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"ARSENAL = UNSTOPPABLE?"

Ok, as a Blackburn supporter, you must forgive my ignorance for thinking that Arsenal are likely to be the most successful English team next season. Blackburn will stay in the Premiership obviously, after 2 years in the second best division in the UK, but for me, Arsenal seem to be the most active "big team" in the top flight in regards to transfers and summer signings. The following text me be unsuitable for Tottenham Hotspurs fans, please take precautions...

Arsenal. 1998 was their year, when they won the Premier League and FA Cup double - the third team to have won the Premiership, and the only other team aside from Blackburn to stop Manchester United from almost ten years of absolute domination, so I respect them for that. 1999 they finished second to United, 2000 they finished second to United and guess what - 2001 they finished second to United, although last season was arguably Liverpool's year after they won a fantastic cup treble. Well done to them.

Now, as a non Arsenal fan I wouldn't mind if they were an also-ran team, a mid table dwelling side that no one paid any attention to, but they aren't, and they're one of only 3 or 4 teams that stand a chance of derailing Alex Ferguson's Manchester Red Devils. One day I hope Blackburn can emulate the success of the 1995 Championship winning side, but nest season I can't see them quite being in the forefront of things - top 10 is a realistic hope I should think, but not a champions league placing or title contention. Leeds, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are the four teams that all stand a good chance of capturing the trophy other than United - forget Muhammed Al Fayed's mumblings about Fulham going for the title, he's obviously not seen some of the top flight sides play.

So, Arsenal - why will they achieve so much this season? For starters, last year wasn't their greatest although I felt they should have won against Liverpool in the FA Cup final, but Michael Owen had different ideas - good for him. Arsenal will be playing in the Champions League again, and of course both the League and FA cups - all of which COULD be won by the Soon to be "mighty Gunners". With such a strong squad at the moment, and with Vieira staying on for at least another season the summer signings will make them a better side, on paper at least, than the mighty Manchester United.

So far, they've captured the multi-positioning Giovanni van Bronckhorst from Rangers, a very talented player and at just 26 years old, his free transfer is probably going to make him the most cost efficient and effective signing. I'm sure he'll play week in week out, maybe alongside last season's player of the year Patrick Vieira. 25 year old centre back Igors Stepanovs looks to bring some youth to the ageing defence, but of course the most controversial, the transfer that has caused the most uproar amongst Spurs fans but has brought electrifying excitement for all Arsenal supporters, is without a doubt the signing by Leicester of Ian Walker....

....I mean, Arsene Wenger's capture of Sulzeer Jeremiah Campbell, a.k.a. Sol Campbell! At 26 years of age, Sol finally realised that he wasn't going to achieve anything with the "let's buy old people because they're cheaper" attitude of his old club, and now bitter rivals, Spurs. He's considered to be one of the best defenders in the world, and at 6'2" he's a pretty big blockade. Incredibly quick, immensely powerful and on £5 million a year for the next 4 years, Sol Campbell, and all the Arsenal fans must be feeling fairly pleased right now. It's good for the rest of us too because at a stronger club he's going to be playing with better players, so his standard of football should improve even further, so England will have a better defender than before - we'll win the World Cup - you know we will! So Sol strengthens the Highbury massive, putting the pressure on Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Lee Dixon and Oleg Luzhny.

Richard Wright – England’s next keeper after David Seaman eventually gets dropped (he’ll be about 60 probably) – has made his way from Portman Road for a £6million price, making Ipswich a little worried in regards to their goalkeeping vacancy. He’s proven alongside his newly promoted (previous) team that he is a top keeper and could very easily, hopefully, for the good of the nation, takeover the reigns from big Dave. Everton reject Francis Jeffers has magically appeared on the scene and will become the proud wearer of the classic number 9 and could re-ignite his career – I predict he’ll be the second highest scorer at Arsenal after Thierry Henri. What a team. Henri is the best striker in the Premiership, Wiltord will remain at the club – probably only scoring in the FA Cup games, newly retired, scared of heights but highly skilful, Dutch international Dennis Bergkamp will of course be there too and will play behind the two strikers. Ray Parlour, Silvinho, Matt Upson, Grimandi, Lauren, Ljungberg, Pires, Edu and Kanu (to mention but a few) will all be staking their claim for a place in what I believe will be the best team of next season. It’s not raining & I can see them winning more than one piece of Silverware next year. Mr Wenger, the wrinkly, miserable unhappy faced…person, will have something to smile about. Blackburn as I say will do well, but keep your eyes peeled for the Gunners. Big it up for Arsenal!

Any more signings guv? Err, yes! Arsenal maybe about to give some financial support to Spanish champions Real Madrid after their £40million + signing of the worlds greatest player, Zinedine Zidane – they could be getting Steve McManaman. Although the curly haired scouser has pledged a career away from ye old Premiership ye, he could be on his way to join the other big name signings. Unlike Chelsea, Arsenal have mainly bought British players and that is a very, very uplifting thing to do, lets hope others adopt the correct view that British is best, or at least “good enough” and we’ll have a better Premiership all round.

Ok, so if you’re a White Hart Lane Faithful, do not worry. You’ve got the skills of Poyet & Sheringham to look forward to. They’re both old-ish, but they’re still superb players.



Who do you think will win the League?

Look fwd to next season then :-)

We can beat Man Utd but can't win the league. It's a marathon, not a race.

Ah, but Liverpool did the double over a certain team.

Liverpool really had a good season. The only problem is that we didn't win the league.

Beautiful. Liverpool had a stunning year last season.

I've supported Liverpool for 10 years.

Odds were something like 30-1 of them getting into Europe, I think, hence I won 30 X £5. Which is £150.

Blackburn have a far stronger side now. We'll see what happens! Anyway - who do you support?

Sunderland had a dodgy end to the season and finished behind Chelsea. Sunderland were battling for Uefa cup and couldn't do it.

Blackburn haven't been in the Premiership for 2 seasons. A lot changes in two seasons.

How much money did you win and what were the odds?

Grandprix wrote:
> Ipswich have lost their prize keeper!

Arsenal have won the prize!


Sunderland drifted out near
> the end.

Actually, they got better didn't they? Peter Reid is a very shrewd and tough manager. Top 6 for them possibly.


Blackburn and Fulham are untested in the Premiership so no
> one can predict what they will do.

Blackburn are not untested in the premiership, as they have won it before, but now they have a resurged team - a new strong wealth of youngsters, and managed to have the best second half of season in the country. Fulham are very strong too.

There is no way you would have
> said that Ipswich would get into Europe last season.

Really? I actually won money on it ;)

Ipswich have lost their prize keeper! Sunderland drifted out near the end. Blackburn and Fulham are untested in the Premiership so no one can predict what they will do.

There is no way you would have said that Ipswich would get into Europe last season.