My Best UEFA Euro XI of All-Time

The first Euro tournament I watched was in 1992 while at Gaddafi Police Barracks in Jinja (Uganda) at 8 years of age. As for the 1988 final won by Netherlands, I have only seen highlights: Marco van Basten's goal (challenged by David Trezeguet's Golden Goal for France in 2000) must be the Greatest Ever Euro Goal. His captain - Frank Rijkaard, who scored the first goal in the 2-0 triumph, even confessed that Marco cannot repeat it because it was just one-of-a-kind. I was born a few months before Michel Platini inspired France to the Euro Championship (1984), so I do not remember watching it. But here are my Best 11 European Players who have featured in the continental showpiece. Just like most of my Best FIFA World XI won the World Cup, almost all the players on this list have won the Euro.



1. Peter SCHMEICHEL, Goalkeeper (Denmark): Like I said in the intro, he was the first outstanding Euro Goalkeeper I noticed. Great reflexes and an unflinching attitude made him great. Iker Casillas, Fabian Barthez and Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) are all suitable but there is only one spot...

2. Bixente LIZARAZU, Rightback (France): He was a free-roaming player and since he is rightfooted, I would prefer him on the right instead of as leftback...



3. Cristian CHIVU, Leftback (Romania): The left side of defence is reserved for the energetic and very talented Romanian (from Gheorghe Hagi's era) who could dribble better than most outfield players and had a speculative fastshot. Other than him, maybe I can include Jordi Alba...

4. Patrick VIEIRA, Midfielder (France): Well, he was born in Africa but because of the French Assimilation Policy, he makes it to the team as one of only two Blacks on my European List. With a menacing demeanour, the Senegalese Frenchman was a stalwart in defensive midfield and also had an eye for goal plus a good assist. He is the only Gunner among my First XI, Best Deputy would probably be Cesc Fabregas...

5. Lilian THURAM, Centreback (France): The second Black-skin on my List, actually the Blackest European on my List was rock-solid at centre back. Say No to Racism! I wouldn't even bother to find out where exactly his ancestors originated from...

6. Carlos PUYOL, Centreback (Spain): Another reliable centre-back who was the defensive Cornerstone of Spain's double Euro-winning Generation and 2010 FIFA World Cup Champions...



7. Zinedine ZIDANE, Midfielder (France): Though from Algeria, which some Africans consider already part of Europe, Zizou is the Playmaker of my team in place of Xavi Hernandez (a great passer). The Frenchman seemed to outplay great teams when he wanted. The Euro 2000 Semifinal game against Portugal was just one of the indicators of his ball-controlling prowess.

8. Andres INIESTA, Midfielder (Spain): A sleek, creative dynamo who made FC Barcelona sparkle in the new millenium playing alongside great non-Europeans like Ronaldinho, then Eto'o, Messi, Suarez and Neymar. What better way to pay tribute to Johan Cruyff (inventor of Total Football) plus Pep Guardiola (enforcer of Tikitaka - onetouch Football) than to include one of the Best Symbols of those styles in my Euro XI! It was not a surprise that Spain won the Euro in 2008 and 2012. If he got injured, then I would replace him with the sharp-shooting Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff to have fun with his friend Zidane...

9. Jurgen KLINSMANN, Midfielder (Germany): Germans are normally great footballers, but since they won the Euro only in 1996 during my lifetime (I never witnessed the previous two), I reserve this spot to name a few Germans. Klinsmann was a lively star of the 1996 Champions. Oliver Bierhoff was also a hero. In 2008 when Germany almost won it again, losing only 1-0 to Spain, I think Bastian Schweinsteiger - donning blonde hair played his heart out like a man on fire during the entire tournament.



10. Michael LAUDRUP, Striker (Denmark): 1992 was a great year because I realised that I wanted Football to be my future though Germany lost the Euros and Laudrup didn't play for Denmark who failed to qualify originally but were given war-torn Yugoslavia's place in the Euros which they won. Nevertheless, 'Michelino' had amazingly quick footwork and elegant vision like an angel. Just enjoy! I must confess, Laudrup was a star player I can never forget from Euro '96 and the 1998 World Cup. He actually had a younger brother Brian who won the Euro in 1992. The things he did with his boots, I would be alright if cameras only focussed on closeups of his boots and legs. He never even received a red card in his career. He is Arsenal Midfielder Santi Cazorla's Favourite Player while growing up as a Kid; I guess that corroborates the Spaniard's amazing ambidextrous Footwork. As Laudrup's substitute, I might include Thierry Henry, Andriy Shevchenko, Davor Suker or Sylvain Wiltord but that is just a maybe...



11. David VILLA, Striker (Spain): Why Villa of all Euro strikers? Compared to his taller teammate Fernando Torres, Villa is more excitingly lethal. He reads the game very well and usually scores at the Best Time especially like while playing for FC Barcelona, at least according to me. He was among the Golden Crop that broke the 44 year old Spain Curse in 2008 when he netted 4 Goals as the Tournament's Top Scorer...



My Best Euro Manager would be the ever-cool, humble, patient, quietly modest but very prudent Spanish Legend Vicente DEL BOSQUE (Gonzalez), born on 23rd December 1950. Out of a possible 186 games in four seasons, Real Madrid (the club at which he spent most of his career) won 104 times but he was still fired during the evening of the day after the Meringues (White Angels) won their 29th La Liga title and second with him. He was dispensed because he didn't fit with Real's 'modern' marketing-driven business plan for the future. Having joined Real as a teenager, he was a Madridista to death and served the club for over 30 years (later coaching it between November 1999 to 2003 - the Most Successful Period in the Club's modern era that included the Los Galacticos) but after being fired by someone he described as a "smart-alec dressed in a pair of braces", del Bosque vowed never to work for the club again. He took on the reigns of the national team in 2008 and they won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa plus successfully defended their Euro crown in 2012 (Spain's third like Germany). He is the only Football Manager to have won the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, Euro and World Cup. Talk of Karma...

Alex Iwobi is a Rising Star

They don't come easy: YOUNG GUNS with a mature head on their shoulders. Back then in the mid 2000s, there was Cesc Fabregas. [Man Utd's Martial has it and Rashford showed glimpses of what he can do including two goals on his debut against Arsenal.] But 19 year old Nigerian forward Alex IWOBI is Arsenal's newly released ammunition for the future. He has been at the club since he was 9 years old and scored his first Premiership goal at Everton in March 2016. He followed it up with his first at the Emirates Stadium in the next match on Saturday 2nd April 2016, a fine low shot after a cutback assist from Alexis on a Day when 9 year old Arsenal Youngsters were paraded at the Emirates (Half Time). You cannot deny the fact that Augustine Jay Jay Okocha's nephew is a rising star. He could as well emulate his uncle and become the Most Entertaining African Player in the Premiership. His rifleman goal celebration is also fitting for a true Gunner! Victory through Harmony...

Three Players Who Could Have Won The Champions League for Arsenal



Arsenal has never won the UEFA Champions League, but the closest they came was in 2006. If Jens Lehmann hadn't been sent off nor Robert Pires substituted in the final against Barcelona, it might have turned out different. The milk spilled already, but there are three players who could have won the UCL for Arsenal if only they were purchased before they actually won it: Rooney (2008), Suarez (2015) and Vidal (?).

9 Red-hot Seasons at Highbury

When I became a Gooner in 1998, I did not envision in my Wildest Dreams that Arsenal would move to a new home (Ashburton Grove) despite the fact that Highbury Ground was almost half the capacity of the Biggest Stadiums. But despite the size, the last nine seasons at Highbury were enjoyably red-hot.


1998: F.A. Cup final, Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-0 at Wembley to complete a domestic Double. David Seaman had the EPL's Most Clean Sheets in goal; striker Dennis Bergkamp - the Flying Dutchman was the Player of the Year while Nicholas Anelka became the Young Player of the Year. Arsenal's All-Time Leading Scorer at that time (with 185 goals) Ian Wright retired. He was missed in the 1999 Premier League Season which saw the club surrender their crown in the final run after a 1-0 defeat by Leeds United. So, Wenger brought in Thierry Daniel Henry during the 1999-2000 pre-season and the rest is as they say: well, read on!


2002: Patrick Vieira saw his dreams come true as Arsenal became a force to behold. This was a very memorable time for me as my loyalty to the club was tested in a crucible and rewarded at the same time. Arsenal clinched their second Double under Wenger and third overall, remaining Unbeaten away from home. They became the First English Team to score in every match extending the record to 55 consecutive games. Awards went to Henry (Top Scorer), Bergkamp (Goal of the Season), Pires (Football Writers Association Player of the Year) and Ljungberg (F.A. and Barclaycard). I actually made an exclusive Arsenal Season Chart with pictures and statistics filling up a manila scroll after May 2002, probably now lost or burnt. A cousin much older than me plus a diehard Man Utd fan asked me how I knew all this information. I did not reply him, but the reason is simply: my Heart adores Arsenal!


2003: Ljungberg was on the verge of becoming the First Player to score in three consecutive F.A. Cup Finals but he blew his chances. Remember when he felt so dejected after his first half strike was cancelled out by two late goals for the opponents in 2001 and then he returned to net the second for Arsenal the following year after some serious soul-searching? Pires saved Freddie and the team's blushes in a 1-0 Final win over Southampton though the Swede scored some in the preliminary stages. The Premiership on the other hand was like the remake of the 1999 Slip Up before Thierry joined. We surrendered the title 2-3 at home because of the same team (Leeds) and to the same Champions (Man Utd) yet scored more goals than them and ended the season only five points behind which means if we hadn't lost two extra games, we would have remained Champions for three consecutive Seasons considering the fact that we never lost again for a very very very very long time...


2004: This was arguably the Best Premiership Season at Highbury, a feat never achieved in English Football since its inception. Only Preston North End went through an entire season without a loss but they played only 19 games. Arsenal meanwhile played two times more and even extended their record to 49 games. Thierry netted 30 goals including four in just one game (like retribution against Leeds United, them again). There was no surrender because of Leeds this time: Henry won the Goal of the Year Award, European Golden Boot plus both the FWA (Football Writers Association) and PFA (Professional Fooballers Association) Footballer of the Year Awards for the second year in a row. Spanish sensation Jose Antonio Reyes joined midway the season to enjoy the party up to the next season which he started with five goals in the first five games. The Most Exciting Goal in those consecutive five games was the winner against Middlesbrough (5-3 Comeback) to equal Nottingham Forest's 42 Game Unbeaten Record...


2005: Remember the name and get used to it! Although FIFA's Coaches and Captains didn't vote him as World Footballer of the Year nor win the Ballon d'Or European Player of the Year Award, Thierry Henry's performances continued to sizzle. It's like Thierry got fiery every new season. He became the First Premiership Star to win three straight Player of the Year accolades. Arsenal beat Man Utd in a penalty shootout to win their 10th F.A. Cup, the very last trophy won while still at the old home. Chelsea took the Premiership, the fourth team since 1992 after Man Utd, Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal...


2006: Saying Farewell to Highbury (1913 to 2006) - 93 Years of Glorious Memories, Thierry became the Arsenal captain after Vieira's departure and critics said it was affecting his goal-scoring. He answered them back by becoming the Premiership's Top Scorer for the 4th time in 7 years and leading his teammates to the UEFA Champions League Final. That plus the semifinals was the furthest Arsenal had never gone and they came out Runners-up after scoring first in a commendable 10-man fight only giving in during the last 15 minutes. It was the first time a player had been sent off in a European final. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann (who never conceeded a single goal in the whole tournament) was very unlucky but Wenger made a bad tactical change in taking off Robert Pires as the sacrifice for Almunia to go in goal, something he is certain made the Frenchman leave Arsenal. I found it hard to forgive AW for the substitution but when Pires did, I did too. Despite giving reasons like family issues in London, am convinced that Henry left Arsenal in January 2007 for Barcelona because Pires had left. Their styles complemented each other very well. I wasn't amazed when some fans cried because it was almost inevitable...


Emirates: A new era begins at the 60,000 seater stadium in Ashburton Grove, only 1 mile away from Highbury. Henry was the first captain at the Emirates Stadium. Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie naturally became the names to look up to. But along also came world-class players like Brazilian star Julio "The Beast" Baptista who scored four goals in one game at Anfield just like Russian ace Andrei Arshavin (great night); Israeli Yossi Benayoun who got Liverpool's equaliser during Arshavin's foursome later moved to Chelsea then the Emirates; Czech sharpshooter Tomasz Rosicky; Spaniard Mikel Arteta from Everton; Frenchman Samir Nasri who scored his first Arsenal goal in the 4th minute of his debut (and it was the only goal in the game); Assist-master Mesut Oezil; Petr Cech (Record-holder for EPL Most Clean Sheets); etc...

My Top 4 Arsenal Goals

There is an ancient football adage that says: "It takes only one second to score a goal in normal play, but 0.4 seconds to score a penalty!" If you can net four goals within 90 minutes (that is over 5,400 seconds), it's as good as winning every match. So, here are my 4 Most Valuable Arsenal Goals during the Wenger Journey: Click, click, BANG!

1. Ray PARLOUR v Valencia (2001)

Definitely my Favourite Arsenal Goal of All-Time, a screamer on target. The Power-shot was a typical Ray Parlour goal. Though an unsung hero, the Englishman took the ball in his stride from Nwankwo Kanu at the edge of the centre circle, ran past an opponent with two forward nudges and blasted from outside the box without warning for a 2-1 comeback win in the 2001 UEFA Champions League. Arsenal had never gone beyond the Quarterfinals but I kept on dreaming expressed by my uncontrollable scream that night. He replicated it in the 2002 FA Cup Final but Arsenal's second by Freddie Ljungberg was my "Double Happiness", because the worry of a deja vu equaliser like the preceding year's final evaporated...

2. Dennis BERGKAMP v Newcastle United (2002)

It is the Most Brilliant in the List and probably the Greatest Arsenal Stunner ever, though Nwankwo Kanu (v Tottenham) and Robert Pires (v Aston Villa) pulled off a similar trick. Bergkamp's turn was unrehearsed and sublime - just a perfect way to describe the whole of that season for the Gunners. They played some great football without losing away from home on the way to Wenger's second double. Pires was the Most Talismanic while Tony Adams plus his Old Guard backline were about to retire. It was Thierry Henry's first Premiership plus FA Cup Double, but the Dutchman's second and Arsenal's third...

3. Thierry HENRY v Liverpool (2004)

"Lads, it's time to snap out of it..." Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and Champions League by Chelsea (moreover at Highbury) within a week, I bet the Frenchmen Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires (Author of "Le Footballeur") and Henry just took matters into their own hands after first half. Michael Owen brought back deja vu from the 2001 FA Cup Final loss, but it wasn't going to happen again with Henry still hungry for his second Premiership title. This goal proved to me Thierry's "invincibility", his second strike in a hattrick on the 4-2 Good Friday victory against a team that would clinch five trophies the following season including a comeback UEFA Champions League win over the mighty AC Milan in the finals. Henry left Kop players falling to the grass with his merciless dribble run...

4. Aaron RAMSEY v Hull City (2014)

Nine years was a painful trophy-drought for disappointed Arsenal fans, but am glad Ramsey's extra time 3-2 FA Cup winner resparked their happiness. Without this Wembley goal, Arsene Wenger might have been forced out or resigned. However, it simply solidified the manager's legacy at the Emirates because it won his first trophy after moving to the new stadium (in 2006) plus erased all the Bad Memories since 2005...

MY BEST ARSENAL COMEBACK
In 2010, Arsenal became the Premiership's Comeback Kings by setting a Record of four consecutive Wins after conceding first. But the Most Extraordinary Comeback Game in Arsene Wenger's Career was a 4th Round Capital One (League) Cup Triumph at Reading's Madejski Stadium in 2012. At 4-0 down, I decided to sleep because I knew the Game was over; there was no Way Arsenal could come back. However, residing in a Neighbourhood where most People support the Top Six or Eight English Teams (and non-Gunners might have been sympathetic), I couldn't resist finding out the Truth after hearing People screaming over and over again. It couldn't be Reading Fans screaming; I didn't know any. When I switched on the Radio, it was 4-4. On turning on Sky Sports after Midnight, the Gunners were leading 5-7, extraordinary. I regretted why I did not watch the Game through and through, but was still happy about the Performance: Giroud ignited a Fightback, Walcott scored a Hattrick and Chamakh put the Nail in Reading's Coffin during Extratime. Reading Defender Chris Gunter called it a "stupid Game"...

Red-hot Gunner Returns

Gunners usually go AWOL (Absent Without Leave) or MIA (Missing in Action) because of injury, suspension, transfer or family issues. Some make really great returns and here are some of my best:

1. Aaron RAMSEY definitely tops my List of Red-hot Returns. Stoke City’s Ryan Shawcross was very apologetic for tackling him in a leg-breaking crash. At first sight of the injury, you wouldn’t forgive the Stoke defender. However, Ryan wept after seeing the damage plus got red carded and Ramsey said he didn’t feel pain before returning several months later to score the only goal in an Emirates Stadium win over Manchester United on 1^st May 2011. The fearless shot outmaneouvred an opponent’s attempted block. Then in 2014, as if redemptive, Ramsey scored a 3-2 FA Cup extra time winner against Hull City to end Arsenal’s nine year trophyless run, washing away the pain of losing two League Cup finals (2007 to Chelsea and 2011 to Birmingham City). Ramsey was the second Gunner I saw break his leg on live TV. February just felt cursed like Black November 2002, but I bet Ramsey broke the jinx. Even if it took him three more seasons to finally win a trophy, 2014 was surely the Welshman's year…

2. EDUARDO da Silva was the first Gunner I saw breaking his leg on live TV. It happened at St. Andrews (home of Birmingham City) on a February 2008 weekend that saw Arsenal drop a two goal lead and falter in the rest of the season after playing quite well in the first half of the season. I watched the game in Namuwongo (a Kampala suburb) and while trying to take my footwear for mending near the neighbourhood Kyebando Kisalosalo Market during the following week, 5,000 UgX mysteriously disappeared from my pocket. Born in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Eduardo played for Croatia but had the skills and sharpness to fit in any Brazilian squad. After recovering from his left ankle break, Dudu returned for Arsenal in a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Burnley scoring the second goal with a deft ankle volley from an Alexander Song pass. The rest of his Arsenal career was not as great as before the injury, but his return goal was very promising…

3. Thierry HENRY became Arsenal’s All-Time Leading Goalscorer by scoring twice as a 15^th minute substitute (for injured Jose Antonio REYES) against UEFA Champions League hosts Sparta Prague on Super Tuesday 18^th October 2005 after seven games on the sidelines with a groin injury. His 185th Ian Wright record-tying goal was a sick extravagant curler struck with the outside of his right boot while turning 180 degrees maintaining Arsenal’s 100 percent record in Europe. That season: the last at Highbury (2006), Arsenal became the first club to reach the Champions League Final without conceding a single goal. It was also Arsenal’s first time beyond the quarterfinals. “Gunners, what is your profession?/ I’ll be back!” TH14 is the King at Arsenal and when he returned in 2012 (on loan from New York Redbulls) after leaving for Barcelona in 2007, the script was already written for a majestic arrival at the place where he is most adored, no matter how brief the stay. He capped off the long awaited Dream Day with a trademark goal against Leeds United propelling the Gunners to the 4th round of the FA Cup. Wearing shirt number 12 at the Emirates Stadium, Henry scored his 12^th goal in his 12^th appearance against Leeds United 12 minutes from the final whistle in the 12^th season since his debut at Highbury Stadium (1999). Maybe he’s the 12^th Gunner in every game…

4. Patrick VIEIRA (one of the Players in Europe with the Most Red Cards) got two red cards in the first three days (first two games) of the 2000-2001 season and was suspended for five painful games. Arsenal coped quite well without him but he returned to win the 2001 French Player of the Year plus Premier League Player of the Season Awards after some unbelievably disciplined performances the rest of the season. Arsenal finished second in the league behind Manchester United and lost the FA Cup Final 1-2 to Liverpool…

5. Olivier GIROUD who had been out for months due to injury, headbutted a QPR player in the 2015 season, but returned again as a substitute after a three game suspension to score a consolation goal for Arsenal in a 1-2 home loss to Manchester United. It was a very progressive goal despite the loss showing one way Arsenal needed to attempt in order to score without overelaborate buildup plays. The season ended with a second FA Cup triumph in a row and Giroud scored his Supersub goal to crown a 4-0 win…

6. Abou DIABY was probably the Gunner with the Most Returns because he also had the Most Injuries, so I guess some moments of his return games are memorable. He could dribble confidently and scored a number of good goals. Unfortunately, the chronic setbacks never allowed him to explore his full potential. I pray the same thing never happens to Jack WILSHERE who scored the BBC’s Match of the Day Goal of the Season in 2014 and 2015…

7. Danny WELBECK’s return from injury on 14^th February 2016 (Valentine’s Day) in a title decider actually inspired this article about returnees. It was his very first game this season. Table leaders Leicester City FC were ahead of Arsenal by five points before the game and Premier League Top Scorer Jamie Vardy’s first half penalty gave Leicester hope for an eight point advantage until Theo Walcott equalized in the 70^th minute. Welbz came on as a substitute and had some time to work something lovely. With the four added minutes already played and score tied at 1-1, the King of Assists Mesut Oezil stood over a freekick that would probably be the last kick in the Sunday Clash of the Titans. As they say, the rest is History, Man of the Match type of way…

Dat Guy, Welbeck!

Arsenal's Best Dribblers

Technically, every Gunner including goalkeepers can dribble, but there are some whose skill or effort is exceptional and noteworthy. I became an Arsenal fan during the 1998 FA Cup Final and have witnessed quite a number of good dribblers come and go. It's not easy to choose who is the ultimate Best Dribbler at The Arsenal, but here are my Favourites since my Enlightenment Game.

In Wenger's first and second group of Double Champions, I must say Dennis Bergkamp can be singled out as one very talented individual. Nicknamed the "Dutch Master", his sublime skill was world-class and confirmed when he scored the Best Goal according to many pundits during the 1998 World Cup in France for Netherlands (Holland) against Argentina. He also scored the Best Premiership Goal during the 2002 Season at Newcastle United from a Robert Pires assist, hailed as arguably the Hottest Arsenal Goal of All-time thanks to his dribbling acumen. He did not plan it, but his touch and turn past the defender still seemed untaught: It just happened. The Invincible 49ers also did a lot of dribbling like Sylvain Wiltord and Lauren Etame Meyer running the right flank hustle.

Kaba Diawara as a Substitute on his Highbury debut in a 1-0 win over Chelsea (Sunday 31st January 1999)

Arsenal failed to retain their Premiership crown in 1999, but (French-born Guinean) Kaba Diawara showed probably the Most Potent Dribbling Skills I have ever seen in any Gunner with an eye for a self-made chance. He didn't score the hard-to-come-by winners and stuff needed to win the championship, but he surely entertained with much hope and unfathomed intelligence like Brazil's very gifted non-Gunner Wonderman Denilson (de Oliveira Araujo) dribbling five players or precariously on the touchline.

Nwankwo Kanu, the beanpole Nigerian was also a class act. Despite a sluggish disposition, he used it to his advantage to deceive opponents with wonderful unanticipated footwork at the right moment. It was said that the ball seemed to be tied to his shoelaces, guess that summarises everything.

Croatian Davor Suker, the Top Scorer during France 98 was also amazing when he moved to Highbury, but it took time for me to see another naturally gifted dribbler.

Aleksander Hleb had all the attributes of a natural born dribbler. I bet the Belarusian could do it in his sleep or without training. Slim but very agile and not too showy.

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, meanwhile is a Gunner who can dribble at speed past opponents. It's like he is not afraid of a tackle, just runs into it like Jack Wilshere. Serge Gnabry would be his best understudy in midfield.

Rightback Hector Bellerin is the ultimate Speed Merchant and Most Coolheaded Gunner when it comes to getting past opponents, always seems focussed on the play. Ivorians Johan Djourou (though Swiss National) and Emmanuel Eboue before him dribbled quite well despite criticism about their focus. Brazilians Silvinho and Santos used to be energetic going forward on the left flank too.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide also has that "it" dribbling factor. He should be allowed to express himself like Abou Diaby minus the multiple injuries.

All the other Gunners, both past and present, have their own efficient maneouvres for instance Robert Pires running forward to a stop with the ball, back then forward again immediately down the left flank or a fiery Thierry Henry creating space with pace for his many goals, just to mention a few. However, the ones listed above seem to have something extra I cannot forget.

The Gunner who takes the crown among the current lot would be the hair-raising Spaniard Santi Cazorla. Doesn't he remind you of Chelsea's Gianfranco Zola in the late 1990s and 2000s? Okay, maybe because the names rhyme but Santi is also the Most Ambidextrous Gunner (though mainly rightfooted), down to earth, enjoyable to watch and relatively classy with an eye for goal. He can turn left or right with ease, knows what to do with the ball, little or small in stature like Messi but very dynamic and completes his dribbles. Remember what he did to Man Utd's Schweinsteiger with his head?! Nevertheless, before I forget, Alexis Sanchez is an enthusiastic dribbler and deserves this nod according to statistics, however I prefer Santi. Mesut Oezil cannot also be ignored, but as good as he is as an Assistman, Santi edges him a bit on this one. Happy #FriendsDay!

Now Watch Him (El)neny

The Emirates Pharaoh

Silence, please! Representing not only Egypt but also Africa as a country [just like Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria), Lauren Etame Mayer and Alex Song (Cameroon), the Toure Brothers (Ivory Coast), etc. did] I feel Mohamed ELNENY can start from where Frenchman Samir Nasri stopped when he left for Manchester City. With a progressive approach to attack and superb box to box play, he might turn out to be quite a big investment for Arsene Wenger. Players are always hyped when they join, but some live up to the hype. Now watch him whip, watch him Nenny (nae nae). Arsene Wenger hailed him as "exceptional" after his Arsenal debut in a 2-1 win over Burnley in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday 30th January 2016. He scored his First Arsenal Goal against the UEFA Champions League defending Champions (Barcelona) in a 3-1 away Loss during the Last 16 Second Leg on Wednesday 16th March 2016 (Knocked out 5-1 on Aggregate). By 2019, the Egyptian was the First and Only Player among England's Big 6 (Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United) to score past Barcelona Goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen at the Camp Nou... #ELHAMDULILLAH (Thank YOU, GOD!)

FOR THE LOVE OF ARSENAL

There are crazy things people do just to catch an Arsenal game in real time whether at the Emirates or on TV wherever they might be on the Planet. I once heard a West African narrate a story on BBC radio how he would ride his bicycle for miles to the next town just to watch a TV showing Gunners play. One night while returning through a bush, he met a lion. However he rode faster than he has ever ridden his entire life just to survive the man-eater, hahaha!

Students sneak out of school to go clubbing or for some other functions and events; I would sneak out during Advanced Level (2001-2) at Makerere College School only to surf internet, buy something I really needed that wasn't at school and to watch Arsenal games at Klub 5 (within Makerere University Kampala) or Nakulabye, down north. On Saturdays (Movie Nights) despite abrupt afternoon roll calls, I would watch selected Arsenal games and return through the back door of the movie hall that was only opened when students wanted to ease themselves. Stealthily, I would wait until some students came out, then pretend that I had also gone to ease myself and get marked present during roll call after the movies like a smooth criminal. I lost my brown "owl" spectacles during one outing but also risked expulsion from my hostel. Luckily, I was never caught nor whipped unlike some of my boarding schoolmates. I always returned with a different gait and the mentality that I was "unrecognisable by teachers on duty" while wearing camouflage (a University of Sheffield pullover my mum gave me plus spectacles I rarely wore after praying for the healing of my eye defects) and took them off just before entering my classroom for Sunday night prep; school uniform was compulsory at all times outside the hostel.

During the 2003 to 4 unbeaten run while on campus at UCU Mukono, Manchester United got an unfair last minute penalty at Old Trafford that I strongly believed would gift them a 1-0 win. However when Ruud van Nistelrooy hit the crossbar, I screamed so loud and even ran out of the Hostel Common Room that had so many people in it. I celebrated outside for more than two minutes and didn't even watch the final moments. Then after outsiders walked out, that is when I realised that my phone was missing. On trying to call using an MTN PubliCom on the outside wall, my line had been switched off. I just knew my phone was gone, so I returned to my hostel a mile away unhappy. Nevertheless, a hostelmate tried my number later in the night and the lady on the receiving end said I could pick my phone in the morning. She cooked food at the hostel where I had watched the game. Although she used all the airtime I had left to call people in the UK, I was happy that I got back my Ericsson brick.

Sometimes while watching an Arsenal game that would end beyond midnight, I would ask myself what would happen while returning home. Of course GOD protects but why should I risk my life for a late night midweek Carling Cup game that Arsenal would probably lose? How about Danny Rose's first goal for Tottenham in a 2-1 Spurs win that ended Arsenal's title challenge? Game ended after midnight and I had to walk home alone on the dark street from Heritage Park asking myself why I came to watch! The Premiership games played just after dusk because of the timezone in East Africa are fairer plus some Champions League fixtures were unmissable, but close to midnight, I would meet drunkards in Kampala spilling uncoordinated thoughts. You cannot tell whether they are harmlessly threatening or potentially menacing. Passing near the deadly Barifa Forest via Mvara Road in Arua would also frighten me a bit when there was no moonlight. Thugs always destroyed streetlights. Once while I returned in the dark night, I noticed that the signpost of a wonderful joint called Greenwood on Weatherhead Park Lane was still intact. The following day when I went to buy some sodas from there around lunchtime, I asked the lady in charge what had happened to their signpost. She informed me that thugs had stolen it. That had to be after midnight coz I had seen it hours behind but I didn't tell her so as not to raise suspicion that I was the thief and just pretending to feel concerned.

Having grown up together in Kampala, my cousin Edwin (a Manchester United fan who stayed in Ociba) took me to the first place I ever watched an Arsenal match in my ancestral city: a Garage in Osu, an Arua suburb. When returning home after 9 PM, he escorted me to the edge of the golf course and I followed a boda-bicycle carrying a passenger. It was the early 2000s and nightlights were scarce (WENRECo - West Nile Electrification Company, started around 2003). I didn't know the geography of the area and passed a different route. Worried that a witchdoctor or nightdancer might kidnap me in an area with so many unfinished houses, I just continued walking placing my hope in angelic protection. Luckily, the road connected with the one I already knew and was very happy to reach home safe. So I decided to explore Arua during daytime until I knew many corners thanks to Arsenal. I was also inspired to invent a parabolic dish receiver in the 2000s plus wave loop antenna for clear Short Wave Listening of Arsenal matches in the 2010s. I'm still amazed at the clear radio stations I would pick up at night from as far as Bunyoro and Kenya with my dish antenna though it was dismantled.

I used to wish that I could listen or pray to GOD plus read the Word more enthusiastically than I anticipate an Arsenal kickoff. LORD, have mercy...

Arsenal Quotes

Happy New Year (2016), ArsenalFamily! They say that Dreams come true and Patience pays: Well then, I wish by 2018 Arsenal will have won the UEFA Champions League. If they don't, then I will keep dreaming.

"Whenever Arsenal loses or draws after leading, SportsNews becomes less exciting. Happiness is when Arsenal scores a Goal or Equaliser or wins a Game!" - AIKO

You can copy that as a Quote from a Gooner, but below are inspiring sayings by Gunners plus extra proverbs:

“To be successful, you have to have that Winning Mentality…” - CHARLIE GEORGE (Scorer of the dramatic late Winner in the 1971 FA Cup Final against Liverpool)

"Once an Arsenal man, always an Arsenal man..." - BOB WILSON 

 “As a Goalkeeper, you are the last Line of Defence. When a Goal goes in, everyone looks at you, you’ve got to be able to deal with that…” – DAVID SEAMAN

“We’ll just keep on scoring now…” – IAN WRIGHT (Lyrics in “Hot Stuff”, the 1998 Arsenal Song)

“Play for the Name on the Front of the Shirt, and they will remember the Name on the Back…” - TONY ADAMS

“Nobody will finish above us in the League. It wouldn’t surprise me if we were to go unbeaten for the whole of the Season…” - ARSENE WENGER, the Invincible One (after 2002 Double but before 2003 season)

 “When I think of Arsenal, my Favourite Personal Memory is scoring my first Goal for the Club – away to Lazio in the Champions League. It was important because when you join a new Club, you really want to score your first Goal. It is where everything started for me at this Club…” - ROBERT PIRES

“I really like Arsenal. But you, do you really like Arsenal? Or just with Trophies?” - DENNIS BERGKAMP

“Lads, it’s Time to snap out of it…” - PATRICK VIEIRA (Captain of the Invincibles giving Arsenal’s Half-time Team Talk while trailing 1-2 against Liverpool at Highbury on Good Friday 9^th April 2004. The preceeding Weekend, Manchester United had knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup. Midweek, Chelsea knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League at Highbury and it was about to be three Defeats in a row. But the Gunners refused to lose and beat the Kop 4-2 before finishing the season unbeaten)

“Arsenal is my Paradise…” - THIERRY HENRY

"I am Gooner..." - ANDREI ARSHAVIN

"Once a Gunner, always a Gunner…" - CESC FABREGAS

"A Team can attack for too long. The Most Opportune Time for scoring is immediately after repelling an Attack, because Opponents are then strung out in the wrong Half of the Field. All the Men are expected to play to plan, but not so as to stifle Individuality...
"It is laid down by Law that the Team who score the most Goals win..." - HERBERT CHAPMAN

"I’m a Gunner…
"Ya Gunners Ya...” - MESUT OEZIL

"Oh ya…" - KIERAN GIBBS

"Once you’re in the Game, you forget about the Outside World. You play better when you don’t think about anything…" - HECTOR BELLERIN

“I have dreamt of this Day for many Years as a young Kid coming through and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet…” - AARON RAMSEY, about scoring the Winner when Arsenal came from 0-2 down to beat Hull City 3-2 after extra time in the 2014 FA Cup Final

“I had a look at the Keeper and I was thinking that he was a bit too much forward from his Line. I tried instinctively to shoot and to hit the Target. I was a bit lucky but that’s what I wanted to do…” - OLIVIER GIROUD (about his spectacular Goal in the 2014 Community Shield to make it 3-0 from the Bench for Arsenal against Manchester City)

"The Worst about, uh, in London is Tottenham..." - TOMAS ROSICKY

"Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent..." - DAVID ROCASTLE

“The positive Person is the one who falls, gets up, smiles at Life and says: ‘Here I go again’.” – ALEXIS SANCHEZ

Cech made his 170th Record-passing Clean Sheet in a 2-0 Win against Bournemouth

“When I was a Kid, I looked up to every Goalkeeper… I tried to take the Best of everyone for myself and try to work on what to improve…” - PETR CECH (on The Final Whistle – Facebook Show following the 2-1 Win over Manchester City , the Match after Cech equaled the 169 Clean Sheet Record held by David James)

"My Legs were shaking..." - ROBIN VAN PERSIE, after scoring his Penalty for Arsenal in the 2005 FA Cup Final Shootout against Manchester United [(0(5), 0(4) a.e.t.], his first Season/ He later became the Premiership Player with the Record of Most Consecutive Away Games with a Goal Scored (9) in 2010 before moving to Old Trafford as probably the Hottest Gunner to cross there during the Premier League Era

“Arsenal is one of these Teams that everyone enjoys watching and of course I would love to play for such a great Team…” – MOHAMED ELNENY

"The deeper the Foundations, the stronger the Fortress..." - EMIRATES STADIUM


QUOTES ABOUT ARSENAL
"Arsenal would be a good Team to play for..." - PELE

"Arsenal is just an interesting Club, the only Club in the World which made Messi admit he'd leave Barca for..." - PEP GUARDIOLA

"If even a little Part of you doesn't enjoy a Goal like that, you shouldn't be in Football..." - KEVIN KEEGAN, after watching his Manchester City Side undone by a 30 yard Thierry Henry Thunderbolt with an Assist from Robert Pires in the Rain

“He will save them 12 or 15 Points a Season…” - JOHN TERRY, about Petr Cech’s Move from Chelsea to Arsenal

"I like to watch Arsenal…" - ANDREA PIRLO, 2006 World Cup Winner with Italy

"We are Top of the League…" - MR. BULLY (Arsenal Fan)


"Arsenal is one of the Best Clubs in the World, in terms of Transition…" - LUIS ENRIQUE, Barcelona Manager at a Press Conference after Messi’s Brace downed the Gunners in the 2016 UEFA Champions League Last 16 First Leg at the Emirates

He (Arsene Wenger) is a Specialist in Failure... - JOSE MOURINHO (The Special One)

ARSENAL ACADEMY (PROVERBIAL LESSONS)
Football (or Soccer) is not just a Game, but  a Teacher of Life. Below are a few Lessons deduced...

"A Trophy is just an empty Cup, enjoy the Goals..."

"Impossible does not exist, but Invincible does..."

"Be very careful what you wish for, you might receive it twice..."

"Better check (Petr Cech) yourself before you wreck yourself..."

"When you take a Risk and succeed, you will be happy. If you fail, then consider it a Lesson..."

"Masterclass is permanent..."


"Victoria Concordia Crescit... (Latin 4: Victory Through Harmony...)" - ARSENAL MOTTO

"It's not yet over until its really over..."

"Send a Red Devil to beat Red Devils..."

"Fear no Man..."

"There's a Time for everything good..."

"Never curse GOD! Sometimes you lose, but it only prepares you for Double Happiness..."

"It happens..."

"Solidarity and secret Codes in a Group can get past any Obstacle..."

OLI, King of the Air

In my mother tongue (Lugbara) radiating from Arua (The Sweetest Place since 1914) plus spoken in East and Central Africa, "air" is called "oli". That describes Olivier Giroud, but on facebook, twitter and whatsapp, fans usually remark that Oli is slow and misses many chances. Even Thierry Henry worried that Arsenal cannot win Premiership with Giroud, yet it's a team effort. Sometimes when Giroud comes on as a Supersub, he actually scores and deserves to start. He just plays the game his own way. In the French Ligue 1, he showed his instinctive aerial power during Montpellier's maiden-trophy-winning season sparking interest from Arsenal.

Thierry played more minutes and thrived, but Oli, despite injury last season, has more goals since his 2012 debut than every current EPL player except Man City's Aguero. Oli's goal ratio keeps improving: scored every 2.8 games in 2013, 2.5 in 2014, 1.8 in 2015. This season he might get 1.5. He also has the Most Headed Goals making him the King of the Air in England. Instead of complaining, let the man explore his aerial prowess! His hold-up play is fine and also provides assists. Oli is not a flamboyant showoff, but gets the job done. I hope he scores a trophy-winning penalty against Man City one day or has he already done it in the 2014 Community Shield though it wasn't a penalty?

Someone once said that Oli cannot score against Big Clubs, but he has scored against Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Leicester, Swansea, West Ham and Tottenham. Maybe Chelsea is the only big one! Even a three game suspension for headbutting a QPR player last season did not affect his scoring. His consolation goal against Man Utd at the Emirates showed the progressive way Arsenal needed to try instead of the repeatedly failed walk-in goals some fans did not fancy. Davor Suker, Thomas Vermaelen and Lukas Podolski (who has the Most Powerful Leftfoot in Football and Best Goals to Games Ratio among Gunners) were progressive, and so is Alexis. I bet Jonathan Nkosa, Jean Rwamukaga (Kaahwa), Emmanuel Ogwal, Samuel Edgar Tinyiro, Allan Kiyinji, Onya Kokas, Sharpe Cole Nimusiima, Alice Mbayahi, Brens Willie Wambedde, Queen Elizabeth II, Olive Eyotaru, Jagmeet Singh, Andrew Sebastian, Yash Mishra and Ian Kateregga aka Pepe (Gooners) would agree: progressive soccer is thrilling like a fast two wheeler through a valley.

As a sub in the 2015 FA Cup final, he netted Arsenal's fourth against Aston Villa. Oli is strong and moves cleverly like an airfox in the box. His headed goals this season against Swansea away and Sunderland at home (cancelling out his unfortunate own goal) set him a class apart from other strikers. I'm glad one of the goals in his first competitive hattrick for Arsenal in the Champions League was a header (He actually scored his first Arsenal hattrick in a pre-season friendly). 

As a Gooner, I appreciate his efforts. Two FA Cups and two Community Shields in his first three seasons is commendable, considering Arsenal's nine trophyless seasons since 2005. 

Alexis brings 17 MegaWatt enthusiasm, Walcott adds blistering pace, Cazorla is ambidextrous, Bellerin is the Flash, Coquelin runs the midfield, Cech is worth over 15 guaranteed points per season, Koscielny is Boss, Wilshere oozes fearlessness, Elneny is superb, Wenger is "The Invincible One" but Oli takes care of Arsenal's airspace, roger that Mertesacker!