cahill. Question is, will we sign both?

Finally, according to our Chairman, Peter Hill-Wood, Barcelona have made a formal approach for Cesc Fabregas but the maximum they will offer is £35 million. That’s nice. Can’t see him being sold for that. Barce can keep dreaming I guess….

SHAZAM!

G’day…this blog has returned and I know a few of you out there will be glad to hear this – yes, you know who you are!

So I re-launch on the day we’ve all been waiting for since that horrible chap Mr. Evra lifted the Premiership trophy in all its glory, the Premiership fixture list. And with so much anticipation,  it’s pretty much a doom start for us….Newcastle away, Liverpool home and a deadly fixture at Old Trafford. On a brighter note, at least the boys have a chance to gain revenge on all three sides who had a huge part to play in our downfall last season.  I was at the Newcastle game last season. Fantastic  weekend, great city, gorgeous girls…..I love the Geordie accent.  I have a major soft spot for Northern girls, not too sure why. Anyway – it was a shit result. Awful. As for the Liverpool game, I will be in Ibiza with a cheeky corona in my hand, so Im definitely looking forward to that. And they better win at OT, they will be an immense birthday present for me!

Anyway, there’s alot of disgruntled Arsenal fans right now, after the horrifying defeat at Wembley and our season collapsing, the last thing we want to hear is that ticket prices are soaring, Fabregas is dreaming of playing alongside his Shakira loving pal Gerard, Nasri is holding the club to ransom and Diaby has announced he likes to wear his Spurs shirt at home whilst playing Fifa because he’s cool….okay, i doubt any of us care about Diaby. On a positive note, at least we’ve signed an Arsenal fan, Carl Jenkinson. I mean that’s all I know about him. No one knows anything about him. He’s a mystery. But I question how good he really is if the club also at the same time went head to head with United and Liverpool to sign Phil Jones. Nevertheless, there’s alot of noise coming from Arsenal that suggest Cesc and Nasri are staying. Barcelona cannot afford Cesc, it’s simple as that. If he wants to go, im personally happy for him to leave, as long as the deal is reflective of his value and they throw in Bojan, I like him. So £45 million plus Bojan sounds right.

Talking of players I like, there’s speculation that we’re currently in talks with Big Gary Cahill. I do like him. Because he’s big, as I have already mentioned  and tall and strong. Basically what we don’t currently have at the back. Let’s just hope he’s not another Squillaci hey.  Reports claim he will cost us £15 million, but the time has come for the club to invest in defenders. The club can no longer gamble at the back. I personally have no problem with us gambling on strikers but you win titles with a strong defence, simple as that.  As for strikers, it also looks like we have signed ‘Joseph-Désiré Job’ meets Sagna (thanks for that Ian!), a certain ‘Gervinho’. The deal should be around £10.6, just like Jenkinson, I don’t know anything about him. I also have the feeling he will just be another player coming from France trying to use Arsenal for a stepping stone to secure a magical move to the BIG TWO in Spain. I would rather see Benzema to be honest, he seems a suitable replacement for the departing world proclaimed greatest striker, Big Nick.  In saying that, the invincible trio of Paddy, Super Rob and the Sol man are all available on a free transfer. Just imagine the cheeky smile on Wenger’s face if he re-signed all tomorrow. I would love it. Let’s not forget the greatest player in Spurs recent history, Johnny Woodgate (who could forget his moment in the Carling Cup Final?) is also available on a free. Oh and so is Upson. And Hargreaves. Hang on – we could sign them all and have a Premiership All-Stars squad for next season, all on a Bosman Free. Amazing.

Finally, little Pedro is the latest player who has joined the bandwagon in urging Cesc to join his spiritual home of Barcelona. I really don’t like Barcelona, nor their players. Im not too sure why they’re so keen for him to join, no one knows where he would fit into their team. Who would make way? Maybe Barce will revert to a Steve Macca 3-5-2 when he joins. If he does leave, let’s just hope we sign a suitable replacement. I personally think Nasri could takeover the Cesc role and we would be wise to invest every penny into a Daniele De Rossi, I do like him.

Anyway, I must cut this short, lots to say, but no time. i am off to Ascot in the morning. Maybe I can win some money which will ease the blow of the £39 I just paid to renew my Silver Membership at Arsenal. Yes – just to renew, what a great deal right? I guess that is going into Nasri’s pocket when he justifies his rise in salary to £90 k a week. Oh but at least with my Silver Member shop I have access to the ‘Arsenal Player ‘ this season, it’s amazing. I mean the videos are immense, who wouldn’t get excited about watching an exclusive interview with Frimpong talking about his inspiration in football? Yawn…

Till Sunday..

p.s im now on twitter. Happy days.

http://twitter.com/shukrikemal

Howdy people.

I have been away for a while….been sorting out my life, so my blog hasn’t been updated for a while.

So, we were well beaten by Man Utd and Chelsea, but no point really discussing it….surprisely, we are still in the title race! More talk about the battle with Sunderland tomorrow.

As for yesterdays performance, it was a bizarre game. The first blunder from the great Fabianski is something you would see at a Sunday League match down your local park. Awful awful…..I think its best to say he was nervous. The second, who knows what possessed him to grab the ball, he surely lives in a fantasy land. The decision from the referee was just as bizarre as the fact that Fabianski picked the ball up!  Fabianski and Big Sol should have delayed the freekcick anyway, why on earth did they not boot the ball into the crowd baffles me, it would have been worth a yellow card. Perhaps Fabianski is naive, but surely Sol has the experience to know these things. . The second leg will now surely be a tough task, Porto will go the attack to score that away goal. A special mention must be given to the decision by Wenger to bring on Walcott and Vela. I do not remember them causing one problem to the Porto back four. Walcott for me is quick to splash his cash out on the likes of a Ferrari for his girlfriend, but the question is, what has he done at Arsenal to deserve the wages he is on, or the reputation he has? Would Walcott even be considered such a talent if he wasn’t English? I personally think he doesn’t deserve to wear the shirt, a bad signing I feel.  I can think of many winger/forwards in the world, around his age who are a bigger talent. For us to sign Walcott on one wonder goal he scored for the Saints has always irritated me.

Anyway It wasnt a bad performance last night, and well done to Sol for scoring, he actually played well. There were positives, and if it wasnt for the blunders by Fabianski, we would have most likely won 1-0. However, all it takes is for a screamer by one of the Porto heroes at the return leg at Emirates and we will be facing a huge task to score three goals to win. Porto are a very talented team, they are the Arsenal of Portugal, have a great scouting team in Brasil, they find talented players on the cheap, develop them and sell them to major clubs across the world.

Unfortunately, all of us Arsneal fans see the goalkeeper position as a weakness, why Wenger has so much faith in error prone Fabianski, and shaky unconfident Alumina baffles me. All it would take is for Arsenal to invest £15million into a decent international goalkeeper. I am a big fan of Fener’s Volkan, he is an immense shot stopper, very focal and will create confidence in our back four but you will all accuse me of being bias……then again I like Russia’s Akinfeev. No team can win the league or CL with a weak goalkeeper, somehow our first team keeper is a player who was brought in years ago for cover.

More tomorrow.

Nothing much to report today. There are fresh allegations that Barcelona are now also pursuing Eboue, as his contract ends in June. If he was to leave, I wouldnt necessarily blame him. However if he does leave, Barcelona will END his career, just like Hleb, just like Overmars and just like Petit. We shall see what happens!

On a brighter note, Nicklas Bendtner last night promised to make a “major impact” on Arsenal’s fading title chances. I am a big fan of Big Nick, alot of Arsenal fans give him stick, but his game to goal ratio is actually pretty good.

He adds ” When I get back to full strength, I’ll be able to make a major impact.” He goes on to reveal how the team have missed the option of a player such as himself.  He has a point, Nick gives us an option which we lack with the likes of Arshavin, Nasri and Walcott. Yes they are magicians, but they won’t grab you a smash and grab header in the 95 minute at the Bridge. If anyone is going to break the iron wall of Chelsea, it will be Big Nick.

Anyway, thats all for today. Super Sunday is fast approaching, I really cant wait for this one!!

P.s that Eboue pic made me chuckle, couldn’t resist uploading it!!

Howdy!

Nothing much to report today, beside the fact that Barcelona have confirmed what I mentioned yesterday. The Catalan giants vice-president Alfons Godall last night insisted the Gunners skipper will end up at the Nou Camp.He said: “Sooner or later Cesc will end up coming back. We are a club that can sign players because we are respected and solvent.”

Well, good for Barcelona, but this summer? I doubt it very much. And that’s perhaps the point, who gives a damn what their vice-president says or even thinks!

As for other news, it seems Arsenal have signed highly rated Serbian Stefan Savic. The 6ft 1in central defender said: “There were offers from Tottenham and Birmingham City, but once a call came from Arsenal, I had no more doubts.” He also claimed: “A pre-contract will be signed on Thursday and then I will return to Belgrade and join BSK for their preparations. I will be staying with BSK until May.”

I know absolutely nothing about this lad, then again, I doubt anyone does. If he is anything like Mr Vermaelen, I will be a very happy man!

As for other news, bring on Sunday, with Chelsea slipping up yesterday and John Terry being revealed as a very naughty boy this week, this could be our chance to do some real damage to the blues.

****Before I go, there is some breaking news. The whole of the Chelsea Squad has been confirmed as having had a pop at Terry’s mistress, including Stamford Bridge’s pitch layer, the Stadium janitor and the Don Ancelotti himself.****

I say strip JT of his captaincy, expel him from the national team, and make Bridge himself captain!

That all folks…!

It has become apparent today that the dark side of FC Barcelona are watching over Arsenal and rubbing their hands with joy after the gunners crushing defeat at the hands of United.  Reports speculate the young midfield talisman will rejoin his boyhood club of Barcelona in a deal this summer, with Arsenal holding out for £45 million. Spanish papers claim Cesc is fed up after  six years and feels the current crop of lads at Arsenal lack ambition. Rumours have however emerged that Arsenal supremos prefer an offer on the table from Madrid. Real have offered a deal worth £65 million and the services of Rafael van der Vaart, who Wenger views as an ideal replacement for the captain.

I find this all rather bizarre and repetitive. Especially after Cesc has urged on his boys today, to come out all guns blazing and to do the job at the bridge.

Featured in the Guardian, Cesc reveals

“We are still there, definitely. But I’m not going to lie to myself: Chelsea were better than us, United have been better than us. ”

He then reminds us that Arsenal still have a shout in this title race if they produce the goods on Super Sunday against the likes of Chelsea.

“We have to beat them to stay in the title race. We have to bounce back straight away, in a massive game. If you don’t believe, you don’t win things. We have to learn from what went wrong, think about them and make sure they don’t happen again. We have to be positive, strong and together more than ever. It’s up to us to show what we can do.”

With all this fighting talk from the Captain, i find it hard to imagine he has his heart on a return to Barcelona. The likelihood of Cesc going to Barcelona this summer in my opinion, is just as likely as Cesc being discovered in Dubai right now by the News of the World, in bed with Mrs John Terry aka Toni Poole. Then again, that would be interesting. Would most certainly add more spice to the game on Sunday.

More talk about our chances at the Bridge tomorrow! Interesting pic of Cesc I discovered hey???

Ok, those of you who know me, are aware that I am as permissitc as they get, i predicted DOOM for yesterday’s super-sunday, winner takes all, best of the best, pretty much title decider match against the giants of Man Utd. Unfortunately I was right. I don’t really have much to say about the game, besides the fact that if Arshavin had his finishing boots on, and actually could see his team mates in the first 30mins of the match, we would have been 3-0 up. Maybe he should have gone to specsavers.

I love how the press are suddenly calling Nani the new C.Ronaldo because of one lucky trick. Yes, well done you did a trick we all see on Fifa, bravo….harsh reality is, if Denilson grew some balls, he could have stopped that Michael Jackson lookalike with a mightly closs-line, which Im sure all respectable Arsenal fans would loved to have seen. For a booking, that would have been worth it. I do question if certain players like Denilson understand what it means to wear the Arsenal shirt…..

Now on to todays transfer deadline. Yes the mighty transfer deadline day, the day all football fans wait in anticipation to see fresh new blood. Correction, its now the day that Man City sign every central midfielder available in the world. I do not have a clue about this Mcdonalds  McChicken fella, but honestly, another midfielder in their huge squad! Why? But im proud to say Arsneal have signed absolutely no more. Its not like we need a new goalkeeper, Alumina was amazing yesterday. Or a strong Midfield General, Denilson was equally Immense. Or an old fashion Centre Forward….RVP will suddenly become fit, Eduardo will find his finishing touch again, Walcott will learn how to play football and Arshavin will grow to 7 feet tall!

Anyway, enough of my rant. Im off to sort my life out. I shall be back tomorrow!

See you then!!!