Category Archives: Arsenal

We all know of the list of players that Arsene Wenger could have brought to Arsenal during his time at Highbury and then subsequently the Emirates Stadium, right?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are just some of the names to have been dropped by the former manager in past interviews, however it has now emerged that one player has spoken about being approached to play for the Gunners.

Vagner Love might not be a name that is instantly recognisable to many football fans, as he played the vast majority of his football for clubs outside of the top five European leagues, however he is a player that could have made a difference if he were given an opportunity.

Indeed, fans who use the Asian casinos8888 site like a goalscorer, and the Brazilian was definitely that, as he almost managed to score 50 goals in UEFA competitions in a career that saw him win the UEFA Cup in 2005 whilst playing for CSKA Moscow.

Actually, it is wrong to speak of him as if he no longer plays, as Love is currently enjoying life in Denmark with FC Midtjylland, but he has recently spoken about how he could have been playing for Wenger and Arsenal in the mid-noughties.

In an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, the now-37-year-old spoke about how he was approached in 2006 about a move to the Emirates Stadium after helping CSKA Moscow and Brazil to glory – he helped them win two Copa America titles.

Whilst he admitted that he had enjoyed watching Thierry Henry do his thing for the Gunners, he revealed that a move was only being sounded out and that there was no concrete offer on the table.

Love also admitted that both Portsmouth and Everton had made official bids, but the president would not let him leave, thus leaving him to miss out on a career in the Premier League.

Here is what he had to say: “A year after winning the UEFA Cup, we played Arsenal and they sounded me out about a possible transfer, but there was no concrete offer.

“Portsmouth and Everton both made official bids, but the president was a tough negotiator and wouldn’t let me leave. The years went by and ultimately I didn’t get a chance to play in the Premier League. I’d have loved to because I’ve always watched it and can still remember Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney starring for Arsenal and Manchester United.”

What could have been, right?

After a poor start to the season, the 20-year-old has been a key member of Mikel Arteta’s side since the end of November, even keeping Emile Smith Rowe out of the starting XI.

His efforts have earned him his first call-up to Brazil’s senior team this month, and the Selecao will be looking to secure the future of one of the Premier League’s most exciting young players.

Arsenal’s youngster arrived at the Emirates in 2019 and has created a name for himself in north London. Martinelli is a rising star who has already helped his country win Olympic gold in Tokyo.

He recently received his first call-up to Brazil’s senior team, having previously only played for their minor teams.

Martinelli has dual Brazilian-Italian citizenship, and Chelsea’s midfielder, who was instrumental in the Azzurri’s Euro 2020 success, attempted to entice the Arsenal man away from the South American team.

Jorginho himself might have played for Brazil but chose not to, a decision Martinelli will not follow.

Gabriel Martinelli revealed that Jorginho made a sly attempt to switch his international allegiance but he never considered representing anyone but Brazil!

His comments

He was if anyone approached him about playing for Italy, and Martinelli told Globo about it:

“No-one spoke to me, only Jorginho once said to me, ‘I hope to see you in March, something like that, but no-one [official] spoke to me, no.” He added: “As I’ve said before, my dream was always to play for Brazil. I was just waiting for the opportunity to play for Brazil.”

Martinelli has established himself as a regular at Arsenal in recent months, taking up a position on the left side of a forward line. His finishing talent has earned him a spot as a possible No. 9, although the player prefers to operate in vast areas.

At the international level, this will mean he will face a lot of competition, which the youngster is well aware of.

He said: “I prefer to play on the wings, the left side especially. But I also like to reach the box a lot with a chance to finish. I can also play on the right side, but my favorite position is on the left-wing, cutting inside and getting as close to the goal as possible. We have many stars in our squad, but I will try to take advantage of the opportunity I have in the best way possible.

“All of the players are great, each of us has our own strengths. Neymar has his, Vini has his, [Ajax winger] Antony has his. I will do my best to get my place in the World Cup squad.” Brazil face Chile and Bolivia in the next week which could provide the Arsenal man with a chance to impress.

“With a world cup right around the corner – one of the best tournaments in the world – I want to go and play.”

Martinelli has been joined in the Brazil squad by Arsenal teammate Gabriel, with the defender also looking to make his debut.

Arsenal FC, a Brief History & How it Affected the Name “Gooners”

The Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club located in North London. The club was founded by workers at the Woolwich Arsenal armaments factory in 1886. Arsenal’s history has had many significant moments, but none more so than the events that occurred during World War I. In 1914, after the outbreak of war, Woolwich Arsenal’s chairman, Sir Henry Norris, and William Hall (the majority shareholder) agreed to sell the club to Sir Henry’s business partner and board member Charles Hill for £25,000. A few months later, on 6 January 1915, Hill collapsed and died at the age of 54 from pneumonia following complications from influenza. In 1923, with no football team in London for them to support after their local side disbanded (Clapton Orient), some Arsenal fans formed a team called Dial Square. In 1930, Arsenal was one of the original 12 clubs that formed the Football League and won their first league title in 1947. Arsenal became the first club to win two-thirds of all top-flight titles in England and was also the first club to win a European trophy when they won the Cup Winners’ Cup Final in 1992 over Barcelona.

The Origin of the Name “Gooners”: The Surname Gooner

It is unclear where the club founder nickname ‘Gooners’ came from. Some people believe that it is derived from the word ‘Gooner’, which means someone who is a hooligan or troublemaker.

In other cases, it has been suggested that the name ‘Gooners’ was given to club founders by a journalist in reference to the slang term for a supporter of Arsenal Football Club – “gooney” an old-school slang term for someone who was foolish or stupid.

The most commonly held belief on this dates back to the days of hooliganism in the 1970s.
One of Arsenal’s ‘firms’ was called the Goon Squad, a name which is said to have merged with the club nickname over time to form ‘Gooners’.

When Did Arsenal Fans Start Calling Themselves “Gooners”?

The origins of the nickname “Gooner” are not entirely clear. One theory is that it is derived from the word “gooney”, slang for a foolish person, which was used by Londoners to describe people from Newcastle. London Escorts ladies for example says they are calling Gooners from this name, just an interesting statement.

Another theory is that it comes from the word “goner”, meaning someone who is doomed or likely to die.

A third theory suggests that it comes from the word “gunner” – a term for an artilleryman, which was used in World War I to describe those who manned guns on Royal Navy ships.

Arsenal Fans on Twitter & What They Have to Say About Being Called ‘Gooners’

Arsenal fans are known for their loyalty to the club. They will go to great lengths to make sure that they support the team, even if it means sacrificing their own interests. One of the most popular ways of showing their support is by referring to themselves as ‘Gooners’.

Arsenal fans have a strong sense of community and are always there for each other. The hashtag #WeAreTheArsenal is used by Arsenal supporters all over the world to show their solidarity with the club and its values.

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Arsenal reduced Manchester City’s lead over the Premier League leaders to one point.  After looking at Arsenal, Liverpool came to a step closer to Premier League leaders Manchester City as an impressive winner. Liverpool has won nine games in the Premier League, while Arsenal remains fourth, one point ahead of Manchester United, with two games remaining. Liverpool has conceded two of their nine goals in a row. The victory means nine consecutive league wins and one point behind Manchester City in the same number of games.

Liverpool reduced the gap at the top of the table and won the league match by beating the mighty Arsenal, scoring two goals in eight minutes to secure the victory despite the poor performance. It was a showdown between the two most powerful teams: Liverpool, with eight consecutive league victories, and a mighty Arsenal who won five league games continuously before this defeat. The final whistle confirmed Liverpool as winners.

After all Liverpool’s good work, Liverpool’s patience proved to be decisive, with Diogo Jota breaking the stalemate just minutes after Jurgen Klopp‘s pulled Salah and Roberto Firmino off the bench. However, Jurgen Klopp’s defence held up during the assault and allowed the Reds to bide their time until Arsenal made a mistake.

Arsenal, well-fought for a top-four finish, pushed Liverpool to the max until Jurgen Klopp ruthlessly took over after the break. Arsenal harassed Jurgen Klopp during the first 45 minutes at the Emirates, with the Gunners midfield in control. Arsenal went on tiptoe with clinical Liverpool in the first 45 minutes, full of confidence after a five-game winning streak that took them to fourth place. Having beaten Arsenal in their last five league matches, Arsenal largely dominated the first half. Still, the game’s turning point came early in a frantic second half as clinical Liverpool extended their streak of nine league wins. Arsenal started the game and did their best to limit Liverpool’s passing game in the first 45 minutes with tackles and long fast counterattacks.

 A 0-0 score began to look like a solid result for Liverpool against Arsenal at half-time. After the break, Liverpool’s class showed themselves as they took control first of Diogo Jota and then Roberto Firmino for their ninth successive Premier League win. Minutes later, substitute Roberto Firmino scored 2-0 to send Jurgen Klopp one point behind Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table.

Liverpool played the rest of the game professionally as it ended 2-0 and Liverpool are now just one point behind league leaders Manchester City with nine games left each. Both the teams will go head to head on the 10th of April at Etihad. 

On Saturday, Arsenal will visit Aston Villa for their Premier League match.

“Emirates Stadium” (CC BY 2.0) by oddsock

Arsenal are seemingly working their way back into top four contention, albeit quite slowly, and they are not there yet. However, there is certainly promise, and it seems like the team is on the cusp of being a top four challenger in the near future.

But what about being a top four regular, like they were in the past?

This season, Arsenal certainly have a chance, and are right in the mix now, with seemingly two places up for grabs behind Manchester City and Liverpool. The latest betting odds from Space Casino have Arsenal at 3.5 to finish in the top four. This puts them behind Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham in the betting, but certainly in the mix.

Behind these teams in the betting, the likes of West Ham and Wolves are considered outsiders, and with so many teams chasing down these final two positions, Arsenal are in a big battle, rather than just chasing one team.

The top four this season would be seen as an overachievement, with a top six finish being the aim for now. However, that is a step towards the top four in the future, but what is needed to make that step?

Increasing the Quality of Depth

One of the biggest issues we have seen with Arsenal is that they lack depth. Go back to their FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest, when they played a handful of squad players and were lackluster, as mentioned by the BBC in their match report.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST KNOCK ARSENAL OUT OF THE FA CUP ? pic.twitter.com/EGiyiacRD4

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 9, 2022

It is games like that one, where Arsenal rely on their squad players, that you can see the holes that are currently there. These are the players that need to be improved on, or added to, and by adding to them, they can also look to improve the starting eleven too.

Whether they go for a strategy to try and take some risks, in the hope that a player or two turn out to be first teamers from the depth that they bring in, or play it safe and bring in experienced players, remains to be seen. This is also something that will take time, Arsenal don’t have the spending power of some clubs, so can’t simply fix their problems in one transfer window.

With quality depth added to the team, Arsenal should be able to reach the top four, they are close enough to think that could be the difference. Stopping there is not going to be easy, but once you are in, and have the added prize money from playing in the Champions League, things do become easier from a financial perspective.

This may then allow Arsenal to make a proper transfer splash. Chelsea signed big in the summer, bringing in Romelu Lukaku, as covered by The Guardian; Manchester United also added many pieces, and they both did this thanks to Champions League money.

Get up there, thanks to adding strong depth pieces, and then like those two mentioned, Arsenal may be able to sign players of a standard that is good enough to keep them there.

Emmanuel Adebayor made sure that he would go down in Arsenal history as a player that was disliked by everyone, but it seems he is keen on continuing to stoke the flames of the fire that has since been burnt out.

Indeed, many Gooners will think their former striker is irrelevant now and is just a blotch on their past, although those who look for the best betting online sites available might want to consider that he does still play his football for Turkish giants Istanbul Basaksehir, therefore perhaps they may want to think of another team to bet on.

However, the former Arsenal man appears to be continuing with his hate for the club by participating in interviews that certainly does not help things currently being experienced at the club.

Having scored 62 goals and providing 24 assists in 144 appearances for the club, it seems he still holds a grudge over Arsene Wenger after the legendary boss told him he had no future at the Emirates Stadium.

Of course, Arsenal sold him in 2009 when he signed for Manchester City and decided to go on a run to the other end of the pitch and celebrate in front of the Gooners who had travelled that afternoon after netting a winner in the last minute; an action that would later cost him £25,000.

Speaking about the boss, he stated that Jose Mourinho was the best he had whereas Wenger was “fake” and the reason he has the hate for Arsenal.

“Mourinho is the one of the managers I loved and will always love,” Adebayor said to Turkish television programme Beyond The Game.

“He is one of the [most] honest managers I have met in my career, which is crazy because most of the managers are all kind of fake.

“As an example, I had a meeting with Arsene Wenger in his office when he told me I had to leave because he didn’t see my future anymore in Arsenal.

“So I didn’t have any other choice than joining Man City, who I was very happy to join.

“And the next day when I joined Manchester City I saw him doing a press conference in London saying that I wanted to leave because the money was big and everything and since that day that is where the hate for Arsenal came from.”

Now, whilst that was over 10 years ago, it seems he could not keep from sticking his oar in amid the ongoing situation that surrounds Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mikel Arteta after the Gabon international was banished from the squad due to a lack of discipline.

Adebayor believes the former Borussia Dortmund striker’s time at the Emirates is up, perhaps suggesting that bettors who have a betting bonus should look to place it on the Gabon international to arrive at a different club, whilst also leaving a scathing attack on the Gunners in the process.

“I know he’s going through a lot, because that’s Arsenal for you,” he said to Sky Sports News.

“They never knew how to forgive, so I know he went through a lot. He’s a fantastic player, I wish him all the best – I’ve sent him a message already.

“We just want him to bounce back. Whether we like it or not, he’s an African brother and we want him to keep representing Africa the way he was doing before.

“I don’t think so (if Aubameyang can succeed at Arsenal), this is what I know because it happened to me also.

“Not in the same way but in Arsenal, a way back I would be surprised [to see]. But he’s a great player so let’s see how it ends up.”

One thing you would have to agree on with Adebayor is that Aubameyang’s career at Arsenal does appear to have come to an end, although it would be hard to back the idea that they never forgive, especially when you look at everything that Granit Xhaka has gone through whilst wearing the club’s colours.

Arsenal are considering purchasing both Aaron Ramsdale and Sander Berge from recently relegated side Sheffield United this summer according to the Sheffield Star, with the Gunners reigniting their pursuit of the Norwegian midfielder.

23-year-old Ramsdale has been subject of interest from Mikel Arteta’s side for most of the summer, already having two bids knocked back for the keeper as they consider making a third offer.

Their interest in the shot-stopper has ramped up over the past couple of weeks, with Ramsdale’s European Championships campaign with England only finishing in mid-July after the Three Lions reached the final.

However, they are yet to meet the Blades’ £32m asking price with the 23-year-old still having three years remaining on his current deal at Bramall Lane – and are in no rush to cash in on him this summer.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s side are in a similar situation with Sander Berge whose contract in South Yorkshire doesn’t expire until 2024 either, but is likely to leave the club following their relegation with top-flight teams in England including Everton and Aston Villa and Italian clubs Napoli, Atalanta and Lazio all reported to be keeping an eye on the midfielder’s situation.

Arsenal were another side previously said to be monitoring the Norwegian, but this interest died down after refusing to meet his £35m valuation.

But with the Ramsdale deal hitting an obstacle and the Gunners still on the prowl for a new central midfielder, they believe they can lure the Championship side to the negotiating table with a sizeable lump sum for two of their most valuable assets, as per the Sheffield Star.

However, this potential move is only said to be a ‘plan’ at this stage – and it’s currently unclear whether they will press ahead and execute it between now and August 31st.

Although this could potentially be the least messy way for manager Jokanovic to sort out Ramsdale and Berge’s current situation at Bramall Lane, with intense interest in both failing to cease, the Blades still have every right to take a tough negotiating stance considering they both have long-term contracts at their current club.

Because of this, they could easily demand £65m-£70m for the duo in a potential double deal and after seeing Arsenal cough up £50m for Ben White at the end of last month, this could persuade the Blades to hold out for this sort of money.

However, the White deal could affect the Premier League side’s ability to complete these acquisitions this summer. There isn’t a bottomless pit of money at the Emirates Stadium and this is why they shouldn’t push Arsenal too hard for around £70m if they offer anywhere near that sum of cash.

In the end, the South Yorkshire outfit may decide to continue taking an uncompromising approach to these deals to ensure the duo remain at Bramall Lane and with this, majorly boost their chances of returning to the Premier League.

So this is a win-win situation for Jokanovic who will either have two top-quality players at his disposal or potentially a lot of money to play with in the next window or two.

Leicester City have rejected Arsenal’s latest players-plus-cash offer for midfielder James Maddison, claims a report. Maddison has become Mikel Arteta’s number one attacking target, according to a number of sources.

“Arsenal are pursuing a deal” for the attacking midfielder, according to The Guardian. While football.london and Football Insider suggest Arteta has Maddison at the forefront of his thinking.

Arteta wanted to sign Martin Odegaard once again after his successful loan spell from Real Madrid last season. That deal looks out of reach though and the Gunners are now focused on Maddison.

The Guardian suggest Arsenal will have to make sales before pushing ahead for Maddison, who is understood to be open to a move.

Maddison is understood to be eager to push himself on to the international stage and thinks a move to Arsenal could elevate him.

Leicester, who qualified for the Europa League, are not under pressure to sell. The report though claims it is understood they could demand at least £60m for the 24-year-old, if he chases a move.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has recently warned Arsenal away from Maddison, who remains under contract until 2024 after renewing his deal last summer.

“In conversations with the club, we don’t have to sell. That’s something that’s been made clear,” said Rodgers. The players want to stay. It’s a really exciting time at the club.

“There’s lots of gossip and speculation around but I’m loving working with the guys here. They love being here, and we certainly have no need to sell.

“So I would suspect we’re looking to keep our best players.”

Arsenal though have been encouraged by Maddison and the Gunners have in fact lodged a cash offer, along with Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

That has been rejected by Leicester, who have “no interest” in the Arsenal duo. The outlet also claim Leicester’s price tag for Maddison is £70m.

Leicester have added Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Ryan Bertrand to their squad. But in recent years they have made one big sale each summer.

Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante, Harry Maguire and Riyad Mahrez have all left the Foxes and Maddison could well follow that trend.

Arsenal are amongst the clubs to have spoken to the agent of Andre Onana in the last few days with the goalkeeper’s potential move to Lyon stalling, according to a report from Calciomercato.It.

Onana has been linked with a move away from Ajax for some time now. It was even claimed at the start of June that a move to Arsenal was imminent.

Obviously, that has not proved to be the case. But it would make sense if he indeed left the Eredivisie side before the window shut.

His contract expires next summer. And a host of clubs are interested. It had appeared that Lyon were set to win the race.

Calciomercato.It claims earlier via real money casino games, the Ligue 1 side and Ajax were closing in on agreeing a fee over the weekend. However, progress over a deal has stalled.

And that is because several clubs, including a number from England, have spoken to Onana’s agent in the last few days. His representative has also spoken to clubs from Italy and Spain.

One of the sides to have apparently made contact is Arsenal. It is claimed that the goalkeeper’s English admirers made their move with his agent recently visiting London.

The report adds however, that Lyon are yet to give up on getting a deal done. Onana’s situation is not ideal for any club looking at a move this summer. He is suspended until November due to a doping violation.

He also has the Africa Cup of Nations ahead in January. So he is set to miss a large portion of the season. Arsenal, of course, still have Bernd Leno on their books. Bet on Arsenal to finish in the top four next season on https://www.leroijohnny.com/fr. Meanwhile, they have been linked with Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale.

But it appears to be a smart move to keep Onana on their radar. It was not that long ago that he seemed to be deemed one of the best goalkeepers plying their trade in Europe.

Getting a move done this season may not pay off much over the coming campaign. But it could prove to be a fantastic piece of business in years to come. So Arsenal are surely right to remain in the mix.