Lightning may never strike twice, but cheating scumbags certainly do.

It beggars belief that less than a week after Gareth Bale pulled off a forward pike with tuck to win a penalty against us, Luis Suarez went and did exactly the same thing with the same effect.

Both executed perfect examples of what's known in coaching circles as "The Rooney.

Lightning may never strike twice, but cheating scumbags certainly do.

It beggars belief that less than a week after Gareth Bale pulled off a forward pike with tuck to win a penalty against us, Luis Suarez went and did exactly the same thing with the same effect.

Both executed perfect examples of what's known in coaching circles as "The Rooney.

Those who regularly read my pre-matches may have noticed a softening in approach over recent months; this is due to the Jonah effect. Every time I slagged off a team they took points from us. However, if nothing else, this season has persuaded me that my "lucky" habits have no effect on Arsenal's performance, I have used lucky socks, lucky shirts, lucky cakes, lucky beer, lucky wine, lucky scarves, lucky routes, lucky sweets, and you know what nothing works.

Build-up to North London derbies is usually fraught with a gamut of emotions; excitement, nervousness, disbelieving head-shaking as Spurs go on ego-massaging trips and superior sniggers as they trip on the field. Well, that's what they did until a few years ago at least. This new and improved Spurs are disappointingly far removed from a travelling circus and resemble a football team like few of their predecessors ever did.

AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal

I have not been blogging recently and I must say, I've not really missed it. It would not be fair to solely blame the gradual declining form of Arsenal for the gradual declining form of this blog but the seemingly perpetual cycle of poor defeat followed by gentle recovery followed by poor defeat does not help.

The AFC told the Indonesian Football Association the new season had to begin by a certain date or they would lose the right to enter teams in continental football next season. So, amid much ballyhoo, the Indonesia Premier League kicked off on 15 October when Persib hosted Semen Padang.
A few more games were scheduled but never took place and the competition, fully one game old, went into hibernation for the SEA Games, a period of six weeks.

In the 2011/12 season we are approximately 35% of the way through the campaign and it is the same two players who stand out on the world stage as usual. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 he has scored 106 goals in 108 matches, an incredible feat that would appear unbeatable in the modern age.

It beggars belief really doesn't it. Danny Sturridge has been (when fit) a regular first team starter under AVB and has scored five goals in nine games. He has received his first call up to the full England squad that is preparing to play Spain tomorrow and there is a good chance that he is going to start the game too.

Remember the Indonesia Premier League that began a couple of weeks ago when Persib played Semen Padang? The league that was going to have 24 clubs? Well, the latest is that there will be 18 teams when it kicks off again, though don't ask when that might be. Them folks have yet to finish a league that they started.

It beggars belief that somebody could earn a salary for writing such dross but James Olley, from The London Evening Standard, has managed to do just that.

Olley claims that if Evra cannot prove that he was racially abused then he should have the book thrown at him. Is that how justice works?

Former judge tells Hillsborough families to drop 'conspiracy theories'

• Sir Oliver Popplewell says families should move on • Says Bradford disaster families showed 'quiet dignity' A retired judge has sparked fury by calling on the Hillsborough families to drop their "conspiracy theories" and behave more like the relatives of victims of the Bradford City stadium disaster.

A former judge has controversially called on the Liverpool families involved in the Hillsborough disaster to behave more like the relatives of victims of the Bradford City stadium disaster.
In an ill-advised letter to The Times, Sir Oliver Popplewell, who chaired the public inquiry into the 1985 fire at the Valley Parade stadium that killed 56 people, argued:
"The citizens of Bradford behaved with quiet dignity and great courage.

Why unwanted Tevez and greedy Adebayor are the summer window's biggest losers

Seventeen days until the transfer window closes. As time ticks away, think of poor Carlos Tevez. What will happen if no one wants him? It's long odds against, of course. But how delicious it would be if his bluff were called.

Alex McLeish had 5 seasons in charge of Glasgow Rangers. He only won the SPL twice. That's a failure.

His four-year tenure at Birmingham City may have been crowned by League Cup glory in February, but it cannot hide two relegations in four years. That's a failure.

He nearly guided Scotland to the World Cup but, at the end of the day, that campaign ended in failure too.

For the Gunners, a tale of two halves. Or more to the point, a tale of two Arsenals. Unstoppable in the first and scoring at will to take a four to nothing lead. The game signed and sealed. Walcott after 47 seconds, Van Persie with two goals, and Johan Djourou with his maiden goal. Or so anyone sane would think.

Darren Bent is what I call a stupid English footballer. It's not a reflection on his intelligence per se, though I'm pretty sure he's no educated sophisticate.

Here is a decent player, not exceptional but decent. But he has a small football brain. He hangs on the shoulder of the defender and hopes to get a run in on goal.