Archive for May, 2008
May 19th, 2008
French newspaper La Provence understands that Samir Nasri reached an agreement with representatives of Arsenal on Thursday of last week, whilst his club Marseille are reportedly also close to consenting to a €17m deal.
I haven’t heard anything along those lines, but we do know that Arsene intends to bring in a creative player this Summer, primarily to replace the ship-jumping rat that is Aleksandr Hleb.
Nasri has long been compared to Zinedine Zidane. He is:
“…so uncannily similar to Zizou. The silken touch, the balletic elegance, the majestic strength. The vision. The trailblazing dribbles that begin with the drop of a shoulder and a graceful dash and conclude with a piercing pass or a scorching shot. Or some other alliterative joy.”
That article is worth reading, because it also highlights Nasri’s flaws: a lack of goals and occasional physical weakness in the middle of the park. That article was written around a year ago. Whether or not Nasri has improved those areas of his game since then, I just couldn’t say.
A rather large section of Arsenal fans seem to be declaring themselves delighted that former Marseille player Mathieu Flamini’s new club, AC Milan, have failed to qualify for the Champions League. This, I can only presume, is borne out of bittnerness as what they percieve to be Flamini’s ‘treachery’. As I have no such feelings about the Frenchman’s decision to move myself, I react to the news only with indifference. I’m sure, however, that the extra couple of million quid he’ll earn next year will soften the blow of a season in the UEFA Cup.
Bacary Sagna had admitted his bemusement (if not surprise) at being ommitted from the Euro 2008 sqaud, citing his recent injury as critical in missing the cut. When two players as good as Clichy and Sagna don’t even the make the squad, you realise the kind of depth of talent available that must make France one of the favourites to triumph this Summer.
Finally, in some news that’s not about French people, The Times claim that if Emmanuel Adebayor goes than Arsenal might move to replace him with Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz. Hardly definitive, is it? Santa Cruz is a good player, but selling Adebayor would be madness, and I can’t see another striker coming in if the Togolese stays. So I think we can add this rumour to the ever-growing Summer scrap heap.
I’m sure it’ll swell again tomorrow…
May 18th, 2008
As much I hate to see Lassana Diarra win more silverware than his former Arsenal team-mates this season, I have to say I was delighted for Kanu to be Portsmouth’s FA Cup Final hero.
The Nigerian twice won the trophy with Arsenal, but played only ten minutes in the first of those games, and remained on the bench for the second. Yesterday, he was on the field for almost the entire ninety, and scored the crucial goal.
I was always a huge fan of him in his Arsenal days. He’s probably the most outrageously skillful footballer I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. To have the career he’s had, without ever seeming to break into a run, you need to be pretty special.
Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby had already been ruled out of the France Euro 2008 squad by injury, but you’d think after the oustanding season he’s had that Gael Clichy would be at least included in the provisional selection – sadly for Gael, he’s not. I do find it pretty remarkable that the truly useless Eric Abidal is repeatedly picked ahead of Clichy. No matter: I’m sure his time will come. Strange though to see a France squad with only one current Arsenal player in it.
One France international who could be an Arsenal player come the Summer is Marseille playmaker Samir Nasri.  With both he and Lyon’s Ben Arfa seemingly on the move, it’s no surprise that the lazy press has consistently linked both with Arsenal: they’re young, French, and highly technical players. Here’s a video of Nasri in action to whet your appetite.
Arseblog summarises a lot of other seemingly unlikely transfer rumours.  I’m done for today though.
May 17th, 2008
It’s FA Cup Final today, and it’s really rather refreshing that there’s not a big four team in sight. Of course, saying that, I wouldn’t exactly be irritated to see us involved. Nonetheless, there will almost certainly be a significant number of Arsenal-affiliated players on the pitch…
In recent years, Portsmouth has emerged as a retirement home for old Gooners, with Lauren, Sol Campbell, and Nwankwo Kanu all plying their trade on the South Coast. They’re joined by Richard Hughes, who left the club as a youngster, and Lassana Diarra, who left a bitter taste in the mouth after his five-month stay at the club. Despite Diarra’s presence, I hope the rest of the ex-Arsenal lot taste victory at Wembley once more.
Representing Cardiff will be teenage midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who is likely to start on the bench. Ramsey is currently the subject of a tug-of-war between Manchester United and Arsenal. Here’s hoping a good cameo today doesn’t drive his price up too high, eh?
I’ve been having two of the busiest days of my relatively short life, hence the degree of inactivity on the site. Thanks for your patience. Fortunately, not a vast amount of football stuff has happened.
Arsene has been talking up two young prospects at either end of the pitch. First of all, he’s declared his intention to bring Carlos Vela into the fold, and insists the Mexican is an ‘Eduardo-type’ striker rather than the winger he has masqueraded as in La Liga. Alongside Adebayor, Van Persie, a returning Eduardo, Bendtner, and Theo Walcott, the arrival of Vela means we now have striking options a-plenty.
The other subject of Arsene’s praise has been Cameroon international Alex Song:
“When I put a player somewhere, I know why I do. If I play Song at centre back it is because I believe he will be a great centre back for Arsenal Football Club.
In Song’s case, he can play in central midfield. But can he play 60 games there? I am not convinced.”
It’s certain Song has come on leaps and bounds, but I hope Arsene isn’t labouring under the misapprehension that he is the answer to our problems at centre-back – if anything, he’s simply too similar to Kolo and Gallas.
Finally, some contractual news – Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas seem certain to get new deals, whilst Mathieu Flamini insists Arsenal waited too long before making their offer.
The new deals for Clichy and Cesc seem like reactions to the new UEFA rules allowing players to buy our their contracts – Cesc is actually contracted until 2014 under his current deal, but could buy it out in little over a year.
As for Flamini, I actually think he comes across extremely well in that interview. There are no hard feelings from me. I understand his decision to move and I wish him the best of luck in Milan. If he applies the same remarkable work-ethic he did this season, he’ll have no problems.
Anyhow, I’m off: Play Up Pompey!
May 14th, 2008
Aleksandr Hleb doesn’t want to leave Arsenal to win trophies. He doesn’t want to leave for more money. He doesn’t even want to leave because all the players pick on him and say he smells. He wants to leave, his agent would have you believe, because he doesn’t like the hustle and bustle of the city:
“There are no problems with regard to his playing opportunities. Aleksandr is just tired of the noisy and chaotic life in the British capital and feels like living in calmer surroundings.”
Poor frightened Alex, all alone in the big smoke. I hope he finds peace one more in the tiny rural villages of Milan, Madrid, or Barcelona.
What a load of bollocks. I don’t hold Flamini’s move to Milan against him, primarily because we never had to put up with this kind of obscene excuse-making.
At least we might now get a bit of cash for him if he goes:
“In any case I can say simply that Alexander will not buy out the remaining part of his five-year contract for a fixed sum of his sale. Hleb is a gentleman and will not stoop to that level. Everything will be done properly.
I am sure that the situation surrounding this issue will finally be resolved in the next 10 days.”
Whilst it would only have cost around £3m to buy out his contract, he would surely fetch at least the £10m we paid for him on the market. My hunch is still that Hleb will go. If he stays, re-endearing himself to the fans is going to be a big job. I guess he could do it with the goals he scores… Oh.
Arsene has been speaking about our two crocked strikers: Eduardo and Van Persie. Of the Dutchman, he says:
“You always hope that next season Robin will have an injury-free season. He has so much talent so I am very keen to keep him, I trust him and I hope that he will get rid of his injuries.”
When Van Persie is involved, fitness is truly something you hope for rather than expect. As Arsene points out, technically he is of course “World Class”. But physically, he leaves plenty to be desired. It’s arguably not a handy distribution of assets. Take Emmanuel Adebayor – not particularly technically gifted, but possesses remarkable physical attributes. One of those two strikers scored thirty goals this season. We all know which.
Van Persie is at a point where his injuries are clearly down to far more than bad luck. The way in which Arsene rotates him next season could be essential to having him available at critical points in the season.
Last night I attended the filming of the Cesc Fabregas Show, and it was a good laugh. It’s also safe to say I’ll never stand that close to Arsene Wenger again. I might do a full-length write-up closer to the date when the show airs.
If the interviews with Cesc, his family, and Arsene demonstrated anything, it’s the value of hard work. Cesc is a gifted young man, but would not be anywhere without the extraordinary work ethic we’re lucky enough to have on our side every week. It’s something that’s particularly poignant for me at the moment – whatever field you’re in, you have to give it your absolute utmost if you wish to succeed.
So get back to work, slackers.
May 13th, 2008
Last night, Ken Friar met with a selection of supporters to allay any fears over Arsenal’s present and future. Tim Payton, one of the good guys from the AST, gave arseblog the following report:
“Ken Friar assured them that there was money available and Arsene will be able to roll over his transfer budget, which was in surplus remember, from last season. During the session he broke off from discussions to take a phone call from the manager and suggested that a signing was ‘imminent’. Other important points from that meeting were that 92% of the Highbury Square flats have been sold and that no Director of Football position will be filled. The search for a new managing director is well under way and they’re hopeful somebody will be announced soon.”
Friar is a very capable man and I’m sure will do a good job until a new managing director is appointed. Let’s not forget, he negotiated the signing’s of Fabianski, Sagna, and Eduardo with significant discretion and efficiency last Summer.
Interesting to hear him suggest that a signing could be ‘imminent’ – Arsene certainly does seem to know what he wants. Could it be Hatem Ben Arfa, as speculation suggested towards the end of last week? The flying winger, who was last week voted France’s Young Player of the Year, has admitted that talks have already taken place about a possible move to London. From what I hear, it’s a straight fight between us and Marseille for the players’ signature. This one could be a goer.
Another French-based player being linked fairly regularly is Jean II Makoun. Now, I have to confess that I, confused by the typographical vagaries of the world, have always thought his name was Jean Il Makoun (pronounced Jean ‘ill’ Makoun). However, it has recently been explained to me that his name is Jean II Makoun: Jean ‘The Second’ Makoun. That’s insane. Granted, you could be Jean Makoun The Second, but I guarantee you he is not the second person ever to have been called Jean.
Anyhow. Arsene has spoken about Theo Walcott’s good form towards the end of this season, and suggested (as I did yesterday) that he is ready to challenge for a first-team place.
I’ll end with what is a pretty remarkable declaration of loyalty. Gilberto was stripped of the captaincy and dropped from the side last season, yet still has the affection for the club to come out with the following quotes:
“I have always expressed the desire to stay here to the end of my career. If that happens, it would be fantastic. I have been here six seasons now and it has all been amazing. I would be very happy to stay here and then discuss another contract to the end of my career.”
He’s a top man. I’d love him to stay as a back-up, but can’t help but feel he deserves better.
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