Andrei Arshavin is now a Gunner

After what seems like an eternity, the deal to send Andrei Arshavin from Zenit Saint Petersburg to North London's Arsenal is complete. Following the move the Russian international:

"I am so happy to be joining Arsenal. They are one of the leading football clubs in the world, with a group of fantastic young players and a great manager."

In a interesting turn of events, Arsenal face Tottenham on Sunday who feature former Spartak Moskva man and Russian teammate Roman Pavlyuchenko.

the truth of Andrei Arshavin rumours

As the Sunday Mirror, reported that Manchester City is launching an offer to bring in Zenit Saint Petersburg’s Andrei Arshavin with a £18m deal a number of questions prevail of the supposed deal. Although the facts of the article cannot be substantiated, the fundamental notions are truthful but equally the deal is put into place because of a number of factors, most notably poor negotiation tactics of City’s management.

While the intentions of new owners Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and chairmanship Khaldoon Al Mubarak were to build the Citizens into one of the top clubs in the Premier League if not all of Football, starting with the £32.5m acquisition of Brazilian star Robinho from Real Madrid before the summer transfer window closed, there-after the commentary and actions of management have lacked professionalism as it relates to negotiation tactics. Effectively by announcing their intentions of spending of £100m and not denying rumours of a massive investment, they have played their cards and clubs are responding to their first efforts with a resounding, “no.” Whether it is Blackburn’s Sam Allardyce dismissing Man City’s offer for striker Roque Santa Cruz or West Ham making it known that targeted Craig Bellamy will require a kings ransom, the Football community know the Citizens not only have the resources but willing to splash it around like “new-money” does and show little prejudice. This has resulted in clubs knowing that City will “run up” the bid, particularly as the window period stretches on. While this has little chance to find the powers that be around City offices, amongst areas they need to invest in, beyond the Academy and solid medical unit, a negotiation specialist is warranted and someone who won’t announce that they will spend whatever it takes. While that might sell some quaint little scarves to fans, it will leave you over-spending in the transfer market as you chase targets.

However returning to the situation of Andrei Arshavin, with the twenty-seven year-old Russian international widely speculated on a move to Arsenal the north-London said has come up with a very weak offer. Per the Sun, Zenit Saint Petersburg spokesman Alexei Petrov said:

“I can confirm that Zenit did get an official offer from Arsenal about Andrei Arshavin. It was rejected as insufficient. They offered about £10 million.”

Given this situation and that Arsenal is presently offering less than half the Russian club’s asking price, the opportunity is for Man City to present a formal, knock down offer to Zenit with a drop-dead sign back period. If done in a professional manner, where the media is not involved, City has a chance to acquire one of the games most explosive manners.

Kolo Touré transfer request turned down

Out of favour Arsenal defender Kolo Touré has had his transfer request turned down by Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood. With the arrival of Mikaël Silvestre and continued growth of Johan Djourou, the Côte d’Ivoire international has seen his playing time dwindle and interested in a move, reputedly to Manchester City.

Addressing the situation to the Daily Star Peter Hill-Wood said:

“I know about it (the transfer request) but we are not going to accept it.

“We are not looking to let any of our players go and he is under contract - and we expect him to honour it.”

£8m offer coming for Shay Given?

The sheer thought of it is nauseating but with the transfer window ready to open, the Daily Express is reporting that Arsène Wenger is trying to lure Newcastle 'keeper Shay Given to Arsenal with a £8m offer. The Republic of Ireland international has been the guiding light for the Magpies this campaign and while the much need funds would be welcomed by Joe Kinnear, the cost is too heavy. In a related vein it is equally reported by the Daily Mirror that Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is being lined up as a possible replacement.

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Man City destroys abysmal Arsenal

As Arsenal visited Eastlands to face Man City the general consensus that this would be an end-to-end offensive rich match. However in the end with Man City victorious 3-0, pundits are left to consider whether this is an extraordinary triumph by Man City or just an example of how far Arsenal has fallen. Whilst Man City showed glimmers of brilliance, Arsenals performance was simply foul, lacked professionalism and puts into question the internal focus and drive of the club. With complete respect for Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger if there was a tactical plan, it was abandoned on the pitch, if the players possess quality, they have detached themselves from it and if they are professional, maybe they can have enough respect for the crest they where to perform as professionals.

After a extended feeling out period where Man City employed a well-advised defensive strategy, Arsenals focus began to slowly evaporate in the cool late autumn afternoon. Before the break Stephen Ireland continued his goal scoring prowess with a what I would like to describe to you as a wonderful strike but it was not. In-fact it was the by-product of dreadful defending by Gael Clichy and Mikaël Silvestre that isn't level of play expected at this or significantly lower levels. Yet to say it is a "simple defending error" is to discard the truth that in time of need, when they are down a man to William Gallas disciplinary omission, they responded with a pathetic display. Within professional ranks the inability to respond to situations of duress is a cardinal error and spells out a clear message of players focus, drive and determination. It further tells coaches that the "warm and fuzzy" management idea needs to be discarded and put all positions up for grabs. Returning the match, after Gael Clichy and Mikaël Silvestre embarrassed themselves and didn't clear an easy ball, Stephen Ireland was returned a ball he nearly over ran and scuttled it into the net. Eleven minutes after the break, Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is clearly growing by leaps and bounds with each week played a remarkably well weighted through ball to Robinho through the sieve-like Arsenal who cleverly chipped the ball over an on-rushing Manuel Almunia to make it 2-0. At his stage of the match Man City was on the verge of adding goal after goal but finishing was sorely lacking including an astonishing miss by Robinho with eleven minutes remaining. A short time after Robin Van Persie channeled George Best and clipped the ball from 'keeper Joe Hart and put into the net but for some unknown reason that is now called "unsporting" and the goal was disallowed. Deep into added time England U-21 Daniel Sturridge, who had only just entered the match was pulled down in the area by Johan Djourou and was awarded a penalty, which he converted to bring the score to 3-0.

The victory sends Man City to eleventh in the table with seventeen points with Arsenal continuing to tumble to fifth. Man City returns to action next Thursday against Schalke 04 in UEFA Cup.

Man City goes on the attack

Arsenal comes to Eastlands Saturday afternoon in a match that promises to be highly attacking in nature as both clubs are desperately in need of points. The promise of Man City's future burns bright but with only a single point separating them and relegation, its time to pick up the pace. Arsenal on its own end has stumbled its way down the table, with only a single victory after the 4-4 debacle against Tottenham. Last weeks 2-0 loss Aston Villa in a painfully bad display in-front of their loyal fans. And while Arsene Wenger will be ready to attack with both guns blazing, with the loss of Theo Walcott in international duty, their attack will not to be any easier.

On the injury-front Man City are without Joe Hart but Kasper Schmeichel is not only a capable replacement but ready to be a number one at this level. Captain Richard Dunne returns from suspension along with Danny Sturridge from injury but Dietmar Hamann and Gelson Fernandes are questionable.

Arsenal face a much more troubling situation with William Gallas deciding to air locker room issues in public and rightfully being stripped of his captaincy. Beyond the opera they are without Cesc Fabregas who is in the sin-bin, with Emmanuel Eboue and Theo Walcott out along with Kolo Touré who is doubtful. Couple in a selection of players on international duty, the Gunners are far from one-hundred per-cent and their likely isn't a better time to pick-up three points on them.

Prior to the match Mark Hughes commented:

"We look at their strengths and weaknesses and look for areas we can exploit. At the same time we will concentrate on making sure we don't make the kind of mistakes that we have made in recent matches that have cost us goals"

"That is what you have to disturb. We have to make sure we do not let them get into their stride by imposing our own game on them.

"In many ways we play a similar style and both teams have shown this season that while it gets you results it can at times also leave you exposed.

"At the moment we have not many defensive minded players. There is no point asking the majority of those in my squad to play a pressing game because they would not be very adept at it.

"It makes more sense to give them licence to express themselves particularly in the final third. But we have to be mindful to be more resolute going the other way.

"Tomorrow's game should be a great spectacle. Both teams have an abundance of attacking players and sometimes it is just best to rely on what you are good at. Although we need to be defensively tighter there are moments when attacking wise we are as good as anybody.


With these comments it is very easy to see that we can expect Man City to come out with a very fast-paced agenda and attack the suspect Arsenal defense.

I will report on the match as it concludes.

the slippery slope of new arrivals

Just turned nineteen this past fall, Daniel Sturridge is one of the emerging young talents in Football today. His growth has never been in doubt and whether given an opportunity to shine for Man City or Englands U-17 and U-19 sides, he has always proven capable of shouldering the weight.

Yet something is off because whilst young Mr. Sturridge grows and develops, his time on the pitch is sorely lacking. Peers such as West Ham's Freddie Sears, Everton's Jack Rodwell and of course Arsenal's Theo Walcott have benefited from baptism under fire approach and as time prevails they have seen their levels of performance catapult higher.

At present he has been out with ankle injury but in a very up-front way, Mark Hughes is more than aware the young sharpshooter is debating his future with Man City.

Per the club web-site Mark Hughes commented:

"He should be joining in training today actually. He hasn’t trained with the group since he got the injury to his ankle. We’ll look to integrate him with just small number and hopefully he’ll not have a reaction. He’s been training with the physio’s and come through that so hopefully he’ll be an option at the weekend.”

Responding directly to his future at the club the Man City manager noted:

"We’d like to keep Daniel, he’s a good young player and we’ll obviously do our best to keep him."

Like other top flight younger players at Man City, such as Ched Evans and lessor-known Ben Mee and Vladimir Weiss, time on the pitch at this stage of their development is crucial and it is very questionable whether opportunities will be present themselves. Given Daniel's contract expires at the end of next June, Man City must convince him that an opportunity to be in the starting grid is the horizon and to sign him to a contract extension or he will move elsewhere. Most likely with the upcoming transfer window opening, the clubs actions will easily dictate his answer.

Arsenal defeats Everton 3-1 (Everton perspective)

Possibly it is the "silver lining" in a dark cloud of a season I am venturing for but within Everton's 3-1 loss to Arsenal, there is a reason for optimism.

Heading into the match my major concern was showing a "fighting spirit" and to challenge the Gunners in their Emirates fortress. This is precisely what they did for the first forty-five minutes and all Toffee fans can take solace in that. Of course, matches are ninety minutes long and after the break Arsenal ran roughshod over the boys in blue.

First and foremost, I applaud David Moyes just of using Jack Rodwell in a key defensive holding position. With Phil Neville's injury concern, the manager decided instead to give a vote of confidence to the seventeen year-old and he showed himself quite well, particularly before the break. This will have a significant impact in-time and it reaffirms Everton's commitment towards youth development of the region and something I wish other Premier League clubs respected more.

Everton took the lead with a Leon Osman scoring nine minutes into the match to the shock of the home crowd. Joleon Lescott nearly doubled the lead seven minutes before the break but his header was cleared off the line by Gaël Clichy and the match went to the break 1-0 Everton. Overall play, spirit and that lovely phrase, "work-rate", was exceedingly high at that stage and things were looking very bright and sunny. However after the break, Arsenal re-discovered their winning spirit and proceeded to maul Everton to a pulp. With Theo Walcott commissioned into the lineup, Arsenal headed straight at Everon 'keeper Tim Howard, Samir Nasri tied the match only three minutes into the half. The wave of attacks continued and after a few near misses Robin Van Persie gave Arsenal the lead to stay with twenty minutes remaining. Truthfully the goal seemed overdue as Everton was far back on their heels since the break. Arsenal completed with their victory with Three Lions hero Theo Walcott netting a beautiful goal as time expired.

Summarily while the Toffees feel to defeat their is great reason to be optimistic from the performance and something to build upon. Everton heads to Old Trafford next weekend to face Man Utd.

Arsenal trounces Porto 4-0 in Champions League

Jesualdo Ferreira's Porto were no-match for Arsenal today as they were routed 4-0 at Emirates Stadium in Champions League action today. While Porto started with a number of reasonable scoring opportunities, after the home club got its bearings they were completely outclassed and the Dragões were lucky not to escape with a worst score margin.

Robin Van Persie opened the scoring at the thirty-first minute on a beautiful set-up from Emmanuel Adebayor who doubled the lead five minutes before the break. Unrelenting, Arsenal continued on the attack and three minutes after the break Robin Van Persie added his second of the match. Finally at the seventy-first minute of the match, Nicklas Bendtner was fouled in the area by Fredy Guarin by Emmanuel Adebayor neatly converted to make it 4-0. Arsenal had a number of glorious opportunities as the Porto's defensive were run ragged but were unable to find the net again.