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Ian Grant Editor Thanks to: Myles Palmer-FeaturesGary Jacob -News researcherBob Bateman -DesignAdrian Barker -Perl and CGI programming...and to everyone else who sent/sends things in
NEWS REVIEWS
FEATURES THE ARSENAL AGM 1999 - 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 ARSENAL OPEN £10M TRAINING FACILITY
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
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ANR has a weekly column with the Ham & High Group which funds this site
FOUR REASONS FOR ARSENAL'S EURO-FAILURE ARSENAL OPEN £10M TRAINING FACILITY News Review - 24 November Roughly a week away a third of the way through the season offers a good opportunity to step back and look at happenings from a distance. Not that you get much Arsenal news in the deserts of the Middle East. The vibes about the potential move to Ashburton Grove, the waste transfer station, 80% owned by Islington Council, are good. Those I have talked to close to the club say it is the best potential site so far. Arsenal have virtually come out and said that it is now between Kings Cross, Ashburton Grove and one other - which some speculators say is either Finsbury Park, Hertfordshire/M25 or Greenwich. Danny Fiszman said Arsenal had looked at 15 sites. But having studied planning and environmental issues on and off for around 17 years, there's a long road ahead, not least with planning policy changing quite regularly. The FA came out and said it was OK for Davor Suker to own Manchester United shares - so long as he didn't own 10% of the club. Strange one this. The tabloids were speculating over a swap deal between Xavi, the 19 year old Barcelona midfielder, and Marc Overmars. Arsene Wenger poured cold water on that one. Missed the Middlesbrough match, although it was good to see some of the press saying it could be a turning point of a somewhat disappointing season so far. This site said a while back that Arsenal's season will start to click when Marc Overmars starts to click. So a hat-trick may have done the trick. The zestful style of play was also encouraging. Arsene told the press that there was a frank team meeting about the season so far - similar to the one against Blackburn two years ago, which was a turning point. Wenger added that stories that he'd been called into the directors about Arsenal's disciplinary record were not true. The England Scotland matches may have seen Dave Seaman with two crucial saves, shake off some of the doubters. He now has Peter Shilton's target of clean sheets in his sights. Martin Keown emerged with an enhanced reputation, too. Arsene Wenger continues to warn about Nantes, ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup match. He said they have had some good results and have some talented players. Arsenal have been installed as favourites for the FA Cup - 9/4 with some bookies, coming in after drawing Blackpool. Some bookies have them second favourites for the title after Manchester United at 9/2, ahead of Chelsea and Leeds. So things are not so bad, after all. Arsenal are still in four competitions, still in Europe, still in touch with the Premiership leaders, have a possibility of moving very near to their spiritual home - and have had a good break to get the first third of the season out of their systems.
Arsenal 3 Real Madrid 1 Twenty two thousand four hundred and eighty six people paid homage to a great Arsenal stalwart, in Lee Dixon's testimonial match last night. Lee Dixon is a rarity these days - staying at one club for eleven years. He is Arsenal through and through - even his football heritage, being rejected by several clubs in the lower divisions, before getting a break with Stoke, which lead on to greater things. He has achieved what he has with great determination. Interestingly his break came because canny George Graham realised that local newspaper journalists talked sense, and they could spot good up and coming players. So Lee probably has the Stoke Sentinel to thank for his break with Arsenal. The game was just what the doctor ordered after the unpalatable scenes of Sunday. There was a welcome free-flowing element to the game. Arsenal have now played most of the great European sides throughout the nineties in various capacities - AC Milan, Inter, Barcelona, Lazio, Parma, Dynamo Kiev - and now Real - probably the club with the greatest European pedigree of the lot. Vieira and Bergkamp put away low crosses (if only it was Fiorentina a couple of weeks ago). Maltz got his head to an Overmars cross. That will be good for his confidence. Stephen Hughes got a rehabilitatory run out. He still looks and feels like a Gooner - and may well be needed soon. Ian Wright, who threw the Arsenal team shirts out of the window into Avenell Road, delaying, the kick off, came on with around 20 minutes left, and tried hard for a goal. He came close on a couple of occasions. Karembeau jigged past the Arsenal defence with a couple of lucky bounces, and dummied Lukic, before firing into a corner. Lee did an emotional lap of honour, the tears welling up in his eyes. But who can blame him. Well don that man! Long may it continue. IG
(Tottenham 11 Arsenal 9) All is not well at the heart of Highbury. These are dim dark days for Arsenal. Dumped out of the Champions League, and losing to Spurs for the first time in four years, Arsenal have problems. (?)Question marks surround the solidity of the defence (?). Question marks surround the creativity of midfield (?). And question marks surround the potency of the attack (?). And question marks surround their temperament under pressure (?)... Arsenal have not come up with an answer to the loss of the searing pace of Anelka. On paper they have the answer. But on the field they don't. Spurs could afford to play high up the field, safe in the knowledge that Bergkamp and Kanu, or Suker didn't possess the pace to expose them. And that they all need balls delivered to feet. And Spurs, no doubt instructed by George Graham, played an aggressive, high tempo, pressing game, with ferocious tackling, designed to rattle Arsenal's cages. He and they succeeded. Arsenal were slow to start, which is surprising given they had an extra two days to recover from their Euro exertions. But George Graham is never more dangerous than when defeated in the last match. It only took six minutes for Iversen to raise question marks about Arsenal's defence, running on to a Leonhardsen lob, beating the offside trap and slotting home past Seaman. It took Arsenal around fifteen minutes to settle. But soon after, Petit, not looking 100% with that heavy strapping, gave away a dangerous free kick, and Sherwood sent a pile-driver past Seaman's outstretched hand. Spurs looked the fitter and were quicker to the second ball, which was the key to winning the half. Kanu thought he'd pulled one back, but was inexplicably pulled up for something. But Petit delivered a good cross with seven minutes of the half remaining and Vieira, unmarked, and in his last Premiership game for six matches, headed home in off the post. Arsenal started to boss the second, with superior ball holding and passing. But a seemingly innocuous clash between Ljungberg and Edinburgh, resulted in a melee, and the Swede being ejected from the field. It probably cost Arsenal at least a point, possibly three. Given the far more dangerous challenge of Poyet on Lomas in the simultaneous London derby which resulted in a yellow, this highlighted the total inconsistency of refereeing standards, threatening to make a mockery of the beautiful game. However Arsenal didn't help themselves. Petit threw the ball to the ground in frustration - when he was on a yellow. Keown's first yellow - which took him to five for the season - earned him a one match ban. Although Arsenal had the better possession and kept the ball well, Bergkamp was off his game, and Overmars failed to impose himself. Suker at least had a couple of chances when he came on for Kanu, the first when Walker saved well from Overmars. But even he was booked, somewhat dubiously when Campbell fell threatrically. And Keown rounded off a terrible day by mistiming a tackle on Dominguez, and getting a second yellow, adding to Arsenal's problems, not least regarding available personnel. As we said here before, Arsenal need a fast, aggressive centre forward, particularly in fiery derbies like this. IG
In other news, Sunday, Arsenal are allegedly still on the trail of Matt Jansen, of Blackburn, says the People It also says that Arsenal are chasing Blagstad the Rosenborg defender. The NoW says Barca are lining up a £10m move for Marc Overmars. Arsene Wenger admits to the S.Mirror that Arsenal haven't recovered from the loss of Anelka yet.
05 NOVEMBER So Kevin Keegan has ordered Adams, Bould and Seaman, not to play in Lee Dixon's testimonial on Monday. But Parlour is encouraged to do so, as the England boss says he needs a run out. Doubtful if Nicolas Anelka will show up for this one. If he does he could well be booed by Real fans as well. He's on the cover of a Spanish magazine saying he'd love to play in Italy, loves Lazio, and criticises the Spanish League and Real in particular. Anelka incidentally has scored his first goal - virtually. The Real team played in a computer game. There were stories in yesterday's press that Emmanuel Petit needs a knee operation, but that the Frenchman wants to see out his career without an op. Reports suggested that Wenger will insist he has one, but that Emmanuel will stand firm. There must be doubts about the truth of this one. In another report, Kanu says he'll keep on taking penalties. And although his miss, could be argued to have cost Arsenal a place in the second round league, he says it was the team, not an individual. George Graham's criticisms of Arsenal's 'three consecutive failures in Europe' don't look so clever now that Spurs went out to Kaiserslauten, last night. Other teams entering the UEFA draw from the Champions League are: Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Sturm Graz, Olympiakos, Glasgow Rangers, Spartak Moscow and Galatasaray. Leeds and Newcastle went through, but West Ham went out. Talking of West Ham, Neil Ruddock was given the all clear in relation to the Vieira bust up, by the FA. In terms of Sunday's game against Spurs, Freund and Sherwood look like being out, meaning George Graham must turn on his tactical brain. Arsenal have the advantage of being two days fresher, and returning home on the back of a win. But a repeat of the fast paced slicing, the last time Arsenal visited the Lane, is unlikely, with the departure of the spoiled one. TOTTENHAM PREVIEW TO APPEAR SOON
01 NOVEMBER Kanu has settled his contract review, ironically the day Arsenal went out of the Champions League. The News of the World reports that he's now on around £1m/year. When he came, there was still a doubt about his long term fitness, particularly in relation to his heart surgery, and knee problem. Dennis Bergkamp is not going to Sweden for the final Champions League tie, ANR was told on Saturday. At the post-match press conference, Wenger said that it was important to keep doing well to get seeded in the Champions League, otherwise you'll always been in a tough group and need luck. He said the same thing happened to Manchester United at the beginning. He also said that the team lacked players making runs behind opposition defenders. But said that he had no plans to bring in anyone new.
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.
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POSTSCRIPT week ending 12 November Patrick Vieira could line up against Davor Suker in the France v Croatia international on Sunday. Emmanuel Petit is not included. Thierry Henry is in the u-21 squad to play Italy u-21, with his mate, Nicolas Anelka. See Lee Dixon is a dab hand at self-publicity. He persuaded the pilot of the plane back from Stockholm to announce that tickets for his testimonial were available at Luton airport. And he promised to say something outrageous to get his testimonial in the papers. Most of it focused on George Graham. A Mirror source spotted Davor Suker at Mayfair hairdresser, Jo Hansford's, having vegetable dye put on his hair. Maybe he'll get more pin-point crosses. Before Sunday, David Elleray's average yellow card count per game was 4.67. By the end of the Spurs match, he'd moved the second in the ref cards table with 37 yellow and three reds and a points total of 5.29. In fact there was not enough space on the official sheet on Sunday to register all the bookings. Some press are going on about Arsene Wenger's disciplinary record. He hasn't been sent off at all. And Arsenal's red card count - 26 in 37 months, averages only 0.7/month. One Spurs fan emailed ANR to point out that Arsenal have now lost as many games and let in as many goals as last season put together. And the secret of Spurs' win George Graham said:"I told them we must
dictate the game on our own ground and that was the best we've
played this Reuters captioned a photo, Tottenham's Patrick Vieira celebrates scoring against Arsenal. Not all doom and gloom at Arsenal. Arsenal Ladies struck ten against Aston Villa. Marieanne Spacey scored four and Angela Banks repeated her performance of the previous weekend, by scoring three. David Elleray got it so badly wrong on Sunday that he mistook Fred
Ljungberg for a coin.David Ginola, somewhat garciouly said Ljungberg
didn't headbutt him, and that what hit him was a coin. Elleray
sent Ljungberg off for 'headbutting' According to one French report, Nantes have recovered lost confidence after ending a club record run of six successive defeats in good time for their UEFA Cup third round tie against Arsenal. Arsene Wenger also warns:""They're at a low at the moment but they won the French Cup last season and were among the favourites for the championship this year." Arsene Wenger said that Arsenal may be missing Anelka:"It was a lot
easier Ian Wright doesn't change. Kilmarnock fans reported him to the police for alleged gestures at them.And Lee Dixon's testimonial was delayed because he threw the Arsenal shirts out of the window, and replacements had to be hurried in. Florence based journlaists had written Trapattoni off before the Wembley
game, but his threatened resignation and subsequent win has rejuventaed Brian Glanville remembers famous Gunners in England v Scotland games, including Hapgood, James and Kirchen. While one paper points out the absurdity of sixties Arsenal centre forward, Joe Baker, not being allowed to play for Scotland, despite having Scottish parents. Kanu's brother, Chris Kanu, who plays for Sparta Rotterdam, also lost 2-1 at the week-end to Ajax. He was sent off for a handling offence in the 64th minute. Chris Coffey, who was three years with Arsenal is set to make an impact with Distillery. No, not drunk driving. Distillery is a club in the Northern Ireland League. Those without season tickets (like yours truly) have the opportunity of seeing Arsenal matches (at least part of the pitch) if they buy a house on Highbury Hill. Only problem is, it going for £495,000, from estate agents Copping Joyce. David Seaman netted a 32lb Mirror Carp,(that's nothing to do with the
Daily Mirror) last week. But as one wit said:" fins aren't what
they used Arsenal fans contributed to ONdigital now having more than 400,000 viewers who pay £120 a year to watch football coverage of the Champions League. Lucky omen? The UEFA Cup final will be staged in Copenhagen on May 17. The last time the Danish capital was used for a European final was the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup when Arsenal beat Parma 1-0. Strange but true: George Graham first became aware of Lee Dixon by reading
reports from journalists at the local paper in Stoke.
POSTSCRIPT week ending 5November Kanu, reportedly given a new contract last week, is joint seventh in the Premiership scoring charts, with seven goals. Davor Suker is 15th with five. It has been confirmed that Kanu will miss three Premiership games from 22 January - 13 February, and a potential fifth round FA Cup tie. He will be playing for Nigeria in the Africa Nations Cup. Arsenal have been installed as favourites to win the FA Cup. The fact there have been 25 goals already this season - six more than the whole of last season, is baffling most people - except Charlie George.Charlie puts it down to the lightness of modern day balls, which travel more rapidly, not allowing players time to get out of the way, hence deflections. Nigel Winterburn, is not alone in thinking it is better that Arsenal are knocked out of Europe altogether, than be relegated to a secondary competition. Ray Parlour agrees, but the left back added although it is daft, there will be no trouble with motivation. So Brian Reade is somewhat justified when he calls the aforesaid UEFA Cup "the Unlimited Entry for Also Rans Cup". After all it has entrants from the Inter Toto, the Worthington Cup, those who failed to finish in the top three in domstic leagues, and those who were relegated from the Champions League. Ian Wright made an instant impact at Celtic, but his son Shaun Wright
Phillips made perhaps an even bigger one on his debut with Manchester
City. Only 18, and five foot three, he was, accrding to reports,
sensational. Unlike his Dad, he also plays in midfield. BBC pundit Alan Hansen spotted a new defensive formation on Saturday 'the flat back nine of Newcastle'. Arsenal's Women's team seem to be shaking off the dip in early season form. They hammered Aston Villa 7-1. Arsene Wenger threw some light on Thierry Henry dilemma:"He has great potential, but we must work out whether we don't know how to use him yet, or whether it is because he doesn't time his runs well. So far he's been more successful on the flanks. We need runs behind defenders, but we don't really have anyone who plays like that." He also had some words on Europe:" It is not good getting to the second round of the Champions League and finishing 12th in the Premiership." Arsenal are 41st in the Reuters Euro rankings. AIK Solna are 57th. Arsenal are also ranked as the 20th richest club in the Deloitte Touche wealth rankings. Birmingham City manager Trevor Francis wants to take Chistopher Wreh, who is on a three month loan spell, permanently. He has gone down well there and would go for around £1m. ANR sources say Arsenal are looking at Fabien Bartez the French World Cup goalkeeper. Although Carl Cort is an Arsenal fan, he wouldn't mind going to Tottenham. Wimbledon have already rejected a bid. Genial journo Paddy Barclay highlighted the bizarre situation last week. Arsenal got to Wembley, qualified for the UEFA Cup and got relegated all on the same night. Although most pundits are stressing Batistuta's wonder goal, Barclay said it was Toldo's save from Kanu that was just as important, making parallels to Jim Montgomery's save for Sunderland at the same stadium. ANR notes that the 1-0 song doesn't sound so good in Italian. The Independent says Gabriel Batistuta looks like a cross between an LSE radical from the Seventies and the Rick Mayall character in Bottom. It is not all sweetness and light for the Angel of Death. He blazed a penalty over the bar at home on Saturday. Fiorentina coach Trapattoni said he was used to games in England and knew how to cope with the English forcing style. On the Vieira fine, one paper said that Police and officials are getting far too close to the players and managers. One paper christened Patrick Vieira with the very British nickname 'spitfire'. Well Arsenal do have some RAF connections.
Ray Wilkins, who denied fatigue played a part in Chelsea's defeat last Saturday said: "The Arsenal game was a setback but a minor setback," Neil Timberlake opines to the Telegraph that Tony Adams was so late with his tackle on Cocu (Barcelona) that he must have known what the likely result was going to be, especially in that area of the field. Henry Winter reckons that Dave Seaman was the first man to climb Kanu, [on Saturday] - without the use of a ladder. Dennis Bergkamp took a towel to polish Kanu's right boot. Arsene Wenger had one sentence to quell the rumours that Kanu was unsettled. "He's from an English-speaking culture so London is best for him." And another on the player:"He is strong, has long legs and is very intelligent." Vialli said:"This isn't the first time Kanu has scored a great goal. He's so dangerous. "Sometimes he doesn't seem to take part in the game then he pulls something out of his sleeve." Handkerchief? One paper said Chelsea need an ex-Arsenal player back;"The tactically astute Graham Rix needs to emerge from the shadows quickly. Chelsea need Rix." Wonder what caused Steve Bould to act out of character and get sent off for head butting Paolo Wanchope against West Ham. His manager Peter Reid, said of him this week:"What a tremendous influence he is in the dressing room. People can see his influence out on the pitch, but what they can't see is the good work senior pros like him, Quinn and Kevin Ball do around the place on a daily basis." Fiorentina had a bad run up to the Wembley game. Trapattoni offered his resignation, the side lost 2-0 at Picenza, and defender Tomas Repka was sent off in the last minute. Trapattoni said:"We, keep repeating the same mistakes without finding the right remedies." Fiorentina md Luciano Luna said: "we must start climbing back up together and the match with Arsenal could relaunch our season." ANR sources say that football officials are looking at Twickenham as an alternative venue for Champions League ties. The only problem is, that apart from the rugby, the only other people who are allowed to use it (planning conditions), at the moment are Jehovas Witnesses. ANR understands Arsenal are laying out thousands in premiums to insure Dennis Bergkamp for millions, to ensure at least he arrives at his selected Euro destination, without being whisked away. Even though not match fit, Christopher Wreh scored on his three month loan debut for Birmingham on Saturday. Looks like Tony Adams' book, Addicted, is a classic, surviving the tests of time. It is still in the top ten hardback best sellers list. Given that the Kanu to quit story was a load of...the following weekly rumours have to be taken with a pinch of salt: Arsenal and Rangers are said to be preparing bids for Blackburn's ex-Palace starlet Matt Jansen; Arsenal and Spurs are chasing Racing Santander striker Salva Ballesta. The young Spaniard has an alleged £6m contract release clause. Football writer, Brian Glanville says Alex Manninger should return for the Euro ties, along with Luzhny and Silvinho, and possibly Upson. In a new biography, Final Score, TV commentator, Brian Moore says that Liverpool v Arsenal in 1989 was one of his favourite matches. In another book, David Downing remembers the famous match which Arsenal lost against Moscow Dynamo in 1945, in Passovotchka: Moscow Dynamo in Britain 1945 (Bloomsbury, £16.99).
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 The LMA's John Barnwell has urged Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger to settle their differences through the LMA rather than the press.
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