Archive for June, 2007
June 17th, 2007
With Justin Hoyte and Emmanuel Eboue both having signed new long-term contracts already this summer, can there be any truth in reports that we’re willing to pay £6m for Auxerre right-back Bakari Sagna?
Whilst I’m the first to admit my doubts about the abilities of our present incumbents of that role, I can’t see Arsene splashing the cash on a full-back when reinforcements are quite desperately required further ahead. Still, let’s wait and see.
It’s very quiet out. Patrick Vieira has been saying nothing about something. That’s all for now.
June 16th, 2007
After much toing and froing, haggling and waggling, and hokeying and kokeying, Arsenal have their second signing of the summer. If you thought the purchase of Wookash Fabyanski sent shockwaves through the football world, then the Premiership will be positively cowering at the arrival of Havard Nordveit from FK Haugesund for a fee eventually rising to £2m.
It’s an awful lot of money for a 16-year old centre-back – even Philippe Senderos was a year or so older when we paid a similar amount for his services. However, Nordveit was being tracked by other big clubs, Manchester United included, so it has to be seen as a decent purchase. And yet he does look rather like Alex Hleb. Worrying.
Scandinavians tend to settle well in the Premiership though, and whilst we’re constantly panicking about just when Cesc or Fran Merida will decide to up sticks and return to Real Madrid or Barcelona, I can’t see Havard making it big with us then declaring his intention to return to Rosenborg or Tromso so he can have a crack at the Tippeligaen.
Whether or not this is the transfer that agent Barry Silkman claimed he’d be completing for the club next Tuesday on last night’s Newsnight (14 mins in) remains to be seen. It’s probably not. He’s probably referring to the sale of Thierry Henry for thruppence and an orange.
Finally: what has the world come to. Readers of a sensitive disposition should not click that link.
June 15th, 2007
That might sound strange, but I can’t help but be reminded of the events that transpired when I first began writing this blog, and Patrick Vieira was sold to Juventus. There are so many parallels: star player and skipper flirts outrageously with a massive club, gets to the brink of leaving, then has a last-minute change of heart and decides to stay. His next season is below-par, he becomes disillusioned and full of regret, and by the next summer, he wants out. We sold Vieira pretty much behind his back for £14m. And now it seems that Arsene is prepared to do business with Barca over Henry.
Of course, we’ll only let him go at the right price. With Henry signing a four-year deal last summer, we’re in a pretty strong bargaining position, and can afford to ask for at least £20m. However, all indications are that just as Arsene only let Ashley Cole go in exchange for William Gallas, he won’t be happy with any deal that doesn’t involve Samuel Eto’o coming to Arsenal.
It would certainly make a lot of sense. We were in for Eto’o when he went to Barca, and have tracked him since his early days at Mallorca. After his fall-out with Ronaldinho, it might be the ideal time for him to leave Barcelona. And if we don’t want to be seen as a selling club lacking ambition, what better move than to bring in a younger yet arguably equally as competent replacement for a sulking Henry?
People might talk about the disadvantages of signing another African striker with the Cup of Nations just around the corner, but if you look at our fixture list, January and February aren’t actually that taxing.
Of course, Thierry Henry is a great player. In my opinion, he’s the most talented footballer to ever play for Arsenal. However, last season, his attitude stunk to the high heavens. It now seems that Arsene knows that he’s never going to be quite the same for us, and it attempting to do what he sees as best for the club’s future. We should support him in that, whatever the consequences.
Henry may stay. But it doesn’t feel that way.
June 13th, 2007
I thought this was an exclusive. Turns out it’s not, as there are close-ups available here.
Doubtless it’ll prove more popular than the despised white shirt (below). I have to say, contrary to popular opinion, I quite like it.
Weirdly, both kits fit pretty well with the Gunnerblog colour scheme. COINCIDENCE? Yes, almost certainly.
And so, the fixture list is out. We start at home to Fulham and end in Moscow for the Champions League Final. Obviously.
June 13th, 2007
In today’s edition, The Times accompanied this article with a comparison of two individual Henry performances – one from 05/06, and one from 06/07. The argument was that the 06/07 performance was significantly inferior to that of a year earlier.
Right. That’s that then. Let’s sell Henry.
Oh, hang on. What performances were they?
Well, the first performance was a two-goal showing in a 5-0 victory over Aston Villa. The second was in the 2-1 defeat away to Fulham – widely recognised as one of the worst Arsenal performances of Arsene’s reign. Hardly a fair analysis, is it?
Meanwhile, Henry continues to flirt outrageously with Barcelona. He’s no longer fluttering his eyelashes – he’s hitching up his skirt and pouting like an under-priced prostitute.
I don’t know about you, but I’m losing patience with the whole thing.
Next Posts
Previous Posts
