Quote of the day:"it's like playing against a huge wall. You can't see the ball unless he moves." Jamie Moralee, in the People, who played against Nwankwo Kanu on his reserve debut.
And:"he's like Hoddle - without the religion" John Fashanu - The People
Team Injuries
20/02
Boa Morte - cartilage op (two weeks)
Ljungberg - ankle
Keown - hamstring (two weeks)
Upson - back
Petit - ankle ten days
Arsenal's record prior to Chelsea
Goals 23
Average/game 1.05
Shots 293
% on target 46
% goals to shots 8
Short passes 7712
Long passes 1097
Pass completion 79%
Crosses 362
Goals conceded 11
Goals conceded/game .5
% of tackles won 67%
Blocks/interceptions 1471
Fouls 257
Yellows 41
Reds 5
Foul Play Table
Everton -681
Chelsea - 618
Blackburn 600
Charlton -600
Derby -576
Southampton -551
Leeds 547
Nottingham Forest - 543
West Ham - 533
Tottenham - 526
Coventry - 521
Arsenal -512
Riches League (Deloitte Touche) 1996/97 season
Manchester United £87.9m
Newcastle United £41.1m
Liverpool £39.2m
Rangers £31.7m
Tottenham Hotspur £27.9m
Arsenal £27.2m
Arsenal are third in the Premiership attendance League on 38,095
Goal Ratio League
Arsenal are 14th - 23 games and 24 goals
Goals/game 1.04
Minutes/goal 86 mins
Arsenal are second in the HOME POINTS league on 26
Arsenal are fifth in the AWAY POINTS league on 19
Arsenal are fourth in the S.Mirror's average attendance in 34 years league (!) - 31,149.
Arsenal have not lost at home for 22 games
Arsene Wenger is the 8th longest serving manager in the Premiership.
Arsenal are currenly third in the Mail 's Entertainment League
OPTA Leagues
David Seaman 5th- 55
Lee Dixon -7th - 658
Nicolas Anelka - 10th -655
Dennis Bergkamp -9th -666
Most fouled
The NoW says Ray Parlour is the fifth most fouled player in the Premiership (on fouls for). He's been fouled 43 times prior to Preston. Ginola is top at 52.
Statistics - history (Premiership games up to Villa, from Carling OPTA)
Matches -16
Goals -15
Average goals/game -0.94
Shots - 218
% on target - 48
%goals/shots 7
goals against - 7
Average goals against/game -0.44
Tackles - 552
Tackles won - 70%
Fouls - 181
Yellows - 28
Red - 3
Arsenal are currently 10th in the MoS European League:
Played 27
Won 11
Drawn 11
Lost 5
For 31
Against 20
Points 54.3
POSTSCRIPT
Week 20 -27 February
Leicester's Steve Walsh asked for Dennis Bergkamp's shirt after the match last Saturday.
So that's why so many players try and get hold of a piece of Dennis 's shirt during matches.
They either want a piece of it as a souvenir or are laying claim to the whole item after the final whistle.
Marc Overmars, incidentally gave David Holdsworth's six year old son who was mascot for the day, his shirt after the FA tie against Sheffield United - along with an apology for ruining his day.
Marc, who is into iced tea, apparently gets on average ten letters a day from female fans. We hear that Emmanuel Petit gets considearbly more.
Preston and England's Tom Finney said of Overmars this week:"I think the lad is a good two-footed player, very similar to what I was."
The broadsheets liked Arsenal's performance last Saturday.The Times, for example said Arsenal were awesome, a combination of breathtaking skills, hunger and confidence bordering on arrogance.. much the same way as the magnificent Liverpool pass-and-move machines of previous decades used to sweep all before them at Anfield. Yes, they were that good.
Arsenal loses some potential players to other sports. For example, five years ago, Michael Gough, the England Under-19 cricket captain, marked Michael Owen in a football trial for Arsenal. And international hockey player, Abdul Momin, a former member of the England Under-16 squad, who was approached by Arsenal but preferred to concentrate on hockey. He finds much of the positional play similar to football.
Out of the 58 goals shown on Match of the Day on Saturday, twenty belonged to Arsenal. Each goal was showed three times, followed by an analysis.
Surely FIFA should be meeting to discuss whether the Youth World Championships should go ahead in Nigeria - where players have to have nine innoculations and bring their own blood plasma, rather than a replay.
So will Arsenal fall into the Chelsea rotation system, now with Kanu and Diawara pushing for places:" We have more offensive potential, but competition for places can make everyone better and it can make them weaker also, so it's up to me to use it well," said Wenger on Saturday.
ANR which lent its support on the website to "Eat a Veggie at a Football Ground Campaign", is withdrawing its support following the discovery of genetically modfied soya in the veggie burgers distributed free to football fans. Ole.
Maybe Man U should turn to genetically modified grass, after the state of their pitch for the Arsenal match. It is based on a nylon mesh and the strain used at Melbourne Cricket Ground, but seems uable to accomodate the Manchester rain. Man U groundsman Keith Kent said in the programme:"It's not the best in the world but it's a big improvement, and I like to think our players are able to play on it with more confidence again."
Saturday was a chance to heal some misplaced words in the past: "When you have Dennis Bergkamp behind you," said Wenger, with Anelka in mind, "you know you will get the ball if you make your runs."
Wenger has the full support of fans in his decision to push for the replay:"Ninety percent of the supporters and 99 percent of the other responses we have had agree with it,"said Wenger. Arsenal could have made history buy pulling pout of the comptition if FIFA han't allowed the match to go ahead.
A name like Bergolmo, seems seeping out of the annals of Italian defensive history. However center back Andre Bergolmo plays for Rosenberg in Norway and attracting Arsenal scouts among others.
David Poyner, in numerous letters to the press about the Sheffield United incident writes that in the 1950s in which an Arsenal corner struck the referee. "The kicker played the ball a second time, no other player having made contact, and Arsenal scored a goal that condemned Huddersfield to defeat and relegation. Perhaps this matter may now be rectified by staging a play-off between Arsenal and Huddersfield, the winners to compete in the Premiership and the losers in the First Division next season."
Arsenal's 19 year old reserve striker, north London-born Omer Riza, has joined Dutch club Den Haag on loan for the rest of the season.Ex-Arsenal midfielder David Hillier has joined Bristol Rovers for a nominal fee.
"I don't know whether there is a place called Utopia, but I think I've found it at Arsenal, said Martin Keown this week adding he wants to remain at Arsenal until the end of his career.
Arsene Wenger has set his side a target of 75 points to retain their Championship, which means Arsenal have to get 29 points from 13 games or win nine and draw two of the remaining games. Wnger adds he thinks the title will be decided by whichever side wins the most home games.
Arsenal goalkeeping coach Bob Wilson said about Arsenal's young goalkeeper Stuart Taylor on World at their Feet:" "If he doesn't make it, I will feel responsible. He is an outstanding talent."
Arsenal's success has had an effect on property prices around Highbury, perhaps, according to an AXA Insurance survey. Arsenal came second in Axa's house price league table with a typical three-bedroom terraced house going for £230,000, up 8% on the previous year.
Olivier Dacourt, Everton's £6m rated midfielder, increasingly being linked with Arsenal, said this week that other French stars such as Arsenal duo Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira had been singled out by referees. Three midfield musketeers, soon?
Talking of refs, Peter Jones, ref at the centre of the Sheffield United storm is belived to be on the short-list for the Cup Final. And isn't it that every time Arsenal have beaten Sheffield United in the FA Cup, they have rached the final.
Daniel Talbot, son of ex-Arsenal midfielder, Brian Talbot, is apparently making good headway at the Arsenal Youth Academy. He plays further back than his Dad at centre half, but accounts say he tackles crisply and uses the ball well.
David Seaman is taking an active part promoting "No Smoking Day" on 10 March. "I don't smoke because I need a healthy body and mind to keep on top of my game. I don't want to pay the penalty," he said this week.
FIFA may halt Sheffield United rematch
News broke on Saturday afternoon that FIFA may intervene and halt the Sheffield United re-match.
It appears that the motive is that no rules of the game were broken.
Responding to a question from the astute Mr Azulay, Wenger said that he'd prefer if the game goes ahead.
Petit out for two
Emmanuel Petit is out for two weeks with inflammation of the ankle.
A scan has revealed no serious damage.
Transfer talk
The People says Sunderland want to revive their interest in taking Matthew Upson on loan.
A deal was allegedly put on ice when Adams and Bould became injured, prior to Christmas.
The People also said that Juventus had enquired about Nicolas Anelka, before his two goals at Wembley.
However, he's going nowhere talk, doesn't stop the Sunday Mirror saying Real Madrid could bid £10m for him.
The D.Mail says that Arsenal scouts watched Mallorca's Dani again.
Any potential deal will not be until the summer, because Mallorca have a chance of the Spanish title.
COMMENT
On Arsenal discipline, if you look at the table on the right, it is quite clear that the club are being unfairly picked on in the media about their discipline.
Arsenal have the NINTH best disciplinary record in the league. [5 reds, 41 yellows, 257 fouls and 512 points - prior to Chelsea]
If someone was to do a column inch count on Arsenal's bad discipline, they would no doubt come top.
And referees read newspapers.
Thanks
Thanks to: Myles Palmer, Gary Jacob, Bob Bateman , Adrian Barker, Gary Cohen, Paul B
Press - at a glance 26 February
The Football Business
Fooball is a business. Gone or rapidly going is the idea that it is primarily a sport.
One article in Friday's press refers to supporters as spectator clients, with the stadium acting as a nerve centre for corporate sponsors, with access to computer database to suss out the fans marketing needs.
That particular view of the future football world is from Lionel Dreksler, PSGs marketing manager, who expounded his views in front of club reps including Arsenal, yesterday.
At the meeting, a Man U rep, said by 2000 their 67,000 seater stadium would be ready. Man U have spent £90m on the stadium development since 1992. And only a third of their revenue comes from ticket sales. It just emphasises the little publicised, but increasingly growing North-South football divide.
[I say North-South divide, because the Labour government favours re-development of brownfield sites. And after the manufacturing base of this country was smashed up in the eighties - old factory sites are plentiful, can attract juicy grant funding, and probably more importantly get planning permission.
London clubs are hemmed in - often near residential areas where different bits of the legislative framework come into play, making planning permission that much harder.]
Last week, the Barcelona v Real Madrid game which was pay-per-viewed for the first time, attracted an audience of 295,000. Questions were raised by politicians about making such important matches free.
Tomorrow the first Nationwide League game Oxford v Sunderland is going pay-per-view at £7.95 for Sky subscribers. One Sunderland fanzine editor is urging fans not to succumb.
In the meantime, in an interview in the Glasgow Herald, Alex Ferguson, says players' wage demands post-Bosman are spiralling out of control and could be killing the game - putting it out of the hands of the ordinary punter.
Anelka
And then we have the rapidly inflated price of Nicolas Anelka. The way the story is handled in the different media is instructive. The red tabs (Sun, Mirror and Star) all go with Juve interested in Anelka for £20m. Although the Sun tones it down to £15m by the end of the piece.
One line is that chief coach Ancelloti wants to link up Thierry Henry and Anelka who are mates, and offload Inzaghi. In the Sun, Anelka is quoted as favouring Spain, in the other two Italy is his favourite destination.
The Mail goes with £15m, but with a spin that a swap might be on between Henry and Anelka - which would miraculously give Arsenal the right amount of change for Mallorca's Dani. The paper claims Mallorca would be prepared to drop the asking price to £5.5m.
The Express says Nicolas Anelka is going nowhere, and that he's pledged his future with Arsenal - unless he gets desparately unhappy and " gets desperate to go'. Wenger quotes the agents who swoop to inflate his price after a good game.
His brother Claude incidentally says:'if a better contract comes in it will be hard to say no."
The Guardian stretches the truth somewhat allowing Nicolas to share the adjacent slot to the 'killer from scream' in its 'separated at birth' photo-fit caption.
The Times could well have the most truth saying that Roberto Bettega [sorry Roberto, I still think that high tackle on David O'Leary, which ripped his shin pads to shreds, in the ECW semi, was the worst ever I've seen live on a football field] came on a social visit. And the press reports are just speculation. Besides the Italian transfer window is shut until the summer. So it's all speculation anyway.
Following the meeting of Euro reps yesterday it looks like the UEFA Cup will kick off at 5pm - no doubt leading to a rash of phantom doctor's and dentist appointments - that is unless ppv is available at work. The Champions League ties will be on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7.45. One hundred and sixty four teams will be involved, playing 526 games - so says the Times.
Arsenal didn't like ex-Gordon Brown spin doctor, and Spurs fan, Charlie Whelan's recent column in the Observer and have written a complaint letter. (Not gonna fall into the the trap of giving his comments publicity.)
Stewart Houston is set to become George Graham's No2 in the next 24 hours, says the D.Express. Compensation with Ipswich is set to be sorted. (Wasn't it odd to see Graham overjoyed about the Spurs goals in midweek?).
David Platt has been handed the England u-18s in a four cornered tournament in Spain - and then potentially the World Championships in Nigeria.
Ex-Arsenal youth player, Matthew Wicks is on trial at Peterborough, after failing to make the grade at Crewe.
And finally, Wembley. That £103m bid by the national conglomerate ENSDC still hasn't been decided on. Shareholders have to decide on 10 March whether to go ahead. A couple of rival bids for the stadium have come in from ENIC and SFX.
Three board members, including the 'Arsenal linked' Jarvis Astaire, are reportedly questioning whether the ENSDC bid maximises shareholder value. And in modern football parlance - that is rapidly becoming the most important factor.
Press - at a glance up to 25 February
So justice was done, as Arsenal beat Shefield United 2-1, with Marc Overmars scoring a good legitimate goal - and being MoM - according to some papers at least, this thoroughly wiping the slate clean. (Apols - no match report - no ticket.)
Overmars is now in the record books as the only player in the Cup's 127 year history to have knocked out the same side twice in the same round/season.
Arsene Wenger claimed the moral high ground with some commentators saying a new law about giving the ball back should be called Wenger's law. He already received a special AXA Spirit of the FA Cup award.
Some say Wenger forced FIFA to stand off, by stating Arsenal would withdraw if the match wasn't played.
And along with the immense moral bonus and positive PR in the account (possibly to be traded off at some later date via a vis a disciplinary charges), Arsenal are to to give some of their gate receipts £120,000 to charity. The exact fee is to be decided by the board.
More good news is that Steve Bould has signed up for another year. In Thursday's Sun, Steve said that it is a privilege to play in the same team as Dennis Bergkamp - and he rates the Dutchman as the " best ever he's played with." Steve jokes that he'll carry on until he's 48.
There are several articles on Dennis - in which he says that he relishes the chance to take part in the Double challenge this year. Last year it was painful to sit out the key matches - Everton and Newcastle.
Although some papers - notably the D.Express, say Dennis's goal on Tuesday will definitely be in the top three this season, Dennis says it rates around fourth - behind his goal against Argentina, and the two against Leicester last season.
Along with Steve Bould, Martin Keown has pledged his future with the club, saying he doesn't know what Utopia is like but playing for Arsenal must be like it, or words to that effect.
In other news Jermaine Pennant scored his first goal in the Academy u-17 side in the 3-2 win against Watford. The u-19s won 1-0 against Watford - James Harper nabbing the winner. Arsenal's Reserves won 2-0 with Paolo Vernazza getting one goal and Graham Barrett the other.
In his first interview Kaba Diawara in the Islington Gazette says there is more contact and it is tougher here than France. He also says the gounds have more atmosphere.
In a comment piece (Express) the respected John Giles says he genuinely believes Nicolas Anelka can become one of the top strikers in the World on a par with Ronaldo.
He points out Anelka's ability to freeze - even if he's in full motion - at the moment he receives the ball. Giles says this is where he is better than Owen. Other commentators have noted that Anelka is more versatile - able to receive the ball in tight spaces or with his back to goal/defenders, whereas Owen needs space to run on to the ball.
It is tough in Turkey for ex-Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, who is set to leave following insults from his club president. David Hiller has gone to Bristol Rovers for £15,000.
Arsenal allegedly let David O'Leary use Arsenal training facilities yesterday prior to their Cup tie with Leeds.
And finally the 1998 World Cup is expected to make a £21.5m profit after tax - around the cost of a Ronaldo. [Incidentally ANR sources in the European Commission say Karel van Miert's competition department is after some of that in relation to the ticket allocation problems].
The money is one of the reasons for Sepp Blatter's idea, floated in a Swiss newspaper that the World Cup should be every two years.
However protocol has knocked that one on the head for at least ten years, as UEFA baulked at the idea.
Arsenal 5 Leicester 0
Before a third of the game was through - it was over; a Walkers Crisp packet pierced clinically by a super sharp rapier in the form of Nicolas Anelka.
Up until 21 however, the time of the first fatal piercing, Arsenal were ordinary. Leicester seemed to have brought a grey fog down from the M1 - and the match had all the atmosphere of a soggy crisp. Arsenal passes went astray and men were caught in possession.
Dennis Bergkamp was noticeably sharp though as early as the second minute fighting aggressively for a lost ball - always a good portent. Both the Dutchman and Vieira went on neat cameo dribbles - the latter foiled by Keller in a last ditch attempt.
However, on 21, Bergkamp executed deliciously controlled lob, releasing Anelka to run on to a one on one with Keller, and the Frenchman controlled it with one touch on his chest and fired hard and low into Keller's right hand corner, reminiscent of Ian Wright in his heyday.
In the post-match press conference, Arsene Wenger said that once Nicolas is in front of the last defender, he knows he cannot be caught, and therefore can concentrate on trying to beat the keeper.
Bergkamp was starting to run the show. He's such a potent player that cannot be pigeon-holed. Yesterday, he played the supreme creator role - and the timing of his passing, as his manager remarked, was the best ever he'd seen him execute at Highbury.
Holding the ball, until exactly the right moment, he released Anelka to beat the offside trap, and as a few minutes earlier the Frenchman buried the ball low and hard past Keller.
Leicester seemed confused, now every time Arsenal attacked. They appeared to be expecting a ball over the top - and waiting for it, only to be surprised by runners coming through.
Again it was Bergkamp orchestrating the third, this time releasing Ray Parlour on the right, who fired home again in Keller's right hand corner.
Arsenal now were running riot. Overmars was set up on the left and he darted to the byline and crossed for the ever alert and speedy Anelka to nab the match ball for his hat-trick.
The scoreline - 4-0 before half time reminded of the game against West Ham last season. Leicester, who are known to be a fairly physical side, were, as Martin O' Neill said, " out-physicalled".
The Midland side brought on Gooner Andy Impey and giant haystacks of a man Steve Walsh to shore things up. But the changes were no match for the inspired Bergkamp who yet again orchestrated his fourth assist by setting up Parlour at exactly the right time, for the Romford man to fire home.
"We're gonna win 6-5" sang the Leicester fans.
On came Kanu and Diawara for Anelka (standing ovation) and Overmars. " There's only one Kanu" sang Clock End Gooners.
The Nigerian executed some impressive control. And he switched the angle of attack several times with perceptive passes. I asked Wenger after the match how fit he was. The Arsenal manager said that he came through the game at Old Trafford and was fresh in training the next day. He also added that Diawara was fit too [both comments in the light of their lack of competitive matches].
Diawara went on some powerful, enthusiastic, physical runs. He seems to carry the threat of physicality, something perhaps missing in the Arsenal attack up until now.
Strangely, although Bergkamp created four, he could have had a hat-trick - his third good chance - a dropping volley with only Keller to beat, finding the keeper.
After the match Martin O'Neill was apologetic -" we were useless; weren't at the races; we were murdered; poles apart". He added that Bergkamp seemed to stroll past his players at will, and that they struggled to cope with that pace.
Arsene Wenger, looking coolly satisfied, said that after coming back with a result from Manchester, confidence was high. As well as the timing of Bergkamp's passing, he highlighted the runs of Anelka and Overmars as another key factor.
Diawara - a diamond in the making
Press at a glance 15-19 February
Firstly apols for the lack of postings for three days - tied up with a Nigerian job.
Some interesting perspectives on the Man U v Arsenal tie which finished 1-1.
Both the Times and Independent through Oliver Holt and Guy Hodgson - reading between the lines imply the title race could be tilting Arsenal's way.
There's Man U's European distraction, their incredibly bunched fixture list over 16 days which includes Inter Milan, Liverpool and Chelsea, the state of their pitch - which looked pretty bad on Wednesday (Chelsea are also having pitch problems which some players have reported is affecting their game).
However the Times hints that Kanu could be a sort of trump card - not to the degree Cantona was when he first went to Old Trafford - but potentially an important catalyst all the same.
Critics of Kanu say he has a languid style and doesn't track back enough. But anyone who saw him shimmy past Stam - a move which lead to Arsenal's goal - would think he's worth his weight in gold.
The by-product of Kanu's presence is that it keeps Dennis Bergkamp on his toes. Secondly, as the Times points out, he already has found a rapport with Marc Overmars - akin to their Ajax days - and also with Nicolas Anelka.
Diawara is also a powerful addition to the squad.
Kanu in the Sun says that you have to work very hard in England. And that it was good to put a performance in at Old Trafford which got Sheffield United out of the system.
The Guardian has a "where on earth piece" on Kanu's village - Owerri
The Mail says Arsenal are ready to bid for 22 year old midfielder Mark Delaney for £1m. He was released from Man U, played for non league Carmarthen, until he was rescued by Frank Burrows and taken to Cardiff.
Yesterday it was claimed that Arsenal were one of the clubs beaten to thhew Ellington (who he?), by Bristol Rovers
Good to see that Olivier Dacourt, Everton's midfielder saying he thinks he's being picked on by refs because he's French - "like Petit and Vieira".
Press at a glance 13-15 February
Difficult to say anything which hasn't already been said about the Sheffield United match - suffice to say, how good it is that Arsene Wenger is managing Arsenal. He could yet be honoured by FIFA with a Fair Play Award.
Sepp Blatter faxed Arsenal at the week-end congratulating them on their stance, in suggesting the game, which finished 2-1, be replayed. Kanu mistakenly controlled a thow in - returned to United, after they'd kicked it out to allow the trainer on, passed to Overmars, who scored. The replay will be a week tomorrow at Highbury.
No firm decision has been made on whether any monies from the match will be donated to charity - as suggested by a few bodies, and Trevor Brooking on MoD.
Plenty of headlines - Kanu this and Kanu that - but none as yet - Kanu-f worms - which could be the unfortunate by-product of the this great Corinthian act . We'll see.
Quite a few refs, including Philip Don, are saying although a laudable act, it undermines their authority.
The other point is that it is very easy for journalists who haven't been exposed to the rough and tumble on Premiership pitches - to view what happens from a subjective viewpoint. Attacks on Kanu and Overmars are unwarranted.
Vieira won the majority of Man of the Match awards in the Sundays and a few Mondays.
No match report here as I couldn't get a ticket for this match - in fact my ratio of attempts to tickets via the Ticket Registration Scheme is now running under 50%. Last season, it was something like 90%.
An interesting angle is that bookies are reported to have lost £5m from the decision - and one Arsenal fan, David Ova lost £5000 over the outcome.
Anelka
Arsene Wenger put the record straight on Friday - in most Saturday papers, that he's happy with Anelka and wouldn't swap for any player in the world. He's got pace, stamina, technique, strength on the ball and a good finish.
Wenger says that Anelka has developed just the way he thought he would, and that he's happier than he looks. He adds that if you job is going well - other things fall into place. He added that at the beginning of the season, Nicolas said that Marc didn't pass to him enough. But there's "co-operation and friendship between the players'.
Meanwhile - Anelka himself says he's fed up with the stories about him wanting to leave - and the story about a Spanish agent looking for a Spanish club for him, is a fabrication. One of his brothers is his agent.
Kanu
Kanu has been attracting column inches -not surprising given his height - 6ft 5 inches. Jamie Moralee, who played in the Reserve match against Brighton says "it's like playing against a huge wall. You can't see the ball unless he moves."
The article portrays Kanu as a cross between Gullit, Hoddle, Owen and Zola (now come on now!). The similarity to Hoddle is his reading of the game and his passing. The similarity to Gullit is the big size, but incredible skill on the ball, and the Zola and Owen references are to his quick feet.
The piece lists his repertoire - drag-backs, body swerves, nutmegs, back-heels. However the downside could be the physical punishment that comes with that skill level. And also the long gruelling Premiership season. As Myles Palmer points out it will take him time to adjust to the Premiership - with among other things - less time on the ball.
A while back ANR suggested a tribal wardance to welcome Kanu, like the one at Watford to welcome Ben Iroha. Well, according to the Mirror, the Nigerian Branch of the Arsenal Supprters Club and the Igbo Social Club weren't slow off the mark and approached Highbury - but a war-dance on the pitch was turned down, as "only palyers are allowed on the pitch apart from official ceremonies".
Miscellaneous
Good feature on Cape Town's Lance Davids in the Express on Sunday. He's a Man U fan, midfielder, sprinter, has a crunching tackle and by all accounts has freakish ability. The 13 year-old is at Arsenal (Youth Academy) for a reported 10 days, under the tutelage of Liam Brady.
And the Premiership deal with Swatch, which would have linked the digital clocks at Highbury with the ref's and linesmen's watches - is broken.
Nicolas Anelka's disallowed Wembley goal is apposite, as FIFA are looking at infra-red goal-line systems, at their 20 February meeting, along with the proposal to have two referees in each half.
And finally, Barcelona topped Arsenal (England v France) in the number of players they had at an international match (Holland v Portugal) - 8/7.