September 24th
A quick Saturday round-up before I head off to play on a beautiful artificial pitch which puts last week’s mud patch to shame.
Arsene Wenger is determined to keep Thierry Henry even though he can’t guarantee he’ll be an Arsenal player next season. He says “Our desire and motivation to keep Thierry here is 100 percent strong. I think he wants to stay but that’s me saying that and I’m not pretentious enough to come out (and speak) for Thierry Henry.”
On Barcelona’s interest he said “Thierry has been committed here for six years…for me that (the report) is not information, that is fantasy”, and he warned that the grass is not always greener on the other side, saying “Plenty of players have gone to Barcelona to win the European Cup and they have won it only once in their history. Football is more subtle than that.”
I suppose this kind of rumour is going to continue until, or if, Thierry signs a new contract. It is so much easier for people to think Thierry will go. The lure of Barcelona, the Camp Nou, playing with Ronaldinho in Nike’s dream team – and there’s no doubt they want him but I don’t think it’s cut and dried by any means. And if he does go, well then he goes and we’ll thank him for everything he’s done and we’ll carry on without him. Thierry Henry leaving does not mean the end of Arsenal. Players come, players go. Of course I want him to stay. I want him to sign a new deal and as captain I want him to win things at Arsenal, at our new stadium. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
The boss has praise as well for José Antonio Reyes, saying “I feel Jose has become much more mature. I feel that signing the new contract was the major change in his head. He is convinced now, settled and committed.”
Now for some goals, por favor!
Phil Neville says Arsenal are hypocrites. I say Phil Neville is a hypocunt.
For today’s game we’re definitely without Dennis and Philippe Senderos although Freddie is fit.
And that’s it. Time from breakfast then off to play football. Laters.
