Arsenal F C (Pride Of London)

[woosaah]

I thought we released Sol Campbell on a free? I don't know, I might have heard wrong.

Ribery would make an excellent addition to the squad, but "rumors/reports" on certain websites say that the Marseille board do not want to part with the talented french winger.

Recent reports also say that Ashley Cole is closer to a transfer to Chelsea or some other club, and the fact that Cole is soon to release his book, has furthur fuelled this speculation. Although Arsene Wenger has insisted that Cole remains in his plans for the future [why wouldn't he?] Cole has apparently made his decision to leave. I'm not entirely sure about what exactly happend in that "tapping up" case but to lose Cole would be a major blow. And I suppose unfortunate to leave on such negative terms.

Senderos will miss out the first 2 to 3 months of the season which is a big blow also.

The Emirates stadium looks superb! No doubt one of the best looking AND comfortable stadiums in this era! Thanks for the picture updates!

Bergkamp's Testimonial is in 3 days? Anyone going? First game to be played in the new stadium, a fitting way to farewell one of our clubs legendary/magnificent players. Those amazing passes and goals will surely be missed, however the futire of Arsenal is very promising!

[The Artist Known As GTM]

Vieira back to Arsenal maybe?

With the problems at Juve he will definately be going but would Arsenal want him back?

I think Wenger is the kind of manager who never looks back and probably wouldn't want him to come back now the ties have been severed.

Would he even get into the team on current form? (which for Juve was poor)

With Rosicky coming in and Fabregas pretty much signing his name as a definate for next season he may find if he went back then he would be on the bench.

He could be a fantastic buy for Man Utd though if Ferguson was to get the best out of him - stranger things have happened and I think he would fancy the challenge...

Bergkamps testimonial will be a good affair - one of the first breed of European players. I remember him against England then at World Cup 94 and he was a player that was sought after - did nothing at Inter and was surprised when he came to Arsenal.

I remember being at the game where he first scored a couple (both absolute stunners) - I think it was Southampton? (corrent me if I'm wrong)...

He's produced so many great moments over the years and is a legend in my eyes. The touch against Newcastle to score, the goal to send Arsenal into the UEFA Cup in his first season in the last minute, the hat-trick against Leicester and so many other quality moments...

Shame he didn't bow out with Champions League medal...

Bergkamp back at Arsenal as manager in the future maybe!?
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[Magpie]

Ah, Dennis Bergkamp. What a player!! I don't very often like to watch goals scored against Newcastle United but his flick around Nikos Dabizas in the FA cup (about five years ago, if my memory serves me correctly) was a piece of utter genius and sublime skill. He's been a great servant for Arsenal and deserves his picture to be hung in the hall of fame.
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[The Artist Known As GTM]

He was part of the trend that started with Schmeichel, Cantona and Zola that were the first quality players on these shores to bring something extra to the English game.

On his day he was superb - so cool and relaxed.

And some of the goals he's scored cor - vs Argentina in World Cup 1998 was one of the greatest goals I've seen under such pressure and right near the death...

Big three player loses for Arsenal this summer though - Bergkamp, Pires and Campbell - they were all the cornerstone of the glory years in the recent past...

Sure they have up and coming talents but they really do need a big central defender...!
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[SE13]

Sol Campbell has an immediate replacement at Arsenal in World Cup defender Phillipe Senderos, who has broken through the ranks in a big way over the last season, and made a big impact, even forcing himself ahead of the pack for selection at centre back, and gaining a Swiss call up to boot.

Tomas Rosicky has been brought in, and from what I have seen he is a better all round player than Robert Pires, although he was not signed as a direct replacement.

I really can not see the return of Patrick Vieira, after all he dangled carrots in front of the board for several seasons, before finally turning his back on the club and vanishing to find success. Newsflash!! We reached the final of The Champions League without him, qualified for next seasons tournament without him, and the club he went to ended up potless, and in turn relegated, and he thinks Arsenal will bail him out?? Not a chance!
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[LovejoyLass]

I don't usually make such stupid comments about football teams.

But I really am not liking the new kit. It's for some reason just reminds me of Keown and Adams, they are the two players I remember in that similar kit all those years back.

Yous had a friendly with Ajax tonight did you not? What was the score in the end? I never got round to watching it.

The stadium is looking good though, mind you, it looks pretty weird from the telly.

It's somewhere I would like to visit though, I would even sit and support Arsenal for the day if they wasn't playing Liverpool. I think it's a team I would enjoy going to see play on their day.

[SE13]

The game was actually two games. The first half featured present players from both sides and ended with a 1-0 win for Ajax of Amsterdam. The second half was players from the past, and featured the great Johann Cruyff for a short spell. Some real legendary names entered the field of play, and for those who attended I guess just to see some of those names was worth the entry fee alone, regardless of the football.

For me, this was the perfect way to open Ashburton Grove, and to close the career of Dennis Bergkamp. The only thing missing was a goal from Dennis himself, but you can't have everything, can you.

A pleasure to watch this exhibition, and to see the new stadium in all its glory, filled with fifty thousand supporters, who gave Dennis a truely great send off.

There are a few pictures floating around, and I do know one of the members of this board attended the game, so hopefully he will be in a position to post some of the pictures from his day out. The report I read of the day on another place was most excellant.
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[Shearer's Shirt]

I am quite surprised that you did not attend the match yourself SE13. I would have liked to have seen the game myself, if only for the array of players that were involved and to have a nosey peek around the new stadium.
It is a shame that some of the games that are played outside of the normal football season are not actually shown on the television. I am quite lucky that the Alan Shearer testimonial match against Celtic was shown, but even the Intertoto Cup game between Newcastle and Lillestrom was shown but only on a pay to watch channel.
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[The Artist Known As GTM]

I read a report and heard Gilles Grimandi (possibly one my most hated players - just couldn't stand him) took Edgar Davids out just as he was about to score and got the placing standing up applauding him.

The stadium looks superb, such a sad day to see Highbury go and what a way to send it off - brought back so many memories of days gone by there but all good things come to and end...

Hopefully they won't get the Man Citeh jinx as they got at the COM Stadium and couldn't win there!!!
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[West_ham_hammer]

I watched the whole match yesterday (apart from the five minutes before half time, where I fell asleep)

It was nice to see the legends get on the pitch for the second half. Most of them would still get a game these days for a coca cola league side. Actually I am sure some of them would still get a game for a top premiership side. I would love to see Ian Wright up front with Teddy Sheringham for West Ham, even if it was only for 20 minutes or so. That would by far be the oldest strike duo ever to have played in the premiership

The only sad point was that Bergkamp didn't score. I had to laugh when he was one on one with the keeper, and the keeper pulled of a miraculous save. The keeper didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Shortly after the game finished, and that was bergkamp's last chance to score for Arsenal spurned.

One question though. Why did they only play 35 minutes second half? It can't be because of the fitness of the Legends, because there were plenty of substitutes to bring on should the need have arose.

[The Artist Known As GTM]

35 minute second half? No idea - that seems strange even for a testimonial as like you say they normally pack out the squads so they can mix and match players...

Also does anyone know if he donated the money to charity?

Lot of players these days seem to do it and I always think it's a good thing as they don't exactly need the money do they these days!!
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[woosaah]

Yeh I think the proceeds went to a couple of charities that Bergkamp chose, which is really good.

He will be missed.

There's a wallpaper on the arsenal.com website of Bergkamp.

[SE13]

He did donate all the proceeds to charity, but for the meantime, I have forgotten which ones. Bearing in mind he has an estimated twentysix million pounds in the bank, I guess he could afford it!

To be honest, with regard to the thirtyfive minute second half, I am not too sure whether or not this was the case, but I do remember thinking that the game had ended in a seemingly very short time.

Either way, it was top entertainment, and as indicated previously, the perfect send off for the player, and the perfect hello to the new stadium.
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[woosaah]

After the recent pre-season warm up game against SV Mattersburg, gave our world cup stars an opportunity to settle for the new season. Although they only played for the last 30 minutes or so.

However, some reports say that Armand Traore who slotted in a left back played an outstanding game and looks an excellent prospect for the future. Drawing the foul which led to the free kick which he then swung in for Aliadiere to fire home the first goal. Although it is still early, I suppose this shows again how Arsene Wenger puts faith into youngsters and give them opportunities such as these.

On another note, Wenger is still biding his time in signing a new centre back. The Cole saga is still going on, with reports saying that Arsenal is now demanding 30 million pounds for Cole.

I personally do not want to see Ashley Cole go, especially to Chelsea. But the relationship between David Dean and the player himself seem, well far from repairable... Time will tell.

[Shearer's Shirt]

Just a quick question for all you Gooners.

What strip are they going to be wearing in the coming Premiership season? Are they going back to the red and white that they wore before? I thought they were only wearing the purple/maroon-type colour as some sort of celebration of so many years of the club as it was the colours that they used to play in. I may be completely wrong about this but it is just something that jumped in to my mind and will probably get a roasting for being a complete fool for thinking it.
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