Team GB Football Kit

Okay so the kit for Team GB, the football team for Britain at the London 2012 Olympics has just been unveilled and I have to say I like it. It might just be a bit tight for me to ever wear, not sure I have the body for such a design, but I do like it.

I think it will also be interesting to see if next year in the EPL if teams that normally wear adidas with have a similar style and fit.

However for me, I have to say I would really like to see, The Ox wearing this shirt at the games, far more than playing for England at the Euro's, I think it would be far better for his development. Equally I would like to see team GB have a strong side, so I would also like to see Ramsey, Wilshere and Frimpong join him in the squad.

New Arsenal Shirt for 2012-13 season....

This is being reported as the new Arsenal Home shirt for next season, 2012-13. It was revealed on the website ArsenalInsider.com, who have a good track record for being the first to show the next seasons shirt. Oh my, I really hope that this time they have gotten it wrong. A grey collar, dark navy on the sleeves, just when will Nike understand a very simple english word, tradition !
Of course I will buy it, I have every shirt for the last 26 years, home, away, 3rd strip, everyone. And if this is to be the shirt, I would still buy it, but this is one that I would not wear, or ever like.

The Legend Returns. #Arsenal

Oh what a night, oh what a magical, wonderful moment in life. The legend returns and then delivers. I guess of all the copious Arsenal legends it is only Thierry that could have done what he did last night. It was not just his goal, but it was the way in which he scored. It was not just a goal to win a cup-tie, it was pure class, pure beauty. Clean crisp finish, no panic, calm head, he just did what he has always done.

Sure Leeds put up the barrier, they wanted a draw, they parked the bus and boy they did it very well. Arsenal huffed and puffed and could not break it down. Arsenal had chances, and Ramsey was running everything, but with the players on the pitch I was not sure we would ever score, for me it was only Chamberlain who looked like he might get one. But then, we had on our bench a young man, who it could be said, it was written in the stars, would come on and score, and the legend did not disappoint.

I feel sorry for Leeds, the more they made it difficult, the more it make it inevitable, the longer it went on at 0-0, the more you just knew who it was that was going to make the difference. And so it proved, Class is permanent and Thierry Henry is pure class. What a magical moment.......

My Music & Arsenal YouTube Video's

Here are a few YouTube Video's I have made for the Arsenal.

 

I hope all my Arsenal friends enjoy these !

Thierry Henry set to return, a question for the Arsenal #Thierry Henry

So the web is awash with stories that a true Arsenal legend is set to make his return to the club. Yes Mr Thierry Henry does now look likely to be about to wear the Red & White once more. It is being reported that the club will resign him for two months, starting on the 1st of January 2012. This means of course that he would be available to play for the Arsenal in the FA Cup game against Leeds Utd. And that he will be at the club for all of January and February. He would be there as cover for the African Cup of Nations where we lose two strikers, so in that it makes sense. Henry would cost the club £70k a week plus insurance, so around £1m.

However here are a few questions for all Gooners out there:
1. Would you want to see him back ?
2. What happens to his legacy at Arsenal if he does not score goals ?
3. Would you prefer to see a youngster, (The Ox) get a chance instead ?
4. Should we be buying a more perminent option instead ?
5. Is he now just too old for the Premiership ?

I believe I share the same view as most fans, in that I would welcome his return. He is a special footballer, a genuine Arsenal legend, and one of the most amazing goal-scorers of all time. I think he would add something special to our team, and I can see him comming off the bench and really adding a spark to the whole team. The game versus Wolves is a great example of where he could have changed the situation. For me even a "half-as-good" Henry is better than certain other players we are currently using. So for me I would yes, lets sign him up and play him. Lets face it, both Sol and Lens did a job when they both came home, so I am sure Thierry can and would do the same.

The Arsenal Shirt through the years #Arsenal125

Like so many supporters, I have bought a new Arsenal shirt every time they bring out a new one. I have every shirt from today going back to 1971, plus a wonderful replica of the 1913 shirt. Here is a collection of images of the home shirt through the history. In these images are 35 shirts and of course 35 players. But just for fun, heres a question for you, how many of the players can you name. Out of the 35 I think I can name 27.

Arsenal 125 anniversary #Arsenal125

This Saturday, the 10 of December is the day selected to mark the 125th birthday of the worlds greatest football club. Honour, Class & Tradition the Arsenal is special. In my life it is exceptionally special and for millions the world over Arsenal Football Club is more important than anything else. If football is a religion, then Arsenal is heaven, and Dennis Bergkamp is the one true God.

Over the 125 years Arsenal have used 803 players and played 5,174 matches in the period. Of those 803 players, 83 (10.3 per cent) played just once, with more than half (409) falling into the two to 49 appearance bracket. At the other end of the scale, 198 players (24.7 per cent) have so far made it into triple figures, while an elite band of just 20 players went on to play 400 games or more.  David O'Leary, who played 722 times between 1975 and 1993 has played the most.

As for me, well the greatest game ever was away to Liverpool, May 26th 1989. The great goal was Charlie George in the 71 Cup Final, the greatest moment was when Michael Thomas broke through and the TV commentator said the immortal line, "It's up for grabs now", and the greatest player was, and always will be, Dennis Bergkamp. However for me, supporting the Arsenal is more than just those moments, it is a bigger than that. If we suddenly were relegated, all the way down to the conference, I would still be an Arsenal fan. It is truely a case of Arsenal for life, and beyond.

 It is funny but at a time like this, all the memories of my life as a Gunner flood back, the CL final in Paris, the trips to Copenhagen, Milan and Florida, the games when we were crap, my first time on the North Bank, then on the Clock End, seeing Liam Brady score that goal away at Spurs, Tony's goal against Everton, players like Vadimir Petrovic, Alan Sunderland, David Price and the greatest "unsung" hero Michael Thomas. Or getting into, and out off, bother away at Leeds and Millwall. Buying my first Arsenal shirt and first season ticket. And of course there was the day, away at West Ham, that my daughter was Arsenal Mascot, now that brought a tear to my eye. 44 years of amazing memories and all thanks to the Arsenal. Happy birthday my beloved Arsenal and thank you so much for the memories, heres to the next 125 years and whatever it may bring.

It's up for grabs now ! ..... #Arsenal

There are moments in life that change everything, there are moments in life that live with you forever and there are moments in life that give you a happiness that can never be equalled. On May the 26th, 1989, I had one such moment. Nothing has ever gotten close to the euphoria, the pure joy, the pride, the passion and the amazing joy in being albe to say, I was there !

The story is well known, Hillsbourgh, the 96, and for us, are job was to just turn up, roll over and let them have it. But this was the Arsenal and this was George & the boys. We had to win by two, something no one had done before, and we did it.

Enjoy this little video, the music is by the Away Boyz, class.

I hope you enjoy.................

Happy birthday to The Arsenal......#HappyBirthdayArsenal125, #Arsenal

So today's the day, the 1st of December 2011, 125 years to the day the mighty Arsenal Football Club was born. And for me personally I have been a fan for 44 years of that time. It is funny, even for a die-hard fan like myself I have to appreciate that the club were around for a lot longer than I have been and will of course still be here a long time after I've gone. And I make that point because unlike anything else, the "club" is bigger than any single individual, player, manager, director, and fan, we are all the same in that we are just privileged to have been allowed to be a part of the club for a part in the overall history of the club.

I am so proud to be Arsenal, it is the single most important thing in my life. Arsenal, unlike anything else has been with me longer, will be with me longer, and has impacted my life more than any other thing. My love for Arsenal has, and will, never be broken, my commitment is total. In my life I have seen and experienced the bad times. But the joy of being an Arsenal fan is that even the bad times are far better than any other club. We have our bad times in the top division, and the Champions League. We have never been relegated, unlike every other club. So today as we celebrate 125 years of our history, even the clouds have silver linings and are wrapped in red ribbons.

For me the single greatest moment in our history was that Friday night in May 89, the single greatest player was Dennis Bergkamp, and the greatest manager was George Graham.

And now the time has come to start looking forward, and without hesitation, and despite the moneybag clubs, the future is bright, the future is Red & White. Great players have come and gone, but be assured, even greater Arsenal players have yet to be born. Every record of the past 125 years will be broken, and every Arsenal legend will one day look down on even greater ones.

But above all else, the Arsenal will be the club of class, of doing things the right way, the Arsenal way. Thank you my beloved Arsenal, for the past, the present, and the future. Forever Arsenal.

Arsenal versus Fulham.....

From other posts on this Blog you will know that this Middle Aged Man is an Arsenal supporter. And in truth that is something of an understatement, Arsenal is life, well actually a little bit more important than that. So on my little blog yes I will post up on the subject of the Arsenal from time to time.

This post is written the day after the 1-1 draw with Fulham. Disappointing to be fair. It was a bad day at the office for so many of our team. But I guess we are all allowed those every now and then. The excuse/reason for such a bad day it the "burn-out" and "after-effects" of a Champions League game on Wednesday. Yes history shows that teams who play a CL game, more often than not have a bad day on the saturday after, and its hard to argue with the stats. Although why professional footballers can't play two games within 3 days is something of a surprise. But at that level, maybe there is something in it.

However, and this is a becoming a really big issue for me, if tired legs following a CL game was the reason for such a low energy performance, then what's Arshavin's excuse ! Our little Russian is becoming a liability. He does not run, he puts in such little visable effort, he no longer hurts teams, and just appears not to really care anymore. For me the time is up on him, it is time to cash in and replace him. He should have become a serious star for the Arsenal, instead he is fast becoming excess baggage that we simply cannot affort to carry.

At the Arsenal right now we have two or three players that need moving out, okay so some may even name up to five, I know I could, but Arshavin and Chamakh are definately two that really should go. I do think we would get £10m for each and that £20m could be used to buy a really good striker to back up RVP. The other alternative is that we sell Arshavin, bank the cash, and open some space for Alex the Ox, give him a little more space to get some game time. We are no longer a team of kids, so it is actually easier now to play other kids because the support is there around them.

Arsenal God...Dennis Bergkamp

For me as an Arsenal supporter of over 44 years, there is only one, one true Arsenal God. Mr Dennis Bergkamp was the one. He had it all, the Ice Man was pure magic, pure class and wonderfully nasty if some scum defender ever tried to mess with him.

The man was just so special and if he had played in todays game, YouTube would have been even more loaded with video's of him. Yes kids Bergkamp was better than Ronaldoh!! & Messi combined. 

This is my first Arsenal film, the images are good, but the production is crap. But have a look if you love the Arsenal