Issue 197 of The Gooner from August 2009, which went on sale at the Emirates Cup tournament last weekend is now available from our online store on this very website

Typically the first issue of a new season features a picture of one or more of our high profile new signings on the front cover. However, at the time of going to press our only major new signing was Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax and his profile isn't really big enough to warrant a front cover just yet, so we plumped for a player who Arséne has described as "like a new signing", the now fit again (this was written on Wednesday morning! – Ed) Tomas Rosicky. Whether he's bigger and better than ever is perhaps debatable but there's no doubt he would be a major asset if he can regain his fitness and form.

The issue also includes a comprehensive guide to the end of season Gooner survey results, an intriguing piece by Bernard Dowling which questions whether the club's desire to remain self-sustaining is now an out-dated approach and a piece which ponders whether the new blue away shirt is really an Arsenal tradition as the marketing people would have you believe.

There's also space for the return for another season of Gooner regulars the Highbury Spy, Mickey Cannon, North Bank Times, readers letters and Phil Wall's Anger Management as well as a classic back cover featuring our recently departed striker.

Please note that it's become necessary to charge an additional 50p to cover postage costs in the UK for customers buying a single issue. Postage in the UK remains free of charge for subscriptions and customers buying more than one issue, including any of those from our back issue catalogue.