My name's Ben, I'm Half-french, Half-dutch (This already gives you a hint why I looooooove Arsenal), 23 and I live in Paris. I came on this forum because despite the distance, I'm always in touch with the latest news (thank you NewsNow) concerning our mighty young Gunners. I also signed up here because despite the distance, I would like to have a little taste of England and true home-grown fans, raised by Wright goals and Adams rough tacles...
I did not get the chance to see many of the last two players mentionned, as at the time I did not support Arsenal. I must confess. As a kid, and with Dutch influences, I discovered football with the help of the great Ajax team lead by the famous Louis Van Gaal. The way Ajax played at the time.... It was simply the best way for me to discover football. I watched players like Kluivert, Rijjkaard, Overmars, Bergkamp, the De Boer brothers, Stam, Seedorf, Davids... While the elders would always tell me how fabulous Cruyff and Van Basten were. Then, when I saw my favourites players like Bergkamp, Overmars, Davids and Kluivert left, when I saw this team that I thought invinible start loosing grip, my young boys faith was broken. I then started a period of errance. By then I started to interest myself in French ligue and french football. I started to watch PSG games and by the time, they were playing nice football with the likes of Le Guen, Weah, Rai... But that was nothing like the Ajax I was used to see. though one player attracted my attention. Nicolas Anelka. I thought he was trully classy, though he had a serious problem with authority. He then left for Arsenal... Here we come!
This is when it started. I followed Anelka to Arsenal, and what surprise did I get when I saw there two of my old favourite players from Ajax? Iceman Dennis B and Flash Overmars Gordon! But it didn't stop here... By the time Anelka decided to leave Arsnal, I had already fallen for the club. Or more precisely for one true genius: Arsène Wenger! I was just stunned by his capacity to take in some young french players from ligue 1, and transform them into world class players! (Ligue 1 Hasn't been an amazing championship since quite some time) Henry, Viera, Pirès, Petit, Anelka. And now he's doing it with Clichy, Flamini, Sagna, Diaby, Aliadière... er... my mistake...
Anyway, I had the chance to live the unbeaten run durin the 2004 season, and the final of the Champion's League IN Paris please! I could taste the same feeling as my elders had when watching Van Basten, while watching Henry. And for the first time since my early years, I'm supporting the only team in europe that is the closest to the "Total Football" I witnessed at the time. I don't miss a single game of the Arsenal (apologies, but my student budget forces me to watch the games via chinese support if you know what I mean) I would love to win some trophy this year. But, as far as I'm concerned, i've been more than satisfied with what the gunners has shown me this year! The difference that I feel in between now and before, is that this team is young, and already incredibly mature. I might now witness the rise of Arsenal as the emperor of Europe for the years to come, with Coach Arsène in the role of Napoléon! (sorry for the comparison

Well I think I've said far enough. As you can see I have plenty of stuff to say about The Arsenal. But plenty of other stuff to learn! That's why i'm here. Now I just see that my presentation is a bit long. Sorry.
FrenchGun
p.s: I'm not sure about all the spelling, so if you will excuse my English...
