Open Golf, Hangzhou Greentown v Arsenal preview

Real value for your fifty quid

Apologies for the lack of a match review from Wednesday's match. I'm sure you all know that the boys won 4-0 and had an unusually competitive workout for their first outing of the season. I saw the full re-run of the game on ESPN on Wednesday and with an early start ahead of me yesterday I didn't get around to writing anything.
I spent yesterday at The Open at Royal St George's (it was notable how many football writers could be seen on the links following Rory McIlroy - no doubt they have all written expert pieces to rival their football knowledge in today's papers - they're also the largest collection of fat b******s you'll ever see). I arrived at the course at 6.35am yesterday and left at around 7.45pm. I paid £55 for the privilege (and it most certainly is a privilege) plus £5 for the very well organised park and ride facility. Compare that with going to watch Arsenal, where the ticket costs £50 and the parking a further £15. For the £55 I spent yesterday I saw all of the top golfers in the World (with the exception of Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh). With Arsene Wenger continuing to prevaricate in the transfer window I am worried about what I am going to get for my similar outlay on going to watch any given match in North London this season. Seeing Denilson and Squillaci getting in various mix-ups between themselves on Wednesday means I am unlikely to be watching too many of the World's best footballers any time soon. I am very aware of the fact that I seem to be criticising Wenger every time I write something recently, so I will merely point you to his latest comments regarding the defence - you can read them here. If you're truly an Arsenal supporter and these statements do not concern you then there is something seriously warped in your thinking.


The second pre-season friendly gets underway at 12.30BST tomorrow and is again live on Arsenal Player. There is a full re-run on ESPN again tomorrow evening. Having played more than half of the match the other day I think Carl Jenkinson, Ryo Miyaichi and Aaron Ramsey will get slightly less playing time tomorrow. Samir Nasri, Robin Van Persie and Bacary Sagna may well step up their preparations given they played only twenty minutes or so in Malaysia. I expect it to be a similar test for the players as they had a couple of days ago.
I've been very interested in the opportunities afforded to the "fans" in the far-east. Even on the much over-hyped members days at the new stadium members of "The Arsenal" don't generally get too close to the players. When was the last time you ever remember the chance to get autographs and photos with the entire squad? On the pre-season tours of the past ten years, in Austria, the supporters who attended were kept behind fences so that the players didn't have to sign for those in attendance unless they were feeling benevolent (in fairness to the players they almost always obliged). It's amazing what a bit of PR and the chance to sell a few shirts can do. There are actually a good number of travelling Gooners out there following the tour, as they do with every other game Arsenal play, but they weren't invited to these sessions - after all, they only pay thousands of pounds every year to follow the team. In fairness to Arsene Wenger I am fairly certain he can't wait to get back here and prepare in less of a circus.


I will write a match review tomorrow night. I promise.

The players make their voices heard, Arsenal v Malaysia XI briefest of previews

Robin and Theo - sending a message?

Now that the players are back and, even better, on a publicity first tour there is plenty of stuff reaching us by way of the various interviews they are giving. Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott have both been having their say on what they would like to see with regards to the squad and the improvements required. It's no coincidence that two of the more intelligent players at Arsenal have been able to put their case so eloquently without criticising anyone at the Club.
RVP has given his view that he would like to see major signings made by the Club in order to keep pace with both Manchester sides, Chelsea and Liverpool. Robin rightly states that Liverpool and United have very much showed their ambition by adding players to their squad. Most refreshing of all was hearing him say that competition for places is important to keep a player on his toes - including himself. That is just the sort of thing you want to hear from one of your very few world-class players. If you take the example of Alex Song, and his form since November, you can see the merits in what Van Persie is saying - in Song's case his only "rival" in the squad was Denilson - is it any wonder he got in to the comfort zone? Surprisingly the press have not turned Robin's quotes in to a "Van Persie threatens Arsenal" or "Van Persie questions Wenger ambition" piece. I don't like the idea of a centre-forward as Captain, but RVP certainly is able to speak in the way you would want from your leader on the pitch.
Van Persie's comments were echoed this morning in an interview given by Theo Walcott in Kuala Lumpur. Once again Theo cited the need for quality additions to the squad. He noted the requirement to learn from what went wrong last season, and it is clear that the players feel an injection of new blood would be very welcome indeed. It's a big season ahead for Walcott on a personal level. I feel he would benefit greatly from a move in to the centre, as part of a two man attack. Is Wenger willing to realise the benefits this might bring to the side? Time will tell. Whatever the case, it is again refreshing to hear a young man, playing for his future, advocate the need for more quality - even if it may be a threat to his place.
Something that seems to have been largely overlooked from Van Persie's interview is his praise of Cesc Fabregas. RVP has left nobody in any doubt of the importance, as he sees it, of Fabregas to Arsenal's success. It would seem that Fabregas is to Van Persie what Pires was to Henry and Bergkamp was to Ljungberg. More notable to me is the fact that he didn't speak at all about Samir Nasri. It may well be, of course, that he was asked specifically about Fabregas' situation, and not about Nasri. However, it would be no surprise to me to find that he failed to mention Nasri as he is not overly popular at Arsenal. Quite apart from what has gone on since the end of the season it is clear from his past that Samir is not the easiest person to get along with. He has a record of upsetting more senior colleagues - just ask Thierry Henry and William Gallas. It might just be that the other top players would not be too bothered to see the back of Nasri, while being determined that the skipper should stay.


Tomorrow marks the start of the season in terms of playing matches. The boys are up against a Malaysia Select XI in the first pre-season game. There are 23 players on tour and I think at least 22 of them will get a run out tomorrow, fitness permitting (they will probably all get some time on the pitch). I think it's unlikely that any of them would play more than 45 minutes each, particularly at this stage of their preparations amidst such humidity.
The game is live on Arsenal Player, but I will have to catch it on a replay as work prevents me from watching the game live tomorrow lunchtime. If and when I've seen it I'll post a match review, but it will be brief as I need an early night tomorrow - I intend to be present when the Open gets under way at 6.30am on Thursday (have a sneaky suspicion that Sergio might take some beating this week, though Kaymer was looking more than sharp in practise yesterday). I digress! More tomorrow, hopefully with the first win of the season under out belts, and no injuries.

Tour party tells us something about the future

Miyaichi - makes the trip to Malaysia/China

The 23 player touring squad for Malaysia and China gives us some clues as to the future of a number of our players. It seems certain now that Manuel Almunia and Nicklas Bendtner are to leave Arsenal fairly imminently. I would expect Manuel to go back to Spain while I hope Bendtner also goes abroad. Nickals Bendtner, if he went to a Stoke City or a Bolton Wanderers, will get his share of goals in the Premier League - he is more than capable of beating anyone in the air and his "goals to starts" figures are pretty good. Wherever they end up I wish them the best.
It hasn't gone without notice that Cesc Fabregas is not on the trip. He has, according to Arsene Wenger, a "muscle injury." Really? Is that the best they can come up with? How did he get this injury? When did it occur? It certainly wasn't in the training sessions of the past week as he doesn't seem to have been involved in any of them. As ever I remain unfazed by the Fabregas/Barcelona situation - all the time they don't stump up the cash they can bluster until the cows come home - Arsenal should continue with their adopted policy. However, I don't for one moment believe Cesc is injured, so I would question why he is not on the plane.
The Fabregas situation is in stark contrast with that of Nasri. The Frenchman is making the trip with the rest of the squad. I find this really quite interesting. Given that he has only one year left on his deal I would be quite happy to see him sold - make money now, rather than lose him for free next year (especially as he will be a complete passenger if he stays this season). I would like to think that he has been dragged to the other side of the World as a punishment for his actions this Summer. I hope Arsene is showing him who's boss by taking him all the way to China to sit in the stand and watch Arsenal play football. I doubt that's what is actually going to happen but I can live in hope.
I notice that we have only two goalkeepers on the tour, and one of them is not Lukasz Fabianski. I am very concerned about this now. I think most of us would be pleasantly surprised to see some new blood come in as competition for Szczesny, but are probably accepting that Fabianski will be the main back-up instead. However, Fabianski has now been out for seven months and is still apparently unfit. A goalkeeper with a major shoulder injury is not a good thing. There is a serious problem here that must be addressed.
Of the youngsters involved it is notable that Carl Jenkinson and Emmanuel Frimpong are part of the plans for Arsene Wenger's squad this season. The Japanese Ryo Miyaichi also makes the trip. Whether or not he is in the first-team shake-up, or this is just a cynical attempt to show those in the far-east that we are a global Club, remains to be seen. I've seen some of his performances in Holland last season and he looks a real talent - quick and skillful, with a good shot on him - so I hope it's the former. The youngsters that are absent, however, should perhaps be a little concerned as to their future. Henri Lansbury has been omitted, but I think this is more to do with him getting an extended Summer break following his involvement with the England U21 squad in to June. Lansbury has been linked with a permanent move elsewhere, but I think this boy has plenty to offer and would gladly see him get an opportunity at Arsenal. There are two others, however, who are maybe seeing the end of their Arsenal adventure. 
Francis Coquelin was sent out on loan to Lorient last season and his versatility as a defensive midfielder/converted right-back seemed to make him a contender. However, the promotion of Frimpong and the signing of Jenkinson may well see the young French player surplus to requirements. 
The other notable youngster to miss out is Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. There have been a number of questions asked of JET and his attitude/behaviour over the past few years. He had an unsuccessful loan period at Cardiff City last season, and now he's been snubbed by Arsene Wenger before the new season has even got started. He should be very concerned. 
Of those making the trip there are a few we should be worried about. Denilson, Rosicky, Squillaci and Vela are all there. Back in May I couldn't believe that we would get to the start of pre-season with these four at the Club (the same goes for the absent Eboue who is also "injured" - I actually think he may form part of any deal for Gary Cahill or Stewart Downing). Let's be honest, this lot are not good enough to play at the level Arsenal need to be at in order to win things. I am gutted that they're still cluttering the place up but perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that nobody seems to want any of them. Gervinho is also missing as Arsenal claim the "imminent signing" has not yet been completed - the question that immediately springs to mind is why not?


I'm off to watch practise for the Open Championship at Royal St George's tomorrow so there won't be a post until tomorrow night at the earliest, and that is dependent on some major news breaking. More likely will be a post on Tuesday ahead of the first tour match and after Arsene Wenger's press conference.

Wenger: Is he taking the p*** out of us? Why the delay in confirming Gervinho?

Gervinho - what are they waiting for?

I am fuming. I am fuming because I have just read the latest missive from Arsene Wenger on the official website. Cast your mind back to the end of the season. I may be mistaken but I seem to remember Wenger telling us that this would be a busy Summer for Arsenal in the transfer market. We were given the distinct impression that the penny might have dropped at last, and the dead-wood was going to move on while a number of quality new players would be added. Most of us expected to lose Fabregas, Clichy and Nasri, but it wouldn't matter too much if serious investment was made to replace them and strengthen as necessary. Here we are six weeks on and we have sold Clichy and signed a kid from the third division (and one signing as yet unannounced - more below).
The most infuriating thing about this latest nonsense from Wenger is the "hope" that we can bring in "one or two more quality players." Then there is the George Graham style quote of "we want to find the quality we need." Get me a pen and paper, Arsene, and I'll start making you a f***ing list. 
Does he truly believe that we need only "one or two" quality players? It seems clear now, with the squad about to fly to Malaysia and China, that nothing is changing at Arsenal. Once again Wenger has allowed the dust to settle, in his view, before reverting to type and refusing to address the deep problems within this Arsenal team. I have tried to ignore the lack of action in the transfer market (unsuccessfully it should be said) and this disgraceful interview given by Wenger has caused me to snap. It is clear that nobody on the board is giving him the hurry-up, which confirms all we need to know about his all-powerful grip on Arsenal. I'm sick of the apologists that tell you the season is still a month away, and the transfer market only opened one week ago - is there a bigger load of bull**** than that? Just because the window has only just opened doesn't mean that you can't have got your business done beforehand - just ask Manchester United and Liverpool. We've suffered much frustration as Arsenal fans in recent years with Wenger's refusal to spend our money (and make no mistake, it is our money, not his) but I am sinking to new depths this year. On Tuesday the players take part in their first game, and yet there is nothing different from the end of last season. It is an absolute disgrace and Wenger is responsible.


On the subject of lack of activity I can tell you that Gervinho's deal is done with the player. The Ivorian had his publicity shots, with the Arsenal shirt, taken on Wednesday. So why have the Club not announced it? Is there not a full agreement with Lille? Given that there is such frustration, and this has been acknowledged by Wenger today, Arsenal should be making this deal public and assuaging the anger of a lot of the fans. I doubt very much that Gervinho will fit the criteria of a "quality player" but as we're in straw grabbing territory I'll take anything right now.

They're back

Arsene Wenger at training today

So the players returned to training yesterday, including Cesc Fabregas. Interestingly, however, there have been no pictures on the official website so far of Cesc joining his mates out on the training pitch. The most notable things so far have been that Carl Jenkinson has been handed the number 25 shirt, thus confirming his place as a member of the first-team, and that Ryo Miyaichi seems to have not been granted a number - he is wearing a training top with number 93 on it. The thing that will concern most Arsenal fans is the plethora of photographs containing those we could probably end up doing without - Eboue was in at least three of them yesterday, while Squillaci and Bendtner are prevalent today.
It seems that still there is very little happening with regards to any strengthening. Gervinho has apparently had his medical today so we can probably expect the official announcement of his much expected arrival in the very near future. Apart from that, nothing. Owen Coyle has rightly called for Arsenal to do business with Bolton for Gary Cahill, or put the whole thing to bed once and for all. It concerns me that there seems to be a pattern developing whereby Arsenal are linked to players in which they clearly have more than a passing interest, and yet no bids are made. Two weeks ago there had been no bid for Gervinho. Last week Southampton made it clear that there had been no bid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Now Owen Coyle tells us that Cahill has not been the subject of any bid. At risk of being criticised (again) for panicking about the lack of arrivals, it should be made clear that pre-season has begun. The Arsenal players are preparing for the new season. They fly to the far-east this weekend. Would it not be much better to have the new players in situ early doors so that preparation can be done properly? Back in 2001 we had Jeffers, Campbell, Van Bronckhorst and Wright signed and ready for the return to training. Similarly in 1997 with Petit, Overmars, Upson, Boa Morte, Manninger, Wreh and Grimandi. I am not alone in being worried, nor am I going to be placated on the grounds that the first League game is some time away.
I am extremely concerned about the reasons why we are not doing the business early. While Arsenal prevaricates we see Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City getting on with things. Chelsea will very soon do likewise and will blow us out of the water for any player both clubs might be interested in. I believe that our failure to qualify for the Champions League is the main reason - Arsenal are not spending money yet because they don't yet know what their budget is for next season - if they don't get through the qualifier then money becomes very tight. If we are still waiting in the third week of August then we really will be in trouble.

Saturday's fishing success, Gael out - so who do we want to replace him?

Leighton Baines - he gets my vote

I really enjoyed the fallout from Saturday's post. If truth be known I was a bit bored and wanted to see how easy it would be to bait a few Tottenham fans in to a response. I was still rather surprised to see just how quickly and how willingly they responded to it. Of course they all reacted in the expected way as they continue to delude themselves that Tottenham Hotspur is going places. They honestly seem to think that we are the ones that have lived in an artificial dream world this past twenty-odd years. It's been a fun time since George Graham took over with regards to our relationship with the mugs - barring the FA Cup tie in 1991 it's been pretty much one-way traffic. Modern day Spurs' fans hatred of us is based on jealousy of Arsenal's success since the mid 1980s. Our current predicament, however, worries me greatly. Last season we were more than vaguely reminiscent of the club we love to ridicule. There are a number of parallels, from the fallacy that Arsenal continue to play great football (we don't), to the ability to win the odd big game while choking against the mediocre, and even the penchant for throwing away a lead against our North London neighbours. We are perilously close to becoming the new Tottenham Hotspur, and that frightens me.


Arsenal have confirmed that Gael Clichy has completed his move to Manchester City as expected. I wish Clichy the best of luck - he never wronged us in any way, and he is the final Invincible to leave us. Now though he must be replaced. There is a strong chance that Kieran Gibbs will be given the nod, with Armand Traore acting as back-up. This fills me with dread. Gibbs has gone backwards this past year and is nowhere near ready, or capable, to play a full season at the highest level (his fitness issues will preclude him from doing so anyway if things go to form). With Wenger's continuing frugality in the transfer market I can see this happening.
There are options for Wenger should he choose to pay out some proper money. Over the past few months we have been linked with three left-backs of some repute - Jose Enrique (Newcastle United), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) and Leighton Baines (Everton). For me Baines is the standout performed of the three. Enrique was probably the only Newcastle defender to impress at all in the Premier League last season, but I really don't think he is top class by any stretch. I saw a lot of Izaguirre towards the back end of last season. He is quick and skillful, but his defensive work is often not up to scratch - and having played in Scotland he hasn't been tested properly. 
Which brings us back to Baines. The Everton full-back was excellent last season, and has improved year on year. He is a little unfortunate, perhaps, to be kept out of the England side by the best player in the World in his position. Baines is very good going forward, an excellent crosser of the ball, and superb on set-pieces. Most importantly, of course, he is a fine defender. I would be very pleased if Wenger stumped up the necessary wedge to bring Baines to Arsenal this Summer - a swap, plus money, with Traore could be just the ticket.

Is any of the dead wood going to leave? Spurs new stadium bid again

Rosicky stays - "oh for fu..."

Amid all the talk of Nasri and Clichy and Fabregas possibly leaving Arsenal it seems that we have been overlooking those players we would actually be content to lose for next to nothing. Unfortunately it seems that every other club in Europe is also overlooking them. This past week we have heard a bit more about three of them - Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson and Tomas Rosicky.
We'll start with Bendtner. Despite his father/agent doing his best to offer him to every side in Germany there have been no takers. This week it was claimed, in The Sun, that any deal for Gary Cahill may have taken a setback as Bolton weren't interested in taking the Dane as a make-weight in any agreement. If you consider that Nicklas Bendtner is on £52000 per week it is probably not too much of a surprise. He's the sort of player that would do well at a side like Bolton - with Lee planting crosses on to his forehead Bendtner would get plenty of goals and would be an ideal (and better) replacement for Elmander. However, if a team won't pay the wages he is on (or even get near to those wages) why should he go anywhere? This is a problem for us as, while he continues to be a passenger in the Arsenal squad, we have to foot the bill - and this prevents the acquisition of other players.
Denilson's agent, meanwhile, has made it clear that AC Milan are not interested in signing him. It seems that they are not the only ones. Consequently the modern-day Ray Wilkins is returning to Arsenal for pre-season training this week. Again, Denilson is on a higher than average weekly wage for a player of such average ability. Can you see a pattern developing here?
The final denouement was added by the news that Tomas Rosicky is also going nowhere and that Arsene Wenger has told him he continues to be part of his plans. What sort of wage do you reckon Tomas might be on? Given that he was given a new contract despite missing more than a year through "injury" I suspect it is a very healthy one. 
The point is that Arsenal are paying these guys so much money that they have become nigh on impossible to sell. From their point of view they have no desire to move somewhere and get paid less - particularly not a veteran like Rosicky. Make no mistake we have a problem of Wenger's making - he decided to pay these guys based on potential, rather than achievement. As a result they now sit in an artificial comfort-zone from which they would be mad to escape voluntarily. Frankly, I could cry, such is the state we have got ourselves in to.


I heard this morning on Sky that Tottenham have resurrected their plans for the swamp and their attempts to make it open to 60,000 neanderthal-like knuckle-draggers. I have to say that I paid very little attention to the news item but I did notice one bit that stood out. The news-reader said that Spurs would be looking for "public-funding" to assist with the plans. What? Public money to develop Shite Hart Lane? In a recession? With thousands of public servants being put out of work and having their pensions slashed? A multi-million pound private enterprise wants tax-payers money to fund some new stands? If that happens then there should be some kind of national protest, shouldn't there? After all, this is the Club that pays Tom Huddelstone thousands of pounds every week to masquerade as a professional athlete - that puts paying Bendtner £52000 in the shade in my opinion. Public money? Not a scooby.


I'll leave you now and await the inevitable backlash from the newsnow Spurs feed (I'll be disappointed if I don't get any abuse whatsoever). More on Monday.