What an amazing game.

How on earth did the Germans reach the final? I am completely flabbergasted. Only one team was playing good football and Turkey deserved much more from the game tonight.

In the first half, it was all Turkey’s and they hit the bar twice and scored the opening goal which was thoroughly deserved. The only problem was for all their attacking play they didn’t capitalise on it and find the crucial second goal which could have really killed the game.

Did Germany have 3 shots all evening?

Before the game I was reading various preview write ups and some people were talking about a massive German-bias, with a Franco-German UEFA with its Franco-German Axis apparently like the EU. Some points were made about how Turkey’s suspended goalkeeper Volkan received a two-match ban and Schweinsteiger only got a one-game ban for a very similar offense.

Although I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the said offenses happening in the Group Stages and Knockout Rounds and therefore hold different punishments?

Then people pointed out that in Euro 96′ Germany were granted special dispensation after having a similar injury crisis to Turkey in this years Championships. I personally can’t remember any of that, although the only real thing I remember was Gareth Southgate f*cking up that penalty. And that Pizza Hut advert.

I’m sure all conspiracy theories, but interesting going into the game.

Because I saw some dodgy refereeing tonight. How some of the Germans didn’t get yellow cards was pretty shocking, and when Senturk made a forwards tackle he got a booking when Germany had committed far worse fouls throughout the match!

And no, I didn’t forget the tackle on Lahm - and replays showed that initial contact was outside the penalty area anyway.

Yet again in this competition Turkey were excellent and deserved much better fortunes tonight. Even at 2-1 down you know they might do something and on 87 minutes Senturk scored a well-earned equaliser which looked to take the game into extra time.

But then the Germans nicked it. Literally.

On the luck-o-meter this result was one the luckiest I have ever seen. They played so badly and only fashioned 3 real chances and scored them all. What a shame that Rustu is such a sh*te goalkeeper, because the mistake for the Klose goal was shocking.

Think I’ll be cheering on Spain or Russia on Sunday night.

Last week I asked if any Arsenal fan wanted to see Hleb in an Arsenal shirt again.

The response was surprising really, with the majority saying they would like to see Hleb next season. I found that confusing because while I have been one of his biggest fans over the last 3 seasons (and would always back him when others would slate him) the shenanigans he and his agent are getting up to are just completely unacceptable. His agent is obviously hoping to cash in on Hleb’s last big money move and the player himself is doing nothing to stop it. Which to me is as good as sticking two fingers up to Arsene Wenger, the man who put Hleb in the spotlight.

What happened to players like Bobby, Henry and Dennis eh? Obviously you can’t buy loyalty these days.

And now we come to Emmanuel Adebayor.

AC Milan have officially confirmed that Adebayor is their sole transfer target this summer, and if they can’t get him then they won’t be bringing anyone in at all. I find statement complete b*llocks to be honest but whatever.

Arsenal have been quoted as “unwilling to sell” but with Milan making it official and public like they did a few weeks ago then obviously they just want to unsettle the player and see if Adebayor makes any favourable comments towards them. To his credit though, the Togan has always committed his future to Arsenal.

But you wonder what’s going on with all the speculation around Adebayor and Hleb. It’s been going on for months and the fact is you just feel something might happen. Why aren’t big players from other clubs being speculated about? Is there smoke without fire? I’m not sure.

Would selling Adebayor be that much of a loss for Arsenal?

He’s had one good season and if AC Milan offer a fantastic price then I’m not sure if Arsenal would turn it down. But at the moment although there seems to be some sort of conversation between the Italian club and Adebayor then obviously the offer from Milan is far too low.

Why don’t we ask for Kaka’ in return?

He’ll want to play Champions League football, he obviously likes playing at the Emirates (remember that awesome goal for Brazil against Argentina?) and Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches in the world to play under. We also play the beautiful game like it’s meant to be played and the Premier League is far more exciting that Serie A.

Thinking about it, we should start some rumours of our own for a change instead of always having our players being linked to other clubs!

We should also swap Hleb for Ronaldinho. If anyone can get the best out of him again it’s Arsene.

Although a player who will be with us next season is Samir Nasri, but you already knew that.

Okay, I tried a pun on ‘Arsene’s Magic Hat’ and failed miserably. What was I thinking? So moving swiftly on…What a stunning game.

Even before the game kicked off there was hype already as it could have gone down in history as the first group game in a major international tournament to go to penalties after 90 minutes. Both sides had won one game, lost one and had a goal difference of minus 1 (with both scoring 2 and conceding 3) and therefore had exactly the same record. So a draw would result in a penalty shootout at the final whistle with no extra time.

And the game kicked off 5 minutes later than scheduled as a Turkish player apparently didn’t have the right boots or something (I missed the first few minutes so didn’t see what actually happened).

The first half was cagey and Turkey didn’t really offer any kind of goal threat despite playing with two strikers. The Czech’s on the other hand had started with Jan Koller up top and looked the more inventive side.

The Czech Republic deservedly took the lead on 34 minutes, from a fine Koller header into the top corner.

But it was the second half where all the action took place.

Turkey came out of the blocks the far better side with neat passing and excellent movement but didn’t really put Petr Cech under any real pressure - it was reminiscent of Arsenal sides of old, which would play pretty football but couldn’t offer any real killer instinct.

And against the run of play, the Czech’s scored what looked like the killer second goal.

A quick freekick and break from the Czech Republic saw Sionko released on the right hand side and his cross was brilliantly converted on the volley from the other winger Plasil. There was a bit of controversy surrounding the goal as Turkish defender Gungor was taken off by a stretcher and the Turks couldn’t get the replacement centre back on the pitch. To be fair though, there didn’t seem to be any real breaks in play for the substitution to be made.

After conceding the second goal Turkey looked all over the place, seemingly dejected from Plasil’s goal. And with this the Czech Republic were unlucky not to score a third, when Jan Polak hit the post with a right-footed effort and almost connected with the rebound before being kicked in the head.

But to their credit after that Turkey got their act together and didn’t cave in. They didn’t panic and continued their passing game and tried to break down the Czechs.

And with 15 minutes left they got a lifeline.

Hamit Altintop (who looked really impressive all game) sent in a wicked cross which missed everyone in the middle and landed to the last man Turan, who sent a shot into the near corner passed Petr Cech. It looked like the Chelsea keeper really should have done better but the bottom line was Turkey had some hope.

Turkey were urgent in their play and sent in cross after cross after cross and piled the pressure on the Czechs but couldn’t create any clear cut chances to score that valuable equaliser.

And then with 2 minutes left it happened.

Altintop sent in a fantastic cross with pace and bend but Cech looked favourite to make a comfortable catch. But as time stood still the overrated* Petr Cech fumbled the ball and it landed to the feet of Nihat Kahveci who didn’t need a second invitation to slot into an empty net.

Turkey had equalised, and penalties where coming!

The watching world (well, Europeans anyway) were preparing for a historic penalty shootout to decide who would join Portugal in the second round but before anyone could take in the equaliser Nihat was played in and sent a stunning strike passed Cech and right into the top corner off the bar.

What a turnaround!

Unbelievable. Turkey had come from 2 goals down and stolen qualification at the death! What a fantastic end to possibly one of the best second halves of football in a major international tournament.

I haven’t seen anything like it.

Is anyone else starting to love the European Championships?

* Look at William Gallas’ goal against Chelsea at the Emirates last season. That’s right, I went there.

Because I tell you what I don’t.

The guy is pathetic, and I would be more than happy if Hleb wasn’t in the Arsenal squad for next season.

But unfortunately for all his (and his agents) games which quite frankly have been hugely disrespectful to Arsene, Arsenal football club at the supporters my worse fears maybe realised and Hleb might actually stay.

Because no-one wants him!

To be linked with Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter Milan and teams of that quality beggars belief. His agent must be a f*cking genius (or a brilliant salesman) to get those sides interested. For a midfielder who doesn’t shoot, hasn’t won any honours and has scored 11 goals in 3 years at a team like Arsenal who create more chances than most is astounding.

It really is.

Why would those teams want Hleb? Well the truth is the probably don’t, because for all this speculation nothing concrete has actually come out.

Wenger should shove this fool in the reserves for his antics.

He thinks he’s better than he is. If he wants to leave then that’s fine by me. Arsene should tout Hleb out to the highest bidder and see how much he can get. I would be surprised if any side would pay more than £13 million for him. And that kind of money is worth so much more in the hands of Arsene Wenger.

We’ve had so many better players leave Arsenal so why would anyone care about Hleb leaving?

Even when players like Vieira, Henry, Pires, Overmars, Petit (who were past their peak) and even Reyes (yes, even him) left Arsenal they were more effective for Arsenal than Hleb is. When the hell was the last time Hleb scored a big goal for Arsenal? Hell, when did Hleb actually score a goal for Arsenal?!

The only (slight) concern I have about Hleb leaving Arsenal is his friendship with Fabregas. The midfield combination of Rosicky, Flamini, Cesc and Hleb were reportedly very close and with Flamini gone then you wonder how Hleb’s departure would effect Fabregas.

Despite that though I’m just praying someone takes Hleb off our hands.

Well it’s been a while since my last post and to be quite honest nothing exciting has really happened since then anyway.

Flamini obviously went to AC Milan which is an excellent deal for him since he’s only really had one good season. You wonder if he will suffer a similar fate as other former Arsenal players such as Pires, Petit, Freddie, Henry and Overmars have but the guy is still young so he could be a success there. But quite frankly I couldn’t be arsed since he’s not an Arsenal player anymore.

Although I do find it mildly amusing though he’ll be playing in the UEFA Cup next season.

So Jens has officially left Arsenal and joined VFB Stuttgart back in Germany.

And all you can do is wish him the best of luck. Despite his antics he was an excellent servant for the club and will always be remembered as a vital member of the team that went an entire Premier League season unbeaten. He was a fantastic goalkeeper and I will always remember the save against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford, the penalty save against Riquelme and his one-man show in the FA Cup against Manchester United.

The sight of Ronaldo and Rooney crying was priceless.

And Bacary Sagna has signed a new ‘long term’ contract with the club after a fantastic first season at the club.

He was arguably the best player last season and deserves his new deal. He really has added steel to our back line and from what I have seen seems to be the model professional. We suffered when he was out injured in the last part of the season and after only ending up 4 points off the top he could have made a difference, especially in the game against Chelsea.

Then we get to Alexander Hleb.

I was always a big fan of his and been impressed with his excellent ball retention, but 11 goals in 3 seasons tells its own story. Last season this was highlighted when we were relying too much on Adebayor as the goals dried out. He does add a unique creativity to the side but just doesn’t add enough to the side.

We have players like Fabregas, Rosicky, Van Persie and Adebayor who will always be a threat regardless of whether Hleb is in the starting lineup, and to be honest we might play more direct without him. I certainly won’t miss him after the crap with Inter Milan and the ice cream so as far as I’m concerned I hope he leaves. I can’t see him in an Arsenal shirt next season and to be honest I wouldn’t want to.

We’re going to have a summer of crazy transfer speculation which will probably involve every player under the sun so I’ll be keeping clear of that and only comment on completed moves and stories. I can see only 2 or 3 new faces coming in despite the fact that Flamini and Jens have departed (with Hleb and Gilberto possibly leaving too) because the fact is Wenger has faith in his young players.

Diaby is highly-rated at the club and could be given a chance in the middle. Gilberto might rediscover his form with Flamini gone and Eboue might actually come good out wide (okay, forget the last one). We have Djourou to come into the team, whether that’s in midfield or defence. And I’m not sure Wenger might even buy a striker - he’ll probably just hope Eduardo and Van Persie recover in time to play the majority of the next campaign.

So until our next big news story, I will bid adieu.