Bendtner fires Arsenal to Emirates Cup win

Bendtner fires Arsenal to Emirates Cup win

Arsenal 2-1 Paris St Germain
Arsene Wenger's current Arsenal side are very much still a work in progress but there were a few glimpses against Paris St Germain on Saturday afternoon that life without Thierry Henry may not just be so bad.


MikeHewitt/GettyImages
Nicklas Bendtner shoots at goal against PSG

The Emirates Cup - which opened with a 2-1 win for the hosts - at least gives the Gunners boss further chance to tinker as he fine tunes preparations for the battles ahead over the coming nine months.

Goals from Mathieu Flamini and Niklas Bendtner were enough for the Gunners before Peguy Luyindula pulled a goal back.

Arsenal were outplayed for large spells at times during the first half, before snatching the lead in stoppage time through Flamini.

However, this was a team missing summer signing Eduardo da Silva, the Brazilian-born Croatian international awaiting the outcome of next week's appeal to the Home Office for a work permit.

• Wenger still wants new recruits

Neither Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky nor Theo Walcott featured against the French side - all of whom are set to play an integral part next season and should return for the Amsterdam Tournament in a week's time.

Gilberto, meanwhile, has been given extra time off after Brazil's Copa America triumph this summer and is another of Wenger's key men ready to step back into the breach.

Of those who did turn out this afternoon, Bendtner, the young Danish striker, certainly caught the eye.

A season on loan at Birmingham in the Championship was certainly time well spent.

Bendtner, 19, showed he has plenty of hunger, strength and enough raw talent to be more than just a bit-part player next season, his chest down setting up the opening goal before he doubled Arsenal's lead from close range with 20 minutes left.

However, the 19-year-old knows he must do better when presented with one-on-one chances like he was during the second half - and certainly from the penalty spot after a weak kick was easily saved late on.

Full-back Bacary Sagna, meanwhile, produced a solid display for a home debut even if he was somewhat reluctant to get forward as much as his half-time replacement Emmanuel Eboue.

Cesc Fabregas - whose name seems to have replaced Henry's on the back of the majority of the Arsenal shirts in the stands - was, however, somewhat subdued during his brief first half appearance.

By the time the visit of Fulham comes around for the Barclays Premier League opener on August 12, though, Wenger knows all of his men must be at their very best if they are to reach the only 'acceptable' target of again mounting a sustained title challenge over the entire campaign.

Despite the absence of Eduardo - who has a hearing on August 2 at which Wenger is 'optimistic' they will be granted clearance - Arsenal were at least able to field fit-again Robin van Persie, who had been sidelined since January.

Kolo Toure took the captain's armband, with fellow leader-in-waiting William Gallas starting on the bench.

It was PSG - managed by former Rangers boss Paul Le Guen - who created the first good opening after 10 minutes.

Luyindula got clear on the left and sent over a low cross, which Pierre-Alain Frau drilled just wide.

Luyindula then somehow contrived to miss the target from 10 yards having weaved his way into the Arsenal penalty area.

That let off seemed to spark the hosts into life as Van Persie was tripped on the edge of the area following a powerful run.

The Dutchman took the resulting free-kick himself but blasted over.

As the interval approached, Toure made a hash of an attempted clearance on the edge of the Arsenal area - kicking the ball up over his head and straight to Pauleta.

The PSG captain tried to lob Almunia but the Spanish keeper pulled off an acrobatic one-handed save.

In first-half injury-time, Arsenal snatched the lead from a corner which was not cleared properly.

When the ball was swept back into the box Bendtner showed great strength to chest it down into the path of Flamini, who stretched to volley into the bottom right corner off the post.

As predicted, Wenger made sweeping changes for the start of the second half - replacing Fabregas as well as goalscorer Flamini, who could have left the club in the summer.

As the hour-mark passed Clichy's through-ball released Bendtner but, after holding off his marker, the Dane spurned the one-on-one with the keeper as he opened his body and put the ball wide.

However, after 70 minutes he made no mistake, stabbing in from two yards after keeper Mickael Landreau had failed to hold onto his knockdown from a corner.

A near-post finish from Luyindula pulled one back for PSG, and there was still time for Bendtner to miss a late penalty after Alexander Hleb was fouled.

Clearly much hard work now lies ahead for Wenger and his men, who face Inter Milan here on Sunday afternoon - but on today's evidence, it may well provide some just rewards.

# Wenger still wants new recruits

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains hopeful of bringing in a couple more fresh faces before the new campaign kicks off.

The Gunners continued their pre-season schedule with the Emirates Cup this afternoon, where they beat Paris St Germain 2-1 with goals from Mathieu Flamini and Nicklas Bendtner.

Following the departure of talismanic captain Thierry Henry to Barcelona and veteran midfielder Freddie Ljungberg to West Ham, there have been suggestions Wenger's squad is light on experience.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Chelsea's Lassana Diarra, while the future of winger Jose Antonio Reyes has to be sorted out, with Real Madrid understood to be close to a deal for the player they had on loan last season.

Although Wenger refused to be drawn on specifics when quizzed by reporters this afternoon, the Arsenal manager maintained he was still active in the transfer market.

'We have the potential to do it,' he said of the Gunners' chances of recruiting further.

'If I find the right player, I will take him. If I find two, I will do it.

'But it is not compulsory. If we do not get them, we do not get them. We have enough quality.

'That will not be an excuse if I do not get a player, not to compete.'

Wenger, though, maintains he is not about to move for ex-Gunner Nicolas Anelka, who is known to be keen on a return to the club at which he made his name should the chance arise.

Anelka - now 28 and with Bolton - enjoyed a successful spell with Arsenal and helped fire them to the Premier League and FA Cup double in 1998 before joining Real Madrid for £22million a year later.

Wenger has no doubts about the qualities of the French striker, but feels he has enough other attacking options within the squad.

'At the moment I have not made any offer for Anelka,' the Arsenal manager said.

'I felt we had the strikers we needed, and also I wanted a player like Eduardo, who can play on the flanks and with (Emmanuel) Adebayor, or with (Robin) van Persie.

'That is why we have gone for Eduardo, and it was more a question of choice rather than the quality of Anelka, because I rate him very highly.

'It was just we have others who play in the same position.'

Wenger added: 'I can bring in who I want and the board do not interfere in that, unless there is a compulsory financial situation that we cannot afford.'

Wenger's major summer signing was striker Eduardo.

The Brazilian-born Croatia international will not feature this weekend, however, as the club are still awaiting a work permit from the Home Office after an initial application was refused.

Wenger is 'confident' ahead of the appeal on August 2, and revealed the striker would most likely play in the Amsterdam Tournament next weekend, as that is not governed by United Kingdom rules.

'We sign our contracts subject to work permits, so we have not been negligent,' insisted Wenger.

'If the work permit does not happen, we are not in a position where we are obliged to keep the player.'

Wenger will now prepare his side to face Inter Milan on Sunday.

The Arsenal boss was impressed how the squad - missing the likes of Togo striker Adebayor, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott and Gilberto - adapted against a side who begin their domestic season next weekend.

'We had many players out today, and I also left some on the bench,' said Wenger.

'Overall, against a very good Paris team, it was a good, hardworking performance.

'We took control in the second half and won the game normally.'

Wenger added: 'You can learn the different associations you can make in your team, risk things you cannot do in normal championship games.

'You can also discover how close the young players are to competing at the top level, and also see where you stand physically.'

PSG coach Paul Le Guen, meanwhile, feels Arsenal can compete for top honours next season.

The former Rangers boss said: 'I think they will be in a position to play for one of the top places.

'When they are complete and have players like Adebayor up front, they will be very strong.

'Their young players, like [Cesc] Fabregas will also have one more year experience.

'I think Arsenal will be very hard to play and can challenge Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.'

Freddie: Henry leaving helped decision to quit

Freddie: Henry leaving helped decision to quit

West Ham have completed the signing of Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg.


The Sweden international, 30, had been the Gunners' longest serving player after costing Arsene Wenger's side £3million in 1998 from Halmstads.

Ljungberg joins long time team-mate and star striker Thierry Henry, who signed for Barcelona in June, in leaving the club this summer.

The midfielder played 325 times for Arsenal, scoring 72 goals, but lost his grip on a starting spot last season.

He now joins Julien Faubert, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy and Richard Wright in moving to Upton Park since the Hammers' dramatic last-day survival last season.

Ljungberg said he left Arsenal because he felt like 'it was the end' for the club as he knew it following Henry's move.

'Two years ago when I signed my last contract we talked a lot about the future and about bringing great players to the club. Despite building the new stadium we wanted to stay top in England and do well in Europe.

'For me that didn't really happen.

'I stayed because I wanted to stay loyal to Arsenal. But when Henry left this summer it felt like the end for me unfortunately.

'I felt like all the unbeaten players (from Arsenal's `invincibles' of 2003/04) had left. I wanted to be loyal but I felt like it was the right time.

But Ljungberg also insisted there were positive reasons behind his decision and insisted he shared owner Eggert Magnusson's vision.

'I'm coming here because I want to build a great team.

'And why I want to join is because of Magnusson. He wants to bring them forward to be top of the country.

'He's willing to go to the transfer market to buy top players and mix them with youth players. West Ham have a great academy.

'He wants to help take the club up and take them to the top in England. It's a big challenge for me.'

Ljungberg claimed it had been a real wrench to leave Arsenal and that manager Arsene Wenger had tried to convince him to stay.

'I've been there for nine years, almost 10 years,' he said.

'It's a big thing for and I feel it in my heart a little bit.

'When I spoke to the boss, he wanted me to stay.

'But at the same time, I feel it had to be something very, very special for me to leave.

'I want to go forward and, with the people I have around me, I think it's going to be really good.'

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley believes Ljungberg was lured after seeing the other moves the club have made in the transfer market this summer.

'We spoke to Freddie over the last week and we tried to sell him the club and what we're about,' Curbishley said.

'He's seen players come in a and push us forward.'

As for Ljungberg's own qualities, Curbishley added: 'He brings a few things, Champions League experience, captain of Sweden, he's versatile.

'There's a hunger there. He wants to come and push West Ham on and be partly responsible for that.

'He's joining another terrific club and that's the way he's got to see it.

'He understands the passion of the club and the passion of the fans and I'm sure he'll be a big hit here.'

Ecclestone not ruling out Arsenal involvement

NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 21 (Reuters) - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone denied talks with Arsenal about a possible takeover bid on Saturday but said he was always open to offers.

'I don't know too much about that, actually,' the billionaire told Reuters at the European Grand Prix when asked about a report in the Mirror newspaper suggesting he could be interested in the Premier League club.

'It's good if somebody is saying that, because maybe I will be approached and maybe it will be cheap,' added the 76-year-old, who considered buying into Chelsea before the arrival of Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

'I'll buy anything if it's cheap enough,' he said.

'If somebody offers me something that I think is good value, I'll have a go.' Ecclestone confirmed that his daughter Tamara was dating the son of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, who left the club in April.

Dein, close to manager Arsene Wenger, was the man credited with much of the North London club's success over the past decade and knows Ecclestone socially.

'I talked to David obviously when they chucked him out, which I thought was a bit unnecessary,' said Ecclestone when asked about any discussions with Dein about Arsenal.

Ecclestone, who frequently attends matches at Chelsea, said involvement in Arsenal could be embarrassing.

'Look at what a problem I'd be in with Chelsea if I bought Arsenal,' he said.

Reports in the British media on Friday suggested that American tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns 12.2 percent of the club, was preparing to launch a takeover bid for Arsenal.

The club's refusal to welcome Kroenke's overtures in April prompted the departure of Dein, who was sympathetic to the sale. Dein still has a 14.5 percent stake in the club.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said at the time that he would be 'horrified if the club were to go across the Atlantic.'

Saturday's Mirror suggested that an Ecclestone bid would be more acceptable by keeping the club in British hands.

Fabregas eyes skipper armband at Arsenal

Fabregas eyes skipper armband at Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas has underlined his commitment to Arsenal by stating his willingness to skipper the club.


The 20-year-old Spain midfielder has chosen to stay at the Emirates Stadium despite interest from Real Madrid, and he feels the club has a chance for success this season despite the loss of Thierry Henry to Barcelona.

Gilberto Silva is the current captain following Henry's departure but Fabregas admits he would eventually like the armband.



'Everybody wants this kind of responsibility and 100% me as well,' he said. 'It's something that I have liked ever since I have been young and it would be no problem for me to be captain of this club.'

Fabregas is confident Henry's departure will not be affected next season, although he admits the France forward will be missed.

'Thierry has been really, really important to this club over the past eight years,' he said on arsenal.com. 'We have scored a lot of goals because of him but now he is gone and we have to move on. We wish him all the best at Barcelona.



'The future is looking good. We have very good young players and most of them are teenagers. We are all ready to fight for the League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the Carling Cup, for everything.

'We must fight for everything that is in front of us. We must prove we are not just young but that we are winners.'


Wenger wants Arsenal to have ruthless streak

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to see his side develop a ruthless streak against weaker opposition to give themselves a chance in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners took points off the other teams in the top four last season and did the double over winners Manchester United but still finished 21 points off the pace.

'If you make a table of the results against the other teams in the top four, then we were top,' Wenger said. 'Then if you make a table against the teams in the top half, Manchester United have 43 points, we have 40, so do Chelsea, and Liverpool have 33.

'That shows that we lost the championship against teams in the bottom half of the table.

'So that is where we will have to be much more efficient this season. We have to be consistent in our mental preparation, in our ruthlessness as well.'

Defender Kolo Toure agrees with his manager, and added: 'We showed we can make it. If you can beat Manchester United you can beat any team in the league.

'Maybe sometimes what we missed was being focused on the game through the whole season. To be the champions you need to concentrate for all the games.'

Meanwhile, Wenger is likely to wait until the season starts before appointing a director of football at the Emirates Stadium.

He has been looking for a new man to work with since the departure of David Dein as vice-chairman in April but is willing to wait in an attempt to keep a settled atmosphere over the summer.

Club scout Gilles Grimandi is considered the front-runner for the new post, with Reading's Nicky Hammond also suggested as a suitable candidate. In the meantime, long-serving Arsenal director Ken Friar has been working with Wenger.

'I wanted to do it before the end of the season when I started buying and selling,' said Wenger on the club's official website.

'But then I thought that now is the worst time because I have no time to tell someone how I want to do things.

'I did not want to unsettle the team before the end of the transfer market. So at the moment I work with Ken Friar and it is working well for us.'

Wenger has brought Lukasz Fabianski, Eduardo Da Silva, Havard Nordtveit and Bacary Sagna to the club this summer as Arsenal plan for the post-Thierry Henry era, although the most important signing would be for the manager to agree a new contract.

The Frenchman's current deal expires at the end of the coming season, with negotiations under way.

'For me, I think he will stay,' said Toure on Arsenal TV Online. 'Mr Wenger brings something special to this club and to keep him would be a great thing.

'We need to win some trophies and I'm sure Mr Wenger will bring lots of trophies to the club.'

Fergie: Arsenal better off without Henry

Fergie: Arsenal better off without Henry

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects Arsenal to be a better team next season without talisman Thierry Henry.

Click here
Henry's departure to Barcelona has led to predictions of Arsene Wenger's side struggling for inspiration, but Ferguson feels it could have the opposite effect.

Arsenal have not finished outside the top four of the Premier League since Wenger was appointed in 1996 and Ferguson believes they will be in the top four along with United.

'They'll be in the top four,' said Ferguson on Sky Sports News. 'I'm more convinced they will be in the top four without Thierry Henry.

'I just thought it was time for him to go. Arsene Wenger knew that, and I think they'll do better.'

Wenger is continuing preparations for the post-Henry era by fielding a strong line-up against Barnet in a friendly at the weekend.

'It could be a very strong team at Barnet,' Wenger told www.Arsenal.com.

'Basically the players that are back in training are available, so you could see Kolo Toure, Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, Mathieu Flamini, Denilson, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.

'They are all likely to be included so it should be a very familiar side.'

Wenger has just completed the signing of France Under-21 defender Bacary Sagna from Auxerre, his fourth signing of the summer.

'We've been very impressed by him,' said club scout Gilles Grimandi.

'We've watched him both playing for Auxerre and the under-21 team and scouted him over more than 40 games.'

Reyes desperate to secure Arsenal exit

Jose Antonio Reyes is hopeful Real Madrid will soon reach an agreement with Arsenal for his permanent transfer to the Bernabeu.




Having spent last season on loan with the Spanish champions, the Arsenal forward is keen to remain in Madrid.

Reyes travelled to London last week in the hope of negotiating his permanent move to Madrid, but he remains an Arsenal player.

'No agreement has been reached so far,' admitted Reyes. 'But I hope the situation will be resolved as soon as possible for my benefit.

'Next season I hope to win everything - and if it's with Real Madrid even better.'

The 23-year-old moved to Arsenal from Sevilla in January 2004, but struggled to adapt to English life.

'The rain was one of the main reasons why I didn't adapt well to that country,' said the Seville-born player.

Madrid begin their pre-season training on July 21.

Fabregas snubs Real and stays a Gunner

Cesc Fabregas has snubbed a move to Real Madrid and pledged his future to Arsenal.

The midfielder, arguably the Gunners' prize asset following the departure of Thierry Henry, revealed he had held talks with the Spanish giants.

The 20-year-old, one of Arsene Wenger's best signings when he arrived for nothing from Barcelona four years ago, was flattered by Real's interest.

He said in The Sun: 'I'm very grateful to Real and it is an honour that such a great club is interested in me.

'But after the departure of Thierry Henry to Barcelona I couldn't leave Arsenal in the lurch.

'I spoke to Real's president Ramon Calderon and sport director Predrag Mijatovic and they are spectacular people.

'It was very satisfying to listen to them as Real Madrid is a great club but I have decided to stay at Arsenal.

'I had a long talk with Wenger. He is someone I can talk to about anything.'

Henry claims he decided to leave Arsenal because Wenger had not committed his future to the club beyond next summer, when his contract expires.

But Fabregas said: 'I have total confidence in the boss that he will sign a new deal.

'Wenger believes in this team and has a lot of confidence in the squad.

'I am only 20 and all I have to do is enjoy my football and improve - and I want to do that with this team. I will try to win titles with Arsenal and give my all to Arsene Wenger.

'I will always be grateful to him for giving me my chance.'

Now Fabregas is hoping Arsenal continue to spend this summer to help make up for the loss of Henry, and he believes the striker's new team-mate Samuel Eto'o would be the perfect replacement.

'I would try to sign Eto'o - he would be the ideal replacement for Henry,' Fabregas said.

'I know it's difficult, maybe impossible, but it would be the perfect solution.'

Arsenal deny Madrid nonsense - Arsecast 35 out now!

Arsenal deny Madrid nonsense - Arsecast 35 out now!

6
Jul
2007

A fairly slow one this morning with the main story centering around Arsene Wenger and Real Madrid. Shit stirring Real President Ramon Calderon threw AW’s name into conversation saying that they had had talks with him about replacing Fabio Capello (the coach who won them the league and got sacked). Arsenal were very quick to rubbish the story, releasing a statement saying:

It is completely untrue. Arsene Wenger has not had talks with Real Madrid and is committed to Arsenal Football Club.

Now, he might well have been talking to Real Madrid but it was probably about José Antonio Reyes, not the manager’s job. Still, Calderon has to make it look as if he’s tried everything before giving the job to someone else. Honestly, it’s such a poisoned chalice at that club. Vincente del Bosque did great things and won the Champions League the season he was sacked. Capello won the league and got sacked. Just make sure you don’t raise the expecation levels too high, Ramon. As well as that he’s currently under investigation due to the scandal over the postal votes which were not counted when the Presidential election took place last year. A key witness said he saw postal votes being tampered with. That key witness is now on the board of Real Madrid. Classic.

AS report that Reyes is in London trying to sort out his future with Arsenal. Real Madrid and Sevilla are said to be interested and they say Arsenal would accept €10m for him despite looking for €14m not so long ago. Real only want to spend €7m and will do everything in their sneaky, tricky power to lower the price with Calderon giving fresh hope to the player saying he could be an important part of Real’s future. José is in Arsene’s office, going:

“Por Favooooooooooooooooooooooor” and Arsene Wenger is all like “Whatever” and he’s like “Mister, pooooooor favooooooooooorrrrrrrr” and the boss is like “Don’t be up in my grill, bitch”.

Sevilla should have plenty of money to buy him after their sales in recent years, their European exploits and the fact they’ll have Champions League football. We’ll just take Dani Alves as part of the deal. Lovely. Nice doing business with you.

Carlos Tevez and Man United? Well, Tevez would be nice and the idea of him going to United is a bit scary but his ownership situation is complicated to say the least. Reports this morning say that United will pay Kia Jorbachian £6m to ‘loan’ Tevez to them for the season. They then have to pay Tevez £100,000 per week which, for one season, works out at over £10m for a player you don’t own and can’t sell. The Premier League are saying that West Ham must be the ones to receive a transfer fee but I doubt, if the deal goes through, they’ll see a penny of it.

Plus I think we might be in the market for a striker still. It’s just a feeling but I’m wondering if Arsene doesn’t see Eduardo da Silva as more of a replacement for Pires, to provide the goals from midfield we missed so much, while still bringing in a striker like Anelka or Martins. Anyway, thoughts on that in the Arsecast.

Arsecasts

In this week’s Arsecast, brought to you by OleOle.com who have great coverage of the Copa America at the moment, you’ll find me waffling, the Man in the Bar with his guff, more from David O’Leary and that’s about it. No blogchat this week so it’s a slightly shorter ‘cast.

To subscribe to the arsecast in iTunes - click here. To download this week’s arsecast directly - click here (11.5mb MP3). You can find the arsecast archives here. And you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.

da silva

Arsenal out for Silva-ware

3
Jul
2007

How very Arsenal. One moment nothing, the next we’ve signed a player and a player that not one Arsenal website, not one tabloid, not one reader of Arsenal websites and tabloids had predicted for a second. Classic Arsene.


Shot at 2007-07-03

Eduardo da Silva joins on the usual terms, a long term contract for an undisclosed fee. Despite reports suggesting the fee might be the whole £16m we got for Thierry Henry I’m told it’s closer to £7.8m which is still a fair chunk of money.

Eduardo da Silva joins ArsenalSo, what do we know about him?

1. His goalscoring record is very good. 83 goals in 119 first team games in his career
2. He’s got 7 goals in 12 internationals from Croatia
3. He is nicknamed ‘Dudu’ which is scatalogically amusing
4. He was born in Brazil but moved to Croatia at age 15. Already he has been labelled ‘Crozillian’ which sounds awesome.
5. He is left footed
6. He likes toasted cheese sandwiches from Breville sandwich makers

Well, we don’t really know that last one but who doesn’t like toasted cheese sandwiches from a Breville sandwich maker? Only those in league with Satan, that’s who.

Here’s a YouTube link to his 34 goals in 32 games last season for Dinamo Zagreb and his finishing and arriving into the box late puts me in mind of Robert Pires (not that I’m trying to raise people’s expectations here but it does). And here’s an article from last month in the Guardian about him.

The player says:

I am excited and happy at the same time, also very proud that I am going to play in such a big club. Every football player wants to play for Barcelona, Real, Manchester United or Arsenal one day and so do I.

Excellent, just what you’d expect him to say. Personally I think this could be a very good signing indeed. The reaction yesterday was quite amusing, I thought. Reading around the blogs once people had got over the excitement of us actually making a signing then people’s opinions were quite mixed. Yes, it’s a big step up in quality from the Croatian league to the Premiership but he’s already been called ’special’, and not in a window licking way, by Croatia coach Slaven Bilic who was fullsome in his praise of our new boy.

However, his goalscoring record and the way he scores his goals is very promising indeed. The idea that Arsenal NEED a big money signing to make some kind of statement or to keep certain sections of fans happy is just ridiculous. What we need are players who can come in and do a job straight away whether they cost £1m or £20m and despite all the evidence to the contrary there are still people who think that big money transfer = big success.

It just shows that even though some people are accusing the club of doing nothing there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about. Here’s hoping there’s more going on we don’t know about. More stuff like this. Anyway, the proof is in the pudding so we shall have to wait to see him in an Arsenal shirt before we make our first real judgement of the player so until then let’s just welcome him to the best football club in the galaxy and hope that Arsene has unearthed another gem. He’s due one, in fairness.

The Chairman, PH-on the down low-Wicky, wicky, wild wild West, spoke about the transfer and hinted there might be further purchases, saying:

As always with Arsene there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

More good news yesterday came from Cesc’s agent who dismissed the interest of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the player and said he was looking forward to the new season. He also hinted at more transfer activity, saying:

Arsenal are going to buy a lot of good players and they are going to be a major team both in the Premier League and Champions League. Without Thierry, Cesc is one of the best players at Arsenal and this is fine for him, he is happy with the responsibility.

Splendid. More players. More Cescy goodness. What a morning.

Various reports in the broadsheets suggest Arsene Wenger is set to sign Bakary Sagna, the right back we don’t need, so we’ll either sign someone else entirely or there’s a plan about where to play this lad. As well as that some papers are saying that doesn’t signal the end of our attacking purchases with Martins and Anelka still on the radar but we shall have to wait and see what happens there.

So, the curious way of the Arsenal strikes again. Never one to do things the conventional way I expect our next signing to be announced by Arsene Wenger wearing comedy Groucho Marx glasses and ‘tache from an Italian restaurant with red and white checked tablecloths and drinking a carafe of house red.

Makes sense, doesn’t it?