Hello and how are you? So, for the second time in our history as a football club, I’m happy to say, the Mighty Cannon will play in the Champions League Final, as we take on the French champions, PSG. KO 6.00pm local ( 5pm UK) in the Puskas arena in Budapest. Expected weather in the Hungarian capital is 24° (feels like 28°) with humidity at 45%, dew point at 12°. There are some thunder storm warnings (yellow).
In many respects, such was the intense slog and grind of our last matches and then the eruption of utter euphoric celebration in reaction to winning the Premier League, that the CL and our run in it, seem to have been put on a back burner?
Perhaps(?) for many of our fans, this is just something of a novelty as the PL reigns supreme. For me it isn’t so.
Our last outing to me, was beyond my expectations as an Arsenal fan, not since I started watching in 77/78 had we reached such a personally exciting moment. It really seemed audacious and ambitious.
At that point we had become such a force, that winning domestic titles and cups was almost normal? But the Champions League was something else, a chance to take our place amongst the elite of the game, in a golden age of football and footballers.
To me Arsène brought a different perspective to Euro competitions, in the same way, from my perspective, he changed Arsenal into a cosmopolitan club. To see his face at the end of the loss to Barcelona, trying to hide such bitter pain, knowing we could have won the game, was almost too much to take. I’ve only watched the highlights once since that night. It was one of two games I couldn’t(can’t) watch, the other being game fifty, a match that leaves me still unable to look at again.
For two seasons we have a good run in the CL, played some good football, and have beaten some great sides. Sometimes we seemed able to breathe more easily as a unit than in the PL? In many ways the CL has been a lot of fun, to play in and for me to write about, more than the PL. Looking back at all the games I feel a bit melancholic, it’s a tough metaphorical mountain to climb, and we’ve quietly and efficiently gone about our business, all those games and here we are at the final of it all.
Saturday’s opponents, narrowly ejected us last season at the semi-final stage, but anything can happen this 30th of May, anything. And that’s why I’m not going to even attempt at predicting at any aspect of this match.
I’m grateful to be back and I hope we can take this one in our stride, and lay aside the ghosts of twenty years ago.
For the last time this season I called up Statto HQ, and they stopped looking on Instagram and blurted out that Arsenal (Champions of England) have a 30.2% chance of winning. PSG ( champions of France) have a 40.7%. Next up, the world cup and the excitement of transfer (mostly fake) news! Have a safe and enjoyable summer.
So COYG!
Mills.
Thanks Mills. a fine season you have had.
It’s fair tom say that this game is the biggest for 20 years, and maybe ever? I say “ever” because we are a target of mockery from other fans because we are the only , what people might call, super club, that hasn’t won it. 20 years ago City and Chelsea hadn’t won it either, but now they have and it’s now go to banter for others to claim we can’t be a super club.
Wining it will make this squad and their manager immortals.
For once I don’t really care how we go about wining as long as we don’t simply try to stop them playing and hope for smash and grab.
Good luck lads, may the force be with you.
Pedantic George.
Positively Arsenal 
not played much pickleball recently due to injury, getting physio on my back soon, hopefully that will allow me to play more.
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Braga’s physical trainer Antonio Gómez, has joined Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff at Arsenal. He was the youngest fitness coach at a CL club last season, he is only 29
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thats good! Seem to remember you were pretty good?
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Brazil are not a great team
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We’ve got a new eastern European cleaner at work and she’s really quick at everything apart from hoovering…….
I think she’s a Slowvak.
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well that is Brazil out then, two goals from Haaland and only a few minutes left. Ah well Gabriel and Martinelli can have some rest and get back to most of our pre season, although I expect Martinelli to be sold.
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ian get your coat
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Arsenal today linked to Real Madrid Central defender Raul Asencio and West Ham right back Aaron Wan Bissaka
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Arsenal also linked with Ghana Midfiedler Caleb Yirenkyi (20), of FC Nordsjaelland who play in the Danish Superleague.
Also Argentina Midfielder Tomas Aranda (19), of Boca Juniors
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Arsenal Women have signed German forward Selina Cerci (26) from Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, where she scored 34 goals in 47 appearances.
She is an Arsenal supporter.
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Edwin Quintero who will join Arsenal next year along with his twin brother, scored on his first team debut, not sure what the hell he has done to his hair, its the oddest hair cut I’ve ever seen
https://x.com/zapping_ecu/status/2073224259158122713/video/1
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oh on his hair cut, just seen that its a tradition at his club for senior players to cut the hair of a new young player when they join the first team, a bit like the new Arsenal players having to sing a song.
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George, I am now working at as records and was trying to tell the story about Dean Parrish. Can you tell me the story again and who was your DJ mate who first played it at Wigan.
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Sky are reporting that the Ilan Meslier deal will be done soon and that the intention is to allow Tommy Setford to go out on loan.
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Thats Ace records
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I wish Determination was on Spotify, missing it from my soul playlist. Also baby Cakes by Loretta Williams. Dean had a top voice though, as good as Chris Farlowe.
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wow! youre at ACE! that was my favourite lable for years. Hope its going well and in the future too! Top bins mate!
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well ian on the iIlan Meslier deal, it remains to be seen if he will be Setford’s replacement or Kepa’s
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reports in Mexico say Arsenal have bid £17M for Gilberto Mora, the 17 year old forward. He turns 18 in October so it would be January before he could play for the club. Liverpool also very keen on him
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a little rumor that Ilan Meslier will not be the only bosman free transfer goalie to sign, with suggestions that Yann Sommer has held talks with Arsenal about coming in as a replacement for Kepa
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Swiss Ramble, football’s expert on financial affairs, has just released an new analysis on the financial state of the Premier League clubs.
As clubs announce their results 9 months in arrears, a lot of the analysis is on a assumption based basis using information collated from the facts of previous seasons.
The piece consist of 14,000 words and a 100 graphs, that deal with the PL generally and each club individually.
He says ARSENAL will break the revenue received record.
Only one PL club has made an operating profit.
Revenue boosted generally because of new TV deals especially overseas.
There will be a big increase in profit from player sales.
Three clubs will have wages to turnover of over 80%.
Six clubs will have a pre-tax operating profit
I don’t have the full analysis because you have to be a life subscriber to receive it but you can guarantee that bits will be put out by different media outlets in the coming days.
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David Ornstein says Bruno Guimaraes has informed Newcastle United of his wish to leave and join Arsenal
seems reps have informed Newcastle of a second verbal offer from Arsenal in the region of £60M for him, but no direct talks between the clubs, which it seems has annoyed Newcastle
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Ornstein also says Arsenal well advanced in move for Tsolis from Brugge, but will only be done when Trossard leaves. Besiktas in talks with Trossard’s agents today, deal agreed with Arsenal.
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it seems Kyran Thompson is joining Newcastle, it had seemed certain he would join Spurs, but it seems there was a change of mind on that.
Mishel Nduka and Emerson Nwaneri have looked set to leave Arsenal this summer, but some reports today say to not rule out them signing scholarship forms here after all. Man City very keen on Nduka.
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as expected Arsenal women have signed 27 year old Switzerland midfielder Geraldine Reuteler from Eintract Frankfurt
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ARSENAL have officially announced the signing of Ilan Meslier
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Elijah Upson, the son of former Arsenal player Matthew Upson was at London Colney today to complete his move after leaving Spurs. Has ever a father and son played for our first team, the Upson’s could be the first, the Aliadiere’s are in the running too, Theo Aliadiere is highly rated at Hale End, he is a striker just like his Dad, Jeremy
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Arsenal one of a number of clubs who have offered scholarships to 16 year old twins Joseph Ntege and Jubilee Ntege after they left Reading, they are youth internationals for Sweden
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we might get some news soon on who has taken up scholarship deals at Arsenal as the scholarship induction ceremony is being held at the Emirates tonight.
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U18 wide player Gabriel Arteta, the son of our first team manager, has been training with our u21’s this season, which suggests he is part of our second year scholars this season. He played 4 games for the U18’s near the end of last season.
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So after all the talk of European teams not doing well at hot world cups only Argentina remain from countries outside Europe.
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reports that both Arsenal and Liverpool are in for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, (18), who has starred for Morocco at the World Cup, but any deal would see Lille insist on him being loaned back to them for next season.
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Thomas Tuchel has spoken of Declan Rice playing in almost “unbearable discomfort”. His pain is caused by a nerve from overplaying and ONLY rest can cure it
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Arsenal Women have signed Barcelona and Spain fullback Ona Batlle
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Simon Jones reports that Elijah Upson has chosen to join Arsenal after leaving Spurs. The 18-year-old son of former England defender Matthew had offers from Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen and Monaco.
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