TRANSFERS/RUMOURS
Fabregas invites Torres to Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas has invited his teammate in the Spanish national squad, Fernando Torres, to join him at Arsenal, reports EL Pais.
“We would love him to come because he’s a complete player with a physique that I think is great,” Fabregas said. “Torres is a good player, a great goalscorer, and we’d love him to sign for us.”
Man U grab Arsenal targets?
Manchester United have snaffled a couple of Brazilian youngsters that the Manchester Evening News says Arsenal were after.
Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio from Fluminense are the players in question, and play on either side of midfield as wing backs. They play for Brazil u-15s, and will feature in the World u-17 tournament.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Barca rest eight
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has rested eight regulars for the Primera Liga clash with Sevilla on Saturday to keep them fresh for Wednesday’s Champions League final against Arsenal.
Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o Ludovic Giuly, Deco, Carles Puyol, Edmilson, Rafael Marquez and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are all left out of the squad.
Arsenal’s top seed incentive
If Arsenal beat Barcelona in Wednesday’s final, they will be top seeds next season.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are set to be among the top eight seeds in the group stage, but Chelsea will be among the second seeds and can expect to play either an Italian or Spanish heavyweight -AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
PLAYERS
Pires on Walcott
Robert Pires in The Times hails Theo Walcott as the best player of his age he has seen.
“It was a surprise for everyone to see he was selected in the 23, but it’s not such a surprise for those of us at Arsenal. He’s an interesting prospect and I think he could be a super-sub. He’s very quick, very technically gifted and a good finisher. I think he’ll be excellent if he comes on. At his age he is the best I’ve ever seen. I think he’s the youngest player I’ve ever seen who’s got all the qualities he has.”
Wright says Henry could stay
Ian Wright believes the lure of taking Arsenal into a “new era” at the Emirates Stadium could help persuade Thierry Henry to stay at the club, according to The Irish Examiner.
Wright said: “What Arsenal have to pin their hopes on is that Thierry wants to bring in the new era of the club at the new stadium. If he is in love with the new concept, then he should stay. But if he does win the Champions League, and wants, for his own sake, to go and play in a Barcelona side, who I’m sure would welcome him, who could begrudge him?”
BUSINESS
Arsenal top earners in prize money and TV cash
Arsenal’s run to the Champions League final saw them eclipse Chelsea in earnings last season.
Arsenal gained £27.2m from the Premiership, £25.1m for the Champions League, £0.4m from Cups and £52.7m in total.
For comparison:
Chelsea 28.6 17.7 1.2 47.5
Liverpool 28.1 12.7 2.4 43.2
Man Utd 29.1 9.8 0.9 39.8
Tottenham 25.9 n/a 0.3 26.2
Henk Potts, a football finance analyst with Barclays stockbrokers, said: “The Champions League is the cash cow of modern football and it is so important to the leading clubs to be part of it. It is not just the TV and prize money, though that is very lucrative in itself. But it is vital in terms of a club’s profile, merchandising and desirability for sponsors. That’s why it was so important for Arsenal to be in the Champions League next season, having spent so much money on a new stadium -and why Tottenham have been going to such lengths to try to get there themselves.”