Tag Archives: She Wore

Tumbleweed at Highbury House

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In the last 24 hours, I have tried to write two blogs and deleted them both.

The first was about our goal keepeing situation. How we are going to get rid of 4 keepers this summer.

With Ryan Huddart and Hugo Keto already out the door, Emiliano Martinez will surely leave us this summer. He is just 6 months younger than Bernd Leno…

It is also impossible to keep both David Ospina and Petr Cech. My bet is the Columbian will leave.

The second blog was about Miguel Layun – the 30-year-old Mexico right back.

Arsenal are surely not interested in him, and any link is probably from the agent in the hope of generating interest elsewhere – or pushing through a deal with Sevilla.

Deals for Sokratis and Lucas Torreira are verging on completion. Maybe we should all just stop blogging and writing articles for a week or so, let those deals go through, and then start talking about the actual football.

Pre-season starts on July 14th with a trip to Boreham Wood. Should be a good day out in North-West London (is the Wood in NW London?).

By that time, we should be starting to see the shape of the squad. It will be the eve of the World Cup Final and we would have signed a couple more, sold a couple more and still probably be moaning about stuff.

Enjoy the World Cup.

Keenos

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless

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After the appalling human cost of the First World War. in which thousands of men were maimed and seriously injured, a unique and original idea was thrust into action by Jean-Bernard LĂ©vy, owner of rising French football club Racing Club de France in the summer of 1930. He proposed an annual charity match between the emerging Parisians and Arsenal Football Club of London, England, who had just won their first FA Cup and were on course for the First Division Championship (their first triumph) the following season with all proceeds going to injured and disabled French servicemen from the Great War which finished twelve years previously.

The first match was truly the stuff of legends; after being 1-2 down at half-time, HerbertChapman’s imperious Arsenal team literally steamrollered their hosts and ended up 7-2 victors at the end of the match. Because of the frenetic Parisians (and also the large amount of money raised), Arsenal were invited back again the next year, and every year after that until 1962, allowing for the hiatus of the Second World War of course.

Only on two occasions did Racing Club de Paris play at Highbury; in 1932 (just after their name change) and again in 1954. Of the 27 matches that were played, Arsenal were victorious on 19 occasions, Racing Club four, and the same amount of matches were drawn. All this information (plus much more) has now been gathered together in a unique book, Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless.

This book not only tells the story of the matches between the two clubs, but also a history of the life and times of British and European football through its most crucial and formative years; without many of the events and footballers mentioned here, the game today may well have been a radically different sport

to the one served up on a weekly basis ten months of the year through different mediums. The publication is lavishly illustrated with rare photographs, medals, programmes and contemporary cartoons; there is also eight colour pages as well as an extensive records section. All in all, it’s a superb addition to any football library, and a must for all Arsenal supporters who are hungry for knowledge about this wonderful club’s illustrious history.

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon, price ÂŁ19.99.

Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil & England

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Granit Xhaka

This morning we wake to news that Granit Xhaka could be in line for punishment after his goal celebration against Serbia.

The Swiss international made the sign of the Albanian Eagle when scoring in the World Cup.

For those that do not know, Swiss born Xhaka’s parents fled war-torn Yugoslavia before Xhaka was born. His father was a political prisoner for 3-and-a-half years

Xhaka Sr’s crime had been to take part in demonstrations against the communist central government in Belgrade.

Xherdan Shaqira, born in Kosovo, also made the same sign when he scored his goal.

Reports are that both men face a two match ban for making a “political symbol” but what a load of tosh.

They are proud of their Albanian / Kosovan heritage, and made a hand sign in support of Albania, in support of their parents. If the Albanian Eagle is a political symbol, then so is every national flag.

It is a symbol of their country. Like the English rose or Scottish thistle.

Would it be different if they were playing for Albania? Making the hand sign when they scored? Probably not.

FIFA have to understand that in a multi-cultural game where players often have duel-nationality or duel-loyalties.

Xhaka is a proud Swissman. He is also a proud Albanian.

If they are banned, will FIFA also ban Muslim players who pray after scoring a goal?

Mesut Ozil

So Mesut Ozil was made scapegoat after Germany’s defeat against Mexico and was dropped to the bench for the game against Sweden.

Ozil in Germany is a bit like Raheem Sterling in England.

He gets a lot of negative press, much of it unjustified, just because he is a little different to many of his team mates.

He is often labelled as “Muslim” and “Turkish” and criticised for not being passionate to play for the country.

This is a player who has 91 caps for his country and was their best player at the last World Cup.

Whilst he gets a lot of criticism, Thomas Muller escapes all criticism. It is not hard to work out the difference between the two.

https://twitter.com/keenosafc/status/1010576983728771072?s=21

Germany struggled to create in their 2-1 victory over Sweden. The same defensive frailties they showed against Mexico were on display last night. Ozil can not be to blame for Germany being poor defensively.

England

Struggled to get into the World Cup, but the buzz returned when Germany nearly went out yesterday. Add in Argentina’s struggles and it has been a horrendous tournament for the Old Enemies.

I am a proud Englishman. Whether it be cricket, rugby or lawn bowls, I will support England.

However the national football team I have always struggled with. Like many I struggle to cheer on Harry Kane and Dele Alli, or Gary Neville and John Terry. But I will cheer on England.

I was out in Lille when England were in France in 2016. We drank the city dry. It is up there with the best of Arsenal Euro-always.

So at 13:00, I will be in my garden, BBQ on, beer in hand, backing the boys.

C’mon England.

Keenos