The Arsenal Week in Review
Another week down in the summer of our discontent and by all indiciations things are well and truly heating up. Well let’s get right to it and cover the highlights of this active week in the summer of the silly season.
Ivan Gazidis and the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust.
What is shaping up as an interesting week for Arsenal, was kicked off by the annual meeting of the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust with Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis. Ivan showed immediately why he is an astute executive by immediately addressing the ticket rise as well as stating that everyone was completely disappointed with how the season had ended. Nothing like taking control of a meeting that could be hostile by immediately addressing the biggest areas of concern.
But the two biggest areas Ivan touched on are the two that concern fans the most. First, is the succession plan for life after Arsene. Gazidis had this to say about the manager:
“We 100 per cent support Arsene,” Gazidis said. “I 100 per cent support him and feel he has done a fantastic job in a difficult period for this club.
“Arsene has done a remarkable job to stay at the top end of the game, although we have to acknowledge we haven’t delivered trophies and that is critical for the club.
“Ultimately Arsene is ultimately accountable to the fans — they ultimately make judgment. If you are seeing the relationship between the fans and the manager break down over time that is unsustainable. But I don’t think we are anywhere near that.”
So there you have it – those of you clamoring for his head – it will take an upswell in fan anger to move the board to replace Wenger. And I would have to agree with Gazidis that it is not to that level yet. Admittedly, there is universal agreement that Wenger needs to change things up but there is still a very large portion of fans that are okay with Wenger being given the chance to change things. Now, what will be interesting is if two things don’t happen – 1.) changes aren’t made and 2.) we again finish without silverware. Any of those happen and well we may look at a summer next year where we are hearing a large majority calling for his head.
The other interesting item from the Gazidis meeting was his acknowledging that this was going to be a busy summer and supporters should expect a lot of comings and goings. He wouldn’t discuss players specifically but based on rumours this week it looks like he was truthful. The one thing that may worry fans of Samir Nasri though is that he (without naming anyone) said the club would not be held hostage over players wages. Considering that is what it seems like Samir’s advisors are doing it might be resonable to surmise that Nasri may not get the deal he looking for and the club would sell him (most likely to Spain or Italy).
The final tidbit that caught my eye is that Arsenal support the idea of Safe Standing terraces at the Emirates and are looking into it further. With a lot of fans crying about the lack of atmosphere at the Emirates it is thought that bringing back such things as standing terraces may help both the atmosphere and for the general public to get access to a match again for a reasonable price. Obviously there are still a lot of general concerns with Hillsborough still in everyone’s minds. We’ll see what comes of it.
Cesc Fabregas.
It’s summer so what is an Arsenal piece without some nod to the saga that is the transfer of Cesc Fabregas. This week however two things have happened that might just mean that this summer’s saga may be shorter than last summer. No, the Spanish press didn’t turn on itself and eat itself whole. First in early in the week, Cesc in Madrid had this to say about all the hype:
“Barcelona are a great team, the best team in the world right now and going there guarantees a player titles. But I owe myself to Arsenal.”
“I am very happy at Arsenal. I am not going to talk about any other team – but I can’t say no to anyone because you never know what could happen in the future. I have values and after all that I have done in eight years here, I am not going to say a word that would ruin everything. I have always acted with discretion.”
“Any player who says he is not frustrated at not winning titles is lying. I am ambitious. [But] I have not spoken to the manager. He is the boss, he takes decisions and I don’t know if they want to sell me or not. This is a good team with a good manager, and with one of the most faithful fan bases in Europe. With whom I believe we can make progress and one day win an important trophy.”
“Everyone sees things in a different way but in these [sorts of] decisions, not everything depends on the player. If I said anything else it would be a lie, it would give rise to speculation that is not true. Last year I maybe positioned myself in a certain way, and that was a mistake.”
That was followed up by Sandro Rosell basically saying that they won’t pay through the nose for Cesc and will in fact lower their estimate by £5 million. Rosell’s argument was that he is a year older and has one less year on his contract. I would like to remind Senor Rosell that, yes Fabregas is older but he is still on 24, with his best playing years ahead of him and he still has 4 years left on a contract extension. If you want him as badly as you all say, I can only repeat what I said last week – you’re going to have to pay what Arsenal value you him at. Can’t pay it – can’t take the player. It’s simple math.
I like what Cesc had to say. It wasn’t a clear statement of NO I’M NOT GOING. But it really was clear he was placing the ball squarely in Rosell’s court who has shown his hand. For me, but not likely for the press or even a portion of the fans, this saga (at least for now) is over. If Barca don’t make a move before Arsenal head out to the Far East – it’s not happening at all.
2011/2012 Schedule is out
Well, it’s here and one thing is clear – we will know very early on where this club is as week 2 is home versus Liverpool and week 3 is away to Manchester United. That’s followed up by a trip to White Heart Lane on October 1. Lest we forget, that early on there are two Champion’s League qualififiers we have to play as well. All in all it is probably the most exciting start to a season I can remember for a while.
August
13 Newcastle (A)
20 Liverpool (H)
27 Man Utd (A)
September
10 Swansea (H)
17 Blackburn (A)
24 Bolton (H)
October
1 Tottenham (A)
15 Sunderland (H)
22 Stoke (H)
29 Chelsea (A)
November
5 West Brom (H)
19 Norwich (A)
26 Fulham (H)
December
3 Wigan (A)
10 Everton (H)
17 Man City (A)
21 Aston Villa (A)
26 Wolverhampton (H)
31 QPR (H)
January
2 Fulham (A)
14 Swansea (A)
21 Man Utd (H)
31 Bolton (A)
February
4 Blackburn (H)
11 Sunderland (A)
25 Tottenham (H)
March
3 Liverpool (A)
10 Newcastle (H)
17 Everton (A)
24 Aston Villa (H)
31 QPR (A)
April
7 Man City (H)
9 Wolverhampton (A)
14 Wigan (H)
21 Chelsea (H)
28 Stoke (A)
May
5 Norwich (H)
13 West Brom (A)
The interesting thing, it looks like we are home heavy after January. With the exception of Liverpool away we play all our remaining big matches at home on the other side of January. That sets up what looks like another interesting drive to end the season again.
Finally. . .
I’ve made it a point to avoid putting it into print that Arsenal deals are a done thing. I got burnt on the whole Mark Schwarzer deal last summer and won’t do it again. However, it is probably worth mentioning that a lot of print space was taken up with reports that Arsenal would likely announce the signing of Ivory Coast striker Gervinho over the weekend. Arsenal are said to have offered and had accepted by the player a 4 year deal that pays his former club a £10.5 million fee. Additionally, it could very well be that either the signing of Chris Samba or Gary Cahill would be announced shortly thereafter.
Ivan Gazidis had reportedly been seen with the Trotter’s executive Phil Gartside. They were supposedly meeting to discuss a deal that would lower Cahill’s fee to around £15 million and see Ignassi Miquel head to the Trotters on a season long loan. Arsenal are now considered the leaders to sign Cahill, when Man City could not get Boyata to go to Bolton as part City’s deal. It’s all very speculative but either way it does look like defence is surely getting an upgrade this summer.
