By Ian Grant
THANKS
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COMMENT
Chelsea [£134m] v Arsenal [£9m] was / is really Money v Football. Will loyalty, values and the spirit of football win the day? Or will money and the mercenary blues win through?
PLAYERS
Sol Campbell has opened discussions to extend his contract beyond next year, when it runs out. “We’ve already talked about it and, hopefully, we will talk again before the end of the season”. He added that the fact it was in the pipeline was positive.
Jermaine Pennant looks to on his way out of Leeds following plans to reduce the wage bill. Pennant has just had his loan period extended by another month and was reported to be getting £12,000/week.
After turning down Joe Kinnear’s request for David Bentley on loan for the rest of the season, the Nottingham Forest manager has been rebuffed over Jeremie Aliadiere.
Martin Keown has persuaded Gary Neville to put together an England XI for his testimonial match at Highbury at the end of the season. Neville will boss and skipper the Three Lions select side for the game on May 17.
Jose Antonio Reyes is set to buy a £1.5million mansion in north London with marble floors, reports The People.
OLD BOYS
Mauritz Volz warned “They [Arsenal] can score from every department. If there was a way of definitely making sure they didn’t score, people would have worked it out by now. I have played them once and I have no idea. A few more games and maybe I can come up with the solution.”
“But I played with these guys in training at Arsenal, and it’s even more amazing than what you see in matches. There is pace throughout the team. And with a few of them it’s lightning pace.”
Ex-Arsenal player Junichi Inamoto looks certain to be heading back to the Far East this summer after three mixed seasons in the Premiership.
WENGER
Arsene Wenger urged Sven Goran Eriksson this week to give his England players a break next week in the friendly versus Sweden.
According to the Mirror, Arsene Wenger told Henry and Vieira not to go to the Saatchi Gallery party the night before the Champions League tie.
Wenger said: “If you ask me why we have had a better time in the Champions League, then it is because of the defence. Toure plays a big part in that. He has been a revelation this season, and so has Edu.”
“Kolo and Edu have made it into the first team and that has helped us tremendously this season. Edu has become stronger physically, stayed free of injury and his confidence has grown.”
And added: “He has a good football brain, defensively and offensively, and he’s a left-footed player, which is always good to have in midfield because it gives you another angle on the ball and in the passing.”
MISCELLANEOUS
Ranieri said ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League showdown: “Arsenal have been called the musketeers – we are the gladiators.”
According to the Evening Mail, Arsenal are the only current top flight club that did not gain their position by promotion.
Nick Hornby, said on the prospect of scattering his ashes at Highbury: “It would be nice to think that I could hang around inside the stadium in some form…I would like to feel that my children and grandchildren will be Arsenal fans and that I could watch with them. It doesn’t seem a bad way to spend eternity and certainly I’d rather be sprinkled over the East Stand than dumped into the Atlantic or left up some mountain.”
George Graham, who may be wanted by Sheffield Wednesday, said the secret of Arsenal’s success is: “This time is that they are so much more solid as a team; when they lose possession, they get everyone behind the ball in a solid 4-4 and even the front two are working hard, even Henry! “
ARSENAL LADIES
Arsenal Ladies’ form has put them in contention for the title, following a 4-0 win against Leeds. Vic Akers said: “If we win all our games we’ll have won the league.”
BUSINESS
Arsenal’s deal with O2 is the most cost-effective sponsorship campaign in European football, according to a survey by SPORT+MARKT, the German communications research group.