Tag Archives: Arsenal FC

3 more sleeps till Ozil

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In 3 sleeps time, we will be able to experience one of the greatest moments in recent history (ie the last 5 years). The debut of Mesut Ozil. The first truly world class player that Arsenal have signed since Dennis Bergkamp. Maybe even before that. He is a truly great signing. His story and journey has been done to death. This is more about the excitement of his debut.

It feels like the countdown to Christmas day. Only that I have not been able to open a little door hiding a chocolate for the last 24 days. The excitement  is building. I imagine that this Friday, just like on Christmas Eve, I will not be able to sleep. Might have to have a few drinks to knock me out.

On Saturday morning, I will be getting on the train to Sunderland. At 9.44am from Kings Cross to be exact. Landing in Newcastle at a little before one. Cross the road to O’Neill’s for a few beers before making the way to the game. I am buzzing just writing this.

Not only will it be the debut of Mesut Ozil, it will also be the first proper away trip after a relatively short trip to Fulham what seems like an age ago (thanks FIFA). Last year Sunderland was rated by The Lads as ‘The Best Away Trip’. This year it could go either way, with the tight train jounrey on the way home (miss our 6pm train from Newcastle, and thanks to National Rail doing works on the line, we could end up taking a 4 train, 5 hour journey via Newcastle, Sheffield, Loughborough and finally getting to Kings Cross at around midnight!). What you do for love hey?

Anyway, back to Ozil. Originally the thoughts were he would not start. Arsene Wenger has a history of ensuring a new signings first start was at home. And with today being the first training session with his new team mates, it would have been likely that he would be on the bench against both Sunderland and Marseille, before making his first full start against Stoke City next Sunday.

However, after Theo Walcott limping off against Ukraine, Tomas Rosicky picking up a thigh injury and Podolski, Oxlade Chamberlain, Arteta and Diaby still injured, we are light in midfield (where have we heard that before?). Luckily reports of Aaron Ramsey being out look to be unfounded. This could lead to Ozil making his first start of the season, potential on the right wing:

Wilshere Flamini Ramsey
Ozil Giroud Cazorla

Just writing this has made me excited. We have Mesut Ozil. Mesut Fricking Ozil.

And on Saturday, no matter if he starts or comes off the bench, we will see his debut. And I can not wait.

3 more sleeps to go

Keenos

Mesut Ozil brings end to Cesc Fabregas ‘homecoming’

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Ever since Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal to go home to Barcelona, there has been talk of his return to the Emirates.

This has been fueled by his wife and daughter still living in London and his inability to establish himself in the Barcelona first team. Reports are that his dream move back to his childhood club has not been the dream he expected, with fans continually getting on his back. It was supposed to be the prodigal son returning. But it ended up just reminding the world of why he left to begin with – Xavi and Iniesta blocking his progress.

With Barcelona currently in the middle of a financial crisis, up to their eyeballs in debt, they struggle to finance future transfers. This year saw them sign one player, Neymar. He was financed by the sales of David Villa and Thiago Alcantara. This lead to a net transfer deficit of €26 Million. It also does not take into account how much of the Neymar transfer was paid by Nike. The mathematics are simple, Barcelona need to sell to buy. And with Cesc Fabregas, he is certainly 1 player who is surplus to requirements, alongside Alexis Sanchez.

Reports this summer indicated that Fabregas was on the market and Barcelona were willing to listen to offers for him. This lead to Manchester Uniteds £40 million pursuit of the Catalonian midfielder. It was Cesc’s reluctance to join Manchester United rather than Barcelona’s reluctance to sell which lead to a deal not happening.. Cesc Fabregas is most definitely on the market.

So why has he not yet joined Arsenal? I hear you all ask. Well the response is simple, the signing of Mesut Ozil.

The signing of the German puts a halt on any possibility of Cesc Fabregas returning to the club. Cesc’s favourite position is in the number 10 role, where Ozil will play. Alongside Cazorla, Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain, we are now well stocked in the number 10 position. To now buy Cesc would be unthinkable.

Mesut Ozil is 18 months younger than Cesc Fabregas. Despite him seemingly being around for years – he first came to prominence when named man of the match in a 4–0 win over England during the 2008 U-21 European Championship final, before staring for Germany at the 2010 World Cup at just 20 – he is still just 24. Cesc is an old man at 26!

Even Fabregas himself admits that Ozil will shine in the Premier League, stating in Al Primer Toque;

“His style is nailed on for Arsenal. It’s a league with a lot more spaces and he is a player that, with [such] spaces, can kill you. We have seen it with Real Madrid. He has a brilliant final ball and in the Premier he will enjoy it a lot.”

So with the signing of Mesut Ozil, there is no longer space for Cesc Fabregas.

There is a possibility that he could play deeper. But with Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere both capable of playing there, can a £26million investment in Cesc Fabregas be justified? Probably not. Especially when we have other area’s of the team that still needs to be improved on.

It leaves Cesc in a little bit of limbo. Arsenal no longer need him. Barcelona will listen to offers for him. So where will he end up? Or do we care?

I don’t, because we’ve got Mesut Ozil.

Keenos

Are foreign fans clueless?

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Over the years, foreign fans throughout the Premier League have got a raw deal. They have been accused of not being real fans. Not understanding the passion for the game. Not having the same loyalty as English based fans. They have been derided and often, when it comes to a debate via a message board, the common response is ‘Your opinion means nothing as you are not from England.’

Whilst in the past, these points could have been valid, is it still the case that foreign fans of Premier League clubs can still be labeled as clueless, not having loyalty, not being bandwagon jumpers and lacking passion?

When you look at The Arsenal tour of Asia this summer, the atmosphere within the stadiums was incredible. Louder than the Emirates during most of the games. And non-stop. Yes, some argued that those same fans would turn up in their Manchester City shirts if it was Manchester City playing, or their Chelsea shirts if Chelsea were playing, but surely these fans would be in the minority. Surely now, with the globalisation of football, a foreign fan should be considered as an equal to their English counterpart?

These days, a lot of foreign fans have not just jumped on the bandwagon of the Premier League. There are genuine fans out there that have supported us since pre-teens, just like many fans in England would have started their proper support of the club around the age of 10. Is a 22 year old Arsenal fans who has supported Arsenal since 10 any different to an English Arsenal fan that has supported since 10?

Yes, they might not get the passion of the stadium, of the match going fan, but having been in a few bars throughout the world where Arsenal have been playing, they are as passionate as the stadium. To label them as anything as passionless is disgraceful. Would you label the Twelve Pins or The George or the Gunners as passionless on a game day?

I follow two people who highlight the passion of fans not in England. The first is @LordHillWood, a ex-pat living in Poland. The stories he tells of the Polish Arsenal fans shows anything but a lack of passion. The way they get to the pub early to ‘decorate’ it. The chucking out of Spurs fans. It shows real passion. Not just from the ex-pats but also from the Polish born fans. The second is @SSGooner, a Malaysian fan. Again, there is no lack of passion. from him when it comes to game day, with each match brilliantly planned.

I also speak to  few Australian fans. They always seem to be awake when Arsenal are playing. Always watching them game. Even if it is 3am in the morning. How about that for commitment? When you see some English-based fans barely even being able to get out of bed for a 12.45 ko, or ducking out on a European game due to a hard day at work or its a little cold, these foreign fans seem to be able to wake up and watch the games, no matter the consequence of sleep deprivation for the next day.

Then we come to the knowledge of the fans. This is somewhere where the foreign fans and English fan are more then equal. In fact, some would argue tha many foreign fans are more knowledgable, as they actually study the game, whilst the Englishman turns up, watch’s the game drunk, then continues to drink.

Two little stories. One is of a friend who went to Ethiopia on a business trip recently. Upon his cab driver discovering he was an Arsenal fan, he was then lectured for half an hour, by the Ethiopian cabbie, on what Arsene Wenger was doing wrong, how he should be sacked, and questioning why we had not signed anyone. From the sounds of it, he was spot on. Had it been a black cab driver in London, nothing would have been mentioned. It was a clear that there was not a knowledge gap.

The second little story is of a friend at the game. Behind him was two American’s discussing the game. Whilst they did use frustrating American terminology, their knowledge was impeccable. Even as far as talking about how Sagna was only playing at centre back in an emergency, that the young lad at right back was Arsenal through and through, and whilst good going forward, was often found out in defence.

They then went on a 10 minute discussion about the bench. Gnarby. Zelalem. Akpom. Had the been talking in cockney accents, it would have been normal. But in their American accents, it just showed to my friend how football was a truly global game.

With Facebook bringing fans together from around the world to discuss games. Twitter providing instant information. All 38 league games being available online. British newspaper’s being available online throughout the world. Add in podcasts and blogs -this blog gets a lot of readers from Scandanvia, there is plenty of information available throughout the world to educate the foreign fans, to whet there appetite.

Are we now in a time when foreign fans can no longer be labelled clueless, but are in fact the footballing intellectual equals of those from England?

Keenos