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Jon Spurling

@jonspurling.bsky.social
594 followers 210 following 244 posts

Go To War: Football On The Brink In The '80s - out now. The sequel to Get It On: How The '70s Rocked Football. Freelance for 442, WSC, Blizzard.

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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Hypothetically speaking, I wonder what would happen if all other clubs could force the issue to be resolved more swiftly by simply refusing en masse to play their fixtures v City from now on. Literally boycott the games. Crash the season. What would happen?
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Daniel Storey @danielstorey85.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Concerted, deliberate, calculated cheating is the conclusion. A Premier League heist. So throw the book at them and run the owners out of town. And Manchester City supporters should want to lead that movement. Column (free to read) inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
inews.co.uk
Throw the book at Man City - and force the owners out
The verdict leaves City facing questions that money and bluster can no longer drown out
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Red cartel this, red cartel that….the Blue cartel have been busy hyper-inflating transfer fees, indulging in sharp practice & ransacking rival clubs for over 20 years. Let’s not allow ourselves to be deflected or gaslighted on this one….
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
City fans biting back that Arsenal ‘cheated’ their way to the title last season. Not sure that Arteta stepping out of his technical area by a yard or some pushing & shoving at a corner is quite the same as industrial cheating for years & years.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The only positive aspect of the 3 week break is that Declan Rice is hopefully resting his weary limbs, recuperating & doing what footballers used to do for leisure back in the day: eating steak, drinking lager top, listening to ELO & watching the Rockford Files.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Morning Arsenal fans - here's my new piece on our 2 league victories over freshly minted Chelsea during the 2003 - 04 'Invincibles' season. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/pass-fr...
arsenal.com
'Pass from the gods' - Reliving our 03/04 Chelsea clashes
We take a look back at our pivotal clashes with Chelsea from the 03/04 season
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Amidst millionaire footballers being sold for ridiculous money, can we spare a thought for Alan Knight - former Portsmouth goalkeeper who made 801 Pompey appearances between 1978 and 1999. Astonishing - & a lovely guy to interview in my early days as a football writer. RIP Alan.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Imagine if social media had existed when Bergkamp, Pires, Vieira and Henry left. Judging from some of the tear jerking reactions to both of the Gabis leaving, we’d have had operas, ballets, whole musicals & existential novels penned in their honour.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
A little bit of architectural history for you all today. Here’s my new piece on stadium designer Archibald Leitch, whose influence was seen at Highbury & Villa Park. Enjoy…. arsenal.com/feature/the-ma…
arsenal.com
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Some banter with Jamie O’Hara from the other side….
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
And so it begins…..
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
My new piece for the start of the new season. From club songs, to new camera angles to running the line, here’s my new piece on how the entrepreneurial & larger than life former Coventry manager / chairman Jimmy Hill impacted upon Arsenal. Enjoy! arsenal.com/feature/the-ob…
arsenal.com
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
When I saw Porto’s 2 European Cups in their museum yesterday, the epic stories behind the 1987 & 2004 victories & the cult status those players / coaches now enjoy, I felt a little envious. We came so close in May. Arsenal must keep reaching for the stars, progress & finally conquer Europe.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Just got back from an amazing few days in Porto. Really enjoyed visiting Porto’s ground / museum, and amidst the UEFA Cups / Champions League trophies, I found the enormous beast that is the Arsenal Cup. Fascinating story….
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Here‘s my new piece on Brazil World Cup winner Gilberto Silva’s debut for Arsenal - in the 2002 Community Shield. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/feature/gilb...
arsenal.com
Gilberto on kick-starting his Gunners career in Cardiff
Our Community Shield clash with Liverpool in 2002 allowed Gilberto Silva to make an instant impression on his new supporters
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Remember the first time we played Tottenham at Wembley & won a princely £60k in the process? Here’s the full story…enjoy. arsenal.com/news/pre-sea...
arsenal.com
Pre-season history: Big wins at Wembley
We look back at our history with the Wembley International Tournament
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
What were you doing on Valentines Day 1989? Over 20,000 were at Highbury, watching Arsenal defeat Michel Platini’s France…..here’s the story. Enjoy! arsenal.com/news/remembe...
arsenal.com
Remembering the time we played France in a friendly
Find out the details about when we played France in a friendly on Valentine's Day
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Morning Arsenal fans. Here’s my new piece on our Irish summer of 1986: Chris De Burg, the O’Leary brothers, Waterford & Shamrock Rovers….enjoy!!! www.arsenal.com/news/remembe...
arsenal.com
Remembering our 1986 tour of Ireland
Turn the clocks back to 1986 to discover our pre-season tour of Ireland
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
I did enjoy watching the Odyssey, and Matt Damon is always good, although it did have the feel of ‘Jason Bourne in and around the Ancient World,’ right down to the fact he’d lost his memory and was trying to get back home.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
The summer transfer window brings about the very worst in football fans. Conspiracies, outright lies, false rumours, defeatism, hissy fits, ill informed comments, mini civil wars within fanbases….and the league season doesn’t even start for another month.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
It’s hard to believe that Kevin Keegan left league champions Liverpool to join Hamburg & then Southampton, but still won 2 x Ballon D’Ors, established a brand & risked life & limb on his bike on Superstars, which is exactly what he was. Rest easy KK.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Merino is an intriguing footballer. No real pace but technically excellent & with a heightened sense of awareness in the box which means that even though defences know what’s coming, they can’t stop him. I’ve long thought he’s the best natural finisher Arsenal have.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Amazing sunset at Whitstable last night. Apocalypse Now meets the English coastline.
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Andy Mackenzie @andymack.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Holiday reading. A thoroughly enjoyable read by @jonspurling.bsky.social that puts 70s football in context with the cultural changes that were going on in the era. So much more than the usual "weren't the mavericks great?" books that we usually get on this decade
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Just think - before England defeated DR Congo on Wednesday to set up a meeting with Mexico, no one had ever heard the word ‘altitude’ before, much less understood what it means.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Trossard- £ for £ probably our best signing of modern times. Scored so many priceless goals, including the deflected winner against West Ham in May. Ironic - because he had such a clean shot on him! It is time for him to go, but signing a 22 year old version of him is gonna cost. Best of luck Leo.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Morning all - here’s my new piece on Dennis Bergkamp’s astonishing goal v Argentina at the 1998 World Cup 28 years ago today. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/remembe...
arsenal.com
Remembering Bergkamp's iconic World Cup 98 goal
On July 4 1998, Dennis Bergkamp scored one of the tournament's greatest ever strikes to help the Netherlands beat Argentina
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
My reflections on Arsenal’s title winning season have just appeared in the new edition of @wsc.co.uk - although I can’t claim to have coined the excellent strapline!!! magazine is out now. Enjoy!
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Good morning everyone. Here’s the story of Arsenal’s boy from ‘66 - George Eastham. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal...
arsenal.com
Arsenal's forgotten 1966 World Cup winner
An unused squad member, George Eastham reflects on the summer of '66 and a 43-year wait for a medal
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Tomorrow’s Independent front page:
The
INDEPENDENT
urop
The Way Bac
Their promises of more jobs, more trade, more power for Britain have proved a con, Michael Heseltine writes as the Brexit vote 10th anniversary approaches. Never have so few done so much damage to so many with so little ability to execute what they lied about. Their scandalously false prospectus has turned to dust and ashes. Naturally, they blame everyone but themselves.
They are the guilty men and should...
...hang their heads in shame
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Here’s the story of Arsenal’s first World Cup stars - Welsh stars Jack Kelsey & Dave Bowen, who travelled to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/who-was...
arsenal.com
Who was the first Arsenal player at a World Cup?
Find out about our storied connection with the FIFA World Cup!
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
48 hours after the season ended I see that neutrals are still ranting about this and that to do with the Arsenal- our playing style, Eze&Gabriel, Arteta, the parade, Odegaard’s shades….we’re their guilty obsession. Why don’t they focus on their own under achieving clubs?
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Rival fans hate Arsenal more than they love their own under achieving clubs. It‘s getting worse. I feel for them.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
I’ve read a lot of pieces this morning. None of the critics have said how THEY would have set up the Arsenal team differently against PSG. When we did look more expansive in the 2nd half, PSG broke at lightning speed & looked menacing. Easy to criticise, harder to provide genuine insight.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Any ideas?
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Lots of trolling about our style of play. Not bothered. We were the best team to watch in 22–23/ 23-24 & won nowt. Now we’ve won the league. We’ll spend gazillions of pounds & evolve again. And hopefully sell well too. We know where the weaknesses are. So do the club. Onwards. Up the Arsenal.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
A brilliant afternoon at the Emirates, drinking beer during the game (a treat) & watching Arsenal in a superb atmosphere go toe to toe with PSG for 2 hours. Very proud of the Premier League champions. We know where we need to strengthen this summer, and we will. Roll on 26-27.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
I’m excited, not worried about tomorrow’s match, whereas since Christmas for the league games, I was often worried but not excited. The pressure would have been immense for Saturday had we not won the league, but now we can play PSG with confidence.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Whether people are fans of the club are not, praising or mocking, wishing them well or ill for Saturday, saying we cheated or won the league fairly, all any fan is thinking about at the moment is Arsenal - we’re scrambling minds across the globe. about time too. It’s wondrous.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Hopefully, Arsenal will win on Saturday night in the Champions League Final. A century ago, Herbert Chapman's Gunners also shook up Budapest, as part of a Central European tour. Enjoy! www.arsenal.com/news/100-yea...
arsenal.com
100 years on: When Chapman's team shook Budapest
In 1926, we made a famous visit to the Hungarian capital and caused quite a stir during our Central European tour
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Mo Davies @modavies.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
#BookSky 13th of year from @jonspurling.bsky.social Superb if this your era, the 80s book of his resonated more with me as 1977 was when my interest developed. Having said that a great deep dive into subjects that I was aware of from before my time. Understandably Liverpool, Revie & Clough heavy.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Of course I want to win the CL final. But I see it as a free hit. I’m relaxed about it. I’m looking forward to watching it at the Emirates with other fans and making a noise inside and outside the ground before, during & afterwards. Whatever happens Arsenal are back
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Why was Piers Morgan & his clan on the pitch at Selhurst? Nowt worse than celebrity fans muscling in on things. Especially one who called for Arteta’s head on several occasions in the early years.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
So we ended up winning the title by a hefty 7 points. What were we all stressing about then?
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Here’s my new piece on one of the best & most influential of all Arsenal defenders - Kenny Sansom. His transfer from Crystal Palace in 1980 (with Clive Allen / Paul Barron going the other way) was one of the most bizarre in English football. www.arsenal.com/news/allen-s...
arsenal.com
Allen for Sansom: 1980's bizarre transfer saga
Kenny Sansom was caught up in one of the oddest transfers when he swapped Crystal Palace for Arsenal, with new arrival Clive Allen going the other way
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Just blasted out 'We Are The Champions' in the car 5 times on the spin, and sung it at top volume each time. It turns out that the atmosphere generated at the Emirates on Tuesday night has nothing on a 15 minute solo drive in a Vauxhall Corsa.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
On a country walk, basking in the sun and Arsenal winning the league, and throwing that sticky plant you get at this time of the year at my daughter’s back to make her look like she has a green tail. Life couldn’t be better.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
For me the Max Dowman goal is still my favourite moment this season. Sheer relief, bizarre, off the cuff, a GCSE kid living his dream, kicking the corner flag, and insane celebrations afterwards in the ground and outside.
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
My dad died a couple of years ago. He wasn’t a football fan. But if he was around today, he’d beam with pleasure at hearing that Arsenal won the league, crack open a bottle of champagne to celebrate, and suggest I stop wasting so much money watching them. Miss you Dad. X
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Jon Spurling @jonspurling.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Looking good.
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