Fowler
by Myles Palmer
Robbie Fowler has bought a house ten minutes from Arsenal's training ground.
I could give the name of the street. And the name of the estate agent. But I won't because I like Robbie and I respect his privacy. Robbie should stay at Liverpool till his contract runs out in June 1999.
After that, he is a free agent. Liverpool are scared of being Bosmanized.
They will have to replace a £14 million striker a year after the free transfer of Steve McManaman, a £12 million midfielder.
Having a house down here will be handy for Robbie. And a sound investment.
Jamie Redknapp lives in Chelsea with Louise, the pop singer.
He goes up on Sunday night or Monday morning, spends his days off down here.
Jamie and Robbie can come down together, and go up together.
Last week I thought Fowler was signing for Arsenal.
It appears not.
Yet.
Press Review - Sunday
Some in the Arsenal dressing room swear they saw David O'Leary nick the ball off Stanley Matthews in an old black and white Pathe newsreel - said the Sunday Times in one of the many articles on the Irishman.
That one recalls that O'Leary played with Mancini, Blockley, Howard, Walford, Simpson, Powling, Young, the late Tommy Caton, Ceasar, Adams and Bould.
Lots of articles on Patrick Vieira and his discipline following his £20,000 fine by the FA. He's got 30 yellows and 2 reds in his 103 appearances (which should read 31 in 104 after yesterday' s which was a bit too early in the game).
Arsene Wenger says he's a bit of marked man with a 'reputation' and asks refs to bear this in mind.
John Lukic is interviewed and says the trouble with the teams he won the Championship with in 1989 and 1992 was the anti-climax factor and the lack of new faces. He said it was a mistake not to bring new players in at the top, like Liverpool used to do. By reference he hopes the same thing doesn't happen to his current side.
Ex-Arsenal striker Paul Shaw may be put up for sale for £1m.
There's talk in some papers of two Premier Leagues.
There's a disturbing article saying the transfer fee income of Nationwide clubs has dwindled post-Bosman alarmingly, and it is killing the game at the lower levels.
Sports minister, Tony Banks, says he might try and seek representation at EC level to do something about the Bosman effect.
Thanks to: Myles Palmer, Gary Jacob, Bob Bateman and Adrian Barker
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READER
[sorry, the hit counter got stuck on 1]
Kanu - off: Oper[ation] ahead
What is true in football one day can be complete tosh the next.
And the Kanu story is an example.
Lots of sources - public and private said Kanu was on his way to Highbury. But the deal, at the moment at least has been scuppered by a training ground knee injury requiring surgery.
Kanu is reportedly out for six weeks, and and following a month of negotiations, Arsene Wenger doesn't completely deny further interest, saying:" He's one of the players we are interested in."
So in come Andreas Oper, the Estonian international who has just completed a week's trial and has impressed.
"We have to see how we can go further with him," said Arsene.
Most papers rate him at £2m. But also say Barcelona are interested.
Like Cabellero, Wenger said he's talented, but may not be ready for the first team.
Interesting that Wenger was tipped off by one his former players about Oper.
He said that Arsenal are looking to buy a striker before the end of the season - primarily as cover for Nicolas Anelka " if he gets injured we're in trouble."
Kings Cross Move?
The Daily Express claims that Arsenal will announce in a couple of months plans to build a 60,000 purpose built stadium in Kings Cross.
ANR disagrees with part of the piece saying it might take ten years, but getting expansion at Highbury may take longer.
Read the Labour government's current plans to change the planning system, including fast track proposals which are currently out to consultation.
Also insiders at the KXDC have told us they favour high turnover retail facilities, to maximise revenues.
Other press - 24 Dec
The D. Mail has a good little feature on Emmanuel Petit, and his growing maturity.
In it AW says Petit missed most pre-season training and was playing on instinct as opposed to energy and fitness, and the break in France was necessary to recharge his batteries.
Quite a few pundits - in their half term reports, including Steven Howard of the Sun, are now tipping Arsenal to retain the title.
The Mirror runs a piece interviewing Glenn Hoddle who complains about the foreign influx and pointing out that English prospects such as Hughes and Upson can't get first team experience.
Press - at a glance Wed 23 Dec
The Evening Standard says the Nwankwo Kanu deal is on, as suggested here last week.
It says Arsenal have appeared to accept a buy-back clause in his contract and it says a likely down-payment will be around £400,000. A permanent transfer will cost Arsenal £4.5m.
He can play central midfield or wide.
The Sun has a piece on Arsenal's referee advisor Tony Ward, who says all Premiership clubs are advised by refs.
He adds that Arsenal aren't any worse than any other teams. It runs counter to press comment on five red and 37 bookings this season (which isn't that bad in overall terms).
There's a feature on Nicolas Anelka in the D.Mirror with the quote:" I don't think I'll see it through. I love Spain and after that I can see myself going to Italy."
There's talk in the D.Mail about Tony Adams being offered a contract to 35 - worth $6m, according to the paper.
There's a lot of articles on the forthcoming Office of Fair Trading case against the Premiership, Sky and BBC over alleged restrictive practices. And various scenarios - including a breakaway top ten. The Mail points out that Arsenal got £9.7m last year (TV etc) and projects in could get £85m if it negotiates its own TV deals. But Arsenal are en bloc with all the others on the side of the Premiership.
Meanwhile, sad news is that Robert Molenaar, who limped off at Highbury on Sunday is reportedly out for eight months with a dreaded cruciate ligament injury.
Arsenal 3 Leeds 1
Eee Bah gum, they make 'em tuff up North.
The Leeds defence seems hewed out of Northern grit (or Norwegian stone).
Take Halle. He could have been taken direct from a fjord, along with his ice cold temperament to boot. And the English born defenders like Harte, Woodgate and Weatherall seem to have been endowed with an extra six inches at birth.
And in the first 20 with Bowyer and Hopkin very tight on Vieira and Petit, the Leeds defence and midfield exerted an iron grip. And Arsenal were lucky not to concede on one or two occasions.
Hopkin had a glorious chance, but with only Manninger to beat, he sliced wide.
But then, perhaps for the first time at home this season [must confess can't get into some matches - TRS scheme] Arsenal's motor started purring - as it did in the latter part of last season.
Arsenal used the flanks with Overmars and Vivas, who had his best game I've seen in an Arsenal shirt; passes found their men; Dennis Bergkamp found space - and looks a different player.
Several occasions in the first half Overmars and Anelka were through into the area and blasted straight at Martyn, who was equal to the power.
But a Petit lob was headed on by Anelka and Bergkamp, coolly knocked it past the Leeds keeper.
At the start of the second half, Bowyer missed another good chance. But Vieira took a ball from Bergkamp coolly rounded the Leeds defence and fired hard and low to Martyn's left. His first goal of the season.
Leeds retorted somewhat fortuitously when Bowyer's cross rebounded off Kewell's heel where the massive thighs of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were worked with a rocket shot just inside Manninger's left hand post.
One Arsenal pundit said that was the hardest shot to go past an Arsenal keeper since Esnaider in Paris.
And all credit to Jimmy Floyd, who took some choice insults from East Stand Lower, with good humour. Well done that man!
But as if to signify Arsenal are back - their talisman Emmanuel Petit took a glorious through ball from Dennis Bergkamp and rounded it off with the same type of movement as his World Cup final goal.
His exuberant bow to the North Bank had somewhat of a musketeer feel to it.
The match had an underlying physical edge, but it was tame compared to the Leeds encounter last year - perhaps something to do with the respective personalities of Graham and O'Leary.
Nonetheless, Grimandi reacted badly to teenage substitute Alan Smith's foul, and was seen to head butt - albeit a mild gesture - by ref Durkin and was off.
Petit appeared to be wound up by Bowyer, in the form of a stray elbow, and after complaining to Durkin, refused to shake the Londoner's hand after the match.
David O'Leary, appearing in the Arsenal press room, for the first time since parading two Cups, said he fielded a weakened team with Batty, Radebe, and Ribero out, and had to change the system.
He said:"I thought we could have a go at them with a full team," and said that even with the side he put out, he felt Leeds were always in the game.
Arsene Wenger agreed that Arsenal were lucky not to concede in the first 20:" We needed determination and collective aggression not to give ground away. Leeds are a good side - very dangerous."
He said that Arsenal are not too far off last season's Championship form and he was pleased that Bergkamp, Vieira and Petit "came back in the last 20".
He added that the ball-keeping technique of Vieira and Petit in holding it in defence and 'making us dangerous up front', was very important. And that more midfielders got into the box.
As if to emphasise Arsenal could be back on track, O'Leary said "They'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season."
Team Injuries
Week-end 19/12
Seaman - shoulder ligament back for Preston (ES)
Parlour - knee, back in training next week - Arsene Wenger said Sunday he'll be ready for Preston, but later in week, it was announced he could be ready for the Valley.
Hughes - groin inflammation - according to Arsene Wenger - will take longer to heal. He trains next week.
Winterburn - hamstring, back Saturday
Adams - back and back January. Saw specialist last week. Started training this week, could be back next month.
Statistics - (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
Petit's record (prior to Leeds)
Shots on target 6
key passes 14
tackles won 71%
interceptions/blocks 21
Winterburn's record (prior to Leeds)
Key passes -3
successful tackles - 47
tackles won - 65
interceptions in air 45
Players in OPTA's top ten leagues
NoW:Goalkeepers: Seaman - 3rd - 53
Defenders:Dixon - 9th -468
Strikers: Anelka 6th - 539
Anelka's record (prior to Villa)
Attempts on target - 28
Attempts off target -30
Assists - 1
Key passes - 8
Tackles - 28
Arsenal are currently 10th in the MoS European League:
Played 22
Won 8
Drawn 10
Lost 4
For 22
Against 15
Points 34
They are ahead of Juventus, Barcelona and Ajax. But behind Chelsea, Man U, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan.
Arsenal are currently fourth in the MoS Entertainment League, after Man U, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Arsenal have used 32 substitutes in matches this season.
Grimandi has been on the bench the most 8 matches, coming on in four and being sent off in one.
(Independent)