WIN a customised Arsenal Koscielny shirt courtesy of Cult Zeros!

 Competitions, Latest News, Main Blog  No Responses »
May 212013
 

cultzeros

After the drama of the final day of the Premier League season, I am delighted to be able to give our readers another chance to get their hands on some Arsenal goodies by taking part in one of our ever popular competitions. A few weeks ago I found myself trawling through various different Arsenal shirt retailers online when I stumbled across a company called Cult Zeros. As soon as I clicked the link I was really impressed by what  looked like a brilliant business idea and I am really pleased to announce that they have agreed to partner up with us to run a giveaway of a customised Koscielny tee!

Cult Zeros offer a fantastic service where you are able to access their site, search for your favourite player, and design a shirt featuring their face and a custom caption of your choice. These can be given as gifts, worn as a more affordable version of match day shirts or simply be created for a bit of fun. Even if you cannot find the player you are looking for, they will endeavour to add them to the huge catalogue. Below is a short description featured on the About Us section of the Cult Zeros website,

“Paul (Fulham) and Alex (Oxford United) met at college in Derby. Uninspired by their club’s merchandise and how the ‘smaller clubs’ were overlooked – at the time Fulham were heading for the bottom division kids! – they sought to change how things were. The first prototype was a Dean Saunders shirt designed by Paul for Alex’s birthday. Some years later, now at the University of Life, Cult Zeros was born over a few pints sat outside The Chancellor’s pub in Hammersmith.”

 
“Since 2005, Cult Zeros have been printing thousands of shirts worldwide. Recipients of their shirts include Romario, Johnny Metgod, Shep Messing, Arnd Zeigler, Kay Murray, Adrian Chiles and Talksport’s Adrian Durham (don’t hold that against us!)”
Now, here comes the important part. To be in with a chance of winning, we need you to think of a funny or appropriate caption that could be printed under the face of Koscielny and send it to us via email at competition@arsenation.co.uk  or tweet it to us @Arsenation on twitter. All suggestions will be recorded, and after the closing time on the 27th May at 9:00am we will choose the best caption and the lucky winner will receive the custom tee with their witty one liner plastered proudly over the chest.

 

Remember, even if you dont end up winning, these shirts, hoodies and baby grow’s are still on sale over at Cult Zeros at a very reasonable price along with a great range of players, past and present, who are more than worthy of a custom tee!

Remember to follow @CultZeros and @Arsenation on twitter

Three teams Arsenal will hope to avoid on the road to the Champions League group stages

 Latest News, Main Blog  1 Response »
May 202013
 

So after yesterdays scintillating drama we return to normality, as once again Arsenal secure the last Champions League spot ahead of chocking cockerels Sp*rs. Obviously this is a huge boost for the club both financially, and in terms of confidence heading into next season, but one last obstacle stands between the Gunners and a place in the Group stages of Europe’s premier competition. That would be the small matter a early season qualifying round.

We have done it before so have relative experience (most recently Udinese in 2011), but if you assumed we would just breeze through without a thought you are gravely mistaken. The majority of the teams making up the early rounds could be considered cannon fodder but the big hitters enter the fray in the final qualifying round. I will be having a closer look at three teams which could potentially cause problems for Arsene Wenger’s site as they battle it out to reach the group stages.

Zenit St. Petersburg:

This season Zenit featured in the Europa League and dismissed Liverpool in fine style, they may pose a potential threat to the Gunner’s qualification hopes if they strengthen significantly in the summer. The Russian giants have made a splash recently capturing dangerous talents such as Axel Witsel (Benfica) and Hulk (Porto) and it is expected that they will be able to draw more top class talents due to their virtually endless wage budget. The long trip to Russia is another thing that could trouble the Gunners, and that, combined with the start of the Premier League season could work against Arsene and his troops. Another thing worth noting is that the Russian league typically starts before the Premier League so Zenit are likely to be sharper and fitter coming into the two legged tie.

Sue me Bale?

Fenerbache:

The Turkish runner’s up could also prove to be a stern test for the Gunner’s resolve. Coming off the back of a reasonably poor season in which they came runners up in the SuperLig and the Super Kupa, exited the Champions league in the qualification rounds and were knocked out of the Europa League in the Semi finals, they will be keen to regain some Champions League pride next season. They have significant danger men in Moussa Sow and ex Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt along with former Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles. They have the ability to cause us problems if we do not kick into top gear immediately and a trip to Turkey is another thing that Wenger would rather avoid with the hostile crowds not being the most endearing factor of Turkish football.

PSV Eindhoven:

PSV finished second in the Eredivisie in the 2012/2013 season and since then former player Dick Advocaat has stepped down from his role as club manager. He has since been replaced by Phillip Cocu and the conclusion of this season also marks the end of inspirational captain Mark Van Bommel, who has left to give the younger players at PSV a chance. The current situation at PSV could see them enter the qualification stages somewhat unsettled under new management, which may play into the hands of Arsene Wenger as he pushes for a place in the Champions League group stages. They too have significant danger men in the form of Dries Mertens, Kevin Strootman and Jermain Lens, all of which are capable of exposing and loophole in a weak defence, and the fact that PSV have been the most potent attacking threat in the Eredivisie this season (+60 GD) further proves what an impact they can have.

Below is the current Pot A and Pot B as it stands, this is not final and any possible changes are listed alongside:

POT  A

Arsenal (England)   113.535 

Valencia (Spain) 102.605 Or Real Sociedad (Spain) N/A

Olympic Lyonnais (France) 95.800 Or St. Etienne(France) N/A

Schalke (Germany) 84.865 

AC Milan (Italy)  93.829 

POT  B

 Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia)  70.766

PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)  64.945  

Metalist Kharkiv (Ukraine) 62.451

Fenerbahce (Turkey) 46.400 

PAOK (Greece) 28.800

Salzburg (Austria) 28.075 

Pacos de Ferreira (Portugal)  12.833

Nordsjaelland (Denmark) 12.640 

Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland) 7.285  Or St. Gallen (Switzerland) N/A

Zulte Waregam (Belgium) N/A

Eventually we will be drawn against one of the teams from Pot B to play in the final qualification round, evidently there are other teams that could pose a potential threat to our qualification but I have chosen to select three of the top teams that we may come up against. I hope this has been beneficial in trying to give Arsenal fans an idea of what we might come up against during pre qualification. Remember, the draw is on August 9th so prepare yourself for the official announcement! To find out more about club Coefficient’s check out the Uefa website here.

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Arsenal plotting triple swoop for England hitman, budding Welsh defender and impressive Pole?

 Guest Columns, Latest News, Main Blog  1 Response »
May 102013
 

With no game over the weekend due to Wigan’s participation in the FA cup, it leaves things reasonably quiet again from an Arsenal perspective.

We’re currently holding a one-point edge over Tottenham with two matches left in the race for a Champions League berth. The outcome will decide exactly how much leverage Arsene Wenger has during the always important summer transfer window.

Elite players are normally looking for a chance to play in Europe’s top club competition; so if the Gunners are planning to aim high in the coming months, they must take care of business in very winnable matches against Wigan and Newcastle.

As Arsenal focus on locking up a coveted Champions League spot, let’s examine some of the latest transfer buzz involving the club. It includes talk about Wayne Rooney, whose future at Manchester United remains up in the air.

Rooney has spent nearly a decade with Manchester United, developing into one of the league’s most dangerous attacking players during that time. Now he’s 27 and where he starts next season is likely to become one of the summer’s biggest transfer sagas.

Reports are circulating Arsenal and Chelsea have joined the Rooney sweepstakes, which already included Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. It’s also stated the longtime United star had requested a move before Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement.

If United decided to move Rooney, one of the biggest question marks would be whether or not staying in the Premier League is an option. If so, Arsenal could certainly use a natural striker like him to lead the attack. But it would come down to the asking price, which could be sky high if PSG is involved.

After two straight strong Premier League seasons with Swansea, it’s no surprise Williams is starting to generate some attention. The 28-year-old defender has been a stalwart for the Capital One Cup champions and could handle the jump to a bigger club.

Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in adding him to their back lines. Swansea clearly isn’t in any hurry to move him, however, having reportedly placed a £10 million price tag on their budding star.

While that’s definitely a high asking price for Williams, it’s not an unreasonable starting point for negotiations. He would further solidify an Arsenal back line that’s been the most consistent part of the club throughout the campaign.

Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed my first piece. Up the Arsenal.

By Josh.

Follow me on twitter – @_JoshCazorla49

The Final showdown

 Guest Columns, Latest News, Main Blog  2 Responses »
May 072013
 

We’re really are at the crunch time the end of the season now and it is looking more likely to be a North London fight for the fourth spot in the league. With Chelsea doing what they had to at Old Trafford, that result couldn’t be more devastating for an Arsenal Fan. The points tally between Spurs, Us and Chelsea are extremely tight and yet again as Arsenal Fans, we are relying on a result that is out of our hands. Another Tense week as usual, but I guess as gooners we’re used to the top four fight, which really shows our ambition in the past 5 years.

Our result with QPR at the weekend couldn’t make us feel any better with a lack lustre performance that was really flattered with the “quickest” goal of the season tag. I know we got three points, which is vital now, but the performance didn’t fill me with any encouragement with the games coming up at Wigan and Newcastle. We know how tough Wigan at the latter stage of the season, especially when we’ve been beaten there before a few season back. And with Giroud of the picture, our presence upfront have almost weakened in the past few weeks, ironically Giroud’s exit has in my opinion weakened our front line. People, the media, the fans etc. can all have their debate about Giroud’s first season, but to me I think he has done well. We some clear examples against QPR when we played around the box, but the cross to find someone or the little flicks that Giroud does, weren’t evident. Podolski is a good player; he provides us good movent, width and quality crosses. But times against QPR he didn’t really get into the game. He is defiantly injured, and unless I am mistaken Wenger is playing him knowing how vital the upcoming games.

But to be positive and to be a gooner, I’m just glad we won, I think there’s top marks to the Koscienly-Mertersacker partnership, which is showing to be a plus for Arsenal at the moment. Overall our midfield is functioning well, especially now that Ramsey is showing his potential. In fact Aaron has impressed me the most in the last part of the season. He’s seemed to have found another gear; his energy, closing down and general play has been spot on. I just think its ironic how Ramsey comes well as Wilshire gets injured and loses form.

Once again the Spurs/Arsenal rivalry hot’s up and becomes fiercer. I hate to say that Chelsea are going to the the team we support tomorrow, because I don’t see them dropping points against anyone. But that really pains me to say that but I do want us in the champion’s league next season, mainly due to the revenue we get and hope we can fund our team.

Looking beyond the horizon, I really feel that we have to invest in our squad. I know with most fans when I say I don’t want to hear that we’re looking for the right player from Wenger; we need a big and competitive squad. Sometimes we might not find  the perfect player, but surely we can build a perfect team. I mean we’ve got the basis of great team here, and with the British core emerging with likes of Jenkinson, Ramsey, OX, Theo, Jack and Gibbs, I honestly feel that that can only be the sign of good things for Arsenal.

Thank you for reading, please feel free to follow me on twitter @Ricky_Jheeta

By Ricky Jheeta

5 reasons why Arsene Wenger won’t go to PSG this summer

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Apr 302013
 

Once again Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been linked with League 1 giants PSG. This is by no means a new rumour, but the Telegraph report that ‘PSG’s most senior figures have been telling members of their circle that Wenger has been persuaded to leave north London after 17 years in charge.’ The French club’s ‘least optimistic’ option would be to capture him at the end of his current contract which runs until the summer of 2014, but they are confident that they can lure the Frenchman to Paris at the end of the 2012/2013 season. Obviously this rumour has no substance in the eyes of many, and here are 5 reasons why we believe the move will not materialise this summer.

1. Wenger has turned down the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the French national team in the past, why would he leave now for PSG?

2. Wenger is renound for being heavily against the prospect of modern football, where hundreds of millions of pounds are pumped into a club to force success.

3. He generally prefers to build a team from the ground up, whereas at PSG he would not be able to do that.

4. He has a reputation of seeing out his contracts, and why would he buck that trend now?

5. If his claims that we no longer have financial restrictions (December 2012) why would he leave now when he has a chance to properly reinforce this summer and challenge for honours next year.

So, there are our top 5 reasons, obviously there are many more reasons for and against which have not been mentioned. Feel free to put forward your reasons in the comments section and take part in the poll to let us know if you think Arsenal would benefit from this switch.

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£70 million, will it be spent?

 Guest Columns, Latest News, Main Blog  No Responses »
Apr 262013
 

There’s been gossip about arsenal transfers in every paper virtually since the beginning of the season, linking us with all sorts of players from zaha to cavani. It’s a roller-coster being an arsenal fan. When players get linked with us you get caught in a trap knowing its not going to happen but getting your hopes up that the star will be wearing an arsenal shirt next year.

What makes this summer so different from previous summers? The pressure Wenger has come under has been building and building and the horrific sale of van persie to our closest rivals has only intensified the pressure.  For many years we’ve been expecting transfers which for whatever reasons haven’t occurred. The likes of Juan Mata and Gary Cahill have been linked with us and we haven’t splashed out the money we supposedly have. Both these players have joined our bitter rivals and gone onto win silverware. We may have Cazorla but you can only admire the skills shown by Mata. He also holds a more prominent role with the impressive multi trophy winning Spain. This being said I take nothing away from Santi but the only difference I would draw upon is the consistently difference.

I’m not going to mention the players who have left over the 8 year period which has seen us fall from the most reliable team to a team which stutters and breaks down.  But Wenger has ultimately has this summer to prove he’s a changed man and the fact he’s still able to compete at the top level which had become questionable. Is he now just relying on old tricks bringing in top performing French players like Giroud. Who ultimately find it hard to transfer to the quick pace of the premier league. The team currently lacks the depth of our rivals and the spark on a consistent basis. The 70 million sum being banded about is vital to get Arsenal back to the level we all expect to be at. But without champions league will we be able to attract the top players like the dangerous, Jovetic. Seems unlikely. I’ve group up with arsenal being in the top 4 and us falling out of that will be our biggest dent yet.  The 70million will have to be spent well- we don’t need more mediocre players who will perform for only 10% of the season.

This is a vital time..

By Charlie Gordon-Smith

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RVP – Guard of Honour?

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Apr 252013
 

rvp blur

On May 6th 1991, Arsenal secured their second league title in two years. Our opposition that day was Manchester United, who finished 25 points behind Arsenal that season, and who, grudgingly I’m sure, provided a guard of honour. Arsenal went on to beat the northerners 3-1. In actual fact, nine days after providing the guard of honour at Highbury, Manchester United beat Barcelona to win the Cup Winners Cup.

So surely there is a bigger question about Arsenal providing a guard of honour for the league winners? I think the question that needs to be asked is why Arsenal’s next game is the first of three desperate battles to get sufficient points to finish 3rd or 4th in a league we used to win regularly. If we were preparing for a semi final in the Champions League or looking forward to appearing in an FA Cup Final, would be as bothered about Robin Van Persie smirking his way through two lines of his ex-colleagues?

I don’t like Van Persie, he lacks something in my book. I remember him addressing the manager as “Wenger” when he’d been at the club for ten minutes and when he was unveiled to the Highbury crowd, he was wearing the same stupid trousers as the bass player from Iron Maiden; there were also those unfortunate allegations in Holland and he missed huge chunks of successive seasons. Did he owe Arsenal a greater degree of loyalty? Too flipping right he did!

However, last season his goals were the most significant contributory factor that enabled us to qualify for the Champions League. No Champions League, probably no Santi Cazorla and for those of you who still think Walcott is a footballer, no contract extension for young Theo either. But let’s be frank, if you are a highly skilled professional in your own field and someone offers you the chance of significant advancement and triple the salary and critically, your current employer has been in the wilderness for a few years, what would you do? Van Persie’s “crime” was to run the clock down in the same way Nasri did, but doesn’t the club have a case to answer here, by not negotiating earlier?

Van Persie underlines the fundamental difference between Arsenal and Manchester United. They are the type of club that spends £24 million on a 29 year old with dodgy knees, but we are the type of club that sells him. Over the last eight years we have sold Vieira, Henry, Adebayor, Nasri, Fabregas and RVP for a profit of £106 million (the basic difference between purchase and sale price). Good business, but how much did your season ticket cost in 2005 and what does it cost now? Do we really look like challenging for silverware?

These are better questions than whether or not we should give them a guard of honour. If you can’t make it to the game on Sunday and you’re stood next to a group of glory hunters at the pub, just remind them Arsenal always do the right thing, because our club has genuine class, if you are there, polite applause or stay on the concourses until the first whistle and then give the greedy opportunist turncoat hell.

Thanks for reading, please feel free to follow me on twitter @CMJIanB

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Arsenal seal the deal for Serie A hitman

 Guest Columns, Latest News, Main Blog  1 Response »
Apr 242013
 

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Theres just something about this Jovetic rumour, it just wont go away! Caught Offside report that Arsene Wenger is willing to break his transfer record twice this summer with a 70M pound spree, starting with Serie A sensation, Stevan Jovetic. They are reporting that both a fee of 24Million pounds and personal terms have been agreed with the Montenegro international, with the transfer is set to go through providing Arsenal achieve a top 4 place this season.

Jovetic is a versatile and deadly forward currently plying his trade at Serie A club Fiorentina. He can play many roles and is comfortable behind a main striker, although it is thought that Wenger would want to use him predominantly as a lone forward. He is very effective at holding up the ball in the final third and has demonstrated some stunning passing plays during his time at Fiorentina, he is more than capable of delivering a deadly ball at the vital time and is very mobile all across the pitch.

Arsene Wenger is reportedly an admirer of him and has weekly scout reports compiled directly from Italy, he will not come cheap though with Fiorentina not entertaining sub 20M pound bids which would force Arsenal to smash their transfer record by around 5M pounds. Jovetic is reportedly not interested in joining Arsenal if they do not qualify for this season’s Champions League and with valuable top 4 spots hanging in the balance Arsenal will have to collectively up their game to make it happen. If true this could prove a huge boost for Arsenals hopes of ending an 8 year trophy drought in the 2013/2014 season.

Check out the video of his goals so far in 2013 and let us know what you think of Jovetic in the poll below.

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Get the NEW Arsenation Mobile app FREE on the Appstore

 Latest News, Main Blog  No Responses »
Apr 222013
 

google play promo

Get your FREE download at www.apps.arsenation.co.uk

We are really proud to announce the launch of our new mobile app for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, it joins the Android version which has been well received, and active for a few months. There were a few stumbling blocks along the way but we are really happy that is it finally online and hope you enjoy using it to keep up to date with the latest Arsenal news! It is completely FREE and we have had some great reviews regarding it usability and layout, below is a short description and a link to the download page, enjoy!

Description:

Get the must have app for Arsenal fans, Arsenation Mobile!

Arsenation is an unofficial Arsenal Blog run by passionate and enthusiastic Arsenal fans, we aim to provide pieces with opinions, debate and controversy. We also regularly try to provide you with the latest transfer news and gossip, and always want to hear what you have to say.

Download our mobile app to keep up with all things Arsenal and take advantage of the following features:

- Read the blog anytime, anywhere in a mobile friendly format

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- Contact us through the Contribute page if you are interested in submitting an article to us, being listed in our blogroll or any other enquiries.

We would appreciate it if you could rate the app and let us know your thoughts in the review section.

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Could AFC improve by buying big?

 Guest Columns, Latest News, Main Blog  No Responses »
Apr 202013
 

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I was prompted to write this article by transfer speculation linking Arsenal to yet another diminutive playmaker, Takashi Inui who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt. Mr Inui is a tad less than 5”7. It made me think about a conversation I had with a Manchester City supporter about twelve years ago; he was recalling having seen the Arsenal team get off the bus before an away game (I think he said it was at Bolton) and was astounded at how physically big the Arsenal team were. Well over half the team were six foot plus, in fact only Cole and Ljunberg were on the small side and they were over 5”9, Bobby Pires, 6”2.

We live in an era where football aficionados wax lyrical about the tiki-taka style embodied by Barcelona – quite rightly too, they’re fantastic. But Barca don’t face Stoke or Everton week in week out do they? I have no axe to grind regarding Everton’s tactics on Tuesday night, and I was actually quite impressed by the way Arsenal coped with a physical Everton side, and yet again Ramsey was first class. But if life is a collection of small advantages, to quote Angelo Dundee, then why should we expect teams to try and play us at our own game? Admittedly, Everton played right on the edge and Darren Gibson was very lucky to stay on the pitch, but they were robust as opposed to dirty, it’s part of the way the game’s played in these isles.

However, we do seem to lose too many of the individual battles in midfield. Whenever Arsenal win three consecutive tackles, I must confess to feeling mild shock, I just don’t expect it to happen – but it used to, all the time. I remember Anfield 1989; we literally kicked the scousers off the pitch, didn’t allow them to settle at all. Those of us with longer memories remember the sharp intake of breath every time Peter Storey went in for a “tackle” at Highbury, so let’s not kid ourselves, a bit of rough stuff is part of the game and used to be very much part of our game. One of the defining aspects from Tuesday’s match (and it was the same when we played them at Goodison) was Mikel Arteta struggling manfully to contain Fellaini, who is six years younger, eight inches taller and I would guess, two stones heavier than him.
One of the criticisms of the George Graham era was that he didn’t buy enough flair players (the signings of the sublime Stefan Schwarz and Anders Limpar challenge this) but preferred to sign any decent centre half that came on the market. In the same vein, Mr Wenger seems to have tried to corner the market in 5 foot something midfield players; we’ve got stacks of them! Cazorla, Wilshere, Arshavin, Rosicky, Arteta and Ramsey, good players all of them, technically gifted, but none of them bigger than your average welterweight.

Whether the manager likes it or not, football in this country is 90% perspiration and it’s a game for powerful athletes. The complaint I hear most regularly from supporters, is that we don’t have a towering presence in midfield like Patrick Vieira. I’m sorry, but players like him are once a generation and we were very lucky that we had his best years. However, I believe that we should consider the physical demands of modern football as well as how technically gifted a player might be. This summer, bring in some six footers.

Please feel free to comment below, or you can follow me @CMJIanB

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