Let’s start with the Champions League draw which was made yesterday in Monaco. I didn’t see it but I assume it was the usual crack of 2 hours of utter shite before they lash out the draw in five minutes then all fuck off to have a Prince Albert, or something.
Anyway, we’ve got some travelling to do as we drew Porto, Dinamo Kiev and Fenerbache. Thankfully the first game is in Kiev on September 17th, meaning we won’t have to combat the elements like we usually do when we go that far east. As draws go it could have been better but it could have been worse too.
Arsenal’s largest shareholder who isn’t a fat, disgusting, Manchester United supporting oligarch cunt, Danny Fiszman, spoke afterwards and he revealed that the club does have money to spend but Arsene Wenger simply chooses not to. He says:
I hear all the time that we have no money, but I just wish someone would take the time to look at our accounts. We do not need extra investment. This is a proper business which produces its own cash and lives or dies by its performances. If Arsène said he needed £30million for a striker, he would get it, no problem at all.
So stick that up your Fat and Orange holes, is essentially what he’s saying, while at the same time reassuring fans the money is there. And that message has been constant from both the club and the manager despite the fact we’re wheeling and dealing like barrow-boys. One of the reasons Wenger has been so successful at this club is that he has had a board that has allowed him absolute freedom to do what he wants from a football point of view, and Fiszman says that will continue. However, he does acknowledge that it’s time we won something but suggests the manager won’t change his policy of bringing through young players.
But that does not mean all we are interested in is the artistic achievement award. We are not settling for second-best. We want to win trophies and I think it is time we did, but Arsène also believes in creating teams with a certain style.
Style is wonderful and when Arsenal click it is exceptionally pleasing on the eye but ultimately it’s about trophies. That’s the bottom line. If you can combine style with winning silverware then you are truly a God amongst men, often though you have to sacrifice a little of style or principle to win things and at the moment Wenger doesn’t seem willing to do so. That we have so much money and have completely failed to replace the players who have left in central midfield makes it all the more frustrating.
Perhaps the best thing that could happen is the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Someone to replace Keith Edelman and someone who, while not interfering in the football side of things, might challenge Arsene from time to time and maybe shake him out of the comfort zone he seems to be in. There are just three days until the end of the transfer window, there’s money to spend, it should be spent. At the moment we’re like a car driving around with a broken window while the owner sits staring at a suitcase full of cash.
‘But this young window has so much potential. If I bring in a new window to replace it then all the time I spent with that window will be for nothing’.
‘Fuck the fucking window’.
The team needs a new player, or two. Arsenal needs a new player or two. Abou Diaby might not need a new player or two but frankly I don’t care about Abou Diaby. I care about Arsenal. I don’t care about Bischoff, I care about Arsenal. I want us to have the best team possible, I’m not asking for a superstars or £30m signings, just a good player, or two, to help us win the trophies that we want to win. Anyway, let’s see what happens between now and Monday night. Something, I’m sure. I just don’t know what. And is nothing something? That way I can be right either way!
There’s a new column from Safety in the columns section called Brave new world. Go read.
Gael Clichy talks about William Gallas and Adebayor. He’s a very clever young man.
Philippe Senderos talks about his move to AC Milan and, understandably, he’s delighted with it. Right, Arsecast time.
On this week’s Arsecast I chat with GilbertoSilver from Gunnerblog about Twente, Fulham and the state of things at the moment, the Man in the Bar has a player history, there’s some poetry from Tony Adams and more.
To subscribe to the Arsecast in iTunes simply click here, the direct feed URL is here, to download this week’s arsecast directly – click here (16mb MP3). You can find the arsecast archives here. And you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
As well as that there’s a dedicated Arsecast hotline available all season long should you desire to make a comment, get something off your chest, share a song a chant or hilarious anecdote. Feel free to call it any time during the week, it’ll go to voicemail and you can leave your message. The number from inside the UK is 020 3286 6360 or from outside the UK it’s +44 20 3286 6360.
Finally for today as I’m moving house tomorrow things here are a bit hectic. There’s all the packing and cleaning and throwing stuff in boxes and bags at the last minute. So I’ll be offline from tonight. But fear not, the blog shall go on and Tom will be here to update you on who we haven’t signed and who we’re not going to sign.
I should be back on Sunday but you know how these things go sometimes. Until then have a good weekend, fingers crossed for a Twente-esque result against Newcastle. See you on the other side, Arsefolk.
