Trademark volley from the non-flying Dutchman Bergkamp still got it by soccermr Ajax's coaching team like to roll back the years from time to time. Take this video, for instance. Frank De Boer play a lovely Hollywood pass, Dennis Bergkamp gets on the end of it and works his magic by firing in a glorious [.

So transfer deadline day came and went without much fuss. Over on the live blog we had an influx of Matthews, Willem Dafoe scoring against Sp*rs, rapping Clint Dempsey, Andrei Arshavin as Rita Hayworth and then ... a signing!

Young Germanian Thomas Eisfeld (wonderfully captured here by @gooner_nate) put pen to paper on a four year deal.

By 1970's Gooner Fabiansky Needs to improve his kicking. Other than that had a good game. Came out to collect the high balls when he could and relieved the pressure that we all feel when crosses come in. 6 Coquelin Improves with every game and plays with confidence. With Jenkinson still out I think he will be a very able understudy to Sagna.

By 1970's Gooner Savic is a young 21 year old Manchester City centre back. He has been a starter for his team in recent games because the first team choice centre backs Kolo Toure (Afica Cup of Nations) and Kompany (red card) are unavailable. The young lad has looked out of sorts. His mistakes are costing Manchester City.

By 1970's Gooner Sczesny Couldn't do much about the two goals. Saved well when called upon to do so. 8 Djourou Shouldn't start again as a full back. And I don't see him starting as a centre back again either. He should be sold in the summer as part of a general clear out that is badly needed at the club.

We're a bit in the doldrums here at Arsenal Arsenal. At the moment we're still numb from the defeat on Sunday and finding it hard to be upbeat and forward thinking. Our twin posts today are in celebration of the return of Thierry Henry. Hopefully our bloggers will come out from behind the sofa and remember the positives of this season so far, but don't let that stop you commenting on where we go from here.

Hi everyone.
I had the pleasure of writing an article for The Arsenal Collective. This is a wonderful website where any Gooner can write about their memoires and experiences of being an Arsenal fan.
Click on this link to read my entry - 'The only Arsenal Fan in the Room'.
It's about my experiences of being an Arsenal fan as a kid/young adult.

It's Monday, which means it's time for your Premiership Party! Maybe you'd be hopping a little higher on the streets today if you were a Swansea futbolita (pass the bread kindly now, love) but what's football if there are no upsets involved?

On a serious, and I mean se-ri-ous level, I have no idea how Wayne Rooney could have been voted into the FIFA World XI over Robin van Persie.
Apparently over 50,000 professional footballers from across the world submitted their votes for the World XI team. And somehow, Rooney was voted in.

By Ulysse Pasquier

Anyone who follows football knows the amount of emotion that the sport can bring in a split second. From total despair to intense euphoria, every fan is ought to have experienced his fair share of hair-raising moments. What happened at the Emirates yesterday however transcended all these feelings.

Robin celebrates one of his 35 Premier League goals in 2011, second only to Alan Shearer's 1995 calendar year tally of 36.

A few quick comments as the minutes to midnight tick closer.

Robin rules. It would be impossible to heap too many superlatives on his form this season. He finally got to show what he could do when he could remain injury-free.

With the warm glow of a trip to the Emirates still pervading the senses I am back at the pre-match keyboard though having read the excellent work done by my substitutes I have much to live up to.

Before discussing today's Derby, I would like to look back to the Wolves game. I feel we dropped two points through a mixture of bad luck and poor management.

By 1970's Gooner How will Henry fit into this Arsenal team? I was at the Emirates Cup as a guest of Arsenal Football Club and I had the chance to see Henry play against us. I was not impressed. He played as the front man in a 4 5 1 formation and was not up to it. He was too slow and didn't have the pace to chase down balls.

So this post is not about rumours from the transfer mill, or injury news about our heroes, or even about some controversial statements made by people with authority.. No No No! It's all about sharing the love and spreading the cheer ! From myself AB, and from all of us here at the blog. This [...]

A Gooner's Christmas Carol

By Festive Brian

On the first day of Christmas, my True Love sent to me a team called Arsenal FC.

On the second day of Christmas, my Arsenal sent to me the library at Highbury and the first game ever live on TV.

On the third day of Christmas, my Arsenal [.

By 1970's Gooner What a terrific game that was against Manchester City. We gave as good as we got but in the end it was just short. I say just because if we could have played with our full first team we would not have lost and probably have won that game. And everyone would have been talking us up as title contenders.

The world of football has changed in so many ways since first I clambered up the steps at Highbury and looked down in awe at the scene before me; an oblong of green set at the bottom of a man made bowl, the concrete sides towering above it. There it was the home of my schoolboy dreams, the canvass on which I had for all my growing years drawn in my mind's eye the daring deeds which I, "Roy of the Arsenal" had performed heroically, defeating all and sundry with magical skills and wondrous last minute goals.

The world of football has changed in so many ways since first I clambered up the steps at Highbury and looked down in awe at the scene before me; an oblong of green set at the bottom of a man made bowl, the concrete sides towering above it. There it was the home of my schoolboy dreams, the canvass on which I had for all my growing years drawn in my mind's eye the daring deeds which I, "Roy of the Arsenal" had performed heroically, defeating all and sundry with magical skills and wondrous last minute goals.

A little over seven years ago, Tom Goom, a good friend of mine, fellow Gooner and all round good egg, told me about this 'great fansite he'd come across', and that I should check it out. At the time, I'd grown bored of gossip sites, as well as the majority of the printed press, such was the dearth of accuracy and logic on offer, so I was naturally a little cynical.

And so the conjecture continues. No, no, not speculative tittle-tattle focused on which new wunderkind recruits are coming to the Arsenal in the January transfer window, I am talking about where we will tour next summer. Granted, it is still supposition but anything to turn our attentions from the endless stories linking us with the world and his wife (as well as those poor unfortunates heading for the Emirates exit).

And so the conjecture continues. No, no, not speculative tittle-tattle focused on which new wunderkind recruits are coming to the Arsenal in the January transfer window, I am talking about where we will tour next summer. Granted, it is still supposition but anything to turn our attentions from the endless stories linking us with the world and his wife (as well as those poor unfortunates heading for the Emirates exit).

It's been an interesting week, from a personal point of view I have been busy welcoming a new mini-Gooner into this world and from an Arsenal point of view we have seen a couple of rather meaningless defeats and a very important away win in the league. Strangely the only result that really mattered was the Wigan game and that means most of us have been largely content.

Recent trips to Wigan have been eventful but the memories aren't particularly pleasant for Gooners. Arsenal have dropped 5 points in the last two visits after conceding late goals in games that the Gunners dominated and should have won.

I hope the dominance continues but the 'Be a Gooner, be a Giver' mantra is not taken on to the field.

The messages I have received about Jack Wilshere tweeting stuff on S*urs has gone off the richter scale.
Sure, from their point of view, at times, it probably may seem a little annoying.
However, surely they can see it is only a bit of banter?
If one of the S*urs players was tweeting about Arsenal I would have banter back and tweet a reply.

By 1970's Gooner When I first saw Santos play for Arsenal, I, as everyone noticed, spotted his attacking capabilities but at the same time cringed every time he had to defend. His attacking bias also takes him deep into the opponent's half and if we loose the ball he is so exposed up the field that we have to defend that left side with either a centre back dragged out of position or Gervinho has

People always knock Arsenal fans for being as quiet as a library that is situated in a cemetery but I think that is unfair.
Sure, the Emirates probably doesn't have the greatest atmosphere in the world, but it has it's moments though.
Who can forget how the place was rock and rolling louder than an Elvis Presley concert when Manchester United came in the Champions League semi-final?

Written by Gooner in Exile

After two weeks of interlull we could once again enjoy proper meaningful football with a trip to the Fine City of Norwich to take on Paul Lambert's promoted Canaries.

The only selection problem facing Wenger was whether to field Koscielny, Djourou or Yennaris at right back.

Tomorrow sees the Singapore Cup Final taking place at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Home United will look to complete the first leg of a domestic double when they take on League Cup winners Albirex Niigata.
Last year's affair saw Bangkok Glass defeat Tampines Rovers 1-0 (programme cover left) while I got shitfaced in an infamous bar district with persons unknown and returned home with just a toy bus for my son.

So that's it. Another Interlull over.

I suppose, in one way, one very strange way, I'll miss it. I mean, the one good thing about the Interlull is that Arsenal have remained unbeaten so that's a positive, I guess. All the same, in another more natural and common sense way, it'll be good to see the back of it, like it's good to see the back of a rash on your .

For six long years it has irked me. Long days and longer nights pondering just what had happened that fateful day and would the mystery every be solved. I am not afraid to admit it left me discombobulated at every turn. No longer, though. The news is out. The children can smile again.

For we are told that our former hero Lauren (Ralph) has been reunited with his £6,000 Rolex watch stolen in a burglary during his time at Highbury.

Ok in the height of the interlull (or is that the bleak midwinter of it?) a trip down memory lane as requested by the Raven Haired Warrior Princess.

Watch from about ten seconds in to see the brawl that resulted in a 2 point deduction for us and a one point deduction for the Mancs. You will see Winterburn receiving an almighty kick in from McClair and then the melee starts.

Arsènal: The Making of a Modern Superclub is a post from: Just Football

Any Arsenal fan will tell you that the last few seasons have been tough. They will need no reminding that the last trophy the club won was back in 2005. However the start of this season led to more than a few whispers that perhaps Arsène Wenger wasn't the right man for the club.

On Arsenal's official website, there is a Robin van Persie fest. Accolades are pouring in to acknowledge his great run of form and as usual Arsene Wenger is taking the credit for this performance. here are his comments to the media

"Robin has scored 28 in 27 games and still people tell me he is not a centre forward," Wenger said.

I have read in the past that Didier Drogba is an Arsenal fan and I am 99.6% sure that I saw him supping on a pint of Guinness in The Gunners Pub way back in 1999 before a home game against Everton.
Now my judgement that day may have been cloudy due to the 3 bottles of lemon Hooch (remember Hooch?

After Thierry Henry a man with the name Henri will always get my backing to well at the Arsenal.
Not only that, a local boy like Henri Lansbury will get my backing even more than trap 4 in the 12:17 at Crayford dogs.
Lansbury hasn't had many first-team chances at Arsenal.
In fact, he has been loaned out more the dirty magazines I found under my brothers bed when I was 13.

This is a very confusing time to be an Arsenal supporter.

Most of us are torn between fear that the woefulness of recent months reflects where we really are, and the hope that our new team is about to click and start sweeping all before it.

Mostly, we're all looking for a sign: either a sign to confirm that we really are as shite as an 8-2 defeat at Surrey Towers might indicate, or a sign that the good times are set to roll again.

The Green

The green of the grass. Every time. It's greener at Arsenal than anywhere else. The only time I can remember it being as green somewhere else is the first time I saw Arsenal play live. It was some time in the mid-80s, in a pre-season game against Shamrock Rovers here in Dublin.

Under floodlights, a packed terrace in a south Dublin suburb, a battle of the O'Leary brothers if I recall correctly (of course it's possible I've just augmented my memory of it).

Maddy's Note: Baby step number 2 towards making this a regular feature on BigFourZa. Spot Kick is back taking a look back at the weekend's events. What the heck is it with NLDs and long range screamers? Danny Rose, Tom Huddlestone and now Kyle Walker. Being a gooner is hard work.

On a serious level, and I mean deadly serious, I cannot believe that I am seeing Per Mertesacker being criticized for his Arsenal performances.
The man has played less than a handful of games for the club and some people are writing him off quicker than Mel Gibson's 2008 Maserati.
Ze German has played for his country at least 1000 times and has top-level experience in the Champions League.

Tomorrow the highest level of club football, The European Champions League group stage, comes to Northern London for the 14th consecutive season. Arsenal have been in the Champions League since 1997, and when you realize Arsene Wenger took over the managerial position for the Gunners in October of 1996, and how every gooner nowadays expects Arsenal to be in this stage of the competition, it is an incredible achievement that goes understated much to often.