may 18th
It’s that early part of the summer when there’s still lots of little bits of news around. We haven’t reached that point where nothing is happening, or is likely to happen any time soon.
First up is the news that Robin van Persie passed his medical and has signed officially for the Gunners. This lad has a mean free kick on him by all accounts, it’ll be interesting to see him take a few next season. Francis Jefferswill be returning to Arsenal as Everton have decided they can do without his impressive tally of 0 league goals, and after his bust-up with David Moyes it was always unlikely he’d be staying on Merseyside. A true test of the boss’s genius will be to get somebody to stump a few quid to take him off our hands. AW also confirmed the exits of Wiltord and Keown, and it seems Kanu will be on his way too.
Robert Pires has been speaking about how much money players are paid. He revealed his Arsenal salary to be “between €229,000 and €305,000” per month, and said, “I know that people will blame me for revealing that. But I would like to know why we should refuse to be paid that money. That’s a salary, this is our salary. We don’t steal, we don’t rob banks every month. I don’t know whether I deserve it but that’s what I am offered every month.”
I’d say Le Bob has been good value for his cash this season, 19 goals in all, lots of them vital. I’d like to reveal now that my salary at the moment is between nothing and fuck all. And I have to say that’s probably more than I deserve. Also well deserved are the Barclaycard Manager and Player of the Year awards picked up by Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry respectively. You don’t need me to comment on that, you know why.
Martin Keown’s testimonial took place last night as Arsenal beat an England XI 6-0. José got a hat-trick, Jeremie Aliadiere got two and Ashley Cole the other. Martin missed a penalty and had a couple of efforts saved, but with cameos from the likes of Marc Overmars, Michael Thomas, Ian Wright, Paul Davis, Lee Dixon and loads of others, it looked like a fun night at Highbury. I watched it on Sky and it was interesting to hear MK5 get the praise and plaudits of not only the Arsenal players, but from folk like Andy Cole, John Terry and Paul Gascoigne. He was one of a kind really, again I just have to say thanks and good luck Martin.
That’s about the size of it for now. I’m off to teach my ladies this morning, then it’s estate agent/bank madness. Bring it on.
