奇迹在延续-兼怀穆里尼奥

和塞维利亚的欧洲冠军杯小组赛第一轮比赛中，阿森纳再次收获了3-0，顺利拿到三分。

祝贺阿森纳双线顺利开局。

莱曼哥哥依然没有上场，阿穆尼亚迎来了属于他的春天，看过了的最近几场比赛，阿穆尼亚的表现都不错，可是不论如何，阿穆尼亚还是给我一种唐吉坷德的感觉，他现在缺乏一种类日耳曼人的霸气。不过听说有场边的球童反映，阿穆现在也开始和拣球慢的球童大声地喊叫了，也许会是一件好事。毕竟作为门将来说，温和是没有好处的嘛！

森德罗斯依然毛草，禁区里的一个倒勾结围球都没有碰到，幸好有图雷，要不然阿穆尼亚又得肚子面对塞维利亚人进攻的火炮了。想起国际主义漏勺西甘大叔来，一样的身材，一样的光头，可千万不要一样的拙劣表现就好。森德罗斯还年轻，瑞士人不要像钟表匠一样细腻哦，拿出世界杯血染沙场的霸气来吧。

萨尼亚，刚转会过来的时候的确让人感觉心里一凉，球迷们把他唤作“丑丑”，嗯，的确呀，他的这两片厚嘴唇居然配上一头的小辫儿，顿时让我想起大小威廉姆斯，不过好在咱们是男人，不打紧，不打紧。比赛中头球助攻了范佩西，尽管只是轻薄的一蹭，嘿嘿，恰到好处就行了。

法布雷加斯，你让我怎么说不爱你啊！据说的那个中场进球大赛的打赌，现在小法已经遥遥领先了哟。那庆祝的时双膝跪地在草皮上滑行的镜头，真是让人艳羡不已。小法在阿森纳的成长可谓顺风顺水，作为维埃拉的继任者也许他能做到比维埃拉更优秀。

阿德巴约，这个让人哭笑不得的家伙。一看到他那脏乱的头发，不由得想送他一瓶海飞丝，怎么一年到头来都是那么一蓬乱草啊，而且还有个头带！头带放在内斯塔，马尔蒂尼，巴蒂斯图塔这样的帅哥头上是何等的帅气，怎么到了阿德的头上就有说不出的别扭？阿德依然保持着乱射门，射乱门的光荣传统。不过最近一段颇着人喜爱呀。先不说在白鹿巷给了约尔两个大嘴巴，冠军杯上依然看着他不知疲倦地奔跑就高兴。

对手中有两位给我留下了深刻的印象，一个是纳瓦斯 ，一个是阿尔维斯。一见纳瓦斯的长发飘飘，我还以为是内德韦德呢，不过这远看上去的帅哥，带球跑起来的动作实在难看，属于闷头型的，您老人家这样的跑法比较适合田径场上的最后冲刺，而不适合下底传中啊。阿尔维斯也没有传说中的那么牛嘛，下半场被克里希放倒之后，居然跟主裁判要牌儿，就像您的表情一样搞笑吧，主裁大哥好好的惩罚了他。

总体评价一下本场比赛的场面吧。好看，就是好看！酋长球场里爆满的6万人不虚此行！

突然也得到了一条break news，穆里尼奥下课了。

说起穆里尼奥来，还是惋惜多些。在他这样的位置上，在他这样的环境里，实在不好做。有个超有钱的老板真是不好伺候，其实也不用多说，穆里尼奥飘洋过海从南欧来到了英伦，也算是给既有秩序带来的巨大的冲击，也算是为英格兰超级联赛进一步确立世界第一联赛的地位做出了突出的贡献，他的个性，他的成绩，他的故事，他的唯一，都会成为很长一段时间里说不完的故事。对于这样一个对手的黯然离去，只能说从此英超失去了一个强劲的对手，真正伟大的英雄必须有针尖儿麦芒儿的对手才显得更伟大，没有穆里尼奥的英超巅峰对决中，显然失色不少。

祝福穆里尼奥在未来的日子里能够取得更优秀的成绩，也希望他能够真正的找到一位能够完全放权于他的老板任他自由发挥。

迟到的狂喜-新赛季初登榜首

迟到的狂喜-新赛季初登榜首

在这里，任俊龙看到了马丁约尔的眼泪洒满了白鹿巷，任俊龙看到了神勇的阿森纳再一次反败为胜拿到三分，任俊龙看到了新赛季枪手第一次登上了积分榜的首位，任俊龙甚至看到了阿德巴约也要和赫莱布抢一下超人内裤，当然任俊龙不看也知道：法布雷加斯每场比赛的进球是不可少的！

最近的阿森纳比赛中有几个定势，一开始是先要让对手一个球的，比赛临近结束的时候才拔枪，就看拔出的是个什么枪了，先是沙鹰一枪爆头，然后是机关枪扫射，其中一个重机枪手必然是法布雷加斯。嗯，就是这么回事，导演全都安排好了，每次都得这么演才行。

几个瞬间吧。

克罗地亚人：居然爱德华多连替补阵容都没有进，我们已经在国际比赛日里莫名其妙的爱上了爱德华多，可是回到了英格兰，连替补阵容都没有进入。

球场气氛：白鹿巷中来为马丁约尔送行的宾主双方人数都不在少数，气氛很热烈，噪音也不小。

1分钟的角球：这个角球也太快了，当然，热刺丢掉这一角球机会的速度也不慢。

15分钟的进球：巴莱的任意球绕过人墙打到阿穆尼亚的右边，球进了。心里虽然一紧，但是既然已经知道了剧本，那么也就暂时放宽些吧。

大把的机会：仍然是大把的机会，仍然是大把的浪费，反正我们是弹药库，反正我们子弹多。看得出前锋的效率还是比较低的，如果刨除掉运气的成分，危险系数也不低。

阿德巴约：66分钟接到法布雷加斯任意球开出头球顶进罗宾逊的老家，94分钟他自己用大力抽射彻底击溃了罗宾逊。这个，这个是阿德巴约么？我一度尽然怀疑！

偶的神：法布雷加斯一传一射，继续扮演GOD的角色。在阿森纳07/08这个赛季的演出中，法布雷加斯一定是一号主角，但凡主角总是出彩的机会多多，瞧，又是他。赛后小伙子肯定很高兴，呵呵，又岂止是他一个人高兴呢？

榜首：你知道榜首代表着什么么？10几天前我们把曼城拉下马，10几天后我们把托特纳姆踹下悬崖，一个久违的王者之巅，那是千军万马所向往的塔尖。阿森纳，阿森纳，阿森纳！伟大的王者，归来！

赞小法-一周之内连中三元

法布雷加斯在今年夏天的时候毫不犹豫地选择了留在阿森纳，现在他应该为自己的英明决择而感到骄傲了。

连上冠军杯，小法本赛季已经连续三场场场进球了，今年的中场特别来劲，赛季刚刚一开始就像是卯足了劲的发条，转个不停。先是赫莱布，再有法布雷加斯，当然还有罗西基。这三个哥们轻轻松松把一个个对手挑于马下，煞是厉害啊。

朴茨茅斯是一个不错的对手，军港球队中有三个人曾经和我们一起，卡努，坎贝尔，劳伦，一个中锋，两个后卫。很可惜，坎贝尔这一次没有能够和老友重逢，倒是老枪卡努依然不倒，在最后时段不忘记在阿什伯顿表演精彩的脚后跟射门，以证明自己依然是一杆不锈的神枪。

小法绝对是个奇才。所谓人奇者，自身必有过人之处，可光光有过人之处也未必能够平补青云，还得有不错的运气。而小法就是这样的一个人。老天从来不会亏待努力的人，如果说一年两年前的小法还是个青涩的毛孩子，冠军杯一路高歌只不过是出门踩狗屎，那么相信看过他这一段来的表现的人，必然会为自己过早的下定结论而感到羞愧。

小法，真正的球队之宝，无怪乎大家会亲切的称之为“法宝”！

罗西基终于开胡了-NO.7 MINUTE.7

新赛季罗西基总算是开胡了，看着一开局赫莱布大红大紫，罗西基恐怕心里也极为不服气。

可是没有办法，捷克人得穿过波兰才能赶上白俄罗斯人的早晨呢，天亮得早，鸟儿起得自然早。

沃尔科特的传球让罗西基首开纪录，阿森纳的七号在比赛的第七分钟将球送入自己祖国的球队大门中。进球后的罗西基奔跑起来仍然那样洒脱，飘飘长发让人想起来老七号皮雷斯。

除去了罗西基之外，更让人惊奇的是法布雷加斯再次进球，射门的动作和上一次别无二致，甚至在看到那一瞬间的时候，任俊龙无比确信一定是法布雷加斯偷走了赫莱布的超人内裤。中场三员大将轮流闪光，真是我厂之洪福啊。

不过，希望教授下次从法国回来的时候多多带些法兰西情趣内裤回来，给弟子们一个人发一条，别让我们再这么丢人的，一条内裤轮流穿啦！

爱德华多也开胡了，锋线灵动的他算是没有辱没了九号的球衣，再接再厉咯！

本周发生了一件让人痛心的事情，西班牙球星普埃尔塔猝死了，我不知道这样算不算做是猝死，可是不论怎样也太可惜了。不说普埃尔塔的年轻有为吧，当任俊龙看到他那同样年轻的怀孕的妻子，同样悲伤的塞维利亚和贝蒂斯的球迷，一切的一切都太突然了，球场上那一个趔趄之后，将星陨落！

可叹，可叹！

千万别再遇上舒梅切尔的孙子

与曼城的比赛之后，教授说出来这么一句话：“千万别让我以后再遇上舒梅切尔的孙子！”

丹麦是个盛产童话的国度，舒梅切尔家族也正在缔造一个童话的王国，曼彻斯特城，就是故事发生的地点，丹麦父子，就是故事中的主角儿。

温格不得不回想起多年以前，老舒梅切尔扑出了博格坎普的点球，而在这一次，小舒梅切尔又扑出了范佩西德点球，仿佛老舒梅而且附体，他继承了丹麦门将的优良传统，他不是一个人在守门，他不是一个人！

在这个世界上一共有两种人，英雄和狗熊！舒梅切尔虽然丢掉了本赛季以来的第一个球，也迎来了本赛季以来的第一场失利，但是他是英雄！真正的英雄！

看看他的高扑低挡数次挽救曼城于水火之中，看看他最末了一记势大力沉的头球攻门，甚至撞到了一名阿森纳的球员和两名曼城的球员，等等，按理说不是应该这三个人的抢点和头球能力更强一些么？别这么说，谁让你遇到了舒梅切尔家的人呢？！

难怪温格会冒出这么一句话来，ＹＹ一下，能不能把小舒梅切尔挖到阿森纳阵中来呢？

阿森纳战曼城，我看小舒梅切尔

阿森纳赢得了比赛，却也付出了不少代价，除去了莱曼在与英格兰的友谊赛中为过尽忠之外，继上周队长加拉被踢下场之后，森德罗斯尽然还没有上战场就回到了伤兵营，萨尼亚被弗拉米尼搞下去纯属友军误伤，Arsenal physio Gary Lewin，接下来的几天里就看你的了！

曼城一开局打得不错，尽然能够在英超的榜首，自打孙继海去了曼城，我就从来没有认为曼城是个刺头，除了上赛季的约翰逊或是叫做强生吧，绝对牛Ｂ的光头一名。

这次是看小舒梅切尔的表现，我其实一开始的时候并不知道舒梅切尔的宝贝儿子居然去了曼城，别说跟老爹都效力于曼彻斯特了，就连这场比赛最后的头球攻门都那么似曾相识的，不在牛Ａ之上，也不在牛Ｃ之下，恰恰属于牛Ｂ的那一种，真是应了老子英雄儿好汉的那句话！

恰巧最近莱曼哥哥脑袋有点发热，我甚至觉得在对阵英格兰的友谊赛中受伤恰恰是阿森纳迎来法比安斯基时代而刻意的安排，这么说真有点对不住阿穆尼亚，可是阿穆谁让您老人家也不再年轻呢？

舒梅切尔的两根白眉，让我羡慕了很久，以前一直喜欢白眉大侠的，所以天真地以为是山西佬儿徐良不知几轮转世去了丹麦，嘿嘿，随着老舒梅切尔的退休，新一轮的转世又开始了。

被逆转的阿森纳-Draw Arsenal

本赛季开赛以来，不论是在联赛中，还是在冠军杯资格赛中，均是阿森纳先被进球，然后青年军奋起直追，在最后一刻救世主降临，挽球队与为难，救粉丝于水火。

如同我上次所说的，赫莱布中就没有能够把超人的裤衩永远的穿在外边，可是谁想到话音还未落，新赛季的逆转王马上就被布莱克本给逆转了一把。

来到埃伍德公园球场的球迷只有区区24,917人，想比那些大球会来讲，简直就像是非重点中学一样，不那么拿得出手，可是布莱克本一直以来都是这么勇猛的一支队伍，比如说罗比·萨维奇这样的猛人！

范佩西的进球还是很漂亮的，而且在庆祝的时候我看到了福星赫莱布的身影，但是从第18分钟就激起的兴奋，在72分钟就被杜恩击碎了，一直到后来，我都始终在注意着赫莱布同学，希望他能够再一次横空出世，但这一次，没有，就像是超人不可能每一次都准时出现那样，赫莱布不会每一场都充当救世主！

1比1的比分不算差，毕竟前面还有卫冕冠军曼联连续两场平局了，况且他们还雪上加霜的损失了鲁尼和小小罗，相比他们来说，我们的开局不算糟糕，只是这样在积分榜上的位置不那么带劲，尽管赛季才刚刚开始，尽管还比别人少打了一轮。

赫莱布变身超人-Super Hleb

阿森纳，你让我惊讶了！赫莱布哥哥，你能把超人的小裤衩儿一直穿在外边么？

布拉格斯巴达继富勒姆之后，再次成为了阿森纳枪下之鬼，而两番操刀的尽然都是赫莱布，经过了一个夏天的白俄罗斯人，难道你真的酷暑难当，借了超人的内裤？

自打温格把赫莱布带到阿森纳的第一天起，你你让我对白俄罗斯人有了新的认识，果然是白色的！看着你在英超居然敢不带护板儿，看着你近乎纤细的身材，看着你刷白的脸色，我一直担心你是个容易受伤的男人。终于两年之后你用实际行动证明了自己的实力，德甲过人王的美名对你而言决不是过誉！

夏天的燥热让人难奈，你在八月份的表现更是让我心里往外冒着火热。两个赛季以来的进球寥寥都被你一句“这个赛季我要进10个球”的豪言甩在历史的尘埃中去，鬼知道俄罗斯民族的热血能让你做出什么疯狂的事情来，对于我们来说，你的越疯狂也会让我们越疯狂，甚至能够让我得到狂妄的感觉！

夏季已经过去了，秋天正在一点点将热气带走，而你，我却希望：超人内裤永远外穿，别管它是丁字裤还是什么，随便去吧，只要它上边有那让人喷血的红色，你尽可大穿特穿，让全世界的阿森纳球迷鼻血横流是你不可推卸的责任！

GOGOGO！赫莱布！GOALGOALGOAL！超人赫莱布！

新赛季英超新看法-LOVE ARSENAL

Farewell Freddie: An Arsenal.com tribute

Freddie Ljungberg left Emirates Stadium today ending a nine-year spell with the Club. Richard Clarke saw the Swede’s first game at Arsenal, his last game and most of them in between. Here’s his tribute.

His famous song was only half-right.

To be honest we didn’t really love Freddie Ljungberg because he had red hair. It was more his ability to be everywhere that brought him into our hearts.

His Arsenal debut should have told us what to expect. He came on for the final 11 minutes at Highbury against Manchester United in September 1998 and, in that time, not only scored but got himself booked. The “Legend of the No 8 lives on” wrote one fanzine afterwards. Remember this was a time when Ian Wright was the Arsenal benchmark rather than Thierry Henry.

Ljungberg quickly became a favourite. He was tenacious, skilful and quick; a dynamo in the engine of the side. But his reputation gained real gravitas because of his ability to conjure up key goals. He scored in the FA Cup Finals of 2001 and 2002. He also grabbed crucial strikes in some massive European games at Highbury — Lazio and Juventus. The Swede had an uncanny knack to time his run between the full back and centre half. It was a useful tool, especially when you had someone with the perception of Dennis Bergkamp to play the ball through.

Off the field, Ljungberg was known for liking fashion. And fashion certainly seemed to like him if that famous Calvin Klein shoot was anything to go by. The flamboyance of his dress sense was perhaps at odds with his work-rate on the pitch but certainly got him noticed. His early nickname among the Arsenal fans was “Sid” after punk rocker Sid Vicious and it seems every Arsenal fan under the age of 10 had a red streak in their hair for the FA Cup Final against Chelsea.

But beneath that ever-changing crop was a keen football brain. Freddie’s interview after a Champions League tie was always one of the most illuminating. He had always made an analysis of the opposition tactics and come up with some kind of counter. It would not be surprising to see him barking instructions from the technical area in years to come — dressed in Armani of course.

Injury hampered his latter years at Arsenal and Ljungberg struggled to find the net as much as he had in his early days. But the goal against Bolton in the FA Cup last season showed there was enough left to prompt a resurgent West Ham to swoop.

And if you are looking for the most poignant memory of Freddie Ljungberg at Arsenal then how about this for starters? There are 11 minutes to go in the FA Cup Final of 2002 with Arsène Wenger’s side holding a precarious 1-0 lead. Ljungberg picks up the ball just inside his own half, darts between two Chelsea defenders, leaves John Terry sprawling and, after steadying his scampering legs, opens up his body to curl a sumptuous curling effort into the top of Carlo Cudicini’s net.

He wheels away in triumph, safe in the knowledge the first half of a ‘double’ is now secure. Then as Thierry Henry hauls him to the ground in celebration, Ljungberg’s shirt rides up to display that famous tattoo of panthers on his back.

It was the mixture of style and substance we had come to expect from him.

Freddie Ljungberg completes transfer to West Ham

Freddie Ljungberg left Arsenal on Monday afternoon after nine glorious seasons at the Club.

The Swedish midfielder joined for £3million from homeland club Halmstads in September 1998 and went on to score 72 goals in 316 appearances for the Gunners.

After netting in a 3-0 victory over Manchester United on his debut, Ljungberg made a further 20 appearances in the 1998/99 campaign but failed to add to his goalscoring tally. The midfielder made a far greater impact in his second season when he scored eight goals in 43 appearances and added another nine in 48 showings in the 2000/01 campaign.

Freddie’s most productive season came in 2001/02 when his 17 goals in 39 games helped the Club to its second double under Arsène Wenger. Perhaps his best and most memorable strike of the campaign came in the FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium, one year after he had scored in a 2-1 Final defeat to Liverpool.

In 2002/03 Ljungberg notched nine times in 32 appearances as Arsenal won the FA Cup before adding another 10 goals and 44 appearances as the Gunners went unbeaten to secure another Premiership title in 2003/04.

The Sweden captain reached double figures in the Premiership for the second time in 2004/05, notching 10 goals in 26 appearances. He added two more in Europe and another two in the FA Cup, finishing the season with 38 appearances in all competitions.

The following campaign brought just two goals but Ljungberg’s experience proved an asset to Wenger’s side and he finished the season having made 37 appearances in all competitions.

Ljungberg’s final season with the Gunners was disrupted by a string of niggling injuries, the worst a troublesome hamstring strain that kept him sidelined for three months. He managed just 26 first-team appearances but matched his goals tally from the previous season. His final Arsenal goal came in the FA Cup Fourth Round replay at Bolton Wanderers.

Farewell Freddie: His finest Arsenal moments

Freddie Ljungberg completed his move to West Ham United on Monday afternoon.

Our tribute to the former Gunner starts here with a look back at Freddie's finest moments in an Arsenal shirt.

v Manchester United, Sep 1998

v Lazio, Sep 2000

Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United
Premiership. September 20, 1998
Freddie didn't waste any time endearing himself to the Arsenal fans. With 11 minutes remaining and Manchester United being put to the sword at Highbury, the Swede replaced Nicolas Anelka. Five minutes after receiving a warm ovation from a happy home crowd, Ljungberg ghosted into the box to turn a misdirected pass into a scoring opportunity. Peter Schmeichel raced out but Ljungberg lobbed him to get his Arsenal career off to a perfect start.

Arsenal 2-0 Lazio
UEFA Champions League. September 27, 2000
In his prime Ljungberg was the man for the big occasion. He scored in two FA Cup Finals and also rose to the challenge on those big European nights. Lazio arrived at Highbury in September 2000 packed with star quality but they left with nothing. Ljungberg picked the perfect time to break his duck for the season, opening the scoring with a neat finish two minutes before half time. The Swede added a second early in the second half to finish off the Serie A outfit.

FA Cup Final 2001

v Juventus, Dec 2001

Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal
FA Cup Final. May 12, 2001
Arsenal were dominating Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium but, somehow, had failed to break the deadlock. Thierry Henry missed a hatful of chances, Stephane Henchoz denied Arsenal one goal with a desperate handball and the luck was with Liverpool. Finally, with 18 minutes to go, Ljungberg burst through the centre, took the ball past keeper Sander Westerveld and fired into an empty net. The relief was palpable. The less said about the rest of the game, the better.

Arsenal 3-1 Juventus
UEFA Champions League. December 4, 2001
A little over a year after seeing off Lazio, Ljungberg was the thorn in Juve's side. The Old Lady of Turin had the likes of Del Piero, Nedved, Thuram and Trezeguet in their ranks but Ljungberg took centre stage. He was first to react to give Arsenal the lead from close range after 21 minutes and, after Juve had threatened to nick a draw, he put the result beyond doubt. With two minutes to go, Ljungberg darted onto Bergkamp's dinked pass and lifted the ball over Gianluigi Buffon.

v Liverpool, Dec 2001

v Bolton Wanderers, Apr 2002

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
Premiership. December 23, 2001
A key moment on the road to the title. Arsene Wenger's side were up against it at Anfield after Gio van Bronckhorst's red card but they led thanks to Thierry Henry's penalty. Then Robert Pires left Steven Gerrard for dead on the left and crossed low for Ljungberg to convert at the near post. It was the perfect example of Ljungberg's eye for goal and his ability to time his runs into the penalty area. His celebrations in front of the away end will live long in the memory.

Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Arsenal
Premiership. April 29, 2002
With Robert Pires nursing a knee ligament injury, Ljungberg emerged as Arsenal's matchwinner during the title run-in. Vital goals against Ipswich and West Ham had kept the Gunners on course and this one topped the lot. Once again Ljungberg timed his run to perfection. Once again Dennis Bergkamp picked him out with a visionary pass. Once again the Swede finished emphatically to leave Arsenal within touching distance of the Premiership trophy.

FA Cup Final 2002

v Sunderland, May 2003

Chelsea 0-2 Arsenal
FA Cup Final. May 4, 2002
Ray Parlour scored a superb opener but, in the eyes of the fans, this was Freddie's Final. The red streak in Ljungberg's hair had been imitated by many Arsenal supporters and "We Love You Freddie..." echoed around the Millennium Stadium before, during and after the game. Ljungberg duly obliged with his ninth goal in eight games, powering past John Terry before curling a shot beyond Carlo Cudicini to put Arsenal two goals up. Arguably his finest moment in red and white.

Sunderland 0-4 Arsenal
Premiership. May 11, 2003
The title had gone but the goals still flowed for Arsenal and for Freddie. Days after Pires and Pennant hit trebles against Southampton, Ljungberg notched his first and only hat-trick in Arsenal's colours. Sunderland, already consigned to the drop, had no answer to the super Swede as he struck after 39, 78 and 88 minutes. Arsenal's 4-0 victory at the Stadium of Light was the second match in what would eventually be a record 49 games unbeaten in the league.

v Dinamo Zagreb, Aug 2006

v Bolton Wanderers, Feb 2007

Arsenal 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb
UEFA Champions League. August 23, 2006
A little bit of history for Ljungberg. Thierry Henry scored the first Arsenal goal at Emirates Stadium, Gilberto grabbed Arsenal's first competitive goal at the ground, but Freddie scored Arsenal's first European goal at their new home. Eduardo, now an Arsenal player, struck first for Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League qualifier but Ljungberg nodded the home side level with 13 minutes left. Mathieu Flamini grabbed the winner in stoppage time.

Bolton Wanderers 1-3 Arsenal
FA Cup Fourth Round Replay. February 14, 2007
Freddie's last goal for Arsenal and one which encapsulated what he brought to the team for nine years. Jeremie Aliadiere made inroads into Bolton's defence and Ljungberg, hovering on the shoulder of the last defender, picked the perfect time to make his run. Aliadiere rolled the ball into Ljungberg's path and the Swede, like so often before, slammed his shot into the corner. It was a vital goal in the context of the Cup tie and it summed up Freddie to a tee.

Fitness foundations-Greetings from Graz

“You have very good voices,” smiled the Arsenal manager as a pocket of fans ‘serenaded’ him with a raucous burst of ‘we believe in Arsène Wenger’ as he left the training pitch after the first session of the Austrian trip.

The Frenchman seemed in good spirits. This is, after all, one of the purest times of the football season for him. It is total preparation - no disturbance, no pressure. A time to ingrain good habits.

“Always look for quality,” shouted Wenger to his squad at one point. It kind of sums up his philosophy for this camp.

The Arsenal manager once said he came to Austria for ‘good food, good pitches and good weather’. Although perhaps he would not have wanted it quite as hot as this. It is reported to be around 37 degrees centigrade today and may reach 40 degrees nearer the weekend. It was sweltering just sitting on the sidelines so what they players are feeling I just don’t know.

The highlight of today’s session was Nicklas Bendtner’s rising, rasping shot past Jens Lehmann and into the top corner of the net from long range. That came in the middle section of the session. The first part was drills, the second setting up certain scenarios of play and the third was a practice game. There are likely to be two sessions per day except in the build-up to or warm down from a match.

This will be the foundation of the players’ fitness throughout the coming campaign.

Last night, we went down to watch Middlesbrough’s 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin at Bad Waltersdorf. Ex-Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere made his debut and had a decent first half. The English side fell behind five minutes before the break, however on the whistle Yakubu equalised from the spot. Fabio Rochembach and Berlin’s Pal Dardai saw red late on and Boro boss Gareth Southgate is set to lodge an appeal because the Brazilian’s ban could stretch into Premiership games. A lesson for Arsenal in their two friendlies to come.

Wenger will have seen the dismissals. He arrived midway through the second half. We know that because his presence was announced over the tannoy.

Arsenal’s arrival is pretty big news out here!

Greetings from Graz

Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com Editor, 17 July 2007, 11.14 AM.

Morning all. We safely arrived in Graz yesterday and made the short trip to the club’s training base high in the hills. The players have not arrived yet but there are still plenty of footballers around — Middlesbrough are staying in our hotel.

Gareth Southgate’s side have been in Austria for around 10 days and conclude their stay with a game against Hertha Berlin at Bad Waltersdorf this evening.

Managed to grab a quick chat with Jeremie Aliadiere. He is a veteran of these trips with Arsenal so it is kind of ironic that, within a month of completing his move, he finds himself back in this part of Austria.

It is not surprising that the local media are very interested in Emmanuel Pogatetz, Middlesbrough’s Austrian defender. But apparently Turkish television will also be here in numbers over the next few days. They’ll be covering Boro’s new signing, Tuncay, tonight and staying on for Arsenal’s game with Genclerbirligi on Thursday.

This is the sixth time Arsène Wenger has brought his team to Austria for pre-season. But then this is now a very popular area for football clubs in early training. Relatively local sides like Stuttgart, Hertha, Kaiserslauten have come again. But it is a bit more of a trek for West Ham, Lazio, Copenhagen, Real Madrid, Plymouth, Stoke and Hapoel Tel Aviv. All those teams will training here at some point this summer.

For Wenger’s side, the hard work starts in earnest tomorrow. I hope for the players' sake the temperature dips before then - it is roasting over here right now.

More tomorrow.

First-team training begins in Austria - exclusive pictures

On Wednesday morning the Arsenal squad took part in their first training session since arriving at their training camp in Austria.

Arsène Wenger's team kicked off their pre-season schedule at Barnet on Saturday and take on Genclerbirligi in another friendly on Thursday.

Club photographer Stuart MacFarlane is in Austria to capture all the action as Arsenal limber up ahead of the new campaign. Scroll down to see his latest pictures.

William Gallas arrives

Robin van Persie gets off the bus

The squad warms up in Austria

Travelling fans enjoy the view

Theo Walcott passes to Alex Song

Wenger gets his point across

New signing Bacary Sagna

The French defender in action

Sagna is put through his paces

Eduardo makes a run

The Croatian in possession

Diaby gets away from Denilson

Eboue is tracked by Bendtner

Flamini and Fabregas in opposition

Pictures:Barnet vs Arsenal on Saturday

The Arsenal team warm up

Wenger takes to the dug-out

Eduardo Da Silva waves to the crowd

Lukasz Fabianski makes his debut

Theo Walcott sprints away

Kolo Toure holds off Liam Hatch

Nacer Barazite shoots goalwards

Nacer turns to celebrate his goal

Friendly:Barnet vs Arsenal on Saturday, July 14, 2007, 3pm

Goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Nacer Barazite helped Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Barnet on Saturday as Arsène Wenger’s side got their pre-season campaign underway.

The Emirates Stadium side controlled the game virtually from start to finish and were buoyed by goals in each half. Adebayor screwed home a shot in the 18th minute and Barazite completed the scoring just past the hour with a thunderbolt from distance.

Denilson was stretchered off in pain just before the goal but later his injury was reported to be minor.

Otherwise this was the most satisfying - and friendly - of friendlies.

Arsenal named a relatively strong side for this now traditional game against the side who play host to the Club’s Reserve fixtures. In fact, Wenger’s starting XI would not have looked out of place in the Carling Cup or even FA Cup. Kolo Toure captained the team and the front pairing, fit-again Robin van Persie and Adebayor, may well be employed when Fulham visit Emirates Stadium on August 12. Alex Song was given a run out at centre back and 17-year-old Mark Randall started on the left side of midfield.

New signing Eduardo was present but only in the stands. Debutants Havard Nordveit and Lukasz Fabianksi were named on the bench. There was also a first run-out for the new white away kit.

Barnet included a couple of former Arsenal professionals in their line-up — Nicky Nicolau and Adam Birchall. The Bees also named Dr Richard Evans on the bench. The doctor, in his “late 40s” and from Wembley, had paid £10,000 for the privilege of coming on during that latter stages of the game.

Crowd congestion meant there was a five-minute delay to the kick-off. It did nothing to dampen the party atmosphere however the opening stages were high on intensity yet low on chances.

Jason Puncheon looked dangerous cutting in from the Barnet left and Robin van Persie fired in a couple of pot-shots. Adebayor got the glimpse of an opening only to be denied by Ismail Yakubu. That was the sum result of the first quarter-hour.

The opening goal arrived in the 18th minute. Van Persie surprised the Barnet defence with a low corner to Walcott at the near post. He clipped a cross to the far side where Adebayor hooked home a half-volley through a crowded area. On the balance of play it was hard on the home side.

Barnet had an excellent chance to equalise two minutes later when a cute header from Liam Hatch sent Puncheon clear in the left-hand channel. Almunia was out quickly to smother the shot.

The game was opening up. Van Persie’s right-wing free-kick was nodded on by Barnet striker Liam Hatch and a sliding Adebayor just failed to convert at the far post. Then, in the 25th minute, Walcott’s deep cross was met by the head of Van Persie. The ball beat the keeper, hit the bar and bounced down but, by then, the referee had blown for offside.

However, perhaps unsurprisingly in the first pre-season friendly, the pace could not be maintained. Before half time, Denilson let fly from distance and Gael Clichy charged down a clearance from keeper Lee Harrison only for the ball to trickle wide.

Barnet were nearly rewarded for a half of genuine endeavour when Hatch poked a shot goalwards as Song and Almunia dithered. Again the chance came to nothing.

Arsenal made six changes at the break and Barnet made five. Often wholesale changes unsettle a game however in this instance they seemed to improve it. Walcott made one penetrative run in the opening minutes then Kieron Gibbs flicked wide from Adebayor’s knock back.

In the 53rd minute, Flamini clipped a perceptive ball to the Togolese striker on the edge of the area. He had plenty of time and the ball was sitting up nicely, however he dragged his shot wide.

A couple of minutes later, Denilson came off worse in a challenge with Puncheon and, after lengthy treatment, was stretchered off. Henri Lansbury replaced him. Later, it was announced over the tannoy that the injury was not serious.

Arsenal were now looking to seal the victory. Adebayor failed to connect with an inviting cross from Walcott then, in the 66th minute, Barazite doubled the advantage with a rocket shot into the far corner of the net.

There seemed little danger when the former Dutch youth international collected the ball in the right-hand channel. But his fierce drive flew into the net, leaving Harrison helpless.

The goal killed the game as a contest. Traore arrowed a shot towards the top corner but substitute keeper Dave Blackmore palmed the ball aside. In the dying minutes, the dangerous Puncheon whistled a rising drive past the angle of post and bar.

Dr Evans made his appearance late on, much to the amusement of the crowd. He seemed to enjoy his moment - as did the crowd of 5,091.

Hello once again!Underhill here we come!

Whatever your thoughts and memories of last season's performances, players, results and opinions it's time to wipe that slate clean, Underhill here we come!

A big 'Hello' to you all once again as we step back on that nine month rollercoaster we call following the Arsenal. Thanks for all your e-mails and opinions throughout the Summer, although it is near on impossible to answer you all I really do appreciate them and with your phenomenal passion very evident I respect all of your thoughts even if sometimes I don't agree with them! That's football I suppose, the one and only universal language.

Barnet has become a kind of opening day party in recent times, a time to meet those you haven't seen for a couple of months, catch up on the summer gossip surrounding football and personally and of course the opportunity to get that football fix that we all miss in the close season!

Like all summers, this one has seen the departure of some of our squad including a total legend and for me personally the greatest player I have been lucky enough to witness.

Rather than be disappointed however, I've said it before and I will say it again. I support Arsenal Football Club, not one player. Players, managers and staff will come and go throughout my life but whatever happens my passion for the club will remain as intense as ever. Without TH we would not have enjoyed the incredible success, have witnessed some of the wonderful football or seen some of the greatest goals over the last few years. For that alone I say Thierry, thank you and good luck.

I also wish the best of luck to Jeremie Aliadiere. A player that has been so unlucky with injuries I believe that we finally saw glimpses last season of what he is capable of.

Gentlemen.........start your engines!

Finally in 'Supporters Club Week' on Arsenal.com I thought I would bring to you a a more lighthearted look at some of the more interested days following our team based on the experiences of members of the Maidstone Arsenal Supporters Club!

Of course, there are many of you out there that have 'enjoyed' nightmare journeys too, it would be good to hear your stories so drop me an e-mail.

1) Norwich away League Cup replay mid nineties starring 'Frank' (& girlfriend!)

By this stage of my Arsenal supporting 'career' I was starting to seriously hate any occasion where I was forced to miss a game. In fact, I was already a good five years or more into a period of non missed games that has lasted until today.

Back in the days of league cup replays I had booked a week's holiday with my girlfriend in an idyllic cottage right up in the Highlands of Scotland, during the football season yes, but of course, in a totally Arsenal free week. Or so I thought.

Reading the programme before we took on Norwich I looked for the potential replay date...........great! Tonight's match was SO going to be a draw.

Ten minutes to go we were one-nil down, of course I wanted us to equalise but I also wanted us to go on and get a winner! Wrighty slammed one into the roof of the net at the North Bank end and the inevitable became reality.

My girlfriend wasn't really into football (it was never gonna work!!) and I didn't tell her my predicament, nor the fact I had actually purchased two tickets for the replay, just in case!

Come the night before the game, open roaring fire crackling away, a glass or two of red wine and the moment had come to reveal the news. Looking back starting with the line, "There's something I need to ask you" probably wasn't a good decision!!

Dressing it up that it really wouldn't take that long, we would have nice night out in Norwich and a night out in Edinburgh on the way back seemed to help slightly even though I was seriously stretching the truth.

So, 7am the following morning we set off and a full 12 hours later we arrived in Norwich! A total nightmare, no longer could I dress it up. My, "I'll make it up to you" lines just didn't seem to wash!

A spanking three-nil victory later and of course at least one of the travelling party was 'well chuffed'!

Watching the highlights on the TV in our dodgy Norwich B & B probably didn't help our relationship, nor the one hour 'night out' in Edinburgh and arriving back to our cottage at midnight the following night.

But we were in the next round............and that was far more important!

2) Lens away 1998 starring 'Fisty' and 'Jill de Builder'

Lens is not very far from Kent, in fact it is easier to get to than many of our domestic away matches. When Fisty and Jill left Maidstone on the morning of our first ever Champions League adventure, little did they know what was in store!

All was going well until halfway between Calais and Lens Fisty's car coughed and spluttered and grinded to a halt on the hard shoulder. Staying with the car would mean missing the match, this was simply not an option!

Thumbing a lift proved successful although (Fisty's words not mine!) the five young ladies that picked them up were so awful that not even Jill was interested!

Destination achieved Fisty missed most of the game anyway trying to sort things out on his mobile phone (unsuccessfully), after the game they were both faced with getting back to their car, an extremely difficult feat when they didn't actually know where it was!

Thumbing a lift back proved more problematic and involved numerous offers including a couple of French boy racers who informed them that France only had speed limits, "when there were police around. But tonight there are no police"!

Fisty admits he thought his time had run out!

They eventually found their car at 5.30am and decided just to try and get some sleep. They were awoken by a tap on the window from a policeman who proceeded to help them get a tow truck.

The car was left at the garage and next on the agenda was a taxi to a hire car before heading back to the UK.

The following week Fisty headed back to France to collect his car and a total nightmare had come to a close............except that is the bill. The whole adventure had cost him in the region of £2500.00.........more in fact, than the car was worth!!

3) Amsterdam Tournament 2000 starring 'Frank'

Being asked to be 'best man' at a friend's wedding is always an honour. During the football season becomes a dilemma!

On this occasion the chosen date fell on a Friday but I had already heard rumours that it was a weekend where we may well be playing in a tournament in Amsterdam. These trips have become pretty regular these days but as this was the first occasion it was one I just didn't want to miss.

The tournament was confirmed and the fixtures (like this season in fact) fell on a Thursday and Saturday. Not on the Friday, a chance too good to miss.

Travelling out on the Thursday morning, writing my speech as I went, my thoughts had already turned to the following morning's flight home. Never in my life had I longed so much for a flight to be on time!

Having enjoyed the delights of Amsterdam's Thursday nightlife I awoke Friday morning a nervous man! I needn't have been, the flight was spot on time and my wedding duties were achieved in fine style. Only after the ceremony when the groom said to me, "It's a shame you were forced to miss the Amsterdam tournament" did I realise I hadn't actually told him. With a wry smile I replied, "I haven't".

The wedding hangover was eased by flying back out on Saturday to take in the 2nd match but even that proved trickier than ever when a lorry overturned on the M25 and I was forced to get a later flight. Sitting there with my engine off however, I thanked my lucky stars that the delay was that day and not the previous one.

4 European flights, 2 European games and a wedding back in the UK, all in 3 days................it just HAD to be done!

所有的一切都将重新开始，正如弗兰克所说的，过去的那些往事不必再提，巴奈特，我们又要见面了！

Arsenal to send strong squad for first friendly

Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott ahave been included in a strong Arsenal squad for their first pre-season friendly.

Manager Arsène Wenger will also be able to call upon the likes of Kolo Toure, Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, Mathieu Flamini, Denilson against League Two side Barnet at Underhill on Saturday.

"It could be a very strong team at Barnet," Wenger told Arsenal.com.

"Basically the players that are back in training are available," said Wenger. "They are all likely to be included so it should be a very familiar side."

出自Arsenal to send strong squad for first friendly

所有归队的人员都没有伤病的困扰，这是一个不错的消息。

Barnet v Arsenal - Previous meetings

Over the past few seasons Arsenal have regularly organised a pre-season meeting with Barnet.
In fact in each of the last seven seasons Arsenal have made the short trip to Barnet's Underhill home to get the players into shape for the coming season.

Underhill, the home ground of Arsenal's reserve team, has seen it's fair share of goals in this traditional fixture.

The Gunners have netted 23 goals in the seven meetings, conceding just four in reply.

However Barnet did hold the then reigning League and FA Cup winners to a 0-0 draw at the beginning of the 2002/03 season, and also kept a clean sheet in last season's corresponding fixture.

BARNET 0-0 ARSENALFriendly. Saturday, July 15, 2006

BARNET 1-4 ARSENALFriendly. Saturday, July 16, 2005Arsenal scorers: Hleb 3, Henry 15 (pen), Bergkamp 28, Hoyte 35.

BARNET 1-10 ARSENALFriendly. Saturday, July 17, 2004Arsenal scorers: Reyes 19, 21, 42, Van Persie 29, Bergkamp 44, 67, Jeffers 53, 55, 64, Owusu-Abeyie 70.

BARNET 0-0 ARSENALFriendly. Saturday, July 19, 2003

BARNET 1-2 ARSENALFriendly. Tuesday, August 6, 2002Arsenal scorers: Kanu, Upson.

BARNET 1-6 ARSENALFriendly. Saturday, August 11, 2001Arsenal scorers: Ljungberg, Cole, Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira, Wiltord.

BARNET 0-1 ARSENALFriendly. Saturday, July 22, 2000Arsenal scorer: Pennant.

亨利的公开信-再见吧，你终于还是走了-BYE HENRY

　　这是一个“现在”或者“永远不”的决定，很遗憾，只能是“现在”

　　这是我写过的最艰难的信之一。

　　当我对热爱的阿森纳俱乐部说再见时，我带着极大的伤感，我在阿森纳度过了八个美好的赛季，我享受在这里的每一分钟。

　　在2005-06赛季结束时，我到了自己职业生涯的十字路口，我当时必须对于我未来选择哪个俱乐部做一个决定，我爱阿森纳，我热爱这里的球迷、工作人员和这个城市，最重要的是，当时我和阿森纳续约时，坐在我身边的两个人十分重要，温格坐在我左边，德恩(前俱乐部副主席)坐在我右边。在冠军联赛决赛两天后，我坐在新闻发布会上，宣布这两个人是我当时留在阿森纳的原因。

　　一年后，情况完全变了，德恩不在这里了，不可否认这极大的震惊了球队和主教练。在我的记忆中，温格教练一直是我生活的一部分，他是我在摩纳哥队时的教练，后来又在阿森纳签下了我，他是我职业生涯的鼓舞者，我希望过去我在场上的表现回报了他对我的信任。

　　不幸的是，温格表示他不打算和阿森纳俱乐部续约，他的合同到下赛季末就要到期了，我尊重他的决定，也能够理解，但在下个赛季结束时，我将满三十一岁，我无法在没有温格和德恩的情况下继续留在阿森纳。

　　对我来说，这是一个“现在”或者“永远不”的决定，很遗憾，只能是“现在”。

　　这完全是我个人的决定，没有任何人强迫我做任何事情，我会在转会中代表我自己，我认为这是我必须做的。

　　巴塞罗那是一家出色的俱乐部，有传统，踢美丽的足球，我确信我会在那里非常愉快。

　　但我会想念阿森纳的球迷，他们在风雨中一路支持着我，当我在低谷时他们帮助我，当我状态好时他们为我欢呼，他们会永远在我的心里，所有这些球迷让阿森纳的比赛变得如此特别。

　　我和阿森纳俱乐部的特殊纽带永远不会断裂，谢谢这个国家里所有让我如此受欢迎的人，我永远不会忘记你们。

　　蒂埃里-亨利

Gilberto Week: What YOU had to say？

副队长，作为一个巴西人，你绝对不是最棒的，但作为一个阿森纳的巴西人，你却做到了一般的巴西人做不到的。

有感于官网举办的吉尔伯托周活动