Theo Walcott could break Gerry Ward’s record as the youngest Arsenal player to appear in a league match, provided his £12m (£5m up front and £7m depending on appearances etc;) goes through without any hitches.
It is looking more likely he’ll go straight to Arsenal rather than back on loan to Southampton for half a season, according to The Guardian, at any rate.
He may also jump straight into the England U-21 set up. England U-21 coach Peter Taylor said:
…if he could play half a game for the Under-21s, that would be different – that would be beneficial to him. I know what a threat he is – he’s an outstanding talent and it’ll be interesting to work with him.
If he plays a full international before the summer, he could break Wayne Rooney’s record of 17 years and 111 days as the youngest England player. But that is unlikely.
Incidentally, Walcott is descended from Sir Clyde Walcott, the West Indies Test star of the 1940s and 50s.
His nickname is ‘Tiger’ because team-mates say he looks like Tiger Woods and he has the same initials.
A story that Robert Pires has been offered a two year deal has been buried in all the transfer news.
The Express reckons, Pires will agree a two year contract as it is what he wants and it will keep him at the club until 2008.
And some choice quotes on the other additions to the squad from Wenger:
Emmanuel Adebayor (who will wear the 25 shirt) is a great addition to our squad. He has shown in his performances with Monaco and Togo that he will add great quality to our offensive game. He is tall, good in the air and makes good runs. We are looking forward to him joining the squad when he returns from the African Nations Cup.
Adebayor was lead scorer in the African World Cup qualifiers.
On Diaby, Wenger said:
He is a strong midfielder and has shown huge potential during his time at Auxerre. He will be a tremendous addition to our squad. I like his potential, his physical power, the fact that he can win a fight in the middle of the park and the fact that he’s good going forward as well. He can be a complete midfielder.
Of course he has to develop, but there is a real, real potential there. People compare him a little bit with Vieira because he has a similar stature. He is a little bit of a different player, but Patrick is a good role model for him; to model himself on Patrick would be in my opinion a good idea because he has that kind of stature and strength.
He is young, but he can make quick progress and I feel he is ready for the fight. We have known him for two or three years, but Auxerre do not have a reputation for selling players at that age.That’s why we never really came in for him.
We came in only lately because we saw that he doesn’t play and that there was an opportunity for Auxerre to release him.With him I think about the near future. You want this kind of player ideally at 24 – but at 24 he will not be available.
Players talk a load of bull before games which is highlighted in the cold light of post-match analysis but what Romford Ray told The Evening Gazette before the 7-0 thrashing takes the biscuit:
When I was a player at Arsenal, you could tell that a lot of teams were beaten in the tunnel before the kick-off. So we have to go there to be strong and play with the same fighting attitude which almost got us all three points at Newcastle.
If we can show Arsenal that we are up for it, then they will know they are in for a game. In any case, this is a good time to be playing Arsenal because they are still going through a transition stage.
They know that they won’t catch Chelsea and even second spot is going to be difficult for them. They still have a lot of very good young players, but they have lost a lot of experience. So if we can frustrate them then we will have a chance of getting something.