Zlatan & the Gang

The British Soccer Diva crew are joined by Founder & Editor of Stretty News Dale O’ Donnell. Dale also writes for the Daily Mail, the Mirror & The Sun. We dissect Man Utd’s season thus far. From Pogba, to Zlatan, Rooney, Mourinho and more, we discuss it all and then some. Put the kettle on. Put your feet up. Enjoy the conversation. Follow @soccerdiva and @StrettyNews on Twitter.

NBC Sports Premier League Host Rebecca Lowe

NBC Sports Premier League Host Rebecca Lowe joins the junkie crew for a good old natter about Jose Mourinho and the new unauthorized book on The Special One written by Rob Beasley. Did Beasley break the journalist code? Will Mourinho trust a journalist ever again?

Plus we are giving away two signed copies of Liverpool legend Stevie Nicol’s new book “5 League Titles and a Packet of Crisps. Look at us talking books and stuff! Who said reading books was dead?!

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!

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.

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.

The End of an Era…

article-2326429-19DC48F0000005DC-327_634x422 It’s that time of the week where I send my weekly verbal memo to the lads over @TheFootyShowKCC. In a nutshell…

Twas the season where everyone retired. Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen and of course David Beckham. All legends in their own right. All have had signature moments in football. Sir Alex the best at his craft in England. He’s won it all. He’s managed great players. He leaves a legacy like no other.

This week’s memo however is all about Mr.Beckham. Father. Footballer. Global sports icon. Beckham has had an illustrious career and leads a dazzling life. A phenomenal ambassador for his country and for his sport, he leaves the game having cemented his name in the football history books.

If you agree or disagree with anything outlined in this week’s memo, lob or header us @soccerdiva.
Football, soccer, call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

A Conversation With…Akil Vyas

Arsenal have been busier than usual in the transfer market yet the business conducted still hasn’t satisfied the appetites of many fans.

There’s no doubt the Gooner nation is happy with the arrival of a class player like Santi Cazorla, together with German goal machine Lukas Podolski and rising French star Olivier Giroud. Despite the pedigree of these players, fans are upset Arsene Wenger didn’t do enough to replace Alex Song and they are also disgruntled the club sold Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United. In A Conversation With Akil Vyas, we break down the Arsenal situation and discuss the hot topics engulfing the famous North London club.

What do Gunners fans really think about Theo Walcott? With all of Diaby’s injuries, can the club trust he’ll be available and fit throughout an entire season as the ready-made replacement for Alex Song? Should The Ox play or be a super sub? What is Arsenal’s best formation? Is there a need to worry about the injury prone back line? Can they have an impact in the Champions League?

Akil answers all of these questions and more in our conversation. You can follow him on Twitter @10akhil. Kick back, relax and enjoy!

A Conversation With…Arseblog

Since joining Arsenal, Robin van Persie hasn’t put prolific back-to-back seasons together for the North London club. Is it fair to say he will not have the same success next season and that now is the time for Arsenal to cash in on the Dutchman? How would Arsenal shape up tactically without him? And what is the scoop with Theo Walcott and his unrest? Could Arsenal afford to lose either or both of these players? What has become of the Gunners? What is the identity of this team? Why does everyone always want to leave?

Andrew Mangan joins us in A Conversation With sharing his insights like no other Arsenal blogger out there. Fans trust his opinion and thousands follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He is undoubtedly one of the most influential voices in the Arsenal community today. He doesn’t hold back as we dissect the team on and off the pitch. Put your slippers on and enjoy the conversation.

A Conversation With…You Are My Arsenal

Is it going to end up being another summer horribilis for Arsenal fans? Michael Price from You Are My Arsenal joins us for “A Conversation With” and we talk all things Gunners. From Robin van Persie to Theo Walcott, the return of Jack Wilshere, new boys Lukas Podolski & Olivier Giroud, Michael gives his perspective on how things will shake down at the Emirates as Arsenal prepare for the new season. In recent years, there’s been drama on the red side of North London as the Gunners once again battle to keep their best players. Will RVP stay or go? Sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation.

Wrap Him Up In Cotton Wool…

Robin van Persie is magical. Playing injury free for the first time in a long time, the delicious Dutchman is giving Arsenal fans everywhere hope. And with Fabregas and Nasri gone, it appears the shackles have been taken off his feet and he is thriving on being the main man.

For the first time since Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry, Arsenal have a true leader in their captain. Van Persie is putting this team on his back and you can see that being captain for one of the world’s biggest clubs is a role he is relishing.

He has been playing as an out-and-out striker and some would say that it’s not traditionally his best position. And just like fellow Dutchman and Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, Van Persie has thrived in that #10 role, loving to drop off, find the killer pass and punish teams. Right now, the Gooner nation is loving where he’s playing and he’s scoring goals at will like never before.

But what would happen to the Gunners if Van Persie were to get injured? Where would the goals come from then? Sure Theo Walcott can score a few and when he finds his finishing touch, Gervinho can be a major threat. However, it’s Van Persie’s goals that are bringing Arsenal back from the dead following that 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Arsenal have a lot of work to do at the back. And should Van Persie get a nick or bump here or there, they would also have a ton of work to do upfront, because without him, they would be lost. They need to protect him, but they also need to play him. Last week he was rested but came off the bench to score two goals in a win over Stoke.

Just a few hours ago on a sunny Saturday afternoon in London, Robin van Persie delivered another spellbinding performance against Chelsea, scoring a hat-trick and leading HIS team to victory once again. Granted Chelsea were woeful in defense, but to go to Stamford Bridge and inspire your team to a 5-3 win after facing so much adversity shows how much of a leader he has become.

Wrap him up in cotton wool Arsenal…