Samson

This is the moment Adebayor's hair grew back.

And now our season begins.

J.K.

Duck My Sick Kevin McCarra

Arsenal can beat anyone, including themselves

What a load of rubbish. What an arse-hole! This comment (from nebalt) sums it up perfectly for me;

Kevin, this article proves yet again why you are more Duncan Castles and less Henry Winter. In today's GU football podcast, you argued with Doyler that Taylor's challenge was down around Eduardo's ankle when your own paper has published a picture of the incident in this article:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2259993,00.html

You dare call Wenger a hothead but never criticize Alex Ferguson when he goes off on his rants and says the most stupid things because you are a world class sycophant.

This year you have accused Arsenal of fictitiously simulating in a game at the Emirates when three weeks later Evra and Anderson were rolling around the Emirates as if they were shot. Not a peep out of you then. You also accused them of being short then retracting it again on the podcast admitting you had been wrong. And in the aftermath of this latest sad episode, you rather talk about Gallas' and Wenger's shortcomings than berate another Scotsman for giving the mandate to go out and cause bodily harm on an opponent. Your bipolar approach to Arsenal is quite frankly getting old. You are, unfortunately, not a credit for the paper you work for.

Anyway, the guardian has proven itself of late to be little more than a tabloid. With the exception of Charlie Brooker, the only use I put that paper to these days is wrapping my chips. I will say good day to you Mr. McCarra!

I SAID GOOD DAY!

J.K.

Arse!

A really bad day.

J.K.

Ade

Ade23
Uploaded by nemici

Another Jose Antonio ?

The new season grows ever closer and my mind is starting to wonder how will my beloved Arsenal fair over the 9 months it takes for the English Premiership to run its course?

As per usual i am hopeful and i urge myself to believe we will lay down a genuine challenge for the trophy, but i live with this terrible fear that once again the strength and consistency the Arsenal were always renowned for, will be absent for a third season in a row.

I know Arsene Wenger is a man with a rare and indeed at times beyond human craftiness for spotting talent.

Each year there are but a few if any signings for a Gooner to get animated about, but this year Arsene has spent more than his usual limit on a 24 year old Croat/Brazilian called Eduardo da Silva. He seems to be The Quintessential Goal Mouth Poacher in the style of an Ian Wright with an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Will he be the goal scorer that Arsenal so badly need? Someone that put the ball in the net with close to a goal a game average, someone that can survive the grueling months of a football season injury free with a fervour for success and a dedication to the fans who dedicate themselves to the Arsenal cause.

Or will he be another Jose Antonio ?

Losing my religion

Unfortunately, I am a glass half-empty kind of individual. My pessimism is my curse. However, it can sometimes be my saviour as my expectations are forever low.

Take Arsenal, for example. I do not believe that Arsene Wenger's team is on the cusp of greatness. In fact, the Gunners are balanced on a tightrope and are in danger of falling into a deep precipice. There is no doubt that Arsenal possess oodles of talent in their young team, that they are encouraged to express the finer points of the game.

But it is also evident that Arsenal are a team incapable of doing the simple things when necessary. Wenger can unearth footballing prodigies from all over Europe and Africa, but he doesn't seem to have the tactical ability to achieve what these players tantalising promise.

Look at Rafa Benitez, he looks to be, finally, making real progress at Liverpool. He obviously gives his players proper direction as to what he wants. Look at the game at PSV, the team that knocked out Arsenal, 'Pool dismantled the Dutch with ease and look assured of a semi-final slot. This coming only a few days after a convincing result over Arsenal at Anfield.

Three defeats on the trot for the Gunners, it is not what we have come to expect. It is a worrying trend at the wrong end of the season, because if this problem is not attended to, Champions League football will not on the menu next season, which will have a knock-on effect.

If this nightmarish scenario comes to fruition, top players won't be so keen to move to the Arse, revenue will drop and season tickets will probably be easier to get.

There is something wrong, Wenger has to stop the rot or a season of so much promise will deliver us to a horrible reality where we will wish that the glass was at least half full.