Interesting times at Arsenal.

This week vice-chairman David Dein wanted the London club to go the same way as Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool and sell themselves and their soul to an American billionaire.

The rest of the board didn’t want to. So Dein now finds himself out of the picture removed from all his many roles at the club.

Some may find the actions of the board a little old-fashioned and possibly even a little xenophobic which would be a little bit ironic coming from a club which regularly fields an entire team without an Englishman in it.

But I don’t.

I feel the Arsenal board and especially chairman Peter Hill-Wood have made very much the right decision. These American tycoons are not buying into English clubs because they love them or even love the game – they simply see them as business opportunities.

As Hill-Wood said: “These Americans know absolutely sweet FA about our football and we don’t want these sort of people involved. Our objective is to keep Arsenal English, albeit with a lot of foreign players. ”

It’s one thing if a person with a genuine love for football decides to buy into your club but quite another when the person flashing the cash is the sort who wakes up every morning believing ‘football’ is a game played by men wearing shoulder pads and helmets.

I, for one, think there are already far too many of England’s greatest footballing institutions in the hands of foreigners.

And, on that basis, it was refreshing to see one club standing up for themselves against the might of the dollar.

English cricket team

England’s cricket team crashed out of the World Cup this week in humiliating fashion after being absolutely thrashed by South Africa.

Up until that game we had been treated to players, captain and manager all suggesting England were just a few minor tweaks away from being a World Cup winning side.

Instead they went out in what was effectively the quarter-final (sound familiar?) in a way that would have even made their footballing counterparts ashamed. (It was the equivalent of a 6-0 whipping).

Coach Duncan Fletcher has since announced he is resigning, effective today after England completes its programme in the tournament.

Don’t suppose he had much choice really – even Sven would have resigned after that one…

Sheffield United

Sheffield United might not have been humiliated against Manchester United last Tuesday but there was only one reason for that – our opponents didn’t want to.

Throughout the 2-0 defeat it was abundantly obvious to anyone watching that Man United had a whole bunch of higher gears to call on if they deemed it necessary.

But with victory in the bag, a vastly superior goal difference to their nearest rivals and bigger games on the horizon they, instead, decided to stroll their way through the match.

All I can say is thank goodness. I don’t know if my morale could have taken a Roma-like whipping…

Nonsense quote of week

Nonsense quote of the week has to go to Arsene Wenger, speaking after the defeat to Bolton.

“With a team you live in a tunnel and sometimes you have to go down and flirt with hell to see how much you can deal with that, so that you become stronger. But you go quickly to hell and very slowly to heaven,” he said.

Here is a man who attempts to be so philosophical sometimes he actually manages to tangle up his own brain. Poor lad.

Watford and relegation

Depending on today’s results, Watford could become the first team relegated from the Premiership this season. Only a win over Manchester City would give them a mathematical possibility of staying up. But, even then, if other results go against them they could still be sent down.

Either way I think it’s only fair to suggest we won’t be seeing them in the top flight next season and that’s a pity. They may not have been the prettiest side to ever eat at the top table of English football, but they were certainly one of the most honest.

What they lacked in skill they made up for in passion and determination. And in Andy Boothroyd they have one of the best young managers in the English game who is destined to go a long way.

Nice work chaps. It was a pleasure having you around.

Silly transfer story

Silly transfer story of the week had to be that Sunderland were interested in a buying a particular Manchester City player.

As you probably know, Sunderland are owned by Irish backers, have an Irish chairman in Nial Quinn, an Irish manager in Roy Keane and more than a smattering of Irish players. Obviously, all that Irishness has brought with it a considerable following from Irish football fans. Only natural, I hear you say.

But the news that Roy Keane was interested in buying young Irishman Stephen Ireland off Man City was just taking the whole thing too far.

Luckily the lad himself realised this would have been just plain silly and decided to sign a contract extension at City.

Rumours are that by way of consolation, Keane and Quinn plan to rename the ground the Stadium of Shamrocks, change their kit to one of all green and make a leprechaun the club mascot.

Only rumours, mind you, only rumours.

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