Eduardo's return has been an enjoyable moment this career. His 45 minutes in the reserve game against Porstmouth was good, he was quick, sharp, accurate and efficient. Of course, the niggling hamstring means he will have another week or two on the sidelines, but his return has posed some interesting questions.
What do we do when Eduardo is fit, where will he play?
There have been suggestions that playing a 4-3-3 may be a good change to accommodate all three of our top strikers. If we did move to a 4-3-3, which our current personnel, we'd be looking at something like this:
Almunia
Sagna – Gallas / Toure – Djourou – Clichy
Denilson – Song – Cesc
Van Persie – Adebayor – Eduardo
This formation would see Van Persie play on the right side of the attack, as he does for his country, with Eduardo playing on the left and Adebayor deployed as a central striker. In reality, would this work? Well, it would require a complete re-think of how we move forward as the formation required will have to accommodate all players. If Walcott, Bendtner and Vela were playing – could they fit this formation? Yes, they could. But if Nasri, Rosicky and Diaby were fit, how would they be accommodated.
In my personal opinion, which may differ from that of your own, we should stick to 4-4-2. A 4-4-2 which means we have more shape. A 4-4-2 will allow us to match our opponents and it’s the way we’ve always played. The question which is more likely to be raised is whether Eduardo can be played on the left of midfield – and is that his best position. Yes, he is a poacher, yes he is a fox in the fox – but at the same time, he does have skill and the ability to get past players.
It may be possible, that we’d see the team above but with Eduardo on the left of midfield. Not for the weekend game, however, as Eddie’s got a couple more weeks to go before he returns to first team action.
Onto the other topic hitting today’s headlines…
Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and Richard Carr depart and we’ve got a new chief executive named Ivan Gazidis. Bracewell-Smith comes as a bit of a shock to us as she was the safe haven. We knew she wouldn’t sell, she has a long history with Arsenal and she entered the lockdown agreement.
However, her departure from the board has signalled an end to her part of the lockdown and this means that her shares are for sale.
Peter Hill Wood had this to say:
“The philosophy of the club remains the same. Our efforts are directed towards stability and making the club successful. Changes of personnel will not alter the directors’ view of how we should proceed in the future. All the directors love the club and are committed to maintaining its heritage. Acting in the best interests of the club is fundamental to the decisions we take on behalf of Arsenal. The directors feel the club’s future is positive both on and off the field.
“Lady Nina is no longer representing the club and therefore is released from the lockdown. However it was created to maintain stability in the club and those participants are committed to maintaining the ownership structure as it is. I don’t know for certain what she wants to do with her shares. I do know that the Bracewell-Smith family have been involved with the club for many, many years and are great supporters. I know that Lady Nina is an advocate of the policies we have been following to make the club self-sustaining and free from external injections of money. She has certainly been in favour of what we are doing. We hope that she would remain a shareholder, but she has not spoken to me about it lately. She is no longer in the lockdown so she is free to do what she wishes to do.
“A number of the board have indicated in the past that they are interested in buying more shares so the future stability of the club is secure. The board is very keen to retain control of the club to ensure that its values and traditions are upheld and live on for many years to come.”
Interesting words from PHW and a phrase that does worry me is “I don’t know for certain what she wants to do with her shares”. He could have said something like “she doesn’t intend to sell”. But instead, it’s clear that a sale could happen in the near future. With rumours that her departure was because her shares had become devalued and that she could no longer sustain such an agreement, this could potentially happen sooner than later. Within the lockdown agreement, of which Stan Kroenke is part of, another board member has first refusal to buy the remaining shares. To see Bracewell-Smith exit the lockdown agreement does open the door for Usmanov to come in.
Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith’s share are approximately 15.8% of the club, so a sale to Usmanov would see him go upwards of 40%. A big chunk of a club for a silent shareholder.
No doubt the papers will turn in this into turmoil in the Arsenal board room and takeover imminent.
In all reality, we, the fans have even less idea about what is going on…
Let’s not worry too much, because worrying gets us… nowhere…
Champions League draw tomorrow… Til then.]]>
