Ex-Arsenal star 'fondly remembers' his time at the club

Sitting in his garden overlooking a stream in the peaceful surroundings of Whitley Bay, Newcastle, it is hard to imagine Malcolm Macdonald as one of the most feared predators of the seventies.

His affable and articulate manner is something sadly lacking in many of today's players, but his passion for the game is clearly still there as he chats about everything from Arsenal to Luton Town.

Macdonald, nicknamed "Supermac", scored 57 goals in 108 appearances for the Gunners before a serious knee injury cut his career short at the age of 29. The Fulham-born forward had earned his move to Arsenal in 1976 after an impressive tally of 95 goals in 187 games in five seasons for Newcastle. He also famously scored 5 goals in a game for England against Cyprus in 1975, a feat which has not been bettered.

Macdonald, 59, looks back on his time at Arsenal fondly and describes the negotiations over his move to the club in detail.

Talks took place at the home of Sir Denis Hill-Wood [the then Arsenal chairman] alongside Terry Neil [the Arsenal manager]. Macdonald said: "his back lawn was bigger than Lords and I'm not exaggerating, and we felt like opening batsmen walking out, Terry Neil and I"

According to Macdonald, Newcastle United "were playing silly beggars" over the move, and two requests for his transfer had been turned down after initial agreements.

Before he made a third and final offer, Hill-Wood asked Macdonald what he wanted to do. "I said Mr chairman the honest truth is I’ve looked at Arsenal and you’ve got this wonderful blend of experienced, great players and coming through you’ve got the most phenomenal group of kids, I said this club I think is going to be the club of the seventies and eighties."

Macdonald notes that Hill-Wood agreed the deal with Lord Westwood, the Newcastle chairman, in a "gentlemanly way" and he was soon on his way to Highbury for a fee of £333,333.33.

"That was how the business was concluded, it was a lovely gentlemanly way in which it was done in wonderful surroundings and that's how I fondly remember Arsenal. Nothing ever changed, it was always the best of business done in the best of ways, a fabulous club, absolutely was and is," he said.

So what does he make of the current team? With promising young players coming through, does he see any similarity to the team he played in the seventies?

"Yeah a little bit, but you see when you play youngsters you’re always going to find they hiccup at some point, and the best thing to do as a manager, and it may sound harsh, is to anticipate it and where you think it’s going to come, get the players out.

"They may say 'I’m playing well,' but you would say, 'have a couple of games in the reserves and then we’ll think about putting you back in.' You can create too much of a loyalty with players so that when they’re playing well you leave them there to then falter and go downhill and then of course its too late."

Although he's a Londoner by birth, his life remains tied to Newcastle. He currently presents a daily football show on north-east regional radio and fears for the immediate future of the club. Does he think they will stay up? "I'd be very surprised if they do, very surprised indeed." he said. "If they do, it will mean that they have put in performances in these three remaining home games of Portsmouth Middlesbrough and Fulham, they will need to put performances in there that they haven’t shown for a very long time."

Another of his old clubs, Luton Town, have been relegated from the Football League after being docked 30 points for financial problems. He fears for the long-term future of the club and said "I don’t know if it was right, I don’t know the precise rule breaking, but what I do know is they did some really stupid things and what made them think they’d get away with it... It's such a shame as well because a football club like that will not recover."



Macdonald is number 44 of Arsenal's top 50 greatest players: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/gunners-greatest-players-44.-malcolm-macdonald

Arsenal Youth 4-1 Manchester City Youth, FA Youth Cup semi-final, Wednesday 22 April 2009

After a 2-1 away victory at Eastlands, Arsenal's youth team appeared to be in the driving seat going into the second leg of the FA Youth Cup semi-final at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Over 9,000 fans turned up to see the young gunners play, a somewhat disappointing number given the record attendance at the same stage of last year's competition against Liverpool.

Those that did turn up however were treated to another Arsenal masterclass as Steve Bould's men made a very good City side look very ordinary.

The tie was effectively over after half an hour. In their first attack of the game, captain Jay Emmanuel-Thomas floated a sumptuous ball over the top for Sanchez Watt to chase in the first minute, some hesitation from the City defence meant the young Englishman was through one on one with Joe Clegg in the City goal. Watt calmly sent the 'keeper the wrong way and celebrated in true Arsenal style with a touchline dance.

Arsenal's players were quick to every ball with Emmanuel Frimpong putting in challenges at every opportunity and the diminutive Jack Wilshere was starting to find space in the midfield. The most well-known man in the Arsenal side then doubled the home teams advantage from the penalty spot in the twentieth minute.

Watt was brought down by the city goalkeeper after a misunderstanding between him and defender Reece Wabara. Wilshere stepped up to drill it in the bottom corner, although Clegg managed to get a hand on it low down to his left.

Wilshere was to have a say in Arsenal's third. His corner from the Arsenal right was met firmly at the back post by Kyle Bartley, the young Englishman added to the goal he scored against Tottenham in the previous round. It was 3-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate after only 29 minutes of play.

It was all too easy for Arsenal, and they didn't need any extra help from the City defence, but it duly arrived. Two minutes after Bartley's goal, Watt capitalised on some horrific defending to slide in his second and Arsenal's fourth on the night. Clegg passed to Wabara on the edge of the City box, the defender seemed to get it stuck under his feet and Watt took easily dispossessed him to put the ball under the despairing Clegg.

Arsenal looked like they could score at every opportunity. Emmanuel-Thomas had too much pace and power for City to handle, Wilshere was orchestrating play from the middle of the park and Francis Coquelin and Frimpong were controlling midfield.

Frimpong was maybe a bit too eager at times though and earned a yellow card for a succession of fouls.

City's players did not give up however and they almost pulled one back when the lively Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni seemed certain to score, only for Craig Eastmond to get there ahead of the Liberian striker.

Nimely-Tchuimeni and Slovakian Robbie Mak were starting to cause problems in the Arsenal defence but James Shea thwarted city on a number of occasions.

Ironically it was an injury to Nimely-Tchuimeni which led to City's goal. The Liberian's replacement, Jack Redshaw burst into the penalty area in first half stoppage time, he pulled the ball across to Ahmad Benali who fired past Shea.

With Arsenal in emphatic form, the crowd surely expected ore in the second half, but in all truth it was 45 minutes to miss. City put more pressure on the Arsenal backline, but Shea saved Arsenal's blushes by saving a number of attempts. Redshaw should have scored ten minutes after the restart but he shot well-over when it seemed easier to score.

Wilshere who was on the end of some petulance by City right-back Kieran Tripper earlier in the half, found space outside the area and curled an effort towards goal but it was always rising, and sailed just over the bar. It was to be his last contribution of the game as Luke Freeman replaced him with 10 minutes left.

Bould had also replaced Frenchman Gilles Sunu, who had a quiet night by his standards, with the prolific Benik Afobe and also took left-back Thomas Cruise off and replaced him with Cedric Evina in a like-for-like swap.

Arsenal saw the game out and can look forward to a meeting with either Liverpool or Birmingham in the final, which will give fans another opportunity to see this impressive group of youngsters in action, as one leg will be played at the Emirates.

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal, Wednesday 15 April 2009

The Emirates was buzzing as the teams came out of the tunnel. After a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Villarreal, Arsenal fans sensed a place in the semi-finals for only the second time under Arsene Wenger, the players duly obliged.

Arsenal's players moved the ball around effortlessly like a toreador baiting a bull. Villarreal, efficient and dangerous for long periods in the first leg had lost Marcos Senna, their prize bull, ahead of the game. With another of their star turns, Santi Cazorla out injured, The Yellow Submarine were lacking creativity and Arsnenal,s passing and inventiveness was too much for the Spanish side.

Arsenal had problems of their own. Injuries to Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, William Gallas and Johann Djourou and Bacary Sagna's illness meant that Arsenal were left with only one of their first-choice back five but the defence was rarely troubled.

The home side started the brighter of the two teams and took the lead within ten minutes as Theo Walcott latched onto a Cesc Fabregas flick to lift the ball over the advancing Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Emmanuel Adebayor calmly made it 2-0 on the hour mark after some good work by Robin Van Persie, then after Walcott was fouled in the area, Van Persie stepped up to blast a penalty into the back of the net to make the game safe at 3-0.

Lukasz Fabianski replace the injured Almunia in goal and Kieran Gibbs came in for Gael Clichy at left-back to make his first start in the competition. Mikael Silvestre replaced Gallas and Eboue slotted in at right back after Sagna was taken ill earlier in the day.

Andrey Arshavin remained cup-tied for the competition so Samir Nasri took up the left-wing berth. The in-form Alex Song kept his place in the side ahead of Denilson in the holding midfield role alongside captain Cesc Fabregas, while Theo Walcott started on the right.

Van Persie recovered from a groin strain to partner Emmanuel Adebayor upfront.

There was a return for Arsenal legend Robert Pires in the Villarreal midfield and Bruno replaced their captain Marcos Senna.

The game started at a fast and frantic pace with both teams creating early chances. Theo Walcott's dangerous cross caused panic in the Villarreal defence. Fabreags picked the ball up on the left and chipped a cross in to Van Perise who could only head over under pressure from Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Villarreal had an earl chance to score. Ex-Manchester United striker, Giuseppe Rossi, floated a free-kick into the area, it reached Diego Godin, but the defender's scissor kick was straight at the Polish 'keeper.

Arsenal had another chance soon afterwards, Fabregas cut the ball back to Adebayor who seemed to be caught in two minds when he'd maybe should have shot first-time.

The home side were starting to build up momentum and it showed in the 10th minute. Eboue's pass was cleverly back heeled by Fabregas to Walcott, wrong-footing Godin. The England winger raced onto the ball and as Villarreal goalkeeper Lopez rushed out, Walcott deftly lifted the ball over the Spaniard and into the far corner. It was a finish worthy of such an occasion

Arsenal looked to build on their advantage, but it was Villarreal who responded better after the goal. Pires and then Bruno both tired their luck but the Arsenal defence stood firm.

Twenty minutes after their first goal, Arsenal almost scored again. Van Perise curled a free-kick towards the corner of the goal and Lopez parried it, but only as far as the onrushing Adebayor. The Togoleses hitman seemed certain to score but his weak header was almost turned into his own net by Pries but Rodriguez saved the ex-Gunners blushes and cleared off of the line.

Arsenal fans and players alike thought it was in, but replays showed the referee made the correct decision.

Just before the break, Villarreal had a guilt-edged chance of their own. Godin broke free from his marker as a corner was swung in, and the centre-back directed a header towards goal. Luckily for Arsenal it cleared the crossbar.

The general feeling at half-time was one of optimism among the Arsenal faithful, but with Arsenal's defence looking less than convincing at times and with the pressure of away goals, the team needed to concentrate in the second period.

Arsenal and Villarreal continued trade neat moves with Pires, elegant as ever, moving to a more central position. But Arsenal were starting to turn the screw.

The pace and movement was starting to cause problems for the away defence, and fifteen minutes after the restart, it was 2-0 to the Arsenal.

Cesc Fabregas' powerful header was picked up by Van Persie, who jinked onto his left-foot. As two Villarreal defenders closed him down, expecting a shot, the Dutchman released Adebayor in the area, who coolly passed the ball past Lopes into the corner of the net with the outside of his boot.

Abedayor has been criticised at times for his lack of instinctive finishing but this finish which was his sixth in sixth Champions League games would prove many doubters wrong.

The players celebrated with a jig in the corner bizarrely matched on the bench by Arsene Wenger.

Villarreal now needed two goals to advance to the semi-finals, a task which looked virtually impossible given Arsenal were starting to get into an ominous rhythm.

The away players heads seemed to drop and Arsenal continued to play attacking football. Theo Walcott was proving to be Arsenal's best outlet and when the young winger turned, Godin made a challenge. The defender seemed to make contact with the ball first and then Walcott but the referee awarded a penalty, much to the disdain of the Villarreal players.

Sebastian Eguren took his protests too far, however, and after touching the referee was awarded his second yellow card of the game. It seemed to take an eternity for the Uruguayan to leave the field, but Van Persie was not put off and powered the penalty past Lopez, cue more dancing.

With the game seemingly over, Wenger replaced all three goalscorers with Saturday's FA Cup semi-final in mind. Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby and Denilson came on.

The fans, in the comfortable knowledge that they were through to the semi-final of this competition, started to honour Robert Pires with the traditional chants of "Super, super Rob..."

The man who was withdrawn by Wenger in Arsenals Champions League final defeat to Barcelona would be disappointed once more but as the final whistle went the ex-Gunner was given a standing ovation befitting of his legendary status as one of the invincibles.

Arsenal youth continue their good run to reach the playoffs

While Arsenal's first team have been making headlines with a run of 18 games unbeaten in the Premier League, the youth team have arguably been even more impressive creating a run of their own which has seen them win nine league games in a row.

The latest 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace saw the young Gunners stretch their winning run to 10 games in all competitions and their unbeaten run to 13.

The under-18's take on Tottenham tonight in a league game before their crucial second leg of the FA Youth Cup next Wednesday at the Emirates against Manchester City, with the Gunners winning the first leg 2-1 in Manchester.

Steve Bould's side are sitting comfortably at the top of their league with 63 points out of a possible 75. They stretched their lead over second place Crystal Palace to 23 points and in the process qualified for the end of season playoffs against another academy league winner.

With the Gunners in blistering form, a first leg advantage and an Emirates crowd behind them, it would be difficult to bet against them making it into the FA Youth Cup final next Wednesday