If you think modern-day tackles by the likes of Nigel de Jong and Ryan Shawcross are horrible, take a look at the above video from a 1970 Manchester derby where United legend George Best comes late to a ball and fiercely tackles City's Glyn Pardoe. The result was a horrific broken leg for Pardoe, a double fracture in fact, and the referee didn't even immediately stop the play to award a foul or red card.

Football chants are the metaphoric glue that bonds fans together in banter. For some players these are songs praising their talent, for others, well, it's best not to go there. Unfortunately there are some offensive corkers we had to leave out, but the ones we left in are equally class.

Made-up rumors, nonexistent "inside sources," Wenger rolling his eyes at a steady stream of bullcrap questions, unsettled players. It's your favorite time of year, and it's back. The January transfer window is upon us.

Arsenal have not traditionally been great movers and shakers in the January window, although we have brought in a fair few players midseason.

Ryo Miyaichi is not a name on the lips of most Arsenal fans, however, he is indeed their latest signing. The deal was put in place last summer on transfer deadline day and has recently been confirmed on the official club website. A statement read: Arsenal Football Club is delighted to confirm that Japanese forward Ryo [.

Morning to you, the end of another working week. Unless you've got to do blogging at the weekend which, I suspect, many of you don't. Not that I'm complaining. The internet is a 24 hour truck stop and I'm merely the chunky-legged waitress who has seen it all. Watch where you put your hands, mister, and don't complain that there's ash in your soup.

By Ulysse Pasquier, writing from Montreal

Arsenal fans have been increasingly frustrated with the duo's performances in the recent weeks, especially following their important involvement in the Gunners' two-game cup ties against lower-league clubs Leeds and Ipswich.

It clearly looks like Manuel Almunia has played his last game for the Gunners, and most Arsenal fans would suggest that he has outstayed his welcome by about six months. Just about all the Arsenal blogs on the web were publishing articles saying that the 33 year-old Spaniard had to be replaced as it was revealed [.

Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal Untold Arsenal on Facebook here By Walter Broeckx The draw at Wigan is still upsetting some Arsenal fans. Wenger is blamed for the changes he made. And in a way of course it is Wenger who is to blame as he made the decision. And some Arsenal fans point at other [...]

Arsenal: to keep Vermaelen and Fabregas fit

Wenger's men have managed to keep within touching distance of the top of the table without their first choice outfield spine. While Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh have made up for the injuries to Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen has been badly missed and Arsenal fans know they need him playing if they are to mount a serious title challenge.

The Arsenal fans and players who berated Roberto Mancini and his Manchester City side for parking the bus last night were actually underestimating their own side and showing City too much respect. Did they think a side who have never finished in the top four of the Premier League, who were beaten 3-0 at home by Arsenal earlier this season, would come to the Emirates expecting to win?

Andrey Arshavin may not have hit the heights he was reaching on a regular basis during his first season at the Emirates in recent weeks and months, but he's still an extremely valuable asset for the club and a very popular figure with the Arsenal faithful. The Russian playmaker has seen his efforts in midfield largely overshadowed this season by the stellar form of Samir Nasri, who has been the Gunners' star man both in Premier League matches and in European competition, but remains a key weapon in Arsene Wenger's artillery.

Normally a European match is noticeable because of the clash of styles involved. Think Inter Milan's immovable object against Barcelona's irresistible force. Similarly, Tottenham have stunned Europe by using traditional English wingers and an old-fashioned target man. In the Europa League, Napoli played a three man backline against teams used to a more traditional back four.

The oldest club competition in football was here again, The F.A Cup was back, some say the passion/magic has been lost from Cup, and that the big Premiership sides do not take it seriously but todays game showed otherwise. Our featured player Nicklas Bendtner started in a right wing position, where he played some of last season, It's not his favourite position but he is capable of playing their with his direct dribbling and link up play.

Arsenal 1 Leeds 1
There's a very nasty tendency among Arsenal fans to pick on individual players when the game isn't going for us.
The thing about the Leeds match, was that things just weren't going for us. Leeds weren't creating anything, but frankly, neither were we. And we can have no complaints about the penalty we conceded.

Jewell in the Town

Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal

enigma [ɪˈnɪgmə]
n
a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or ambiguous
[from Latin aenigma, from Greek ainigma, from ainissesthai to speak in riddles, from ainos fable, story]
enigmatic [ˌɛnɪgˈmætɪk], enigmatical adj
enigmatically adv

[Forgive me, positive Arsenal fans, for I am about to moan]

The schizophrenic nature of this season makes blogging very hard indeed.

A pearler missed from Wenger's presser yesterday afternoon.

"Arshavin will come back after a breather for a few games and be sharper"

Having played both cup games in the last 7 days, and played very much below-par, our little Russian wide man appears to be getting the bench for a week or so.

Arsenal's center back, Thomas Vermaelen, has been out for quite some time and his recovery status seems absurd at times but finally thing looked a bit cleared after Arsene Wenger unveiled the current condition of the Belgium international.

According to Wenger, Vermaelen will be doing a small operation to remove his Achilles problem and after it is solved the player should return on the pitch in around four-six weeks.

When you're chasing an improbable quadruple the last thing you want is a midweek trip to a bouncing Elland Road in an FA Cup replay. That's the task that stands in front of Arsenal after Cesc Fabregas' late penalty salvaged a tie that looked beyond them after Robert Snodgrass' 54th minute penalty.

Arsene Wenger has rightly earned himself a wide range of compliments for the manner in which he has attempted to grow rather than buy a football team at Arsenal, but he has also shown in the past that he is unable to reflect upon his side's own frailties, instead often bemoaning bad luck rather than focusing on the reality of a given situation.

I have to say the rumour started off in the News of the World today about Chelsea looking to make a move for Andrey Arshavin in the summer has surprised me. First of all I can't see Arsenal looking to sell him to another Premier League club. Secondly I think if earlier reports in the week are to be believed, he will look to head back home to Russia and finally I can't see Chelsea making a move for him just because he is mates with Roman Abramovich.

Ashley Cole, the man everyone loves to hate. The boo boy of Arsenal fans and England fans in general. The best left back in Europe, as any Chelsea fan will tell you.

Delivering a kick up the arse...

A few days ago, UEFA released their 2010 Team of the Year.

The little Russian genius has seemed very out-of-sorts this season, and has been roundly criticed by the Arsenal fans. Arsene Wenger has relegated him to his second string side, and despite the occasional spark of his old form, he has looked listless and uninterested. Arshavin himself has tried to explain the problem, but he is not [.