Thats was almost a sickening experience watching the Arsenal today. But we came through physically unscathed. 2-3 away at West Brom means not only do we seal automatic qualification to the champions league; we finally get to celebrate St. Totteringhams Day - although its quite late this year, its still here.

Right, I’m off for a delicious glass of French Chardonnay and to get the bunting out.

Adieu

With all this in mind, reading the L’equipe interview conducted in French, shows how open and frank Wenger was and can be in a media environment he is comfortable with. It exposes his thoughts and feelings with an element of honesty that would would have been truly abused by the UK press; some lazy journalists already took to twisting a chuck from that interview by reporting that Wenger is looking to decide his future after this season – which he clarified with Sky Sports after the 2-1 win at Norwich at the weekend.

Again in another example (thanks again to Arseblog), Wenger even gave two vastly differing responses in different languages to questions surrounding Mario Götze; One straight bat response in English and another more open response in German to a TV reporter – both in the same interview.

Now, I know Wenger is intelligent enough to know that this will be picked up on; so it can only be seen a clear and clever public statement showing how he distrusts the UK media. Personally I don’t blame him one bit, I even applaud it; but some could justifiably say that what it does do is deprive the fans somewhat, of a level of honesty and connection between them and the manager of he club. I would like to think that the more savvy of Arsenal supporters can see the “why” rather than the “what” of this situation. I also sadly accept that other less clued up Arsenal fans might just take things on face value and add that to their list of negatives about him.

At the end of the day, the current Leveson inquiry is showing; keeping the English media at arms length, is almost a necessity for anyone in the public eye.

No, not just because of the 1-6 away win over Everton on the opening day. No, not because of the 0-2 away win over Celtic in the CL Quali. No, not because of the 4-1 poking of Portsmouth in our first home match of the season. Truth is – all of these got me moist and hard at the same time (or was that the currys and kebabs… not sure).

I’m getting genuinely excited over a couple of items coming out of Arsenal.com.

The first, a few days ago… This

Tom Fox (Chief Commercial Officer) – Ex Gatorade/Quaker Oats, Ex NBA, Ex Nike.

Svenja Geissmar (General Counsel) – Ex MTV Europe

Trevor Saving (Head of People and Operations) – Ex Pepsi, Ex Revlon, Ex Levi Strauss & Ex Dunlop.

And the Secondly… This

Interestingly… the impact of the initial points mentioned by Gazidis are all cost centres and cost a LOT of money… a more staid approach would have been to start with initiative which generate revenue and then turn that back into the pot to use on bigger and grander initiative from there on and keep using that momentum to fund these changes. But… Gazidis is making a statement. The 3 heads he has brought in are not cheap. They will all be on £150k plus salaries with appropriate bonus incentives to match (which in a majority of US organisations* – will include loyalty bonuses to keep them in post). It is very important not to underestimate the influence of American business models here; because this is the path we are heading down and believe it or not its not a bad thing. Most people will hear the term American business model and think credit crunch / global financial downturn and other media soundbites… that’s not what I mean here.

I firmly believe that Kroenke was a big player in Gazidis’ appointment as CEO. The good thing about that is that Americans know how to market a brand. They really know. OK Gazidis is not American, but has been MLS VP and has enough of a twang to pass for one on a dark night.

For me, this looks like a clear and significant move away from the stuffy old guard that has long been the image of Arsenal FC some years ago. Don’t misunderstand me here… I felt warmed by the comments about the shrine to Highbury. The one thing I have always thought that should happen during the induction process for new players at Arsenal should be they are taken through the museum and made to understand the passion and history of the club – especially the values of Arsenal. Wenger has embraced these from his arrival – and for better or worse, has agreed to stick by these in his management of the club which has been displayed by his transfer policy. Spending £10bn on a player just isn’t Arsene’s way and isn’t the Arsenal way either.

The “Arsenalisation” of The Emirates is an essential key marketing move. Gazidis is seeking to bring in an atmosphere and pressure in the stadium. You know, you go to some grounds and you just feel that “it’s their manor, their gaff”. Obviously, moving to a new ground, it takes time to create that. It’s not something that you can pick up and move it from Highbury. You have to start again and create a special atmosphere again. Wenger knew this, but also knew it was not his job to do that. Gazidis knows that’s part of his job description.

To be fair, we the fans need to do our part. It’s been well (and rightly) observed that the typical AFC home crowd is bit like a family picnic. Some parts of the ground are quiet and only a polite ripple of applause on a good pass. But crowds are like that – if left alone. A crowd will follow the group behaviour… a quiet crowd will generally remain quite and a loud noisy vociferous crowd will generally maintain that level of noise for longer periods.

Anyway, I digress… the executives are getting our house in order. These appointments are pretty heavy hitters. They are used to operating in very large global corporations; which means that we are gearing up for a steady expansion in staffing and global coverage. This expansion (when done properly) is going to seriously raise our profile outside of the UK. Shirt sales, merchandising is only a small part. Retail and media interest will bring big revenue increases. Wenger has said that he has committed to his current transfer policy and fiscal constraints for the next 5/6 years. The plans being unveiled here will go a long way to having up on a even keel by this time. Depending on our success between no and then – we will have removed the debt from the stadium build by then. Transfer budgets and wage structures will then be more flexible – should Wenger wish to inflate these areas to meet the demands of the market at that time.

The boffins with stethoscopes are guestimating a 3month stretch on the couch watching TV re-runs of The Sullivans and/or Heartbeat. Poor Sod. Mind you, that means he doesn’t have to make up excuses to get off work and watch the rest of the cricket with a few cans. My girlfriend smacked her knee on some marble stairs a day or so ago (which hurt like a bastard too) and will be out of action for a week and a bit sitting on our couch watching re-runs of Ze Zullivans and/or Das Heartbeeten or what ever they would call it in Bavaria if they were desperate enough to show rubbish TV programs now that were even rubbish when they were new. Somehow though, I don’t think Wenger will be too bothered about that particular injury or what they would show on Germany TV while she sits on the couch… some people can be so inconsiderate sometimes can’t they.

Its been widely reported that Ade has been acting like a twat over the last year or so. Courting attention from other clubs after banging in 30 goals the season before last.

The crap he came out with during the summer about how “my phone was off” while he and his agent were spreading rumours about like Marmite… was condescending to say the least. Then to kiss the badge after scoring his first goal after that was just pretty much the most disrespectful act towards the club by one of our players I can remember in recent times. It showed that he thought that as long as he scores goals – the fans don’t care what else he does / says on or off the pitch (watch the BBC Football Focus Interview). He thought he could get away with it. He might get away with that shit up north, but not here.

I was very glad to hear the deal is on the brink of going through (as of this morning). We will miss his goal tally, if he isn’t replaced no doubt about that. But, I will say this in the most diplomatic way possible. Emmanuel Adebayor, Fuck Off and have a nice life.

The news and media re-gurgitation over Phil Brown’s half-baked ill conceived post match allegations, really has whipped up a fuss about “nothing”. As I mentioned on our Twitter feed after the Hull match on Tuesday night – Phil Brown made allegations on International television, that our Arsenal captian Cesc Fabregas (who wasn’t even playing), came onto the pitch after the final whistle and spat at Hull’s assistant manager Brian Horton.

I say “nothing”, because nothing happened; not because I’m playing down how utterly offensive spitting at someone is.

As this is an Arsenal biased website I will obvuously state that my immediate opinion is that this is rubbish. For what ever reason Phil Brown made this statement; it was for some other reason other than the fact that it actually happened.

*IF*, Cesc did spit at Horton, I would expect and sincerely hope that the powers that be (all of them, The FA, The Premier League and most importantly of all Arsenal) throw the book at him and hand out a severe punishment. But personally I side with all Arsenal fans and agree that it is just not in his nature to even think about doing something like that – let alone do it, and do it in front of an audience of nearly 60,000 witnesses, National and International television cameras.

Sorry – I just don’t see it.

But it makes good copy and has a few days mileage left in it for sure.

I’d like to say that they would be thinking that their season is dropping away and that they are preparing themselves for a beating from a resurgent Gunner side – but, I reckon they will be thinking they are only two games away from a Wembley Final. And that line of thinking “might” just make this game tonight more of a trickier task than we already know it will be.

Shava is out of the game after suffering a mystery cut on his foot during the Blackburn match which required some stitches at halftime. So we shall see how far Wenger sicks with his Cup squad (not really like he’s got a bag full of options to play with).

Normal service will be resumed tonight with our Twitter coverage of the game for those of you unlucky enough not to be able to watch the match.

To follow along add us @dubaibury on your Twitter account. Simples !

In the film, Jim Carey becomes obsessed with the number 23. The UK media already is obsessed with our new signing that will be wearing the 23 shirt and I’m sure all us gooners will be too. Dick Advocaat has already stated that we don’t know what a great purchase we’ve made and that it will be worth the wait. I hope so. Unfortunately we have bought Arshavin out of season (Russian League season that is, he was in pre-season training in Dubai [funny that huh ?] when the final stages of the transfer begun) so I very much doubt he will make an appearance on Saturday against Sp_rs; that said though, I think we could certainly use him in that game and I’m fearing the worst. A lot of hype around this fella and at 27 he’s not the usual young “jimmy-me-lad” signing that Wenger likes to bring to WengerTown. In fact he’s positively old and as I mentioned yesterday – that will bring its own problems when looking for a contract renewal in 2 seasons time.

But for now – C’mon the Arsenal !

The Arshavin panto rolls on and on and loads of rumours were stoking the fire (Dubaibury included with our c ‘n p of the windows activity).

But in order to try and take a different view on the wide and wacky world of WengerTown, some sources (and I use that word in the loosest possible terms) are “running” some story that Adebayor couldn’t (didn’t) walk for the first 4 years of his life. :

“Arsenal’s Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed he was unable to walk for the first four years of his life. His mother Alica carried him all over Africa in search of a cure before being told to spend a week praying in church. On the seventh day, Adebayor heard children playing outside, somebody kicked a ball into the church and he was the first to get up, run and collect the ball.”

Now in part, I can believe this. The guy is on around £75 grand a week and I’ve seen him on the park this season wondering if he has had a relapse of this terrible affliction. It seems the miraculous cure his mother was searching the scorched African landscape for, was an Arsenal contract and the misguided belief that after one season he could tell the world that he is the best thing since the thing that slices bread and get his slippery agent to work a way into a move a “bigger club”. I reckon Wengers scouting network should sign the kid who kicked the ball into the church – because a majority of the balls whipped into him on the pitch he doesn’t seem to want to touch unless its landed 1.24 inches from boot (shades of Henry in his Autumn Arsenal Years standing infront of goal shrugging his shoulders and asking the wingers – “what ? You want ME to run for the ball ? Do you know who I am ???”)

Make no mistake, I’m not diminishing Adebayors’ ability. I’m diminishing the players’ commitment, application and drive.

For me, he currently has all the hallmarks of a man who has nothing to aim for – a man who has it all on a plate. The guy is loaded, nearly always top of the list for 1st team action for Arsenal (squad depth and fitness accounting for that), he showed amazing disrespect to the Club, Manager and Fans during the Summer; and because the booing has stopped at Ashburton – he actually might believe he’s won the fans back over. Talent is one thing – but using it is quite a different prospect.

As you might guess, the jury is still out for me on Adebayor. His lacklusture performances and his languid strides across the pitch don’t convince me that he has the passion fight 110% for victory in every match. That said – he’s not alone there. I guess I’m just disappointed in not seeing our forwards strainging for every cross, hunting down every back pass or at least shooting at goal at least twice a match. Intent, that’s the word I’m looking for. What a striker (natural or created in Wengers secret “Re-Animator” style dungeon deep in the medival cobweb lined cellars of Castle Colney [just off J21a M25]) needs about him is the intent to do damage and look in their eye that makes defenders poop their panties; but I just don’t see that in Adebayor. There were flashes of that last season and a dominance about him. This season however, I see a man who is dining out on last years achievements.

Anyway, now we have Arshavin hopefully dishing up some quality balls into the final third, we’ll see if it was just a service issue with him and if we can kick start his play. If not, he might be getting his move away from the club next year after all.