Wenger has not yet given up on a £10.5million move for Nicolas Anelka, according to the Mirror. The Bolton striker has been banging in the goals at the Peace Cup for Bolton.
According to The Daily Express, Obafeme Martins has snubbed a £13million switch to Arsenal and will stay at Newcastle for another season.
Meanwhile, it says Martin O’Neill is lining up a £2.5milllion bid for Justin Hoyte to ease Aston Villa’s defensive dilemma. Arsenal are now prepared to listen to offers for the 22-year-old.
The Mirror, says Cesc Fabregas wants to be the next captain of Arsenal following Thierry Henry’s defection to Barcelona. The Spaniard believes he has the drive to inspire the current crop of youngsters to fulfil their potential.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said yesterday he was “confident†that manager Arsene Wenger will extend his contract, which expires at the end of next season.
Wenger wants to see his side develop a ruthless streak against weaker opposition to give themselves a chance in the title race.
The Times says Arsene Wenger, will not appoint a director of football before the transfer window closes. Wenger wants someone to fill the role vacated when David Dein, the former vice-chairman, left in April. He says he dosen’t want to disrupt the current team of himself and Ken Friar.
Meanwhile the Daily Star says Freddie Ljungberg wants a £6m pay-off from Arsenal before he will quit the club. The Gunners were willing to let the 30year-old midfielder go on a free transer.
Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal fans (in the Evening Standard) not to compare £7.5million signing Eduardo Da Silva to Thierry Henry. The Croatia striker, is poised to make his debut for the club as a substitute against tonight and Wenger says he’s a box movement player – not someone who picks up the ball in midfield and scores wonder goals.
Arsenal teenagers Fran Merida and Carlos Vela are set to join newly promoted Primera Liga club Almeira on a season-long loan in Spain. The reserves will be poorer for it.
FourFourTwo has a profile on Armand Traoré, nicknamed: Tré. He reckons Emmanuel Eboue is the practical joker in the pack – and as its a cosmopolitan dressing room people don’t cut up trousers and hide them in lockers. Zidane is his all time favourite – but the film by the same name is boring. Hardest to play against: Drogba – so strong and Lennon – technique and speed.
There’s also a what happened next? Peter Marinello was the next big thing, “the Scottish George Best†but he lost it all in a whirlwind of booze and rotten business deals. Marinello was just 19 when Arsenal broke their transfer record to sign him from Hibernian in 1969 but he requested a move to Portsmouth in 1972 – and it all went downhill to such an extent they’re thinking of making a film about it. Worth reading to put a bit of perspective on football.
The gossip column, Insider, reckons Arsenal had lined up Gerard Houllier in case Wenger jumped ship.