By Ian Grant
Wenger told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper, he believes Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb will join Arsenal from VfB Stuttgart in the next few days.
The Bundesliga club meanwhile, told AFP, it expected a final decision to be taken on Monday.
However Chairman Herbert Briem told the ES: “We have an ultimatum that anything must be done by Sunday. If there is nothing by then, there will be no deal.” Maybe they think the confusion will lead to him staying. Apparently they want Figo.
Arsenal have had a £4.75m bid rejected and reports say £6-8m would seal a deal.
Meanwhile the Wright-Phillips to Arsenal story has taken on some substance. ANR mentioned the story last Friday, about a potential Bentley plus cash deal.
But the Star seems to think today that’s an exclusive. And now says it is a £20m race between Arsenal and Chelsea. One broadsheet says that Stuart Taylor could be thrown in too. And Arsenal have the advantage of Ian Wright and the ability to give first team football.
Guti’s agent meanwhile, Zoran Vekic revealed: “We are just waiting for an offer from Arsenal to Real Madrid. They don’t want him to leave but he has made his decision. He wants to play in the Premiership and for various reasons his number one option is Arsenal.”
Where are Arsenal going to play all these midfielders? But Patrick Vieira, 29 today, is not getting any younger. And Pires’agent, Stephane Courbis has indicated to Valencia that Arsene Wenger is ready to let Pires go for around £2m and join Edu. The sticking point is his wages.
Meanwhile Lincoln’s Jack Hobbs’ proposed transfer has hit a sticking point over a sell-on clause, according to the Lincolnshire Echo. A compensation package of £100,000 has all but been agreed for the 16 year-old 6 foot three defender, but a meeting on 29 June will decide whether a breakthrough can be agreed.
Of other players who have left Highbury, this summer,Olafur-Ingi Oli’ Skulason, an Icelandic international has joined Brentford and Adam Birchall has signed for Mansfield Town. Meanwhile Steve Sidwell, who left a couple of seasons ago, may join Charlton.
Thierry Henry has been training three times a week at London Colney in punishing solo sessions to ensure he is ready for the new season. The birth of his daughter meant he hasn’t been on holiday and is using the time to get fit.
Simon Bourne-Arton, a Leeds-based QC, has been appointed independent chairman of the three-man panel scheduled to hear Ashley Cole’s appeal before the start of the football season. Peter Coates, the former Stoke City chairman, and Roger Burden, an FA county councillor form the three-man panel. The Times says a date has yet to be fixed.
Maybe they’ll come in handy if the Arsenal paintings thief is apprehended. Oxhey artist Dawn Somers 61, had five paintings of Freddie Ljungberg with Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Jose Antonio Reyes, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright stolen from the Watford Leisure Centre.
The 61-year-old was devastated according to the Watford Observer, after the paintings, which took her a year to complete, were snatched from an exhibition. The five paintings are all of Arsenal players, and are worth a total of £1,200.
Meanwhile the Health and Safety Executive said that a wider exclusion zone may be drawn around the Ashburton Grove demolition area. They said they are looking at risk assessments and future planning, following the collapse of a 7 foot wall on the site last week.
They’ll need more than risk assessments if you take a new Film Four title at face value.
Incendiary, is about 11 Al Qaeda suicide bombers blowing up the Emirates Stadium, killing 1000 Arsenal and Chelsea fans in the process.
Film Four have bought the film rights to the Chatto and Windus book.
The Evening Standard says “Arsenal, it is understood, were not consulted about the novel or the film, which includes as characters Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Gael Clichy, and Robin Van Persie.”
A quote from the book: “you could see the ball [from Van Persie] curling towards the goal tighter and tighter and then the whole East Stand burst in flames”.
Chris Cleave, the author adds: “All those fans that had been standing up to scream for the goal. Well. They were just gone.”
Sounds mighty irresponsible on all counts and not the last we’ve heard of it.
To finish on a more positive, realistic note, Arsene Wenger said: “Next season will be a very special one for us. Every game there will be the last time that each club plays at Highbury.”