By Ian Grant
TEAM
Johan Cruyff who believes there is a massive gap between Arsenal and Manchester United, said: “I am asked how far Arsenal can go in Europe this season and I think they can go all the way and win the Champions League.”
“If they win the tournament playing football the way only they know how then Europe would be proud to have such Champions. I watch them all the time and I simply love their style. They have loads of players I love to watch, not just Thierry Henry but Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Jose Reyes. Those guys are special, raising themselves above the ordinary.”
Arsenal were due to play six games in 20 days, but with Newcastle likely to progress in the UEFA Cup, the Gunners’ trip to St James’ Park may be postponed and the clash with Liverpool moved back 24 hours to April 11.
Arsenal are now as short as 3/1 with some bookmakers for the Champions League [we were 125/1 three months ago] and 7/1 to do the Treble. Coral have us at 9-1 after Chelsea and Real Madrid presented themselves as obstacles to the final.
Hill’s have usat 20-1 to stay undefeated in all competitions this term and 4/7 to defeat Chelsea. Bet365 have us at 3-1 to stay undefeated in the Premiership.
PLAYERS
Fredrik Ljungberg has laughed off reports of interest from Real Madrid. “It is an honour to be associated with them, but I’m very happy with Arsenal,” he said.
Ray Parlour should have recovered from knee ligament damage ready to be available for the Champions League against Chelsea.
Kanu has denied pay cut stories: “I wonder where such things emanate from and it is so surprising because I have never spoken to anyone about it this year. There’s no such talk as pay cut or whatever and I can only tell you that we are still on the negotiation table and anything can still happen before the end of the season.”
Dennis Bergkamp wants to extend his contract with Arsenal for another year. One paper says Arsenal will keep either Bergkamp or Kanu, not both.
German national coach, Rudi Voeller made it clear to Oliver Kahn that he and Jens Lehmann would meet to discuss the two goalies’ differences, which some fear could jeopardise Germany’s European Championship hopes.
“We will sit down together before the Romania match at the end of April. Conflicts can only be solved by talking,” he said.
Jose Reyes said: “When you come from nothing, you want everything. I’m fortunate to have come to a very open and cosmopolitan club. No one is forcing me to do anything and I’m being given exactly the right amount of assistance to settle in.”
Pires said: “Yes, I think he will be the fox in the box [el zorro en la caja] we’ve needed. But he’ll have to work hard. Francis Jeffers [who has returned to Everton on loan] is proof that talent alone won’t make you an Arsenal star.”
Gary Neville has selected six Arsenal players his Premiership Team of the Year: Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry – who also gets Neville’s vote for Player of the Year.
WENGER
Arsene Wenger was been named Barclaycard manager of the month for February with the player’s accolade going jointly to Dennis Bergkamp and Edu.
According to the Mirror, FA insiders have revealed that Arsene Wenger is the top choice to replace Sven Goran Eriksson if the Swede quits the England job in the summer.
COMPANY
Arsenal have appointed an American company specialising in naming rights to stadia. They recently pulled off a £70m deal in the US.
RESERVES
Adam Birchall and Cesc Fabregas both scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Tottenham Reserves.
LADIES
Arsenal Ladies reached the FA cup final and will play Charlton at Loftus Road. The game will be televised live.
MISCELLANEOUS
William Gallas groaned: “I’m starting to feel sick of us being paired against Arsenal, they are a real pain in the a…. We get them every time there is a cup draw.”
AND a CALL for HELP
Does anyone know of a reasonably priced web based database driven content management system?
Replies gratefully received.
Thanks.