May 27th
So the first week of the close season draws to a .. erm..close. It’s been tremendously exciting, I’m sure you’ll agree, and I for one look forward to many more weeks like it.
We’ll start this morning with the news that Robinho, who seemed set for Real Madrid in the summer, has said he wants to stay with Santos rather than move to Europe at this stage. You might ask why this is relevant to Arsenal but I’m told that we had some pretty senior representation at Sunday’s game between Santos and Athetico Mineiro (Gilberto’s old club). The player has also attracted interest from Chelsea and Barcelona so there could be quite a battle to sign him underway. More when we get it.
Ashley Cole feels Arsenal still play the most attractive football despite Chelsea winning the league. Can’t really argue with that but maybe next season we might need to swap a bit of that attractiveness for some Keownosity when needed. he also reveals he was affected by the furore surrounding his controversial meeting with Chelsea. After being frozen out Robert Pires wants to play for France again and he feels his performances on the pitch merit a recall to his national squad. We’ve also been linked with a player with an old fashioned name – Lincoln City have apparently turned down a £100,000 bid from Arsenal for Jack Hobbs. Arsene Wenger will turn his attention to other targets like Alf Littlecock, Reg Edwards and Archie Weatherspoon.
And that, my friends, is just about that. There may be some strangeness in the blog for the coming weeks. I have to go to a strange, terrible land for about two weeks but provided the place I’m staying has some kind of internet access I should be able to update relatively normally, although maybe a bit earlier than usual. If I can’t Tom will do his usual sterling work and step up for me. You don’t have to be nice to him this time though.
So our first football free weekend. What are you going to do to fill the gap, so to speak?
