Fabregas in Spain celebrations wearing a Barcelona shirt (video)

By 1970's Gooner

'All I can say is that this is for all the Arsenal players and fans, they are a world-class club,'I am an Arsenal player and I am proud to be.'

Thus spake Cesc Fabregas...

Reading these comments right after Spain's World Cup triumph gives me the impression that he doesn't look like he will be leaving after all.

He was so embarassed when his felllow team mates, Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina and Bernabeu skipper Carles Puyol, had a chuckle at his expense by holding his arms, enabling Gerard Pique to push a Barcelona shirt over his head.

Fabregas smiled but as you can see he was clearly trying to get out of the shirt....

Boro Primorac speaks on Eduardo’s future

By 1970’s Gooner

We all noticed last season what a different player Eduardo had been since his come back from that horrific injury. Sadly what we all feared came true. The psychological rather than the physical impact, as always, has proved to be the crucial factor in his rehabilitation.

There were many occasions last season when he found himself in the box with only the goalkeeper to beat and all he had to do was to stick a leg out… he failed again and again…

Arsene Wenger though granted an extension on his contract until 2014. He obviously wants to give him all the time to recover and at the same time protect his financial investment in the player.

So it appears that the only way to do that is a loan to another club. The alternative is to sell him but he would only fetch a fraction of the fee Arsenal originally paid for him, so that is not on.

The trouble is to convince the player that he has to move as Boro Primorac has revealed to Croatian paper “24sata”

“I do not know what will happen to Dudu. Preparations are just beginning and I do not know whether he will go or stay. He just has to decide - says Boro Primorac

It is believed that a move to a European club rather than in the more physically demanding Premier League would be better for Eduardo. This would give him the opportunity to build up his confidence ready to return to the Premier league fit and running.

Three reasons why you should bet on Holland to be crowned world champions

By 1970’s Gooner

There are many pundits who have already given the World Cup crown to Spain. And they are of course picking the team in form after beating Germany in the semi final so comprehensively.

Yet I can’t help thinking that they will end up being disappointed. There are three strong reasons why this will be so.

Lack of a recognised goal scorer

Yes you might laugh considering that Villa is top scorer in the tournament at the moment. Yet due to Torres’s lack of fitness he is not playing in his natural position which is on the wing.

The goals he has scored have come from the all out pressure and dominant possession that Spain enjoys. If for any reason this rhythm is broken then the chances for goal will be greatly reduced.

Spain reminds me of Arsenal a lot. Too much possession which stifles the opponent. But for this to be effective you have to have a real killer of a forward. Arsenal lacked that last season and finally paid the price.

Things would be different for Spain if Torres was fit but he isn’t.

The Dutch have the players to break Spain’s midfield domination

Mark van Bommel the Dutch midfielder is expected to start alongside Manchester City's Nigel de Jong in the defensive areas of the pitch.

Both will aim to cramp Spanish style and invention. And I believe they have the capability to succeed.

Germany allowed Spain too much time to monopolise possession and construct their attacks. Holland have the players to counter that. Succeed at this and Spain will be reduced to a team running around like headless chickens.

It will then allow the space and time for Robben and Kuyt to hurt them on the counter attack. Sneijder and van Persie will, I feel, have a field day on Sunday. Bet on them to score.

Spain have already reached their peak. The Dutch can get there

Just as when Germany was scoring those four goals against a dismal England and Argentina I could not help but feel that they were reaching their peak too early in the tournament.

It proved very difficult for them to reproduce that form against Spain and that was the main reason I predicted that Spain would beat them.

The same applies now for Spain. Can they reproduce that form they showed against Germany? Will the Dutch lie back and let them walk all over them?

I doubt it.

The team that wins the World Cup is usually one that reaches its peak at the right time. Remember Italy last time out? Nobody gave them a chance during the group stages and they had a difficult time qualifying. They won the World Cup though.

Holland have not played that fantastically so far but they have progressed to the final beating Brazil on the way.

They are peaking at the right time….

Arsenal’s injury scares begin

By 1970’s Gooner

One of the main reasons for Arsenal’s failure to win anything last season was the unusually large number of injuries to key players coupled with the fact that the alternatives were inexperienced youngsters.

Robin van Persie was the most notable injury but as important was Nicklas Bendtner’s groin injury which deprived Arsenal of a viable strike force. Wenger had to rely on Arshavin for too long a period.

In fact that groin injury seems to be returning, as Bendtner who had suffered a recurrence of this injury just prior to World Cup, is now laid low with it again. It is so bad that he can’t even get out of bed.

“Some days I wake up and it's so perfect that we can go out to play tennis here on holiday, but a second morning makes it so bad that I almost can not get out of bed” said Bendtner to Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

The Premier League begins on 14 August and there is a danger that the Dane will not be ready for the opening clash against Liverpool at Anfield.

Not that serious you may say as he will not be first choice anyway. But RVP himself may be playing with an injury.

He went to hospital for scans after hurting his elbow during the 2-1 victory over Brazil. And I am pretty sure he will play come what may against Uruguay tonight running the danger of aggravating it even more.

The same goes for Fabregas who wants to declare himself fit to face Germany in the other semi final. He is more likely to warm the bench rather than play of course, something he is likely to continue doing if he gets his wish to play for Barcelona…

Still let’s wish that they all return in one piece back ready for the start of the new season.