Gooner Talk

Arsenal are weighing up a pre-season friendly proposal from Barcelona which would see the Gunners vie for the Joan Gamper trophy in August.

The annual competition is named in honour of founding member, player, and later president of the club Joan Gamper, with Manchester City the most recent English side to have been involved against the 2010/11 Champions League winners.

Several Arsenal players have joined Barcelona in past seasons – ex-captain Cesc Fabregas finally signed for the Catalan giants in a much drawn-out transfer saga last summer.

Arsene Wenger’s side traditionally hosts the annual pre-season Emirates Cup at Emirates Stadium, but they opted to postpone the event this year because of the 2012 London Olympics.

Instead, Arsenal will visit Nigeria at the beginning of August after playing in both China and Malysia in July.

Arsenal hope to have injured defender Bacary Sagna back sooner than originally expected following his leg break at the beginning of May.

The 29-year-old was carried from the field after falling to the ground unchallenged in Arenal’s 3-3 draw with Norwich at the Emirates.

Sagna is currently in Dubai recuperating from his injury, with friends close to the player revealing that the Frenchman is in ‘high spirits’ after being given a better-than-expected prognosis.

“It is making progress and everyone at the club is helping me through. I’m out of plaster, been in a boot and will see the specialist before I go on holiday.

“I was devastated to miss the Euros – especially missing the England game – but I will be back for Arsenal. I hope to be back for the start of the season but I don’t want to set a timescale.”

It’s a common sight nowadays to see highly paid sports stars strutting through the city wearing the latest designer clothes, especially if you read the gossip magazines. But the real truth of the matter is that any publicity is good publicity for any celebrity in any line of work.

At the end of the day, they are paid the big money for being well known. Getting their face in the paper can only bolster sales of clothing lines, aftershave products and any other items they may be touting. It is also good news for the club that they play for, since a famous face, and the chance to see them in person, will always draw big crowds. Ticket sales mean bigger stadium potential, which means more people can come to see the games. It’s a cycle that begins and ends with the very notion of celebrity.

It used to be that the people in the public eye had to be spotless and above reproach. This was what was expected of role models. Nowadays we are more inclined to accept that famous or not, these people are still just people and so we are more able to forgive mistakes they make. We are also very pleased to see them doing normal everyday things like food shopping, trying to find a parking space or playing casino games online during their free
time.

So for as long as we are watching sport, we will be happy knowing that the players are just like us. The dream that one day it could be us playing for our favourite team is always within reach as long as we remember that sports stars are just people, the same as us, except that they are much better at sport than we are.

The last AGM meeting at Arsenal in October 2011 was vocal, noisy and full of emotion. During the meeting Peter Hill-Wood received resignation demands but the chairman, who may be the last Hill-Wood that will be a member of the Arsenal board, had no such plans.

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People say Arsenal have leaders now. Above and beyond the sharp edge he gives to the attack, Robin van Persie has been a juggernaut of superhuman effort and deadly precision at crucial junctures of the season. However, there are times when Arsenal do not have their own way and whilst I have seen the team talking to each other about passing and closing down , there has not always been anybody driving the wider team strategy on the field.  When Arteta plays, he sits deeper than Song when the team has the ball most of the time and has given the team a natural spine. Through his professionalism, experience and air of class he brings a stamp of authority that the midfield lack in his absence, which is why the recent talk of Wenger negotiating with Rennes for Yann M’Vila interests me.

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Allianz Your Cover Insurance are giving two teenagers (14-16) a once in a lifetime opportunity to head over the Munich for a week long training camp with FC Bayern Munich.

All we’re asking of our applicants is that they submit a picture to our Facebook app of their favourite footballing moment, memory, experience plus a maximum of 100 words explaining why that moment was so special.

We’ll ask our FA accredited referee to judge which 5 entrants are the best, then we’ll put them to a public vote and use those votes to help decide on who should be put through to Munich.

You can enter through the app on our Facebook page. Or you can directly through via this link (Competition app).

If you know any young talented Gooner’s who’d like to represent the UK over in Germany for a week, share this link and get them entering!

Here’s an explanation of what happens from Munich.

In August 2012, Allianz will host the fourth international Allianz Junior Football Camp in Munich. Teenagers from 14 to 16 years will get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet stars of FC Bayern Munich, participate in a professional football practice with official coaches of the club, visit the city of Munich and watch a match of FC Bayern Munich live at the Allianz Arena.

This unique camp experience will be a fantastic and unforgettable event for every participant. Teenagers have the opportunity to meet other passionate footballers from all over the world. We will further encourage this exchange between different countries (e.g. mixed groups during football training sessions).

Camp participants will enjoy an exciting program:

• Practice with FC Bayern Munich coaches:
• Meet FC Bayern stars
• Allianz Arena tour
• FC Bayern match
• Sightseeing tour
• 5-aside tournament
• Intercultural activities (e.g. Farewell Party)

Good luck!

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Kudos to Sky Sporks News for this accurate graphic.