Chapter 2: Ouch

Ducky's note was right. My metatarsal is sore. His anatomical reference was wrong though. My left metatarsal is all right. My right metatarsal is the one that's gone wrong. On the whole you would be right in saying it is a clear case of injury added to insult.

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Let's get straight to it. I do not have much time over the next 2days to post anything as I've got a friend's wedding to attend and actively involved in. Although I should be back with a match preview on Sunday. With the big game coming up on Sunday, I thought it would nice to [...] Click to continue reading...

As Arsenal fans, I think that we are blessed. Maybe not so much during the Graham reign but definitely during the Wenger era. From Bergkamp to Vieira to Henry, we've had truly world-class players that would walk right into any team in the world. Players that on their day, defines the outcome of any match. Click to continue reading...

I'm sure most of you saw an article on Sport.co.uk claiming Arsenal "could remove their trademark white sleeves from their home kit as they celebrate the 125th anniversary of the club in 2011 by replicating shirts worn by the club's founding fathers." With not much going on news-wise ahead of the Bolton match, except, of course, Cesc's return from injury, I figured I would take this pre-match Friday to gauge my readers' opinions on the kits.

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And so ends another year, and another decade, if you believe that decades run from years 0-9 (an oddity given that there was no year zero).

As far as years go, it hasn't been half bad. For all the lack of a trophy, we've reached two semi finals, outscored every other Premiership side, lost fewer games than anyone, and even started to play a more expansive game since the switch to 4-3-3.

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Ok, the Dutch Eredivisie is a second tier division in Europe. I grant you that. But being the topscorer in that competition means that you know how to score goals. Van Basten, Kieft, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Huntelaar, Van Nistelrooy... All these lads proved it in Holland and outside of Holland. Dirk Click to continue reading...

Continuing to look back at the decade that was for Arsenal, we come to season 2003/04. The history books were rewritten as Arsenal reclaimed back the Premier League by remaining unbeaten throughout the entire campaign. This was virtually the same team that finished runners-up to Man United in the previous season, except for the replacement [. Click to continue reading...

With the matches coming thick and fast as always during the year end and the new year signalling the end of a decade, I will take this oppourtunity to reflect back on the past 10 years of Arsenal Football Club. Over the next 15 days, in between Arsenal games, it's as good a time as [...] Click to continue reading...

The Arsenal and Holland legend Dennis Bergkamp has turned down an offer from Arsene Wenger to return to Arsenal. Bergkamp is currently working at Ajax training the youth teams, but he says he is not looking for the high pressure work that he would be expected to do as head coach at the Emirates. "They want [. Click to continue reading...

It always feels good to see Spurs lose, especially if we're the one that beat them

If Arsenal were to win anything this season, Robin Van Persie's contribution to it would be very very vital. If Fabregas is the fulcrum of the side and the player others look for the ammunition, then RVP will the one looking to be at the end of those supplies.

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Good morning, a fine start to a new week for many of you. Round these parts there aren't too many Sp*rs fans. I play football with one on a Tuesday and when I told him I was going over for the game he said 'Oh dear, you've just wasted your money there'.

Oh dear indeed. So he'll get some tomorrow night but I can imagine those of you returning to work today who live in much closer quarters to fans of that persuasion will have a jolly good morning engaging in 'banter', you might say.

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It was his birthday and the AGM was conducted in a very different atmosphere from the last meeting. So of course, in the warm bask of accolades and affection, one tends to become magnanimous.

But I saw the AZ Alkmaar match and if we are to win a major trophy, we need to do much much better.

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1. Black Dog
Writing this crap can have an effect on the soul. It's a sorry state of affairs when the highlight of the season thus far has been a riot.
There has been precious little to cheer. Any cause célèbre (Cole's screamer against tottenham) has swiftly been negated (Cole's mesmeric through-ball to Defoe), and the only home win, albeit against Millwall, was a defeat until the 87th minute. Click to continue reading...

Bana İngilizce öğreten oyun olan CM ile ilk karşılaşmamız 99 yılında olmuştu. Bu kadar detaylı ve veri tabanı geniş bir oyun karşısında bağışıklık sistemim çökmüş gençliğin o güzel saatlerini dışarıda gezmelerde tozmalarda değil de Todorov'lar la Temur'lar la geçirmiştim. Click to continue reading...

Ramsey scored from a freekick for Wales yesterday ......

"Arsenal teenager Ramsey whipped in a free kick that breezed the hairline of the wall and curled into the top left corner."

"This lad is going to be very special one day – he is looking like an embryonic cross between Cesc, Lumplard and Gerrard – fantastic passing, great shot and can orchestrate the game pulling all the strings"� (Rasputin)

Good summary.

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Today marks the day that Arsene Wenger becomes the longest serving manager in Arsenal history. To put into words the impact he has had on the club in a little over thirteen years is almost a futile exercise despite such a rich history, Arsenal are now different in almost every way from the day he arrived.

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All the *wtf* moments belong to us:

First Diaby with his head scratching header that led to an own goal against Man Utd. The difference between a draw and a defeat. Then Almunia's bounce of the head from a bounce of the goalpost into the goal which gave City the lead and dampened a bright Arsenal start.

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Holland prides itself over the years to have produced so many great players. With strikers like Cruyff, Geels, Kist, Houtman, Kieft, Van Basten, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar or goalies like Pieters Graafland, Hiele, Van Breukelen, Van Beveren, Menzo, De Goey and Van der Sar. Some say that goalies have Click to continue reading...

The week's Ultimate 11 is one of our most loyal members and top boy Teflon. You can usually find him moaning about Nicholas Bendtner or slating Newcastle in the Den.

Do you really know your clubs proud history or are you just a teenage glory hunter? (not mentioning any names from the Kings Road).

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After the Emirates Cup, a few things stuck out in my mind. Firstly, Arshavin and Eduardo are crucial to any title hopes we may have. Next, the balance of the side is so important and may well enable the better players to play where they are, at their best. Lastly, Wenger really is stubborn sometimes regarding certain players, especially the defence!

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The transfer of Kolo Toure to Manchester City for £14m is of more significance than some might think. While to many it is another endorsement of money running football as City take their summer spending to astronomical levels, it is also more of a symbolic significance, especially if you are an Arsenal Fan. Click to continue reading...

Okay, I have backed Mr. Wenger for years: since he first became the manager for Arsenal, when the Evening Standard greeted him with the headline "Arsene Who?" to when Arsene signed unknown young players like Fabregas, Petit, Toure, and even the last couple years (not giving Pires the two years he wanted, letting go of Henry, and not signing more midfielders when we needed it).

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Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Teaching Ideas

In this teaching ideas post we have an interview with Arsenal fan Andy who tells us about some of his memories while supporting the Gunners. Vocabulary in bold is explained at the end of the post

• Download the worksheet here
• Listen to the interview here

Damian: Right, today we have got an Arsenal season ticket holder giving us his views on all things Gunners.

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Yesterday, I asked the question of implementing live video review in football. Today's question is: are our expectations too high for international football? I enjoyed your responses to yesterday's article. Please weigh in with your feelings on international football in the comment section below.

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Fair enough the future is in our hands as they say, or perhaps it is in the Bosses – Wenger, or the board with the kitty of cash to spend?
The best and worst times all roll into one when you are so passionate about something you love so dearly – especially The Arsenal.

Some of the worst times are when your favourite player eventually retires (insert Bergkamp or your own favourite retiree here) or leaves the club, or the fans favourite leaves – Henry, Vieira, Pires, etc.

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Zico, Sokrates, Matthaus, Bergkamp,Ronaldo,Zidane, Gullit, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Platini, Boniek, Deschamps, Desailly... Sadece saydığımız bu isimlere bakıp bir de Kaka ve İbrahimovic'ten sonra Serie A'da yıldız kalmayacağını düşünürsek son 10 yılda Serie A'nın ne derece imaj kaybına uğradığını anlamış oluruz. Click to continue reading...

Back in February/March time when I could still get to games I was 'raving' about Persitara's attacking options. An odd thing to do seeing how they had struggled all through the first half of the season but the additions of Prince Kabir Bello, who had played with Sepahan in the ACL, and Mostapha Aji, promising with Persikota but still raw, could only complement the tireless Rahmat Rivai. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal in the transfer rumour mill this early!

The Daily Mail is reporting that Edin Dzeko whose record breaking partnership with Grafite at Wolfsburg was responsible for the club's maiden Bundesliga title is now a Wenger transfer target. Arsenal is reportedly tabling a £12m offer and is competing with Man City in landing the Bosnian striker.

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We are considered a big team, not just in England but across Europe and the world.� Our turnover is increasing year on year but we are not really cashing in our worldwide potential.

We offer our supporters Arsenal TV Online, we have a host of Asian language websites, but apart from a couple friendlies in Europe, what are we doing to give our worldwide fanbase greater access to the team?

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I've never been very religious but I do believe in God. In fact I've seen him. He wore an Arsenal shirt for 11 years.
His name is Dennis Nicolaas Maria Bergkamp and he is Dutch. The Ice-man. And I loved him like family.
The man was, and is, an absolute Arsenal legend and I want him back at the club. Click to continue reading...

I don't normally use this space to shill for any other websites, but if you want to waste some time at work, it's well worth checking out the official site's Arsenal's greatest goals contest. They've got 4 separate videos of Arsenal's greatest goals, and they are a fun trip down memory lane for long-time Gunner fans, and a good chance for those of us who have started following the club more recently to see just how great some of the club's players have been.

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This has been utterly disappointing season for Arsenal as they have missed out on all the major trophies, again. Arsene Wenger did have some problems with injured players but that cannot be an excuse for the poor results. The aforementioned players have returned for the decisive battles of the season, but they couldn't help the Gunners avoid a couple of disappointing defeats to their big rivals.

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Consider the master Dutch footballers - Cruyff, Van Basten, Van Persie - all incredibly gifted but also temperamental and a touch arrogant.
And Dirk Kuyt? He is the complete opposite - a dedicated team man with a super-human work-rate, rock-solid temperament and modesty to the point of shyness. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal are considered one of Europe's top clubs, mainly because we have had some of Europe's top players at the club.� Our reputation has created an air of falsehood.� Scratch the surface and a completely different picture emerges.

Since Arsene's first season in 1997/98 we have reached two European Finals, losing to Galatasaray on penalties in the UEFA Cup and in 2006 we lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

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I saw the 2008 UEFA team of the year, and the controversy it produced, and it got me thinking. What would an all time Premiership XI look like? I'm fairly confident in my picks, but know the difficulties of picking such a side. The league has changed incredibly even since the time I have followed [. Click to continue reading...

I saw the 2008 UEFA team of the year, and the controversy it produced, and it got me thinking. What would an all time Premiership XI look like? I'm fairly confident in my picks, but know the difficulties of picking such a side. The league has changed incredibly even since the time I have followed [. Click to continue reading...

Ex-Arsenal star Dennis Bergkamp declared he would accept a future job at Arsenal. The 39-year old, who retired from football in 2006 spoke to "Bob Wilson Meets..." on Arsenal TV and said: I wouldn't rule out [working at Arsenal in some capacity]. I really love this club and the country and I love working here. Click to continue reading...