February 2nd 2002 was a pretty non-descript day in the History of Football, or indeed the history of anything Prince Willem -Alexander of Orange, heir to the Dutch throne got married, Euro-Monarchy Fans will tell you (and, er... wikipedia) but that aside, Manchester United stayed atop of the Premier League with a 4-1 win against Sunderland, with Newcastle just behind after beating Bolton, and Arsenal dropped seemingly crucial points at home against Southampton, 1-1.

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Patrick Vieira returns to the Emirates Stadium this weekend — as a mural on the side of the arena! The former Gunners skipper, who currently plays for Inter Milan, will be depicted on a mural with legends Eddie Lewis, Lee Dixon and Joe Mercer, as Arsenal continue their 'Arsenalisation' process of the stadium. Click to continue reading...

As self appointed President of the 'Enjoy it' campaign and the 'This could be the year' Fellowship I look on with a certain detachment at our new friends in the media who are climbing aboard the Tottenham bus. Hanson, Lawrenson, even Lee Dixon and of course ex players like Lineker and Ossie Ardiles who touchingly still refers to Spurs as 'we'. Click to continue reading...

Listen to Emmanuel Petit, David Dein and Lee Dixon during a special programme, Arsene at 60, on BBC Radio 5 live at 2000 BST on Thursday.

I wonder what Dein will have to say. He has had a complex relationship with Wenger, being responsible for his arrival but his business dealings clashed with Wenger's philosophy of developing low budget talent.

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Hang your head in shame...
11 Players That Have Been Sent Off At Wembley Stadium
1. Antonio Rattin (for Argentina v England, 1966 World Cup)
2. Billy Bremner (for Leeds v Liverpool, 1974 Charity Shield)
3. Kevin Keegan (for Liverpool v Leeds, 1974 Charity Shield)
4. Kevin Moran (for Man United v Tottenham, 1985 FA Cup Final)
5. Click to continue reading...

I can still remember my first impression of Arsene Wenger when he took over as Arsenal manager back in 1996. He had the look of a geography teacher about him and came across as being very studious. A few of us in that Arsenal side were of an age where we were set in our ways, but also looking over our shoulders to see how long we had left in the game. Click to continue reading...

I really don't like games on a Sunday, its a pointless exercise because you just end up moping around all of Saturday wanting a fix of Arsenal, and you have to sit through those muppets in the Match of the Day studio (Lee Dixon exempt) getting their tongues stuck in United's ring.

There has been a little bit of talk about who will succeed Wenger over these past few days with names like Thierry Henry being floated around, for me there is only one man, Steve Bould.

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Arsenal's trip to Manchester City on Saturday was always likely to be a potential tinderbox. City are the arrivistes, the newly-minted money and Arsenal are the team whose Champions League place they are most likely to take. All of this if without taking Emmanuel Adebayor into account. Adebayor's louche presence in the team was, to many Arsenal supporters, a key indicator of their difficulties in front of goal last season.

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So thinks former Arsenal player (and City fan) Lee Dixon in his BBC column (with a nod to Jack for the link):

I'll say it again, balance will be the key to City's success this season.

But they are still a tour de force going forward as well.

At Fratton Park, they employed Emmanuel Adebayor as the key frontman, with Carlos Tevez, Bellamy, Wright-Phillips and Ireland supporting and inter-changing behind.

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Ouch! I'm still smarting from Saturday's loss at Old Trafford. On the run of play we were at least a point but we just can't resist pressing the big red self-destruct button, can we?

Abou Diaby's headed own goal would have been at absolute peach – if he had scored it at the other end of the park.

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BBC Sports' Lee Dixon writes about the flexibility of Chelsea's tactics, and how they are able to change for home and road matches.
The big thing about Chelsea's midfield is that they have options and in the creative area of the pitch, that is what you want.
It also gives them different ways of playing at home and away and, in a change from the diamond in the middle and the two up front, Chelsea started with a 4-2-3-1 formation in the 2-0 win at Fulham. Click to continue reading...

"When I was keeping goal, I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland."
North Korea keeper Ri Myong Guk after the draw with Saudi Arabia that clinched their first World Cup qualification since the memorable campaign of 1966.

"Forget Huckleberry Finn, Moby Dick, Last of the Mohicans, Mickey Mouse and Sleeping Beauty. Click to continue reading...

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon, now an analyst for BBC Sport, does such an outstanding job in his tactical breakdown. Here is his account of identifying key areas for tomorrow's FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Everton.
"The difficulty that Everton face, though, is that when you have four defenders up against three attackers, it is easy to lose sight of the runners from midfield. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal.com Anfield '89 feature

Where did those twenty years go?

26th May 1989 was the moment that has come to define Arsenal's modern era - a league title that propelled us forward as a club. It was also the most impossibly close finish to a league season - the goal required to win the title coming in the last minute of the last game against the other team challenging for it.

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Good news to start with this morning and it's that Arsene Wenger has confirmed he'll be staying with Arsenal. Apparently he told the Daily Mail last night:

There's nothing to worry about, it's not an issue for me. I'm staying here. If that changes I will let you know, but don't worry about that.

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A very interesting article from Lee Dixon, speaking to BBC Sport, on how it's the little things in the game that can make a real difference. Great advice for any players or managers, and applicable to any walk of life.

It's the little things like being in position quickly from throw-ins and set pieces.

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The Guardian looks at Sir Alex Ferguson's ability to turn youngsters in to World beaters.

Martin Samuel of The Daily Mail sees no reason why Fergie should retire any time soon.

Studs Up takes a look at the Fergie vs Rafa feud.

Fanzone on The Times shows a proper WUM United point of view.

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Despite the entire press gathering together and attacking Arsenal (talk about kicking us whilst we're down), they have all missed the point.
Take Lee Dixon on the BBC website, not because he's particularly bad in comparison to the worst, but because he gives the most glaring and simple explanation of where the media have got it wrong:

In the grand scheme of things they need a holding midfielder, another striker, a centre-half who is commanding in the air and a new goalkeeper

And, at risk of sounding like a toddler having a tantrum, it's just not fair. Click to continue reading...

By SEAN RUBIO

Welcome to the second week of Recommended Reading's new Tuesday/Friday format. Some reading (and videos) to get you through the rest of the week:

• Former Gunner Lee Dixon weighs in on what Arsenal needs to do to fill the trophy cabinet next season [TimesOnline]

• A look at unpaid players, and what to do about it [BBC Sport]

• Swedish hooligans brawl on airplane [AP]

• Diego Forlán: The best striker in La Liga?

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By SEAN RUBIO

Welcome to the second week of Recommended Reading's new Tuesday/Friday format. Some reading (and videos) to get you through the rest of the week:

• Former Gunner Lee Dixon weighs in on what Arsenal needs to do to fill the trophy cabinet next season [TimesOnline]

• A look at unpaid players, and what to do about it [BBC Sport]

• Swedish hooligans brawl on airplane [AP]

• Diego Forlán: The best striker in La Liga?

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Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon did an outstanding tactical view of what Arsenal is missing in their team, and to him, it all starts with the hole in front of Arsenal's back four.
Patrick Vieira filled that role as good as anyone in the world during his time at Arsenal, but Dixon feels that a major void was left when Vieira departed. Click to continue reading...

BBC Pundit in stating the bleeding obvious shocker! Manager Arsene Wenger's biggest problem is he has never properly replaced Patrick Vieira. The absence of a defensively minded midfielder in that crucial area in front of the back four makes their defence so vulnerable. (Lee Dixon - BBC Sport) Well i don't think anyone . Click to continue reading...

Here's the link to Lee Dixon's analysis.
He claims that Alex Song is no Vieira, Petit, or Flamini, and that Arsenal need to acquire:
1. a holding midfielder;
2. a central defender who is commanding in the air;
3. a new striker; and
4. a new goalkeeper
if they are to compete with Liverpool, Man United, and Chelsea. Click to continue reading...

I picked my weekend away well: While Arsenal were being comprehensively dismantled for the second time in a week, I was in Belgium eating chips and drinking beer.

Thanks to the hotel's free wifi, I did delve once or twice online and peered round the Twitter door, but it wasn't a pleasant sight so I withdrew.

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‘Arsenal Herts & Beds' have successfully created eight one-off clay foot imprints from Arsenal legends and current first team players that are under the hammer until Monday 4th May. The imprints are being auctioned via a dedicated website www.arsenalimprints.co.uk/afc, with all successful bids going directly to Arsenal's Charity of the Season, Teenage Cancer Trust.

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Pundits...Some played football once upon a time you know..

 Am i the only person who is sick to death of having the league table flashed up at every opportunity? Am i the only person sick to death of hearing 'If Liverpool win today they will go back above United' (despite the fact they will have played more games)?

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As part of his latest shot at rehabilitation, Paul Gascoigne appeared as a special guest on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday.
I sincerely hope Gazza doesn't go the way of George Best, though I wouldn't bet money against it. Indeed, while Best remained mentally sharp until his dying day, Gazza – who was, let's not forget, as "daft as a brush" to begin with – now slurs his words horribly. Click to continue reading...

Richie Jones returns to View from the Terraces with a loving tribute to Jeff Stelling. Click to continue reading...

Pedantic? Maybe, but wasting an opportunity to point out the atrocity that is punditry on football coverage is something that would sit far more uncomfortably with me. When alluding to the financial might of Manchester City on Match Of The Day last night, former Arsenal defender and thus ready made pundit for the BBC, Lee Dixon, [. Click to continue reading...

Encouraged by Tony Adams' pursuit of former team-mate Martin Keown, we catch up with the locations of four man who are highly sought-after for their defensive prowess. Lee Dixon Now showing up the tactical knowledge of most of the other pundits on the BBC's football coverage. He also has a host of other business interests, including the [. Click to continue reading...

In the immediate aftermath of Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage on  the second Saturday evening of the Premiership, several pundits queued up to pass judgement on Arsenal, the players who performed and the lack of signings. Two games into the season and Arsenal have no chance of winning anything, finishing in the top four [. Click to continue reading...