Morning all. Quick update right now because I've got to go coach my team this morning but there may be big news. Several sources have claimed that we have made a deal with Lyon for Hatem Ben Arfa. Ok, the sources are Tribal Football and The Sun, which aren't the most credible, but Goodplaya seems to think it may be true.

Lyon's backline patrolman Cris has given a candid interview about former teammate Hatem Ben Arfa. Even though Inara wrote an excellent "cathartic" piece on HBA's departure and most of us have closed the file on Hatem's Lyon career, I thought this would be of interest.

The summer isn't all about transfer rumours you know. Sometimes there are actual signings too. And to prove it here are some photos of famous footballers smiling and holding up shirts with their names on... - The big transfer saga of the French summer is over, with talented but bratty midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa(above) swapping [.

Lyon had their first summer friendly this afternoon against Nimes in Albertville. Goals were scored by Juninho (10), Yannis Tafer (40), and Anthony Mounier (63). This was Claude Puel's first match in charge, and for many of the players, their first match in an OL jersey.

You know when you were in junior high? And you were terrified to show your parents the D you got in Math? But when you got home, they'd just learned that your sister was pregnant?* This is kind of like that. OR: Thank GAWD for Italy. * Laurie

France's Ligue 1 got underway tonight as 19 teams try to break Olympique Lyon's 7-year grip on the championship. American defender Carlos Bocanegra anchored the central defense for Stade Rennais in a battle with traditional power Olympique Marseille. It did not help matters that going into the match, star striker Sylvain Wiltord had been suspended after criticizing coach Guy LaCombe in an interview with L'Equipe.

Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra has publicly stated that he wants to leave the club after failing to secure a regular starting berth in a congested midfield. The 22 year-old arrived in North London on the final day of the Summer transfer window after Chelsea agreed to a last-minute deal with Arsene Wenger.

I think I'll do a somewhat half-hearted liveblog here, so keep hitting refresh to see major action points -- at the very least scores, cards and substitutions. Starting lineup, from l'Equipe: Le onze de départ : Frey ou Mandanda - Sagnol, Thuram, Escudé, Abidal - L. Diarra, A. Diarra ou

By Aries Ben Arfa who has interested Arsene Wenger before may have now played a major part in Samir Nasri's deal with Arsenal finally going through. This is because Marseille, his new club, could not raise the cash to pay the transfer fee to Lyon unless they sold Nasri to Arsenal. The deal for Nasri had been delayed however until the player and his agent agreed personal terms with Arsenal.

1 - 0 O.Thomert 6'
1 - 1 B.Kone 12'
1 - 2 H.Ben Arfa 14'
1 - 3 M.Niang 28'
2 - 3 O.Thomert 51'
3 - 3 S.Mandanda (OG) 89'
3 - 4 E.Grandin 90'
4 - 4 B.

Les Cahiers du Football had an interesting article last week looking several possibilities for a starting XI for France. I thought it would be fun if I posted those formations here. Do you think that one of these other lineups might have had a better chance of succeeding?

FRANCE A: The Starters (at Euro 2008)

Coupet
Sagnol - Thuram - Gallas - Abidal
Ribery - Makelele - Vieira - Malouda
Henry - Anelka

The transfer window is open. Players are on the move. What does this mean for our France boys and their club situations? Let's take a look at a few of our gents and where they'll be playing next season.

We all know that Gregory Coupet is out the door for Lyon, right? Or maybe not.

The see-sawing saga of Adebayor continues. And against my better judgement, I'm bringing it up again. There are other things to comment on. But first, the Togan international looks more and more like he will remain at Ashburton Grove for the 2008/09 season. Why do I think that? Because it seems like Arsenal simply won't sell him, having reportedly turned down a £25m offer from Barcelona, and requesting £35.

Olympique Marseille vs Liverpool Stade Velodrome Kickoff is 8:45 pm CET, 19:45 pm GMT, 2:45 pm US Eastern Marseille 0-0 Liverpool Big team news is that Gerrard and Torres are starting for Liverpool. Marseille: 4-2-3-1: Mandanda; Bonnart, Taiwo, Hilton, Zubar; Cheyrou, Kana; Kone, M'Bami, Ben Arfa; Niang Liverpool: 4-3-3: Reina; Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel; Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt, Torres, Babel

'Eyyyyyyyyyyyy. That's my greeting today in true Fonz style. Anyways, got some news and lots and lots of rumors to go through today so let's get right to it. We'll start with the Sunderland match yesterday, the last of the season, which we won 1-0 through a goal from Theo Walcott. It was a beautiful through ball from Gilberto that Walcott ran on to and finished easily.

After several weeks of waiting, one of the least suspenseful signings of the summer has been realized. Former Lille LOSC and Monaco manager Claude Puel is officially the new manager of Lyon. The contract is said to be for 4 years and JMA has agreed to a compensation package with Lille for the manager's signature.

I have to say, it always makes me laugh when it happens.

Every summer, we get linked to established names of European football and every summer, Wenger just looks elsewhere. Who expected Sagna last summer and who, for that matter, expected Diaby, Walcott and Adebayor in January 2006? The list is endless, but when we are all looking one way, Le Boss is peering in a different direction.

Reina
Arbeloa Skrtel Carragher Dossena
Mascherano Lucas
Kuyt Gerrard Babel
Torres
Goals:
Cana 23'
Gerrard 26' 32' (pen)
Welcome back, Steven Gerrard.
The first half was eminently watchable, end-to-end stuff. With the return of Gerrard and Torres, Liverpool went back to the 4-2-3-1, while Marseille weren't content to allow Liverpool the leeway they did in France last season.

Recently in an interview in Lyon Mag weekly, my favorite Lyon player ever and "god of the goal nets" Gregory Coupet spoke about one of his reasons for leaving Lyon. In the inteview, the veteran goalkeeper reveals that his main reason for leaving Lyon was the age-old problem of the generation gap.

Ninety minutes of decent football, if you can call it that. Manchester United remain conservative in Europe rather than adopting a swashbuckling style, but this bland performance hardly justify the money spent on amassing the plethora of attacking talents. The 1-0 victory for the Red Devils came from Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half, and it [.

Morning everyone. The transfer talk has started in full since we're out of every competition, so there's going to be a lot of talk and very little action for the next few months by my estimation. It's amazing how every single year people, including the media, think we are going to go on a spending spree and by five great players for big money that are ready to play right away.

Arsenal continue to pursue top level young talent. Just a couple weeks ago, French Ligue Young Player of the Year Ben Arfa revealed Arsenal had been in contact with him, to discuss a possible move to The Emirates Stadium. The-21 year-old is one of France's most promising strikers. He wont stay with Lyon too much [.

Alexander Hleb a key player this season who undeniably has put in some truly wonderful performances. Come the end of another trophyless season and various quotes that Hleb wants to leave Arsenal because he doesn't like living in a big city lead to him being linked to various clubs around Europe themselves situated in big cities.

Mornings gooners thought i'd repost an old entry now that i'm on goonernews to get it a little more of a read and perhaps some discussion. I'l post a fresh and fragrant new post today or tomorrow. Cheers for those of you who have checked out my new rookie blog and thanks must go to the various other Arsenal blogs who have given me much advice and support on this new venture and people say media is a competitive dog eat dog world ey!

Viva gli sposi

Raymond Domenech al termine della gara persa contro l'Italia annuncia urbi et orbi il suo imminente matrimonio.

Probabilmente sarà l'ultimo atto ufficiale da commissario tecnico della nazionale francese.

Hartem Ben Arfa won't be coming to the Premier League after the Lyon star agreed to a move to Marseille. Arsenal and Manchester United were the ones most often associated with chasing the 21-year-old - Liverpool were also mentioned a...

Just the other day, the LFP published the summer schedule of friendlies for both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs. Nearly all of them will be busy this summer - Marseille have nine friendlies planned while Bordeaux have a respectable five (fyi, PSG will be playing against Porto in August - fun).

After many weeks of speculation, it appears that Samir Nasri's deal to join Arsenal will go through. Hampered by the distraction of Euro 2008, Marseille previously denied the deal, however club chairman Pape Diouf has now confirmed that the paperwork just needs to be signed.
Marseille were waiting to wrap up a deal for replacement Hatem Ben Arfa, who signed for the club this week.

Here's the list for our World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Austria. These games make me nervous. After watching Austria in Euros, I'm thinking that they especially are underrated and could deliver a shock. (Like they did in that friendly with Italy last week. As my co-blogger Chris said, they scored four goals!

Group D:
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
Marseille
Atletico Madrid
It doesn't seem like much is going to come easy this season. This is without a doubt the hardest group in this year's draw, and the hardest group Liverpool's been in since Benitez became manager.
At least Liverpool has experience against both PSV and Marseille, who they've met in the Champions League in the past two seasons.

Le parole di Marco Simone ai micofoni di Centro Suono Sport:
«Menez farà sicuramente innamorare i tifosi della Roma. Un ragazzo giovane, insieme a Benzema e Ben Arfa rappresenta una delle stelle dell'attuale calcio francese. Con il suo arrivo in Italia fa un salto di qualità, sia dal punto di vista della società che della squadra.

La conferenza stampa integrale di Jeremy Menez
Cosa vuol dire per te essere un giocatore della Roma?
"Per me è un piacere essere in una grande squadra come la Roma e potermi allenare con grandi campioni come quelli che ci sono qui".
Sei più simile a Cassano o a Zidane come giocatore?