Morning all, how typical the first morning I have to be up and about early I sleep it in. I blame the huge thunderstorm we had last night. That was loud. I also blame the thunderstorm for me, several hours previously, setting the alarm on my phone for entirely the wrong time.
A quick run through what’s happening then. A lot of talk about William Gallas. He spoke about his future yesterday, saying:
I am at Arsenal, my contract is still valid for a year, so I am an Arsenal player. We have not talked about renewing the contract, but I am relaxed and looking forward to next season with Arsenal.
The Mirror reports that he will not extend his contract which is no great surprise. The expectation around the club for quite some time is that Gallas would leave this summer. But with Kolo Toure linked continuously with Man City and Sylvester with Bordeaux (hurrah!) the odds on his departure are shortened.
Obviously it leaves the manager with something to think about. We could see Gallas play out of his skin as he puts himself in the shop window for one last move next summer. The other thing we have to take into account though is the fact Wenger is not that keen on playing players whose contracts are expiring. We saw Wiltord essentially frozen out in his last campaign, a convenient injury preventing him from playing, and even Edu, to an extent suffered the same way.
Can he be sure that Gallas, having signed for another club in January perhaps, will give 100% for Arsenal? Will he risk injury in a 50-50?
There are rumours about signing another defender, yesterday Naldo from Werder Bremen was linked with their coach saying:
We expect to move him for somewhere in the region of €10 million, and English side Arsenal is as of now the most likely destination.
Interesting but at the moment it’s down to the manager. If he feels he can get one good season out of Gallas, and it’d be about time if he did, then he’ll probably keep him, but all the same I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go. I’m not sure about Inter though, didn’t Gallas have a rather public falling out with the Portucunt? Anyway, we’ll see. And either way I’d take another defender.
Hertha Berlin are the latest team to show interest in Philippe Senderos. He’s got plenty of clubs after him, some in Germany, Villa in the Premier League and Fiorentina in Italy. There’s also the prospect of him staying at Arsenal.
Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal CEO, has spoken about a possible salary cap in football, saying:
I think it is worth our while to investigate whether there are elements of the salary cap system, which they have in US NFL and baseball, which would benefit football. Clubs have a duty to provide more stability in our business models and some form of wage restraint is one element worth looking at. There are many different ways in which it could work.
As wages and transfer fees sky-rocket in direct opposition to everything else in the world, every other kind of business, it’s going to get to a stage where something like this could help level the playing field. If a club could only spend a certain percentage of their income on wages then it wouldn’t matter how much cash your sugar daddy had. Of course they’d find a way around it but it’s getting to the point where something has to be considered, I think.
And speaking about the rights issue proposed by Fat & Orange, Gazidis said:
I am open-minded and we have commissioned Rothschild to advise the board. We have to be sure it can make a real and lasting contribution to the club.
But you have to think the rights issue is something the board, given its long term strategy and the fact it’s come from Usmanov, will not be taking up. He goes on to say:
I am sure that our fans do not believe Arsenal is better served by abandoning its self-sustaining model and putting itself in the hands of owners upon whom it is dependent. They want success, and our challenge is to provide it in a model that preserves the traditions and values of Arsenal football club.
There may well be some fans who think we should take whatever money we can get and spunk it on players and massive salaries but for the most part I think fans are mindful of the dangers of the kind of ownership which sees clubs become a rich man’s play-thing. He’s right about success though, the self-sustaining model must be good enough to marry finances with success on the pitch and trophies in our cabinet.
Aaron Ramsey has signed a new long-term deal at the club, which is good news. However, I don’t think it’d be a surprise if this announcement was followed by one which saw him go out on loan for the season ahead.
The Sun reports Birmingham want Armand Traore on loan. Makes sense. It’s hard to see where he fits in at the moment. Clichy is the first choice left back and after the strides he made last season Kieran Gibbs is next in line.
Emmanuel Adebayor’s agent is a bit tetchy this weather, is seems. He says:
You will have to ask Mr Wenger if there has been an offer from Milan, or any other clubs, to Arsenal because I have heard nothing about any contact or any offer that has been made, so I don’t know what the situation is. Speak to Mr Wenger.
I’m sure Mr Wenger will tell you what’s going on when he’s good and ready, Mr Courbis.
Finally for today: Bryn James, you’re too young to be reading this filth. And Ronaldo never loved you back. NEVER!
Right, gotta run. Till tomorrow.
