Yesterday, Arsenal’s AGM took place, and a full report is available over on arseblog. For those of you who are interested, the guy at the end who asked for recognition of David Dein’s “contribution” was a well-known author and football consultant. I would tell you who, but I don’t want to be responsible if it results in some of you marching upon his house and calling him an “Usmanov-loving traitor”.
There’s quite a lot of news from the AGM itself, but here are the brief highlights:
The board may not sell any shares (except to “permitted persons” ie. family) until April 2009
Until April 2012, no board member can sell shares without first offering them to other board members
A termination option in the above lockdown agreement is available in 2010
Whilst the bust is a nice touch on the part of the board, the extension of the lockdown agreement has far greater significance, and could essentially be seen to be ruling out a takeover for the next five years. Importantly, it’ll put an end to a lot of speculation and reassure smaller shareholders about the future of the club.
Stan Kroenke was not in attendance and is not part of the lockdown agreement. I do not know whether or not he is a “permitted person” – ie. a potential buyer.  There are still questions about his level of involvement, but now the board have bought themselves plenty of time to play the game and get him onside.
In other news, the “underrated”Denilson has signed a new long-term contract. As Arsene points out, he’s the second youngsest member of the first-team squad behind Armand Traore, and plays with more maturity than players with plenty more years under their belt.
It’s not all good news though – an injury to Robin van Persie could keep him out for up to a month, and force him to miss crucial games against Liverpool and Manchester United.
Time for Eduardo and Bendtner to step up to that big proverbial plate.
Both of us are extremely doubtful to play for Arsenal on Sunday because of “childhood problems”. Rosicky’s childhood problem was an inbalance in the muscle growth in his hamstrings. Mine were that I was a) fat and b) useless at football.
Rosicky and I aren’t the only players unlikely to face Bolton. Both Philippe Senderos and Robin van Persie have picked up injuries over the international break, and whilst the potential return of William Gallas would improve upon Senderos, replacing an in-form Van Persie could be far trickier.
Bolton are hardly in the best shape though, after yesterday sacking the quite frankly hideous “Little Sam”. As much as I would have enjoyed beating him, I’m hoping we can take advantage of their turmoil to dish out a proper thrashing.
Today, Arsenal’s long-awaited AGM will take place. Hopefully, some of the questions we’ve been asking ourselves for months will be answered: Will Stan Kroenke be there? What is the nature of his relationship with the board? Will there be an extension to the Lockdown Agreement? Will David Dein dare show his beaconesque face, and will Dein and Peter Hill-Wood face off in a long-awaited lightsabre duel? Answers to all of these (hopefully) tomorrow.
Finally, to anyone who wondered if Kerrea Gilberto would ever re-emerge from the wilderness: no, probably not.
Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos, Justin Hoyte, Denilson, Theo Walcott. None of these bright young stars have ever been loaned out in the early stages of their Arsenal career. And why? Because those that Wenger has the most faith in, he never lets out of his sight.
The same was true of Jeremie Aliadiere for much of his Arsenal career, with Wenger once telling a Championship manager he was “too special” to be loaned out. As it turned out, injuries put paid to Aliadiere’s “specialness”, but it was a clear indication that Wenger doesn’t loan out players he thinks are certain to make it.
Look at those who he did allow other teams to borrow, however briefly: Jermaine Pennant, Moritz Volz and David Bentley to name a few. Granted, the likes of Nicklas Bendtner and Johan Djourou have both been loaned out despite being earmarked for greater things, but in both cases it was at the behest of the players themselves.  Carlos Vela, meanwhile, is loaned out simply as a neccessity whilst he awaits a work permit to play in Britain.
“I am fully fit and expect to be back against Bolton. Arsene Wenger has not told me anything but I am here now and I expect him to play me, so no worries.”
How exactly Jens is able to “expect” that is beyond me. We know all about his questionable start to the season, with huge mistakes gifting goals to Fulham and Blackburn. Since then, Manuel Almunia has come in and performed admirably, including five clean sheets from nine games. Meanwhile, Jens has thrashed out at everyone from the English press to Almunia himself.
Bizarrely, Lehmann is refusing to admit he has been excluded for any reason other than injury, as this video interview shows. So is it pure coincidence that he has been fit to play Germany’s International games but not Arsenal’s club games? Germany manager Joachim Low doesn’t seem to be talking about a player with an injury problem when he says:
“It is one of his great strengths that he is able to completely concentrate on the job in hand despite the difficult situation.”
The problem is that Jens isn’t reacting in the manner that you’d hope. He isn’t knuckling down, or making the right noises about earning his place in the first-team. He expects, on the back of his past achievements, to walk back into an in-form side. Sadly for him, I just can’t see it happening.
The reason Jens is acting that way is because his time is running out. This is probably his last season at the top level, and he is desperate to cling onto the Number 1 jersey and represent Germany at Euro 2008. It’s not the time to be patient and bide his time. He’s being deliberately boisterous and vocal about his unhappiness to give Arsene an ultimatum: pick me or I’m leaving.
With the January transfer window creeping ever closer, the latter is becoming more and more likely.
I’d like to follow arseblog’s lead and point you in the direction of these twopieces by Craig Murray on Alisher Usmanov. Interesting reading to say the least.
Eduardo da Silva scored his tenth goal of the Euro 2008 Qualifying campaign to give Croatia a 1-0 win over Israel. The finish was typical of the forward: an instinctive side-footed effort from a cross by Man City’s Vedran Corluka.
Bacary Sagna started for France as they thrashed the Faroe Islands 6-0. Lassana Diarra came on for Claude Makelele, whilst William Gallas, fit once more, was on the substitutes bench.
Cesc Fabregas started and Nicklas Bendtner played the second half in a 3-1 win for Spain over Denmark. One wonders how a Spanish midfield also featuring Xavi and Iniesta ever loses the ball.
Robin van Persie was suspended for Holland, who subsequently lost 1-0 to Romania, and there was even more agony for Aleksandr Hleb’s Belarus side, who lost 1-0 to Luxembourg, who scored the goal to give them their first competetive win for 12 years in the 95th minute. Blimey.
No sign of any injuries yet, though I’m sure fate will now turn around and slap me in the face by having our entire squad collapse with some mystery zombifying virus on Wednesday.
With thanks to Uefa.com for doing all the hard work.
Yesterday, Arsenal’s AGM took place, and a full report is available over on arseblog. For those of you who are interested, the guy at the end who asked for recognition of David Dein’s “contribution” was a well-known author and football consultant. I would tell you who, but I don’t want to be responsible if it results in some of you marching upon his house and calling him an “Usmanov-loving traitor”.
