Ajax were brutes, according to Arsene Wenger, Arsenal won the Amsterdam Tournament anyhow, beating the kitchen cleanser 1-0. RVN was stretchered off, under a rude challenge, but apparently OK.

"I think some players were a little bit overboard, but we kept our nerve," said the coach.

...he went on to say, of course, it was almost like playing Bolton...

Meanwhile, RVN, eager to try his new, hoped-for role of wise, Yoda-like statesman of the club had a few things to say about former teammate Freddie Ljungberg, calling him weak, and a sissy who lieks to play with dolls. No. I'm just kidding about that. He actually was quite responsible and said Freddie should have some nice things to say about Arsenal after 9 years with the club. Well said, RVN.

I glanced over 10 minutes of the first half of the Community Shield match pitting Reds v. Blues. I'm recording it for later, but curiosity overtook me. Clearly, it's still preseason for both these teams but I do have to say Peter Cech is the man. Hands down best keeper in the world. I'm glad I got to see him play a few years back when Chelsea were in town - it's too bad I had no idea of who he was at the time.

And, I took a run through the DVR to program some EPL matches to record and I didn't see a single Arsenal match televised for the first 2 weeks. Come on, Fox! You must do me better than that.