Team Injuries
27/01
Bould - bruised knee
Boa Morte - cartilage op (six weeks)
Suspensions
Vieira - 3 games from 11 January
Arsenal are fourth in the S.Mirror's average attendance in 34 years league (!) - 31,149.
Arsenal have not lost at home for 21games
Arsenal are currenly third in the Mail 's Entertainment League
OPTA Leagues
David Seaman 5th- 55
Lee Dixon -6th - 600
Nicolas Anelka - 9th -624
Dennis Bergkamp -10th 624
Nicolas Anelka is second in the shots on target league with 68. Dion Dublin is top.
Anelka is 16th in Pemiership scoring charts with 9.
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 - (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
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 27
Won 11
Drawn 11
Lost 5
For 31
Against 20
Points 54.3
Fifth round draw
Arsenal draw Sheffield United at home in Cup
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 the enigma
Press at a glance 29 January
So Diawara is set to sign at noon, and be on the bench for Sunday, according to most papers.
ANR sources say Diawara is a physical left footed centre forward, who got stuck in, in training this week. He's signed a 4 year contract at £2.5m.
Powerfully built, like Emile Heskey, but a quarter of te price, he is mates with Patrick Vieira, whom he rates very highly. He roomed with Patrick when playing fro the French u-21s.
Interesting the variance of prices in the tabs ranging from £3.7m down to £2m. The Times and Indy, like our sources say it is £2.5m.
Now there's a very strange quote from Bordeaux coach Elie Baup:"if he comes back he'll spend the rest of the season on the bench." (D.Mirror). As this is a review reading between the lines, hmmm, hmmm, is there some sort of problem here?
Nonetheless Arsene Wenger says:"he's got huge potential; he's technically gifted and has physical power. He adds:"he needs to improve his physical and mental strength and movement off the ball. All he really needs is more experience."
It is clear Diawara, who reportedly spent three years on the bench at Bordeaux became unsettled. Nevertheless he's scored five in seven starts this season.
One paper suggests it could spell the end for Chris Wreh who has been making noises about quitting if he can't get first team appearances. And where does it leave Caballero.?
The Independent strangely says Kanu was bought for £3m, which accords with Wenger's statements that he was bought for far less than press reports suggest. But nosies, in the Times, "uncertainty over his availability" are worrisome.
The Indy says the Department of Employment is far more stringent over non EC footballers getting permits, and says Kanu's arrival will take another three weeks. Wenger says that he'll not sign another non EC player as it is too much hassle. Meanwhile three weeks seems to be the estimated time of his arrival.
Such a delay is one of the reasons why Wenger plumped for Diawara. After all, if Bergkamp or Anelka get injured - in the critical series of forthcoming matches, it could jeopardise the whole season.
The Express says that Arsenal have until tomorrow to sort out options on Bould and Winterburn's contracts - otherwise they become free agents at the end of the season.
They also mention a deal brokered with Sega.
Arsenal and Manchester United got voted down 18-2 in an attempt to reduce Premiership matches to 34 a season, at meeting of club chairmen.
Bringing forward FA Cup dates, no semi-final replays, byes to the Worthington Cup third round and a blind eye to under-strength teams were concessions. They have to be ratified by an FA Council.
As Harry Harris says Arsenal and Man U will need three teams - one for Europe - with up to 19 games in the Champions League, one for the FA and Premiership and another for the Worthington. The Premiership season will start 7 August and end 14 May.
So calls for a 50 game maximum season and a month long mid-winter or mid-summer break are apposite. Players unions are calling on FIFA to institute changes. Emmanuel Petit is backing it, along with Frank Leboeuf.
Meanwhile Gary Cohen writes that the Italian newswire agency ANSA has said that Arsenal are sniffing around Edgar Davids. This comes after his dinner with Marc Overmars.
Press - at a glance 27 Jan
Press is split as usual on the 23 year old, Bordeaux striker Kaba Diawara, and wheher he is coming to Highbury.
The D.Mirror is the most bullish, and had him training at Arsenal yesterday and could well be signing today - for a loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy, quoted at £3.7m - but these are notoriously unreliable.
Most papers say having talks or had talks. The Sun says he has until Sunday to make up his mind (the end of the French transfer window). He's scored five for Bordeaux this season.
Quite a few pieces on Arsenal's new youngster Jeremie Aliadiere. French League President Monsiuer Le Graet, says it is outrageous that another youngster has been poached, but the player's father said that Arsene Wenger has a great repuation as a coach and it was a fottballing decision.
Best article is in the Sun, with the memorable line:"Paris is closer to London than Monaco." And in the days of the euro, it could be one worth remembering.
Interesting too that it is reported Arsenal are opeing an £8m football academy this year. [Presumably this is part of the new London Colney training ground set up - see my article in the Guardian 13 March - sorry no time to put link in - only have a limited time to buy, scan the papers, take email contributions, write the summary and put it up, before dashing off to work].
Wenger says he wants to gather 15 or so youngsters of high quality and become part of the professional group in two or three years time.
Interesting quotes too from Claude Dusseau coach at the French INF in Carlfontaine. He says of Aliadiere, he could be another van Basten - tall strong, great stamina and a good eye for goal. And if nothing happens to him, he could be a very good player.
He contrasts him with Nicolas Anelka - who also went through the INF. He says Nicolas was lazier and he had to be tough on him, whereas this Ali fellow always "works his socks off."
Very interesting article in the Independent on the proposal to have two refs from a UEFA committee and going before FIFA on 20 February.
It refers to Movietone News showing the goal Newcastle scored in the 1932 Cup Final was clearly wrong - the ball was out of play before it was crossed. And more to the point it showed the ref straggling way behind the play.
It contrasts previous experiments with a ref in each half. Ivan Sharpe who witnessed experiments says it is the best thing to happen to football - particularly refs keeping up with play and far less disputed decisions.
Experiments at West Brom and Chester though drew negative responses.
Altough Philip Don is dead against it, ANR suggests that it could well go through. A majority of FIFA prefers to maximise human resources, rather than bring in technology, which they says isn't foolproof and takes away something from the game.
However we could see a return to the long ball game in some matches, in order to avoid a particularly bad ref in one half.
Press - at a glance 26 Jan
David Seaman isn't out for the rest of the season, as feared, and as sensationalised by a couple of Sundays. [There was something about that story which didn't ring true].
He is fit to train and could make Chelsea (Sunday) and the England v France game. He has been out for seven weeks.
Good news on the injury front is that Ljungberg has resumed training after an abdomen injury - he needed the break given he'd only had a few days off in 1998 given the Swedish season. The migraine was a bit of a strange one for a footballer. Garde and Hughes are likely to be fit for the Chelsea tie.
Chelsea have a reported striker crisis with Vialli a doubt, Flo out for three weeks and Forsell an 18 year old Finnish player on standby.
Meanwhile Arsenal will be without Parlour and Dixon for the early rounds of European competition next season - that is if they qualify.
Each was handed a one match ban towards the end of this season's campaign. But Parlour has been given a three match ban for "violent conduct" and Dixon a two match ban for "unsportsmanlike behaviour".
Papers and text services are split over whether they have served one match each of their additional bans - but more say that Dixon will miss two and Parlour three. It will count for both Champions and UEFA Cup matches.
The bans are the result of the Lens home tie - where Dixon was not even booked, but had a "situation" with Vareilles.
A couple of alleged Arsenal targets are off the books (thank goodness don't have to write Fowler to Arsenal stories for the next year). Fowler has signed a five year contract with Liverpool - most prominent in the Independent. And Marc Burchill has signed a four and half year deal with Celtic.
Manu Petit who is set to miss the FA Cup fifth round tie - opponents known tonight - and the Manchester United match [see features for how he balances the Arsenal side]. Meanwhile he, along with Frank Leboeuf have criticised the Premiership for having too many games.
Responding to poll in France, Petit is reported as saying players should strike like in the NBA in the States. He says there should be a week off at Christmas; that players are exhausted by March. Frank Leboeuf advises by-passing the PFA; and he says a player will have to have a heart attack before the authorities sit up and take note. Strong stuff - bound to provoke a reaction.
Wolves 1 Arsenal 2
Arsenal beat the Wolves but failed to quell the disciplinary demons which seemingly arise from nowhere.
Arsenal were cruising, seeing out the latter stages of a Cup tie which they'd dominated from start to finish, when Emmanuel Petit started remonstrating with some words and flambouyant arm gestures towards a linesman.
Aforesaid linesman no like Jonny foreigner gesticulating, so had words with big Daddy Dunn, and off went Manu, victim of the xenophobe tendancy.
This was a strange tie. Arsenal dominated it with pace - Wolves weren't used to Arsenal's speed. But beneath the surface, one could sense that Wolves were capable of springing out of the cage and causing an upset.
There was an article in the Sundays about Marc Overmars love of classic cars. And in the 11th minute he went into overdrive running all of 70 yards before firing a low shot in the bottom corner. Ray Parlour's decoy run mustn't be forgotten.
There was also an article suggesting that Wenger might have to raid the transfer market for a top class keeper, following Seaman's injury news. That may have taken a step closer following Manninger's rash rush to a deep centre, which Flo knocked into the net for the equaliser.
Dennis Bergkamp who hadn't really been in the game, came to life when Kevin Muscat executed a forearm smash in the face. That fired his short fuse and a well struck shot from outside the area on 70, struck Curle and Flo and found itself in the net.
Garde had one of his best games for Arsenal. Upson played commandingly, and showed fantastic ball skill with a run and cross down the left wing. But Arsenal look best with Keown and Adams in their favoured positions. Adams switched from left to right to accomodate Upson.
Many a time Arsenal shots were spilled in the Wolves area, leading to the question - who is Arsenal's goal-poacher? Now that Kanu can fulfil the Alan Smith role, who is going to knock in the knock downs?
Press at a glance 23 Jan
Arsenal are close to setting up a £10m sponsorship deal with SEGA, the computer games company, according to the MoS.
The paper says the deal has involved Premiership intermediaries, including Stephen Preston.
At £2.5m, the deal - if it comes off will be the most lucrative in the Premiership, £1m more than the Man U- deal.
The S.Mirror, somewhat sensationally, says David Seaman could be out for the rest of the season, with his shoulder problem.
He is seeing a specialist (Monday), and the paper posits that Wenger may be forced into the transfer market for a top quality replacement.
The People even somewhat more sensationalist say Monaco are bidding for Dennis Bergkamp as player-coach with a £20m package. The piece then later tones it down to a £10m deal.
This is following the departure of Jean Tigana.
Jermaine Pennant made his Arsenal debut in the Youth Premier League against Millwall in front of 70 people, says the EoS.
He showed some nice touches, and set up a goal with a deep cross. He was clattered a few times. And watched by Liam Brady in green wellies and David Dein in trademark overcoat.
Lot of papers have articles on Matthew Upson, Wenger's only English signing, bar Pennant, according to ITV.
Wenger said he was signed as a long term replacement for Tony Adams. Upson says it is frustrating watching his fellow u-21 colleagues such as Barry and Brown getting Premiership starts. But he says he's learnt a lot watch the Arsenal back five [and surely there's no better defensive education in football].
The NoW has an article on Marc Overmars' vintage car business, which he set up with his father and brother in Holland. He has a Jaguar, Beetle, Chevrolet and Cadillac. And the piece can't resist calling him Marc Overdrive.
In several papers Emmanuel Petit says teams become cloggers against Arsenal. He says they know they can't beat us playing football, so they start the rough stuff - and Arsenal aren't a team to be intimidated.
He says once one team starts this - a bandwagon effect begins and others follow. Arsenal try to develop a shell and turn it to their advantage.
And in what could be a significant move, the Premier League, under Peter Leaver has recommended that the Monopolies Commission reject the BSkyB bid for Man U.
And finally, isn't football in danger of ridicule, with Eric Cantona's lawyer, Maurice Watkins defending Swansea mascot Cyril the Swan for encroaching on to the pitch before the Welsh FA. (He probably has secret longings to fly down the wing).
Comment
Love / Need the page.
Just a note of thanks to all involved with the ANR Web page. I live in Australia but thanks to a dotty Scottish Grandfather have followed Arsenal since I was five.
The worst thing about being a Gooner on the other side of the globe, is that by the time football news reaches us, it is old hat...or rubbish!! This is why I so love your web page. I now have a source on the other side of the globe to provide me with up to the minute news, all sorted and never rubbish.
It is great having someone sort the wheat from the chaff, all that I ever get from Soccernet and Teamtalk is journalistic posturing.
So thank-you for such a great site (although I was kind of sad
when you split with Arse-Web), and keep up with your high standard
of reporting,
Sincerely,
Lata Phoenix
Comment: Errr, I haven't exactly split from ArseWeb. I still post now and again to the Newsreel. But developing this site takes time.