Have Arsenal proved that their ‘philosophy’ is better than that of Chelsea and Manchester City?

Robin van Persie definitely thinks so, and with Arsenal as the only serious challengers to Manchester United for the Premier League title race, he’s happy to stick the boot in.

Van Persie:

“I still strongly believe in my club’s philosophy. A club like Manchester City change their philosophy every year and Chelsea spent about €80m this season … two clubs who had a big mouth before the season, thinking that Arsenal wouldn’t play a role in the title race but we are still ahead of them. And just by playing our own game, through our own philosophy.”

There are mitigating circumstances – Man City have improved a whole lot since their takeover, and the desire to improve results in a short period of time has necessitated the expense, although few would disagree that the money could have been better spent and that City would have been better served focusing on team spirit and playing philosophy from the start.

Still, their results, not to mention their chance for qualifying for the Champions League next season, means City fans will be satisfied with their current season. Not so much with Chelsea fans (unless they win the Champions League or manage to haul in United for a most improbable of title defenses.

Yet van Persie isn’t done with the ‘big mouths’ just yet. Speaking of the second leg versus Barcelona:

“What frustrated me very much, was that the Barcelona players were trying to influence the referee from the first minute. They were talking and complaining all the time, without being punished. I don’t like that kind of acting. It has nothing to do with fair play. The referee was clearly influenced by that. He lost the plot completely.

Of course, every team tries to take some advantage by talking to the referee at crucial moments in the game … you have to be smart in some way. But not all the time, over and over again. In England, Chelsea have the same kind of behaviour towards the referee. They talk and they talk. Over and over. On every decision. It’s getting annoying sometimes.”

He’s got a fair point – referees are only human and intense pressure would naturally affect their decisions, even if it’s the most marginal of changes. However it’s funny how RVP acknowledges that ‘you have to be smart in some way’ but follows that up by saying ‘not all the time, over and over again’. I agree with the basic point, that players shouldn’t be badgering the referee, but Van Persie is talking more about the degree of referee harassment / manipulation (how much is too much?) and not that it shouldn’t happen at all.

In other words, Chelsea push the referee all the time (true), but Arsenal don’t do it all the time, so Arsenal’s philosophy / playing style is better? Because they manipulate less? It’s a bit like a golfer complaining about another player’s handicap, or a League Two player complaining that Premier League players are faster, every single time, and it’s ‘annoying’.

More Van Persie, this time on near-misses this season and the Premier League title:

“Winning trophies is a big thing for me. It is very frustrating but it’s not in my head all the time. It might influence other players but, for me, it’s not an obsession. I did win prizes in my career, I know how to do it. It’s about keeping focus, about just playing your game. If you keep playing your game, you’ll get rewarded some time.

The Carling Cup final [defeat to Birmingham City] was really frustrating and it did influence our game in the weeks after. The game was bizarre … it really showed that every game has its own story. But I still strongly believe in our title chances. We have a great team, with great focus. Everyone within the club is really positive about our chances.”

As long as they survive the international break, that is.

Midfielder Andrey Arshavin believes Arsenal’s season should be classified as a failure if the Gunners fail to win the English Premier League title.

Speaking to the Daily Mail ahead of the last months of the season, the Russian explained that Manchester United are favourites to win the title but also how Arsenal and Chelsea will not give up easily as both of them can still dream of becoming Champions.

Believing that not winning the Premier League would be a big blow for Arsenal, the 29-year old confessed that he is fit and ready to feature in the last nine games of the season but also that he psychologically suffered the disappointing Cup defeats against Birmingham City in the League Cup and Barcelona in the Champions League.

The midfielder concluded by saying that he has no idea why manager Arsene Wenger opted to start with Tomas Rosicky at the Camp Nou as he also gave an explanation of why he was so upset during the winners’ ceremony, at Wembley, against Birmingham.

On the title race, Arshavin said:

Manchester United [look strongest] but all others who chase them won’t let them break away too far. Including us. Now we are in a close chase for the title with Manchester United and still have chances to finish first in the Premier League.

If we fail to do that I would consider this season completely lost for us. At the moment physically I feel well, but I cannot say the same about my emotional state. No footballer likes to lose and I am no exception.

I do not know why I wasn’t in the starting line-up for the match in Barcelona. You should ask the manager about it. Because from my point of view only one team was playing football at Nou Camp and it was Barca.

I was substituted in the second half [against Birmingham]. So after the game was over, I went straight to the dressing room oblivious of any ceremonies.

Statistics don’t lie. With 606,677 followers and counting, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is leading the Twitter race against his fellow team-mates.

It is fun according to Wojciech Szczesny, addictive according to Jack Wilshere. Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, the youngsters gave their point of view on what is considered by many as the Internet’s most addictive social tool with the goalkeeper confessing that it is not easy to compete with the rest as he’s at least 300,000 followers short of the Spaniard.

With “only” 108,678 followers, it’s actually much more than that for the Pole with Jack Wilshere the closest to the captain with 371,577, happy to be leading his personal battle with Robin van Persie who is on 258,091. Midfielder Samir Nasri comes next with 190,529 followers.

Wojciech Szczesny:

I enjoy Twitter, it’s fun. I enjoy writing on it, reading stuff as well, it’s just good fan. There is no competition between me and the others [on the number of followers] because I’m like 300,000 followers behind Cesc for example but yeah, they do have some competition, I think Jack and Robin had some kind of a bet.

Jack Wilshere:

I think it was Cesc [who got me into it], he has always been on there and I remember him around the hotel always on his phone on Twitter. I got it, and thought it’s not that serious and then started getting more and more followers. All of a sudden you get addicted to it.

Robin van Persie’s just come on there, I kept saying to him ‘get on there, get on there’. He was saying ‘never’ but now he’s on there. We’re having a little competition on who is going to get the most followers and at the moment I’m leading.

Steve Bruce wants a big striker to lead the Sunderland line following the £24m sale of Darren Bent to Aston Villa – and Nicklas Bendtner, 23, is one of his main targets.

The pair worked together at Birmingham and Black Cats boss Bruce believes he has the cash to tempt the Gunners. 

He will move for Wigan’s unsettled Charles N’Zogbia and also bid to tie up permanent deals for Danny Welbeck, Nedum Onuoha, Sulley Muntari and possibly John Mensah.

But the main aim is a front man in a similar mould to Liverpool and England’s Andy Carroll.

Chairman Niall Quinn said: “Carroll terrorises teams. How many times do we hear pundits saying he’s unplayable?

“I hope the traditional No.9 is back in fashion. We do want that part of the pitch covered.

Полузащитник "Ювентуса" Фелипе Мелу может покинуть стан туринцев по окончании нынешнего сезона. Серьезный интерес к 27-летнему бразильцу проявляют "Арсенал" и "Севилья", сообщает Transfermarketweb.

Учёные Катарского университета разработали уникальный способ защиты болельщиков и футболистов от жары и лучей солнца во время чемпионата мира — 2022, информирует FOX Sports.

Искусственные облака, сделанные из лёгкой углеродистой структуры, будут оснащены дистанционным управлением посредством солнечных батарей. Стоимость искусственного облака составит около $ 500 тыс.

Напомним, что температура воздуха в ближневосточном государстве летом поднимается выше 40 градусов.