Rolling back the years, winning the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1994. A highly emotional moment and great great memories. Captained by Mr Arsenal - Tony Adams.
Nov
2
GoonerTalk.com are on the look out for some new contributors to the site as we work towards an improved website on the best place for Arsenal first team news, views and updates.
We’re looking for several ‘hardcore Gooners’ preferably with a passion for journalism and writing about the club you love.
We aim to publish quality articles on a variety of Arsenal topics. Articles don’t have a limit, it’s up to you how much you write and what you want to write about.
These are the sections we’re looking to recruit for:
- Match Reports - Avaliable
- International News - Avaliable
- Gooner Talk & Views - Avaliable
If you’re interested in the above or have any queries concerning the post, please contact us at: goonertalk.wordpress@gmail.com
Cheers!
Nov
2
Let’s make no mistakes here, Arsenal are terrible at the moment. The defeat to Stoke City was embarrassing for the fans, the club, the players and indeed the manager. Pressure is growing on Arsene Wenger to be sacked for the debacle, and for the lack of a trophy is over 4 seasons.
There is a famous quote which I think has come into prominence in recent weeks. “When Times Get Tough, People Show Their True Colours.” Times are tough at the moment - although we did go through October unbeaten - and the good passage as not let us down.
The Internet is, despite it’s giant popularity, dominated by teenagers. In fact, both me and Gooner-Chris are teenagers as are the majority of the good people who post comments on the respective websites. All I’ve ever known is Arsenal going from strength to strength.
I feel almost spoilt when I look back at our history and see that the Gunners were once an average team, yet were enjoying so much success in my life time. So the patch were experiencing at the moment is unknown for me, but somehow my love is as strong as ever for MY CLUB. Wenger has called for fans support, and that’s exactly what I’m going to give.
However, because the Internet and life in general is dominated by my fellow teenagers, their support for the side is falling away. Because they don’t understand where we have come from, and what Wenger and his ways have done for the club, we are quick to jump on him. Fans look around at the moment, see the likes of Barcelona sacking Frank Rijkaard after two seasons without a trophy, and take that as an example. Young people are easily influenced and behaviour like this has impacted on our club.
People pick holes at our youth policy, but then laud the kids when they smash Sheffield United to pieces in the Carling Cup. You are either with the club or you are not.
We have come from nowhere and we could return to nowhere quickly, let’s not get ahead of ourselves after a few seasons of success. Wenger balances the books correctly, to make sure we are never in any money trouble. Okay, we don’t go out and spend £30 million on a player, but what use would that player be when the club goes out of business.
Wenger is not bigger than Arsenal FC, but there is not many people around with the knack and intelligence to focus on all aspects of the club. It may surprise you, but unlike your Football Manager games, when the club goes bust, that’s it, game over, no reset button.
I urge all of my fellow Gooners to look back through the history books at what this club was, what it is, and what it can be. Wenger is important to all aspects of that, but he needs your time, and your support. If you won’t do it for him, do it for Arsenal, if you’re a true Gooner, you love the club whoever is in charge.
Nov
2
Theo Walcott’s sparkling form for Arsenal has earned the teenager the GoonerTalk.com Player of the Month award for October.
How Theo Won The Award
The 19-year-old started the month in decent fashion putting in a hard-shift against Roy Keane’s dogged and determined Sunderland team and despite going 1-0 down, Cesc Fabregas headed an equaliser in the dying seconds of added stoppage time.
Things improved for the England whizkid two weeks later when he was given another start at Everton by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger - a sign of the Frenchman’s continued faith in Walcott - and he certainly didn’t disappoint. Theo wrapped up a comeback for the North London giants in the final few minutes with a crisp effort struck past Tim Howard.
It was to get even better for Theo though, as Arsenal took on Turkish giants Fenerbahce - a team unbeaten on their home turf for over 17 games. Emmanuel Adebayor gave Wenger’s side the lead before Walcott doubled the Gunners’ tally in the most extraordinary of fashion’s from an acute angle. The Ashburton Grove-based side capped off a fine peformance in the second half coming out unbelievable 5-2 winners.
Two London Derbies were to follow for England’s most promising young star as Arsenal travelled to Upton Park for a game against a weakened West Ham team. Gianfranco Zola made sure his new club pressured and held their line, but when Theo Walcott came racing through on goal before unleashing a spectacular shot that hit the crossbar, he knew his luck wasn’t going to be in for long. Togolese frontman Emmanuel Adebayor scored two decisive efforts which won the game late on.
Walcott’s final game of the month came at home in the first North London derby. Harry Redknapp worked wonders with Portsmouth last season, claiming the FA Cup for the South Coast side for the first time since 1939, he managed to work those same sort of wonders at the Emirates.
Trailing to David Bentley’s stunning opener, Arsenal exposed Spurs’ weakness at defending set-pieces to lead through Mikael Silvestre and William Gallas. Emmanuel Adebayor added his obligatory goal – he now has eight from seven starts before Darren Bent pulled one back. Robin van Persie netted his 50th goal for Arsenal to make it 4-2, but Spurs have a new resilience under Redknapp and Jermaine Jenas’ late strike gave them hope before Lennon struck at the death.
A superb month for young Theo, and there’s surely more to come from the teenager, Gooner Talk look forward to following Theo’s progress throughout the season.
Nov
1
Long-throw specialist Rory Delap continued his domination of Barclays Premier League defences, setting up both goals as Arsenal’s season took another turn towards crisis with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.
The Gunners were out fought and out played by a Stoke side with a bucket load of confidence after their previous win against Sunderland in midweek.
Stoke Starting XI
Sorensen
Griffin - Faye - Shawcross - Higginbotham
Faye - Olofinjana - Diao - Delap
Fuller - Sidibe
Arsenal Starting XI
Almunia
Sagna - Toure - Silvestre - Clichy
Denilson - Fabregas - Song - Diaby
Adebayor - Bendtner
Nov
1
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal visit Premiership new-entrants Stoke City for Saturday’s Premiership game after their disappointment of squandering a two-goal lead to be held to a 4-4 draw in midweek’s north-London derby at home.
Gunners boss Wenger was left furious as his side failed to hold onto their 4-2 lead with few minutes left and Tottenham Hotspur scored two quick goals in the closing minutes to secure a point in a classic derby at the Emirates Stadium.
Injury News:
Third-placed Arsenal also suffered injury blow with skipper William Gallas ruled out for the Potters clash with a hamstring problem. Midfielder Emmanuel Eboue (knee) is also doubtful for the trip to the Britannia Stadium and will face a fitness test.
“It looks like Gallas will be out and maybe Eboue too,” Wenger said on Thursday.
“It is a little recurrence of the hamstring for William and for Manu it is his knee. He is not running properly at the moment. He still has pain.”
Almunia
Sagna -Toure - Silvestre - Clichy
Denilson - Fabregas - Song - Diaby
Adebayor - Bendtner
Tony Pulis’ side, who are 15th in the league table, have done well at home so far having scored wins against Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and the latest scalp was Roy Keane’s Sunderland, who lost 1-0 in midweek.
However, the Gunners will be hurting after the midweek draw and would be keen to clinch full points tomorrow to erase the Spurs memory. As such, Stoke can expect a big test from the traditional big-four side.
Match Prediction: Stoke City 1-2 Arsenal
Catch all the post-match reaction here on Gooner Talk.
