By Ian Grant
Pick of the week:
TEAM
Henry said: “Sometimes the team gets complacent, and wakes up only after the criticism. We are our own worst enemies.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to Arsenal by adding: “When I came to Arsenal no one believed in me anymore. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger held out their hands. Now that everything’s going well, I can’t turn round and say goodbye. The coach is trying to build something. Things are moving forward. I’m part of these plans and I don’t want to leave.”
“Perfection doesn’t exist, but the quest for it makes you better. When I leave the field I think about the chances I missed, not what I achieved.” It is my dream to win the Champions League. I grew up in the Paris suburbs, and for a sportsman there is no finer academy. You learn to fight, to never give up, to feel hatred, and to possess feelings of self-assurance and arrogance.”
Vieira said: “My ambition is to win with Arsenal. I think we can win the Champions League in the next three years. We failed in the past because we did not keep concentration until the end but we are more mature now.”
And added: “Bookings, sendings off, big fines changed me. I am more quiet, more ‘Zen’.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has re-affirmed that he wants to make his move to Barcelona permanent. He has had regular first team games this season.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Reyes has shipped over his £80,000 Mercedes and has a new four-wheel drive BMW – complete with three TV screens. But Customs prevented his parents bringing in several legs of his favourite cured ham.
His father Francisco said: “We’re loving every minute of it here. The weather is pretty cold but we’ve no regrets.”
Freddie Ljungberg revealed he has been playing with a special protection to ensure there is no recurrence of his rib problem.
Gael Clichy said: “Ashley Cole and I have a very similar game, but I am at an advantage because I can copy him. You have to work out when to move out and when not to commit yourself. I watch how Ashley does it a lot. He knows how to time things.”
And added: “I listen to Sol when we are on the field because he is the player next to me in the defence. Sometimes when I am having difficulties with my positioning he will say things to me during half-time or afterwards.”
“Vieira looks after me the most, he’s the most like a big brother, but all of them are great – they have all supported me. Even before I actually joined Arsenal, I was a fan of the club. Now I am one of the players, but still a supporter.”
Kanu is in talks with Arsenal chiefs about a new contract, according to All Africa. Kanu’s current deal runs out in the summer, but he is reportedly prepared to take a wage cut and reportedly wanted by manager Arsene Wenger for next season.
Jeremie Aliadiere scored his sixth reserve team goal of the season in a 3-0 win against Leicester. Hoyte and Papadopolous scored the others.
GROUND
Paddy Power is taking bets on which UK company will get naming rights for the new Arsenal ground. O2 is seen as the most likely contender at 13-8 against. Nike is 7-2, Coca-Cola 5-1, and British Airways 6-1. The British Library and Specsavers are both 200-1.
The Sunday Times posits that the Woolwich Building Society could step in, prompting the brand new name of the Woolwich Arsenal Stadium.
Keith Edelman said: “The funding will enable us to ensure we have money available for a good-sized transfer budget. The first sign of that was the [Jose Antonio] Reyes signing, which we wouldn’t have been able to afford to do had we been staying at Highbury.”
MISCELLANEOUS
Sepp Blatter confirmed FIFA would take no sanctions against Arsenal or United if they reach the FA Cup final on May 22 and did not release players for the France versus Brazil centenary game on May 20.
Blatter would like domestic leagues to be a maximum of 18 teams – ideally 16. “We should have between 43 and 47 dates for domestic football. Players should not play more than 60 games a year.”
Southampton striker Kevin Phillips was yesterday fined £2,000 by the Football Association and warned over his future conduct for his part in an incident with Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Michel Platini, who was at Highbury on Saturday said: “They [Arsenal] are a beautiful team to watch because they play with so much flair and have an amazing spirit.Playing for Arsenal has helped them [the French players] become even better players because the Premiership is such a tough and demanding league.
And added: “Vieira and Henry are wonderful players but Pires has also moved onto another level since joining Arsenal. They play under a great coach and playing together is good for their club and for their country. Arsenal are a great team and are playing some of the best football in Europe.”
WENGER
Wenger said: “I refused Real because, on the playing front, the project lacked a bit of spice. Also, becoming a national coach does not interest me. What does is trying to win the Champions League against 20 clubs – 18 of which have bigger budgets.”
Wenger has said he would like video evidence during matches to help referees over difficult decisions, including offsides and incidents in the box. He said that soccer could not hold out much longer, given other sports use it.
Edelman said on Wenger: “we want him [Arsene Wenger] to be here for as long as he wants to. The chairman’s even said he might be a chairman in years to come. He’s got the intellectual capability to do it, which I think is very rare for a manager. And when you’ve built something you don’t want to walk away from it. I think he’ll be with us for very many years.”
FANS
According to the Daily Star: “UEFA are set to investigate claims from Arsenal supporters that they were set upon in Spain by baton-wielding police who allegedly attacked women.”
ARSENAL LADIES
Julie Fleeting – currently with Arsenal Ladies – played for the San Diego Spirit last season, before the league ran out of money in September leaving the US with no professional women’s soccer. Moves are afoot to find the cash to re-launch the league in 2005.