Given Some Hope
125 comments August 10th, 2010
So remember yesterday when I said that there was no chance of us signing Shay Given?
Yeah, about that…
I might have spoken a little soon. Yesterday Given himself spoke up about his situation at Manchester City, saying:
“I haven’t joined City to sit on the bench. I’ve gone there to play. If that’s not the case, I’ll sit down on Monday with the club and see where I can go after that. The manager hasn’t picked the team yet and he hasn’t spoken to me. It’s not ideal. You want to know mentally whether you’re starting.”
When asked about the possibility of a move to London, he said:
“To discuss now would be a little disrespectful to the goalkeepers they have already. Arsenal are a fantastic club, it’s just too soon.”
You can be as disrespectful as you like, Shay. The goalies we have are pretty much rubbish.
The message is clear: if he’s not in the team this week, he could well look to move before the end of the window. I still find it hard to believe City would let him join a rival, but Given is 34 and is desperate to play. It is possible his belligerence could force through a move. This is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Xavi ‘Chattyman’ Hernandez has been up to his usual tricks, suggesting that the Cesc saga could rear its head again just a few months down the line:
“We’ve given up on the idea of him arriving now, but maybe he’ll come in January when Arsenal are out of the Premier League title race. Their team are just not competitive.”
Regardless of our league position, Cesc won’t be leaving in January. I’d go so far as to guarantee it. And as for whether or not we’ll be competitive, time will tell. You have to say, though – Xavi’s really putting himself out there. He keeps declaring his love for Cesc without audible reciprocation. Look at Cesc’s face in this photo. He’s grimacing. It’s an unhealthy obsession and it has to stop.
Ahead of tomorrow’s friendly between England and Hungary, most of the press seem to think that there’ll be some game-time for Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs. Good luck to them if so – they’re probably the only England players unlikely to be booed.
