Manchester City Review: We Were A Clear And Present Danger

From the moment Mike Dean wrapped his thin lips around his whistle and blew for kick-off at the Etihad Stadium yesterday till he blew it again to end the game after ninety minutes, we looked good for a result against City. No mean feat considering City is the defending champion and was playing in front of their home fans on a turf they have won 29 of their last 31 games and drew 2 on.

We showed no fear as we took control of the midfield early on and stopped Yaya Toure and Javi Garcia from getting any modicum of grip on that area of the field. Difficult to remember what Silva contributed to the game other than taking corner kicks, one of which Lescott scored from. Even when we went a goal down, we kept our heads up and kept plugging away with the belief that we were the better side on the day and deserved to get a result out of the game and that belief paid off eventually.

Watch Highlights Of Manchester City Vs Arsenal

Preview Manchester City | Up Against A Financial Doper

I have no doubt that this afternoon's opponents, Manchester City presents us with our toughest test in this new season for a number of reasons;  they are the current champions, the game is in their own backyard and they are known to employ financial dope to improve their performance on the pitch. In fact it's a game that we can't complain about if we come out with a draw and a win will be considered a massive result.

Liverpool away was a tough test in its own way but they are not the league champions and they are a team in transition, struggling for consistency while trying to adapt to a new football philosophy being taught by a new manager. We exploited that vulnerability effectively.

Watch Arsene Wenger Press Conference Pre-Manchester City Game

wengmcpre by arsenalist

Jack Is Back | City Away Is Up Next | Some Startling Stats

Jack is back! Good news doesn't come better than this, does it? After one full year out of the Arsenal squad he resumed full training on Thursday. Yeah, I know it's a bit too early to get my hopes up considering that he's still a couple of weeks away from any attempt at full action but the first huddle has been crossed? It's expected that he will be eased back into the team gradually with some cameo appearances when eventually the manager deems him ready to play. One year out of the game is no joke so a bit more patience, guys and the man boy that English football is currently relying on for a return to glory will be ready for selection once again.

Watch Wenger Interview Pre-Man City

wengintmc by arsenalist

Eyeball To Eyeball, Montpellier Blinked | And Mary Had A Li'l Girl On The Day

Montpellier 1 -Arsenal 2

We've never lost a game in France. Before yesterday's win at Montpellier we had won four and drawn one. Yesterday took it to five wins and one draw as the team showed a reluctance to change the trend even if it was the French champions we were playing.

Away At Montpellier | Steve Bould Takes The Reins

The team is in France today for our first Champions League game of the season. Steve Bould will be taking charge in the absence of Wenger who will be starting a three match touchline ban for being naughty. Bould will be in charge on the sidelines and is not allowed to communicate with Wenger for the duration of the match according to Uefa rules and I really do wonder if these rules are not circumvented considering the amount of technologies available to us today for covert communications.

Wenger Is Excited About Our Team Play

Dear Arsenal supporter,

I was delighted with the high level of our performance on Saturday, especially in the first half.

We had a good combination of pace, speed in our passing, quick combinations, and the movement was excellent. We were a bit lucky as well because Southampton conceded two own goals, but overall I think it was another step forward from what we showed at Liverpool.

Hitting Southampton For Six

Arsenal 6 - Southampton 1

After the first two games of this season against Sunderland and Stoke City, when we did not score a single goal, I must admit I started to wonder where our goals were going to come from this season. I mean, we had sold the most prolific striker in the premiership during the summer and brought in three players with a lot of promise that on paper made us look a much better team than we were last term but after both games, it looked like it was going to be a while before the team will gel as a unit and start delivering on that promise.

Preview Southampton | Giroud's Duck Breaking Day?

It's match day at last and am I glad it is? After a two week international break I have developed all the withdrawal symptoms of a junkie -anxiety, dilated pupils, agitation, goose bumps, sweating, yawning. Have to seriously start considering rehab.

Our opponents today is Southampton FC, the team that gave us Walcott and  The Ox. Southampton was relegated to the Championship in 2005 after playing in the top flight for 27 consecutive years. In 2009 they were again relegated to League 1. That seemed to be the spur they needed to knuckle down as they gained back-to-back promotion to find themselves back in the Premiership after spending one year in the third tier of English football guided by their new manager, Nigel Adkins.

Watch Wenger's Pre-Southampton Press Conference | Thoughts On Issues Raised

            

 Arsene Wenger's press conference yesterday ahead of this weekend's home game against Southampton provided enough material to make up for the dearth of Arsenal news for the past two weeks while the international break lasted. He never disappoints when he has a microphone (or a bank of them as in this instance) stuck in his face. As usual he shot from the hips.

Is Wenger The Man To Lead Us Forward?

The best man to lead us forward?

Ivan Gazidis' interview yesterday in The Telegraph in which he paid glowing tribute to Arsene Wenger is the topic of most conversations this morning. Depending on which side of the pro and Anti Wenger divide you find yourself in, you may or may not agree with the club's plan to offer Wenger an extension of his contract beyond 2014 when it's due to expire.

“It’s not a sense of sentimentalism, not a reward for services, it’s a belief that we have an incredible manager who loves this club and is the best man to lead us forward,”

The excerpt above is one that has drawn the ire of fans who believe that a lack of trophies in the past seven years hardly qualifies Wenger as the "the best man to lead us forward."

Taking Stock After The Internationals | Played Fifa13 Demo Yet?

On song for France

The last of the international games were played yesterday evening; thank goodness for that. Now we can all turn our attentions to some real football this weekend.

Before we do that though we need to take stock and assess the state the boys who left to do battle for their countries have returned in.

I guess everyone's biggest worry was Abou Diaby; he was mine. After what I saw him do against Liverpool in the last domestic game before the international break, I believe he's an integral part of this team and it was with trepidation that I watched him go off to play for his country. The France game against Finland was not aired in my neck of the woods but I monitored it closely and was glad to hear he scored the game's only goal. I was even more glad to hear that he came out of it unscathed.

The Arsenal Way

The international break has deprived us of watching the Arsenal for a whole week now but thankfully it's just a few more days to go before we get back on track.

I am the type of Arsenal junkie that trolls all types of internet media for news, opinions, editorials etc for anything Arsenal related. I came across this video below in the course of my travails and I thought it was worth sharing.

It's a Gooner's story told without words. It shows our griefs, our pains, our triumphs, our joys and more.

It tells the story of our way -The Arsenal Way.

Enjoy

 

Follow on Twitter @naijaendgooner

Sagna! The Next Saga Begins

Doesn't understand all the faffing around going on here

Bacary Sagna's interview with L'Equipe yesterday caused quite a stir amongst the faithful and rightly so. It had a theme that we've become familiar with over the past couple of years. A theme that usually culminates in the subject exiting the club sooner than later.

Just to be clear, Sagna did not say anything different from what Arsenal fans, football pundits and any followers of the Premiership for that matter have not said in the past few years. Each answer to the questions that was posed was an understatement.

Diaby's MOTM Performance At Anfield -The Video

Liverpool Vs Arsenal -Wenger's View

Wenger: 'We were dominant in midfield'

Dear Arsenal supporter,

I was very pleased with the quality of our performance at Liverpool, both offensively and defensively.

In our first two games we showed some potential but we lacked spark going forward and we are getting that now. It was a good win, there is strong potential in this squad and a positive energy. That is something we can build on.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Cazorla? | Defending With Heart and Mind

Liverpool 0 - Arsenal 2

When the euphoria of finally scoring a goal this season and ultimately winning against Liverpool wore off yesterday, came the chance to assess the feat of going three straight games without conceding nada. Match that against this time last season -we had lost 2 games and conceded 10 goals and went on in that vein for the rest of the season as we leaked goals like a basket with bullet holes.

The Funny Side Of Arsenal Players

 

In Arsene We Trust?

Not fussed if #AFC don't sign any1.i will still support the ppl that pull on that shirt every match day. #InWengerWeTrust #deadlineday
— Michael Fenton (@goonermike86) August 31, 2012

After a frustrating night, spent watching the clock with nothing to show for it, I made a decision to be happy. You should too.

Tiote didn't happen! Neither did Michael Essien -he ended up at Real Madrid. Neither did Dempsey -he's a Spud now.

Transfer Window D-Day |

NEWS: Walcott is staying put! Winger will stay at Arsenal this week after reaching a short-term arrangement with the club. #AFC
— AFC Followers (@AFC_Followers) August 29, 2012

There is something terribly, terribly wrong with the way we handle business at Arsenal. It's deadline day today and we are scrambling around the floors of the market with the hope of picking up crumbs and bargains after letting two of our best players go -just like we did last summer. It's deadline day and we are still fooling around with Theo Walcott and his contract extension.

Wenger: 'We showed we are ready for a fight'

Dear Arsenal supporter,

Like last weekend's draw with Sunderland, Sunday's game at Stoke was one we should have won 1-0.

There were lots of positives - we showed we have a very strong spirit, we were dominant in the challenges, we were prepared, highly-focused and defensively very strong overall.

Stoke City Gremlins Vs Arsenal FC | Where Will The Goals Come From?

Stoke 1 -Arsenal 1

Stoke City Gremlins lined up against Arsenal FC

Stone the ball into the eighteen yard box every chance you get
Kick the shit out of them.
Never, ever miss the leg if you miss the ball during a tackle.
Now go get them!

A Freddie Ljunberg Tribute As The Legend Calls It Quits

 Ljungberg was signed by Arsenal in 1998 for £3 million, which at the time was the highest transfer fee for a Swedish player. Arsenal scouts watched him for over a year and Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, took the unusual step of authorising the signing after watching Ljungberg play for Sweden in their victory against England on television, without seeing him play live. Seeing Ljungberg’s performance against England only confirmed to Wenger that Ljungberg could cope against English opponents, and he was signed shortly after. Ljungberg proved himself without difficulty and scored on his debut on 20 September after coming on as a substitute against rival club Manchester United, the match ending 3–0.

Sahin Deal Falls Through| Arsenal In For Jesus Of Sevilla

The photo-shopped picture of Sahin in Arsenal gear that raised the hopes of many

Football season is back and boy am I glad it is? Offers a couple more options of things to do on otherwise humdrum evenings and of course provides fodder for blog pages other than transfer speculations.

You would think that the season having gotten underway, there will be better direction on the shape of the squad and things to come. It  does seem we'll have to wait until after the transfer window closes on August 31st to concentrate solely on the football part of things and less on who has gone where and who hasn't made an anticipated move.

Everton Fans Hate Traitors Too

Everton 1 - United 0

It was a beautiful start to the season for last season's runners-up, Manchester United and their new boy, Robert Van Persie as they lost away at Everton last night.

Yeah! From the point of view of any Gunner it was a beautiful start. There was nothing more satisfying than seeing the little Robert (that's his name, isn't it?) Van Persie run around like a headless chicken without making any significant impact on the game in which he had come on as a second half substitute. Rumours have it, Wenger sold him off to United without providing them with the user manual. How callous of you, Mr. Wenger. That's so-so unethical.

Came, Saw But Could Not Conquer

Arsenal 0- Sunderland 0.

Not the start to the season we dreamt of, was it? The 38 game race kicked off yesterday and by the time it was over there was that same old déjà vu feeling in the pit of our stomachs.

It's D-Day! Let's Go Win Something.

It's time. Let's do this, boys.

It was a flitting moment, wasn't it? That moment when Santi Cazorla was confirmed by the club and we all rose in cheer knowing that we had brought in more quality to add to Podolski and Giroud, the Sahin deal looked like it was almost done, there was still a glimmer of hope that our (ex)-captain will stay and of course there wasn't the slightest hint of a Song exit. We looked right there and then like a formidable team that was ready to challenge for honours with true intent.

Whatever Happens, RVP Is A Goner!

The Number 1 fan who went over to a bitter rival

The RVP saga is done and dusted now, isn't it? The shirt he threw into the crowd at Cologne last weekend was the last Arsenal shirt he'd ever wear and going by the stories making the rounds now, he was told before the game that he was going to be sold so he knew as he threw that shirt that it was bye bye Arsenal.

A Case For Song To Be Kept| And Robin, You're Not Arsenal's No 1 Fan!

Despite Song's statement two days ago that though he's aware of the interest from Barcelona, he's happy at Arsenal and Wenger following up shortly with that crack about Spanish newspapers, the Song to Barcelona rumours are not going away. Word on the streets today is that the Barcelona representatives arrived London this morning to close the deal.

Van Persie Threw His Shirt To The Fans After The FC Koln Game. What Did They Do With It?

"How do I combine this crop of beauties"

I doubt if FC Koln would have pushed for this friendly as part of the deal that brought Podolski to Arsenal if they had looked into a crystal ball and seen the result of yesterday's game.To be beaten 4 nil in your own backyard with your fans watching isn't a thing one will willingly put one's signature on if one can help it but of course there were financial benefits to having Arsenal FC play in their stadium and it was just a friendly after all.

This Week At Arsenal, Ferguson And Barca Stoked The Fire Of Hate

Look at them. They worshiped you. You can make them love you again...

The week started really well with the club's confirmation of what we had known for a number of days -the signing of Santi Cazorla. Before the cheers died down, Ferguson from over at United rekindled the flames of our hatred for United as he publicly acknowledged United's pursuit of Robin Van Persie, declaring that he does not know "why Arsenal is operating this way", having met the hopefully stiff resistance of the club to sell its best player to a historic enemy. And then the marauders in Spain started tapping up Alex Song.

Not United Van Persie. You Can't Go There!

"RVP's going to Juventus."
"Who gives a rat's arse?"

"RVP's going to Manchester City"
"So bloody what?"

"RVP's going to Manchester United"
"#%&*$#@$&#*^%%$#@$%^&*&^%$#@$%#$"

"Stick to Japanese football, you bloody novice"

Arsenal fans have been making their feelings known in no small measure since yesterday afternoon when rumours made the rounds in cyberspace that RVP had left the training camp in Germany to fly back to England to complete a switch to United.

Watch Cazorla's First Interview At Arsenal And His Photoshoot

Cazorla Is A Gooner! Arsenal Are In Decline My Arse

"Arsenal are in decline". That's the latest tirade from no other than Alisher Usmanov, the pouting second largest shareholder of Arsenal FC. In an interview published yesterday by Russia's Forbes magazine and only a few weeks after he rode on the back of RVP's infamous statement to criticize the club's hierachy, Usmanov went further to declare,

"We do not consider just qualifying for the Champions League to be the chief ambition of the club, and with all our hearts we support the team and wish them well for the new season.Victory is absolutely not ruled out, but the current politics of the club's management will leave Arsene Wenger and his team with fewer and fewer opportunities in the long run..."

After the RVP debacle when he made public his letter to the board, there was much criticism of his timing, with many accusing him of opportunism but quite a number of fans agreed with what he had to say especially as regards "...the players themselves questioning their future at the club and the club's ambitions".

Watch Mo Farah Training At Arsenal Grounds

Why All This Cloak And Dagger Over Cazorla?

It's that day of the week that comes after Sunday; the day of the week I'm more likely to get out of bed with a groan on my lips and an ache in my head from over-indulgence in sensual pleasures and this Monday is no different. Despite the combination of headache, vertigo and lethargy that was caused by last night's affair with Johnny Walker Black, I grabbed my computer to troll the usual suspects for news of the official confirmation of Santi Cazorla.

What Is A Blog Post About Arsenal These Days Without Mentioning RVP?

She gave it her all but that slow start did her in...

Other than seeing Kobe Bryant and his US team mates school the shit out of the Nigerian Basketball team and our 100m women hopeful, Okagbare come in last in the finals at the Olympics, I'll say last week was a good one.

I give props to every single one of those who represents my country at the Olympics whether they end up winning a medal or not because they go out there to compete against the world's best disadvantaged by poor training facilities and a lack of commitment by the Nigerian government to sports development. The athletes have been known to finance their own training yet government officials plunder the treasury by the billions (US Dollars) as we speak. Little wonder, Ohuruogu and Abiodun represent Great Britain, Okparaebo represents Norway and a couple of others I can't remember their names now. It's a crying shame.

On to what puts a smile on my face -The Arsenal!

Who Says We Lack Ambition? Robin Who?

Don't mind the colour of his shirt, he's ours now

Looks Like We Have Reason To Cheer Today, Gunners!!!

Is it too early to raise our mugs of lager and shout, "Cheers, Gunners!"? Twitter has been abuzz all morning with stories of Carzola heading to London for medicals.

Twit by @AFCAMDEN

Watch Arsenal In Nigeria In High Definition

Sagna, Mertesacker and Podolski were in Lagos, Nigeria to meet Arsenal fans last weekend. Watch the trailer of "Arsenal In Nigeria" in high definition.

Sagna, Per & Podolski Danced In Lagos

Sagna, Per & Podolski Came To Play Monkey Post In Nigeria?

It was a serio-comic show yesterday evening at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos as Airtel and Malta Guinness hosted Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Bacary Sagna in an interactive session with Arsenal's fans in Nigeria.

The players came to participate in promotional activities with regional partners Airtel and Malta Guinness who recently signed partnership deals with Arsenal that will allow them harness the club's merchandising, hospitality and content rights.

Podolski, Per & Sagna taking questions from Charles Anazado while us ordinary mortals watched

Like Arsenal fans every where else in the world, Nigerian fans were mostly interested in extracting guarantees of a trophy next season and one wanted assurances from Sagna that his injury from the end of last season had healed sufficiently enough for him to ensure that no goal will be scored through his position at right back.

It was a lesson in diplomacy to see the trio deflect all sorts of questions like, "Sagna, will you leave Arsenal if the likes of Manchester City offered you good money?"

"If it was all about money, a few of would have left ages ago," Sagna replied.

Is it just me or does anyone else see the answer to that question in that response? Not that I blame him though, that's a question no player can answer honestly.

Charles Anazado who emceed the occasion did a good job of protecting the players from some questions that would have embarrassed them. One female fan took the microphone and asked, "What do you think of Arsenal hiring a new manager?"

I turned around to see if the chick was blonde but she was blacker than my black arse and that's saying a lot because my arse is black.

What did she expect the players to say? You're right, Honey. The club needs to sack Wenger and bring in Redknapp.

Charles took the microphone back from her and as tactfully as he manages Victor Ikpeba, Daniel Amokachi and co on his SS3N football show, answered the question himself by reminding the audience that Arsene Wenger has only recently turned down a job offer from the Brazilian Football Association.

It was good to see the boys out here really but it hardly makes up for the disappointment of the cancellation of the game that was planned for August 5th. My ManU friend actually said the trio had been sent down to play "monkey post" in Nigeria; that's the backyard football game that requires 3-5 players on each side that's popular in Africa using a small goal post that can be set up with stones or sticks.

Monkey Post

All-in-all, it was a good show but we now look forward to the big one with the whole squad in attendance as  has been promised by the club.

We'll get back to transfer rumours and speculations in this space from tomorrow. See ya.

When Per, Sagna and Podolski came to Lagos, the clowns came to welcome 'em twitter.com/naijaendgooner…
— lalah D Gooner (@naijaendgooner) July 30, 2012

Pictures Of Sagna, Podolski And Mert In Nigeria

Sagna, Podolski and Mertesacker arrived in Lagos yesterday and have been participating in marketing promotions with Arsenal's Nigerian partners. Rosicky did not make the trip as originally planned. See pictures below:

                                                              Click on images to enlarge
 

On The Way To Nigeria

Refuelling stop in Palma - and our trio are preparing some gifts for their Nigerian fans. #ArsenalTour2012 twitter.com/Arsenal/status…
— Arsenal.com (@Arsenal) July 28, 2012

Let's Get City

The Wenger-Persie Conspiracy Theory

Is it possible that the club wanted to sell RVP from the beginning then slowly and methodically pushed him towards releasing that infamous statement? Could the club have reasoned that they need to recoup all the monies that have been spent over the years on Van Persie while he stayed out injured for most of his eight years in Arsenal knowing that the form he displayed last season may soon be disrupted by another long term injury?

So what better time to sell him than now when his ovation is at its loudest after all he is going on 29 years and sports science (read common sense) which Arsene Wenger has been known to favour its benefits have shown that the law of diminishing returns creeps up on most footballers at about this age.

My friend Obinna came at me with this conspiracy theory this morning and I tried to fault his reasoning but I had to admit he made a lot of us sense.
  
"Wenger always renewed RVPs contract even when he was injured but stalled this time because I believe he realised RVP is advancing in age, so any long term injury now could end his career! Do you want to have a £180k\week player in your books that's always injured?," Obinna said.


By calling Van Persie's bluff at the meetings between player/agent and club, the club may have reasoned that RVP will resort to something desperate like releasing that infamous statement which ultimately pitched the fans against RVP while ensuring that the club will not once again be accused of always being ready to sell off their best players.

While the statement released by RVP did not do the club's negotiating position any favours, it ensured that an auction for the player began in earnest.

"Now we look like reluctant sellers, and to do business with a reluctant seller, you need to do like Don Corleone said and make him an offer he can't refuse," Obinna reasoned. "Why else would we have bought two strikers in a hurry which goes against our usual transfer dealings and are in the market for a third one?"

"We need to make Wenger an offer he can't refuse"

 Can you fault this line of reasoning?

All We Are Saying, Give Us Arsenal!

The boys have arrived in Beijing and were accorded another awesome reception from the Chinese fans. Oh! How they love this club in China. Makes me wonder what would have been if they had come to Nigeria as planned. The Malaysian and Chinese receptions would have paled in significance, wouldn't it, Nigerian Gunners?

Yeah!!! I hear you roar, "ALL WE ARE SAYING, GIVE US ARSENAL". Yeah! You all know that tune and we will sing it until we are heard if they don't keep their word to come play here next summer.

The Arsenal marketing director,Angus Kinnear made us a promise when the club postponed the trip that was planned for August when he said, 

"We have a huge and loyal following in Africa, and we are sorry that the team will not be visiting this summer. However, we have a long-term commitment to Nigeria and we are already making plans for a visit next summer."

Hopefully, the club will keep their word and we'll watch and cheer the team on our shores next summer.

The game in China is between us and a familiar opponent from the premier league, Manchester City. It's a showpiece game like the one in Malaysia last Tuesday but I reckon we'll take it a bit more seriously than the game against Malaysia XI for pride's sake. The game is scheduled for Friday next at 12 noon at the famous Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing. I'll let you know here and here when I confirm if it will be aired in Nigeria.

However it goes anyway, not much significance should be given to the results because the boss is more interested in the workout value of these pre-season games than the results, and of course the Chinese fans will expect to be entertained. Having said that, I'd rather we were not at the receiving end of a hiding from City because we need the team to have a workout and the Chinese fans to be entertained. It's City we are talking about and the British press in particular will not let us live it down no matter how friendly the game may be. It has become fashionable to remind Arsenal how they need to spend more money especially when a chink is spotted in our amour. I really don't want to hear it.

It was one of them days today and I couldn't find time to get in here earlier than now. Luckily there wasn't much more than unconfirmed rumours of Carzola heading our way amongst a few other rumours to report.

I'll keep it short this night and hopefully I'll be much earlier tomorrow.

Kachifo!

Rumour Has It Mancini's Tearing His Hair Out Because Of RVP

If rumours are to be believed, Mancini was seen tearing his hair out while raging at his bosses at Manchester City for not doing enough to sign Robin Van Persie. While I take that particular story with a few pinches of salt, it is a sight that gives me a lot of satisfaction to imagine considering his penchant for calmly talking about his interest in Arsenal players that are usually designed to destabilize the players.

Apparently, City is determined to offload the likes of Adebayor, Dzeko, Tevez and Santa Cruz before upping the derisory bid they made for RVP with an eye on balancing the books before UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules kick in.

Meanwhile, rumour has it (thanks Adele for letting me borrow this) that The Old Lady has upped her bid for RVP to £20m which Arsenal has accepted. A £190k/week salary after tax offer is also said to have been offered to RVP in the personal terms discussions between the club and RVP.

So unless Manchester United comes up with something more attractive, we can look forward to seeing a bald Mancini on the side lines next season while Robin goes abroad which is what both Club and fans will prefer under the circumstances.

Santi Carzola is the boy from Malaga who rumour also has it that we have agreed terms to sign. It is the most plausible of all the transfer targets we have been linked with recently because Malaga is in a financial mess and have until July 31st to pay up all outstanding debts or face relegation. Carzola, citing unpaid wages from the last campaign has informed the club that he wants to leave and has already held positive talks with Arsenal officials. July 31st is only seven days away so we may expect this deal to be expedited.

The club has meanwhile announced that Koscielny has agreed to sign a new long term contract which offers some reassurance with Barcelona rumoured to be sniffing around him in the past few weeks. My friend Okey was quick to remind me that these contracts don't mean a thing these days.

"Apart from the fact that the selling club will get a bit more for a player with a lengthy contract, when they want to leave they leave," Okey said. But then he's the most pessimistic Gooner I know.

I've heard the club criticized for not extending player contracts before it gets to the last year to avoid the scenarios we are seeing with RVP and Theo. The truth is having a player on a long contract shifts the balance of power in favour of the club. Any club who wants to sign him must go through the club and the club have to be ready to do business to entertain any offers. So I say well done, Arsenal and  to Koscielney, I say congratulations. We have a tradition of repaying those who show faith in us

The boys will play the first of their Asian tour matches against Malaysia XI this afternoon by 1.45pm Nigerian time and it will be aired on ESPN so you can catch it if you can steal 90 minutes of your employers' time but be sure not to say I sent you.

On a final note, there are people who still have confidence in Marouane Chamakh even if most of us have given up hope in him. The team held an open training session at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil yesterday and one Malaysian beauty proposed publicly to him. We are awaiting his response.