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 
from Arsenal.com
We’re delighted to announce Borussia Dortmund will be our opponents for the Emirates Cup 2026, as part of our preparations for the 2026/27 campaign.
Our men’s first team will face the Bundesliga side in this year’s Emirates Cup, to be played on Sunday 9 August, with kick-off at 2pm.
First staged in 2007 at the end of our inaugural season at Emirates Stadium, this year’s tournament will be the 15th edition of the Emirates Cup, as we proudly enter the 20th year of our partnership with Emirates Airline.
Emirates Cup 2026 will follow our pre-season matches against Girona in Spain on Saturday, 1 August and Real Betis in Dublin on Wednesday, 5 August.
We are planning for a further men’s pre-season match, to be played in midweek after the Emirates Cup 2026. Details of this match will be announced soon.
Our pre-season schedule concludes with the FA Community Shield against Manchester City in Cardiff on Sunday August 16, before we begin the defence of our Premier League title at home to newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday August 21
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so our first pre season game this summer is 5 weeks tomorrow.
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looks like Granit Xhaka is joining Chelsea
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Norgaard being linked to Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.
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Arsenal women are expected to announce at least five signings thi week. With deals for the following players either at the pre contract signed stage or moves at a very advanced stage.
Ona Batlle 27 year old Spain full back from Barcelona
Geraldine Reutelere 27 year old Switzerland central midfielder from Eintracht Frankfurt
Georgie Stanway 27 year old England central midfielder from Bayern Munich
Selina Cerci 26 year old Germany forward from Hoffenheim
Lisa Baum 19 year old Germany winger from RB Leipzig
for me a commanding central defender is a must so hopefully we see at least one more signing done by Arsenal women along with the 5 above
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Arsenal being linked with 17 year old Mexico attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, who is the youngest player at the world cup.
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Arsenal set to lose 16 year old midfielder Mishel Nduka who they signed only last summer from Charlton
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seems Arsenal hold an interest in bringing in a a CB, with Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix two that have been considered.
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the interest in a CB may be linked to concerns to over Saliba’s back injury that continues to be monitored and the worry is that he may need an operation on it after the World Cup, or at the very least he may need a prolonged rest period before returning to action.
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Ed, how are you?What do you think about Bruno G maybe coming? Im not so sure…
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Hi Mills, we have been long linked with Bruno G, with him not far off 29 I suppose the fee will be key, but with city inflating the transfer market once again with their massive fee for Anderson. There is a bit of the Xhaka about Bruno G, and he gets away with a lot at Newcastle that he would be carded for at Arsenal.
Berta seems to have a particular way of doing transfer business, in that he will go a long way down a deal with several players for the same position at the same time, and then pull the trigger on one deal, and if that don’t get done quickly switch to the next in line.
Rumor has it Morgan Rogers is a main target, maybe for the left wing spot, but again with Anderson fee setting the tone it seems Aston Villa will want well over £100M, while Rogers camp were sure £80m would be the asking price.
Now with Barcola looking to be available at PSG after they gazumped Liverpool in the move for Diomande he might end up at Arsenal.
i would love for Arsenal to sign Kroupi from Bournemouth. And on the topic of Bournemouth it seems they will only sell Alex Scott if they get a fee well over £100M too. Its all gone mad.
wouldn’t it be mad if arsenal signed Alex Scott and we would then have had an Alex Scott who played for the Womens team and an Alex Scott who played for the mens team.
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I see Reigan Heskey has turned down a pro deal at Man City and is set to leave them this week with a whole host of top clubs, including Arsenal vying for his signature.
I’d rather see Arsenal sign Shamrock Rovers Michael Noonan who turns 18 next month and can be signed to a UK club then. Only downside to Noonan is the bad publicity that would be stirred up about his Dad who is serving a 13 year prison sentence for drugs.
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Germany out of the World Cup, they lost to Paraguay on penalties, Kai Havertz scored Germany’s equaliser in regular time, but missed his penalty in the shootout
he should now be available for most if not all our preseason
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Ed, thanks for putting up all the transfer news, I much prefer to come here and read it than search around, so many thanks mate! COYG!
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Illan Meslier who has been released by Leeds is being linked with a move to Arsenal, he was lees no.1 for 5 seasons but last season he was demoted to back up or even third choice.
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latest on 16 year old Mishel Nduka, his contract finishes today at Arsenal, and he has an offer from Man City, with other top clubs also in for him, but Arsenal have also offered him an improved deal
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Bayer Leverkusen Attacking Midfielder, Ibrahim Maza is the latest player to be linked with Arsenal
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Besiktas are reported to be very close to agreeing a deal with Arsenal for Trossard, in the region of €20M. One stumbling block is said to be high agent fees.
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seems lots of clubs making offers to Kepa, its reported that there is a £5M release clause in his contract.
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France knock Sweden out of the World Cup so Gyokeres should be available for most if not all our preseason games.
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Arsenal one of a number of EPL clubs linked with a move for Mainz’s 25 year old Japan DM, Kaishu Sano
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Arsenal are advertising for a new U21 Team Head Coach, this does not mean they will not promote from within as they did last time despite advertising the position.
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Daphne van Domselaar, Olivia Smith, Caitlin Foord and Michelle Agyemang will all move to different shirt numbers for the forthcoming season.
Their new numbers will be:
Daphne van Domselaar – 1
Caitlin Foord – 9
Olivia Smith – 11
Michelle Agyemang – 17
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reports that Pascal De Maesschalck has been appointed the new Head of the Arsenal Academy.
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Tonali joining spurs for £90M with another £10M add ons
might make us getting Bruno G more difficult, as Toon now have money, but of course it might make it easier for Bruno G to force his way out if he wants.
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The way the world cup is going it looks like an Argentina v France/Spain final. South America v Europe once again.
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looks like Man City have gazumped us on the Monga deal.
Kepa it seems has asked to leave with Juventus one of the clubs after him
Matt Ryan who we had on loan 5 years ago is said to be one of the options to replace Kepa.
We are being linked with Chelsea’s central midfielder Enzo Fernandez
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Santi Cazorla has officially retired from playing,
really hope Arsenal bring him in as a coach, either with the first team or maybe give him the U21 job which has been advertised
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Arsenal’s interest in Konza is said to be Arteta driven, with doubts over Saliba’s fitness(seems he may need a minor procedure on his back injury after the world cup) and with Ben White expected to be sold, Konza who is a CB but can play right back is seen an a good option, a fee of £35M is hoped by Arsenal would get the deal done, but some reports say villa want double that.
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David Ornstein saying Arsenal withdrew from the Monga deal cos the £10M fee Leicester City were demanding was too high.
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Santi is 41, a truly wonderful footballer.
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reports in France say PSG will bid for William Saliba
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As expected Georgia Stanway has signed for Arsenal Women after her contract at Bayern Munich ended. The 27 year old England international has a trophy laden career so far, lets hope she continues that at Arsenal.
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Pascal De Maesschalck has joined Arsenal as Academy Director, he will take up his role on the 1st of August
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25 years ago today Sol Campbell joined Arsenal on a free transfer from Spurs.
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former arsenal goalie, who has been linked with a return to us this summer has been brought on by Australia for the penalty shoot out with Egypt
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26 years ago today the great Robert Pires joined Arsenal
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Some saying Trossards off to Besiktas…what do you think? Im not sure…
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Mills it looks to be accurate. The rumors have been going on most of the season that Trossard would leave this summer, in fact last summer when he was given a pay rise but not a contract extension it was said he would leave this summer. And with Arsenal seemingly very keen to bring in one or two wide left players then room has to be made with sales.
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seems Man City are paying £12.5M for Monga, which is about twice what Arsenal offered.
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fitness coach Jose Jimenez has joined Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen
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4 weeks today Arsenal will play Girona in our first preseason game of the season. Although there are rumors there will be a behind closed doors friendly before then, possibly against a lower league UK team, QPR a possibility.
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Fee agreed for Trossard, 17 million with 15.4 upfront. That’s a pretty good deal for a player who is nearly 32.
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Just saw this, has nothing to do with anything but it cracked me up and I wanted to share it, hope it makes you laugh! COYG!
A duck walks into a bar……”Got any bread?” ”No .” ”Got any bread?” “No.” ”Got any bread!. “No!” ”Got any bread?” ”No!! And if you ask any more I will nail your beak to the bar !” ” Got any nails?” ”No.” ” Got any bread ?”
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Mills that made me chuckle.
What did the Bra say to the Hat
You go on a head and I’ll give these two a lift.
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That one made me laugh too Ed. heres another one…not as funny as the duck though. COYG!
A wealthy couple had planned to go out for the evening. The woman of the house decided to give their butler, Jeeves, the rest of the night off. She said they would be home very late, and that he should just enjoy his evening. As it turned out, however, the wife wasn’t having a good time at the party, so she came home early, alone. Her husband had to stay there, as several of his important clients were there. As the woman walked into her house, she saw Jeeves sitting by himself in the dining room. She called for him to follow her, and led him into the master bedroom. She looked at him and smiled. “Jeeves,” she said. “Take off my dress. ” He did this carefully. “Jeeves,” she continued. “Take off my stockings and garter.” He silently obeyed her. “Jeeves,” she then said. “Remove my bra and panties. ” As he did this, the tension continued to mount. She then said, “Jeeves, if I ever catch you wearing my clothes again, you’re fired!”
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well Mills I’m bald so I decided to get a tattoo of rabbits on my head, from a distance they look like hares.
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LOL!
Its been god to have a laugh, been missing you guys on the blog and Arsenal really loads.
International footballs ok, but not really my thing. But the season will soon be starting!
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well Mills the world cup today took a major dive in even its low standards, with the suspension of the one game ban for Balogun cos Trump asked for it to be done. FIFA is openly corrupt.
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I look in all directions in this earth Ed and see that kind of thing going on. I dont know mate. maybe it was always like this but we didnt see it as much? Luckily theres still a lot of places and people who still haves ome dignity and fairness, and dont have their hands in the till of life!
You still playing pickle ball?
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