july 9th
Squad number madness to start the day off. I can confirm that Robin van Persie has been handed the number 11 jersey, previously worn by Sylvain Wiltord. Francis Jeffers is back at the club and in pre-season training, and his number is going to be 29 (don’t all rush out at once to buy your Jeffers jerseys). Numbers 2, 5 and 6 are still unused and look like they’re going to remain that way.
However, number 2 could go to Hatem Trabelsi, who is on the point of signing, but his agent is trying to play the game a little bit which could end up backfiring on him. The player has been told by Ajax to make his damn mind up and they say “Hatem has made much progress with a club from England, and we hope for a solution.”
Manuel Almunia is ‘set for the Gunners’ according to the BBC. He’s more than set. He’s here and training and in an interview with Marca he’s said he’s very happy to be at a big club like Arsenal and that’s he’s not feeling at all left out because of the amount of Spanish speakers at the club. Lauren, Reyes and Cesc are all around to help him settle in, and the new keeper was very impressed by Dennis Bergkamp in his first training sessions at the club. As one keeper arrives another departs as Graham Stack goes on loan for the season to Milwall. Good luck to him there. And as we reported on June 15th, young Danish striker Niklas Bendtner has arrived at the club.
Finally, AW has turned down the ‘chance’ to manage the German national side, saying he intends to honour his contract with Arsenal which runs out in 2005. Which is next year. Gasp! I don’t think there’s too much to worry about though. I believe he’ll stay for at least a couple of seasons at Ashburton Grove, so we’ve got a good few years with him yet.
