Arsenal won’t make any major signings until the 10th July.
621 comments June 5th, 2006
That, my friends, is when the World Cup ends. Until that date, there’s no way any international players will be involved in any significant transfers. Rosicky arrived before the Czech squad departed on their big summer holiday, but now we’ll have to wait until the last ball of Germany 2006 has been kicked.
Why? Several reasons. Firstly, all quality international players are fully focused on the tournament – they simply won’t head off for a medical two days before a World Cup quarter-final. Secondly, Arsenal do not know who they need to bring in until they know who is leaving; and lastly, Arsene is busy working as a pundit for French tv.
However, in the meantime, we have made what could only be described as a “minor” signing. â?¬4m has made Alex Song an Arsenal player for the next four years. This news arguably tops Pascal Cygan’s declaration of loyalty as the feel-good moment of the summer.
So that’s two players in, with arguably no real improvement to the squad. As Wenger admits, Rosicky is a straight-swap for Pires, whilst Song was here last year and hardly set the world on fire. With the possibility of both Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell leaving the club this summer, the month of July could be a tumultuous one for Arsenal fans everywhere.
It’ll be interesting, whatever happens.
