Ian Grant
Editor
Thanks to:
Myles Palmer-
Features
Gary Jacob -
News researcher
Bob Bateman -
Design
Adrian Barker -
Perl and CGI programming
...and to everyone else who sent/sends things in
NEWS REVIEWS
FEATURES
THE ARSENAL AGM - FULL WRITE UP
FIVE REASONS: ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
BUBBLE BURSTS - WEST HAM REVIEW
Transfers
Completed In
Oleg Luzhnyi - Dynamo Kiev - Arsenal - £1.5m
Stefan Malz - Munich 1860 - £650,000
Silvinho - Corinthians - £4m
Moritz Volz (M, Schalke 04)- undisclosed
Eric Chukwunyelu (St Etienne) - one year trial
Davor Suker - Real Madrid -£3.5m
Thierry Henry - Juventus -£10.5m
Nicollo Galli - Fiorentina (undisclosed)
Completed Out
David Grondin Arsenal to St Etienne - loan for one year
Jamie Day - Bournemouth
Kaba Diawara - Marseilles £3m
Fabian Cabellero - Atletico Tembetary
Steve Bould - Sunderland -£500,000
Michael Black - Tranmere - free
Jason Crowe - Portsmouth -£1m on appearances
Stephen Hughes - Fulham - three month loan with view to permanent move
Nicolas Anelka - Real Madrid-£23.5m
Probable Out
Alberto Mendez - transfer listed
Christopher Wreh - transfer listed
Possible In
Sophia Kone - Nancy - £4m
Nakarta - Perugia - £3m
Robbie Fowler - Liverpool -£12 -15m
Sergei Rebrov - Dynamo Kiev - £10-£12m
Par Zetterberg - Anderlecht (fee unknown)
Roberto Muzzi - Cagliari -£7m
Joachim Borklund - Valencia -£6m
Jose Cardozo -Toluca
Robbie Keane - Wolves
Alan Stubbs - Celtic
Retired
Remi Garde
ANR has a weekly column with the Ham & High Group which funds this site
ARSENAL OPEN £10M TRAINING FACILITY
PRESS SCAN 29 OCTOBER
Arsenal may appeal against the second Vieira ban and fine - the one involving a Police Officer at Upton Park. They have 14 days.
Vieira was fined £45,000 - the largest ever in English football (£30,000 for the Ruddock incident (s) and £15,000 for the 'tunnel' and banned for six matches, (four for Ruddock [as predicted on this site] and two for the tunnel.)
The ban starts on 11 November - allowing Vieira to play in the derby at Spurs.
Emmanuel Petit injured his knee in the game against Fiorentina - and will be out for a further two matches. Parlour is also injured.
Some papers report that Arsenal will lose up to £7.5m for failing to progress into the next round of the Champions League, consisting of appearance money, bonuses and TV revenue.
ARSENAL 0 FIORENTINA 1
One middle aged Gooner, trudging home after the team was dumped out of the Champions League by the 'Angel of Death', said:"At least we don't have to come here again this season."
Quite right.
The place is a nightmare. A nightmare to get to. A nightmare while you are there. And a nightmare trying to get out of it.
The place is one of illusion. It raises expectation to heights that cannot possibly deliver. And when it doesn't deliver, you look out over the atmosphere-less wide flat spaces, and think to yourself 'there's something not quite right here' and you just can't put your finger on it.
And that isn't anything to do with paying £30 for an obstructed view, and eight pounds plus for a couple of vegetable pasties and some water, and enduring a ridiculous gangway crush at half-time.
It started brightly enough. Overmars was finding some joy down the left. Arsenal won a couple of corners. Fiorentina, though were dogged in defence.
The feeling that it wasn't Arsenal's night began when Dennis Bergkamp failed to connect with a cross on 25. He only had Toldo to beat.
Vieira did the same, soon after.
Arsenal worked several chances and half chances throughout the match, most going to Bergkamp. Although Kanu had a good one at the death and Adams headed wide. And Davor Suker hit a post.
But as they were missed, the pressure grew and grew.
Fiorentina, it has to be said gave a very good defensive display - well organised in defence, terrier like when they lost the ball. Typical Trapattoni - the old fox who used the resignation threat to fire up his side.
They adopted a very physical approach to the game, seen as early as the second minute when Batustita clattered into Dixon. Whenever they were in danger, an immediate purple shield formed around Toldo's goal.
And when 'the moment' came, the snake struck with deadly venom.
A ball inside the area from the German left back Heinrich, who unpredictably had run through the centre, found Batistuta beating Winterburn for pace, and bang - into the top corner.
It had been coming. Three times previously there had been stealthy breaks - with Chiesa just failing with a diving header, and Batistuta being fractionally offside.
Question marks again hang around David Seaman's aura like a night in a smoke filled pub. He should at least have moved toward the ball.
This is a devastating defeat for Arsenal, raising a lot of questions.
The seeds of it were probably set in the Anelka fiasco in the Summer.
The upshot could be that maybe some players won't stay beyond next season. And the squad undergoes a revision.
As Arsenal are relegated to the 'second division' Euro competition, the silver, or perhaps bronze, lining is that they now play their Euro (UEFA Cup) home ties at Highbury.
A full report and analysis on what went wrong appears here soon.
26 OCTOBER
Trappatoni's threat to resign could be seen as one last throw of the dice.
He'll be in charge of the Fiorentina side at Wembley.
Fiorentina have injury worries. It looks like Mijatovic, Torricelli, Padovano and Amoruso are all out.
Batistuta, the captain, has yet to form an effective partnership with Chiesa, or Mijatovic.
Recent bad form has been compounded with a 2-0 loss to Picenza at the weekend.
Arsenal - with Petit and Vieira in tandem for the first time, look like reporting a fully fit first team.
Meanwhile, Kanu has denied press reports that he wants to leave Highbury.
He says he's looking for a property in London. His contract is being reviewed.
In other news, Chris Wreh, scored on his first game in his three month loan spell at Birmingham.
15 OCTOBER
Arsenal's £20m bid for Roma striker Vincenzo Montella has been rejected.
But the Guardian, says there might be some movement in the summer.
It adds that both Arsenal and Manchester United were interested in him when he played for Sampadoria.
Montella is a small nippy forward, bought for £17m by the previous manager. But current manager Capello, perfers the beefy type of forward.
The piece says:"Arsene Wenger will not give up easily in trying to sign the player."
Another Italian report says Arsenal want to sign ex-Italian international Roberto Donadoni, 36.
He currenly plays in the US, would require no transfer fee and would be an experienced stand-in for Petit and Vieira.
[Seem to remember Italia 90, when he moment he missed an important penalty. The video freeze frame of the miss was held on bars and cafes' TV screens, for several traumatic days.
But he was one of those midfield players who can slow the pace of the game down to his own level. And can supply a final creative killer pass.]
There's a good article in the D.Express, about the ex-Arsenal midfielder Jensen.
He's taken on the managership of a little Danish club called Herfolge, and taken them to the top of the league.
And he credits David O'Leary in particular, and Arsenal in general for learning management tricks and techniques.
He says when you have to be angry with a player - there's a 'middle way' to do it.
And he says it is important to get in group social outings, like going to the dogs (racing) at Arsenal.
Peter Schmiechel, in the Sun, says Arsenal's Championship callenge is faltering, stressing they've already lost three, and lost Vieira for a few, and that Chelsea and Leeds look stronger.
Graham Hunter, in the D.Mail, says Nicolas Anelka played the best game of his Real career, in the team which drew 2-2 on Wednesday.
He created difficulties for Reiziger, and played on the shoulder of the last defender.
Although, it is unlikely he'll impart secrets to Arsene Wenger for Tuesday.
Hunter says there's a fair chance Arsenal could meet Real in the next round of the Champions League.
Ole.
13 OCTOBER
Arsenal 2 Preston 1
The last time Preston North End played at Highbury was in 1960, when they were up with the big boys.
As the last cup encounter showed, they are plucky opponents.
Arsenal fielded an almost international eleven - Henry, Kanu, Silvinho, Parlour, Luzhny and Seaman - affording to leave out Keown, Adams, Suker and Bergkamp. It gave an opportunity for Vernazza and Maltz in midfield.
Arsenal's class told early, when Henry set up Kanu, who rounded a couple of challenges and thumped it home.
But then Knau lost possesion to Mackie, who laid it square to Macken to lob home over Seaman.
It was pretty scrappy stuff. But then Maltz came up from a Silvinho corner, and hit, what looked like a mishit shot, which bounced into the Preston net.
Maltz made a good impression - and could well be needed for forthcoming ties, with Vieira and Grimandi facing suspensions and Petit recovering from injuries. Arsene said he can give the side balance.
Wenger can't have been pleased with the first half performance - he substituted Vernazza for Overmars at half time.
But after the match, he said that experience "had got us through."
Arsenal face a home tie with Middlesbrough or Watford in the next round.
They'll expect more than the 15,000 or so who turned up.
Other news
UEFA disciplinarians were busy yesterday.
Arsenal were fined £2430 for having four players booked in the Fiorentina match, following their 'poor' disciplinary record last season.
The Guardian points out they could face a bigger fine getting five yellows and a red at Barcelona.
Gilles Gramandi was also banned for three Euro matches as expected.
12 OCTOBER
Picture:A distant relative scores the winner for Preston in a pre-war Cup Final, yipee.
Key news to emerge today, besides the opening of the training ground, is that Arsene Wenger is accompanying Patrick Vieira to the disciplinary hearing. And Arsenal will use footage of the West Ham game to emphasise their point.
The point is most likely to be one that Vieira came under provocation.
Arsene Wenger is quoted widely as saying that provocation should be punished as well as reaction. Something so sensible, that the FA cannot dismiss it.
Ruddock defends the accusations in the Sun, by saying AW has only been here two minutes, and that PV allegedly kept calling West Ham, a crap team.
The other news is that Emannuel Petit has broken down in training and won't be available for tonight's game against Preston.
Some papers say he'll be out for two, others one. Some say he'll make the Barcelona game, others that he won't.
Jermaine Pennant, if he plays tonight will beat Gerry Ward's record as the youngest ever Arsenal player to play in a first team match. The current holder of that record is one Gerry Ward, who played against Huddersfield in 1953, when he was nearly 17.
11 OCTOBER
Patrick Vieira, interviewed on ITV's On the Ball, highlights an often disguised problem on football pitches - bad language.
Reuters highlighted it recently when it said Patrick V was subjected to racial abuse from fellow professionals. Kick Racism Out of Football should perhaps be turned on the players, as well as the fans.
Patrick said:"it's very difficult regarding bad language. They know what they say and know what they do. That's it"
On his forthcoming suspension, PV said he'll miss the Arsenal fans, and that he'll like to be remembered as a good player, than a bad boy.
There's a growing lobby urging the authorities to give PV a far lesser ban than the six-ten games being talked about in the press.
A couple of French colleagues said it should be one or two and Frank LeBoeuf said he's seen far worst things in the Premiership.
Barry Venison said that some counselling should go down with the ban - along with a type of community service, extolling the virtues of self control. A sensible approach.
So it doesn't help matters when Jaap Stam, on the latest Manchester United News Video says Vieira goes around kicking people, and then gets angry.
The People run a story about staff at William Tyndale school using tickets for the Wembley AIK Solna game instead of 12 kids. It quotes Arsenal as being upset, because they were meant for kids.
Nicolas Anelka tells the Spanish press - gimme time. [Yes the time he gave Arsenal to prepare for the season. Anelka has yet to score since his arrival in Spain.]
Keegan tells the Sky Sports web site that he intends to use Adams and Keown as a key part of the World Cup qualifiers (note, beyond the European Championships).
Freddy Ljungberg has some interviews with the Mirror Group, saying he's pleased for his Arsenal England colleagues, that he set up the goal which beat Poland, and ensured England a play-off place.
In fact out of the majority of Arsenal internationals involved, (excepting Austria) only Davor Suker's Croatia failed to qualify, or get a play off place, after drawing with ten man Yougoslavia.
Emmanuel Petit tells the Mirror that he's a marked man. He's going to play with strapping on his knee, which he says will make him a target.
He sides with Frank LeBoeuf, agreeing there is gratuitous violence in the Premiership.
A few papers take up the Arsenal in for Hesp, story, run last week. But the People are the firmest, saying Seaman is set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, with a bumper testimonial after ten years service.
[Only two weeks ago, I personally heard Arsene Wenger say that David Seaman is Arsenal's No1, so I know who I believe.]
8 OCTOBER
Good news is Stephen Hughes is ready to step back into the midfield breach - according to the Mirror.
There's an element of a second chance about his comeback, but his Englishness and left foot brings a balance.
With Patrick Vieira set to be banned - our sources say four matches with provocation taken into consideration, and Gilles Grimandi set to be banned for three games in the Champions League, and with Emmanuel Petit only just recovering from injury - there's a place for him in some matches.
The Mail reckons Arsene Wenger may turn to Daniel Andersson, the well built Bari midfielder, who was sold there for £3m. The price quoted of £12 is slightly ridiculous, but AC Milan and Juve are allegedly interested.
It adds any movement isn't likely until January - and even then Juve could have first option. He could well play against Poland at the weekend.
The Sun quotes Neil Ruddock, saying that telling PV he was a French prat, was the "most sensible thing he's said on a football field." [Now if this doesn't get any disciplinary measures - the game's a joke.]
The Daily Star said Arsenal have bid for Ruud Hesp, the Barca keeper, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The piece says that three clubs have bid - and Arsenal are one of them [ code for the others are the liklier to get him.]
In other news, Premiership head honcho, Richards says he wants the Premiership reduced to 18 clubs.
And finally an article in the Independent yesterday outlined that New Labour policy is to encourage supporters to buy shares in their own clubs, and will help set up infrastructures to do this.
More information is available on a site Soccer Investor which I and a couple of colleagues set up for a publishing company last week.
6 OCTOBER
Patrick Vieira is unlucky that there aren't any Premiership matches to take away the incessant media coverage of the Upton Park incidents.
Even Kate Hoey got in on the spittle debate, saying that players spitting on the touchlines, forget about each other - should be banned.
This has brought some howls of derision from players and the PFA. Andy Impey was quoted in the Guardian, saying it is necessary for athletes. And the PFA's Gordon Taylor said footballers have to clear their breathing passages to function effectively.
In an interview with 'well in' Arsenal journalist Steve Stammers, he says he isn't going to quit English football; that he'll take his punishment. But that he wants to put his side of the story - about the physical confrontations off the ball - particularly by Neil Ruddock, who allegedly called him a French Prat. (So much for European Union.)
The ES runs some stats which show PV tops the worst offender in the Premiership table for 1999-2000 with 29 fouls, 3 yellows, one red and 44 pts. He was fourth worst in the Premiership last season with 85 fouls, 7 yellows, one red and 112 points.
Arsenal are currently fourth in the indiscipline league, with 166 fouls, 21 yellows, 1 red and 235 points.
Lucky then that Emmanuel Petit steps back into fully competitive football after missing ten matches, following a crunching tackle by Alex Rae at Sunderland.
POSTSCRIPT week ending 21 October
Davor Suker, who is tipped at 20-1 to be top Premiership scorer this seaon, took another step on Saturday, taking his tally to five.
Davor Suker is in the select band of only four Premiership players to miss a penalty, this season. The others are Michael Owen, David Unsworth and Harry Kewell.
Some fantasy League managers were pleased with the result and scorers on Saturday. Davor Suker grabbed eight points for his two goals, and those with Lee Dixon in their sides, got a totally unexpected three points. It was his 21st goal in 400 matches for Arsenal.
Scott Marshall has had a rough time of it since leaving Arsenal. He
disn't make it at Celtic and has done little in 14 months at Southampton,
where he scored own goals in successive matches. But he may have
found a new home at
Brentford. Currently on loan, he would go for around £250,000.
The LMA's John Barnwell has urged Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger to settle their differences through the LMA rtaher than the press. Redknapp said Di Canio was booked for diving at Middlesbrough becasue of Wenger's comments after the Upton Park game. Wenger said, with customary understated dry wit:"I'm just sorry West Ham lost a game because of my fault. Maybe I have to change my glasses".
Arsene Wenger denied reports that Marc Overmars wants to leave Highbury:"I've spoken to Marc and those comments were not exactly what he said," said Wenger. "It was merely an interpretation of an interview he gave in Holland a few weeks ago. Marc is happy here."
Wenger, according to the press, also wants to tie Dennies Bergkamp to a longer deal.
As Patrick Vieira is set to depart, Emmanuel Petit is set for a welcome return against Chelsea, tomorrow.
AVIP team of six FIFA representatives will watch the Chelsea match tomorrow, along with meetings with Tony Blair, Prince Charles, Bobby Charlton and trips to Downing Street and Hampton Court. They are here to rate England's chances of hosting the 2006 World Cup.
See the Tote got it wrong. They had Arsenal at 6-4 to beat Barcelona.
See also that Barcelona were only given 2224 tickets for Wednesday's match.
Seems like Bishops Stortford has become a repository of ex-Arsenal players trying their hand at managerial careers. Martin Hayes has taken on the role for a month, before deciding if he wants it permanently. The club was also recently managed by John Radford.
Arsene Wenger thinks Davor Suker needs a bit more pace away from home - and perhaps at Wembley. But he says Highbury is perfect for him.
Seems like boo boys are getting at Ex-Arsenal players. Chris Kiwomya, got the treatment when he returned to Ipswich. But that inspired him to lay on three goals.
Meanwhile ex-Arsenal's David Livermore, became the target of terrace taunts after missing a sitter against Burnley, and was taken off at half time to spare further barracking. Paul Shaw defended his fellow ex-Arsenal colleague, saying he should be given more time.
Nicolas Anelka was put clean through against Oviedo at the weekend. But shot wide, failing to score his first goal for the club.
Those nervous about Arsenal qualifying for the second stage of the Champions League could take a precautinary bet on them winning the UEFA Cup. (written six days ago).
The Independent gave Arsenal the 'Performance of the week' award, saying they were irresistible in the second half against Everton.
While Arsenal take a day's rest, Chelsea were undergoing Turkish delights in Istanbul. It could favour the North Londdn side, tomorrow.
According to Reuters, Barcelona have only lost 14 matches this season.(?)
15 October
No Marc Overmars in the Dutch squad against Brazil, but the press said he'd been replaced by another Dutch winger, Dennis Bergkamp, whose cross was knocked into his own goal by Roberto Carlos.
So what did Jean Francois Cecillon, chief executive of Sega Europe get for setting up a mega sponsorshhip deal with Arsenal. A couple of private boxes.
David Hillier is making a name for himself in a new midfield career at Bristol Rovers - but the Mirror points out it's just the baggage that goes with him which has sometimes been the problem.
Hillier retorts:"When you're young, you get sucked into stupid things and I've had to pay for my mistakes. I'm not proud of what I did.... To be honest, I love all the banter when opposition fans give me a bit of stick - at least it shows they know who I am."
David Platt appeared at the Nottingham Payhouse billed as a "David Platt In Conversation" evening recently. One letter to the press said 'Forest should make a fortune flogging the tapes to insomniacs. I mean, Plattie's voice makes the Ronseal Advert man sound like Olivier.'
Seems like the majority of Arsenal's current international crew, with the exception of Davor Suker, could well be tied up in the Summer, with Euro 2000. It is good for their respective international careers, but not so good for their energy levels the following season.
ANR Exclusive:So what was Oleg Luzhny doing in church recently. He wanted his new house blessed by a Catholic priest - a tradition in his homeland, but the priest said he had to turn up to church first.
Tony Adams captaincy is featured in the lyrics of ex-Clash's Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros latest album.
The Liverpool v Arsenal match in 1989 still draws debate. Striker John Aldridge said:"Probably the worst thing that could have happened was beating West Ham 5-1. It meant we could afford to lose 1-0 to Arsenal. I think if we'd gone out knowing we had to win, we would have done, but we didn't know whether to defend or attack and, subconsciously, that was bad for us."
Arsenal are being advised by security and kidnap insurance brokers for abduction and ransom cover, following concerns over security at international games. And no-one is likely to kidnap Sir Alex Ferguson. His bodyguard is called Ned Kelly.
The PFA's Gordon Taylor came out significantly for the use of video technology in on the field disputes:"I want the technology used to achieve the fairest application of discipline that is possible, to resolve controversies properly instead of leaving them to fester. A four-man panel drawn from the players, the managers, the referees and the FA could do the job."
Arsenal fans come to the aid of detective Aurelio Zen in Michael Dibden's new book Blood Rain, set in Sicily (Faber £16.99).
Emmanuel Petit has been really suffering on the touchline. He said: "It has been a nightmare. Watching from the sidelines when you are injured is the hardest thing a player has to do."
Dennis Bergkamp said: "It [going by car to Euro matches] is not as difficult as everyone thinks. I'm used to it now because I always drive back to Holland. I don't want to miss any Champions League games so I'll drive anywhere."
He added:"Arsenal have never ordered me to play, it's been my decision to travel and I always get plenty of sleep. If I was doing all of the driving then I'm sure it would have an effect, but I have people who drive me."
POSTSCRIPT -2nd week October
What goes around comes around. Vieira was also accused of clashing with police in the tunnel after the infamous Sheffield Wednesday game, which also saw Di Canio sent off for pushing a referee to the ground. That action led to the Italian's long ban from English soccer and the move to West Ham.
Reuters said that the manager has frequently defended his player [Vieira] in the past, arguing that he has become a marked man and faced regular racial abuse at away matches.
The Mirror reckons you get two varieties of opera at Upton Park these days - Italian and soap.
David Dein is one of the leaders of the fight against FIFA to scrap the transfer system. FIFA's guidelines say clubs will receive compensation depending on the wages left on the players contracts."FIFA cannot do it just like that because clubs currently have players on long-term contracts. All this would have to be discussed by the relevant committees at FIFA," said Dein.
Alex Manninger has been called up to the Austrian squad to play Cyprus on Sunday. And Oleg Luzhny is set to play against Russia.
Arsenal take note: Newcastle United have set up a scheme to raise cash against future ticket sales, based on having a much bigger demand for tickets that its 36,000 capacity stadium allows. A £55m issue was sold, via private placement, via a bond valid until 2016. £40m will be used to finance a15,000 stadium expansion.
Manchester United announced it will have a ground capacity of 67,400 from August 2000.
Fiorentina crashed to their first home defeat since January 1998, against Roma. Cafu scored twice and Batistuta pulled one back.
Barcelona have troubles of their own before Real Madrid. Reiziger, injured
against Arsenal is joined by Frank De Boer, who will miss the
Wembley match with pulled knee ligaments. Bogarde got a red card
against Valladolid at
the weekend.
As the senior team lost at Upton Park, the women's team went down 1-0 at Croydon - the first time the South London side has beaten Arsenal for three years.
Manchester United said they supported the reduction of the Premier League to 16 teams. They will be backed up by UEFA in this, who also want Spain to reduce the number of teams in the top league. It will meet stiff resistance from a fair number of Premiership clubs, who fear lost revenue.