An Interview With A Gunner

1) So, Arsenal flying high, are you surprised the transition of the team has happened so quickly?

I don’t think it has gone that quickly to be honest. Two seasons languishing in 4th place just ahead of Spurs was not my idea of fun. However I think the difference between this year and last is astonishing, the belief that the players have stems from a fantastic unity within the squad. Although now we have suffered our first defeat of the season, we’ll see how big the cahoona’s are on these fellas.

2) The sale of Thierry Henry, right move or not? You surely must miss watching such a sublime player ?

100% the right move. I remember writing an article a couple of weeks before Thierry left saying maybe it was time to part ways as the circus that followed him round was dragging the team down, and I think that has proved to be the case. All the younger guys seemed to want to do Thierry proud before the rest of the team, and what’s the best way to do him proud? Pass him the ball. Now he’s gone the players want to play for each other rather than one man, and aren’t afraid of suffering the death glare should things go wrong.

Of course I miss seeing Henry in the famous red & white, but what would you rather watch? One sublime player? Or one sublime team?

3) Is the league a two horse race between Arsenal and Manchester United this season or do you think some other clubs might rally and crash the party?

Definitely not a two horse race. The initial shock of the departure of Jose Mourinho seems to have subsided now and they are really steaming along. Even Liverpool seem to be coming into some sort of form, although I expect the usual crash and burn from them.

4) What do you think of Martin O’Neill and also, who do you think should be the England boss?

I love Martin O’Neil, he’s hilarious, and not a bad coach either. I think he should have been given the England job the first time around, by as usual the FA arsed it all up. I have lost 99% of my enthusiasm for international football over the last 8 or 9 years, so any coach who could get me excited about it again would be more than welcome. I think Harry Redknapp could have done that for me, but let’s face it, that ain’t going to happen now. I think the best coach available, who has all the right credentials for the job, is Jose Mourinho. But I couldn’t sing his name.

5) If you could have one of our players, who would it be and why?

I’d like Agbonlahor please, for two reasons. 1) He is an excellent young player who knows exactly where the goal is, he has enormous potential, and under the right guidance could become a world class player. 2) Then everyone would stop whining like a bunch of school girls that we never sign English players.

**Number 2 is infact untrue, I don’t care what nationality our players are, as long as they are top class, which Agbonlahor clearly is.

6) What is your opinion of Aston Villa as a club?

Aston Villa have always been a very likable club for me, I think it stems back to when Racist Ron was in charge and Dean Saunders & Dallian Atkinson were lighting up the league. I think you have a fantastic supporters, and I’ve never had any problems with any Villa fans. Also I think the true barometer is the classiness of the fans on the Vital Network, everytime we get a visitor from Vital Villa, they are always polite and get their point across in an intelligent manner.

I am under no delusions, as a club and a fan base, we Arsenal fans are not very well liked, and that doesn’t bother me, but I think you guys are liked by most other fans…..except the Blues & the Baggies of course.

7) What is your prediction for the game on Saturday?

I have a funny feeling about this game …….. I’ll go for 1-1

I’d like to wish you a genuine good luck for the rest of the season, and an absolute nightmare on Saturday.

With thanks to Paul Mustchin at : Vital Arsenal My highly inteligent and duly considered answers to Paul’s will appear later. Either that or I’ll just come out with the same old cr*p that I usually do!