[Ana_Garcia]

Great story!

Shame about the start of the season with two draws, am sure your form will pick up.

Good layout, easy and interesting to read! KIU!

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Agbonlahor: I want to play for Arsenal
Villa striker hands in transfer request

James Weir
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 22nd August 2013 10.08 BST
Article History


Wants to be a Gunner

Following the rumours that Arsenal boss Nakata was interested in him, Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor has angered the Villa fans by handing in his transfer request. Arsenal have apparently been in talks with Aston Villa for a while and many expect Agbonlahor to leave before the transfer window closes.

“Yes I have heard that Arsenal tabled a bid for me. That was earlier this summer. It would be tough, but I think I want to go to Arsenal. They are a great team, with great tradition and it would be an honour to play for them. However, I would always love Villa and I hope that the fans can understand why I have decided that it is time for me to move on.”

Arsenal have apparently tabled a bid around the £8 million mark, but Aston Villa seem to be holding out for twice that. Nakata had said that he will not be bullied into paying over the odds, and Agbonlahor’s statement should provide assistance in lowering Aston Villa’s asking price.

---------------------------------------------------------

Ana_Garcia, on 08 May 2010 - 02:14 AM, said:

Great story!

Shame about the start of the season with two draws, am sure your form will pick up.

Good layout, easy and interesting to read! KIU!

Thanks Ana! Yeah, hopefully we start to find our rhythm up front.

This post has been edited by Ryan Van Kappel: 08 May 2010 - 10:10 PM

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Football transfer rumours: Djourou off to the Camp Nou
Today's rumours just want to go back to bed

Fred Freeman
guardian.co.uk, Friday 23rd August 2013 08.42 BST
Article History


"Did Nemanja see me? Oh god." Photograph: Paul Harding/Action Images

Nothing makes the mill happier than waking up to a morning towards the tail end of a transfer window. Ah, the rumours waft in the air like the smell of a fry-up on the morning of a hangover. Swiss defender Johan Djourou though, may have had enough of fry-ups for breakfast, fish and chips for lunch, pies for dinner, piss for weather and being kicked around by the likes of Nemanja Vidic. He’s apparently said that he fancies a move to Spain where the weather’s nicer and where Vidic can’t follow him haunting his nightmares. Arsenal have told Barcelona in their best Vidic impersonation that it’s either send Gerard 'I-hate-English-food' Pique the other way or cough up 15 million quid.

One transfer deal that also involves Arsenal is the ‘will-he-won’t-he’ saga of Gabby Agbonlahor from the summer. Like a University student who wakes up too often with a hangover and the need for a good fry up, but can’t afford the time, Arsenal have left this deal a little late and now Gabby has been cup tied after playing in the Europa League for Aston Villa this season.

Gabby might not be the only back seen scampering away from Villa park into the arms of richer, more successful suitors. Sulking South American Juan Forlin is said to be practicing to say “I hate rain” in Italian, so he can tell his future team mates at Roma why he left England.

Sunderland are looking to strengthen up front and in the back with interest in Mattia Destra and Arsenal’s highly rated left-back prodigy Kevin Roberts and willing to part with £20 million for the pair. Recently relegated Burnley meanwhile, want another Arsenal starlet in Keith Cairney, but it seems unlikely that they will be able to match Arsenal’s £5 million evaluation of him.

Arsenal are currently in a tug of war situation with Stoke of all clubs, for £1.4 million rated Feyenoord striker Luc Castaignos, who will have to choose whether he’d like to live in glamorous Stoke or boring old London, play for a mid table side or the European Champions. Choices, choices, choices…

Adam 'I will never leave Southampton' Lallana is the subject of interest of Italian club Reggina and FC Midtjylland’s Jonas 'he's really not that interesting' Borring is the subject of interest of Southampton and Everton's Dynamo Jack Rodwell is the subject of interest of Chelsea while poor Chris McGrath is still not wanted by anyone.

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Page last updated at 21:44 GMT, Saturday 24 August 2013 22:44 UK

Arsenal search for firepower


Fabregas (Right) tussles with Middlesbrough right-back Fausto Pinto for the ball.

By Barry Statham
Arsenal succumbed to their third consecutive draw this season as they yet again failed to find the back of the net at the Riverside Stadium against a distinctly average looking Middlesbrough side. Nakata’s side have thus far looked rather shy in front of goal, wasting shot after shot and have left many wondering what happened to the free scoring Arsenal team of last season.

It was a match Arsenal dominated right from the off, with Fabregas and Jovetic forcing early saves from Middlesbrough’s keeper Andriy Pyatov. However, the Ukranian was up to the job and kept the Arsenal front lines at bay. Arsenal then suffered a scare in their own half when Algerian Nadir Belhadj found former Gunner Kieran Gibbs on the overlap on the left side, however it came to nothing as the left back smashed the ball high into the crowd with his weaker right foot.

Arsenal again threatened in the 20th minute through Theo Walcott who played in a Centre Forward role just behind target man Niklas Bendtner, but the Englishman’s pace took him a step too close to Pyatov and the diving Goalie was able to thwart the Gunners yet again.

Middlesbrough then had a penalty appeal turned down right before the stroke of halftime when Italian right back Daniele Capelli and Boro striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake both went to try to reach for a lobbed pass in the area, but their tangle ended with Ebanks-Blake clutching his ankle on the ground, however, referee Lee Mason judged Capelli to have made contact with the ball first and just gave the corner.

The second half was more of the same as Arsenal surged forward in attack after attack only to be frustrated by either Pyatov or the woodwork as the Gunners racked up 5 shots that ricocheted off the frame of the goal, taking their total number of shots denied by the woodwork to 12, the most of any team in the league thus far. This is worrying for Arsenal, who in the absence of Dutch striker Robin van Persie have had a hard time finding the back of the net and will no doubt have Arsenal fans praying that new boss Hidetoshi Nakata manages to bring in Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor before the transfer window is shut.


------------------------

Middlesbrough: Andriy Pyatov; Facundo Roncaglia (Fausto Pinto 50’), David Wheater, Wes Brown, Kieran Gibbs; Marvin Emnes, Didier Digard, Josh Walker, Nadir Belhadj (Tommy Rowe 85’); Jose Paolo Guerrero, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Scott McDonald 64’)
Unused Subs: Brad Jones, Willo Flood, Roy Beerens, Brian Easton
Goals:

Arsenal: Andrea Consigli; Daniele Capelli, Simon Kjaer, Thomas Vermaelen, Gael Clichy; Yoann Gourcuff, Cesc Fabregas (Miguel Veloso 86’), Alex Song, Stevan Jovetic (Samir Nasri 86’); Niklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott
Unused Subs: Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Eduardo, Nicolas N’Koulou, Andrey Arshavin
Goals:

Man of the Match: Theo Walcott

Attendance: 34,329
Referee: Lee Mason

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Arsenal sign Agbonlahor

Sunday 25th August 2013



Arsenal today confirmed the signing of England international Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor from Aston Villa for a reported £10 million which could rise to as much as £14 million based on appearances. Many in the Arsenal camp are said to be relieved that this deal has finally happened. Many expected Agbonlahor to move earlier in the summer, but due to a difference in valuation of the speedy striker, the deal had been prolonged until now.

Agbonlahor is manager Hidetoshi Nakata’s second signing of the transfer window and it is clear that the Arsenal manager does not think that with van Persie currently out injured, that neither Eduardo and Bendtner can shoulder the burden alone, nor that young striker Terence Makengo is ready to step up.

Arsenal manager Hidetoshi Nakata had this to say about his new recruit: “Gabriel [Agbonlahor] is a phenomenal striker, fast and deadly in front of goal. I’m glad to welcome him to London, this deal has been a long time in the making and I expect him to fit right in with the squad.”

The Aston Villa Striker began his career at Villa Park a decade ago as a 16-year-old trainee. After brief spells at Watford and Sheffield Wednesday, the pacy Striker began to find himself thrust into the first team more and more eventually amassing 250 league appearances for the villains and 103 goals

“It isn’t often that a club like Arsenal come along with an offer for you and I’m at the stage in my career when I’ve developed all I can at Aston Villa. I still love this club, it is the club where I started out, but I don’t think I can progress any farther with Villa. I need to prove myself on a bigger stage and there is no bigger stage than at the European Champions.”

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Wolves loan Cairney

Monday 26th August 2013



21-year-old Scottish defender Keith Cairney was unveiled today at the Molineaux by manager Dave Jones after passing a medical last night. The Scotland Under 21 defender joins Wolverhampton this season after successful loan spells in previous seasons at Wigan, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday.

The centre back joined Arsenal 2 seasons ago from Dundee United for £1.6 million, but has yet to make a first team appearance for the Gunners. However, his 51 appearances out on loan are promising for the Gunners as he looks to be a long-term replacement for Swiss defender Johan Djourou.

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Middlesbrough land Lansbury

Thursday 29th August 2013



Middlesbrough today confirmed the signing of their second Arsenal player this transfer window. Midfielder Henry Lansbury has today joined fellow ex-Arsenal player Kieran Gibbs at the Riverside.

Many expected Lansbury to leave after the midfielder went to the press last season to complain about the number of Midfielders in the Arsenal squad and his lack of playing time. However, with the introduction of Nakata as Arsenal manager, the midfielder may have hoped for a clean slate, but instead found his role in the squad unchanged, making the team sheet as an unused substitute on one occasion.

Lansbury leaves for a reported £3 million pounds and the money should go to help Arsenal recoup for their 2 big signings this window.

Lansbury expressed relief at his move to Middlesbrough, saying “It’s been tough for me at Arsenal, I never was able to break into the first team or get the playing time I needed. I’m glad to leave for a club like Middlesbrough, who have an attacking philosophy like Arsenal’s that suits my game and it will be great to link up with Kieran [Gibbs] again.”

[Fola]

The detail you put in is fantastic.

[Ryan Van Kappel]

European Super Cup preview

Match preview by Jordan Bowen from Monaco Thursday 29 August 2013

Arsenal, as Champions League winners have travelled to Monaco today in preparation for tomorrow’s Super Cup match against Europa League Champions Villareal. Many expect the European Champions to brush aside their opponents, with recent history agreeing with that. Ever since 2010, the Super Cup has been won by the Champions League holder, with Real Madrid winning twice and Barcelona winning once.

Arsenal
For Arsenal, this will be only their second trip to the Stade Lois II in their entire history. The last time Arsenal lined up in the Stade Lois II, George Graham was the Arsenal boss and it was still a 2 legged affair. The last time arsenal took to the field in a UEFA Super Cup match, they lost to AC Milan over 2 legs, but they will be looking to win their first European Super Cup tomorrow against Spanish opponents Villareal.

Villareal
For Villareal, this will be their first UEFA Super Cup match after their successful season last season culminated in their lifting their first ever Europa League Trophy.

Expected Arsenal Lineup: Andrea Consigli; Daniele Capelli, Simon Kjaer, Thomas Vermaelen, Gael Clichy; Theo Walcott, Miguel Veloso, Cesc Fabregas, Stevan Jovetic; Gabriel Agbonlahor, Eduardo

Expected Villareal Lineup: Diego Lopez; Stefano Celozzi, Mateo Musacchio, Michal Kadlec, Lucas Licht; Giuliano, Mahamadou Diarra, Sebastian Eguren, Miguel; Kenwyne Jones, Jozy Altidore

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fola, on 25 May 2010 - 11:41 PM, said:

The detail you put in is fantastic.

Thanks Fola, I like to make these as realistic as possible. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Hope you keep reading and commenting.

[Ryan Van Kappel]

Vermaelen fires Arsenal to Penalty Win

Match report by Jordan Bowen from Stade Louis II Friday 30 August 2013

After an even 120 minutes, Arsenal’s penalty takers kept their nerve to beat Villareal to see the London side lift the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.

Nail-biting Final
The Arsenal side who won their first ever Champions League last season looked to add to their collection of trophies with a win in Monaco against a technically gifted Villareal side who won their first piece of European silverware last season as well with their Europa League triumph. In an evenly balanced match and no shortage of goals, neither of the two sides were able to come out on top. Even as extra time neared an end, neither side had the distinct advantage and it ended up going to the dreaded penalty shootout.

Hurried Opening
The focus of this match was on Arsenal’s new signing Gabriel Agbonlahor. The former Aston Villa man did not disappoint the travelling Londoners as Arsenal had the first chance of the game early on in the 6th minute when he got the ball just outside the area, but his shot sailed high over the bar and into the fans. A couple minutes later though, Villareal found the ball in their possession just outside the Arsenal box and Brazilian striker Nilmar made no mistake as his long range effort managed to squeeze by Consigli and the post for an amazing opening goal.

Arsenal Respond
Almost immediately, Agbonlahor found himself with the ball at his feet once more after a good Arsenal move saw the ball travel from wing to wing before finding the England forward. He made no mistakes this time as his first time shot was low and beat Villareal keeper Diego Lopez at his left post as the Spaniard looked on haplessly at the new Arsenal striker’s debut goal.

Gabby Immortalised
The Arsenal side then proceeded to play a good game of keep away as all 11 players got touches on the ball as they passed it back and forth, stretching the Villareal defence wide and eventually finding Agbonlahor in space and the pacy striker slotted home his second on the night as the Villareal team could only look on.

Change in Style
Villareal responded by changing their style of play and going in more aggressively and not letting the Champions League winners play the expansive football they excelled at and instead broke up play with some aggressive but well timed tackles on the North Londoners. This was visibly hampering Nakata’s game plan as the Arsenal team began to get careless and in the 28th minute a defensive lapse by the Arsenal back four let American striker Jose Altidore in behind them for a one-on-one chance with Italian shot stopper Andrea Consigli, but the American came out top as he slotted home easily to level the sides.

Agbonlahor Denied
Both teams began to cancel each other out after the goal, but rare flashes saw both teams get the occasional shot, but chances appeared to be growing fewer and farther in between. The best chance before the half time whistle fell to Agbonlahor and the England striker with a chance to net a debut hattrick fired the ball at the top corner, but just as he began to wheel away in celebration, the brilliant Spaniard Diego Lopez managed to pluck it out of the air.

Extra Time Excitement
After a tepid second half saw neither side emerge victorious, but both sides came out in extra time with the same fervour that saw four goals scored in the first half. The first chance fell to Arsenal through substitute Andrey Arshavin, but the Russian’s shot was easily scooped up by Diego Lopez. The next chance then fell to Villareal as a Diarra free kick found its way to Cani but the Spanish midfielder’s shot was blocked by a diving Vermaelen for a corner. After that, both sides seemed to play a more contained game as neither side wanted to concede this late into extra time.

Penalties!
As the clocked ticked down, all eyes in the Stade Louis II were on Italian Referee Maurizio Ciampi and as the Italian blew the final whistle, the excitement in the air thickened yet still.

As the players lined up on the centre line, the first penalty taker steped up, the Spaniard Cani. He had no problem dispatching the ball low and to the right of Consigli, who guessed right, but was unable to reach the well-placed shot. 1 – 0

Next was Yoann Gourcuff for Arsenal, and despite the efforts of Diego Lopez to throw off the Frenchman, the attacking midfielder had no problem sending the Spaniard the wrong way and sending the ball high into the top corner. 1 – 1

Moroccan winger Mbark Boussoufa then stepped up for Villareal and his hard hit penalty found the roof of the net above the outstretched arm of Consigli as Villareal maintained their lead. 2 – 1

Nicklas Bendtner then stepped up for Arsenal and the towering Dane had a little luck as his low thumped penalty was almost saved by Lopez, but the Spaniard could not get enough on it as he watched it go in off his glove. 2 – 2

Then ex-Arsenal defensive midfielder Mahamadou Diarra stepped up to much jeering from the Arsenal stand, but the Malinese midfielder smashed home his spot kick as Consigli watched rooted to the spot. 3 – 2

Portuguese midfielder Miguel Veloso then stepped up and coolly sent Diego Lopez the wrong way to maintain parity. 3 – 3

Goalscorer Jozy Altidore then stepped up, but like his earlier chance, had no problem beating Consigli as he sent the Italian the wrong way to put pressure on Arsenal. 4 – 3

Frenchman Nasri though had no problem keeping up as he too slotted home as the sides drew level yet again. 4 – 4

Czech left back Michal Kadlec then stepped up as Villareal’s 5th spot kick taker. He took a deep breath before taking the shot, which he sent low to Consigli’s right, but the Italian guessed right and was able to turn it onto the post and out. 4 – 4

Veteran Thomas Vermaelen then stepped up with the pressure mounting and the chance to win the cup for the North London side. The Belgian centre back took his kick and duly smashed it into the top corner and out of reach of the diving Diego Lopez as pandemonium rang out in the stands and the Arsenal bench ran towards him in celebration. The grin on new manager Hidetoshi Nakata’s face told the entire story as the ex-Japanese international ran towards his players to celebrate like he’d been playing.

Hidetoshi Nakata’s Reaction
“It’s an honour to win my first trophy as a manager and it’s quite a trophy to win. I’m grateful for the level of performance my players displayed and this win is theirs. I hope this win sparks a good run in the league, but for now, all that matters is the trophy. Tonight is all about the players, it is their night and it is their trophy.”

Juande Ramos’s Reaction
“It’s tough to lose a final. It’s especially tough to lose it on penalties. Many people say that this trophy isn’t as important as the other European trophies, but for me, a trophy is a trophy, be it the Champions League or the Sunday league, it’s never nice to lose. But congratulations to Arsenal on their win.”

[mheshimiwa_92]

hey, this is good. keep it up.

was just wondering what teams both Man United and Man City have. Because they seem to be your biggest Championship rivals, so was just wondering who they have bought and sold in this time. Thanks.