Mad Brit Diary

Arsenal's French flavor upsets many British stomachs.

(Friday, August 27, 2004) -- American World Cup goalkeeper Brad Freidel will now be remembered as the man who gave up three goals to English giant Arsenal which broke a major record in English top-flight soccer. Well, maybe not.

Poor Freidel, he was just another goalie facing the wrath of the amazing London French team in the European Premier League, sorry, I mean the English Premier League. On Wednesday, Freidel was in the nets for Blackburn Rovers as Arsenal extended is unbeaten streak to 43 games and set a new mark in top-echelon soccer. The previous record was compiled by Nottingham Forest in 1977-79 when uneducated Englishmen with thick accents who drank gallons of warm beer still played the game.

On their way to the record, the Gunners earned 31 wins and 12 draws and scored 95 goals with star French striker Thierry Henry notching 34. Forest scored just 58 goals in its 42-game streak, thanks to Tony Woodcock, who was backed by a solid rugged defense led by Kenny Burns.

When Forest created the record, the team went on to become champion of Europe, not just once but twice, a title that has still eluded the mighty Arsenal, which has a habit of choking once it has to get outside of English waters.

Last season, Arsenal went undefeated in 38 league games (26-0-12), a remarkable achievement and not done by a team since Preston did it in the 1888-89 season. The Gunners look set to do it again and are playing some lovely flowing soccer. "Boring Arsenal" as the team used to known, is now "Exquisite Arsenal," playing with flair and finesse. Champagne soccer has arrived in the land of Bass Ale and Newcastle Brown.

The English champ beat Freidel and Blackburn with just one English player on the field -- defender Ashley Cole. The club's other players who saw action in the game included seven Frenchmen, and players from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Brazil and the Ivory Coast. In the tough and cosmopolitan Premier League, Arsenal's achievement is stunning.

"We have shown remarkable consistency," Arsenal's French coach Arsene Wenger said. "In the modern game, it's something amazing. But we are not perfect. I'm focused on us trying to get better and better in every game."

The question is how long can Arsenal stay unbeaten? The team plays six beatable teams before facing its toughest game on October 24, a trip to mighty Manchester United.

Newton Tyson writes: "Y'know, that little joke about the EPL (European Premier League) actually sounds like a good idea. Sure, they have the Champion's League, but imagine all those teams getting to meet every year. The top 20 English, Spanish, Italian, German, and Dutch teams all competing in one table? That would be something. If England ever joins the European Union, I could see this happening."

Grandpa437 writes: "Mad Brit, there are really only two teams competing for the EPL title: Chelsea and Arsenal -- this coming season, Man. U. is likely to be left behind quickly. Without its regular center fullback, out until the end of September, the defense is very suspect and Tim Howard can't save everything. With Ruud va Nistlerooy and Louis Saha hurt and unable to play for several weeks, the Red Devils should go no higher than third place at the end of the season."

Patt2374 says: "MB, you wrote, "So, let's see. On the day, the French (9) outnumbered the English (8) on the field. And they call it the English Premier League. So on your marks, let the EPL -- the European Premier League -- begin."

"In my opinion, this is tragic and if I were a supporter of either club (Manchester United or Arsenal), which I'm not, my enthusiasm would definitely be dimmed. At least Man. U. can field a good selection of British Isle players (Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Roy Keane, etc.). This is starting to actually make me root for the "Evil Empire" of the EPL versus the all-mercenary squads of the top five competition. (Newcastle is exempted -- for now) Starting to look a lot like Major League Baseball which is a horrible thing for the sport. Don't the gods of the English Football Association see this?"

Tom Ponsford writes: "Hey, Mad Brit, please, oh please, tell me why the (Los Angeles) Galaxy brass would fire probably one of the most successful coaches (Sigi Schmid) in Major League Soccer history. A coach who brought them international respectability and an MLS title, who had them in the playoffs every year he coached them, a coach who had his team Leading MLS, for a coach (Steve Sampson) who had fabulously unsuccessful tenures as the United States men's coach and the Costa Rica team coach? Does this make sense? Am I missing something? Will Sigi, who speaks fluent German, be off to Germany to help Juergen (Klinsmann)?"

Heard a rumor, have a gripe or a tip? Feeling lonely? E-mail the Mad Brit at themadbrit3@aol.com.