Kevin Whitcher
Ok, unabashed self-promotion time.
The new issue of the Gooner (263) goes on sale tomorrow at the game v Crystal Palace and includes our annual calendar. For 2017, we’ve kept it simple – with the theme being ’12 Arsenal Legends From The Arsene Wenger Era’. And you might not be too surprised to learn that those included are mainly drawn from the first ten years of Arsene’s tenure, before the stadium move.
If you’ve read this far, then a little discussion point to rise this above mere advertorial. What defines a legend? I’m not going to even attempt to answer that, but here’s one for you to ponder. Are Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas or Robin Van Persie more worthy of inclusion than, say Marc Overmars? One of these four features, and knowing the strength of feeling amongst many Gooners towards the first three, it won’t take a rocket scientist to work out it’s Overmars. Yet, Cole, for example, won far more honours than the Dutchman in an Arsenal shirt. But let’s face it, Gooners would generally object to having an image of Cole on their walls for a month in the coming year.
And yet, feelings towards Overmars were not exactly positive when he departed for Barcelona in 2000. He has underperformed in the 2000 UEFA Cup Final (along with Manu Petit, who joined the Catalan club at the same time). Petit even went on to play for Chelsea before Jose Mourinho arrived (Cesc Fabregas did the same, but is booed by many Arsenal fans when he plays against us), but time has meant that both players are now re-established in the hearts of Gooners, as we have seen when they have turned out for charity games, such as the Bergkamp testimonial and the Legends game against Milan. I guess the bitterness about their departures in 2000 was simply less. And unlike Cole and Fabregas, they left after their playing peaks. Van Persie departed after his, but joining Manchester United and winning the title for them did not go down well in North London. Anyway, just some food for thought.
We have also included Ozil and Sanchez from the current squad. Both have won silverware with the club, and hey, we wanted to include at least a couple of players from the last decade.
As for the issue itself, we have a Diego Simeone front cover, remembering that the issue went to press after the two defeats at Goodison Park and Eastlands when question marks about the team’s motivation were foremost on the minds of many fans. Inside, there is the usual wealth of quality reading on the Gunners past and present. There is a seasonal episode of our cartoon favourite Dwight Hart-Lane, and with the FA Cup 3rd Round imminent a reflection of 20 years of Arsene Wenger’s 3rd round ties at Arsenal and his record of never having been eliminated at that stage of the competition. There is an interview with former captain and assistant manager Pat Rice, whilst regular contributors tell us about their superstitions when it comes to matchday.
There are pieces on safe standing and the modern fan’s sense of entitlement, along with an article comparing a father’s first visit to Arsenal with his son’s some 40 years on. Nostalgia comes in the form of pieces on the 1993-94 season, the Arsenal programme in 1987-88 and striker David Herd, who played for Arsenal before moving to Manchester United. We look at the recruitment of All Blacks psychologist Dr Ceri Evans to assist at the club, and the contract situations of Ozil and Sanchez. There is a trip report on Basel away as well as regulars including Talking Reds, The Spy, Mickey Cannon, Inbox, the North Bank Times, the 91st Minute and much more.
The issue costs £3 from our sellers on your approach to the stadium. Help your fanzine survive by buying a copy!
The new issue of The Gooner can be bought online for £4.00 including postage here if you can’t make it to any home or away matches.
(You can also buy copies of the calendar on its own for £1 postage free here.)
Alternatively, you can simply pay £4.00 (postage included, slightly extra this issue due to the extra weight of the calendar) via online bank transfer to –
Account name: The Gooner
Sort Code: 20-76-90
Account Number: 03004112
Please follow up the payment with an email to [email protected] stating your name and address, ideally with proof of payment such as a screen grab or pdf, or at least the reference that you used for payment (e.g. 263Smith). If the payment was made from an account with a different name, definitely inform us so we can match the received payment. Eight issue subscriptions are available for £24 (UK), £34 (Europe) and £44 (Rest of the World) and can also be bought through the Gooner Shop section of this website.
DIGITAL ISSUES
The Gooner is also available in digital form, through The Gooner App on iPhones and iPads, the Exactly App for Android devices and now Kindle Fire owners can also get their fix by searching the Amazon App Store for The Gooner.
You can also subscribe at www.exacteditions.com and read it through your internet browser as well as receiving a code which will enable you to access issues on all the above devices.
All digital subscriptions include access to our digital back issue library which dates back to August 2010.
