This morning’s lead story in AS, the Spanish sports daily, is all about Arsene Wenger and the possibility of him taking over as manager.
On French TV yesterday Wenger described the idea of working with Perez, who looks set to take over as President of the Spanish club again this summer, as ‘interesting’. Cue media frenzy. Saying something is ‘interesting’ is a very long way from saying ‘I’m going to leave and be the new manager’.Wenger to Madrid? I don’t see it happening.
AS quotes a ‘source’ close to Wenger as saying “Never before has it appeared more possible”. It, of course, being Wenger leaving Arsenal and moving to Madrid. AS talks about the lively discussion with the shareholders last week as part of his motivation as well as the ongoing ‘fight’ between Usmanov and Kroenke for control of the club.
It is fairly bog standard stuff, you have to say, and while I have no doubts at all that Madrid want Wenger I just can’t see it happening. Despite the way things have gone this season I still think he’s the man for Arsenal and countless times this season he has reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
The picture on my desktop is on of Arsene Wenger during the home leg against Villarreal. Behind him is a sea of red and white and there’s a proud expression on his face as his young team produced one of their best performances of the season. I believe he desperately wants to achieve things with Arsenal, with his players. This season might have opened his eyes to a few things and I don’t think anybody would argue that signings are key this summer but as I’ve said previously the guts of a good side is there.
It’s down to him now to make this team more competitive and you do get the feeling he’s almost got a point to prove. To show that he can still win things after four trophyless seasons. Make no mistake, Arsene will be hurting about that. Leaving now would be like leaving a job half done and I don’t believe he’d do that. I would expect some kind of statement from the club today to dampen down this speculation.
On the story that appeared in the Daily Mail about our summer transfer budget being just £13m, I say ‘phooey’. Apparently he was told at a board meeting just before the shareholders Q&A. As if the club are going to leak details of what’s available this summer, it’s nonsense. More likely the story is planted by those who might want to cause more friction and the Mail has been the journal of choice for Fat & Orange in the recent past.
Well done to Steve Bould and his youth team as they clinched the Premier Academy League with a 1-0 win over Sp*rs at White Hart Lane. Rhys Murphy scored the goal the won it and the young lads will be on a high going into Friday’s first leg of the FA Youth Cup final at the Grove.
Friday’s game is live on Setanta Sports but if you’re local the tickets are just £5 for adults and £2 for kids (if you get them before Thursday) and it’d be great if the kids got a big crowd to cheer them on.
Oh, and if you fancied voting for Arseblog in the ‘best blog‘ and ‘best podcast‘ categories here please feel free. We’re lagging behind a Sp*rs ‘cast and a Manc blog right now. Make it right.
Not much else happening this Monday morning so we shall leave it there. Till tomorrow, folks.
