Back page roundup…
Last updated: Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Daily Mail is reporting that a group of Arsenal shareholders are writing to demand an explanation about the departure of Keith Edelman, and the speculation over the transfer funds available. The paper referred to Arsenalinsider’s blog "Did Flamini cost Edelman his job" and reported that Arsenal have refuted this theory by pointing out that Ken Friar and not Keith Edelman that was responsible for player transfers. The shareholders are said to be unhappy with the trophyless three seasons.
But the Arsenal board will this month receive a letter from a loose affiliation of small shareholders who believe the club need a change of direction after three seasons without a trophy if they are to compete effectively with their rivals in England and Europe. The season-ticket holders, all of whom once owned significant stakes in Arsenal, believe only a serious problem could have triggered Edelman’s surprise exit at the end of last month, barely a year after vice-chairman David Dein was forced out by his fellow directors.
The Guardian and the Times both report that Arsene Wenger is planning on blocking the proposed Webster buy out by Alexander Hleb to Inter Milan. This story is also dealt with in an Arsenalinsider blog. It is clear that despite speculation, Arsenal hold the upper hand and at last The Clubs are taking a stand against the ripping up of contracts by players.
Wenger made it clear Article 17 can be challenged and Arsenal are prepared to do just that. "It is not as simple as it looks, this Webster clause, you can’t just come in next day and buy out, there is no rule that says that. And you should not forget what clubs can do," said Wenger. "You have to first go to a Fifa tribunal and if you don’t agree with Fifa, you have to go to Acas. It takes a lot of months. You can be banned for the whole period if it’s not done in a proper way."
Arsene Wenger has made it clear that he is in no mood to comment upon every newspaper story and his time is better spent dealing with the next season transfer deals which he intends to tie up during the next two weeks.
Transfer Gossip…
The Sunday Mirror reports thats Arsenal have made an offer for Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez, which is precisely the news that Fabregas the King wanted to hear. So Adebayor will have competition and so will spend the summer practising his basic technique on how to head a ball!
Quote: At 22, he is the perfect age for recruitment by Arsenal manager Wenger, who prefers to mould players into his way of playing rather than spend big on top players who can be set in his ways.
"We don’t buy superstars," Wenger said earlier this season. "We make them."
The Sun continues it’s mischief making by having claimed already this week that Arsenal have signed Hatem ben arfa from Lyon, with personal terms having been agreed with the player leaving the clubs to agree the final fees, it’s famous ex scum commentator fatso Greavsie lays into Arsene Wenger and claims that he is soley responsible for the apparent mass exodus from the Arsenal, as if he really cares…
‘ARSENAL are staring into the abyss’ read SunSport yesterday — and I must agree.
When key players begin to leave a club at the top of their profession, you know something is wrong.
Mathieu Flamini has gone and Alex Hleb looks set to follow.
The message is simple — we are no longer at a club that is going anywhere.
I’m afraid Arsene Wenger has to stand accountable. There is no doubt he has created some great teams. But the club have gone three years without a trophy.
The big problem is Wenger has fought shy of buying big-name players. It’s OK saying you are building a team as he is now. But often you need big players for the here and now.
The mentality under Wenger seems all wrong when the going has got tough of late.
Alex Ferguson tells his men ‘It’s us against them’. Wenger says ‘They are all against us’.
This persecution complex rubs off on players — as if fate decides what will happen to them rather than their own actions. When Wenger first arrived he was a picture of composure. Now he resembles Basil Fawlty on the sidelines.
Fabregas the King.
mwt
