By Ian Grant
Paul Hayward says in the Daily Telegraph: “The combined transfer value of Chelsea’s squad is £189.3 million, compared to £64.6m at Arsenal and £135.7m at Man Utd. Playing devil’s advocate, one could argue that the real story of the 2004-2005 campaign is Arsene Wenger’s skill in keeping Arsenal so close to the King’s Road kings, on £124.7m less.”
With wages thrown in, Chelsea are on £304m; Man U on £211.7m and Arsenal on £133.6m.
The question people should be asking is not whether Chelsea bought the title. They have a £170m-£275m advantage on all the teams (except Man U where their advantage is £92m). But could Mourinho have won the Premiership with a squad with a combined wage/transfer cap (wtc) of £100m-£150m – something that those advocating a wtc – a growing band after Chelsea’s recent purchase, should consider.
Nevertheless, despite the huge financial imbalance, Arsene seems to be relying on youth to fight the oil funded climate change champions. He is adamant that Jose Reyes is staying at Highbury. And the Independent says Arsenal have been tracking he Italian teenager Lorenzo De Silvestri who plays for Lazio. He says he’s staying in Italy.
The Independent says Arsène Wenger’s alternatives to De Silvestri include Feyenoord’s Salomon Kalou and Gianni Zuiverloon.
And his stated preference for players in their mid-twenties with a bit of experience to balance the youth has the Mirror reporting a go-ahead to sign Stuttgart’s Belarus right-winger Aleksander Hleb, 23, who has mysteriously doubled in value since last year, rated at £12m.
Also Wenger says he hasn’t given up hope of keeping Edu – he says he’s in with a 20% chance.
Meanwhile, a weekly news review:
PLAYERS
Dennis Bergkamp who is 36 next week has said that he would like to remain at Arsenal for a further season, but if the club do not offer him a new contract, he will retire.
He has ruled out a return to Ajax and will talk to Arsene Wenger, in the next few weeks. “I don’t want to go to another club, so if it won’t be here, it won’t be anywhere. That will be the end.”
Jose Reyes says in the News of the World: “Yes, I did find English football too physical when I first came here and it was hard to adapt. But I have learned a lot and I am not afraid of the bruises. I’m not frightened of anyone and if they want to fight me on the pitch I will fight back.”
WENGER
Wenger said it was the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October, and the subsequent fallout, that put Arsenal so far behind Chelsea that they could not catch up. “We have now 77 points from 35 games and that is our second best total in the last eight years. But Chelsea have been remarkably consistent. Apart from congratulating them I can say also the difference comes from when we lost at United.”
Wenger added: “This season, everything is new for them. Success all goes for them. But next season they will be expected to do exactly the same. If they do just a little bit less, then everyone will slaughter them. That’s what happened to us. So it will be more difficult. It’s always more difficult to stay up there and come back next year and do it again.”
And he added: “In the six games after that we took only six points and Chelsea took 16. That’s where we lost the championship. It took us some time to recover from that huge disappointment.”
On the Albion form, Wenger said: “Yes, it looks good. I think people have forgotten how many youngsters we have. It has added to their experience to play in a game like this against West Bromwich fighting so hard to stay in the Premiership.”
Wenger said on West Brom’s Rob Earnshaw: “I always felt he had those kind of qualities you cannot give to a player. He is always dangerous, mobile, strong and creates chances. I’ve seen him in some games when he was a bit unlucky because he’d miss some chances but he had created them himself. But he scores goals for fun. The first season in the Premiership will help him a lot.”
And added:”I wouldn’t be surprised in the coming years if you see him amongst the top scorers. He has a fantastic record. I feel this guy will score 15 every year. We watched him at Cardiff many times and with Wales as well and he had some good games. But they always wanted a lot of money for him.”
Transfer rumours
According to the Independent, Brescia striker Andrea Caracciolo’s agent has said that Arsenal are interested in the £7m-rated player: “Arsenal have contacted us several times and we hope Roma will join the race.”
The same paper says Arsenal have been linked with Parma striker Alberto Gilardino.
The weekend press has Arsène Wenger has also apparently identifying Paris St Germain’s Jerome Rothen and Modeste M’Bami, and 21 year old Uruguay goalkeeper Sebastian Viera as possible summer targets.
David Beckham has stated he will not consider joining Arsenal until he has won La Liga with Madrid. Wenger earlier said: “”We will have some money to spend in the summer and if there was a chance to sign David Beckham, we would look at it. If the situation arises that it is possible, why not?”
Wenger told the Express: “Jens [Lehmann] has a good chance to be our No1 next season, but he is suspended in Europe at the start. He will work very hard to be number one – but the competition will be there. Jens has responded very well. Since he has come back into the team he has done very, very well.
And added: “It gave him a breather mentally. He gained respect by showing how much he worked when he wasn’t playing in the team. He has a job where you always have to be ready even in a bad situation. He didn’t complain – he just worked harder. He didn’t talk about it either and he is rewarded now. “
MISCELLANEOUS
Ashley Cole’s girlfriend, Cheryl Tweedy who is in Girls Aloud, are headlining the Party At The Bridge gig as part of Chelsea FC’s centenary celebrations.
Chelsea are aiming to beat Arsenal’s record low of 17 goals conceded set in 1998-99. They have conceded 13 goals in 35 games.
Frank Lampard told The Star: “You look at Arsenal, who have lost here [Bolton], and Man United, who have drawn. We have come and won, so others should take a look and know we are definitely the best.”
William Hill have opened a book on how many points Chelsea will win The Premiership by and make 8-11 points their 11/8 favourite. They also offer 12-15pts – 13/8; 4-7pts – 4/1; 16 or more pts -13/2; 0-3pts – 16/1.
William Hill make Arsenal 1/5 to finish second, in the Premiership with Manchester United 10/3. They have make Chelsea 10/11 favourites to retain the title next season and offer 11/4 Arsenal, Man U; 20 Liverpool; 66 Everton, Spurs; 100 Man C, Newcastle; 150 A.Villa.
Paul Stitt and Gary Murphy will watch Arsenal v Liverpool after bagging a pair of tickets as part of a tsunami relief fundraising effort. The PricewaterhouseCoopers duo bid 260,000 baht for the exclusive package, which was put together to raise cash for a specific Scout Camp project in the south.
According to the Daily Star, Peter Hill Wood is set to stand down as Arsenal chairman at the end of next season.