" The boss is a humble man, a spiritual man. He is a lovely person to work with. I have great respect and admiration for him."
Tony Adams on Arsene Wenger.
Team Injuries
12/02
Boa Morte - cartilage op (six weeks)
Ljungberg - ankle
Grimandi - ankle
Seaman - rib
Keown - hamstring
Upson - back
Dixon - concussion
Overmars - flu
Huck - will...let you know if hear anything
Suspensions
Petit- 3 games from 7 February
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
West Ham 0 Arsenal 4
Arsenal penned West Ham in their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes with superior passing.
Dennis Bergkamp set up Anelka and Overmars with brilliant passes, but the former lacked composure, while the latter over-ran it.
On 34 minutes, Dennis Bergkamp took the game by the scruff of the neck and had a run and shot under Hislop.
Parlour chipped for Overmars to run on to, and knocked his blocked shot into the net.
Second half and West Ham changed formation and put on Berkovic.
It livened them up a bit but Arsenal sat back, soaked up the pressure and hit them on the break with speed.
Keown set Anelka up and he changed direction sharply to his left and shot low to beat Hislop - his first goal since November.
Not to be outdone, Ray Parlour notched up his first since 13 April, following a twist, turn and shot by Overmars.
It made it seven wins in nine at Rompton Park.
Arsenal were soon after installed at 11-4 second favourites for the Premiership.
FFF investigate deal
The FFF has set up a four man investigation as to how Jeremie Aliadiere ended up at the Arsenal Youth Academy.
They are reporting back on 26 February.
One broadsheet suggests European Parliament involvement.
Adams, Wright, Seaman in Hall of Fame
The trio join Gullit, Rush and Hughes in the Premiership's Hall of Fame.
Fifth round draw
Arsenal draw Sheffield United at home in Cup
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, and Paul B
What does Arsene W really think of Emmanuel P?
Waiting for Kanu - an analysis of enigma 2
Press at a glance 12 February
So today's press is dominated by NA. (that's Nicolas Anelka, not Not Applicable).
In a left field interpretion of the French existentialist tradition, following his two goals at Wembley, he says:"I am nobody."
Some rapid PR elastoplast was applied on Thursday: " I am happy at Arsenal, and I'm happy enough in London. I am getting used to it. It has made me develop physically, and it helps when I play international football," says Nicolas. He adds that Arsenal has made me tougher and harder.
Certainly his French colleagues are talking him up. Zidane says he's the world class forward we miss. Deschamps says he's the next Ronaldo - with the same acceleration, and hard shooting. Some are saying he's better than Michael Owen - he certainly was on Wednesday. Frank Leboeuf meanwhile profers some advice - he should hold the ball better and help the team more.
However, a couple of papers D.Express and D.Star, say that Anelka's agent Pedro Martinez, has been asked to find him a Spanish club. He went on Spanish TV yesterday to that effect. [Do we detect the influence of his brothers trying to cash in on instant fame here?].
On injuries [see top right for details], it appears Tony Adams will play against Sheffield United. But Dixon is out - in most papers - 50/50 in a couple. He's 50/50 in most for Old Trafford. Keown is out until mid-March, according to the D.Star. The rest is a catalogue of worry for Wenger - including Seaman's rib, Upson's back and Overmars' flu.
Highly respected journalist Rob Hughes has a good article in the Times, picking up what some analysts say - namely that too many foreigners in the Premiership are wrecking our national team.
It is true England has the highest percentage of foreigners 45%, based on 118 out of 262 first team choices in the Premiership, followed by Germany at 40% Spain at 38% , Italy (surprisingly ) 30% and France at 20%.
Interesting that French Sports minister Marie Buffet is planning legislation - part prompted by Arsenal - so that French clubs can keep the young players they have developed for three years after their apprenticeships are over.
The clubs however are under financial pressure to sell. ANR understands that administrative moves are underway to put some of the smaller French clubs on a sounder legal and administrative basis.
Meanwhile France is the place be. They put six times as much into sport development as the British government - and deliberately foster free thinking radicals, like Monsieur W.
Oh and and finally. Remember that match against Wimbledon, when
the lights went out. Well, it is being investigated as part of
a Far East betting scam.
Press at a glance 11 February
So the Anglo-French psyche of Arsenal was put on the public stage last night. Maybe it will be a watershed, somehow - with emphasis on European youth, rather than English experience, following Nicolas Enigma's 0-2 demolition of the Arsenal backs (plus Le Saux).
Could add a million of so to NA's transfer fee in the fullness of time.
Interesting that in today's D.Express - Arsenal officials think that Anelka's brother - Claude (and Didier) who would profit if Anelka was sold abroad - are having a (deliberately) unsettling effect.
Still, the fact that NA scored a hat-trick - denied by the linesman, doesn't detract from the fact he reamins an enigma - infuriating in the first 60 minutes at Wembley - but then brilliantly clinical.
It is quite symbolic that Arsenal (Sun) have allegedly bid £3m for Sporting Lisbon centre back Roberto Beto, 22, and 12 caps. He's an international and Arsenal are reportedly waiting for the weekend, for an answer.
Monaco have reportedly had a similar bid turned down. It says replacing the back four is going to be the hardest task of Wenger's career. Mallorca's Dani is also mentioned again - a possibility at the end of the season.
Perhaps age is now too telling a factor for the Arsenal old guard. Keown is reported to be out for three weeks - with a hamstring problem. Dixon will miss Sheffield United with concussion and is 50/50 for Old Trafford. Adams has a reported broken nose in some papers, but not in others.
As if to emphasise European youth, there is talk at a UEFA level of having a common three week transfer window - for all Euro clubs. And moves for a minimum number of players under 21 in first team squads. Two is the likely number.
Still on the Euro theme - Dennis Bergkamp missed a couple of chances in Holland's 0-0 game last night. Jaap Stam did a hamstring - so along with Giggs' hamstring - it evens things up a bit, for the Old Trafford clash.
Meanwhile on another continent, Anders Limpar is playing for Colorado Rapids in the US of A. for the rest of the season.
Press at a glance 9/10 February
So masses of comment about Arsenal's "Dad's Army" defence playing against France at Wembley tonight following Lee Dixon's surprise call up and Nigel Winterburn's standby call to play against France. Great tribute to supreme professionals.
With up to eight Arsenal players set to play tonight, Arsene Wenger says - play the game at Colney. More seriously he ain't that happy - because it means more games for his players.
Let's hope the Arsenal players take a leaf out of Matthew Upson's book. He scored the winner by chesting down a free kick and knocking it in against the French u-21 side last night.
More youth activity with Lance Davids, 13, being flown from Cape Town to Arsenal for a week with Arsenal. He will be under the tutelage of Liam Brady, who stresses that he's got his father's blessing. Although chased by a clutch of European clubs, there is talk that he could sign for St.Etienne and get around the non-EC nationals problem in four years time.
More Anelka talk in some papers saying he doesn't socialise or talk to the other French players (presumably outside games), doesn't particularly like it here in England, goes back to France whenever he can, which is about twice a month - "like the other French players".
Anelka says that he came here to play for Arsenal and it is not as bad as to make him want to go home. But he dreams of playing in Italy, one day.
He adds that scoring for France would be better than scoring for Arsenal in the FA Cup. (Errr, how many PR own goals is Nicolas going for here in one day?)
On a positive not Roger Lemerre says that going to Arsenal has been good for Nicolas.
In other news, the Man U Arsenal match will be telvised on Sky.
The Euro Leagues are getting together to try and block and FIFA plans to create a World Club Championship.
The Express reveals that John Lukic is on 5K./week.
And Nwankwo Kanu says Nigeria ain't that bad, following worries about sending young players there for the World Championships in April.
Press at a glance 7/8 February
So Dennis Bergkamp won the majority of the MoM awards for t he West Ham match. He was also spotted buying two £1500 Armani suits from Harrods, by the the EoS.
Meanwhile his Dutch national manager Frank Rijkaard is expecting him to travel all over Northern Europe in preparation for Euro 2000, held jointly in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Holland have games in France,Switzerland and Denmark - and DB10 has some left hand drive equipment to cope with it - namely from a couple of BMW's, a Porsche and a Land Rover, according to the MoS.
Big talking point is Nicolas Anelka's outburst about Marc Overmars being allegedly selfish. Amazing own goal.
ANR sources say they saw Nicolas talking to a L'Equipe reporter over a coffee with a tape machine rolling - and got quite concerned - as there allegedly was some sort of agreement that NA wouldn't talk to the press alone.
The remarks about MO not passing to "me in the centre" and running like a dog for his passes, are childish. More damaging are the remarks about no loyalty any more in club football. Bad news - this is Arsenal, where team spirit is vital.
His brother's remarks about "one day Nico will be a star at Barcelona, Juve, Inter, Real " etc may come sooner than he thought - given the swap speculation between Ronald de Boer and NA. Although the age factor is in the latter's favour - Ronald de Boer is a better player.
Press at a glance 6 February
For West Ham match report - see left and down.
So Ian Wright is out - but there'll be a funny re-union of sorts between Di Canio and Keown at Upton Park.
Berkovic is in as is Sinclair and Abou, but Lomas is out.
For Arsenal Bould still has a knee problem, and Ljungberg and Grimandi have ankle problems.
Vieira and Petit play their last Arsenal match together for 3 games.
As suspected, Arsene Wenger has said that England should pick an Englishman, which is highly eloquent way of turning any approach down.
He says the person should also be over 50, because of the need for tactics and psychology in tournaments.
Pieces confirm that Wenger is comfortable in this country, but that he prefers the day to day involvement with players. Besides, the national manager's job would entail "twice the stick and half the pay".
He adds though he may be interested at some later date.
Wenger also expresses sorrow over the Hoddle situation:"500 years ago you were burned for your beliefs, now you just lose your job."
Kanu in some papers arrived yesterday, in others today and in some tomorrow - and in one (D.Star) he arrived yesterday on one page (69) and he's arriving tomorrow on another (67).
He's playing against Brighton Reserves on Monday.
There's a sensationalist story about Barcelona wanting to swap Ronald de Boer for Nicolas Anelka. [I always thought that Anelka would be sold on sooner than later - for a fee which would pay for the training ground £6-7m.]
This one in the Sun has some truth about it. A while ago there was a story which said De Boer was going to Barcelona as a staging post for the Premiership. And Arsenal allegedly bid for him in the summer.
On Anelka, Wenger says that :"he must fight more in difficult circumstances." He adds that NA and DB will play today - but they won't play together every week.
The piece says PSG want him for £8m.
Meanwhile the D.Express says that the Premiership reps want to distance themselves from any Sega deal.
Press at a glance 5 February
"I don't think Arsenal knock on too many doors in this country anyway."
Gordon Strachan and sour grapes over the fact than Kanu got his permit and his Bosnian Konjic, hasn't - yet.
So it's three v three on 10 February, perhaps. Keown, Adams and Seaman, called up for England against Petit, Vieira an Anelka, called up for France.
Talking of internationals there is a potential club v country conflict , over Kanu, when the African Nations Cup qualifiers happen between 27 February - 10 April. The players who reach the final stages will be away in Zimbabwe for three weeks next January, according to the Guardian.
Dennis Bergkamp in several tabloids says Arsenal fans will be impressed by the way Kanu plays - he can be striker, play off the striker or in midfield.
He adds that Ian Wright's departure in the summer, left the club, unprepared. And he adds that Arsenal needed a world class striker for the first half of the season - perhaps someone to come off the bench and score goals. He says Arsenal now have plenty of options for the remainder of the season.
And Lambourde has been talking about Diawara. He says of his fellow Frenchman, that he has skills. good movement and is powerful, but a "lot depends on his confidence.'
Press at a glance 4 February
All press - tabloids and broadsheets ( D.Telegraph had gone) report that Nwankwo Kanu received his work permit yesterday.
The tables are turned slightly with the broadsheets saying that he may play at West Ham, while one or two tabloids are more circumspect - with quotes from Wenger to the effect of "finding out more next week."
Wenger adds it is important he integrates into the "team' and shows them what he can do. He has been living in Amsterdam.
[ANR suggests a special tribal war-dance as an introduction - as put on for Watford's recently arrived Nigerian centre half, who hails from the same tribe as Kanu.]
Most press pick up what was said here yesterday - that Wreh and Mendez have gone on loan to AEK. However, Wenger in one paper says that it is definitely a loan and that they are coming back to Highbury.
The Islington Gazette confirms that Bould, Winterburn and Dixon have been offered one year extensions and are expected to accept. Wenger said the reason was looking at " our defensive record in the league". And he adds that they are keen to stay.
Dennis Bergkamp misses the Manchester United game on 17 February , as Tottenham won their FA Cup tie - a bizarre scheduling situation. Kanu can come in, if fit. Petit is also suspended for that one.
In other news, Ian Wright says he's retiring from international soccer; Gooner Tim Sherwood is signing for Spurs; and the D.Star reckons Arsene Wenger has convinced the FA that he doesn't want to be considered for the England manager's job.
Press at a glance 3 February
So the bookies have Arsene Wenger variously at 12-1 to 16-1 to take the England manager job. This after repeated quotes that he doesn't want to be a national coach. Besides any intelligent man will know it will all end in tears.
David Platt is 6-1, perhaps, the bookies are assuming he knows something we don't after jumping ship from the port of Genoa. He had a torrid time, not least conducting press conferences in a car park, and running the gamut of hostility from fellow Italian coaches. He'll encounter some jealousy here too if he gets and England position - which could be No 2 to somebody. Do Arsenal still hold his player registration?
Although Arsenal have loaned out Chris Wreh and Alberto Mendez to AEK Athens until the end of the season [strangely on the Independent in today's press picks this up], it looks unlikely that, even if they do, Platt will be pressed into service.
A quote from the Indy implies it is the end of the road for at least Mendez. They say the only chance of first team experience was away from Highbury. And reading between the lines this applies to Chris Wreh too.
Arsene Wenger said himself he now thinks the squad is too big for the job in hand. And Kanu is yet to arrive.
Perhaps more important is the fact that Arsenal are "officially the 20th richest club in the world". I put inverted commas rounds because the figures from Deloitte Touche, are based on the 1996/7 season. Arsenal are assigned £27.2m turnover. Spurs incidentally are16th on £27.9m. Considering Manchester United are at £87.9m, the Championship victory is a tribute to the footballing brains and skills at Highbury - and a refreshing reminder that football is not all about money. Up the Arsenal!
For the record Arsenal are the sixth richest in the UK -see table on right.
Also when the next season's figures come out, Arsenal are sure to jump up the league because of the Championship purse etc;
In other news, another alleged Arsenal target Rob Jones is joining West Ham for £300,000 today, so says the Indy.
Meanwhile no Arsenal players have been called up for the England u-18 s squad to play France on 9 February at High Wycombe.
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 0
Arsenal won this match by dint of superior passing when it mattered.
Key man for ANR was Emmanuel Petit, confirming the growing calls for him to be nominated as Footballer of the Year.
Not only was his tackling as ferocious and accurate as ever, his passing was top rate, and several brilliant interceptions in the second half, probably were worth two points. He also had a great responsibility in the absence of Vieira.
It was a game of two halves - always fiesty - given the record between the two clubs. Bergkamp and Overmars linked well, and and the non-flying Dutchman set up his colleague for one of those mazy runs and low shots, early on.
The breakthrough came when Overmars of all people won a flick-on in the area, beating Petrescu. Bergkamp's anticipation saw him a couple a yards ahead of Duberry, and he opened the face of his foot to ensure the angle of the shot beat de Goey.
After that the game more and more became an Arsenal rearguard - protecting the lead. Vivas came on for Anelka to bolster the left side midfield - and later on Upson for Bergkamp.
Arsene Wenger said:" it was very hard - particularly in the second half. Arsenal wanted to keep the score [1-0]."
"It was a stressful build-up to the game as we knew that we had to win to keep us in the race. It would have been over if we had lost today."
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Adams, Anelka, Bergkamp, Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Petit, Garde (subs Vivas 68, Upson 90, Diawara 74, Manninger, Ljungberg)
Chelsea: de Goey, Petrescu, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Desailly, Vialli, Wise, Duberry, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Zola (subs Goldbaek 38, Forrsell74, Morris, Terry, Hitchcock)
Press at a glance week-end 30/31 January
Interesting that on Thursday ANR likened Diawara to Emile Heskey. And that on Friday Arsene Wenger said that he's like Emile Heskey.
Also on Thursday that Arsenal were looking around Edgar Davids, and on Friday the Express says, Arsenal are looking around Edgar Davids.
The Express adds that he's valued at £7m, will stay until the end of the season and that Real Madrid are interested.
There's' been a mass of gossip, speculation, features etc; etc; - not much hard news - more candy floss.
So Tony Adams won't work under George Graham again. And that he wants to see out his contract (two more years).
Besides the above quote, Adams pays tribute to Wenger's knowledge about how the human body works.
Adams says the back five have proved to Wenger that you don't have to retire after 32. Adams also disagrees with Wenger's tipping Chelsea for the title.
George also takes a bit of a knock from Eddie Kelly in the Express O S, saying George stepped over the ball in the FA final, and that he [Kelly] got the goal.
In transfer talk, The People say Bury are interested in Lee Dixon as player manager. [Arsenal reportedly offered Bould, Dixon and Winterburn extensions and they are accepting].
Leyton Orient want John Lukic on loan.
Arsenal are mentioned in connection with Michael Ball.
The S. Mirror reckons Arsenal have checked out Carlos Roa.
Meanwhile Olivier Dacourt is mentioned as a replacement for Emmanuel Petit, if he carries through his words about being fed up with the Premiership refs etc; [Although this could be a well oiled PR campaign - ie England losing brilliant talents because of dubious refereeing].
In other bits and pieces, Martin Keown says he wants to be remembered as one of the Arsenal greats, and feels like the fifth musketeer.
Arsene Wenger says that if anything, after buying Kanu and Diawara that the squad is too big - but that he "couldn't pass up the opportunity to get good players when I could."
The Mirror (D) alone has a strange tale about a triangular transfer deal involving Marseilles, whereby Diawara could be sold on to the French club, if he doesn't make it. The Mirror says that Bordeaux didn't want to loan out Diawara for three months.
Meanwhile Diawara tells the UK media that he can handle himself physically [that's what we heard too].
Michael Duberry says refs look at anything Petit and Vieira do and thinks they are hard done by.
And finally back to whence it began. Glenn Hoddle says that nine out of ten times Emmanuel Petit picks the right pass - he plays with his head up. Also singing praises to his back spin lob, he tips Emmanuel as a candidate for Footballer of the Year. They used to play together at Monaco under Wenger. Emmanuel obviously has bags of good karma.