Morning Fellow Gooners,
Today is a historic moment in the World of Football, and of course The World of Arsenal. It’s the first time we’ve had a captain and a vice-captain play the World Cup final against each other. Most Arsenal fans I’ve spoken to are supporting Holland today, favouring the loyal Gooner, Robin Van Persie and double Arsenal connection with ex Gooner Gio Van Bronckhorst captaining the side. With Spain filled with so many Barcelona players, it is quite easy to hope they lose… of course, it would be different is a) Barcelona weren’t stalking Cesc b) Cesc would actually start! Even though we’d all probably like to see Holland win, Spain have to be the favourites – especially after their demolition of Germany.
Onto Arsenal news, and there is renewed speculation that Eduardo could be on his way out of the club – either permanently or on loan, after coach Boro Primorac spoke about the possibility of him leaving,s saying:
“I do not know what will happen to Dudu. Preparations are just beginning and I do not know whether he will go or stay. He just has to decide.”
It’s clear that Van Persie, Maroune Chamakh and Niklas Bendter will be the first three strikers in the pecking order and Carlos Vela seems to edge it ahead of Eduardo for the 4th choice striker, so it may be a good idea for Eduardo to go out on loan – at least until December. It will give him some time to try and get back to full fitness and form, and then come back for the run in?
Talking about strikers, Van Persie has been in the news and declared his intentions on remaining fit next season and to start showing the world that Arsene was right to have so much faith in him – Arsene did talk about Van Persie at the end of the season in regards to his potential and that he could be as good as the likes of Ronaldo and Messi… but it’s all about keeping fit and that fact that Van Persie has made it through so many games in the World Cup is a good sign!
“When I came back from my long injury back in the spring, Arsene Wenger told me that people will soon be talking about me in the same breath as they speak about Messi. I’m sure that would already be the case if I was not injured so often. I can feel that the manager has faith in me, but I must remain lucid. I am clearly not in the same league as Leo. Moreover, I am injured too often. I’m dreaming about a season with 30 goals and 20 assists. Wenger knows that I can do it, but my body will have to hold on. My final objective is to be in the same class as Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney, but Leo above all because he is a giant.”
With Van Persie leading the line and Cesc in midfield, with new recruit Maroune Chamakh and maybe Jack Wilshere coming back, we do have a busy midfield but despite that, the papers have linked us with both Yohan Gourcuff (whose birthday it is today) and the German wonderkid, Ozil – maybe they have in case Cesc goes, but reports coming out of the Ozil camp is that he will honour his contract at Weder Bremen and I think that’s a good thing for Ozil and Bremen. You really shouldn’t sign a player based on a decent World Cup, Ozil will have the eyes of all the top clubs on him for the next season and be available on a free next summer, should he maintain his excellent showing. The Gourcuff rumours have been scuppered by Arsene’s recent comments about not being interested in him, despite thinking he is an attractive proposition:
“We are not interested. I like Gourcuff a lot, but we already have sufficient cover in midfield.”
There is still a massive debate going on whether Jack Wilshere should return to Arsenal. Many people think if he says at Bolton then he will get more playing time, and don’ t think he should come back to Arsenal unless Cesc leaves. Jack’s best position is behind the striker, in front of a midfield, similarly to how Cesc plays. If Arsene did want him back, then would he dispose Nasri, Walcott or Arshavin whom would all seem to be ahead of him in the pecking order. But then again, there are rumours that Walcott should go on loan too, to get some experience, as he’s not cutting it down at the Emirates at the moment. Personally, I’d like to see Cesc, Wilshere and Song as the midfield trio and see Van Persie, Arshavin and Nasri deployed in the three attacking roles – if we stick to 433. I don’t see why Wilshere couldn’t come in instead of Denilson or Diaby who lack consistency. I do prefer Nasri over Walcott to start and Walcott as an impact sub and also think Ramsey is a future first teamer. We saw when Diaby marshalled the France midfield, that he just isn’t good enough – how many chances can Arsene give him?
There are also massive rumours circulating that Almunia is off to Athletico Madrid in a £4m deal – I thought originally that the noise was purely paper talk but the noise is increasing – as is the noise linking us with taking Mark Schwarzer to the Emirates for a year with Fabianski as second choice and Almunia moving on. The two younger keepers to be promoted in and around the first team. No concrete noise yet, but Athletico could be on the verge of selling David De Gea, their young keeper, meaning backup would be needed. The rumours regarding Schwarzer actually make it sound like a done deal, but at 37, I’m not sure if it’s a good option, considering the mistakes he’s made for Fulham and Australia recently. There are a lot of people talking about Shay Given be demoted to second choice behind Joe Hart and if that’s the case, I’d rather spend £5m on him that Schwarzer – let’s see what happens on that one…
Finally, Sol Campbell has now apparently talked to Celtic, Sunderland and West Ham – all three clubs willing to offer him a 2 year contract, which means we probably won’t any more of him in an Arsenal shirt – raising questions about whether we need another central defender…
Okay, time to get in the zone for the World Cup… come on Van Persie, do it for the Arsenal (and the millions of Dutch fans)…
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