Month: June 2008

Cesc Fabregas – The best day of his life

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal3 Comments

Tonight Cesc Fabregas played for a Spanish team who made history. For the first time in 44 years they won an international trophy.

Spain won 1-0 against Germany after a fantastic Torres goal. They dominated the match. The Germans looked stagnant and the Spanish looked fluid. Cesc played 63 minutes before being substituted.

Cesc described it as the best day of his life:

“It’s the best day of my life as a football player,”

“I don’t think we are conscious yet of what we have achieved. It’s the best feeling you can have as a footballer, it’s one of the best trophies you can have. It is one of your dreams, and I made it.”

“It was a long time since a team of that quality tried to play football, tried to put the ball on the ground, tried to create chances and play beautiful football. I don’t think we’ve seen many teams have success. Finally football has the success it deserves.”

“You can see how young we are, so hopefully in two years’ time we can fight for the World Cup.”

It good to see Cesc loves to play quality football and win. This is why he loves playing for Arsenal, because we play good football, we just need to win stuff!

Well done Spain, and Cesc, it was well deserved.

Now take this success into next season!

 

Maybe I was wrong on Adebayor. Use the money and buy someone better

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers7 Comments

In the last few days I have been blogging about the Adebayor rumours. I was thinking that he would stay and that he was dedicated to Arsenal, but his most recent comments show he is an idiot, if he said them.

I am getting sick of all the transfer talk, I think that Ade wants to leave.

You will have all read the comments:

“Milan are a big club but the fact they are not playing in the Champions League next season is less of a challenge. Barcelona have made a good financial offer and there is also the chance to play alongside great players.

“Yes, I am still under contract to Arsenal but it’s up to the directors to satisfy my demands or I’ll leave. If my good form of last season has increased my value, my employers have to take account of that.

“I have to prepare for my retirement. Even if you are not scoring fine goals and you have money, you can enjoy a happy retirement. The time for preparing for that moment is now.”

“People ask if I am asking for the same salary as Henry. That is not necessarily the question. But I am being considered a worthy replacement for Henry while not deserving his salary. The question lies on this level.”

What an idiot – money-grabbing is all I can say. I am sure there has been some funny business – probably involving Ade’s agent – Stephane Courbis. Only a few days ago he was saying, he would stay. Now we hear all this about negotiations and money and being valued etc etc etc.

He isn’t Henry – his head sounds like it’s getting way too big..

I don’t want to talk about it really. If he wants to leave then let him. I can’t be bothered with him. I think he is a great player, but you can’t have someone in the squad who will affect morale.

This puts Wenger’s comments into context – he isn’t worried – but it doesn’t mean Ade will stay – because he will use the money to buy another striker.

Anyway, I hope the whole mess can sort itself out. If Ade does leave then we need a top class replacement with the money we will get.

Wenger says Adebayor will be at Arsenal next season

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

Arsene Wenger agrees with me!

UPDATE 29/06: Maybe he doesn’t! I’m getting a bit worried that Ade will leave now to be honest.

He thinks that Adebayor will be an Arsenal player next season too.

“He’s under contract and that’s quite simple. I can tell you as manager of Arsenal football club I’m not worried.

“Of course I expect him to be at Arsenal next season – he’s under contract.”

When Wenger was asked if he would be meeting the player next week as Ade said yesterday, Wenger responded;

“No – I’ve already met him.”

I still can’t believe that Arsenal would let him go to Milan or Barcelona. The fact that Ade hinted he would be sitting down with his agent Stephane Courbis to discuss this shows that it may be an agent driven move.

Ade has a contract, he said that, Wenger isn’t worried and has met him, and Ade has said he loves the club and wants to stay.

I’m not naiive. I know players will move to where the money is, and I have seen the Anelka saga unfold etc. I also know that even if players say they will stay they don’t neccesarily, but still, I think that it would be so crazy for us to let this guy go.

It can’t happen.

But maybe it will!

Adebayor will stay, I think..

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal7 Comments

Adebayor put out the message for the second time on Friday that he will stay at Arsenal.

But the media have turned the whole scenario into a circus – SkySports now report that he has said that he will decide on his future next week.

“I am a footballer, I have a three-year contract at Arsenal but as you know, a lot of clubs are interested in me.

“At the moment we are just going to sit down and talk and decide what to do. Nothing has been decided yet.

“We will decide next week.”

For me this seems like his words may have been skewed into meaning something Ade didn’t intend. He has even said here that he has a 3 year contract at Arsenal.

He did add:

“I have a lot of big clubs trying to buy me and it is up to me and my agent, Stephane Courbis, to sit down next week and find a good solution. I am in a position that I don’t know where I will be playing but that is normal. If you told me seven years ago when I was playing in Togo without football boots that I would have a choice of playing in Spain or Italy it would seem crazy.”

This is true, I think Ade is saying that of course he is tempted by a big move – and he just wants to make the right decision.

There’s no way that this is the ‘U-turn’ which the media is talking about.

Ade is just stating the facts – the money the papers claim we are offering is very good, and Ade knows that, he’s being pragmatic.

Adebayor WILL be an Arsenal player come the start of the campaign, I can’t believe he will leave. If Wenger let him leave it would be crazy.

Ade has been definitve over his future and it just seems that these comments have been worked to sound ‘exclusive’ so Sky get a story.

Theo Walcott – No. 14, the new Henry?!

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal3 Comments

Arsenal announced today that Theo Walcott, the young English striker will wear the No. 14 shirt next season.

This is a big step for the young player from shirt No.32 to having No.14,which is a legendary shirt, it was Henry’s number, and he was the best striker ever to play for Arsenal.

This shows several things on Wenger’s part:

1. Theo will be used more often this season, and definitely in a more attacking role.

2. Wenger has faith in Theo’s abilities – giving him the No.14 shirt is a very symbolic move.

It is funny that they also have the similarity that they have been used on the wing – Henry at Juve and Theo last season for Arsenal. They are both also very pacy.

Obviously Theo is his own player and all players are induviduals, but this does say good things about his potential to be a great player!

For Arsenal’s Squad list click here.

Adebayor is staying at Arsenal – Don’t listen to agents!

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

Emmanuel Adebayor has yet again denied the rumours that he is leaving Arsenal.

Speaking in Vienna he told the press:

“I am an Arsenal player and have three years left on my contract. “The most important thing for me is to keep on enjoying my football. I’m staying at Arsenal.

This is the second, or third time that he has denied the rumours surrounding him. Morabito is a moron for saying that Ade would be leaving.

It seems obvious to me that Ade wants to stay, and that Wenger wants him to stay.

Milan have said he is their main target for the summer, which is odd, but it is probably just to put pressure on the player and the club, and unsettle.

Also I reckon Hleb will stay too, the transfer rumours which were abounding last month seem to have died down, and realistically it looks like he will be playing for us next season – who wants him? Barcelona?? They say they’re getting Arshavin, so they won’t want Hleb. No-one else is seriously interested.

Rosicky off the crutches

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Injuries8 Comments

Rosickytomas.com has some good news regarding Rosicky’s recovery:

“To lose the crutches has been a great relief. For six weeks after the surgery I was strictly ordered not to make a single movement without the crutches. Now that is over, but I will not remember it kindly”

“Wednesday was the first time I walked without any support. It is nothing great, but at least I can walk. I am stumbling and getting used to it. After a long time without proper movements, my knee is stiff. It just needs time.”

“In a few days I am flying to England. In London there is a more sophisticated rehabilitation schedule waiting for me. I don’t know what it will be like, but at least I will be doing something at last. I am sure the Arsenal specialists have thought it through well.”

This is great news, what we need next season is a Tomas Rosicky who is incredibly fit, consistent, not injured and scores goals from midfield!

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Veloso, Crouch, Santa Cruz, Guiza, Senna

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

Good morning, afternoon, or evening. Wherever you are in the world! Here are a few more transfer rumours awaiting your derision.

First up, we’ve been linked with Portugese defensive midfielder Miguel Veloso. He plays for Sporting CP in Portugal and his agent Paulo Barbosa claims we want him – I think this is buls*it.

“Actually, we did not have normal contact from the Arsenal board, but from a member of the technical staff at the club, at the moment there is not a formal offer yet, but it is possible that will happen soon as Juventus and AC Milan have shown an equal interest in the player.”

So what does that mean? A scout watched him play once?? Again, it’s just an agent talking up a player – we should keep a list of them, Vicenzo Morabito would be somewhere near the top!

Morabito said we are interested in Crouch, beacuse Adebayor is 70 – 80% sure to leave Arsenal he claimed on Italian TV show Studio Sport.

“Arsenal are exploring the transfer market for a substitute for Adebayor,””The names being talked about are Peter Crouch, Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and Germany forward Mario Gomez.”What are the chances of Adebayor joining Milan? At this stage, I’d say we are between 70 per cent to 80 per cent.”

One of the worst pieces of speculation I’ve heard this summer – if he isn’t good enough for Liverpool why would we want him??

Finally there are completely unfounded reports that we are interested in Senna, the 31 year old Spanish defensive midfielder.

Another made up one – the Daily Mail said we wanted Guiza – a mouth-watering prospect – but totally untrue!

Cesc is in a Final – Euro 2008

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal1 Comment

After coming off the bench again last night against Russia, Fabregas showed what a quality player he is.

Spain beat Russia 3-0 and now face Germany in the Final.

Cesc came on as a substitute for the injured David Villa on 34 minutes.

In the 50th minute Xavi put away Iniesta’s cross, the second came from a superb Fabregas pass from which substitute Daniel Guiza converted on 73 and then Fabregas played in Silva for a the last goal on 82 minutes.

Arshavin was poor, as were the rest of the Russians, Spain sparkled.

But Fabregas is the player everyone is talking about. He is such a great player and now he is proving on the international stage. Barca must be kicking themselves even harder than they have for the last few years over losing this guy.

Some of the players in the current Arsenal squad are fantastic talents and Fabregas is the jewel in the crown.

Anyway I’m just happy that he played so well, now they just have to beat Germany in the Final and everthing will be great!

Wenger’s wise words on the transfer rumours

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal4 Comments

Arsène Wenger knows what he’s doing. That’s a statement which will get you harrassment from certain sections of Arsenal fans who seem to hate Wenger. The thing is that in Wenger we have the best manager ever to work with Arsenal Football Club and he does know how to achieve success.

He has been criticised for his transfer activity of late – but those critics should remember all the great players he has unearthed – Vieira, Henry and more. You can question him, but there is a difference between that and unfounded conjecture.

Wenger knows what he wants for next season – and that’s a competitive team:

“I know a lot has been written about us, but I am very calm”

“Why? Because I don’t know why I should be nervous. It’s like when you take a penalty, if you are nervous it doesn’t help. I will approach it with my usual calm. My biggest challenge is to make sure I have a competitive team next year no matter who it is.”

Good stuff Arsène.