The summer of 2013 is going to be hell…
47 comments September 13th, 2006
For that’s when Cesc Fabregas’ new contract will have just a year left to run: the vultures of Barcelona and Madrid will be circling, and Arsenal fans will be distressed beyond description. Put it in your diaries, friends: Summer 2013 – The worst summer of your lives.
In seriousness, news of a remarkable eight year contract for Cesc is absolutely fantastic. I remember when Jose Reyes signed a six year deal last summer, I remarked on how unusual it’s length was. But eight years? Incredible. Whilst the Reyes deal shows that contracts don’t mean a player will stay, it does guarantee us a sizeable fee for Cesc should he choose to leave before that time passes. But why would he? After those eight years, he’ll only be 27, and due a testimonial – still plenty of time for him to go back and play in his native Spain.
Cesc is also in the news after Ashley Cole claimed he was “no Patrick Vieira” in the latest portion of his autobiography to be published. Cole also lambasted Philippe Senderos’ attitude when taking guidance from Martin Keown, hinted at a rift between Freddie Ljungberg and Robin van Persie, and suggested their were too many “big heads on young shoulders” (pot.kettle.youknowtherest).
What do I make of it? Well, frankly, I don’t trust anything he says. A man who says he cannot forgive Arsenal for offering him slightly less than he asked for, and yet has run to the arms of Kenyon and Mourinho, two men that he claims lied in court to his detriment, has to be dismissed as entirely unreliable.
I’d like to leave the final word to a man who, according to Cole himself, approached him in a street in North London. Whilst I do not condone any negative reverberrations the man’s words might have, he ought to be congratulated for winding Cole up quite so well:
“I was in North London in February and had just got out of the car when this complete stranger came right up to my face and said, “You’re gay, you are!†and went away laughing. It takes a lot to get under my skin, but that got to me … What straight man could take being ridiculed — and that’s what they were doing — for being gay, knowing that thousands of people were talking about it in the year of your marriage? Not that being gay is a bad thing.”
Tonight marks the start of our Champions League campaign, and we’ll be forced to begin without Thierry Henry who has a foot injury. No-one’s quite sure who’ll play in place of him, but there are strong rumours that Theo Walcott may be given a start in a wide role. Arsene himself declined to comment, saying he would decide on Walcott closer to the game.
I’d expect Julio Baptista to begin on the bench again, with Tomas Rosicky more likely to come into the team that faced Middlesbrough. The loss of Henry is a blow, but with van Persie, Adebayor, Baptista, Walcott, and others our squad should be able to cope. Titi will be back to face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Our opposition, Hamburg, are a good side. However, with United on Sunday, it’s vital we start to build some momentum. A 2-0 win would be the best result for everyone. Except Hamburg.
