My phone was buzzing the other day when the Spuds (Spurs) beat Manchester City to cement a Champions League place for the first time since Noah took the Arc out for a spin.

Now… i’m not a hater, and i’ll congratulate Tottenham. The league table never lies. You deserve to go to Europe next season, and thoroughly amuse us Arsenal fans. Bit harsh? Not really, not with the abuse that i’ve received this week. I’ve had it all:

‘We’re the best team in England’

‘Player for player we’re better than you’

‘You had your first team out when you played us’

My personal favorite:

‘I genuinely think that we can win the Champions League’

The best thing, is that most of these text messages came from Tottenham ‘fans’ who I haven’t spoken to about football for the last 10 years, I thought they were rugby fans! They remind me of Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans in 2003. You couldn’t buy a seat at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa had won the Super Bowl in 2002, and everybody expected a repeat. As soon as the Bucs went back to their old selves, you could all of a sudden get tickets to the games! Over here, its called being a ‘fair weather’ fan. I call them plastic fans, because, as the old chant goes, ‘you only sing when you’re winning’!

Enjoy your moment, every dog has its day. I could go on about our depleted team for most of the season, the fact that Holland broke RVP then gave him back, but I won’t because I’m Arsenal, and that means I’m full of class. I look forward to see you crashing out against FK Ventspils of Latvia!

Jay Z at his epic Super Bowl performance

I spotted this interview at Arsenal.com. Check it out

Grammy Gunner

By Andy Exley

Within four months in 1996, two events that could hardly be more disparate occurred, yet both paved the way for the making of an icon.

So we’ve established the credentials of Mr. Wenger and Mr., urm, Z but why the comparison? Well after rumors have done the rounds over recent weeks about the 40 year-old Hip-Hop star having a liking for Arsène Wenger’s Gunners, the Official Magazine managed to receive cast-iron confirmation of the Brooklyn born superstar’s support by nabbing ‘Mr. Beyonce’ for an exclusive interview about his beloved Arsenal.

First things first, and why does a man from Brooklyn who is part-owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team in the NBA, have an emotional stake in a football team across the Atlantic?

“It was about five years ago now,” explains the ten-time Grammy Award winner. “When Thierry Henry was at the club I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing player, ever since then I have been a big fan of the club, following you guys and still today you play the beautiful football that Thierry did, I think he had a real long term effect on the team.

“I love all sports, but what I really love is when people play sport in a beautiful way, and that’s one thing Arsenal do for sure.

“I don’t get chance to watch the team in London,” he continues, “it’s difficult to find time with all the travelling I do, plus I live so far away. But we get all the EPL games over in the States, you can watch any games you like, so it’s pretty easy to keep up to date with how Arsenal are doing.”

Despite not getting to Emirates Stadium yet, Jay-Z did make his Premier League debut at Eastlands earlier this season, when he saw Manchester City’s controversial 4-2 victory over the Gunners. His high-profile presence as a guest of the City hierarchy ¬ he was in Manchester for a concert in the city – led to speculation that the New Yorker harbored loyalties for the Premier League’s nouveau riche, a fact he is quick to dispel. “The result wasn’t great [at City], but I was glad to see Arsenal play,” he says. “After that game the press started reporting that I was a Manchester City fan, I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan.

“I will come to Emirates soon that’s for sure. I love London as a city, it’s just finding time when I am over here for a few days to come and watch a game. I will find time soon, I will make sure of it.”

So who would Jay-Z particularly like to see in action when he finally gets to watch a match at Emirates? Not surprisingly, the peerless skipper gets a special mention, whilst the man who originally pricked his interest would also be on the menu, if at all possible.

“I think Cesc Fabregas is a great player,” says the rapper who recently topped the singles charts with ‘Empire State of Mind’. “It doesn’t matter what sport it is the greatest sportsmen in the world do the difficult things and make it look easy. That’s what Cesc does, he is so graceful in everything he does, and it looks effortless, the boy was born to play soccer you can see that.

“And Thierry Henry – that is a guy I would like to meet. I know he is a big NBA fan, so I might meet him courtside one day, or maybe when I come to the Emirates. He still comes to watch you guys right? He must do he is a legend there.

“I don’t know if there are any fans in the current team,” he says modestly, “but if there are they would be more than welcome to come to my next concert when I am over in London. They can come and see me do my work, and then I will come and see them do their work.”

Basketball references are frequent with Jay-Z and his love for the sport is matched by so many in the ‘Big Apple’ but is football finally taking a foothold there?

“Basketball is the sport of New York, and you are never going to change that,” he stresses. “Then New Yorkers love their [American] football and baseball, but I think soccer’s popularity is growing in the US. It’s never going to be the number one sport, but more people are playing it and watching it than ever have before.

“I just love watching people at the top of their game,” he continues, “plus when I was growing up basketball was a big part of our life and I used to spend a lot of time playing. It doesn’t matter what level it is, when people are on the field or on the court they just want to win, and that can bring the best out in people.

“Soccer is a beautiful game to watch, and people want to see it. It’s something different as well, if Americans want to see soccer played at the highest level they need to watch a European team. American soccer is getting better, but it’s still a long way off you guys.”

Back on the basketball trip, was Jay-Z aware that Chicago Bulls stars Luol Deng and Joakim Noah were big Gooners and have visited Emirates? “No I didn’t know that, that’s pretty cool. Maybe we could all watch a game together when the NBA season is over, I am sure they would love to come.”

And maybe extend an invite last month’s magazine feature Idris Elba – Stringer Bell from hit US drama The Wire…

“Sure, why not that sounds pretty cool. With all these people you are inviting over you are going to need a pretty big box if we all come on the same week!”

As well as a globally successful recording artist, Jay-Z is also an entrepreneur with his business portfolio including record companies and clothing lines as well as the stake in the New Jersey Nets. And four years ago, he was even rumored to be interested in purchasing a significant amount of shares in Arsenal Football Club, so could fellow American Stan Kroenke one day be joined on the Arsenal Board’s headed paper by Mr. Shawn Corey Carter?

“I am a businessman, and I will always look at an opportunity, and if it feels right great,” says Jay-Z, keeping his options open, “I don’t know a lot about the business of soccer, but in the future if the right opportunity presented itself then who knows?”

As for the immediate Gunners concerns, it’s all about a two-pronged attack on domestic and European fronts, and Jay-Z has his fingers crossed.

“You have always got to hope for the best, and in life you are never out of it until you are out of it,” he muses, “It’s still a very young team, but youth counts for a lot, and I am confident this can still be a very successful season. If we win the title, then I will make sure I give Arsenal a shout out on stage for sure.”

And with that the Official Magazine concludes its interview with perhaps our first non-footballing megastar since Demi Moore back in Highbury’s final season. All that’s left to do is extend an invitation to a game of his convenience in the future, to which he responds, “thanks for inviting me, that’s very cool of you.” Any time, Jay-Z, any time.

With thanks to Tom Bennett

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says that he has never before experienced an atmosphere quite so charged as his team prepare for their crunch Champions League semifinal against Inter Milan. As you can imagine these are very anxious moments for Pep and the boys at Barca.

Ever since the final whistle blew at the San Siro last week there has been a media frenzy in Catalonia over the return leg and the chances of Barca turning around the 3-1 deficit.

The players have spoken about how convinced they are that they can win the game and reach the final in Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium, and fans have even set up a website to support the club in their effort to achieve it.

Defender Gerard Pique said the fans have to give such an intimidating reception for the Inter players that they will no longer want to be footballers.

But there is also a chance also that this intense emotion ahead of the game could work against the team.

“We are anxious to play the match and win for ourselves and the fans, we are not interested in anything else. I have never felt an atmosphere like this before either as coach or player, with people coming up to us and wishing us well.

“When the players retire they will look back at this moment and the way people stopped them in the street,” said Guardiola.

“We are very demanding of ourselves and honour is the most important thing that you can have in a profession whether you are a film director, a writer, whatever.

“The fans need to come to the game to support us, enjoy the football and not to try and contain the other side. We will give everything, we know that we play good football and simple football where we attack as much as possible.

“We have the same desire as always, it doesn’t matter that we won the competition last time. Compared to the last match we need to control possession better and attack more.

“I don’t know whether we can manage the turnaround but we will do our best, what we have achieved before is now in the past.”

Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets admitted he was motivated by the chance of playing the final in the stadium of rivals Real Madrid.

“The team is always ambitious but this time I have noticed something special. There is a lot of expectation riding on this game,” he said.

“We are a step away from the final and so this is the moment of truth. We have the best fans in the world and it is sure to be a magical night. We can’t lose our heads though and play without thinking.”

U.S. National Team head coach Bob Bradley will be at Niketown New York this Thursday, April 29 at 9:00 AM to reveal the U.S. Men’s National Team Home Kit, the most environmentally-friendly and technologically advanced kit in football’s history. Bradley will be joined by the USA’s 1950 FIFA World Cup captain Walter Bahr and Global Football Creative Director Phil Dickinson to offer customization sessions of the new uniform and to discuss the tournament.

For the first time, all of Nike’s national teams, including the U.S., Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands, will be wearing jerseys made entirely from recycled polyester, each one produced from up to eight recycled plastic bottles. To make the 2010 national team kits, Nike’s fabric suppliers sourced discarded plastic bottles from Japanese and Taiwanese landfill sites and then melted them down to produce new yarn that was ultimately converted to fabric for the jerseys. By using recycled polyester for its new range of national jerseys, Nike prevented nearly 13 million plastic bottles, totaling nearly 254,000 kg of polyester waste, from going into landfill sites, nearly enough to cover the entire coastline of South Africa. Team and professional uniforms are also available for customization.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho still found reasons to moan despite being on the verge of yet another extraordinary triumph after his side flattened Barcelona 3-1 in their Champions League semifinal first leg on Tuesday.

Barca’s Spain midfielder Xavi complained about the referee at fulltime and was involved in a San Siro tunnel spat with Mourinho, who inferred the holders were bad losers, and again slammed his own player Mario Balotelli for a lack of dedication.

“It’s always difficult to lose for those who aren’t used to losing. I’m like that too. It’s the characteristic of a team which always wins,” a bristling Mourinho told a news conference when asked what had happened in the tunnel.

“I can never have a problem with Xavi because I adore him. He’s one of best in the world.”

The Portuguese coach, whose side have slipped up domestically as they seek a fifth straight Serie A title, was proud of his players but could not believe 19-year-old substitute Balotelli produced another lacklustre performance.

“We were in the second most important match in club football where everyone goes off (the pitch) dead and one could have done something more to help the team,” Mourinho said after weeks of tension between the pair since Balotelli was pictured in an AC Milan shirt. What is Balotelli thinking?

GREAT TEAM

The highly successful former Porto and Chelsea coach also has a difficult relationship with the Italian game in general and has previously said he was not happy in Serie A, fuelling speculation he may end up at Real Madrid or Manchester United.

Far from a shrinking violet, Mourinho was happy to explain how much Inter had improved under his guidance this season, having struggled on the biggest stage since enjoying back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1964 and 1965.

“I arrived here and Inter was a little team in the Champions League. They had a fear of playing. At this point we have a chance of winning against the best team. Inter is now a great team in the Champions League,” he said.

“We either go to Madrid and play the final or we go home with our heads held high.”

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola was gracious in defeat and had only one complaint about the sticky San Siro pitch, saying Nou Camp will be watered for next Wednesday’s second leg.

“The pitch was not the one we wanted. At home we can choose, we have attackers who are very quick,” said the dapper coach, whose side had to spend 14 hours on a bus to reach Milan because of flight restrictions caused by an erupting Icelandic volcano.

“I’m not a doctor so I can’t say how much the journey affected us,” he added.

Karim Benzema

Police will question French footballer Karim Benzema over prostitution involving a minor, an official said on Wednesday, making him the third star of France’s national team named in the scandal.
The judicial official, speaking on condition of anonymity under standard French practice, said a prostitute had told investigators she had sex with Real Madrid striker Benzema, 22, in 2008 when she was 16.

In France a person under 18 is considered a minor. Sex with a prostitute under 18 carries a jail term of up to three years and a fine of €45 000.

The woman said she also had relations with Benzema’s France team mate Franck Ribery in 2009, when she was 17 but told him she was over 18, the source said.

A judicial official on Monday named Ribery in the case but said the Bayern Munich winger claimed he did not know she was a minor.

The source said Ribery, 27, told police he had relations with her and paid for her to visit him in Germany but denied paying her a direct sum for sex.

Sources close to the investigation said police had also questioned a third France international, Lyon winger Sidney Govou, 30.

The judicial official said the same woman told police Govou had sex with her in March, when she was 18, and that he was surprised when she asked him to pay her several hundred euros afterwards.

Govou’s lawyer Thierry Braillard insisted Sunday that Govou “is not linked either closely or remotely to any kind of prostitution network”.

None of the players has so far been charged in the case, which centres on a suspected prostitution network at a Paris night club frequented by certain French internationals. A judge must decide whether charges are brought.

“Possible criminal proceedings in a case like this one depend on the client’s knowledge or awareness that the relationship involves a minor,” an official said.

The manager of the club and three others including a waiter have been charged in the case and are in custody.

The police inquiry could not have come at a worse time for French coach Raymond Domenech and his team just 50 days before the start of the World Cup in South Africa, at which the three players are expected to play for France.

The French football team’s image was already tarnished after they beat Ireland in the qualifying stages only with the help of an illegal handball by striker Thierry Henry.

“This is yet another blow for the French team,” a source at the French Football Federation, who wished to remain anonymous, told AFP after Ribery was named in the scandal.

Ribery trained with Bayern on Tuesday for the first time since the scandal broke on Sunday and was expected to face Lyon on Wednesday evening in the semifinal of the European championship.

The French Football Federation has refused to comment pending the investigation.

SEARCH FOR “THE WORLD’S GREATEST FOOTBALL FAN” BEGINS

For the first time ever, one lucky fan of a national team competing on the sport’s biggest stage this summer, will earn the title of “The World’s Greatest Football Fan” in a competition so tough, that it will rival the tournament itself.

Fanatics from around the world will take the first step in a competition that will name 32 national-level finalists and progress through a bracket-style voting process to name a grand prize winner.

Die-hard fans will have the opportunity to offer obsessive allegiance to their national team by submitting off-the-wall photos and videos of them wearing their favorite team’s memorabilia to WorldsGreatestFootballFan.com.

The winner of the contest will receive a dream prize package: an all-expense-paid trip to the finals of this summer’s tournament in South Africa. Each nation’s winner will receive a secondary prize and the right to represent their respective country.

The campaign is aimed at the millions of football fans worldwide who have made the sport the phenomenon that it is. In 2006, the final match attracted a television audience of 715 million viewers, nearly 1/9 of the entire planet’s population.

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement from international football stating that he has been unable to mentally recover from the attack on the Togo team bus at the African Cup of Nations.

Adebayor looked on in horror as bullets riddled the bus in an attack that killed an assistant coach and the squad’s spokesman and led Togo to pull out of the tournament in January.

The former Arsenal star later admitted he feared his life was about to end during the assault in the northern Angolan province of Cabinda and he has been unable to shake off the mental scars of the incident.

“Following the tragic events during January’s African Cup of Nations, in which two of my fellow countrymen were killed by terrorists in Angola, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football,” Adebayor told his club’s website.

“I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack, and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus.

“We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all. It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again.”

The coach’s Angolan driver also died in the attack, while defender Serge Akakpo and goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale were among a number of passengers injured.

Obilale was initially reported to have been killed but was flown to a South African hospital for life-saving surgery and remained there for two months, with Adebayor paying for the GSI Pontivy player’s partner and sister to travel to South Africa and accompany him during his recovery.

Togo were banned by the Confederation of African Football for the next two editions as a result of their decision to pull out of the tournament, a sanction over which they are currently embroiled in an appeal process.

The 26-year-old Adebayor scored 16 goals in 38 appearances for Togo and helped his team reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He insisted he will always have a special bond with the team-mates who were on the bus in Cabinda.

“The people who were on that coach together will forever be joined by a special bond – we are all brothers,” he said.

“I will always have the team and the people of Togo close to my heart and wish them every success in the challenges that they will face in the future.

“For nine years I have played for the Togo team and, despite the events in Angola, I have some very good memories of my international career.

“I feel very proud to have been trusted with the position of captain of the Togolese football team. Leading your country in international competition is the ultimate honour for any player.”

Now that his international career has come to an end he will be focusing solely on Manchester City and their goal to dominate English football. Adebayor has scored seven times for City since returning to action after the tragedy and struck twice in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Birmingham as Roberto Mancini’s side consolidated fourth place in the Premier League.

The club, backed by their Abu Dhabi-based billionaire owners, has already spent millions in an attempt to secure qualification for the Champions League and Mancini’s men are within touching distance of reaching that goal.

Whatever Adebayor achieves at City, he admits he will always retain fond memories of his time with Togo and he hopes the team can make their country proud in the future.

“Togo have some very talented players, and I dearly hope the players who remain will be able to put their memories of Angola behind them and go onto be a success for the nation,” he added.

“I have enormous belief in each and every one of them, players, coaches, staff and their families.”