It’s Fab to be Lukasz
Add comment June 13th, 2009
It must be good to be Lukasz Fabianski. After a season in which he gave a few performances that were shakier than some jelly atop a washing machine, Arsene’s faith remains as strong as ever, and he has been handed a brand new long-term contract. Le Boss says:
“I rate Lukasz highly and I am very pleased that he has committed his future to the Club. I believe he is a top competitor, he’s intelligent and reads the game very well and has all the ingredients to be successful in his position.”
I’m still not convinced Fabianski is #1 material, but then many said the same of Almunia, who now looks very assured.
Dennis Bergkamp, whose say-so is the closest thing we get to a Commandment these days, has urged Arsene Wenger to spend – and on one individual in particular:
“It’s wise to put some new players in for the team’s sake. I remember when I was a player, it was always a good feeling when you got four of five new players in July in the dressing room.
Yaya will fit in there straight away of course because of his family there. He knows the players there, has trained with us for a few weeks and so it would be fantastic.”
I’d love to see Yaya arrive. It was quite sickening watching him perform so well (out of position, mind) in a Champions League Final, and thinking that it wasn’t so long ago that I saw him come on for us as a substitute in a friendly against Barnet. However, why he would leave Barcelona for Arsenal is beyond me.
The agent of titanic teenage centre-back Mamadou Sakho says we’re vying with Bayern Munich for his services:
“He will be moving clubs this summer. Arsenal are interested, but the club are too cheap at the moment.
I think a transfer will happen soon. He wants to play football in England and Arsenal are a good club but Manchester United is a better club. But the most interested club is Arsenal, they want him the most. Bayern Munich is a top European club, so I think it will be Bayern or Arsenal.”
Why the senseless mention of Manchester United? That’s hardly likely to endear him to Arsenal, is it? Perhaps he got wind that they had £80m in the bank and fancied some of that.
Finally, Theo Walcott has threatened that at some point in the future, he will be striking. Not like those ever-so-lovely tube drivers, but more like, say, Thierry Henry.
I’m not convinced Theo has the composure to be a striker. Whilst his pace would undoubtedly make him a threat, his chance / goal conversion rate is not yet sufficiently good enough. However, once he scores a few he might find a depth of confidence that allows him to push on. I suspect it’s too early to tell.
We may get an indication at this year’s European U-21 Championship, where Theo is as likely to start upfront as he is on the flank.
After yesterday’s hiatus, it’s nice to be back. Have a good weekend, one and all.
