He Could Have Been the Best

Receiving a typically accurate pass from David Beckham just past the half-way line, Michael Owen set off to score what would be one of the finest English goals in history. England’s new ‘golden boy’ was born. That magnificent moment in Paris 14 years ago still sits so clear in my memory. His young boyish face, his shirt hanging off his adolescent figure, the weaving, the sublime finish and of course the celebration will never be forgotten. During his peek, he was a privilege to our nation and a joy to watch.

Owen lived most of his footballing life in the fast lane; his blistering pace still giving some defenders nightmares, and his rise to fame was equally as rapid. Some of England’s finest players are associated with one defining tournament where they excelled. In 66 it was Geoff Hurst, twenty years later it was Gary Lineker, 1990 belonged to Paul Gascoigne and in 1998 Michael Owen joined this list of legends. And like his predecessors, Owen consistently provided reason to cheer when donning the three lions.

Yet, like so many others before him, Owen was halted by injuries. His blistering pace was now a gingerly hobble due to his incredibly fragile hamstrings. Another part of the striker’s game to suffer was his confidence. What was once a contagiously cheeky grin was now a look of anxiety and worry. After stints at Real Madrid, Newcastle and most recently Manchester United trying to recapture the form he had shown at Liverpool, Owen’s fall from grace was as swift as its rise. More notably, his international career began to suffer because of the time he spent on the injury table. Just nine goal’s shy of Bobby Charlton’s England record, Owen made his last and final international appearance in 2008. His demise highlights how cruel football can be. Always a modern professional, Owen was adored by all fans and provided a positive image to a game that ultimately deserted him. Still, Owen will be remembered as the finest England striker of his generation and the recollections of Paris, Munich and London will never be disregarded.

Laurent Koscielny

“Mexès is an important loss, but they’ve got that Arsenal boy, he’s very good,” A wryly Vincente Del Bosque replied when asked how Philippe Mexès’ omission may help Spain achieve victory over France ahead of their quarter final meeting. The ‘Arsenal boy’ Spain’s manager talks so highly of is of course Laurent Koscielny.

It has certainly been an unforgettable few years for Laurent Koscielny. In 2009 he was playing in the second tier of French football. Fast-forward three years and he is starting for his country in the European Championships against the World Cup holders. Credible performances for Arsenal against Barcelona, Tottenham and Chelsea persuaded Laurent Blanc to include the 26 year old in his France squad for Euro 2012.

Arsenal were first alerted about the promising young French defender in 2008, when scouts watched him play for Tours in Ligue 2. Although the reports were positive, stating that the young Koscielny showed potential and great reading of the game, Wenger believed the step from Ligue 2 to Champions League football was too big so decided to continue to monitor the defenders development in France.

In 2009 Koscielny signed for Ligue 1 side Lorient. His first season in France’s top division was hugely successful as he helped guide Lorient to seventh, their highest ever league position. It was at this point that Wenger believed Koscielny was ready for the move to London and paid a reported £8.45million for him.

"I don't believe any French player would have refused to come and play for Arsenal. It took me four years to go from the bench of Ligue 2 to Arsenal so it is a great achievement.” A proud Koscielny said on his arrival.

Perhaps too eager on his Premier League debut against Liverpool, the defender was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. This was not the introduction Arsenal fans had wanted from their unknown acquisition from across the channel. Mutterings of “Pascal Cygan” could be heard from the home crowd as the worrying began.

It was on February 16^th, in a Champions League night at the Emirates that Koscienly showed just why Wenger had invested so much money in him. Barcelona had just rolled into London with a daunting swagger and confidence surrounding them. If Koscielny hadn’t been able to cope with David N’Gog then how would he fare against Lionel Messi and co?

On an unforgettable night, Koscielny gave his best performance in Arsenal colour’s to date as the home side claimed a historic 2-1 win.

After a shaky start to his career in London, Koscielny has proved that he is made for English football with a series of commanding performances, becoming one of the best defenders in Europe. The man from Tulle has grown in stature, adding maturity to his game. He boasts exceptional technical ability and reads the game as good as anyone. Now a first team regular alongside Thomas Vermaelen, the pair have demonstrated great consistency and understanding of one another.

So has the 26 year olds footballing career reached its climax?

“I have been on the crest of a wave for the last few years. But it is just the beginning; I haven't proved anything yet.”

No, according to Koscielny.

There's Only One Dennis Bergkamp

When Bergkamp moved to Arsenal FC in 1995, nobody could have predicted the transformation he would have on the English game. At the time, managed under Bruce Rioch, the north London side were known as ‘Boring Boring Arsenal’. Yet within the space of a year they were suddenly the sexiest team in the country because they had the Dutchman orchestrating their play.

This type of ‘glamorous signing’ was a first for Arsenal and something new to most English teams. Here was a player who was fully established in his national squad and with his best playing days ahead of him choosing to ply his trade in England.

However, it took the forward seven games to make the net bulge wearing the red of Arsenal in his opening season. Although, it did not take long before he became a firm favourite in the Highbury terraces. His contributions were essential in Arsenal qualifying for the UEFA Cup via a fifth place finish. Bergkamp even scored the winner against Bolton on the final day of the season to assure the league position.

In his second year in England, he was joined by Arsene Wenger who took over the reins at Highbury. Both shared similar visions in how football should be played, believing in healthy eating, quick passing and composed finishing. This understanding was instrumental in the success Wenger has achieved in his time at Arsenal.

Another Frenchman joined Arsenal a couple years later who wold have as big an impact as Wenger, but this time on the field as well as off it. Thierry Henry joined the Gunners from Monaco in 1999 and went on to form a formidable partnership with Bergkamp in seven years playing together. The prolific Frenchman described Bergkamp as “a dream of a striker”.

During his spell in England, Bergkamp won three Premier League honours and four FA Cup’s as well as being named PFA Player’s Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in 1997/98.

Bergkamp will always be remembered in England as one of the finest imports to the Premier League, yet he will mainly be remembered in London as a living legend.

Goodbye Skipper

On a day famed for independence, it has come to light that Robin Van Persie was seeking his own kind of freedom. At around 5pm on the 4^th of July the 28 year old released a statement confirming his intentions not to sign a new contract with Arsenal. After a career best season in seven years with the club, the Dutchman has decided that now is the time to move on. This will come as a major blow to Arsene Wenger, currently in the middle of rebuilding his squad in preparation for next season, who was sure he could convince his captain to stay. Instead, Wenger is now left with the dilemma of keeping Van Persie for one remaining season, therefore seeing out his contract but eventually leaving on a free. Or does the Frenchman cash in on his prolific front man to generate money into the club. Being an Arsenal fan myself, I can see only one option. We sell him now and we sell him quick. It would be disastrous to repeat last year’s fiasco of selling a player (Samir Nasri) after the season had begun, thus rushing to find replacements. To Arsene’s credit, he has already recruited two world class forwards in that department in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.  Are they adequate replacements for a man that scored 30 Premier League goals last season? Time will tell.

Once Van Persie’s inevitable exit from North London is confirmed, he will be the fourth Arsenal captain to depart in the space of just seven years. This alarming statistic screams volumes as to why Arsenal have not been as successful in recent times. It isn’t pure coincidence that it has also been seven years since the club last won a trophy. What this team needs is stability and faith. Although the trophy cabinet is gathering cobwebs, it is important to note that the club have still been convincingly competing for every major honour in their grasp.

In the statement released on his official website, Van Persie said: “Out of my huge respect for Mr Wenger, the players and the fans I don't want to go into any details, but unfortunately it has become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.”

By betraying the beliefs of such a great manager, Van Persie has also betrayed the following that once adored him. In issuing this statement, the striker has assured he will not leaving with his dignity intact.

If Arsenal are to end their trophy drought then they will need players who are fully committed to the cause, focused on achieving success and are willing to fight for the club. A new breed of players in Jack Wilshere, Thomas Vermaelen and Benik Afobe provide Gunner’s with the confidence to wave Van Persie out of the Emirates and out of Arsenal’s history.  

A True Gladiator of Rome

AS Roma are going through a transitional period in Italy. Having just appointed Zdenek Zeman as manager after a disappointing seventh place finish in last season’s Serie A cost Luis Enrique his job and with their great talisman and captain Francesco Totti’s career winding down to a glittering end, one man optimises hope from the fans. Exemplifying all things that are important in Rome – passion, commitment, loyalty – Danielle De Rossi gives the city reason to be optimistic.

After almost 300 games for Roma at the tender age of just 28 he is already the clubs vice-captain and a firm fan favourite. The midfielder has many qualities that allow his coaches to deploy him in defensive as well as attacking positions. Although he averages only a goal every nine games, they are usually spectacular proving to be worth the wait. However, it is his versatility and not his goal scoring which is why he is adored from the terraces inside the Stadio Olimpico. So committed to the midfielder are the Roma fans that they have nicknamed him Capitan Futuro which translates to Captain Future.

Although it is not just the Italians in Rome admiring De Rossi’s talent, as Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini is reportedly keen in bringing him to the Etihad Stadium this summer. However, unlike so many modern footballers, De Rossi seems to be controlled by his heart and not his greed and earlier this year signed a new contract with i Giallorossi to keep him at his beloved club until 2017.

De Rossi is an equally influential player on the international stage, scoring one of the decisive penalty kicks that sealed the Word Cup in 2006. Six years on and he is proving to be an essential part of Cesare Prandelli’s Italian line-up. Furthermore, it was his swashbuckling displays in midfield alongside Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio that propelled Italy into the European Championships final. The Azzurri were however unfortunate to come up against Spain, possibly the finest team to have ever played the game, and eventually lost 4-0.

Having achieved so much in his career already, there is one thing missing from his trophy cabinet. De Rossi still dreams of lifting the Serie A trophy with Roma after finishing runners-up on five occasions. As he continues to blossom in Rome it appears more and more likely that if Roma were to win that trophy, it would be De Rossi who would lift the cup as captain.

“Are you not entertained?” After watching this Roman gladiator, the answer unquestionably is an emphatic yes.

Dissapointment as Beckham is Left Out of Olympic Squad

"Naturally I am very disappointed.” Respected by his peers, admired by his fans, idolised by teenage boys and adored by teenage girls, David Beckham is not the only one to be disappointed about his omission from the GB Olympic football squad.

Always the model professional, Beckham did however state his on-going support for his country will not be tainted by this disappointment. “There will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad. Like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold."

Was this decision by Stuart Pearce brave or will it turn out to be a rash one? It is believed that it was concluded based on pure footballing reasons. Yet, if this is the case then I like so many believe the LA Galaxy midfielder should still have been included in the squad. For the younger players hoping to wear the team GB shirt such as Jack Rodwell and Aaron Ramsey, Beckham’s presence would have been a hugely influential part in their early career. Moreover, footballing reasons aside, Beckham was also hugely responsible for London acquiring the rights to host the Games after his superb work as an ambassador.

Having done so much for his country, David Beckham captaining our GB footballing team would have been a just reward and the perfect finale to an overwhelming career.