Arsenal 2-1 PSG + Fascinating Anelka quotes
359 comments July 29th, 2007
After a goal and an assist yesterday in a promising performance, it was all going swimmingly for the young Danish striker. When a driving run from Alex Hleb brought about a penalty, Bendtner wrestled the ball from the more experienced Emmanuel Eboue, before side-footing a lazy effort against the goalkeeper. Maybe Bendtner should’ve learnt his lesson from last season, when Birmingham fans were incensed when he refused to celebrate with the team after not being allowed to take a penalty. In future, he should steer well clear. Penalties + Bendtner = trouble.
That aside, he showed good strength and aerial ability to give the PSG backline plenty of trouble. If he improves his movement and general effort levels, he could be a handy player.
Other notable points from the match (a report of which can be found here) were that Gael Clichy was outstanding, Emmanuel Eboue looked dangerous at right-midfield and Hleb was played, quite unbelievably, in his actual position behind the striker and really did rather well.
Nonetheless, our incredible lack of wingers was on display for all to see. In the course of the game, we field four wide players: two of which were central midfielders, and the other two full-backs. Sort it out, Arsene.
Today we face Inter, and the likes of Jens Lehmann, William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas, Hleb and Robin Van Persie are all set to start. Sadly, it seems that Patrick Vieira will be unavailable with a knee injury.
And now the main event. The reason you clicked this link. In yesterday’s match programme, Arsene suggested he’s looking to sign one or two new players (much to my relief). In the post-game press conference, this sparked a long line of questioning about one man: Nicolas Anelka.
Press: The players you’re looking to sign – are they from England?
AW: I can’t tell you.
Press: Did you want to bring Anelka in? Did the board say no?
AW: No.
Press: …Which part of that are you saying “No” to?
AW: He asked me the question, “Did the board say no?” And I said, “no”.
Press: So did you want to bring Anelka in?
AW: I can bring in who I want, and the board doesn’t interfere in that, unless it’s a financial situation and we cannot afford them.
Press: Did you want to bring Anelka in?
AW: I just gave you the answer, no?
Press: You told us you can bring in who you want, but did you want to bring Anelka in? Did Anelka want to come?
AW: Of course. I felt that we have the strikers we need, and that I wanted a striker like Eduardo who can play on the flanks, and can play with Anelka, or with Adebayor, or with Van Persie, and that’s why we have gone for Eduardo, and it was more a question of choice – nothing to do with the quality of Anelka. I rate him very very highly. It was just we had Adebayor, Bendtner, Van Persie playing in the same position.
Press: You have said you’d like up to two more players. Can you indentify the positions? Will you definitely not sign a striker?
AW: I cannot tell you at the moment. Because you are all too clever.
Press: So the possibility of going for Anelka is still there?
AW: …I cannot say that at all at the moment.
Press: So it could still happen Arsene? Anelka could still end up at Arsenal?
AW: Well there are plenty of strikers in the world that you could buy.
Press: So is the thought process behind one or two of your targets related linked with the possiblity of Eduardo not coming?
AW: No.
Press: Have you ruled out an offer for Anelka?
AW: Why are you so obsessed with Anelka?
Press: I’m asking as a journalist: what’s the situation?
AW: At the moment, I have not made any offer for Anelka.
“At the moment”. If you have ArsenalTVOnline (it’s dirt cheap, you should) go and watch the press conference. Arsene is definitely up to something. It could be one of several things:
1) He is just enjoying toying with the press
2) He is happy to use Anelka as a smokescreen whilst he gets on with something else
3) There is some form of genuine interest there
The way the journalist pursued the story suggested he might have heard something relating to option number 3). The incredible slip of the tongue about Eduardo playing with Anelka, on top of the suggestion that Eduardo could play wide should be enough to keep you salivating all day.
Just don’t come crying to me when we sign 16 year old Belgian hotshot Helmut Crapschaft instead.
