I did enjoy watching the Odyssey, and Matt Damon is always good, although it did have the feel of ‘Jason Bourne in and around the Ancient World,’ right down to the fact he’d lost his memory and was trying to get back home.

The summer transfer window brings about the very worst in football fans. Conspiracies, outright lies, false rumours, defeatism, hissy fits, ill informed comments, mini civil wars within fanbases….and the league season doesn’t even start for another month.

It’s hard to believe that Kevin Keegan left league champions Liverpool to join Hamburg & then Southampton, but still won 2 x Ballon D’Ors, established a brand & risked life & limb on his bike on Superstars, which is exactly what he was. Rest easy KK.

Merino is an intriguing footballer. No real pace but technically excellent & with a heightened sense of awareness in the box which means that even though defences know what’s coming, they can’t stop him. I’ve long thought he’s the best natural finisher Arsenal have.

Amazing sunset at Whitstable last night. Apocalypse Now meets the English coastline.

Holiday reading. A thoroughly enjoyable read by @jonspurling.bsky.social that puts 70s football in context with the cultural changes that were going on in the era. So much more than the usual "weren't the mavericks great?" books that we usually get on this decade

Just think - before England defeated DR Congo on Wednesday to set up a meeting with Mexico, no one had ever heard the word ‘altitude’ before, much less understood what it means.

Trossard- £ for £ probably our best signing of modern times. Scored so many priceless goals, including the deflected winner against West Ham in May. Ironic - because he had such a clean shot on him! It is time for him to go, but signing a 22 year old version of him is gonna cost. Best of luck Leo.

Morning all - here’s my new piece on Dennis Bergkamp’s astonishing goal v Argentina at the 1998 World Cup 28 years ago today. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/remembe...

Remembering Bergkamp's iconic World Cup 98 goal

On July 4 1998, Dennis Bergkamp scored one of the tournament's greatest ever strikes to help the Netherlands beat Argentina

arsenal.com

My reflections on Arsenal’s title winning season have just appeared in the new edition of @wsc.co.uk - although I can’t claim to have coined the excellent strapline!!! magazine is out now. Enjoy!

Good morning everyone. Here’s the story of Arsenal’s boy from ‘66 - George Eastham. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal...

Arsenal's forgotten 1966 World Cup winner

An unused squad member, George Eastham reflects on the summer of '66 and a 43-year wait for a medal

arsenal.com

Tomorrow’s Independent front page:

Here’s the story of Arsenal’s first World Cup stars - Welsh stars Jack Kelsey & Dave Bowen, who travelled to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/who-was...

Who was the first Arsenal player at a World Cup?

Find out about our storied connection with the FIFA World Cup!

arsenal.com

48 hours after the season ended I see that neutrals are still ranting about this and that to do with the Arsenal- our playing style, Eze&Gabriel, Arteta, the parade, Odegaard’s shades….we’re their guilty obsession. Why don’t they focus on their own under achieving clubs?

Rival fans hate Arsenal more than they love their own under achieving clubs. It‘s getting worse. I feel for them.

I’ve read a lot of pieces this morning. None of the critics have said how THEY would have set up the Arsenal team differently against PSG. When we did look more expansive in the 2nd half, PSG broke at lightning speed & looked menacing. Easy to criticise, harder to provide genuine insight.

Any ideas?

Lots of trolling about our style of play. Not bothered. We were the best team to watch in 22–23/ 23-24 & won nowt. Now we’ve won the league. We’ll spend gazillions of pounds & evolve again. And hopefully sell well too. We know where the weaknesses are. So do the club. Onwards. Up the Arsenal.

A brilliant afternoon at the Emirates, drinking beer during the game (a treat) & watching Arsenal in a superb atmosphere go toe to toe with PSG for 2 hours. Very proud of the Premier League champions. We know where we need to strengthen this summer, and we will. Roll on 26-27.

I’m excited, not worried about tomorrow’s match, whereas since Christmas for the league games, I was often worried but not excited. The pressure would have been immense for Saturday had we not won the league, but now we can play PSG with confidence.

Whether people are fans of the club are not, praising or mocking, wishing them well or ill for Saturday, saying we cheated or won the league fairly, all any fan is thinking about at the moment is Arsenal - we’re scrambling minds across the globe. about time too. It’s wondrous.

Hopefully, Arsenal will win on Saturday night in the Champions League Final. A century ago, Herbert Chapman's Gunners also shook up Budapest, as part of a Central European tour. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/100-yea...

100 years on: When Chapman's team shook Budapest

In 1926, we made a famous visit to the Hungarian capital and caused quite a stir during our Central European tour

arsenal.com

#BookSky 13th of year from @jonspurling.bsky.social Superb if this your era, the 80s book of his resonated more with me as 1977 was when my interest developed. Having said that a great deep dive into subjects that I was aware of from before my time. Understandably Liverpool, Revie & Clough heavy.

Of course I want to win the CL final. But I see it as a free hit. I’m relaxed about it. I’m looking forward to watching it at the Emirates with other fans and making a noise inside and outside the ground before, during & afterwards. Whatever happens Arsenal are back

Why was Piers Morgan & his clan on the pitch at Selhurst? Nowt worse than celebrity fans muscling in on things. Especially one who called for Arteta’s head on several occasions in the early years.

So we ended up winning the title by a hefty 7 points. What were we all stressing about then?

Here’s my new piece on one of the best & most influential of all Arsenal defenders - Kenny Sansom. His transfer from Crystal Palace in 1980 (with Clive Allen / Paul Barron going the other way) was one of the most bizarre in English football. www.arsenal.com/news/allen-s...

Allen for Sansom: 1980's bizarre transfer saga

Kenny Sansom was caught up in one of the oddest transfers when he swapped Crystal Palace for Arsenal, with new arrival Clive Allen going the other way

arsenal.com

Just blasted out 'We Are The Champions' in the car 5 times on the spin, and sung it at top volume each time. It turns out that the atmosphere generated at the Emirates on Tuesday night has nothing on a 15 minute solo drive in a Vauxhall Corsa.

On a country walk, basking in the sun and Arsenal winning the league, and throwing that sticky plant you get at this time of the year at my daughter’s back to make her look like she has a green tail. Life couldn’t be better.

For me the Max Dowman goal is still my favourite moment this season. Sheer relief, bizarre, off the cuff, a GCSE kid living his dream, kicking the corner flag, and insane celebrations afterwards in the ground and outside.