Today has seen a new Arsenal transfer rumour emerge in the form of Manchester City's Nigel De Jong. Tough tackling and a hardman attitude are the first thoughts that come to mind with the player but the Dutch international undoubtedly has more to offer than that. As well as his battling style, De Jong's passing [.

After two successful seasons together in Carolina, Paul Ritchie knows what Martin Rennie is thinking, and when he's thinking it.
That chemistry is now at the core of the Vancouver Whitecaps' coaching staff. Ritchie was welcomed as Rennie's first assistant on Thursday, the second day of an eight-day mini-camp at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.

One of the saddest effects of our poor form during 2011 has been seeing how lesser teams no longer fear us.

The psychological advantage of having most opponents assume they would get nothing out of playing us has been whittled away by a series of unfortunate events.

Throwing away a four goal lead at Newcastle; losing to relegation-bound Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final; league defeats to the likes of West Brom, Stoke and Bolton:

All these and more have turned our shiny armour of invincibility into a tattered and battered old coat of rusty chain mail, pock-marked with holes.

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon who is often giving out Sporting tips - has claimed that the Gunners might struggle to make the top eight in the Premier League this season if their defensive woes continue.

Arsene Wenger's men lost 2-1 to arch rivals Spurs at the weekend, their fourth loss of the Premier League season.

In my youth Highbury was a less than salubrious place (sorry to those who grew up there!). Coming from a leafier part of North London the journey on the 210 bus seemed like entering a foreign land. How things have changed. Today the squares of Highbury and Islington are seriously des. res.. Sadly but unsurprisingly the reverse has happened to Tottenham which has been directly reflected in the success of our football teams.

Liverpool legend John Barnes has been delighted with the impact made by Kenny Dalglish since his return to Anfield, saying the combination of an attractive brand of free-flowing football, twinned with some impressive results has meant the Reds can once again be regarded as a force to be reckoned with.

Time to get off the bench

The league campaign continues with the visit of Liverpool. It'll be the first home game of the domestic campaign and it is always important to start on the right foot. Arsenal were the best away team in the league last season but ultimately even then we finished 12 points off the top.

'The Fear Factor' By Omar El-Menawy I have previously spoken about Arsenal needing to stiffen up their defense by buying Cahill and Samba. Well when I speak about these players adding steel to the team, I don't only mean it physically but mentally too. When you come to think about it, when Arsenal are two [.

Former England defender Jamie Carragher admits players suffer from a fear factor when they are playing for the national team.
Carragher came out of international retirement when he was selected by England manager Fabio Capello for last year's World Cup campaign in South Africa. However, England experienced a woeful tournament and crashed out 4-1 to Germany in the last 16, leading to a torrent of criticism for both players and management.

By Tony Alvarez & Laurie Fitzgerald

Fair Play, Theo

By Laurie Fitzgerald

I know this probably isn't normal for a Tottenham fan to start off something like this, but I thought I would start this piece by saying well done to an Arsenal player – and actually mean it!

Theo Walcott's admittance to diving to win his side a penalty in the dying minutes against Leeds in the FA Cup on Saturday was a rare show of honesty in a footballing world where simulation is all too easily used and benefitted from.