By Ian Grant
Comment
ANR received quite a few replies about the midweek performance, which we’ll put up soon.
One thing that strikes me is that the combined transfer price paid for four of the five Arsenal defenders playing in Munich was £4m.
Compare that to the £40m-£50m defences that Man U and Chelsea put out. That could well account for the fact both are only in one goal deficits compared to Arsenal’s two.
There was also a telling statistic that out of 16, 2-goal deficits in the Champions League, only two clubs have turned that round and gone through in the second leg. And Campbell is most probably out with Ballack returning.
As for Kenyon’s remarks that Chelsea are London’s only club, a recent international SPORT+MARKT survey made Arsenal four to five times more popular.
In a survey of 15-69 year-olds with an interest in televised football, by the German based research outfit, Arsenal came fourth with Chelsea ninth. Real Madrid had 40m, Man U 19m, followed closely by Barcelona and Arsenal, with Chelsea on just under 3m.
And finally in a bad news week – a bit of good news that Jeremy Aliadiere has come through a reserve game OK.
Meanwhile, a weekly news review.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are in agreement about something at last. Ferguson said in the Irish Examiner: “If you’ve got a facility and structure and resources, you should be able to scout the whole of Great Britain. We couldn’t take a boy from Carlisle, for example, or Grimsby. Nor could Liverpool or Arsenal. You’re not helping the young kids in these areas.”
Liam Brady hit back at foreigner only jibes, and said in the Independent: “They are saying Arsenal are not interested in English players. Well, I am on my way to see lots of games where there will be over 100 English boys taking part in Arsenal teams ranging from the age of nine to 14. We provide excellent facilities and FA-qualified coaches for those kids.”
PLAYERS
Tuesday:At time of writing Arsenal are waiting on appeals to the FA Disciplinary Committee on Dennis Bergkamp’s red card, and Antonio Reyes’ alleged violent conduct, in the Sheffield United Cup match.
Friday: Both got three match bans and will miss Southampton, Sheffield Utd; and Portsmouth games.
Antonio Reyes says in the Daily Star: “I think we may end up facing Real in the final. I would like to beat them then everybody will be saying that Arsenal are better than Real. That would be nice.”
And added: “I know that Arsenal are a better side than Bayern Munich and I think we’ll prove that over the two legs. I wasn’t concerned that we didn’t bring in new players in January. I don’t think our success is dependent on strengthening the squad.”
And added: “Mr Wenger and the club are doing a great job and even though we don’t spend as much as some teams, we are still every bit as good as Chelsea, Real Madrid, Juventus or any of the others.”
Charlie Nicholas said in the Arsenal Magazine: “When he [Reyes] has the ball and is running at pace, Reyes is the best player I”ve seen since Maradona. Defenders don”t know which way he is going to go. And he can finish in such dramatic style.”
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Bayern coach, Felix Magath said: “Arsenal are a top team that could win the Champions League – if they were not playing Bayern,”
Prior to Tuesday, William Hill’s betting odds for the Champions League were: 11-2 Chelsea, 13-2 Barcelona, 7-1 AC Milan, 15-2 Arsenal. Now Arsenal are 25-1.
LADIES
Arsenal Ladies have been drawn away to Everton Ladies in the FA Cup.
TRANSFER RUMOURS
The Star on Sunday posits that Scott Parker could join Arsenal at the end of the season.
New week – new goalkeeping link. Arsenal, says the People, are showing increasing interest in Mallorca’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya.
Essien, the Lyon and Ghana midfielder is confirmed by AFP as interesting Arsenal, who, it claims, have been in touch. The only trouble is that Man U, Real, Barcelona and Juventus have too. But maybe Arsenal’s Franco-African culture could swing it.
MISCELLANEOUS
The South China Morning Post points out estate agents double speak, saying “Highbury became Highbury Barn, as if there were fields of farmers, not Arsenal fans nearby.”
Neil Warnock said after the FA Cup tie: “My directors told me: On no account win this match. So they will be delighted.”