Condolences to family and friends of Danny Fiszman.
I was talking to the lawyers who did some of the contracts at The Emirates a couple of years ago and they said, unsolicited, that Danny Fiszman was a real gentleman and great to work with.
He did a rare interview on BBC Radio, when the Emirates was launched which I was involved in, and he came over as very genial. He attended some AGMs and came over as quiet but very genial.
Football historians will see him as a pivotal figure in the move to the Emirates and influencing the direction of Arsenal in the decades spanning the millennium and beyond.
There’s some interesting speculation in the Express over Pat Rice not renewing his contract with suggestions that Dragan Stojkovic, Steve Bould, or Patrick Vieira could come in. The majority of Arsenal fans would particularly welcome the latter two.
And particularly if Vieira brings these thoughts to the dressing room quoted in more than one of today’s papers:
“I am an Arsenal supporter. I am frustrated because it\’s the team who play the best in England. I love watching them play.
“But there\’s nothing in the end. The Arsenal players are doing it right but they\’ve got to add something, especially in their physical impact.
“In our time, Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn or Ray Parlour certainly had less quality in their play but they\’d put their heads where others wouldn\’t put their feet.
“Arsenal don\’t have the killer mentality of Manchester United. The problem is that important players like Fabregas and Van Persie will finish by asking questions.â€
Diaby: anyone who has watched Arsenal for over 40 years would have a jaundiced view of Diaby. Seems it was somewhat of a pot calling the kettle black argument with van Persie at half-time at Blackpool. Kicking the ball away, after what happened at Newcastle was senseless – but you can’t instill common sense.
Meanwhile the Metro drags up the Fabregas to Barca story.
“Well, I suppose I will return during the holidays! I don’t know if I will return to the team. The truth is a lot of things can happen in football.
“I’ve always said what I want and what I would like. But you know in football a lot of things can happen,” he said at the launch of Gerard Pique documentary.
Welcome to the world of uncertainty that most of us live in now.