We’ll start this morning with the Chairman who, after dismissing what Thierry Henry said about Arsene’s future as an ‘excuse’ (something most people would agree with), revealed he’s hopeful but not certain of the manager’s intentions. He says:
I am really hopeful Arsene will extend, but at this moment I am only in a position of hoping. I’ve no reason to think he won’t – but at the same time I have no reason to believe he will say yes. We would like to see him sign a new contract and have made no secret about that. I am very relaxed.
No doubt this will spark another series of ‘crisis’ stories but there’s really not more to it, is there? They want him to stay, haven’t yet had a chance to speak to him and the rest of the board about it and that’s about it. We know from past experience that Arsene generally waits until his contract is almost up before he renews so there’s no real drama but this time around perhaps the circumstances are a little bit different. There’s the whole Dein situation and the fact we’ve just lost Thierry Henry. As well as that, as I’ve mentioned before, it might affect the chances of bringing in players this summer if they’re unsure of the manager’s position.
In the Sun’s version of this story they quote a ‘life long’ friend of Wenger, Max Hild, who says:
Arsene has always told me he would finish his career with Arsenal. The only way he’d leave would be if Arsenal wanted him to and that can’t be imagined.
However, we just have to wait for Arsene and the board to sit down over a cup of tea and a plate of custard cremes and thrash the whole thing out to everyone’s satisfaction. Certainly, in my opinion, he’s not behaving any way which does anything but make you think his long term future is at Arsenal.
Frank McLintock and Bob Wilson give their reactions to Thierry’s departure in the Guardian. Interesting.
Also interesting is a snippet from El Pais, a well regarded Spanish newspaper, who reported:
One afternoon in April, Ferran Soriano, vice-president of Barcelona, received a phone call. It was Darren Dein, son of the ex Arsenal vice-chairman and Thierry Henry’s personal advisor. “Are you still interested in Henry? I believe there’s still a possibility…”, he said.
Lovely. Make of that what you will.
In other news Ryan Babel says he’s going to stay at Ajax for one more year before he joins Arsenal. He’s a confident little fucker, isn’t he? We’re also keeping tabs on a Nigerian fella playing in Norway called Chinedu Ogbuke. He had trials at Portsmouth or something.
Another Frenchman on the way out of Arsenal is Mathieu Flamini with Birmingham said to be interested. His advisor says:
Mathieu is in talks with several clubs and will soon be making his decision.
We wait with bated breath, so we do. While I do understand his reasons for leaving I have to say I’ve always quite liked him and would much prefer to have him in the squad that Alex Song.
Arsenal Shorts claims to have Wenger’s shopping list. They seem to have forgotten the custard cremes though. You can’t forget the custard cremes. You lose all credibility that way. Tevez, check. Obscure winger, check. Custard cremes, check.
Now, time for breakfast. Yes, you’ve guessed it a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich.
