FTK’s TGIF:Next season’s new home shirt revealed

Welcome to TGIF which took a break last week, let’s dive in and see what’s on offer as the clock ticks down to reveal the new home shirt for season 2010/11. This has not been an exciting week so I am pleased to be able to unite Gooners with something positive for a change!

The revealing of what I expect to be the new home shirt for 2010/11 season is a great moment for Arsenalinsider. I stress that this is my artists impression and it reveals that Arsenal are going retro much to the relief of many fans who did not enjoy a Charlton Athletic look alike jersey. Back come the white sleeves and the nearest comparison of course is the shirt worn when we beat the Scum at White Hart Lane in 1971 to win the league. The loss of the collar and the simple no nonsense red and white kit will sell, mark my words.

I can also exclusively reveal that the away kit returns to a theme of yellow, but I shall release my artists impression of that next week, so tune in. But of course there will be many of you out there doubting the credentials of this site and wanting to ridicule this exclusive. For those doubting thomas’s let me remind you of my artists impression of the away kit last year,

 And here is the original kit as sold by Arsenal Football Club…

 

Ok this did not become the official away kit but please recall that I did mention that there would be a blue version, unfortunately for me the midnight blue became the official away kit with the white stripy number being our third. But no other blog site managed to scoop the collars and the stripes. So why have the club gone retro? It started with the 1989 kit that saw us win the league at Anfield. There are many anniversaries due, the official 125yrs of the club and 40 years since that famous Double. Here’s how the official site remembered the occasion

 

On Monday, May 3, 1971, Bertie Mee’s side travelled to the home of their local rivals for the final match of the league season. Arsenal, trailing Leeds by one point, knew that a victory or a scoreless draw would bring the title back to Highbury for the first time in 18 years.

However, a scoring draw would not be enough for Arsenal with goal average decisive in the event of teams finishing level on points. In other words, it was more important for Arsenal to keep a clean sheet than it was for them to score.

In the event, they managed both.

A crowd of 51,192 crammed into White Hart Lane and twice that many were locked outside. Those who had made it through the turnstiles were treated to a taut, tense thriller.

Martin Peters threatened early on for Tottenham while Charlie George and George Graham went close for Arsenal. Spurs were determined to deny Arsenal the chance to emulate their Double of 10 years earlier but, with three minutes to go, they finally succumbed.

Pat Jennings produced a first-class save to deny John Radford but George Armstrong retrieved the ball and chipped it back across goal. Ray Kennedy climbed to head past Jennings via the underside of the bar.

It was a moment to savour but also largely irrelevant because a Tottenham goal would still be enough to deny the Gunners. “That was the longest three minutes I have ever known,” Kennedy said later. “As Tottenham came back I remember thinking that perhaps it might have been better had my header not gone in.”

Spurs poured forward in search of a precious equaliser but Bob Wilson’s safe handling calmed Arsenal’s nerves and the final whistle sparked pandemonium among their players and fans. For the eighth time in their history, Arsenal were champions.

 

Ray Kennedy’s header and Charlie George’s thunderbolt at Wembley defined that season which can be seen in archive footage on the official site Arsenal TV Online. Well worth the money at £3.99 a month.

Well do you like the shirt? I do and I intend to buy it.  

A mixed week as far as the site was concerned. The week started with an thoroughly excellent appraisal of the ownership situation at the club in the light of Usmanov’s likely cash injection following the public flotation of metalloinvest. Hidden within this gem of a blog that I would urge those of you who missed it, to go back and read it  here

It is the sad situation of Danny Fiszman and his diagnosis of throat cancer, the treatment of which is on going and the rumours are that he is responding well. The thorny “what if” scenario of the disposal of his shares in the event of any demise. His offspring do not appear to be very Arsenal orientated and faced with such an inheritance, perhaps their safety could not be guaranteed. Together with Lady Nina’s shareholding, Usmanov could become owner of Arsenal Football Club every easily. Lets hope that the medics looking after Danny Fiszman have no connection with Tottenham Hotspur…lol 

There was the Fourth spot play off and my take on it. It should be dead in the water after the mauling that Arsene Wenger gave it today’s press conference. But most of all the Goonersphere was again divided on the mid term report of Le Boss. Currently with 13 games to go, we look likely to finish in the top four. Winning the title is still mathematically possible especially after the Everton result against Chelsea. Unhappily Everton may not be able to field a strong team against Man United, who seem to have the luck this season. Yet they are not playing like Champions other than in the way that they collect 3 points every time they take to the field courtesy of one Wayne Rooney. 

Finally of course there was the Porto result. Some Gooners wanted Fabianski hung drawn and quartered, others put the blame at the door of Arsene Wenger. I would remind Insiders that it is only half time and we can easily overturn the deficit with an away goal into the bargain as well. Lets all pull together and smash Sunderland eh?  

With relation to Robin van Persie

 

“If you ask me is it the beginning of April, I would say categorically no because he has not started any real fitness work yet,” said Wenger at his pre-match press conference.
 
“Once he starts that, it will take at least six weeks.
 
“Maybe [he will be back] at the end of April if all goes well. If there is no set-back, he should be back before the end of the season but it is very difficult to predict.” 

 

How much have we missed our Dutch Talisman? Well it is likely that we will not win major trophies because of his absence, but was it really realistic with his past history of injuries that he would have remained fit the entire season.

Imagine if Wayne Rooney had been injured for the same length of time for Manchester United? There is no question that Sir Alex ferguson would have gone out a bought a replacement striker. Arsene chose not too. So it is his responsibility that the club lies where we are. 

Remainder of the highlights of Arsene Wenger Interviews/Media Press conference. 

Arsene still unhappy about the Porto indirect free kick that lead to their second goal. He concedes that our team did not respond well to the situation.

Arsene rejects the comparison with Thierry Henry’s quickly taken free kicks.

Arsene feels that the team as a whole must support the guys who makes mistakes.

Arsene is aware that Fabianski had a nightmare of a night, but he calls for him to be supported. He will be a great keeper in the future.

Arsene is confident that we can overcome the deficit. 

Abou Diaby is injured with a medial knee ligament, Gallas calf strain probably back in 2 weeks, Arshavin, Eduardo still out Almunia is 50/50 Robin van Persie will not be back before the beginning of April. 

Sol Campbell will be assessed to see if he can play.

Alex Song will be 80% likely to make the squad for Sunderland. 

We have to stick together The desire is there This is a vital moment for the Club. 

Sunderland are now three points above the relegation zone. We must win this game. 

There 25yrs of Arsenal in the Community being celebrated 

He would like Portsmouth to be helped by the Premier league to save the credibility of the league and for that club to complete the season, but to allow the club to sell players outside the transfer window would set a dangerous precedent for any other mismanaged clubs.

The history of UEFA referees over the last 30 years has not been good. 

He believes that Martin Hansson was incompetent in carrying out his duties. 

He agrees with the fine levied against Wolverhampton Wanderers for fielding a weakened team against Manchester United. But the fine of £20,000 suggests that Wolves had a very good lawyer. 

Performance of the week has to go to Nigel Banfield’s Arsenal Reserves who quietly went about their business midweek and beat Chelsea 2:1 on the dodgy pitch that was Griffin park the home of Brentford FC. Goals from luke freeman on 39mins and Gilles Sunu on 75 mins secured a good victory. There were anxious minutes as Chelsea scored and tried to mount a fight back but the Young Guns held their nerve and secured the victory that put them leaders of the league on 22 points ahead of Aston Villa on 21 points, however the Birmingham side have two games in hand on the Young Guns, so they must continue to grind out results. 

 Guess who below… 

 

Martin Hansson please step forward , bend over and receive your award…  

To those of you Gooners who continue to keep the faith as the good ship Arsenal negotiates this stormy sea of torment 

Arsenal ‘til I die!

Fabregas the King  ftk@arsenalinsider.com {jcomments on}