Morning, I was expecting to have a bit more news about pre-season starting but so far there’s been nothing. Oh well.
Not much going on to be honest but Manuel Almunia is already setting the bar for the season ahead. He wants us to start well and play more like we did in the second half of last season, saying:
That is what we need to do from July this year, from the minute we get back for pre-season. We need to make sure the group is together and focused after the break and to show our total commitment. I am sure that because we have the quality, next season will be much better than the one we have just finished.
One of the issues that bothered us last season was complacency. In the second game of the season we’d been beaten by Fulham after a listless display but the lessons weren’t learned and we paid the price again for thinking we just had to turn up to beat teams like Hull and Stoke. Gael Clichy talked about lack of focus throughout the squad yet when we did eventually find our form we went on a very lengthy unbeaten run.
So hopefully the boys will be much better prepared this season and can get off to a good start. It’s so vital to ensure you don’t fall behind right at the beginning, you’re playing catch-up the whole time and it makes life that bit more difficult.
Elsewhere Martin Keown has been talking to sport.co.uk about our central defence (amongst other things) and in particular Johann Djourou and Philippe Senderos. In his autobiography the husband of that the X-Factor judge talked about how Senderos had disrespected Keown, something which Keown claims to have no knowledge of. Of the prospects of Senderos making it at Arsenal, he says:
With regards to Philippe, it’s an interesting question. If he has been able to learn from his loan move and if he is given another chance, he’s only going to be better. The thing with Philippe is he needs to learn the game. He’s a highly intelligent individual but at times he’s made elementary mistakes on the pitch. Football intelligence is a different experience to that off-field. What will be fascinating to see is whether he has improved those elements that he needed to.
At the moment we don’t know where he’ll end up this summer. He could easily stay but I’m told he does have offers from other clubs. I suppose the decision will be made when we see what other movement there is in terms of our centre-halves.
On Djourou Keown says:
Johan is at the crossroads now. He has to start becoming a first team player. He’ll want that, he’s a big strong lad and more than capable with the attributes to make it. He just has to put a game together. Arsene has lots of confidence in him, but injuries have taken their toll recently. If he can iron out the niggly injuries, he’ll turn from a teenager into a man. His career is in his hands and he’ll be desperate to get in that side for pre-season.
Interesting stuff and maybe one of the things we overlook with the two Swiss is how young they both still are in the lives of a centre-half. Maybe there’s too much water under the bridge for Senderos to resurrect his Arsenal career now – Djourou still has time but definitely needs to step it up a bit for the season ahead.
Other vaguely interesting centre-half news is that Fulham’s Brede Hangeland has rejected a new contract with the club after insisting all along he was happy to stay there. We’ve been linked with him fairly solidly for the last 6 months so perhaps, and I stress perhaps, this is a sign there might be something going on.
Gunnerblog reckons Arsene won’t pay £21.5m for Felipe Melo. I can understand that, it’d smash our transfer record by a considerable distance, even if you included someone like Eboue as part of the deal. Unfortunately though the reality of the transfer market this summer is that it hasn’t been hit by the recession and we’re living in a world where Antonio Valencia costs £18m. Why wouldn’t Fiorentina expect at least that kind of money from Melo?
St Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi says he’s leaving his current club and wants to play for Arsenal. He says:
Playing for Arsenal would be fantastic but I can’t say anything about that yet. Everyone knows their wonderful style of football.
Why do football people always talk about something then say ‘I can’t talk about that’? Weirdos.
Fabio Capello digs Arsenal’s academy. It makes him excited about the future of the England team. Which is good. For him. I suppose.
And that’s about it for now but around lunchtime I’ll be posting an exclusive interview with Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis in which he talks about how his move to Arsenal took place, the challenges facing the club on and off the pitch, our team, the goals for the season ahead and lots more. Check back around lunchtime for that.
Till then take it easy.
