june 8th
12.34 – “My biggest fear is not who we will sign this summer, but who we will lose. I’m not worried about speculation over Arsene Wenger’s future or even my own. My real concern is that Pires will go.”
So says Patrick Vieira. You’d have to think that if he’s saying something like this in public, then he’s had some kind of conversation with Le Bob about his future in recent times. I suppose it would explain Arsenal’s interest in Harry Kewell as well. Reading the back of the Express earlier, they report that Inter Milan want Pires and are prepared to offer big money and/or Arsenal’s choice of top players – including Recoba, Christian Vieri, Marco Matterazzi and even Fabio Cannavaro.
I sincerely hope we hang onto Pires. I’ve heard people saying he didn’t have such a great season, but he only started in October and scored 16 goals (I think) He’s our second highest scorer. He does need to focus a bit more on the less exciting parts of the game such as his defensive responsibilities and sticking his foot in to make the odd tackle, but if anyone thinks Harry Kewell is going to come to Arsenal and suddenly be the kind of player who will work hard to protect his full back and chase back when we need him to, then think again. Pires is a special player, Arsenal need him. Fingers crossed he signs a new deal soon.
Turkish goalkeeper Rustu definitely won’t be moving to Arsenal. He’s slammed both Arsenal and Man United as ‘amateurs’. He told Arsenal, “I’m not an 18-year-old unproven goalkeeper. I’ve been in the semi-finals of the World Cup and I’m not prepared to go through an audition to convince you to sign me.”
Back in August we were linked with an Argentine keeper called Sebastian Saja – he’s linked again in the Telegraph.
More on Jaap Stam. Brett Emerton says ‘come and get me’ to Arsenal. Genius. Why didn’t I think of that?
Arseblogger says ‘come and get me’ to Arsenal: “It would be an honour to play for Arsenal and I’d do it for £2,000 a week and I’ll wash your car Mr.Wenger”. I reckon the job is as good as mine.
