Arsenal Season Preview: Get a Hardman + Pull down Russell Brands Pants = Trophy Glory

Pull these bad boy's down and the title is surely Arsenals !

Another season of excitement which is destined for ultimate heartbreak and of course the obligatory pushing for trophies on four fronts beckons for Arsenal who have gone a heart retching four years without a trophy. It seems that my beloved red men are fast becoming the poor Cousin who can play nice football at the top 4’s table.

Over their shoulder lies the big spending petroleum millions of Man City, who’s rich oily cash laden hands seemed to have corrupted one gangly every so slightly over-rated Togolese striker who once called the Emirates his home. Never mind but the trusty signing of Thomas Vermaelen could be a real coup for the Gooners who was joyfully described as ‘a young Belgian Vidic’ by a fellow Gooner.

But all systems are go for the season ahead the golden rule must defeat the supposed ‘little 16’ too many times last season the likes of Stoke, Hull, and even West Ham got the better off us by staying firm in defence and packing out the midfield tighter than Russell Brand’s jeans.

The likes of Robin Van Persie & Theo Walcott have all secured their long term future with the club along with the return of Thomas ‘sick-note’ Rosicky and Eduardo back to his best the club look positively rejuvenated.

Even though we are the team who play the ‘beautiful game’ oh so well Arsenal lack grit and bite which is essential to rule the Premier League for every Fabregas there should be an Essien, Mascherano, or a injured Owen Hargreaves to back him up something Arsenal currently lack.

That said I think that our young side needed that difficult season in their education. I hope for the best and would be happy to finish the season with a winners medal of some form. I feel that Arsene should invest his oil money wisely which he certainly will, but another season without a trophy and I fear Mr Wenger could be pushed out of the door.


Ill leave you with some Classic Arsenal circa 97-98 and a rather awful version of 'hot stuff'.

Euro Football Blog: Forget the Madrista Millions; It's all about Palermo's Kaka.

In this world football blog I will cast a eye over some key transfers over Europe over the close season, forget what you have read in the papers about the Madrid revolution, and the apparent riches of Manchester City. So enjoy as I walk you through some of the more interesting transfers in France, Germany, England, Spain and anywhere else that takes my fancy.

Lucho Gonzalez to Marseille €20 million

The Argentine Midfielder has signed for L'OM after spending 4 seasons at Porto, the club captain headed over to the south of France to join new coach Didier Deschamps. It's a major coup for Marseille who spurned off reported interest from a mystery English Premier League side; they are looking to close the gap on current champions Bordeaux, who have lost speedy winger Gabriel Obertan who has been sold to Manchester United.

Mario Gomez to Bayern Munich €30 million.

Bayern have splashed the money domestically again, this time on the big man from Stuttgart who they had been linked with for a couple of months now. But they splashed a record €30 million making Mario the most expensive Bundesliga player of all time. This signing could perhaps be the beginning of the end for Italian Luca Toni, who is reportedly wanting a move back to Italy, A.C Milan are in the market for a striker so perhaps the San Siro beckons for big Luca?

Thomas Kahlenberg to Wolfsburg undisclosed

Auxerre sold classy midfielder Kahlenberg to current German champions Wolfsburg, which could prove to be a clever buy by the German Side. The Dane has looked a strong player for Auxerre this season, and at 26 still has his best years ahead of him. Expect him to compete in the centre of the park with Brazilian Josue. The Wolves will also be delighted that their strike pair of Edin Dzeko & Grafite who have committed to the club for another season.

Javier Pastore: Talleres- Palermo

This guy has big things ahead of him, only 19 and dubbed the 'Argentinean Kaka' he has moved to Europe. He starred in the Argentine Clausura this season for Hurican and scored an impressive eight goals in his first full season. This lead for calls of an international cap by the Argentinean press and so far Diego Maradona has not obliged, but certainly expect caps in the future. He has moved to Palermo who secured his services after reported interest from Manchester United & A.C Milan. He is contracted to 2014, but if Pastore carries on expect him to be playing for a big European side soon.

Djibril Cissé Marseille- Panathinaikos €7Million

Last season he was helping Sunderland avoid the drop and now the flamboyant Frenchman and his differing hairstyles will be joining the Greek league with Panathinaikos. The promise of Champions league football was too much and he completed his move to Athens for a rather princely 7million Euros. Henk ten Cate is crafting a new side to compete with Olympiacos who completed the league and cup double last season; they have also strengthened in the close season with the likes of Swedish defender Olaf Melberg, and young English striker Matt Derbyshire.

So that was my run down of some of the more interesting deals going on around Europe at the moment, ill leave you with the Fantastic greeting given to English Striker Darius Vasell as he joined Turkish side Ankaragucu on a free after being released by the big spending City. The clip ponders one question; how would they act if they signed anyone good?