By Ian Grant
PLAYERS
FIFA’s technical study group, assessing players and teams in Korea and Japan, decreed that Sol Campbell enjoyed a better World Cup than Rio Ferdinand.
Former Celtic and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Bonner today urged David Seaman not to quit international football after his performance against Brazil.
Dave Seaman looks set to extend his international career in a bid to erase the memory of the 2-1 defeat against Brazil.
According to the Scottish Daily Record David Seaman was subjected to shameful boos from some sports hacks gathered to interview him at a press conference. The hecklers were eventually shouted down by colleagues.
Arsenal have not yet abandoned hope that skipper Tony Adams may yet ask for one more year in the Premiership before retiring.
The Express on Sunday astrological analysis says – as far as Vieira is concerned the grass will always look greener on the other side of the fence, but at least he gives the fans value for money. His silky skills come courtesy of a Sun-Venus conjunction which adds grace and skill to his physical presence – wherever that presence may be.
The Sunday Mirror reckons Thierry Henry is dating his TV girlfriend in the new Renault Clio ads. English model Nicole Merry plays the Arsenal star’s lover in the new £1million “Va Va Voom” campaign for the French cars. But the paper says Nicole, 22, has moved into the striker’s £7million home in North London.
Tony Adams said: “If England are to progress and realise the potential of this group, to beat the very best nations in the latter stages of tournaments, then Eriksson will have to add some wit and invention to the solidity and resolve. His teams in club football show him to be a cautious leader. But the game has moved on from over-caution in recent years.”
Martin Keown is to retire from international football. “Though I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at international level, it is unlikely I will be involved with England in the future.”
Agent Jerome Anderson reckons Inanmoto’s performances have put an extra £2m on his transfer fee.
The Express says Thierry Henry was in disagreement with French manager Roger Lemerre, asking not to be played on the left and claiming: “I’ve been in the middle at Arsenal for three years, I don’t know how to play there any more.”
WENGERSPEAK
Arsene Wenger has backed the England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s call for a shorter Premiership season – but at a price. The players, he says, will have to take a pay cut. Wenger said, “but I have yet to be told how. How can you keep paying the players at the current rates if the numbers of matches, which are the main source of revenue for clubs, are reduced?”
The Daily Star says France’s humiliating first-round exit from the World Cup has led to calls for Arsene Wenger to succeed Roger Lemerre as national coach.
A French football website conducted a survey as to who should replace Lemerre – and Wenger was clear favourite with 40.7 per cent of the vote.
TV
Provisional televised Sky games featuring Arsenal are: August: Sun 18: Arsenal v Birmingham. September: Sun 1: Chelsea v Arsenal. Tue 10: Arsenal v Man City. Sat 28: Leeds v Arsenal. December: Sat 7: Man Utd v Arsenal. Sun 29: Arsenal v Liverpool.
TRANSFERS/TALK
Japan midfielder Junichi Inamoto is considering a move to Italy after receiving a formal offer from Serie A club Perugia, his agent said this week. Inamoto, who has been told he is surplus to requirements by Arsenal, has also attracted interest from premier league club Fulham, Dutch side Feyenoord and Atalanta of Italy.
Arsenal are interested in signing Bayern Munich’s England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, says the Standard.
Lee Bowyer is a £9m target for champions Arsenal, say several papers.
Arsenal are also in the race to pay £8m for Brazilian central defender Edmilson from Olympique Lyon but they face a fight from two European rivals – believed to be Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Edmilson has three years left on his contract at the French club but their president Jean-Michel Aulas has flown to Japan for talks.
He said: “Edmilson has told us he wants to leave. I had an initial inquiry from Bayern Munich but we turned them down. I now have three offers on the table – one from England, one from Germany and one from Spain.”
Fulham have joined West Ham in a five-club chase for Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown. Newcastle, Blackburn and Manchester City have also expressed an interest in Keown. But even though Arsenal have offered Keown only a one-year contract instead of the two-year deal he wants, he has not given up on negotiations.
Keown, who has 42 international caps said he had not made a decision about his future at Arsenal. “Other clubs are interested in me and I do not know whether I will be at Highbury next season. The club’s offer has to be right.”
Another paper reckons Arsene Wenger has suddenly cooled in his pursuit of Holland centreback Kevin Hofland. He has tracked the PSV Eindhoven defender for six months but is reluctant to meet the asking price of £13 million. It posits that if he does decide to buy a new defender, Ipswich’s Titus Bramble could prove better value at around £4m.
One paper says Turkish striker Hasan Sas is being lined up by Arsenal if the Gunners lose Freddie Ljungberg to Italy this summer. It says Wenger has earmarked the 25-year-old Galatasaray star Sas as a potential replacement, aware that he will probably cost no more than £10m.
The Sunday People reckons Arsenal have shown little enthusiasm for the idea of signing Rivaldo from Barcelona after learning the striker would want £90,000-a-week after tax.
According to the Sunday Herald – Ronaldo has denied newspaper reports in Italy that he may be set to leave Inter Milan to join Arsenal next season. In an interview with Italian television network RAI from his training camp in Japan, the Brazilian star forward said he hadn’t discussed a possible transfer.
The Rome daily Corriere dello Sport has reported that Juventus are negotiating with Arsenal to swap Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero for French midfielder Patrick Vieira.
The Sunday Times said that Arsenal’s hopes of signing PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel increased when Barcelona pulled out of the race last week.
Newly-promoted Serie A side Como want Arsenal midfielder Gilles Grimandi, on a free from Arsenal, says the People.
The Mirror reckons Arsenal may join the race to sign Valencia star Kily Gonzalez. There are however on-going negotiations between £15m-rated Gonzalez’s advisers and Inter Milan. Barcelona are also keen.
The Mirror reckons Chelsea are ready to sacrifice £12million-rated striker Eidur Gudjonsen – and that has alerted Arsenal.
Turkey midfielder Emre Belozoglu has been linked with an £4.5million move to Arsenal as a stand-in for the injured Robert Pires. His representatives have this week claimed a deal to be concluded within two weeks.
Arsenal are ready to make a £7million move for England defender Danny Mills says the Daily Star.
Wenger also has an eye on Fulham and Republic of Ireland right-back Steve Finnan, who is a big Arsenal fan.
GROUND
The property company Workspace sold Ashburton Estate, situated on the land earmarked for the proposed new stadium development for Arsenal. It said the proposed development had effectively blighted the site and made it difficult to let vacant space. A disposal at full value, excluding the effect of the proposed development, was therefore considered the best course.
BUSINESS
MmO2 announced that it had signed a number of deals with other companies to provide MMS content. They include Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen.
LEGAL ETC;
Fibres from an Arsenal hat helped convict Ian Horgan for murdering Rachel Kiely in Ireland, after forensic investigations.
Mick Doherty, a postal worker who won a case of unfair dismissal after being sacked for allegedly being involved in football hooliganism (Arsenal v Galatasaray in the UEFA 200 final) has been offered £125,000 compensation.