I Like All This World Cup Malarchy

So, the World Cup is well and truly underway! Today no less than five Gunners will be featuring for their respective countries...

Big Phil and Djorou will have their work cut out when they face Titi et al as France face Switzerland. Although Phil admits he has no real plan for coping with Henry...

"There is no recipe," he said.

"He (Henry) is very fast, he loves running and can create space that way. You have to watch him all the time because he is a player who can create something in just a moment.

"That's how he scores many of his goals."

Gilberto and Brazil face Croatia tonight and Adebayor also plays today as Togo face South Korea.

My highlight so far has been Tomas Rosicky's performance yesterday as the Czech Republic smashed the USA 3-0. He scored two AMAZING goals aswell as hitting the bar...I can't wait to see him in an Arsenal shirt next season.

RVP has had a pop at 'greedy' Arjen Robben...he claims the Chel$ki winger tried to hog the limelight in Holland's 1-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro...

"He needs to take his team-mates into account. Sometimes he makes choices that are good for him, but not the team.

"We need to realise we are in this together. We had several chances against Serbia, but against the really big countries, you maybe get one chance."

"In that situation, you have to make the right choice. He can't do it on his own."

And finally, Pascal 'Zinedine' Cygan may be going to Blackburn. Bothered.

Thats about it!

My posts will be few and far between during the World Cup as not a great deal is happening Arsenal-wise...but keep checking back and posting your comments.

As soon as anything Gooner-related happens, it'll be on here!!!

Enjoy the World Cup Gooners!!!

PS. If any of you don't already know, the BBC are streaming all of their games live on their website. Very handy if like me, you're stuck in an office all bloody day!

Sol Man Off To Turkey?

A Turkish newspaper has published a report regarding Sol's future. If the story is to be believed, it would appear that the Sol man is likely to move to Fenerbahce after the World Cup.

Sol is quoted as saying;

"The likelihood that I will go to Fenerbahce is higher than the likelihood that I won't. Playing for Fenerbahce could be interesting for me, but first we have to return to England with victory. That's all I want for now."

Your thoughts?

Ribery To Arsenal?

I don't usually post stories about speculation, but.....reports out this morning suggest that we have tabled a late bid for Marseille star Franck Ribery. ManUre have already had a £9M bid rejected.

Now THIS is a player I would LOVE to see join Arsenal. I first saw him play for the France under 21's against England a while back - and he was head and shoulders above every other player on the pitch.

Don't believe me? Cut and paste the following link into your URL and enjoy....

http://www.youtube.com/results?search=franck+ribery&search_type=search_videos

Let me know what you think!

AW In No Rush

Le Boss has revealed that if he does decide to splash out again this summer it will be later rather than sooner...

“I have already respected my word,” said Le Boss when questioned about further signings. “One is in."

“But I give myself time now for the second if it happens because I feel we have plenty of players. Look at our squad. In defence there’s Djourou, Senderos, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Clichy, Flamini plus Hoyte coming back. In midfield, Gilberto, Fabregas, Hleb, Rosicky, Ljungberg, Flamini who can still play there and Reyes. Up front as well we have plenty of players too.

“Remember we have players at the World Cup who have not featured for us.”

“I would be comfortable yes [if we brought in no one else] but you never know, we might go for somebody else if the right occasion comes along. There are one or two positions we can still strengthen.”

Mad Jens Staying Put

Mad Jens has dismissed rumours that he is planning a return to Germany after the World Cup to see out the rest of his career...

He said; "I am fit, like a 26-year-old. And I am much fitter than when I was 30 years old. We (Arsenal) have a new stadium and we will have a very good team."

He also commented on the similarities between AW's and Jurgen Klinsmann's coaching styles...

"Both have the same philosophy: a quick, direct attacking style." stated Jens.

"Klinsmann holds a similar view, he has acted very cleverly and added the right people, for example to take care of our fitness. The training at Arsenal is very similar to the national team practice."

Tom The New Bob

Le Boss has revealed that as soon as he found out Bobby was doing the off, he made a swoop for Tomas Rosicky....

"I took Rosicky to replace Robert. I moved very quickly after Robert told me he would go," AW told Arsenal.com.

"I wanted to secure [Rosicky] before the World Cup starts. He is a little bit similar position-wise to Robert.

"He can play in Dennis Bergkamp's role, on the left, in a 4-3-3 or central. But he is a slightly different style.

"Rosicky is an accelerator of the game, a guy who can create things, see things quickly and whose best years are ahead of him."

Arsenal In The Shit?

Fifa have launched an investigation into whether or not Arsenal have broken regulations which may leave us expelled from the Champions League. It has been stated that we have made secret payments to our feeder club Beveren of £1M.

The Club last night released a statement;

"Arsenal Football Club is aware that BBC Newsnight is carrying a story this evening purporting to describe Arsenal's relationship with Belgian football club, Beveren.
Arsenal does not normally make public its agreements with third parties. However, Arsenal can confirm that it has had a technical relationship with Beveren since 2001. This relationship has a number of benefits to both clubs such as providing a platform to share coaching methods and techniques as well as facilitating the option of players being loaned between the clubs. For example, during the course of the relationship, Arsenal players David Grondin, Liam Chilvers, John Halls and Graham Stack all spent successful loan periods at Beveren as did Emmanuel Eboue, who played in a number of trial matches with Arsenal whilst contracted to Beveren. Such was the latter player's success, Arsenal subsequently signed Eboue on a permanent basis.

In addition, Arsenal confirms that it has never owned, directly or indirectly, any shares in Beveren or had any power whatsoever to influence its management or administration. It did in 2001 provide funds of 1,570,703 Euros by way of loan to a member of the consortium to assist in stabilising the finances of Beveren.

At no time has anyone at Arsenal been contacted by any regulatory or investigatory body with respect to its relationship with Beveren. Arsenal and all its staff have acted properly throughout, in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations, and in the best interests of Beveren, Arsenal and the broader footballing community."

Is this someone making something out of nothing, or are we in hot water? Your thoughts please....

This Is Killing Me

I HATE this time of year! All that we get is bullshit rumours and Chel$ki spending yet more millions on yet more players!

THANK CHRIST THE WORLD CUP IS JUST ROUND THE CORNER!!!

The reason I haven't posted for the last couple of days is quite simply because, there's been nothing worth posting about!

I'm so BORED at work it's just not true - I'm actually considering doing some work to help the time pass...!

Anyone got anything interesting they wanna post? PLEASE?!?!