I'm not THAT bothered about Sanchez. He's been great for us but I don't love him and find him quite annoying sometimes - there is something about the downward turn of his mouth that I find unprepossessing as well as that habit of scrunching up his shorts at free-kicks. Hoy is right - choosing City over Bayern tells you everything about his ambition which is largely to put as many pesos in his account before returning to a comfortable retirement as an icon in Chile like Zamorano and Salas before him. They come. They go. Only players I would be sad to see leave now are Ramsey, Iwobi, and Giroud - and the latter only because it makes me and my son laugh when Mrs Daz says "oh look there's Olivier Giroud" when she sees him on TV during games.

Funny. how nobody is discussing Özil!

Quinton de Kock should surely be flying Sopwith Camels over Flanders - he seems to have jumped eras.

Thats an interesting observation. Mesut finished the season quite badly and it seems funny how everyone is talking about sanchez but not Özil leaving. He's a funny player Özil, i don't know wether he's overhyped or over rated or under appreciated. He will always have an element who does like him.

I think he will sign a new contract and if he doesn't i'm not really fussed if he went. If sanchez doesn't go this summer i think he could sign a new contract during the season. Hell be 30 not this December but one after and next summer he won't be getting 4 year 300k a week contract offers then if he's about to turn 30

Hearing really good things about the young Lithuanian Spünkit Awåe but I think Chelsea might be in for him.

Chelsea's new German signing is an Arsenal fan. I was quite impressed with Rudiger when he played in the Confederations Cup.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... l-10741310

you know Johnny Boy's views on cricket and with him in mind I watched half an hour of gaelic football this morning ...... quite good viewing can't help thinking it would be better if they had a few rules .

Yes if somebody really wanted to spoil John's birthday a present of a book of cricket poems would probably do the trick.

It is hard not to let the sillier side of my mind get the better of me over that name. Must have been a trial for him at school - almost as uncomfortable as playing Moeen on a bunsen.

Yes, once again Wenger has failed miserably in the transfer market. Even if he signs the Brazilian prodigy Sheeton Leggs, as is being widely rumoured, that will not compensate for letting Chelski get to Spunkit first.

Is that the same Rudiger who collapsed in mortal agony in the penalty area after Hernandez tickled his belly?

Not sure I understand what you're getting at. It can't be an insinuation that he was acting, as Germans don't do that. The conclusive proof for that being Michael Caine, the greatest actor in the history of the world, was born in Rotherhithe which isn't in Germany.

Yes I watched that as well - pleased to see the Wicks sneak past the Meaths by a slender 6.2 x 39 (x = sin y) against 9 (6.2 π)

Sets up a grand auld final against The Burrens - I'm just after packing a rasher sandwich and my she-wee for the train.

Indeed. You should be on the Sky Sports coverage to explain it to your fellow Saxons, Daz.

More importantly, Cork won the Munster Hurling Championship yesterday.

Young Sheeton is apparently desperate to play for Guardiola (or as he's sometimes known: plus image rights) so I could see Wenger making a sneaky move for the emerging Vilnius striker Noend Produkt.

Neutrals are describing it as a huge múscraige of justice...

Although strictly speaking I'm not all THAT Saxon as my great-aunts discovered to their chagrin when they tried to do a family tree for my gran's 80th in search of some blue blood...

You're a bit of a Celt so, I take it?

There were some "travellers" a few of whom ended up on the gibbet and also jews. All in all not what they wanted although I was quite pleased at the time as it enhanced my cosmopolitan pretensions. On my dad's side though it was solid northern grit although I think they made their way to Lancashire from Wales originally.

Luckily I don't really care about any of these ethnofictions. For me it is usually better to look at whether somebody is a *%^@ or not than where their grandparents are from.

Unless obviously it is about the number of foreign imports in domestic sport where I become a blood-and-soil Nazi.

Very happy for you personally. Wish nothing but the best for you there. How is it coming back? Noticeable changes or pretty much the same?

The Graham legacy? Even though he managed Sperz, most on here I know and I would say all, because I can't remember anyone saying a bad word about Graham. Maybe they have but I don't recall. I think Graham's place in Arsenal history depends on what generation you are. If you were old enough to be there for the '89 title, etc. then he's firmly a legendary manager. If you weren't, then I'm guessing he's remembered a little less fondly. How much? Not sure, but not as much as those that were there in '89, '91, Cup Winners Cup.

http://www.gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2017 ... is-legacy/

Hodd, is Joe Willock one of yours?
http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/p ... e-13309391

A fitting tribute to our greatest ever manager

Congrats Hoy. Massive achievement

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-40553202

Hodd, using American sports as my reasoning and that we live in the electronic age, I have to imagine that identifying good young players that haven't been noticed that much has gotten exponentially more difficult.

I remember I had to hear about how good teenage basketball players and American football players were until they got to univeristy. Now, on youtube they have their own highlight series. Its extended down to middle school and now elementary school.

A standout 7 year old in most sports here are being immediately tracked, statewide, regionally and sometimes nationally.

Basically, there really aren't any more hidden gems. They are unearthed and known. The exceptions are youth that have improved a lot in a short time (which would also correspond with growth spurts).

How intense is scouting these days?

The young lads we have brought in this year have been fantastic. Full of speed and skill. We are getting our act together underage too. Cork might finally be returning as a force again. Our footballers though....Jesus wept.

Do they get to play the Addams Family next?

You have to remember AG, that Stroller was an Arsenal legend before he came back manage us. All those double/ fairs cup winners will always have a very special place in many Gooner hearts. 17 years without a trophy before the Anderlecht final and then the final league game on Monday night at WHL and the 1 - 0 win. Then to top it all a glorious extra time cup final win against Liverpool with what I still think is the best ever goal to win a cup final and a double from Charlie George.

They did their best to get rid of it!

Or even the Danish winger Kantrun Fast.

Not sure bout that but he was some player. Superb header of the ball, sublime passer, a shimmy that your Sister Kate would die for and a hard man when need be.

I was out when he got there, otherwise I'd have made him a cup of tea. Actually wearing that hat the guy has an uncanny resemblance to my son.

Good but I'm more interested in the Bulgarian playmaker Fitov Klée. Apparently his big role model is Julio "the beast" Baptista.

Baptista. Who will ever forget the man with the touch of an Aberdeen granite kerbstone?

Would have scored five in one match at Anfield if he'd converted a pen. Surely would have been a record.

I typed in hurling and somehow got gaelic football ....... Tipperary v Galway

Losing my way with rugby a bit , little things are starting to p*ss me off ; bouncing the ball half a dozen times when kicking off , all the f**** around in the lineouts , not putting the ball in the centre of the scrum , the advantage rule , the need to touch hands with the whole bench when substituted , feigning injuries to run down the clock , the rolling maul . Old and crusty I know

Oh and let's not forget the need to clean out the eardrums with some Jay Z , Creed or Snoop Dog every time play stops for three seconds .

I didn't know he was deemed a legend as a player. I knew he was well known and liked but not legend status. Thank for that information. Even though I became a fan after he left, I respect the name highly.

Him being at Sperz around the time I became a fan didn't sit well intially..haha.

How was that received at the time? Did Arsenal fans turn on him?