Van Persie – BRITISH SOCCER {DIVA}

The Rise and Rise of GQ Giroud…

When Arsenal signed Olivier Giroud from Montpellier, I was absolutely stoked.

However, not many Arsenal fans felt the same way. He wasn’t a glamour signing, nor did fans believe he was the right man to replace Robin Van Persie. The expectations were unrealistic and therefore, Giroud’s life at the Emirates started with a lot of pressure on his shoulders.

Despite being the point of difference and main reason Montepellier were crowned Ligue 1 champions in 2012, Giroud’s first season at Arsenal was criticized by the media and fans. A little harsh perhaps when you consider he scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists.

The story this season is a little different for Giroud. He has become one of Arsenal’s most important players and has a look of belief and confidence about him. He wears the shirt like he truly deserves it and he exudes a sense of belonging. When you marry these attributes with his ability to hold the ball, connect play, win the ball in the air, muscle players off the ball, know where to take up positions, it makes for a unique player.

Giroud’s displays this season have made the original doubters become believers. Fans now sing his name with pride. A love affair might be brewing between another Frenchman and Arsenal fans. Long may it last.

In case you missed it, check out this article from the summer of 2012.
Let’s get #GQGiroud trending!

Olivier Giroud: Can He Become the Next Thierry Henry at Arsenal?

Verbal Memo | Battle for 3rd & 4th…

The fight for the Premier League title is over. Anything can happen between now and the end of the season, but the chances Manchester United fold like cheap lawn chairs and concede the title to Manchester City once again are slim.

Robin van Persie is the gift from Arsenal that keeps on giving. The Dutch dynamo is in emphatic form and an absolute goal machine scoring nineteen in the league alone. His transfer from the Emirates to the Theater of Dreams could decide which team is crowned champions of England. And it’s looking more like the Red Devils with every football weekend that passes.

The battle for third and fourth however is far more exciting and unpredictable. Tottenham are playing delicious football. Or should we say Gareth Bale is playing delicious football. Chelsea falter one week, but then bounce back the next. Arsenal are showcasing more confidence and determination as the season goes on. And Everton continue to hang around and threaten to steal a Champions League spot despite a recent dip in form. Who will prevail and bank millions?

Also on the menu this week is a little slice of David Beckham and his move to PSG. Mr.Beckham is a polarizing figure and his new adventures in Paris are causing much debate beyond the football borders. Where do you stand when it comes to Beckham?

Whether you agree or disagree with any of the dialogue, lob us a volley or fire off a header to @soccerdiva. Football. Soccer. Call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Soccerdiva | Footy Show | 3rd & 4th

Verbal Memo | Robin van Persie & more…

In my weekly memo to fellow football fans there’s a fair bit of passion. Some folks have irked me.

Firstly, Luis Suarez got the football universe all riled up because of his handball in the F.A. Cup against wee Mansfield Town. Suarez certainly had lots of darts thrown at him after his unsportsmanlike action, but are the referees just as guilty as Liverpool’s bad boy?

Robin van Persie is having another phenomenal season. He is a world class player who has elevated Manchester United to impressive heights. The delicious Dutchman has been prolific since joining the Red Devils in the summer. Can Robin van Persie play in any team in the world right now? And should someone at Arsenal pay with their blood for selling him?

Finally, Rio Ferdinand declared he would like to be the first black James Bond. Rio is definitely suave enough to be a special agent for the British government. What if footballer’s were movie genres? From comedy, to musicals, we cast the lot!

Grab a brew and enjoy this week’s verbal memo. Connect with me @soccerdiva if you want to rant about anything. I’m here for you.

Verbal Memo | Robin van Persie & more

A Conversation With…Bobby McMahon

The Premier League is only days away and boy do I have a treat for all of you.

In A Conversation With Bobby McMahon from Fox Soccer Report and Forbes.com we break the game down to its core and talk tactics. From Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle, Bobby shares his brilliant football brain with you.

We also chat about the managerial changes and who Bobby thinks will be in trouble. Plus don’t miss Bobby’s Top 4 predictions as you might be surprised who he has missing from his list. He also shares who he thinks will sink to the Championship at the end of the season.

Don’t miss Bobby McMahon broadcasting his las show on Fox Soccer Report on Thursday 16th August.

Best of the Best…

After a weekend of football, there is always major reaction or should we say overreaction to the events we have witnessed. But that’s football isn’t it? We react to what we see. And how we react as individuals is what makes the debate and dialogue that much more interesting.

This is not about who is the greatest ever footballer. Our Top 10 Best Players in Europe list is about who we think is great right now. The criteria for making the list is based on recent form, goals scored, assists provided and overall performances and general brilliance of each player.

So get mad, get riled up or simply agree with who we think is lighting up Europe from a football perspective.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo = Real Madrid

2. Lionel Messi = Barcelona

3. Robin Van Persie = Arsenal

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic = AC Milan

5. Xavi = Barcelona

6. David Silva = Manchester City

7. Thiago Silva = AC Milan

8. Wayne Rooney = Manchester United

9. Sergio Aguero = Manchester City

10. Robert Lewandowski = Borussia Dortmund

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…

Who will cross the finish line first..?

horses Our crystal ball spoke to us clearly and concisely when the excitement and anticipation of the 2009/10 season kicked-off. We made our predictions. We chose the chosen ones and it was off to the races.

As the best of the best galloped into the eyes of victory and defeat, we raved, we ranted, we posted and we polled about the beautiful game. And as the race to be crowned champion nears its end, we can’t help but wonder, who will cross the finish line first?

For so long Chelsea have been the favourites to scoop the Premier League title. If I remember correctly, we warned the Stamford Bridge outfit not to celebrate too soon. At Christmas, the Chelsea players and faithful believed they had it in the bag. There was an evident cockiness to them which has become synonymous with Chelsea. But a loss to Everton and a whipping by Manchester City in their own park soon made the Blues players and fans realize the fight to the finish will not be so easy. Did they under estimate their opponents? Did the John Terry scandal hurt them? What would they do without Drogba? Will the iron Chelski curtain find its strength again as they head towards the finish?

With Wayne Rooney turning on the style and making a case to be European Footballer of the Year, Manchester United are once again finding their strength and form at the right time. Determined to create history and make it four Premier League titles in a row, the Red Devils are as hungry as ever for silver ware. They’ve already bagged the Carling Cup, they have one eye on a Champions League quarter final spot and they are two points clear at the Premier League summit. Granted they haven’t been as exciting to watch as a team this term, but Rooney has given us every reason to be up for watching Manchester United play. Do you think they’d be flying if Ferdinand and Vidic were fit all season? Do you think Rooney deserves to be Player of the Year? Has Valencia been a success? Will Berbatov be the man United fans want him to be?

And what of Arsenal? After losses to Manchester United and Chelsea, everyone had written off their title chances for good. How could the Gunners win the league if they couldn’t beat the two best teams in the country? Somehow, some way, Arsenal have hung in there. Even though they lost to the big two, they picked up some good results in games we’ve easily seen them lose over the last few seasons. Beating the likes of Stoke and Hull has helped. Losing Ramsey to such a horrific injury has not. But unlike the Eduardo injury experience which saw Arsenal implode that season, it appears this time around the team are galvanized to win it for Ramsey. They seem to have a purpose we may not have seen in recent times. Can Arsenal finish strong without Fabregas? Would they be clear of United and Chelsea on points at this stage if Van Persie hadn’t been injured? Was Vermaelen the best buy of the season? How good could Arsenal actually be if they bought three more world class players?

The rest of the league are fighting for a fourth Champions League spot, a Europa League place or just plain old fashioned survival. How do your predictions match up to what you thought at the beginning of the season? Who do you see wining it all? Chelsea? Manchester United? Or Arsenal? Can Tottenham really steal a Champions League birth? Will Manchester City or Aston Villa ruin their coming out party? Will we see another famous old club like West Ham go down? Has Hull City’s luck finally run out? When Portsmouth go down, how much further will they sink over the next few years? Remember Leeds?

There is still much to play for. It’s sad that the season is almost ending but fear not fellow footie fans! The silver lining is that we are in a World Cup year so the wait for some quality football won’t feel like eternity. Could this be the year Wayne Rooney shines on the world stage? Is it his time to be crowned a world football superstar? The race to the finish line is almost over. The only question is, who will win?

Who needs to be friendly…?

van__persie_682x400_929155a If a country has qualified for the World Cup, why do they have to play a meaningless friendly? Sure the revenue is good for each nation’s savings account but that’s not how some of the world’s biggest football clubs see it. Once again some key players have returned from international duty with injuries that could have been prevented by not scheduling these needless friendlies.

Chelsea and Arsenal must be fuming today. Two of their best players are crocked because of playing in a friendly that didn’t really mean anything. Frank Lampard has a thigh injury that was apparently caused by a cheap charter flight to Qatar, the location for England’s friendly versus Brazil. Why wasn’t that game played at Wembley at least? Why go to Qatar? Andy why are England making their players sit in baby seats while travelling on business to play for Queen and country? Lampard could be out for at least 3 weeks and the London club are seeking compensation from the F.A.. Good for them I say!

Arsenal’s problems however are far graver and greater than Chelsea’s. While on duty for the Netherlands, Arsenal front man Robin van Persie tore his ankle ligaments and the word is he could be out for the rest of the season. If this is true, it’s a major blow to Arsenal and Van Persie personally after he was having a “Player of the Year” type season. One thing is for sure, Italian defender Chiellini will not be on any Arsenal fans Christmas card list this holiday season.

I don’t want to harp on about the friendlies as I do love my international football. But there does come a time when the football governing body has to be responsible to the club as well as the progression of the game on an international level. As football fans, we’ve all been robbed of watching Robin Van Persie play for the rest of the season. And if you are an Arsenal fan, you now have to hope the club can pull through without him. January transfer marketing anyone?

The evolution of Robin van Persie…

01_VANMAN_280x390_919502a We have all witnessed the growth and progression of Cesc Fabregas as a world class footballer. There’s no question the Spaniard has solidified his place as one of the best midfielders in the universe. His goal against Tottenham on Saturday was magical and proves that if he wants to turn his talent on like that, he has the ability to do so at any given time. The Arsenal fans are completely aware of his brilliance and the effect he can have on a game. But what of his teammate Robin Van Persie?

This season, Robin Van Persie is proving to Arsene Wenger and the entire Arsenal fan nation that he has matured as a player and is ready and prepared to take on much more responsibility. There is definitely something very different about the Dutchman this term. Van Persie has taken the team on his shoulders and is repaying the faith Wenger and the fans have shown in him. There’s always been an edge to Van Persie’s game, but so far this season it has been controlled and he has been more than affective for the Gunners.

We’ve all seen glimpses of how amazing Van Persie can be. There’s no doubt he has scored some incredible goals and has contributed to much of Arsenal’s beautiful play over the last few years. But there was always a part of his game that let him down. Rash challenges and emotional reactions raised question marks about the maturity of Van Persie. But he seems to have put that behind him this season and he has been able to contain his emotions far better. If he can continue to evolve like this as a player, surely there is a legend in the making at Arsenal?

Not only has Van Persie’s attitude improved, his finishing has been clinical and his overall team play has been unselfish and inspiring. With the departure of Adebayor, it’s as though he has been freed to play his game and in return, he has delivered his best performances in an Arsenal shirt. With Fabregas and Van Persie hitting form at the same time, this could definitely give Arsenal fans hope that they can really make a run for the title this year. Add the world class talent that is Arshavin to the mix, and anything is possible.

Van Persie is ready to take his place among the elite footballers on the planet and in a World Cup year, he could really solidify his status as one of the best. Who knows, perhaps the evolution can become a revolution for Arsenal and the national Dutch team…

Hello. We are Manchester City…

_46367397_adebayorb466 Manchester City battered Arsenal 4-2 today. After a dominate 1st half performance by the Gunners, Manchester City gave them a good pasting in the 2nd half. I don’t know what Mark Hughes said to his men at half-time, but whatever it was, it worked to perfection. Unfortunately for City, their great performance is not what the papers will be shouting about tomorrow morning. A deliberate and provocative celebration by Adebayor against his old club Arsenal is what will dominate the headlines on the back pages. Adebayor ran the length of the pitch to celebrate his header and Manchester City’s 3rd goal, which obviously incited fury from the Gunners fans.

What he did was wrong. He should know better. Adebayor has obviously dreamed of shoving it down the Arsenal fans throats following months of abuse by them. But so much has been written about City and Arsenal before the season started and we all know there is no love lost between Hughes and Wenger. It certainly appears as though a new rivalry has been born between these two teams and Adebayor is more than happy to lead City from the front lines. This is the first of many battles. Arsenal fans 0 Manchester City fans 1.

City’s 4-2 defeat over Arsenal illustrates how Mark Hughes and his men are ready to prove they can win the title. They have been ripped by many in the media for spending tons of money in the summer transfer market. People have questioned Mark Hughes and his ability to manage a group of growing stars. Bets have been made on whether or not they can break into the so-called Top 4. Well today, Manchester City were able to put some of their critics in their place with a dominant performance. Oh and by the way…they did it without Tevez and Robinho.

Arsenal looked in control of the game in the first half. They had good possession and it appeared as though they could do some damage. But some of their final balls and overall attempts on goal lacked bite. Sure Van Persie and Rosicky scored and the latter looked bright when he came on as a substitute for Arsenal, but it just wasn’t enough. And in the second half, Manchester City took over completely and whipped Arsenal about the pitch like jockeys on a race horse. Adebayor tortured his old team both in attack and defense. I lost count how many Arsenal corners he cleared away with his head. He played with a chip on his shoulder and it worked for him and City.

Once again there are many question marks against Arsenal. The finger will be pointed at Wenger for not splashing the cash in the transfer market. In today’s game, money definitely was the one doing the talking and winning. You could see City’s investments on the pitch and it was fruitful for them today. Let’s remember this is a long season. We still have to see how City perform in adversity. For now, they are enjoying their winning ways. And for now, it’s Arsenal that have to show what they will do in adversity.

Was this game proof that Manchester City will finish above Arsenal this season? Do you think City can win the whole enchilada? Can Adebayor finish as the Premier League’s top scorer? Do City need Robinho and should they let him go to Barcelona? Should Wenger have taken Bendtner off instead of Denilson? Should he give Jack Wilshere more playing time? What’s wrong with Fabregas? Who is getting the drinks in?