Wenger hopes to celebrate with Claret next season…
67 comments January 22nd, 2005
Because it’s a drink, innit. “Claret”. But it’s also the colour of our brand new, entirely befuddling kit.
I don’t know what I think yet, laregly because I’m yet to see it in full. Paddy and Thierry do look a little bit like they’re about to serve you in a down-market Burger Bar, but then, that’s tradition for you. As Tel says, “This is the proper colour, right from the start of our time here, I’m sure people will appreciate that and will like it.” Bless.
Brilliant news with the confirmed quartet of defensive contract extensions. The speculation surrounding a new deal for Lauren turned out to be true, and Sol Campbell’s signature is an obviously significant one. The two younger lads should also provide back-up and Carling Cup-based fun for the next couple of years.
Less good news on the Edu situation, with Arsene revealing, “I thought we made some progress but now my belief is more that he will go to a different club and I would bet on it being Valencia”. When asked if Edu’s departure could prompt a big signing, Arsene responded, “If you say a big signing means big money then no, if you say a big signing is a good player then yes. But Edu has not gone yet. You have to prepare a solution but I have not entered into any negotiations because there is always hope the Edu situation can be sorted out. He should stop being such a fassy boy, and sign the bloody contract”. (Disclaimer: That last sentence may be fictional.)
The problem would appear to be finding someone to take Edu now. Why would Valencia pay £2m for him tomorrow when they could get him on a free in the summer? And why would he move now, significantly reducing the pot from which his new salary will be drawn?
If, however, he does go, I’d like to see us move for Mark van Bommel (if only just to swipe him from underneath Tottenham‘s noses). His contract’s up in the summer, so we’re not looking at a huge outlay for a player we once bid around £10m for. Admittedly, he’s had a bit of “beef” with us in the past, but that’s his game. He’s a hyper-aggressive man-eating central midfielder with a knack of scoring goals from distance. I think that’s the sort of player who’d help us out right now.
Tomorrow, we face Newcastle, and the team should look a bit like this:
They’ll probably have bodies though, and not just be floating kits.
There could be a couple of changes from that XI. Lauren might return, and Mathieu Flamini is available again in midfield, though I’d expect Bergkamp to come back in after a spell on the sidelines.
This is way, way too long.
R.I.P. the footballing career of Emmanuel Petit, who (as Arsene vouches) used to be quite good.
Bon weekend.
