Morning from a very wet Dublin. Come back summer, I forgive you.
We’ll start this morning with news of Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh, a name that has become familiar to many in the last few weeks. After the game against Barnet on Saturday the manager admitted that the Moroccan was someone we were keeping an eye on, should we decide to bring in a striker.
However, yesterday the player himself said:
With my agent, we have agreed terms with several English clubs that are keen to sign me. They are just waiting for my decision. They are notably Sunderland, Blackburn, Tottenham and Fulham. Arsenal? I don’t really believe in it anymore. My officials have not received any offer so far.
Now, on Irish radio last night, journalist Xavier Rivoire (who wrote a biography of Arsene Wenger and one about Robert Pires), was adamant Chamakh would be joining Arsenal, citing a conversation he had with Gilles Grimandi who apparently told him as much (cheers to Shane for the heads-up). This also tallies with the information received some weeks ago by Philippe Auclair and reported here on Arseblog. I wonder are his comments about us not being after him due to us telling him to shut up a bit. He does like to talk.
So we’ll wait and see what happens there. I know he’s not exactly the high profile signing many people would like but to provide some kind of depth in the striker department he’d certainly fit the bill. As his contract is up next summer he would be a relatively cheap option, he’d provide insurance for Eduardo who may or may not suffer from injury setbacks again, and as I’ve said before I’m comfortable with him coming in provided we still address the midfield issue.
I think we’ve got plenty of quality and potential amongst our forwards. You can argue that the roster which includes Arshavin, van Persie, Bendtner, Eduardo, Vela, Walcott is strong enough but a bit more competition can’t hurt. If he does sign he’s there to add some depth, he’s not there to be a first team starter, so I’m easy enough with his arrival. Equally I think we can cope without him so I’m not too bothered either way.
What is interesting is how quiet our midfield search appears to have gone. After the Melo saga, which wasn’t really a saga, more a little sub-plot in a larger soap, there’s been not one player linked. Gokhan Inler’s name was thrown around a bit but I think that’s just because they can’t think of anyone else. I’m hoping our silence means we’re working hard behind the scenes on making what I feel could be our most important signing of the summer.
Both George Graham and Alex Ferguson have been taking time out of their busy schedules to speak about Arsene Wenger. Graham believes we’ve no chance of winning the title next season while Demento appears to have inside information about our money situation, claiming that AW might not even be able to spend the money from the Adebayor transfer. I’m not sure what evidence there is we can’t use the Adebayor money just a couple of days after the deal was done. It’s nice of them to give their opinions though, now it’s down to Arsene to prove them wrong.
As Tomas Rosicky comes back into the fold, promising he’ll find his form again, Alexander Hleb is realising the grass is not greener on the other side, crying about how he should never have left Arsenal. The Barcelona bench cushion tester said:
I regret my move from London, but unfortunately nothing can be done about it now. For me, Wenger was like a father. I consider him one of the best managers in the world. For such a boss one wants to die on the pitch.
So despite feeling Wenger was like a father for whom he would die on the pitch, he still agitated for a move last summer. Yet another example of a footballer who follows the money, who believes the bubble of lies created around him by agents and advisors who care not one jot for his football career, only how much money they can make from him. He’s made his bed, time for him lie in it without bleating like a baby. Suck it up, twat.
A young Arsenal team beat Lincoln City 3-2 in a friendly last night, the goals coming from Gilles Sunu, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Luke Ayling.
Meanwhile the rest of the squad have flown to Austria to begin the hard work of the training camp. Johan Djourou speaks about that here.
And that’s about that. There’s a game tonight against SC Columbia, kick off is 5.30 and it’s on Arsenal TV Online. They’re a team full of amateurs and semi-professionals so really, anything other than a 20 goal win and we should sack the manager. You know it.
Till tomorrow.
