By Ian Grant
Arsenal form new company to finance the stadium
Arsenal are to form a new company to finance their proposed £100 million stadium.
The club thinks it best to separate the stadium financing from the clubs normal activities.
The club’s annual meeting, traditionally held in mid-August, has been delayed until Sept 7 to allow the necessary paperwork to be processed on condition that the scheme is approved by at least 75 per cent of the shareholders. Details will be sent out on 13 August.
Arsenal Holdings PLC will become the holding company for Arsenal Football Club with an independent board of directors. At present Arsenal are part of OFEX.
Campbell
Wenger revealed that Sol Campbell could make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt next weekend at Rushden, and added that he is certain Vieira will turn up for training on Monday.
Sol has been in Italy.
£/point valuation
The Sunday Times does a salary/PTA index comparison of points/£ and Sol Campbell at 866 points and £120,000 comes out at a very poor value – £7,205 per point.
Vieira speculation
Patrick Vieira reports back for pre-season training this week and is expected to put out a statement saying he is looking forward to playing for Arsenal this season.
The likely scenario is that Vieira will leave Arsenal after the 2002 World Cup finals.
Real’s Vicente del Bosque would like to add Vieira to Real Madrid’s awesome midfield. In return Arsenal can have Claude Makelele, Geremi – supposedly on his way to Chelsea – and a fee in the region of £15m (www.sport24.com).
Tomas Danilevicius goes to Belgium
Tomas Danilevicius – is set to join Belgian club FC Beveren on loan. The Lithuanian striker has made just three first-team appearances since joining Arsenal from Swiss club Lausanne for £1million in December, and joins Beveren on a one-year deal.
Veron odds
The Mirror points out that Manchester United sign the hugely influential Juan Sebastian Veron but few bookies bother to shave their Premiership odds.
Arsenal sign the huge Sol Campbell and within minutes every bookie in the land slashes the Gunners in the title betting.
Manninger for Borussia?
Alex Manninger, could be set for Borussia Monchengladbach. (www.planetfootball.com).
Van Bronckhurst truths
An article in the Sunday Mail says”Football in Scotland has toughened me up and it also made me more aware. As a result, my skill and ability to score goals from midfield has also improved.”
Giovanni is surprised that no-one knows him in england, saying one paper called him a striker.