By Ian Grant
PLAYERS
This is a list of players who have been released by Arsenal: Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona); David Bentley (Norwich City, season loan); Alex Bailey, Stephen Bradley, Liam Chilvers (Colchester United), Craig Holloway, Kanu, Martin Keown, Nicky Nicolau, Michal Papadopulos, Paulinho, Ashley Probets, Rami Shaaban, Igors Stepanovs, Sylvain Wiltord, Sam Kanu, Dean McDonald, Dorian Small and Hassan Sulaiman. Satahis T went to Lille this week for an undisclosed fee, as well.
Which leaves a big reduction in the wage bill. So no surprise Celta goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia is coming; and Hatem Trabelsi the Ajax right back is being reported as signing for Arsenal next week, circa £4m.
Patrick Viera has demanded an apology from Le Parisien which said the Arsenal players plotted against Zidane. Vieira said respect is the most important thing. He is in line for the captaincy, along with Zidane, Bartez and Thuram.
Freddie Ljungberg said: “My body is falling apart. It’s very important we get a break now with the new season only six weeks away.”
On Sweden’s exit, he said: “It feels horrible. We had chances to knock them out but then we lose on penalties, which is a lottery. All of a sudden it’s finished.” Ljungberg added that the team would like Sven Goran Eriksson to manage it, but knows they can’t afford him.
Sol Campbell said: “I believe if it was the other way round it would have been a goal to the Portuguese. Having seen it now, I’m even more convinced that it was a goal.”
And added: “I’m coming of age and at the right performance level. I was ready this time, mentally and physically. I knew myself. I really wanted to win the tournament. Not getting to the semi-final and having the opportunity to win something for your country is a big blow.”
Ashley Cole said: “I have never experienced nerves like it, I was cr**ing myself! When you take a penalty in a competition like that you don’t want to be the villain. By simply stepping up you are taking responsibility. If you score you’re a hero, if you miss – well at least you’ve had the guts to take it.
“Afterwards in the dressing room after we had lost I don’t think anyone wanted to talk to be honest. Everyone was so down, what could you say? When we went 2-1 down we felt we were finished, but Frank Lampard was unbelievable. He never gave up. He ran his socks off, scored and then I felt we could have won it.”
And added: “I have learned a lot in this tournament. I have had a lot of people to prove wrong. Some thought that I couldn’t take my club football to the international stage. I feel I have done that now. When I went to the last World Cup it was hard for me to get used to the players. I know the players this time. I think I have done well and that has given me a lot of confidence.”
Henry said, prior to the Greece game: “”Nowadays things are different. Our opponents have taken time to study our game so we have lost the capacity to surprise people. But that is no reason for thinking of packing our suitcases and going home. Instead we have to find some solutions.”
Henry had 17 attempts on goal in the group stages, more than any other player.
TRANSFER TALK
Arsenal defender, Stathis Tavralides has gone to Lille for an undisclosed fee. He was on loan with them last season. He made ten appearances for Arsenal in this time there.
Ex-Arsenal nomad, Nicholas Anelka is in talks with Fulham over a £7m move, according to The People.
Ex-Arsenal player, Julian Gray has joined Birmingham on a three year deal.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Sylvain Wiltord is on his way to Juventus – another club to join those reportedly interested.
According to the Daily Mail Reading manager Steve Coppell is poised to sign Arsenal defender Martin Keown on a free transfer after Portsmouth’s interest cooled.
MISCELLANEOUS
If Wayne Rooney is still an Everton player, he’ll miss the opening match against Arsenal, through his broken bone. So too will Tomas Radzinski who has been called for Canada’s World Cup qualifier.
An Arsenal flag was draped on the coffin of Callum Deacon, 12, of Leicester who died following a collision with a motorbike while cycling with a friend two weeks ago.
The Scottish Daily Record reports that Ayr United’s online supporters’ side KaisAyr, beat Arsenal 7-0 in the Internet British Cup semi-final.
A team-signed Arsenal shirt via Thierry Henry has rewarded the village of Hadlow Down in East Sussex with £800 from an auction, which among other things will go towards a proper football pitch.
Supporting a football team is good for your mental health, says the Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health. Alan Pringle, a mental health expert at Nottingham University said: “We see people who kill themselves from internalising emotions, and what supporting a football team does is give you a platform to externalise it in a socially acceptable place.”
And added: “Shouting with people, swearing with people and abusing the referee with people is, in its own way, something that connects people.”
According to the Wellington Weekly News, Thierry Henry owns an Aston Martin Vanquish and Freddie Ljungberg a Ferrari 360 Spyder.