By Ian Grant
PLAYERS
Freddie Ljungberg, who struggled in the World Cup with a hip injury said: “I was in good form at the end of the season. Of course if I’d played fewer games I would have been fresher and maybe I wouldn’t have got injured. But that’s how the modern game is. You want to play at the top of your league and in the Champions League and if you do you play a lot of games. There’s been a lot of players who’ve been injured like me, and it’s just sad that they can’t play in the World Cup.”
Ashley Cole said: “There have been a lot of people who have criticised David Seaman and have said that he is too old. But he has again showed how good he is. You do wonder where we might be but for the two in the second half against Sweden and the late header against Argentina.”
LEGAL
The European Court of Justice ruled against a street vendor selling unauthorised Arsenal merchandise. It ruled that the unauthorised use of its name by Matthew Reed, who has been selling Gunners memorabilia for more than 30 years, violated European Union rule. Arsenal lawyers said the team had exclusive rights to the names Arsenal and Gunners and the shield logo.
TRANSFERS/RUMOURS
The Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk plan to keep hold of their Nigeria striker Julius Aghahowa for another season despite growing interest from other clubs, including Arsenal after his World Cup performances.
Fulham are leading the chase to sign Japan World Cup star Junichi Inamoto.
Inamoto said: “I know I got a call from Arsene Wenger the other day but I wasn’t allowed to answer it. I would still like to stay at Arsenal for at least another season, although I couldn’t go through another year like the last one.”
Inamoto, added: “I thought I had the qualities to make it in England. It is very physical, but I can cope. I always gave 100 per cent but other players were on a much higher level.”
And on his Arsenal colleagues “It was very difficult for me, but Ashley and Freddie were great. Ashley is about the same age as me and I consider him to be my friend. We made a deal. If he taught me English I would teach him Japanese. Freddie is a very strange person and great fun. He reminded me of my best friend in Japan who also has that kind of hairstyle and character.”
According to the Daily Mail Arsenal have lined up Frenchman Pascal Cygan and possibly Holland’s Kevin Hofland as replacements for retiring Tony Adams and Martin Keown. Cygan, a 28-year-old Lille defender with Champions League experience, has had talks about a £4million move while Hofland, a long-time Manchester United target, said yesterday that PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal have had talks about a fee.
Hofland said: “”There hasn’t been more contact between Arsenal and PSV and between Arsenal and my agent other than the question about the transfer money,” the 23-year-old said. “Arsenal are one of Europe’s top clubs and I have told PSV that if a top club wanted me that I will think about a transfer.”
Arsenal are still waiting on a £4.5m deal for Inter’s Turkish star Emre Belozoglu after rival clubs closed in.
West Ham are ready to offer Martin Keown a big contract.
The Mirror says Arsenal are lining up a £3.5million bid for Czech Under-21 goalkeeper Petr Cech. The highly-rated Sparta Prague 20-year-old was the star of his country’s triumph in the recent European Under-21 championships in Switzerland.
BURN OUT
Fifa finally succumbed to pressure from clubs and national associations, and announced it is to conduct a medical investigation into the possibility of burnout among the game’s big stars.