Toure: Title tilt still a possibility for Arsenal

Kolo Toure believes he has a 'nasty' streak that can help Arsenal put their Barclays Premier League title bid back on track.

The Gunners head to Bolton tomorrow in their worst run of league form in nine seasons after taking only four points from the last five games to allow both Manchester United and Chelsea to overtake them at the top of the table.

Manager Arsene Wenger believes his side have paid a high price for some poor defensive displays - which was evident at Stamford Bridge last weekend where Toure and central partner William Gallas failed to deal with the threat of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as the Blues came from behind to win 2-1.

Ivory Coast international Toure, 27, has, though, been one of the most consistent performers since he came into the first team.

The mild-mannered African, who arrived at Highbury in February 2002, learned from legendary former Gunners such as Tony Adams and Martin Keown, who were renowned for their no-nonsense approach.

'One who really helped me a lot was Martin Keown,' Toure said, speaking in the April edition of the official Arsenal magazine.

'I have played with him several times and he helped me establish myself in the squad.

'He (was) always giving me advice, teaching me some of the intelligent things and also some nasty things you need to do in the game.

'Martin was an amazing player for Arsenal. He had a great career and had a good attitude on the pitch - he was always involved, always helping the team, always pushing people to encourage each other and raising the level because you can't rely on just one person to do that.'

Despite now trailing leaders Manchester United by six points - and one behind Chelsea - Arsenal are still not yet out of the title race, as key fixtures between the top three are still to come.

Toure accepts it is a tough battle for the championship, but insists the Gunners must focus only on their own performances rather than worry about what might happen elsewhere.

'It seems that this season the title race involves three teams and this shows that the league is really strong at the moment,' he said.

'But we have to concentrate on ourselves, and on what we have to do over the remaining games - if we win the rest of our games we will have a great chance of winning the title.'

Wenger reported a clean bill of health from those who returned from international duty to the training ground yesterday morning before he set off to the Emirates Stadium where French president Nicolas Sarkozy met Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

However, the Gunners will be missing full-back Bacary Sagna, set to be out for up to a month after suffering an ankle injury at Chelsea.

'It is a big blow because he has been a revelation for us, a fantastic player,' said Wenger, whose side face Liverpool three times in a week after the Bolton game as they resume Champions League action.

The Arsenal manager accepts his team must tighten up at the back if they are to put pressure on leaders United.

Wenger said: 'What we want to do is perform well as a team again and we know we can do that.

'At Chelsea we played okay, but we have to improve. Recently what punished us a lot is that defensively we have made big mistakes.'

The Best League In The World ???

In the next couple of weeks, four English clubs: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool will be involved in the quarter final stage of the highest club competition tournament in Europe, The European Champions League. A phenomenal feat that would surely make any English natives hold their heads up high with pride and the right to claim, that today, the English Premier League is the best league in Europe and the world.

But, along with the phenomenon, comes an irony regarding English football itself. Despite having four clubs competing in the European Champions League quarter final, their very own national team failed to qualify for the EURO 2008 tournament in Switzerland and Austria. The question is why? Why can't they qualify when they have so many world class players and managers in their league?

The answer lies within the nationality of those world class players and managers. Take a look at the nationality compositions of the four clubs that made it through the quarter final. Exactly how many of them can be defined as "English?"

We have four top-class clubs and none of them are managed by an English manager. The closest thing that comes to an English manager is Alex Ferguson who is Scottish by nationality. Theo Walcott is the only top English player in the Arsenal squad, and he doesn't even see regular first team football. Liverpool only has two English players as regular starters: Steven Gerrard and Jammie Carragher. The same number goes for Chelsea.

With so many foreigners, I don't think it's fair to say that those who are involved in the quarter final can be called "English teams." Rather, they should be called a name that resembles global and European teams who use England as their base.

There has been a lot of criticism about too many foreigners playing in European clubs for quite some time now. But then again, this is the risk of progress, the risk of going global. European football, especially English football, has grown into an "international brand" for football since the early 90's. The Bosman rule, globalization, and the EU labor policies and laws make it possible for any player to work and play football in Europe, as long as they have the skills.

In recent years, we have also seen a number of huge investments in football clubs made by foreign investors. These investments are particularly taking place in England where investors see the most potential for growth and profit. Suddenly, we have a Russian oil tycoon, some American sugar daddies, and Dubai's crowned prince as owners of major European clubs. The football clubs have been taken away from their real owners, the fans. And to make things worse, most of the investors invested in football clubs just so they can sell their stocks back to gain profits. Their sincerity to put money into the long term success of the club is highly questionable.

As with any other investments, all that investors want are fast results. There is no time for them to wait for home-grown players to develop into world class footballers. They want to buy already established players, win some trophies as fast as possible, and increase the value of the club before selling it back to another blood thirsty investor.

Football clubs are being taken out of their roots all over England, and there's nothing the FA, UEFA or FIFA can do about it. They condemn the investments, but can do nothing because the reality is primarily concerned about the money. In a free global market, anyone who has the money is allowed to do whatever he pleases as long as it is within the law. And no law can prohibit the buying and selling of clubs.

This is the sad reality of global football, and it will affect the biggest football nations of Europe. Will they have strong clubs? The most definitely will, but will they have the usual strong national teams? That remains very doubtful...

Our Defences Needs Sorting : Arsene Wenger

“It was a game we should have won but we paid for some lapses in concentration," opined Wenger of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Long-Ball Chelsea

"It is difficult to swallow because we played quite well and were in control of the game. What was left to Chelsea was to play long balls and we did not deal well enough with it.
"The spirit was right and the mentality was fantastic. But we have some defensive problems which we need to sort out.”

Worst Form

The run of four points from five games is Arsenal's worst in nine years. And Wenger admitted that this has all played into the hands of Manchester United.

Five points off the pace several weeks ago, the Red Devils are now five points clear of second-placed Chelsea and six ahead of Arsenal. "The happiest man will be Alex Ferguson - this is a big setback for us," said Wenger. "When you add the four games we drew and this loss, we just have to come back and win games before we can dream of the title.”

Arsenal Must Win Something

Arsenal haven't won anything since the 2005 FA Cup and Van Persie, who has spent much of this season out injured, says he cannot face the thought of a third consecutive campaign with no silverware.

But upon making his return to the first team fold, the Dutchman has vowed to fire the Gunners to Premier League and Champions League glory this season, honours he believes the squad fully deserve.

Winning A Must

"We have to win at least one trophy this season. If we don’t, then we would have played all the fantastic football for nothing," said the striker. “This is our moment and we need to win something. We all realise we are in a fantastic position and this has to be our year.

Double Dreams

"I am not a daydreamer," he continued. "I really think we can win the title and the Champions League this season. Why not? We have the qualities so we just need to stick together and believe in it. Belief can take you very far in football."

Arsenal have stumbled to four consecutive Premier League draws, surrendering the league lead to Manchester United at the weekend, while in the Champions League they face Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

"It is still in our hands to win the double and we have to take these opportunities because we have something special here at Arsenal," Van Persie added before going on to discuss his personal fitness. “Physically I can’t play a full 90 minutes yet but I’m getting there and I just need match fitness now," said the striker, who started his first league game for five months when Arsenal took on Middlesbrough on Saturday.

More Games Needed

"I need three or four games to really get back into my stride but I will give everything I have whenever I’m out on the pitch. It has been a very frustrating season for me. It started really well but now all I ever seem to do is talk about injuries. Yet I don’t feel as though I’m an injury-prone person.

"I suffered a thigh injury in October and then I came back too soon for the Carling Cup semi-final against Spurs and was out for another two months. I take full responsibility for that. It was all my fault. I was too emotionally involved because I was desperate to play.”

Van Persie and Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Sunday.

What Is Happing To Arsenal

Arsenal fans tend to listen when Arsene Wenger speaks. Most recently, he said, "I feel the team fights, we came back again against ‘Boro and this team will fight until the end."

But for many, even the words of their esteemed manager will sound less than re-assuring when one analyses the fact that, barring Arsenal’s fantastic victory in the Champions League against AC Milan, there has been a real downturn in Arsenal’s results as of late.

Never mind that this run of games has seen the Gunners contrive to draw their last four Premiership games, in the process seeing a five point lead over Manchester United evaporate in to thin air. A more worrying prospect for the Arsenal fans will be the form their team is exhibiting as they enter the ‘business end’ of the season, with the team's next five fixtures undoubtedly determining whether the Gunners' three-season wait for a trophy is going to come to an end, or is to extend in agonising fashion.

The scale of the task facing the out-of-sorts Gunners over the next few weeks reads is massive. It starts next Sunday away to the team breathing down their necks in the table, Chelsea, followed by a long trip up North to face bogey team Bolton Wanderers, and then the first of three consecutive games against Liverpool, of which two Champions League Quarter Final games bookend Rafa Benitez’s side travelling to the Emirates for a vital league encounter.

Whilst this run of fixtures would unnerve even the most brazen of Arsenal supporters, the fact that there are worrying echoes of the Gunners' progress last season would seem to only exacerbate the anxiety of the Emirates faithful.

For it was at a similar stage last season when in the space of a few games Arsenal managed to crash out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, a Benni McCarthy thunderbolt sent them out of the FA Cup, Chelsea beat them in the Carling Cup final, and consecutive away day defeats to Everton and Liverpool put the final nail in the coffin of their Premiership challenge for the season.

Whilst the stunning performance of Wenger’s men at the San Siro against AC Milan stands as an example of how Arsenal can equip themselves in a style befitting any title winning team, when one watches the type of displays put in by the Arsenal players in the league in recent weeks then the alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear.

Gone, it would seem, is the breathtaking fluidity that delighted all that had the pleasure to watch Arsenal play, with shining lights such as Cesc Fàbregas and Emmanuel Adebayor on league form alone looking like jaded imitations of the players that started the season in such exciting style.

Furthermore, the injuries to Eduardo da Silva and Tomáš Rosický have seemed to really set the Gunners back, with Arsenal’s trophy push being seriously derailed from the moment that the promising partnership that was developing between Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo Da Silva was broken up so horrifically against Birmingham City.

Uncharacteristic mistakes have also begun to creep in, with a case in point being left back Gael Clichy who by twice criminally dawdling in the penalty box against Manchester City and Birmingham City cost the team goals. There was also his last minute infraction against Birmingham City leading to yet another draw, and of course the embarrassing on-pitch implosion of captain William Gallas.

These types of displays would seem to point to the undeniable fact that this youthful Arsenal team are starting to tire at the most vital stage of the season. The cumulative fatigue exhibited by Arsenal contrasts vividly to that of their rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, who are able to boast squads of much more depth.

For example, players of the calibre of Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba have found themselves on the bench in recent weeks for Chelsea, but the teams winning ways have prevailed.

With regards to Manchester United, the contrast between their squad strength and that of Arsenal’s was displayed in unequivocal fashion in the F.A Cup meeting between the two sides where both managers decided to rest key players. However, the Red Devils' second string simply annihilated their North London counterparts, knocking Arsenal out of the F.A. Cup, and in the process inflicting a 4-0 defeat that would have undoubtedly pleased Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea and Manchester United have also been able to win regularly when not playing anywhere near their maximum. This has not been the case as often for Arsenal, with a review of this weekend’s Premiership fixtures seeing Chelsea and Manchester United winning away to Sunderland and Derby County when playing nowhere near their best, whilst Arsenal dropped two potentially vital points at home to Middlesbrough.

This ability to claim all three points whilst performing well below your previous high standards is a key component of any title push. Arsenal must begin to exhibit this monotonous ability to win to significantly increase their chances of holding aloft the Premiership crown come May.

However , regardless of the poor Premiership form that Arsenal have exhibited in recent weeks, it would be incredibly churlish to write off any team that can boast players of the calibre of Kolo Touré, Cesc Fàbregas, Emmanuel Adebayor et al. when it comes to deciding who will be collecting the silverware on offer come seasons end.

It is not like Arsenal have stopped creating chances over the last few weeks, and supporters will point to dubious refereeing decisions such as Emmanuel Adebayor’s disallowed goal against Middlesbrough and the highly debatable penalty given against Birmingham City as more pertinent reasons for the side’s downturn in results.

Indeed, this Sunday’s visit to Stamford Bridge could provide the team with the perfect opportunity to correct the team’s disappointing results, and get the club’s Premiership title challenge back on track in the most dramatic of fashions.

Arsenal - A Brief History

Arsenal is one of the leading English clubs and plays the kind of football most teams can only dream about. Nicknamed the Gunners, they're a North London team with a huge fan base. They're closest rivals are Tottenham Hotspur but like most clubs these days seem to enjoy locking horns with Manchester United.

They were founded in 1886 which also makes them one of the oldest clubs in the English domestic league. Arsenal is also one of the most successive clubs in the England, having won three doubles and the Premier League on two occasions (and counting).

For many years Arsenal played their football at Highbury stadium but now play their home games at the Emirates Stadium which has a capacity of over sixty thousand fans. The move to the Emirates Stadium has also made Arsenal one of the richest clubs in world football, ensuring they continue to be one of the top teams well into the future.

Famous Arsenal players from the past include Cliff Bastin, Ian Wright, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry to name but a few Arsenal legends. For years, Arsenal had a reputation of playing a strong defensive game and winning games by a single goal. Their back four of Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn is legendary and still used by coaches to illustrate how defending should be.

Arsenal football shirts are traditionally red and white, with white shorts and red or white socks. The designs of their away shirt vary but have often been yellow and blue. Nike have manufactured Arsenal shirts for a long time and have a contract to continue doing so.

This is just a concise history of the Gunners but there is significantly more to learn about this brilliant football club.

Cesc: To Beat Kaka Would Be Fab

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas spoke about the Milan game, and what it would mean to him if they were to beat Milan. He also stated that he wants to spend the rest of his career at the North London club.

Very Happy Here

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNN, the Spanish international revealed that he has not yet entered discussions about extending his contract beyond its current expiry date but will only leave if he is no longer wanted at the club.

"I am very happy, everything is going well, I have got friends in the club," said the 20-year-old .
"I like the life and I am comfortable with the fans. If they don't want me here, then of course I would like to go back to Spain.

"But if the club wants me and the boss thinks I still can give a lot to the club, then I will stay here. I will be here for as long as they want me."

Wenger Ties Me To Arsenal

Fabregas, who was snatched from Barcelona's youth program in 2003, also said that manager Arsene Wenger was one of the main reasons for him wanting to stay.

"He has an eye to catch young players that he wants in the future, and that is something special," said Fabregas. "I have always been grateful for what he has done for me, what he has done for the club and I feel very lucky to be working under him."

Football Faster Than In Spain

In addition to this, he also highlighted the atmospheres of Premier League stadiums and the fast, attacking nature of the football as crucial factors in his love of the English game.

"Whenever you watch a football game here you can see the passion," he said.
"Even if the two lowest teams in the league are playing you can feel the passion. They always try to go forward, even if the game maybe technically is not the best you can feel they go to win.
"In Spain everything is slower and sometimes it takes 20 minutes to see something happen. But of course technically the Spanish league is very, very good."

Title Challenge

As for the Premier League title, Fabregas sounded a note of caution.
"We have to try to play nice football - not beautiful football, but football that really enables us to win. The fans believe in us and we are quite confident we can do it, but there is still a long way to go."

Beating Kaka And Pirlo Would Be Special

Inevitably, also spoke about this week's Champions League clash against holders AC Milan.
"We are all looking forward to it because it will be a very difficult game," he admitted.
"Everybody says they are not doing well in the league, but this kind of team can kill you in one second. They have massive players like Kaka and Andrea Pirlo - we have to be careful, but I still think we have a good chance."

"To beat a team that contains Kaka and Pirlo would be special for me," he continued.
"They are two of the best players in the world. We must pay close attention to them as they can hurt us. It’s important to cancel them out. If we do this, Milan will have problems.”

The Munich Disaster: A Personal Recollection

Review by Mark Hinton, Goal.com

The 50th anniversary of the Munich disaster on February 6th brings back some vivid childhood memories and is a poignant reminder that life is an impermanent lottery and none of us ever know what lies around the next corner.

I am a lifelong Arsenal supporter, from a family of Gunners' fans, and on February 1st 1958 my father took my brother and me to Highbury to see Arsenal play Manchester United, the famous, pioneering Busby Babes. I was six-and-a-half at the time, but besotted with football and passionate about Arsenal.

My Dad had imbued me with a sense of wonder for the Gunners with tales of the legendary Chapman era in which he’d grown up, and of the post-war years under Tom Whittaker when the Arsenal were still a force to be reckoned with.

But the 1957-58 team were no great shakes, and a month earlier had been dumped out of the FA Cup at the third round stage by Northampton Town of the old Third Division South. Still, I'd been taken to three games at Highbury already, two of them involving the first-team, and had not yet seen them lose by the time of United's visit.

However, on February 1st we travelled more in hope than expectation because Matt Busby had built a remarkable young team. They were defending League champions, having won the title in 1955-56 and retained it in 1956-57, when they just missed out on the (then) elusive double of League and FA Cup, losing 1-2 to Aston Villa in the Wembley Cup final after being effectively reduced to 10 men early on when their goalkeeper Ray Wood broke his cheekbone in a sickening collision with Villa winger Peter McParland. The Ulsterman went on to score both Villa goals, but today would have been red-carded without hesitation for his challenge.

That Christmas (1957), my prized present was "The Big Book Of Football Champions", a popular annual in the 1950s, and while there was little in that particular edition to stir the emotions of an Arsenal fan, United featured prominently, with full-page colour pictures of the likes of Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Jackie Blanchflower. Believe it or not, I still have that book.

United's two consecutive League championships had earned them entry into the embryonic European Cup, and Busby had the vision and the guts to defy the archaic English football authorities who were opposed to an English club participating in the competition for reasons of short-sighted self-interest and xenophobia.

United's pioneering exploits in Europe, followed by most people vicariously through the black-and-white footage of newsreels shown each week in local cinemas, had added to the aura of the Babes.

But the basic appeal of that team, even among fans of other clubs, was that they were extending the boundaries, breaking the mould. Busby had proclaimed in the mid-fifties that his emphasis was firmly on youth, and at that time that philosophy was heresy, the stuff of revolution.

But he had made it work. United were playing the game with youthful exuberance and an attacking swagger that was captivating, and what was more, they were making a big impression on the continent with their particular brand of football.

So when they came down to Highbury, ahead of a midweek trip to Belgrade to take on Red Star in the second-leg of a European Cup tie, we were both expectant and apprehensive. It would be something to see them in the flesh; but they were likely to give my team a battering.

The playing surface was as much rolled mud as threadbare grass: par for the course at the time. And, in a way unimaginable today, when the players came out for the pre-match warm-up or "kick-in" (no elaborate, co-ordinated stretching and jogging routines back then), youngsters could take their chances by running onto the pitch with their autograph books and trying to collar their heroes.

I looked on enviously from the front of a packed terrace, too young and small, and probably too timid, to scamper over to the god-like Jack Kelsey or David Herd with pen in hand.

But there is a memorable and poignant photograph from that match (which Arsenal reproduced in their next club handbook), of the great Duncan Edwards happily signing for an awestruck lad with Brylcreemed hair and a duffle-coat. I have sometimes wondered since what emotions that lad experienced over the next few weeks, or indeed years.

The game itself turned out to be a classic, United confirming all their advance publicity by racing into a three-goal lead through Edwards, Bobby Charlton and Tommy Taylor. It was a chastening experience for a young Arsenal fan, but you had to admire United's football.

However, in an amazing three-minute spell after the break, Arsenal drew level with goals from Herd and Jimmy Bloomfield, who scored twice.

But as an unlikely victory suddenly seemed possible, United showed their class with two more goals, Dennis Viollet and Taylor making it 5-3. Then Derek Tapscott pulled one back and for the remaining 13 minutes United were on the back-foot, defending stoically to win 5-4.

It was an awesome football match - one which, had it been televised then as now, would be regularly re-run like that famous Liverpool-Newcastle game of the mid-1990s. Indeed, had the match been captured on film, it would be a priceless artefact now, given what was about to befall. But I had the match programme, now one of the most valuable in my collection because events invested it with unique significance.

We went home disappointed to have lost but knowing we'd been privileged to see such a game, to see our players nearly hold such a team; and we were full of admiration for Duncan Edwards in particular.

In the middle of the following week we heard that United had drawn with Red Star in Belgrade and were through to the European Cup semi-final.

But what I remember most vividly was coming down to breakfast on the morning of Friday, February 7th and finding my Dad in tears in the kitchen with the newspaper in front of him. It proclaimed that the plane carrying the United party back from Yugoslavia had crashed on its third attempt to take off from Munich airport after a refuelling stop. Twenty-one people were already dead, including seven United players. Duncan Edwards was still alive, but in a critical condition, as was Matt Busby. It was all too much to take in, especially for a six-year-old. But the photographs on the front page of the paper were graphic and removed any doubt that something devastating had happened. So did the sight of my Dad crying. I was soon a weeping mess myself.

The next two weeks were surreal. The age of instant and mass communications was still some way off. News dribbled through and my Dad kept me updated. It seemed that Edwards, fighting bravely for his life, would survive. Busby, though, was twice given the last rites, so poor was his condition.

In the event, Busby survived. But 15 days after the crash, Edwards died. It was in some ways the biggest blow of all.

At school on the outskirts of London, people were becoming Manchester United fans overnight. There was never any danger I would waver from Arsenal, but I felt great sympathy for United and willed them to succeed, along, I know, with most of the country.

Their immediate problem was to find eleven players to fulfill their next fixture, an FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Sheffield Wednesday. With a team composed of a couple of Munich survivors, a couple of emergency buys and a string of second and third team players, United beat the Owls 3-0 in what was surely the most emotional football match ever played at Old Trafford, and quite possibly at any ground anywhere.

A few years later we moved to Surrey, and I found that my next-door neighbour, a good six years older than me, was a huge Manchester United fan. He'd supported them since Busby had first started assembling his team, and he had an impressive collection of programmes and memorabilia that inspired me to take up collecting seriously myself.

He showed me the match programme for that Sheffield Wednesday cup tie, with eleven hauntingly eloquent blank spaces where the names of the United team should have been. The club, being managed by Jimmy Murphy in Busby's absence, simply didn't know who might be available at the time the publication went to press. That too has become a valuable collectors' item, for obvious reasons.


* * *


Things change. My own feelings of empathy towards the United of 1958 gradually faded as the club rebuilt, though as a sixth-form teenager ten years later I enjoyed their eventual triumph in the European Cup final - Busby's fitting tribute to the team that had died.

Over the last three decades the likes of Louis and Martin Edwards, Peter Kenyon, Ron Atkinson, Alex Ferguson and sundry United players, not to mention their great rivalry with Arsenal, have removed the positive feelings I once harboured towards the Red Devils.

But I still have great respect and affection for the original Busby Babes, and I desperately hope their memory is respectfully observed in a dignified way this week, particularly before the Manchester derby at Old Trafford. For me personally, and I suspect others of my generation, it will be a deeply evocative and moving minute of silent reflection.

They were a truly great team whose football, as much as their tragedy, deserves its place in any hall of English football fame.

FA CUP UPDATE : Arsenal 3 Vs Newcastle 0

Normal service has been resumed.

While this straightforward victory over Newcastle in the FA Cup Fourth Round may not obliterate the memory of that 5-1 beating at Tottenham in midweek, it will at least help Arsène Wenger's side settle into their old and familiar winning groove.

Newcastle arrived at Emirates Stadium with ambition, determined to take advantage of any Carling Cup hangover. Their industrious game-plan worked to an extent and this lively tie was well-balanced until Emmanuel Adebayor rifled home the opening goal five minutes into the second period.

But after that Arsenal took over and the Togolese frontman secured a berth in the Fifth Round with a second seven minutes from time. Then, just before the end, Nicky Butt touched Cesc Fabregas' free-kick into his own net.

The scoreline was harsh on Newcastle who played a full part in proceedings.
But, at full time, the home side's now traditional huddle was back in evidence ­as was Arsenal's efficiency.

Wenger's men move onwards and upwards ­ not only in the FA Cup but from Tuesday night.

The manager retained four players from midweek ­ Abou Diaby, Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott and Willaim Gallas. Philippe Senderos returned at centre back, Mathieu Flamini and Fabregas were restored to central midfield with Tomas Rosicky on the left while Emmanuel Adebayor was back up front. Jens Lehmann took over the No 1 spot at the expense of Lukasz Fabianski.

Well that is the way Arsenal started anyway. Within 10 minutes Rosicky was forced off with an injury and Eduardo came on. The Croatian joined Adebayor up front and Walcott dropped to the right flank.

It was a not massive change. The game had barely settled down. Newcastle had caused slight consternation from a corner and the stretching Fabregas had nearly touched Gael Clichy's chipped through-ball past Shay Given. But that was about it. Still, there was drive and ambition in abundance from both sides.

Keegan's return had not been triumphant last weekend against Bolton. Gary Megson's underrated outfit had held them to drab goalless draw at St James' Park. Today they were much more vibrant.

In the 14th minute, Charles N'Zogbia's run won a corner. He took it himself and Alan Smith's first time shot was headed off the line by Gael Clichy. A couple of minutes later Stephen Carr and Smith combined on the right only for the resulting cross to flash across the area with Michael Owen in close attendance.

The game was starting to sparkle. Clichy's shot was batted away by Given and then Diaby cracked an effort well wide.

In the 23rd minute, Diaby's attempted pass was half-blocked. The bounce fooled Steven Taylor and Eduardo pounced to lash a shot goalwards. Given saved spectacularly. In the minutes that followed the Irishman made a more mundane save and an unmarked Eduardo miscued his header at the near post.

Arsenal's response had been heartening and it was shaping up to be a wonderful FA Cup tie. While Havant & Waterlooville were doing their best to play out the classic David and Goliath scenario this was more like Clash of the Titans.

On the half-hour, Fabregas cleverly sent Walcott through on the right of the area but the winger's teasing cross trickled unconverted across the face of goal.

Duff's tenacity won a corner at the other end as Newcastle threatened once more but Arsenal's response saw Adebayor nudge a header just wide. It was end-to-end stuff.

However as the game neared half time, the visitors' end came under more pressure. Fabregas fired an angled shot wide and, on the whistle, Given tipped over from Diaby's piledriver.

The interval had come at the wrong time for Arsenal. They were just building up a head of steam and, if anything, Newcastle had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges when the home side took the lead in the 51st minute.

Eduardo received the ball in space on the edge of the area and cleverly opened up his body to curl an effort against the base of the post. The ball rebounded to Adebayor who cut inside his marker and rifled a shot into the far corner of the net.

The Togolese striker has had a tough week, his sliding knee celebration had all the hallmarks of a relieved man.

It was also Arsenal's 100th goal at Emirates Stadium.

Adebayor nearly added another second soon afterwards but, after collecting Diaby's pass in the area, he was dispossessed at the vital second.

The goal had seemingly dented Newcastle's self-belief and they spent the next 10 minutes on the back foot. Once they had gathered themselves Damian Duff continued to menace the Arsenal defence. However there was now an ominous air about the home side.

In the 69th minute Fabregas touched on a Clichy cross and the swivelling Eduardo had a goalbound shot blocked. Newcastle were now spent force. They had played their part in a lively tie but the latter stages of the game were dictated by Arsenal's pursuit of a second goal.

It arrived six minutes from time when Adebayor skipped past a couple of Newcastle defenders and drilled a low shot past Given.

As full time approached, Nicky Butt nodded a Fabregas free-kick past his own keeper.
That was harsh on the Keegan's side.

But, as Tuesday night had proved, the scoreline does not always entirely reflect the nature of the game.

Carling Cup Preview: Tottenham – Arsenal

Carling Cup Preview: Tottenham – Arsenal

What: Carling Cup Semi-Final, 2nd Leg
Who: Tottenham (11th EPL, 27pts) v Arsenal (2nd EPL, 54pts)
When: Tuesday, 22nd January 2008, 20:00 (GMT)
Where: White Hart Lane, London

In The Balance

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham go into battle on Tuesday with their semi-final finely poised after the 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Emirates.

Tottenham took the lead against Arsene Wenger’s young guns two weeks ago with a Jermaine Jenas goal after 37 minutes, only for Theo Walcott to rescue a draw with a rather lucky equaliser 11 minutes from time with Tottenham looking to hold on for the win.

Arsenal would have left the happier of the two sides with Spurs assistant Gus Poyet frustrated not to take a lead into the second leg. "We were the better team. We deserved to win but it's a 180-minute game and there are still 90 to go," he said.

Juande Aiming For Cup Glory

Although Juande Ramos wasn’t in charge for either this season’s league defeat or last season’s Carling Cup defeat, he will be looking to help Spurs exact some revenge on the Gunners and end a long run of defeats for the White Hart Lane club.

Spurs haven’t beaten Arsenal in nine years, so a League semi-final would be the ideal time to finally do so.

Manager Juande Ramos had quite a cup record while at Sevilla, and Spurs fans will be hoping he can continue it in North London tomorrow. During his first season at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, he won the Uefa Cup and followed that up the next year with the Copa del Rey and a successful defence of the Uefa Cup.

Assistant manager Gus Poyet meanwhile admits the club are desperate to finally gain a win over their fierce local rivals.

"I hope there will be a bigger game than this - in the final - but for now at this moment it's the biggest game of the season for different reasons" he said.

"It's all about making sure we get to the final - we believe we can and if we do it's going to be a great night for everyone.

"I won't have to say anything to the players, it's a perfect night for them to be involved - everyone will be desperate to play in this game."

You’ll Not Win Anything With Kids

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger on the other hand is looking to dispel the now famous Alan Hansen adage that ‘you don’t win anything with kids.’

The Frenchman is insisting he will keep the faith with the young players, who have got the club to this stage of the competition and will resist the temptation of bringing in a few more experienced heads to ensure the Gunners make the final.

"We have made decisions that will stand for the second leg. I'm convinced we can do it" he stressed.

Wenger says he is as bemused by Tottenham’s lack of success against his side as the Spurs contingent are.

"The result in the first leg continued our long unbeaten run against Tottenham, and I don't know why it should be that they haven't beaten us for more than eight years.

"They have always had good teams in that period, but we have been fighting for the championship a lot in that time so we always have a high focus. Maybe after a while it becomes psychological as well.

"We will go there positively, looking for the win, and they will be too, so it is set up nicely" the Arsenal boss added.

FORM GUIDE

Tottenham

Match Result Date Championship
Tottenham - Sunderland 2 - 0 19/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Reading - Tottenham 0 - 1 15/01/2008 FA CUP
Chelsea - Tottenham 2 - 0 12/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal - Tottenham 1 - 1 09/01/2008 CARLING CUP
Tottenham - Reading 2 - 2 05/01/2008 FA CUP
Aston Villa - Tottenham 2 - 1 01/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE


Arsenal

Match Result Date Championship
Fulham - Arsenal 0 - 3 19/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal - Birmingham 1 - 1 12/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal - Tottenham 1 - 1 09/01/2008 CARLING CUP
Burnley - Arsenal 0 - 2 06/01/2008 FA CUP
Arsenal - West Ham 2 - 0 01/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Everton - Arsenal 1 - 4 29/12/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE


TEAM NEWS

Tottenham

Tottenham midfielder Steed Malbranque returns from suspension, but Tom Huddlestone begins his three-match ban following his red card in Spurs’ FA Cup third round draw with Reading.

Ledley King was rested at the weekend to protect his knee and could return for the White Hart Lane clash.

Didier Zokora is on international duty and Chris Gunter is cup-tied. Gareth Bale (foot), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Anthony Gardner (ankle) are all out, while Darren Bent (knee) has been out recently and would be likely to miss out if he was fit.

1st leg line-up: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Lee, Lennon, Jenas, O’Hara, Malbranque (Boateng), Berbatov, Keane (Defoe)

Squad: Cerny, Robinson, Chimbonda, Lee, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Kaboul, Rocha, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Jenas, Boateng, O'Hara, Tainio, Lennon, Berbatov, Defoe, Keane, Rose, Taarabt.

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed William Gallas will lead the side for Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Tottenham.

Philippe Senderos (nose) has joined Johan Djourou (groin) on the sidelines, so Justin Hoyte or Gilberto are set to fill in at centre-back.

Theo Walcott is set to return, having not been involved at all in the win over Fulham on Saturday, while Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner should also both feature after being unused substitutes at Craven Cottage.

Striker Robin van Persie (thigh) is not yet match fit, while Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are all away at the African Nations Cup.

1st leg line-up: Fabianski, J.Hoyte, Djourou (Sagna), Senderos, Traore, Walcott (Randall) Denilson, Silva, Diaby, van Persie (Eduardo), Bendtner

Squad: Fabianski, J Hoyte, Gallas, Senderos, Traore, Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto, Eduardo, Walcott, Bendtner, Mannone, Sagna, Rosicky, Randall, Gibbs, Lansbury, G Hoyte.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham- Robbie Keane

Fresh from scoring his 100th goal for the club at the weekend against Sunderland, Robbie Keane will be looking to get back on the goal-scoring trail immediately and do his bit to fire Spurs into a Wembley final. The Republic of Ireland international will look to profit from an under-strength Arsenal back four and cause the Gunners all kinds of problems with his strike partner Dimitar Berbatov.

Arsenal- William Gallas

Gallas may well be asked to provide the experienced head along with midfielder Gilberto Silva as Arsenal look to win at White Hart Lane and kept up their unbeaten run against Spurs. The French defender said last week that the youngsters at the club inspire him. On Wednesday it could well be Gallas’ turn to inspire them and lead them to a place in the Carling Cup final.

PREDICTION

Expect a full-blooded English Cup tie at White Hart Lane with two fierce local rivals both going all-out to reach the final. I just have a sneaky suspicion that this could be the night when Tottenham get that long awaited win over their North London rivals and book their ticket in the final. There should be plenty of drama in N17 and goals aplenty.

Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2

Arsenal All-Time Best XI

With Arsenal challenging Manchester United and Chelsea for the Premier League title again this season, Arsene Wenger has his sights set on a fourth championship as manager of the Gunners, with an entirely different team from the one that went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 League season. But who would make it into an Arsenal all-time best XI? Graham Lister considers the candidates and makes his selection...

North London club Arsenal have seen a host of top-class players wearing the famous red and white shirts throughout an illustrious history, so there is a large, high quality field from which to choose an all-time best Gunners XI.

Founded in 1886, the first 40 years of Arsenal's existence were largely unremarkable and yielded no major trophies. But once visionary manager Herbert Chapman was appointed in 1925, things started to happen. The club broke its duck by winning the FA Cup in 1930, and then the honours came thick and fast.

In the last decade before the Second World War, the Gunners' dominance of English football was unprecedented, though Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s, and Manchester United in the 1990s and early 2000s, were no less dominant in their eras.

Several Arsenal players from the 1930s are still icons in the club's history and would have walked into any best XI at the time. Indeed, in 1934 the Gunners provided no fewer than seven members of the England team for an international against Italy.

Arsenal also enjoyed much success in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the early and late 1970s, the early 1990s and of course, since 1996, the Wenger years.

But football has evolved dramatically over the years in terms of formations and tactics, speed and players' fitness. There is a valid argument that talented players from any era would still shine today, given the benefits of contemporary training methods, equipment and coaching ideas.

Comparing players from different eras is a fascinating exercise even if it throws up insoluble arguments. In the following selection the players concerned have been judged in the context of the team and the time in which they played. Whether, at their peak, they would all have clicked as a unit on the pitch at the same time we'll never know, but it's interesting to speculate....

Goalkeeper

Among the most outstanding goalkeepers in Arsenal history are the indomitable Jack Kelsey (1950-62), the Welshman who throughout the 1950s was the one genuine world-class star on their books, and who in several indifferent seasons was primarily the reason the Gunners preserved their top-flight status; the brave and agile Bob Wilson (1963-74), whose speciality was the suicidal headlong dive to pluck the ball off an onrushing forward's feet; and the unflappable David Seaman (1990-2003), who was the reliable anchor to which three title-winning campaigns were tied.

But the best of them all was PAT JENNINGS (1977-1985). When Spurs decided to sell the quiet 32-year-old Ulsterman to their arch-rivals they never imagined he would go on to make 326 appearances as a Gunner, play in four major cup finals in three years and become as big a crowd favourite at Highbury as he had been at White Hart Lane.

Jennings had unrivalled positional sense, provided an intimidating barrier in one-on-one situations, could pluck crosses out of the air all day long and still possessed the reflexes of a much younger man, making difficult saves look easy and pulling off the near-impossible stops with calm assurance of a master.

He was renowned for one-handed saves, but then each of his hands was enormous. He spread confidence among the defenders in front of him and would rank among the world's best goalkeepers of any era. After returning to Spurs at the age of 40 as first-team cover, Jennings went on to serve Northern Ireland again in the 1986 World Cup finals, and set a record of 119 caps. That was later exceeded by Peter Shilton, above whom many rated Jennings in terms of raw ability.

Right-Back
Leading right-backs in Arsenal's history would include reliable England international George Male (1929-48), who was converted by Chapman from left-half with outstanding success, and Laurie Scott (1937-51), who shone in the early post-war years. A very strong contender for the title of best player in this position is Pat Rice (1964-80), who was not blessed with outstanding natural talent, but was so determined to make the grade that he worked and worked on his game through hour after hour of extra training until he forced his way into the team and remained there for a decade.

Local boy Rice, who has been Arsene Wenger's assistant manager throughout the Frenchman's tenure, and who has spent all but four of the last 44 years with the Gunners in various capacities, was an integral part of the team that won the Double in 1970-71. He appeared in five FA Cup finals for Arsenal and lifted the trophy in 1979, one of three years he spent as captain. After Rice, Viv Anderson (1984-1987) and Lauren (2000-2007) , were distinguished right-backs.

But the accolade goes to Mancunian (and Manchester City fan) LEE DIXON (1988-2002), signed by George Graham, who'd monitored his steady progress at the footballing outposts of Burnley, Chester, Bury and Stoke, then took him to Highbury where his career flourished. A former winger, Dixon never lost his attacking instincts, his two-footed ball control and crossing ability or, until later years, his impressive pace. (He was 38 when he retired in May 2002, having just won the FA Cup again). But those skills were complemented by a clever defender's brain based on positional sense and sharp tackling.

Right Centre-Back

Herbert Chapman introduced the tactical change of converting centre-half into a dedicated defensive position to counteract a change on the offside law, and he made Herbie Roberts (1926-37) the original 'stopper' centre-half, so effective they dubbed him the 'Policeman.' The likes of Les Compton (1931-52), Ray Daniel (1946-53) earned their places in the Arsenal Hall of Fame, while Irish international David O'Leary (1973-93) made his debut as a 17-year-old in 1975 and went on to make 722 competitive first team appearances for the Gunners - still a club record - as arguably the most elegant centre-half they've had.

One of the most popular - and effective - was Steve Bould (1988-1999), who saw off the challenge for younger challengers for years and is now a coach at the Arsenal Academy. One of those challengers was Martin Keown (1981-86 & 1993-2004), who was versatile, rugged and peerless as a man-marker. And there is little doubt that the superbly athletic and aware Kolo Toure (2002 to date) will soon be an automatic pick for a selection such as this.

For now though, the honour still goes to one of the greatest captains in Arsenal's history, FRANK McLINTOCK (1964-1973). The Glaswegian joined Arsenal from Leicester City as a swashbuckling, attacking wing-half in October 1964 and filled that role effectively until, during an injury crisis in 1969-70, assistant manager Don Howe switched him to a reluctant centre-half and his career moved onto a higher plane altogether. His assured reading of the game, instinctive timing and incisive forward runs revealed an apparently seasoned central defender; but his leadership qualities were second to none and gained full expression from the middle of the back four.

Always one of the most committed, defiant and passionate characters on any pitch, he commanded respect from his team-mates and led the Gunners by example to the European Fairs Cup triumph of 1970 that ended a 17-year trophy drought at Highbury. That was the springboard for the following season's superb League/FA Cup 'Double,' in which McLintock - voted Footballer of the Year in 1971 - was again the inspirational leader.

Left Centre-Back

McLintock's partner in manager Bertie Mee's Double-winning side was Norfolk boy Peter Simpson (1960-78), a quiet, unassuming defender who liked a cigarette but loathed the limelight. Nicknamed Stan after the undemonstrative one in Laurel & Hardy, Simpson was seriously underrated and denied England honours only by the excellence of Bobby Moore. He was a clean-tackling, cultured performer, masterful in distribution and a byword for consistency. Sol Campbell (2001-06) was a commanding physical presence in the Arsenal back-four, and current captain William Gallas (2006 to date) may yet earn a place in Arsenal folklore.

But it is hard to imagine anyone having the credentials or the character to oust TONY ADAMS (1982-2002) from any all-time Arsenal best XI. Possibly no one player has epitomised the club more completely than Adams did for nearly two decades in the first team. Only O'Leary played more times for the Gunners, who were the only club the Romford boy (now assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth) ever played for - or wanted to play for.

His loyalty and commitment to Arsenal were legendary and helped make him both the most successful and popular captain in the club's history. The fact that he successfully overcame a brief imprisonment (for drink-driving) and self-confessed alcoholism only added to his stature. Apart from being a top class defender who earned 66 England caps and captained his country, Adams was a physically brave, rock-solid motivator who inspired respect and unreserved admiration from both George Graham and Arsene Wenger. Above all, Adams was a born winner.

Left-Back

There is a dynasty of excellent Arsenal left-backs stretching in an almost unbroken line of succession from a prince of the Chapman team, Eddie Hapgood (1927-45), to the ever-improving Gael Clichy (2003 to date). It includes such luminaries as Walley Barnes (1943-55), Joe Wade (1944-56), Dennis Evans (1951-63), the tireless and dynamic master-organiser Bob McNab (1966-75), Sammy Nelson (1966-81), the combative, adventurous and enduringly popular Nigel Winterburn (1987-2000), bubbly Brazilian Sylvinho (1999-2001) and Ashley Cole (1997-2006).

Selected ahead of them, though, is KENNY SANSOM (1980-1988), one of manager Terry Neill's shrewdest acquisitions for the club. The transfer that brought the stylish Sansom to Highbury stunned the football world. Recently signed striker Clive Allen - who never had time to play a competitive game for Arsenal - and reserve keeper Paul Barron both moved to Crystal Palace as part of the deal that saw Sansom become a Gunner as Nelson's long-term replacement. He possessed an awesome burst of pace, the anticipation to effect telling interceptions, prodigious aerial ability for his relatively short physique, and passed the ball with enviable precision. England's left-back throughout the 1980s, he made just under 400 appearances for the Gunners and was skipper when they lifted the Littlewoods (League) Cup in 1987 at the end of George Graham's first season as manager. Graham's purchase of Winterburn later that year signalled the beginning of the end of Sansom's Arsenal career, but this polished performer was genuinely a class act.

Wide Right Midfield

Joe Hulme (1926-38), Alf Kirchen (1935-43) and Danny Clapton (1953-62) gave sterling service to Arsenal on the right-wing, but as tactics evolved, more became demanded of the position, and in the modern era, outstanding performers for the Gunners on the right of midfield included the much-loved David Rocastle (1982-92), who offered superb balance, dazzling dribbling skills and a hammer-like shot, and who died at the tragically young age of 33 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer. Also prominent on the right were workaholic Ray Parlour (1988-2004), who brought balance and dynamism to Wenger's midfield, and the versatile Freddie Ljungberg (1998-2007), who had few peers when it came to making penetrative runs beyond or across the opposition's back line, and also weighed in with 72 goals. Alexander Hleb in the current Arsenal side is one of the most skilful players in the Premier League whose superb close control and astute passing are proving to be potent weapons for the Gunners.

But the all-time Arsenal great in this position is GEORGE ARMSTRONG (1961-77). 'Geordie' was an orthodox winger whose work-rte was so prodigious that was both an auxiliary defender, tirelessly tracking back and regaining possession, and one of the most prolific providers of 'assists' in the game. Assists were not formally recorded in his era, but it has been calculated that he played a part in more than half of Arsenal's goals during their 1970-71 'Double' triumph. Equally effective on either wing, his perpetual motion made him tough to mark for opposing defenders, and his willingness to fight for the cause often frustrated opponents' attempts to build attacks of their own in his vicinity. He had impressive ball skills and punishing pace, but his greatest asset was an ability to cross the ball at speed with consistent accuracy to his intended target - more often than not John Radford, Ray Kennedy or George Graham. He also notched up 68 goals of his own in an Arsenal career spanning 621 appearances. He later returned to Arsenal in a coaching role, managing the reserve team. He collapsed and died on the training pitch in the autumn of 2000 from a brain haemorrhage, but remains one of the true greats in Arsenal's history.

Central Midfield - Holding

The holding or defensive midfield role has evolved over time from hard-tackling wing-half to box-to-box all-rounder. The Gunners' leading exponents of the former version include the likes of 'iron' Wilf Copping (1934-39), the original Arsenal hard man, the two Scots Archie Macaulay (1947-50) and Alex Forbes (1948-56), who were key figures in Tom Whittaker's successful post-war teams, and the genial, bandy-legged captain of those Whittaker teams, Joe Mercer (1946-54). Since tactical innovations gave birth to the concept of a clearly-defined 'midfield', Arsenal have been strongly represented in that area of the pitch by the uncompromising Peter Storey (1961-77), Eddie Kelly (1966-76), enthusiastic workhorse Brian Talbot (1979-85), combative but articulate Emanuel Petit (1997-2000) and solidly reliable Gilberto Silva (2002 to date).

But there really can only be one selection in this position for a best all-time Arsenal XI, and that is the peerless PATRICK VIEIRA (1996-2005). From the moment he set foot on the Highbury turf in September 1996 as a 20-year-old first-half substitute for Parlour against Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal fans knew Wenger - who had not yet formally joined the club - had delivered them someone special. Over the next nine seasons - the last three of them as an inspirational captain - Vieira proved himself to be one of the best midfielders in the world, constantly courted by the biggest clubs in Spain and Italy. Wenger eventually sold him to Juventus, but only after he had acquired legendary status among Gooners everywhere as an imperious enforcer who combined razor sharp tackling with the finesse on the ball of a juggler; visionary passing with the power and athleticism of a thoroughbred racehorse. Notoriously combustible on the pitch, a soft-spoken giant off it, Vieira's place in Arsenal's Hall of Fame is guaranteed. Now with Inter Milan, he has made it clear that his heart is still in North London.

Central Midfield - Creative

The lineage of outstanding Arsenal players who have filled this role is impressive, beginning in the Chapman era with the legendary Alex James (1929-37) and continuing with another crowd-pleasing Scottish schemer, Jimmy Logie (1939-55). Jimmy Bloomfield (1954-60) provided the creative spark in a distinctly average team, but left when Arsenal signed George Eastham (1960-1966) in his position. The frail-looking Eastham was one of the most intelligent players to wear the Arsenal shirt, with the awareness to spot an opening and the footwork to thread the ball through the eye of a needle to exploit it. Alan Ball (1971-76) was more robust but equally adept at passing and an energetic bundle of commitment. Paul Davis (1978-95) was cultured and precise. And Cesc Fabregas (2003 to date) could yet become the greatest of them all given his rate of progress and what he has achieved at the age of 20. He literally has the world at his feet.

However, this pivotal role in the team goes to LIAM BRADY (1971-80), who enthralled a generation, many of whom say he was the best they ever saw in Arsenal colours. The slightly-built Dubliner was a waif with a magic wand of a left foot, a sublimely gifted playmaker with the skill and vision to dictate the pattern of a game through his own inventiveness. Arsenal as a team were just short of greatness during Brady's time at Highbury - one FA Cup triumph, three losing cup finals but no sustained challenge for the League title; yet for many, just watching Brady at work was a reward in itself. He was superbly entertaining with a mesmerising array of attributes - great balance, exceptional close control, an infinite range of passes and the ability to disguise his intentions until the ball was played. His decision to move to Juventus at the end of the 1979-80 season left a cloud over Highbury that took years to disperse, but he was a great success in Italy, also playing for Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Ascoli with distinction. He returned to Arsenal in 1996 as head of the club's academy, a role he continues to fill.

Wide Left-Midfield

As an old-style left-winger, Cliff Bastin (1929-46) joined the Gunners at 17, had won every major honour in the English game by the time he was 20 and finished his Arsenal career with 396 appearances to his name and 178 goals - the latter a club record that stood until Ian Wright broke it half-a-century later in 1997. Others who filled that role to good effect included Don Roper (1947-57), the mercurial Swede Anders Limpar (1990-94), devastating in the club's 1990-91 Championship triumph, and flying Dutchman Marc Overmars (1997-2000), who made a huge impact in the 1997-98 Double season.

Getting the vote, though, is ROBERT PIRES (2000-06), the pigeon-toed Frenchman with the shuffling gate that is deceptively fast. He was an integral and inspirational figure in the 2001-02 Double season, despite suffering a serious cruciate knee injury in March of that campaign, came back to score the winner in the 2003 FA Cup final, then made another outstanding contribution as the Gunners won the Premier League again in 2003-04, this time unbeaten. Distinguished by his prompting and probing runs, the quality of his passing was superb, and Pires could set up or score goals from either flank. He favoured drifting inside from the left wing to provide a telling assist or finish a move, and developed a potent understanding with Thierry Henry on the left. Pires racked up 84 goals in his six seasons as a Gunner, a terrific return for a midfielder, and provided magnificent entertainment.

Strikers

In the Arsenal pantheon as at most clubs, the great goalscorers have been revered down the years. If the criterion for selection was simply most goals scored, the top two all-time scorers would be automatic choices; but that might not tell the whole story. The stand-out scorers for Arsenal down the years include David Jack (1928-34), who was once Britain's costliest player and scored 124 goals in 208 Arsenal appearances; the courageous, swashbuckling Ted Drake (1934-45), 139 goals in 184 games; David Herd (1954-61) 107 goals in 180 games; and the hugely popular Joe Baker (1962-66), 100 goals in 156 games.

As tactics and formations evolved, defences became more sophisticated and goals were harder to come by. Centre-forwards became strikers and target men, often deeper lying and with responsibilities to bring others into play. Arsenal featured such stars as the irrepressible and extravagantly talented Charlie George (1966-75), who scored 49 goals in 179 appearances and set up many others; John Radford (1962-76), the archetypal leader of the line in the Sixties and Seventies, who racked up 149 goals in 482 games; and Frank Stapleton (1972-81), a master craftsman with 108 goals in 300 games. Alan Smith (1987-95) also led the line with great intelligence, a deft touch and clinical finishing that yielded 115 goals in 347 appearances.

Then there was the exuberant, theatrical phenomenon that was Ian Wright (1991-98), a goal-poacher supreme who played with a swagger and a smile but also a burning desire to get the ball into the back of the net as often as possible. Were it not for the two strikers selected, Wright, with 185 goals in 288 competitive first team appearances, would walk into this team.

But he loses out to two forwards whose credentials are even more compelling.

DENNIS BERGKAMP (1995-2006) was without doubt one of the most naturally gifted footballers ever to represent Arsenal, a footballing genius with exquisite touch, the wit and imagination to see things before others ever did, the audacity to attempt them and the subtle technique to accomplish them in style. Though given to occasional moments of petulance, the Dutchman was the epitome of cool, a master assessing the options in a fraction of a second and making the killer intervention with deft precision or punishing power. In 424 appearances he scored 120 Arsenal goals, many of them master-pieces, but also contributed countless assists. Indeed he often seemed to relish setting up a goal for a team-mate as much as scoring himself.

Lucky for Arsenal fans, then, that Bergkamp’s time at the club coincided for the most part with that of THIERRY HENRY (1999-2007), because the pair seemed pre-ordained to dovetail on a football pitch. Although injuries also played a significant role, it is no coincidence that Henry's least productive and unhappiest season with Arsenal was his last one, the first without Bergkamp who'd retired that summer (2006). But fortunately, before that there were seven seasons of sensational scoring feats. Henry, with 226 goals to his name in 369 appearances as a Gunner, was by a distance the club's all-time leading scorer by the time he left for Barcelona. But merely citing the prodigious quantity of his goals does scant justice to their quality. A more selfish striker (an Ian Wright, for example), would have accumulated even more, but Henry like Bergkamp provided numerous assists (82, in fact), so that critics said he was not so much a great goalscorer as a scorer of great goals. To most Arsenal fans, he was surely the most accomplished, artistic, audacious and adventurous goalscorer they ever saw, or expect to see again. He looked for invention and improvisation all the time: the manner of his goals was as important to him as the mere fact of scoring. Blistering pace and peerless technical ability make Henry one of the all-time greats in his position, a model of class and consistency with the ability to take your breath away time after time. Football is ultimately entertainment and Henry at Arsenal was the supreme entertainer.

To recap, then, here is the selection for the best all-time Arsenal XI:
Jennings

Dixon McLintock Adams Sansom

Armstrong Vieira Brady Pires

Bergkamp Henry

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Second XI:
Seaman

Rice Toure Simpson Winterburn

Rocastle Petit Fabregas Overmars

Drake Wright

Manager: Herbert Chapman