Hello World!

After much contemplation (one cigarette’s worth) I decided to stick with the post title. First blog post and all that. It’s probably the most unfathomable time to start a blog about the Arsenal during the tedium of yet another week of internationals, but I intend to bulk up the likely dearth of interesting stories with some old match reports that I’ve penned.

Having said that, there are a surprising amount of topics that are newsworthy today. A wonderful bit of hyperbolic spin sees the Daily Mail promote Carlos Tevez’s claim that Arsenal have “no chance of winning the title.” Of course what he actually said is something nowhere near that sensational- simply that he sees his teams as favourites for the championship and the Champion’s League, and that “We will show that and prove it to our opponents when we play them in key matches this season.” Perhaps you will Carlos, but I seem to remember a team last season that did exactly that, yet dropped numerous points against the lower sides and eventually finished fourth. Patrice Evra continues the theme, with a shattering and somewhat Partridge-esque insight: “I don’t think we will know about this Arsenal team this season until they lose. That’s the important time when you look to see how a team reacts. It is how you bounce back.” So nice to be subject of their interviews again isn’t it?

Words from the blue side of Manchester too, Micah Richards once again referring to his schoolboy Goonerdom. Terrific player and was very impressive in the game against us at the Emirates earlier this season, but he seems utterly committed to City and plays in areas we have more than adequate cover for- assuming Arsene doesn’t see him as our next world-class goalkeeper or something.

We’ve also been linked with a Norwegian goalkeeper, who goes through the usual motions about wanting to go “if they offer me a trial.” No story there then- although I’m sure it will instigate plentymuch more speculation regarding Jens Lehmann. Even more tenuous speculation has also linked us with Miguel Veloso of Sporting Lisbon- yet another central midfielder we’re clearly so desperate for. The team has also set up a new China-based website.

Kolo Toure exuded a more realistic approach in his recent interview with the club website. “Last season was much different. When we were 1-0 down and the other team was playing better than us it was really difficult for us to come back. Now we are patient and when we have the chance to score we do it and that’s good.” A strange statement when you consider that Sunderland looked dangerous after pulling back from two behind- more akin to the team of last season , even though we claimed the three points. However an Arsenal win should never have been in doubt and the team’s performance was lacklustre at times. Thankfully our first tie after the international break is at home to Bolton- an early goal there should put us in good stead for the real tests that follow, namely Liverpool away and the visit of Manchester United.

That’s all for now- if the tepid monotony of internationals bores you as much as it does me, then have a look at the match reports I’ll be posting over the next few days and re-live our excellent starts. Laters blooners.