tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9977258504177085222012-02-17T08:08:22.800+05:30A gunner description of the world around us!Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.comBlogger931100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-61318898916230469022012-02-13T15:21:00.002+05:302012-02-13T15:58:33.112+05:30

Perfect Weekend Well, what a perfect weekend. Arsenal win in injury time, Chelsea lose and get players injured, Liverpool do not shake hands or a feather at Trafford with their performance, Newcastle get walloped. If only Tottenham could have lost. Unfortunately, they were playing Newcastle and there was no way both could lose. On the other hand, Double agent Harry is a gonner. I hope he gets

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-29420463005014431942012-02-09T21:04:00.002+05:302012-02-09T21:04:58.145+05:30

Arsene on profits Arsene went on a veiled monologue of how he needs to make 20m before buying Eden Hazard. That’s probably the nicest way he has told us that we won’t be buying Hazard. I can read it in two ways- One, he is fed up of holding out for the board in public, saying that there is money to spend. The cynic in me is also telling me that this is just the tip of the iceberg of the rift

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-67203111146389529692012-01-28T20:49:00.000+05:302012-01-28T20:54:25.874+05:30

Well, a late, late article on the United game. And no I am not going to talk about the shambolic performance. I am not going to talk about us being unable to compete with probably the worst United team that I have ever seen in my 13 years of watching football. I thought I would talk on the big ‘boo’ that has successfully deflected attention from our inability to compete in the big games.

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-84761146767787233742012-01-17T19:18:00.004+05:302012-01-17T19:27:01.173+05:30

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V.Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927125823723120617noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-73082262657236017682012-01-13T01:30:00.002+05:302012-01-17T19:26:39.769+05:30

We are desperate for cover in the wing back position, aren’t we? Fans have been clamouring for some wing back signing. Something that tells me, Oh, Thank God, we took care of that! But what are the solutions being discussed. I think the only ones the media came up with were Wayne Bridge and Maxwell. I would rather have Almunia at left back than either of the two. He is more loyal than the former

V.Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927125823723120617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-87515672672075891802012-01-06T18:00:00.002+05:302012-01-08T23:22:22.959+05:30

My mind’s is picturing Arsene as Calvin right now! Do you seriously believe that we need reinforcements? Sorry Arsene, but we do. And it is not due to the scheduling of African Cup of Nations. We just do not have any strikers. Presence and absence of Chamakh would hardly make a difference right now. And I doubt if Arsene even knows whether Park Chu Young is still in the country. But there is

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-74951747647736251082011-12-24T13:55:00.002+05:302011-12-24T21:02:51.616+05:30

Arsenal were lucky to get a winner at the 87th minute with the shortest and thinnest player on the pitch. It was a surprise that Yossi Benayoun actually fancied himself to be standing in the melee itself.  Arsenal showed great spirit in clawing back a winner from the gasp of death by demonstrating great fighting abilities by heading in a corner, hardly accepted as their strength. That

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-11791285284606932702011-12-20T18:13:00.001+05:302011-12-20T18:24:37.018+05:30

There are only two things in the world where you can have  a sense of pride even in defeat- Sport and war. Not least due to the similarity between them. With a tint of bias, this was probably the best contest that the Premier League has thrown up this season- a game which had everything- European finesse of the passing game, an English resilience and tempo. It was a shame we lost. I genuinely

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-18638086063588478492011-12-17T14:59:00.002+05:302011-12-19T00:36:17.522+05:30

Arsenal vs AC Milan. It is a fashionable draw in every sense of the word. Two teams with great footballing history..Adept at demonstrating poetry on the pitch.. To me traditionally, AC Milan has meant the side of Nesta, Maldini, Cafu et al.. who made defending look artistic.. They were not the Terrys or the Carraghers of the world whose lack of ability to read the play early meant they do a

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-82033960389765477062011-11-25T17:21:00.001+05:302011-11-25T20:22:15.476+05:30

Thanks to Sepp Blatter for igniting an article of which my mind has predominantly pondered. A belated one, but the interlull when the comment was made is the most uninspiring time to write about football. Two good Arsenal games have recharged me enough to attempt to do this topic some proper justice.   Firstly, I am going to break ground and defend Sepp Blatter a bit. Ok, not defend, but I

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-32140575259562060072011-11-24T16:40:00.001+05:302011-11-24T16:41:39.394+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-68320459490913791832011-11-23T18:28:00.001+05:302011-11-23T18:30:06.933+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-74791295950454179672011-11-22T16:59:00.001+05:302011-11-22T16:59:04.058+05:30

       This is a reminder that on November 18, Vikas V sent you an invitation to become part of their professional network at LinkedIn.   Accept Vikas V's Invitation       On November 18, Vikas V wrote: > To: [

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-68256484179950711552011-11-01T08:47:00.000+05:302011-11-01T08:47:41.504+05:30

The game was a celebration of relief for most of us! It has really been a while since we scored five against any side (No Arsene, Blackburn game won’t count!). But scoring five goals in an away game at Stamford Bridge really showed off the roller coaster we have been through! I dare say each Arsenal fan must have celebrated in a way he/ she had not in a long time, when the fifth goal went in

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-6139438318971185372011-10-20T12:58:00.000+05:302011-10-20T13:00:37.317+05:30

Guys, I have been quite overwhelmed by the response that I have received for the last two posts. I never thought that I would be getting about 150 loyal readers going through every article.. It feels good to acknowledge the same and look forward to receive your support in the same way.. Would love it if you all subscribe to the blog from the column on the left or follow me on facebook/ twitter

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-57558586197911254012011-10-19T09:17:00.003+05:302011-10-19T09:17:22.099+05:30

At the end of the long and tardy interlull, otherwise known as international break, we were back with a weekend of pure football. Firstly, I have to hand it to the way internationals are being managed. I honestly believe fans seem more excited about each week being a football week after the end of season than in the one week break of internationals. We look forward to friendlies, some new

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-23274605550722128352011-10-08T00:27:00.000+05:302011-10-08T00:28:17.515+05:30

Over the years, with the tumultuous spirals of being an Arsenal fan, I have gone through the various phases of success of one’s club. And there seems to be a very easy way to measure the success of your club. The time when fans of rival clubs absolutely despise you is the time when you are doing really well. The feeling has been a little old now, like a remainder of a drunken night out during

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-12560620016003695542011-03-08T21:32:00.000+05:302011-03-08T21:33:04.388+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-87838059807234524472011-02-27T17:56:00.001+05:302011-02-27T18:02:43.213+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-61700186383670881732011-02-23T19:33:00.000+05:302011-02-23T19:34:31.719+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-83985876433528590592011-02-16T20:03:00.000+05:302011-02-16T20:04:18.795+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-59985550529503596052011-01-11T08:47:00.000+05:302011-01-11T08:48:34.684+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-12771142271358892632011-01-07T16:16:00.000+05:302011-01-07T16:17:14.385+05:30

Mancini paid us the ultimate compliment by playing a way that he did. I can honestly say that if Arsene did this we would have lost our heads. For all I hate Manchester United, I am sure even their fans have a greater sense of self respect. It's acceptable if Aston Villa and Evertons of the world would come to town and park the bus. But, if I genuinely feel that my team is challenging for the

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-83883636456968243392011-01-05T21:54:00.000+05:302011-01-05T21:56:15.788+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-8285635164020028422011-01-01T18:01:00.000+05:302011-01-01T18:02:40.785+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-2751891951922154362010-12-27T08:40:00.000+05:302010-12-27T08:41:20.095+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-86744376870522559852010-12-13T23:21:00.002+05:302010-12-13T23:22:55.340+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-63033926432306626852010-12-08T20:13:00.001+05:302010-12-08T20:13:45.859+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-70762110517523147282010-12-04T17:17:00.000+05:302010-12-04T17:18:35.836+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-67985452889529312462010-11-27T17:27:00.000+05:302010-11-27T17:28:19.368+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-12667805692228862642010-11-07T11:39:00.000+05:302010-11-07T11:43:31.082+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-91721352521836023412010-10-31T16:51:00.001+05:302010-10-31T16:52:16.012+05:30

A small post. Arsenal drew Wigan at home in Carling Cup quarter finals. Disappointed. I wanted us to draw Manchester United. Despite what anyone says, Carling Cup is a breeding ground for our substitutes and the youngsters at the club. To make the best use of this, we need to draw big clubs at the earliest. The matches would test our mettle and show us what our players are made of. If at all, we

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-78348039565138264552010-10-31T16:51:00.000+05:302010-10-31T16:52:01.447+05:30

A small post. Arsenal drew Wigan at home in Carling Cup quarter finals. Disappointed. I wanted us to draw Manchester United. Despite what anyone says, Carling Cup is a breeding ground for our substitutes and the youngsters at the club. To make the best use of this, we need to draw big clubs at the earliest. The matches would test our mettle and show us what our players are made of. If at all, we

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-24787696852260172352010-10-30T01:01:00.000+05:302010-10-30T01:02:20.028+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-23158499995694010152010-10-26T20:20:00.001+05:302010-10-26T20:22:33.648+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-30855876795609524222010-10-26T00:42:00.001+05:302010-10-26T00:42:43.764+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-35328245816921118952010-10-24T01:54:00.000+05:302010-10-24T01:56:02.812+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-84235211612632493832010-10-19T23:05:00.000+05:302010-10-19T23:06:31.252+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-35042107788422279412010-10-15T23:40:00.006+05:302010-10-15T23:50:29.907+05:30

Arsenal recorded a long due victory over its arch rivals Injuries this week. The latter has really had Arsenal on the ropes in recent times during international breaks by accounting for Arsenal in sometimes quite an embarrassing fashion. It has to be said that despite the best efforts of Mr. Pearce, the injuries team could not score on the Wilshere front. Stuart Pearce, an ambitious upcoming

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-24886439142213183892010-10-07T00:19:00.002+05:302010-10-07T00:21:48.837+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-60040915172982618852010-10-03T12:32:00.003+05:302010-10-03T12:50:10.826+05:30

To be challenging for the title and improve in our points tally, we need to improve our performance against the teams that would be in the top 5- Chelsea, Totts and both the Mancs. We are playing Chelsea at a good time. They are at home and not at their confident best. Having said that, we are not playing with our customary swagger. Even in the mid-week victory against Partizan, the game was

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-11203995247222868982010-09-23T00:14:00.000+05:302010-09-23T00:20:39.697+05:30

What a derby! Nice, open and expansive game, where the self proclaimed saviour of the English game who was grateful enough to offer his services to the national team, Mr. Harry Redknapp was undone by two English youngsters. Jack Wilshere seems to be growing with every game. There are many players who can pass like him, but this lad always seems to have that extra 10 seconds while he has the ball

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-65808925300696190302010-09-19T16:59:00.001+05:302010-09-19T17:00:19.503+05:30

That’s all I could think of. When I decided to write the post match, this was all I could think. We had defended as well as I have ever seen. That is in the entire Wenger era from Adams to Vermaelen. My heart went to Koscielny, who deserved a man of the match for his performance yesterday. He still deserves it, I believe for the consistency with which he was handling the aerial balls. For all

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-52888272465844190562010-09-18T18:45:00.007+05:302010-09-19T00:25:02.912+05:30

No its not Arsene. No, its not Owen Coyle. Its not even Fat Sam who thinks he should be managing Brazil. It is ( drumroll....) Myles Palmer. The fellow who hit the big time by writing "The Professor' on Arsene Wenger. For the uninitiated, his latest pass time now is to have an Arsenal blog, keep praying that Mourinho wraps the title and has a crush on Old Trafford. I dont decry a human being for

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-60516208554073415832010-09-18T18:44:00.001+05:302010-09-18T18:45:34.095+05:30

After the delightful six course meal of Braga, Sunderland awaits. It’s great in a way. When Arsenal go up north travelling, we need to be in the best of our confidence self. When your game is built on pass and move, it’s as much about mental confidence as technical ability. Knowing where your team mates are running, having the patience to slowly put the knife through the other team. The

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-78655915268859659842010-09-15T23:40:00.001+05:302010-09-15T23:42:09.623+05:30

As a long trip to the Wembley begins for the Arsenal, we are drawn a group full of coincidences and European tours including a welcome back to Dudu and the side against which Squillaci refused to play so as to force his way to be a part of the Arsenal. We start with Braga, a club nicknamed as Arsenal by its supporters. No, they do not play Wengerball, they are more in the ‘One nil to the Arsenal

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-4989257399012958422010-09-10T13:03:00.000+05:302010-09-10T13:04:54.311+05:30

So, with the boring international break and the transfer windown that always promises too much and delivers too little, out of the way, its time for football to come thick and fast at us. Two games a week for the next three months on an average does wet the appetite for football after an inept tournament where many countries played and tried to act as if the tournament was the pinnacle of

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-26310329782605555002009-10-19T00:09:00.000+05:302009-10-19T00:16:04.251+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-75819358092630119272009-10-01T00:48:00.001+05:302009-10-01T00:48:33.108+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-54379811121916470962009-08-27T10:50:00.001+05:302009-08-27T10:52:04.616+05:30

Yes. Eduardo dived. Yes, it would have never mattered. Fact of the matter is Celtic had no shot on goal till the 92nd minute. The commentators conveniently ignore that Celtic could never handle Eboue and Diaby. So even if Celtic had scored a goal and Arsene replaced the two who played quite well with Arshavin and Van Persie, Celtic could not dream of keeping a clean sheet. As much as the Scots

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-46857312301288079262009-08-17T16:15:00.002+05:302009-08-17T16:15:57.389+05:30

Wow! That is all I can say. And this wow for probably the first time in 13 years stand for as strong as a defense as for the fluid forward movement. I shall not insult the intelligence of my readers by describing what happened in the thirteenth minute and seventy fifth minute and so on. Each Arsenal fan, true to his salt would have somehow seen the match. The most ordinary performance was

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-61382807707784883002009-08-13T17:21:00.000+05:302009-08-13T17:22:24.739+05:30

I have always admired David Moyes. So, despite a good opening fixture record that we have, I was not the least bit delighted to see us draw Everton for our first game. But if there is ever a good time to play Everton, it is in the beginning of the season, not December. Not October or November when you have mid week commitments in the Champions League. I actually believe playing Everton for the

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-24992483394358789622009-07-21T16:09:00.003+05:302009-07-21T16:14:54.201+05:30

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Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-42802328055072267972009-05-17T00:20:00.008+05:302009-05-18T00:36:10.501+05:30

I am not very excited about playing in a game in which another team will be crowned championsBut it will be difficult to win and stop that happening. There is a lot of potential here, but it is more important to show we are contenders next season, rather than we just have potential to win one game.We must buy in the summer. Not more potential, but players who are ready to do it now, players like

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-32360001886214223882009-05-11T12:30:00.001+05:302009-05-11T12:31:44.173+05:30

It has not been a mere coincidence that my love affair with football coincided with the one Arsenal have enjoyed with Arsene. But the former now threatens to last longer than the latter. Arsene was the reason I loved football. The only Arsenal I have known is the one he has created. Technical brilliance, European finesse over English grit. Possession is the mantra. (You won’t believe but I hardly

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-36627944467105395702009-04-20T10:31:00.000+05:302009-04-20T10:33:52.900+05:30

When I saw the team line up, I knew it. No, not that Arsenal will lose on the day to aerial threat of Drogba. Arsene has decided to drop the FA Cup. I accepted it grudgingly even last year when he played an under strength team against Manchester United last year and got drubbed- Our squad was too thin for running on three fronts. But, why this year? We were in the Semis. Not in the running in the

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-63345071521420208302009-04-05T12:53:00.001+05:302009-04-05T12:53:59.899+05:30

When a champion footballer misses about three months of action due to injury, someone was going to pay. The entire April might turn out to be the month where the long-nosed, veteran footballer of 21 makes up for lost time. Manchester City game was enough of an indication that we, Gunners can be delighted that he still wears Arsenal on his sleeve. After the Hull game, Fabregas was made the

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-57863355120291409992008-12-29T17:14:00.000+05:302008-12-29T17:17:03.697+05:30

Aaahhh!!! Finally, three points. Just when I felt, I will forget that winning feeling. To be honest for all the hammering our lot doles out on Gallas, he has been above average as a defender for us and in a long time, our most consistent threat in set pieces and the player who has scored most of our last gasp goals. One more such goal put us out of our misery yesterday. The entire performance

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-75278988086422295602008-12-22T12:03:00.001+05:302008-12-22T12:04:52.722+05:30

Eight points adrift at Christmas atleast and to expect to win the title is hoping for some divine intervention. As a true fan that is all you hope for. As someone who has seen a lot of football for a decade it is only a prayer. And if you add to it that you have lost your talisman for 6 weeks, it is a lost cause.Arsenal had a real nervy start to the game and never had enough possession to impose

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-22006310181284443182008-12-12T17:21:00.000+05:302008-12-12T17:22:52.740+05:30

Round of 16- the roll of the diceI did some permutations and came up with a draw…. Hopefully I get atleast 50% of them right… more importantly, I get our match right…This is the draw….Sporting Man ULiverpool RomaInter Milan Athletico MadridLyon PortoBarcelona ChelseaJuve VillarealPanathinaikos ArsenalReal Bayern

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-67326740172767282332008-12-11T12:39:00.000+05:302008-12-11T12:40:08.276+05:30

People have been calling us Arsenal fans gloomy of late and overreacting. I doubt if they really feel the same after watching Arsenal play against Porto last night. Appalling would be praise not worthy of the performance. It was so poor I am not going to dignify it with a match report.And honestly speaking, Arsene, this is not acceptable. Every fan can accept his team being beaten. But we were

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-59546118437025439702008-12-02T12:20:00.000+05:302008-12-02T12:21:37.695+05:30

Arsenal does a ‘Chelsea’A long ball. A little scrap. A cute through pass. Goal! Offside not given. A free kick. Winning the header in the box. First to react to the second ball. A quick turn. Goal!It almost felt as if we were Chelsea today. Add to those two goal descriptions, some deflected long shots and prolific goal scoring from corners and one would have account for atleast 60% of Chelsea’s

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-22366414636957331692008-11-29T11:43:00.001+05:302008-11-29T11:49:49.904+05:30

Arsenal go to Stamford Bridge at the end of a tumultuous week for the Gunners. Hardly has any recent London derby had so much significance to Arsenal as this one promises to have. The media is saying that we could be out of the title race if we lose this game. I believe we may be out of it if we don’t win. As usual we are injury stricken. Nasri , Sagna and Adebayor should return. Theo at the

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-42345354997559275242008-11-28T14:53:00.000+05:302008-11-28T14:55:34.313+05:30

Finally Arsenal Inc. has a new CEO. I can’t remember the last time an enterprise worth almost a billion pounds not having a CEO for eight months. Ivan Gazidis, as most of you might have already read was the chief of MLS for 14 years and a close friend of Stan Kroenke.The best thing about him seems to me is that he is a true football fan at heart. He represented Oxford in 1984 against Cambridge at

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-82874696274655157072008-11-25T11:57:00.000+05:302008-11-25T11:59:26.918+05:30

So, as expected in most quarters, Cesc Fabregas has taken up the mantle at Arsenal FC. It surely is a better choice than the whiner that we had all this while. It is not about flaying your hands in the air, as you say Arsene. We (calling for Gallas’ head) do not expect or want the captain to do a Hollywood Braveheart. But at least he should not be the first one to drop his shoulders and moan. If

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-80477626865615838462008-11-24T15:23:00.000+05:302008-11-24T15:24:31.285+05:30

With great pain, I even contemplate this topic. However revolting the thought sounds to me, there seems to me an undeniable necessity to debate this. I know I will receive a lot of hate mail from my fellow Arsene et Arsenal fans. I was one of them just a few weeks ago.Arsene, unfortunately seems to have lost the plot for me. It’s been three years since we won anything. But what seems more

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-86169883452689111822008-08-21T19:02:00.000+05:302008-08-21T19:10:55.558+05:30

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That, that sums up me feeling about the first day of the new season. I did not see a lot different about most teams (Yes Spurs, as expected even if you spend the GDP of some poor nations, you can never be consistent enough to come to top four). But considering Arsenal’s line of people missing from the first team, I did not expect us to really show something new so early, so soon.Nasri seems ready

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-71895044643868853192008-06-21T13:33:00.000+05:302008-06-21T13:34:52.886+05:30

Reports suggest AC Milan and Barcelona are ready to offer big money for Adebayor. As high as 30 m dollars!! Normal logic would suggest it a fair valuation considering that he is a 30 goal player. But it’s Adebayor. We surely should know better than that. My first argument is that with the kind of midfield we have, it is not down to Adebayor alone to score 30 goals. He was not exactly clinical

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-524471143255832512008-06-12T14:18:00.000+05:302008-06-12T14:20:14.283+05:30

Arsene Wenger, on being linked with Kompany has suggested that we do not need a centre back this season. This, coming in the background of Alex Song having signed a long term deal scares me a little. Does Arsene think error prone Senderos and Song can provide back up for Gallas and Toure. He went on to add that he does not need a centre back for this season. I really hope he was misquoted or

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-75674563478587721442008-06-10T11:21:00.000+05:302008-06-10T11:22:43.142+05:30

Name- Wesley Schneider Where? - Plays for Real Madrid and had more than a decent season with them. Not considered a regular starter for Real Madrid. Newspapers have linked him to us in the past due to his closeness to Van Persie. Position- He can play across the midfield. When playing wide, he likes to cut in and more of a passing winger rather than a crossing one. Thus would easily fit into

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-89675672376934291692008-06-01T21:39:00.000+05:302008-06-01T21:41:32.340+05:30

Raffaele Palladino Who? This Juventus young playmaker was linked with us in previous seasons. He has come of age in recent times and has broken into the Italian national team. Position? Mainly a striker who has also featured at the left wing for Juve. More of a second striker who can feed balls into and is aware of players around him. Prefers to play along the ground and hence would fit into

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-78776639056899998302008-04-21T10:51:00.002+05:302008-04-21T11:28:17.501+05:30

With our season over, it is time to begin thinking for the new season, they say. I know everybody loves to start with transfer targets at this period of time, so this indulgence. First, I think we need a goalkeeper, a centre back, a winger and an experienced striker. Also if Flamini is leaving, add a defensive midfielder to the list. I do not believe Almunia is good enough to be number 1.

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-44738350062667974232007-10-07T20:03:00.000+05:302007-10-07T23:05:54.860+05:30

First things first. I know many people are going to write about how Roy Keane has instilled great resilience into his squad and how they fought back brilliantly. I think that is a load of bullshit. It was not as if Sunderland was pressing us. We committed two rank mistakes in the defence and were punished for it. If Sunderland really had steel we would have seen it as soon as the match started.

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-40409903601045774622007-09-24T17:51:00.001+05:302007-09-24T17:51:50.315+05:30

Today’s announcement of Arsenal being the second richest club in Europe and the richest in Britain took me back to 1998. We were about the 15th richest club in the world. And where has this great man taken us. I applaud Arsene for his vision. More than anything, you put the club’s interests before anybosy else. You made sure that when people talk about the greatest clubs of Great Britain, Europe

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-35640093144417844132007-08-28T22:01:00.000+05:302007-08-28T22:03:53.406+05:30

I know that the champions league qualifier is very important to us and we should not take Sparta lightly. But I really dont think Arsene will get a better chance to assess his squad for a long time to come this season. I say this for two reasons- Persie and Fabregas are both on a yellow. So it would make sense to rest them. Also, Repka despite any media reports can be expected to come after

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-51421052117571659472007-08-18T16:16:00.000+05:302007-08-18T16:17:50.251+05:30

So as we are off to Ewood park for a crucial fixture, especially considering that Man U is playing its derby and the other two are playing each other, three points from this fixture could really put us in a decent position. Blackburn is our general nemesis though we did play against them quite well last season. Going by the Middlesbrough game, Hughes can be expected to start with a flat 4-4-2

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-81775528449066518282007-08-14T12:18:00.000+05:302007-08-14T12:19:29.497+05:30

Dear Wright, I really think it is time the club considers dismembering you from the Arsenal family, once and for all. I have had it with your negative rants against Arsenal, a club which has so much respect for him. Arsenal may win the title, it may not. But as part of the Arsenal family, we expect you Ian to make the right sounds about it in public. There is no need for you to add to the

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-92054828766178958752007-08-14T04:06:00.000+05:302007-08-14T04:16:16.998+05:30

Arsene in the post match conference talked about how such a late victory could change our season. I really hope it does since we looked pretty ordinary out there against Fulham. I have seen many matches when Arsenal keep shooting and don’t score. But there was one thing unique to this match. Fulham was creating chances at will, expecially in the second half and hence, we never held the high line

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-50741398052435489382007-08-12T01:51:00.000+05:302007-08-12T02:08:46.076+05:30

I am still not sure if we would play 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 tomorrow. I would wish to see the former but the first game of the season means we may see the latter. Most of the team picks itself. The back four that played through the friendlies with Rosicky, Fabregas and Eboue being certainties in the midfield. Van Persie would be playing as atleast one of the strikers. So it comes down to who would be

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-51469125653660654992007-08-06T22:10:00.000+05:302007-08-06T22:13:55.873+05:30

Fast forward to the fulham game...What can we expect?Fulham or the pirated version of the Northern Ireland national team have done some heavy spending by the Cottagers' standards. But was the money spent wisely? Well, I have never seen some of them play since players like Cook, Healy etc. have come from lower divisions.Lawrie Sanchez has been quoted as saying he will play 4-4-2 but I really doubt

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-57303946798257333612007-07-17T19:52:00.000+05:302007-07-17T19:55:19.295+05:30

After all the eulogies that we as Arsenal fans have read this season, how about a reality check? Generally, the word ‘reality check’ is used to temper some excessive expectations. But the way we have been written off, the reality check has to be a very optimistic one. First things first. What we did last season was without Henry. He hardly played. Also, the Henry we saw, whenever he played was

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-60360155782769544992007-02-12T21:37:00.000+05:302007-02-09T14:39:39.777+05:30

First things first, Titi, we as Arsenal fans don't want to see you diving. That is very unbecoming of an Arsenal player. I think you should put your hand up first that the dive in the first half in the Wigan game was one of the most blatant dives. Please cut it out. Zidane never dived. Pele never dived. When you are trying to become one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game,

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-42087630241929045932007-02-04T23:10:00.000+05:302007-02-05T02:39:33.751+05:30

As Arsenal went a goal down again and somehow managed to salvage a draw, there were many things that demanded attention. I really hope the club does not get distracted by the sending off and the subsequent penalty. The team can easily shift the blame on to the referee that the foul took place outside the box and so on. But it would just cast a veil on our own poor performance. And I really hope

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-66853941286322455232007-02-02T19:08:00.002+05:302007-02-03T13:41:09.616+05:30

After taking up the under 21 English job, Stuart Pearce announced his squad today. And the squad seemed strong enough to challenge the underperforming first team of England. So I thought I would classify the team into their respective clubs and I see only Aston Villa who has more young English talent in the team than Arsenal. Not bad for a club which was supposed to be not producing English

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-48750323448728957952007-02-02T00:56:00.000+05:302007-02-02T02:14:46.733+05:30

As expected after the first leg, Arsenal progressed into the finals of Cardiff with relative ease. The young guns did well but the first team guys just stepped in to give the final zip to our passage to the Cardiff final.So what team would Arsene play against Chelsea? I don't think it would be that easy for him to keep his word about giving our young guns a run. Why? Silverware on the line

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-11761780534289261562007-01-29T18:32:00.000+05:302007-01-29T18:55:36.986+05:30

After the recent niggle that Julio had in the Bolton game, it made Arsene consider a trasfer buy with about two days left. So whom do we buy? Reports suggest a left back and a keeper but lets see.With the subject of goalkeeper, I am completely in for a buy. We need good cover for Jens and he is now free to talk to other clubs. So a keeper is a necessary buy. Any keeper worth his salt from Gordon

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-18308673592072222762007-01-28T23:48:00.000+05:302007-01-29T00:17:49.381+05:30

It is no trivia that Bolton is a team that gives us troubles to the extent that the odds in Arsenal- Bolton matches must have become more and more even {if not tipping Bolton} over the years. So as the first half progressed, it looked like more of the same with the same old post match conferences after we lose to the Trotters. I know many people do not accept the argument that Bolton do not play

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-21438241189654396282007-01-28T00:25:00.000+05:302007-01-28T17:44:52.778+05:30

And as we yet again saw our neighbours try so hard to better us but there are some things that are not meant to be, are they? As the Beast scored an unusual hatrick, Arsenal have more than a foot to meet one more of its London neighbours.I could see only a 20-minute highlight so my comments may be skewed by them. But there were a lot of things to note in the match.Our defence except Hoyte was

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-55112153847440992342007-01-24T18:28:00.002+05:302008-12-13T06:57:26.423+05:30

Trivia Question- How many players has Wenger sent out on loan on recent times for them to come back and turn into promising players for us? And how many the other way?..Let us look at few of our illustrious loanees if one may call them so.Jermaine Pennant- On his Saints debut with a hatrick, he had us raving about the additional dimension that he would bring to Arsenal with his crossing. Then he

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-62976487385697031202007-01-23T15:47:00.000+05:302007-01-23T16:34:20.356+05:30

So where is Bale going to? Seems like somebody has bid 10 million pounds. Hmmm! That is what the entire England seems to be talking about. No wonder we do not like to buy English talent. Talent comes so rarely with an English root that the entire country and media go over the top for any player.Do we need him? I am pretty sure Wenger wont bid such a ridiculous amount for a left back when we

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-42361289362426088102007-01-22T18:29:00.000+05:302007-01-23T17:09:17.693+05:30

As we brace up for a Bolton return, Nicolas wants to have a transfer for the n-th time in his career back to Arsenal. How I wish I was his agent! I would get a hefty commission every two years. But do we take him?Hmmm... Lets see. He is 27, French, can score goals, has pace, can create goals(not a Ruud guy) and learned his football in the Arsenal academy. Not a bad CV if you are applying to join

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-997725850417708522.post-18226991124017972532007-01-22T18:17:00.001+05:302007-01-22T21:15:50.567+05:30

It was a tale of many heads in a way during the final whistle. As Henry's head rose, so did heads across London, some with pride, some with hope {ya those Russian bros!} while the devils fell ruing their negativity accentuated at the end of the game. But there was surely one more head that rose- that of the beautiful game, that which enforced a more positive approach to the game in general.But

Vikashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05268892883639122663noreply@blogger.com0