Ljungberg is back for Bolton. Fabregas is set to miss it with a slight knee injury. Hleb is back too. Abou Diaby, Jeremie Aliadiere and Denilson are all tipped to feature at the Reebok. Djourou didn’t break his nose contrary to reports. And Henry should start.
Henry says: “I have had a little run now since my injury and more and more I am starting to run at people with the ball.
“I couldn’t do that in my first couple of games back because it takes time to get your sharpness, but now I feel much better.”
The Northern Echo runs a mixed up story about Henry having a verbal altercation with a fan at Durham Tees Valley Airport after the Boro game and being told by Police to calm down after the Freenchman was getting angry with a security guard.
He was signing autographs when his mobile went – he stopped signing – and got some verbal from a fan.
Despite the headline about a formal complaint, the paper says the airport has yet to have a formal complaint over security measures from Arsenal.
The Daily Telegraph and Mirror, along with Northern locals report that Arsenal are preparing a £5m summer move for Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson, 21 He came from Leeds for £750,000 and is currently on loan at Charlton.
The Guardian reports that Theo Walcott is understood to be three games away from costing Arsenal another pounds £1m.
Arsenal must make payments of pounds £1m for every 10 competitive matches which he starts up to a maximum of 50 – £5m. Arsenal will pay an additional £2m when he notches up 20 games for England.
The value of scouting is obvious – as Swindon received £2000 in the transfer to Southampton with a £50,000 sell on fee.
Thierry Henry came out and defended Walcott: “One thing about Theo for all of us to remember is that he is only 17. I know it is not easy for you guys because he is a great prospect for England, but I do think people have to remember he is 17. It is not an easy time when you are 17 – trust me, I was there. I was struggling at 17. What we need to do is let him mature and get stronger.”
Popular Robert Pires is in the news after buying a flat in the old Highbury complex. He also says Arsenal need a few more experienced players to gain consistency.
Ray Parlour admitted he is taking a “gamble” in signing for Hull City but is certain the Tigers have the desire to stay in the Championship.
On to business, and it didn’t take long for Stan Kroenke the billionaire owner of the Rapids, and new commercial partner of Arsenal – to be pencilled in for ITV’s 9.9% stake in Arsenal worth £31m according to some City Business pages.
And on to media: Arsenal came second in a Revolution survey on football websites.
Manchester United’s official site was top with Aston Villa (www.avfc.co.uk) third and West Ham (www.whufc.com) fourth.
The relaunched Chelsea site was joint-seventh and, at the bottom of the table, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic shared last place.
The survey rated Premiership sites by four criteria: web site performance, usability, content and traffic. Manutd.com topped the rankings for both content and usability, and is the second most-visited UK Premiership club site behind Liverpoolfc.tv.
Comment: Only one or two journalists and editors are picking up on the ownership credentials of the new purchasers of football clubs.
Anyone who is environmentally aware, and knows the true damage that oil has done and will do, will always associate Chelsea with carbon and climate change.
Tom Hicks the new proprietor of Liverpool, was top of the list of contributors to George W Bush’s re-election fund.
Corporate Social Responsibility is getting home to the big corporates and affecting their behaviour big time. But winning seems override CSR when it comes to football clubs. As Richard Williams points out in the Guardian – if and when the US drops bunker busters somewhere in future: “those of us who chose to make a connection between the Anfield boardroom and the Oval Office will be in the smallest and most significant minorities.”
If Arsenal do sell, and I like to believe Peter Hill-Wood when he says Arsenal haven’t any intention of selling, then please may Arsenal consider CSR to go alongside and complement the rich traditions of the club.