Author: Soccer Diva

Velvet Voice Arseblog Talks Gunners

Part II of our special on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. The USA Today’s EPL Junkies are joined by Andrew Mangan, founder of Arseblog and one of the most influential voices when it comes to all things Gunners. We talk mental strength, transfers, old players, current players, George Graham, the managers that could’ve been, lobster dinners, cheese sandwiches and much more!

Is this Arsenal’s year? Can they really win the Premier League? Will anything change? Join the conversation. Have your voice heard!

Liverpool Legend Steve Nicol Talks Klopp, Dalglish & More

We have Liverpool legend Stevie Nicol talking all things scouse house. Over 56,000 listens as we cover the entire pitch talking a little Klopp, Dalglish and more! Who in today’s Liverpool side makes the team Stevie played in?

Oh and be sure to look out for @SteveNicol61 book “5 Titles & a Bag of Crisps” on sale September 8th! Put the kettle on. Put your feet up. Join the conversation! Get stuck in.

Is Arsene Wenger’s Moral Dilemma Destroying Arsenal?

We recently had the opportunity to spend time with the Gunners during their pre season tour of the United States. Watching them train was an absolute treat. The players seem united and the squad feels like a true team.

Sitting in an Arsene Wenger press conference was a thrill. Wenger was challenged with some great questions. He spoke volumes. Sophie has theories, including moral money dilemmas and mental weakness! Gooners everywhere might not want to hear it! Put the kettle on. Or grab a brew! It’s going to be a long season.

Man Utd Break Bank for Pogba

Paul Pogba becomes the first 100 million pound Premier League player and the most expensive footballer in the world! Really? More than Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez and Neymar? Do you think Paul Pogba deserves the tag?

Will his return to Manchester United be different this time around? Can he become the next hero at Old Trafford? Will he ignite the Red Devils the same way he did Juventus? So many questions. Why not put your feet up and join the conversation.

Will Zlatan Boom or Bust?

New season is coming up. The transfer market is hotting up. And the EPL Soccer Junkie crew is back full-time and in full swing!

We talk a little Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal and we start to dissect the upcoming season. Who is prepped the best for success?

Will Leicester City choke before Christmas? Is Zlatan going to boom or bust in the world’s most exciting league? Buckle-up and get ready for the football ride!

Arsenal v Monaco Soundbite…

giroudThis could be a trap game for Arsenal. It has been a good few years since they have been favoured in a Round 16 Champions League game.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla are the key to success. Arsenal will also need their chosen goalkeeper to be in fine form at the Emirates!

Here is a wee soundbite from my chat with Talksport last week. C’mon Arsenal!

 

Landon the Legend…

2014 MLS Cup - New England Revolution v Los Angeles GalaxyIt’s Landon Donovan’s last press conference. He has just won another MLS Cup with his beloved LA Galaxy. It’s a fairytale ending. He’s had a picture book career. He has given everything to club and especially country.

What an honor to see him play his last professional game. What a privilege to be at his last LA Galaxy presser. He looks tired. He’s ready to walk off into the sunset as a champion.

I was given the opportunity to ask America’s greatest ever footballer a question. What would it be? Everyone is focused on questions about his game in the US. Why wouldn’t they be? This is America! But what about the Toffees? Everton fans fell in love with him. British football dug him. I had to ask. I had to represent. Everton fans…this one is for you!

Finally…

Hull-v-Arsenal-FA-Cup-Final Put your dartboards down. Let the ridicule end. Arsenal have won a trophy. I repeat…Arsenal have won a trophy!

It’s been a rough road for everyone involved with the club. However, for Arsenal fans it has been an even rougher road. They are not shielded like the players. They have to face the world and opposing fans every single day. They have long suffered. As much as I’m happy for the Arsenal staff and players, I’m even happier for my fellow Arsenal fans. Especially those who have travelled with the team even during their darkest hours. The fans who chant and sing, home and away, in the snow and the sun, for these fans I’m the happiest. Let them sing. Let them celebrate this time.

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For the players, I hope this feeling makes them want it more. I hope that touching a trophy like the F.A. Cup makes them feel like it’s just the beginning. I hope they imagine themselves lifting the Premier League above their heads next season. I hope this victory makes them believe they can inspire a new chapter at the club and drive each other to win, win, win! That desire is depicted beautifully in this photo of Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs. Arsenal need new leaders. Arsenal need characters. Arsenal need to build on this…otherwise, the ridicule will begin all over again. Lead the way Gibbo and Rambo!

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Admittedly, I had called for Arsene Wenger’s head earlier in the season. I ranted and imploded after Aston Villa beat us in the opening match of the season. I wanted him out as all I could see ahead was another season of emptiness and underachievement. Was I wrong? Somewhat. And after seeing the regression of Manchester United this season post Sir Alex Ferguson era, you wonder if Arsenal are better off with Wenger navigating the ship. I applaud him for finding his own confidence to win again. He appears to be reborn. Is Wenger about to re-write his legacy at Arsenal?

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Thank you Arsenal. Thank you for finally delivering. It wasn’t easy. In fact, after just a few minutes, it looked like the upset was on. 2-0 down and the team dug deep and found an answer. They finally overcame the hump. They finally found the mental strength to match the physical and football strength. They won. They did it. It was beautifully ugly. #wewilltakeit

It’s Been A While…

091811sly_pele Film and football are my passions. I love the process of filmmaking and being on set and I love talking football. Over the last few months I’ve been primarily focused on the film side. I love my job and what I do.

Having been away making movie and TV magic, I’ve still had my face glued to the TV set watching the beautiful game and especially, my beloved Arsenal. And on the eve of the club’s biggest match in the last eight years, it felt like there was no better time to jump back on the blog.

Even though the blog has been tough to keep up of late, I’ve still been blessed with the opportunity to contribute to Talksport and in particular, Extra Time with Mike Graham. There have been times where I’ve sounded like my head is going to explode when talking to Mike. In fact, after that first league game against Aston Villa at the start of the season, I was ready to walk away from football altogether for a while. That game hurt and I felt like I couldn’t take another season of being ridiculed by fellow football fans.

But alas, the season has ended with at least something to hope for. We are in the F.A. Cup Final and could end our trophy drought. It has been way too long since an Arsenal captain lifted something shiny and silver above his head. Could this weekend be our time? Could this weekend be the resurgence of our great club? Could this weekend silence our critics and finally lay the trophy-less ghost to rest?

Once again, I get to marry my two passions on the same day as I’ll be watching from a distance in Cannes. Film and football are my ultimate strike partnership. I hope the lads can show their passion on the pitch tomorrow and that GQ Giroud strikes with an early goal!

This could finally be our year and set Arsenal on the road to writing a new chapter in the history books. I hope the boys do it for Arsene Wenger and the fans. In the meantime and until tomorrow, I’m off to another screening in the hope I find a wee gem of a film that can make me feel as warm and fuzzy as Arsenal do.