Written by Mean Lean
on
Sunday, 19 June 2011 11:44
This is partly why at times I do not enjoy writing a blog during the off season, quite frankly some of the 'stories' are indeed off.
I can just about deal with continuous stories of Obafemi Martins, Sébastien Frey, Miguel Veloso to the new crop Gary Cahill, Scott Parker etc but when hacks start taking the Michael by linking us with people like Joey Barton, then you know someone is just out there to upset me on Fathers day.
I do not want to entertain the idea of that happening, so I will give it short shrift. Arsene Wenger likes to build an harmonious dressing room, he wants a squad of intelligent people who will work together as a group and learn from each other.
This is why he booted out Jens Lehmann when he did and contrary to popular belief, it was not because he made few errors. Lehmann was slagging off Almunia left, right and center in the media so he had to go. Gallas was stripped of the captaincy and not offered a deal acceptable to the player to make him stay put because he publicly criticised the squad.
Joey Barton is a person who has put out cigarettes in team mates faces, has attacked team mates in training and he has been convicted twice on charges of violence. Unfortunately my blog does not have enough space to list the amount of offenses Barton has made over the years and quite frankly, I do not give a damn. Arsene Wenger is not buying Barton and if you respect Arsenal football club then you should not want that fool anywhere near our club.
I would rather finish fourth every season than win the league with Joey Barton infecting our squad with his presence. Arsenal football club is far more than trophies. It was not the reason why I fell in love with the club in the first place and is not the reason why I love the club so much today.
Anyway, back to reality. Of sorts.
Peter Hill-Wood has said that Barcelona have been in touch about Cesc but have not made a bid. Well that is great. Surely that is just a waste of fax paper or mobile phone credit.
I didn't really like the sound of this though.
"But he comes from Barcelona so it is understandable if he wanted to go back. However, they have not made an offer so far."
A far cry from the he is not for sale now piss off statement of last season. I much preferred Wenger's recent comments of how Cesc will be an Arsenal player for a very long time. Well something along those lines.
I don't believe that this story is over with. I suspect that Barcelona are playing games to try and push the price down while Arsenal do not want to drop below a certain amount. I hope that gap cannot be bridged from now to the start of the season. I would urge Barcelona to wrap up the deals of Sanchez and Rossi, perhaps try and buy Rooney while they are at it. Just because I think it will be good for them and nothing to do with leaving them skint a little longer.
I have yet to hear anything else about Gervinho today, so I will give you an exclusive. Arsenal Vision HQ report that a deal could be wrapped up in 48 hours. My trusty source Eddie Murphy with that piece of news.
Blackburn Rovers want to keep skipper Chris Samba at the club for at least another year. According to the Blackburn owner, Samba has ambition to play for Arsenal. At least the player has some sense but to be fair, you would have to be as thick as Joey Barton to want to stay at Blackburn Rovers over coming to Arsenal. No offense Blackburn Rovers supporters. Ok, perhaps that was a little offensive but I am sure you know where I am coming from.
I am still a little confused with the whole Samba thing to be honest. Being the somewhat sad individual that I am when it comes to my club, I decided to download a few Blackburn Rovers games via a torrent when it became clear that our interest was a little more than a rumour. Like I said yesterday, I do not pay too much attention to the opposition when we are playing them but I watched him closely.
He beat Carlton Cole in the air several times quite easily at times and that is great, that is obviously our weakness right now but let us not forget that we were the best team defensively in the league minus set pieces. When you watch Koscielny make tackle after tackle on the deck, stride away and find a red shirt, it is easy to see why.
When I watched Samba on the floor I cringed uncomfortably. He looks so awkward on the ball and when you consider that we have to play such a high line to compress the space in the opponents half of the pitch I worry about the negative side of Samba's influence to Arsenal. More often than not we play against teams who sit back and defend first and foremost. Samba will be defensively redundant unless he is subjected to a counter attack or a set piece. Now we know he is good at attacking the ball and winning headers but is he mobile enough to recover from a ball slipped down the side of him, trying to keep pace with the attacking player, win the ball and distribute it well? I am not comfortable with Squillaci doing that and I don't think I would be with Samba.
If we do sign him then I may just pull out my geek hat and compile a video of his strengths and weaknesses, giving examples of how and where those skills would or wouldn't fit in at Arsenal. Perhaps. Maybe.
Ok, I am going to indulge in some fathers day Sunday roast business. Get in!
Back tomorrow.
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