Arsenal – Page 4 – BRITISH SOCCER {DIVA}

It’s Been A While…

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.

Happy New Year…

Happy New Year fellow football fans. It’s around this time of year we reflect on how our team has played thus far in the first act of the season and pray to the football Gods they put in a performance of a lifetime as we approach the final act!

It’s so close at the top and undoubtedly one of the most thrilling Premier League season’s in years. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all the ones to chase, with Everton and a few others still sniffing around. Manchester United are in an unlikely position. Not sure anyone has seem them adrift at the top since the late 80’s!

Buckle-up folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. If the title race goes to the wire, I’m not sure I can watch with both eyes open.

Enjoy and may your year be filled with health, happiness and sexy football!

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?

The End of Act One…

Act One of the new season in Spain is over and Sophie and Ben return to dissect the action so far, as Barcelona begin with a perfect record under ‘Tata’ Martino.

Atlético are hot on their heels with eight wins of their own and Real Madrid follow five points behind – albeit with some teething problems in their post-Mourinho project.

We take a look at how Barça have coped without Messi, how Madrid can improve in the lead-up to the Clásico, the difficult start to life in La Liga for Gareth Bale, plus Atlético and how the third team in Spain are looking to challenge under Diego Simeone.

Join us for all that and much more in La Liga Lounge!

The One After the Summer…

The summer has gone and with it the transfer window is now a thing of the past too – at least until January.

Gareth Bale is finally a Real Madrid player, La Liga is underway again and Barcelona have a new coach – although not the centre-back they so badly needed. Sophie and Ben return to discuss all of that and more on the latest La Liga Lounge.

The One After the Summer. Tune in and join us as we catch up on all the stories.
We’re back in the Lounge for our laid-back look at the game in Spain…

Soccerdiva Soundbite…Arsenal’s First Game…

A sad start to the new football season for Arsenal Football Club.

How the mighty have fallen. How the once great club has regressed. Eight years going on nine without a trophy. Losing to Aston Villa at home on the opening day of the season. That hasn’t happened in 20 years.

No transfers. No fresh blood. Just the same old story for Arsenal fans to eat. Well the Gooner nation is full from the club’s nonsense. They won’t be fed the PR lines for one more game. They don’t want to hear the lies any longer. They don’t want to be shined.

Football. Soccer. Call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Your Crystal Football & Inner Footydamus…

The return of the greatest game in the world is upon us. The hope. The dreams. The anticipation. The love. The hate. The rivalry. The passion. The despair. The elation. The sweet smell of victory. The bitter taste of defeat. Football is back. How did we make it through the summer?

With every new season come changes. New managers. New players. New tactics. New style. New kits. New boots. New everything. But the one thing that remains the same is what every team is fighting for. To be crowned champions. To win trophies. To be the best of the best.

Who will win it all? Who will disappoint? Who will rise as a new star? Who will fade into the football wilderness?

Join in the fun and share your predictions. From Premier League champions, to relegation, the golden boot, Champions League places and more, British Soccer Diva leaves no stone unturned. You too can look into your crystal football, channel your inner footydamus and give us your predictions for the season ahead.

The transfer market is still open. Who knows where Suarez will end up? Who knows if Rooney will be wearing blue next season? And who knows if Gareth Bale will be living in Madrid? These predictions are based on how each team is made up right now.

This is how we see the Premier League Table at the end of the season…
Chelsea
Manchester United
Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur
——————-
Arsenal
Liverpool
Everton
Swansea City
West Ham
Sunderland
Southampton
West Brom
Aston Villa
Norwich City
Newcastle United
Fulham
Cardiff City
——————-
Stoke City
Hull City
Crystal Palace

Premier League Accolades…
Golden Boot = Sergio Aguero
Golden Glove = David de Gea
Player of the Year = Juan Mata
Young Player of the Year = Romelu Lukaku
Manager of the Year = Jose Mourinho

Miscellaneous…
Steal of the Summer = Etienne Capoue
Comeback Player of the Year = Andy Carroll
Most Hat-Tricks = Luis Suarez
Manager to be Sacked First = Alan Pardew
Most Yellow Cards = Stoke City
Most Red Cards = Sunderland

Other Trophies…
F.A. Cup Winners = Chelsea
Carling Cup Winners = West Ham United

The End of an Era…

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.

Verbal Memo | The Bite, the Bale & the Special One…

There’s no biting in football…unless you are Luis Suarez of course! Liverpool’s star player is in hot water once again and the biggest question is what will this legendary and historical club do with him?

Unless you’ve been living under a gigantic rock, Suarez took a healthy bite out of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a game at Anfield over the weekend. It’s not the first time Suarez has done this to an opponent. In April 2011 while playing for Ajax, he sunk his teeth into PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal. He received a seven-match ban and it was the last time he ever played for Ajax, a club with as much rich football history as Liverpool. This is unacceptable behaviour from a player who doesn’t even need to act like Mike Tyson on the football pitch.

Suarez is undoubtedly one of the best players in Europe, let alone the Premier League. His continual bad decision making however leads you to believe he is definitely a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. Where do Liverpool go from here? They will probably support him because without his thirty goals this season, they’d be languishing below mid-table and Brendan Rodgers would probably be standing in the football unemployment line.

In this week’s verbal memo you can also catch soundbites about Tottenham, Jose Mourinho and there’s even a mention about my chat with Brazil football legend Carlos Alberto. There will be more of that interview posted in the coming days.

Sit back. Relax. Rant. Rave. If you agree or disagree with anything you hear, lob me @soccerdiva and let me have it.

Verbal Memo | Manchester City’s Gift For United…

Manchester City’s attempt at defending their title has been nothing short of pathetic.

The players have played with apathy and haven’t been consistent enough. In fact, it seems as though winning the title last season was proof enough in their eyes that they’d arrived as one of the big boys in England, and Europe! The bottom line is something just hasn’t been right this season.

From the distractions of Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini’s tactical tinkering early on in the season, to missing out on signing Robin van Persie and stinking up the Champions League, the blue side of Manchester has stuttered and faltered with a lack of identity and a shortage of passion.

What is Manchester City’s identity? What is their club culture? It takes more than winning the F.A.Cup and Premier League to be considered a big club. Remember Blackburn Rovers? They too won the Premier League. Have a listen and let me have it whether you agree or disagree.

Lob me a header or volley @soccerdiva. Football, soccer, call it what you want. It’s just like being down the pub with your mates.

Soccerdiva | Footy Show | Manchester City Red Card