Morning all. Saturday is here. I just had a very nice lie in. Now I have a coffee. All is good so here’s a quick round-up for you.
Cesc says we can do something special in the season ahead, believing the time the young players have spent growing up together could be decisive. He says:
I love this club, I believe a lot in this team and I feel we can do something special this season. We have been playing together for the last three or four years. We are very young but we capable of doing big things. Since the start of this project we all promised to be together. We have to stick together and make titles for Arsenal.
Well, despite the fact I still think we need at least one more signing, having a team spirit like that is a good start. Perhaps those who think we might be better off without Henry aren’t just thinking about things on the pitch.
Mathieu Flamini looks like he’s going to stay. After announcing his intention to leave he was frozen out towards the end of last season but has since made up with the boss and is happy to play wherever he’s selected. I’m quite happy to see him stay, I have to say. He’s an honest, hard-working player who gives depth to the squad. I can’t imagine he’ll sign a new contract so he’ll probably be off next summer but in the meantime he’s a good lad to have around.
Freddie Ljungberg won’t join another Premiership club, according to his agent, because of his respect for Arsenal fans. Good man, Freddie. I’d much rather he went somewhere like Spain or Italy to be honest.
After reports yesterday that we’d agreed a fee with Real Madrid for Reyes it seems things haven’t quite worked out. Madrid faxed us an offer of €8m to which Arsenal faxed back a demand for €12m and Madrid are not willing to go that high. AS reports that Reyes is desperate to move to Madrid and won’t consider any other option this summer, so much he’s been to London twice to persuade Arsenal to let him stay at Madrid. The thing José has to realise is that the whole thing has nothing to do whether or not the deal is right for him but for Arsenal Football Club. If we receive a better offer from another Spanish club then Madrid can go and fuck themselves. It’s all a bit of a mess at the minute.
Philippe Auclair from L’Equipe on Bacary Sagna.
There’s football today as Arsenal take on Barnet at Underhill in the first pre-season game of the new campaign. From here it’s a slippery slope into training camps, pre-season tournaments and then the real thing. Hurrah, and thank God and to be honest I can’t wait. Reaction to and fallout from today’s game should be interesting and will be covered on tomorrow’s blog.
Finally for today congratulations to long-time Arseblogger Ilmarinen who today is getting married in Finland. All the very best to him and the soon to be Mrs Ilmarinen. The cake, I believe, is made entirely out of vodka.
Till tomorrow.
