January 5th, 2010
Hey all. Unusual for me to post a second blog of the day but it seems tomorrow’s game with Bolton Wanderers is in danger of being called off.
There are two contributing factors: they heavy snow in Lancashire that may prevent Bolton and their fans from travelling down, and the snow that’s due to hit London in the next twenty-four hours.
Keep an eye on Arsenal.com for any news. Hopefully the conditions will improve and the game will go ahead – it’d be great to get that game in hand out of the way, especially before Bolton get the lift of appointing a new manager.
More news as and when.
ps. thanks to John Cross at The Mirror for early news on Arsene’s press conference today, including
- Arsene’s conviction that Vieira will sign for City and be a success
- His desire to do any transfer deals early in the window
- The news that Gael Clichy will return to training on Monday
January 5th, 2010
Yesterday brought the feel-good news that Tomas Rosicky has signed a new deal with the club. Having recovered from serious knee and hamstring problems, Rosicky has made fifteen appearances thus far in a stop-start season. It’s been good to see him playing at all, and when available he’s brought class and vision to our midfield and attack.
It’s intriguing that the press release about Rosicky makes no mention of the length of his deal. One would have to imagine it’s either a one-year rolling contract, or is structured on a ‘pay-as-you-play’ basis. Anything else would be hard to justify, in spite of the Czech’s obvious talent.
Apparently, Rosicky is now the 15th Arsenal player to commit his future to the Gunners since May 2009, along with Abou Diaby, Henri Lansbury, Carlos Vela, Eduardo, Sanchez Watt, Alex Song, Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson, Robin Van Persie, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Theo Walcott, Lukasz Fabianski, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. It’s easy to understand how we’ve accumulated one of the highest wage bills in European football – having put so much time in to nurturing talent, Arsene Wenger is increasingly loathe to run the risk of losing them for nothing.
One notable name absent from that list is William Gallas. The Frenchman’s deal expires at the end of the season, yet there’s been almost no comment on the fact that one of the key members of our first-team could sign a contract today committing him to another club from July.
There are arguments against offering Gallas a new deal – he is 33, has a ropey Arsenal record, and was a poor captain. But this season, alongside Thomas Vermaelen, he has been revitalised. With a powerful and aerially dominant partner, his intelligence and experience have been both evident and invaluable. He doesn’t look to me like a player on the verge of physical decline. The new centre-back partnership has been one of the cornerstones of our success thus far in 09/10, and I can’t see any reason that oughn’t continue for the next year or two.
Whether Gallas wants to sign a new deal is another matter. Perhaps he wants a sunny payday in Spain or Italy before retirement. If we haven’t heard anything by March, it’s safe to assume he’s off.
Not much Arsenal transfer news about, but it seems that Patrick Vieira is one the verge of a surprise return to English football with Manchester City. Strange though it would be to see him playing for another English side, all I can do is thank God it won’t be Spurs.
You never know, though. With Song away and Denilson and Cesc both injured, Arsene might consider a late swoop. Stranger things have happened…
