I watched Arsenal lose to Porto 2-1 in their Champions League match Wednesday, and that’s what I miss most about Europe: the big games like a Champions League knockout tie or a match against Chelsea or Man United. The atmosphere is electric; everyone’s on edge; it really, really matters; and the adrenaline is running really high. Those are the games that I always loved to play, and people say those were my best games.

I saw on TV that Cesc Fabregas was very disappointed — he said Arsenal made schoolboy mistakes. I understand his frustration because, at that level, you don’t expect to see those kinds of errors, which make it almost impossible to win on the road. Otherwise, I think Arsenal would have had a much better result, and it would have been much easier in the second leg.

I think Arsenal will be very disappointed with the first leg result, but in the end, it’s a good score in general to lose 2-1 and have the away goal. If they can win 1-0 at the Emirates, the Gunners are home-free. At the end of the day, I think Arsenal will still make it through.

In the Premier League, I’m excited because Arsenal are now only six points off the lead. After recent losses by Arsenal to both Man United and Chelsea, the Gunners were all but ruled out of the title race. It’s never good for your confidence when you want to compete for a trophy and you lose 3-1 to title rivals like Man United. However, with both Chelsea and Man United faltering themselves recently, the race is wide-open again.

As an Arsenal man, I’m hoping the other teams will continue to slip up again. Arsenal has an easier month of games coming up, so perhaps the gap will narrow further.

With the Sounders, we are in Spain right now in what has become the longest preseason I’ve ever played in. At Arsenal we typically trained for three to four weeks and then we played. We are training for about seven to eight weeks with the Sounders, so it’s hard to determine how hard to train and how hard to push myself. I talk a lot to the fitness coaches about how to plan that.

On the field, we have some unfortunate injuries to some key players, but I hope they can be back at the start of the season. In MLS, that becomes difficult because of the salary cap. When you lose some of your starters, you can’t just replace them with new players.

Before coming to Spain, we were in Arizona for nine days before making a 27-hour journey to Europe that, from boarding the plane to arriving at the hotel, was the longest trip I’ve ever taken! But we’re working hard and we’re getting fit.

Compared to the teams that are here in Spain, we’re pretty unfit. It’s early in our preparations, so it’s going to be difficult for us in the games, which is a pity. I would have loved to come here and show what type of team we have when we’re in full flow. I think that’s something that the Europeans need to see. It just comes too early for us to show how good we are.

I remember, during one year with Arsenal, we played an afternoon game at a tournament in Amsterdam against Barcelona. The day before and earlier that day we ran and worked in the gym so much that we couldn’t move, and Barcelona beat us 3-0. We were all upset because the game was televised all over Europe and we were making fools out of ourselves. But our coach told us it was the Premier League that matters, not the preseason, and that the result didn’t matter too much. It’s good to get fit in preseason games — the quality will come later.

We will be in Spain until Saturday, when we go back to Seattle. It will be nice to finally get back to living a normal life.

//F

PS You find my column at ESPN Soccernet

Photo: Sounders.com

Been in training camp in Arizona for a week now. We have been running our asses off and we are all a bit tired, but no pain no gain… Being in camp there is lots of time around the hotel, why it was nice last night when we all went to the NBA game Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trailblazers.

Some of us in the squad plays a friendly tonight, but I am one of the ones resting. Tomorrow we return back home.

That’s all for now from Arizona.
//F

Its been a difficult time. The potential strike that is happening in US soccer has made every player worry about their career’s and where they will be playing next season…. It’s been a big surprise how long the negotiations have been going on and no agreement has been reached.

All that the players are asking for is FIFA RIGHTS!! Every football player in the world that I know of plays under those rules, big or small leagues. So when I thought an agreement would be signed in a second…How wrong was I…..

A lot of very good clubs in Europe has shown an interest in me this winter and that is always a nice feeling and very flattering. I also want to say that I have handled this situation with the respect and dignity that the Seattle fans deserve. I don’t believe that players should look to manufacture moves to other clubs by involving the media, as this is disrespectful to their club and fans. I hope you understand that this situation was out of my control but I can say that I am truly happy that it has been resolved and I will be returning to Seattle.

Personally I’ve never been close to be in this situation in my life. Very confusing. Reality is that I’m 32 years old.. I cant on a personal note sit out a year and not play, I love the game and want to play my last years of my career, especially when so many great clubs have shown an interest and I’m grateful to them.

I can say that the reason I missed training this week was because of a communication error due to the business discussions. I had by this point already committed to playing with the Sounders next year, which I am very excited about.

I’m very grateful to all the clubs who have shown a great interest in my services but as I’ve always said I want to go back to America and play for Seattle. Based on the latest news I’ve heard from both sides,  there wont be a lock out or strike on Feb 1. So from Feb 1 I will be with my team in Seattle trying to help them become the best team in America.

I CAN HAPPILY SAY THAT IT FEELS VERY NICE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP MY WORD. SORRY THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH SPECULATION

I want to take this opportunity to thank all my great fans for their support during this time both in letters and here on the internet.

//F

Just reading in Seattle Times that SSFC coaches doesnt know about my arrival, which surprises me.

Yesterday morning, before the Sounders FCs training we agreed with GM Adrian Hanauer about my future.

Just wanted to give u guys an update, more info to you will follow shortly.

Thanks // F

I’m sorry that it has taken quite some time after the game to post something, but I have actually been quit pissed off and in a bad mood after the game and wanted to think things through before I said anything.

The whole team is of course extremely disappointed about getting knocked out but it was a great atmosphere in Houston and I personally also thought it was really cool that President George Bush was in the stands.

The game itself was more of a brawl then a nice game to watch I guess. Being on the pitch it clearly felt that it was going to be someones mistake or luck/bad luck that would be the decider of the game in the end. Unfortunately that was the case as the goal was discussed after the game and they say it is quite clear from the TV pictures that it was a handball.

But with that said I don’t want to take anything away from Dynamo as they are a very good team and I wish them all the best for the rest of the playoffs!

To arrive back in Seattle one and a half hour delayed on a rainy Sunday evening and being greeted at the airport by cheering Sounders fans is an amazing feeling after having been knocked out of the playoffs. I really want to thank all of you who did this and tell you that it really warmed our hearts!

For me personally it has truly been an a fantastic season and I have learnt so much by moving and playing here and sends a big thanks to all of you guys out there for the support you have been giving me.

// F

Arrived in Houston and have just been training at the stadium and noticed that they have the American football lines on the pitch.

I think it is an absolute disgrace that the League allows this!

They had it once before in New England and I didn’t have a clue where I was because you use the line and midfield line to know where you are on the pitch. When lines is everywhere you don’t know when to shot or do anything, -it is a massive problem!

Anyway, great weather down here and not as hot as last time and they think it will stay around 75 for the game. When we played here during the regular season it was over a 100. Heard that the game is sold out at around 27,000 and that a lot of Sounders fans is supposed to have traveled down here, so I am really excited to see what kind of atmosphere you guys will be able to create.

Houston defended well in the last game but will for sure be coming out being more offensive in this game which will open up a lot of chances for us. We have played well down here before and should have won with a couple of goals but missed a lot, like an open goal chance, so this time we need to play a lot better with more speed in our passes as it is a smaller pitch and get better results on all our chances. If we do this the game will be ours.

I feel great and the whole team is geared up and positive so I hope it will be enjoyable to watch.

// F