october 3rd
08.51 – So Arsenal’s AGM took place yesterday and while many people were expecting a definitive answer with regards the new stadium, the news is more circumspect.
According to arsenal.com, work on the new stadium should commence next year. Arsenal director Danny Fiszman said “We now have a stadium design that is fully developed. We have a fixed price contract agreed with Sir Robert McAlpine. Depending on financing, we are ready to start construction of the stadium in the first quarter of next year.”
Speaking about the funding Keith Edelman said “It is a complicated process. We are dealing with a number of banks who have to go off to credit committees. We are making good progress and we would hope to be able to come to some kind of conclusion by the end of the year”
The Independent runs a story saying Arsenal are looking at foreign banks for the financing. Nothing new there then really. Anyway, all this planning permission and high finance crap bores the life out of me. What news of players and the team and the boss from the AGM. Some points as were posted on the forums by Supasonic (real name, oh yes) who attended the AGM and spoke to Arsene Wenger afterwards.
Wenger on:
- Senderos – He is special and will figure. Should push Kolo all the way
- Aliadiere “…he will get his chance sooner than you might think”
- Sidwell “…he may even come back – he is a great player but i felt he needed to play”
- Pennant – an excellent prospect who needs experience
- Discipline – we do need to learn not to back chat the ref/retaliate.
There were also reports of Wenger raising an eyebrow when Philippe Mexes name was mentioned. Most interesting though was the boss’s straight out admittance that he was looking to bring new players in during the January transfer window. “I will definitely be buying players and signing out-of-contract players. We need two forwards at least and new players will give us the final push for the season.”
Needing two forwards is as good an admittance that Wiltord’s Arsenal days are drawing to a close. We know for sure it’s the end for DB10 and Kanu at the end of the season, and I don’t expect to see Sylvain in an Arsenal shirt next August. It’s also a message to the board, I think. We have to spend now to maintain our current standing in the game. As much as having the same team helps because all the players know each other, there’s a lot to be said for adding a bit of fresh blood every now and again. Wenger’s take on using kids, and a top one liner from the Chairman in there too. There’s another AGM report to read over on Arsenal World.
We told you on September 4th that he’d signed, and yesterday arsenal.com announced it on their website. Cesc Fabregas is an Arsenal player. But then you knew that already.
Team news ahead of the game against dem scousers is that Bergkamp, Vieira and Ljungberg are all definitely missing. Sol Cambell is available though if selected. Philippe Senderos is making progress with his back injury and should be fit within two weeks.
Sometimes I can’t think of a way to finish a day’s post.
