By Ian Grant
PLAYERS
According to the Independent only Ray Parlour, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and the unused substitute Lee Dixon came to applaud their presence while the rest scampered for the warmth of the dressing room in Moscow.
Arsenal are to offer England goalkeeper David Seaman a new deal, says the Mail on Sunday.
Kanu has reportedly already committed himself to Nigeria for their next string of World Cup qualifiers after Christmas and is likely to miss several vital Arsenal games, just as he did last January.
Pennant and Hoyte have been called up to the England u-16 and England u-17 squads respectively.
WENGER-SPEAK
Wenger admitted: “It is a shame for the Premier League that there is a situation like this in November and you start thinking that in December we will all be competing for second place.”
On the bookings at Leeds, he said: “We committed 20 fouls and had seven players booked. They committed 18 fouls and only one player was booked.”
On the performance, he said:”Our offensive aggression is too low,” Wenger said. “We did not start until we were 1-0 down.”
Arsene Wenger’s belief that Manchester United are collecting easy pickings against less accomplished sides is supported by statistics. Of 36 points, 28 have come from sides in the bottom half. Two thirds of their games so far have been in that category, while five against top-half sides have only yielded eight points.
Arsene Wenger said:”I wouldn’t spend any money over £5m because of the uncertainty over the future of the transfer system. It would be crazy.” The EU are expected to make their ruling at the end of December.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have taken only 12 points from 24 against bottom-half teams, but have picked up 16 against the top half.
TRANSFERS
Arsenal have signed Sebastian SVARD, 17 from FC Copenhagen, for an undisclosed fee.
Guillaime Norbert has joined second division team, Reading on a month’s loan, with a view to a permanent deal.
The Mirror backs a People suggestion that Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman could be David Seaman’s replacement at Arsenal. However, it also names Internazionale’s Sebastian Frey and Hungary’s Balazs Raboczki as other targets.
One paper re-affirms that initial talks between Bayer Leverkusen’s 26 year old defender, Jens Nowotny and Arsenal have already taken place.
EUROPE
Bayern Munich, Arsenal’s next Champions League opposition also have their problems, performing badly in a narrow 1-0 win against Lyon.
On the Moscow match, one Russian paper, Sovietsky Sport said:””Cannon fodder,” referring to Arsenal’s nickname. Sports Express said;” plus three when it was minus eight” referring to points and temperatures respectively.
Bayern Munich could have an easier time with Spartak in February as Spartak have finished their league. The only preparation for Oleg Romantsev’s side may be a training camp in Israel and an indoor tournament in Moscow in January.
OLD BOYS
Nicolas Anelka, Paris St Germain’s ex-Arsenal striker, limped out of the abandoned match against Lille and could be sidelined until the New Year with a recurring thigh injury.
Nicolas Anelka remains fourth in the world record transfers at $35.7.
MISCELLANEOUS
Capital Radio’s Jonathan Pearce complained recently that the inconsiderate yelling of the supporters behind him had made himself unable to think and apologised for the poor sound quality.
According to a Mirror reporter, 14 points that Leeds need to make up on the champions-elect may not be insurmountable after all – but the eight points that Arsenal need, is.
Bookmakers have made Manchester United 1-12 favourites to win a third successive title and opened a second book on who will finish as runners up. Arsenal are 6-5 favourites to finish second with Liverpool at 7-2, Leeds 4-1, Chelsea 12-1 and Leicester 16-1.
Match referee Dermot Gallagher played down the allegations of a tunnel rumpus. “There is always a lot of noise but it was no different to any other tunnel after a game,” he told The Express newspaper.
Mr Desmond the new man behind the Daily Express, supports Arsenal.
Paul Taylor, who as the fourth official reported Arsene Wenger for an incident after the game at Sunderland is under investigation by the Football Association for allegedly making derogatory remarks during the recent Notts County-Wigan, claims the Sunday People.
One financial report said Sema’s profit warning must have left its investors feeling as sick as Arsenal supporters after its 4-1 drubbing by Spartak Moscow.