By Ian Grant
PLAYERS
The Herald reports on the depth of feeling Rangers supporters still have for the Giovanni von Bronckhorst, who was at a pre-season friendly in Belgium. It was one of the main reasons for his decision to catch up with old friends before beginning a new career at Highbury.
Van Bronckhorst was honest enough to admit moving to Rangers was a springboard to the Premiership and said now he has arrived, he hopes to help Arsenal make a significant impact in the Champions League.
The Dutchman also said that he expects club captain Barry Ferguson to quit Ibrox and follow him to the English Premiership.
Martin Manus writes in the Mirror, that four days before the death of his ten-year-old son from leukaemia, Sol Campbell took the trouble to ring Anthony, making one of his last days a very happy one.
Alan Hall writes in the Times, Campbell has served Tottenham well, but it should come as no surprise that he believes he will win nothing at White Hart Lane. He is a Londoner, looking to secure the best possible deal for himself with a team that has some ambition. Truly, who can blame him?
On Sol Campbell’s £7m signing on fee, Wenger said:”We structured the deal in two parts to avoid that [player wage imbalance]. We have a wage structure here, and Sol has integrated into that. That was possible because we did not have to pay a transfer fee.”
Arsenal say they have shifted 500 Campbell shirts in the first four days.
Crystal Palace as well as Leicester are said to interested in Alex Manninger.
The Independent on Sunday points out that the BBC Sport Online revealed that Arsenal were to sign goalkeeper Richard Wright four hours before an official announcement. Alas, this was the Beeb’s second stab at this scoop. They revealed the deal two days earlier, a couple of hours before Arsenal’s capture of Sol Campbell from Spurs.
The People reports that Arsenal are already lining up the ‘signing’ of goalkeeping coach Malcolm Webster – to keep new boy Richard Wright happy. He’s contracted to Ipswich, but could move over in a year’s time.
Sylvain Wiltord reckons a priest has helped put him on track. He says he confessed to the cleric he often ended up doing things wrong and lost his way at times.”Everything is now clear between Arsene and me. I am staying at Arsenal and I hope to do great things there this season.”
Wiltord explained:”I have done wrong things at times in the past and I was able to discuss this with the priest. He confessed that he, too, had not always been an angel. He put me back on the right path. It did me good going into this holy place. I rediscovered my roots and that is what I hold most dear.”
TRANSFER TALK
England winger Steve McManaman has said he is determined to stay with Real Madrid despite interest from Arsenal. McManaman said that he is part of Real Madrid and willing to be part of a side that has talents like Raul, Figo and Zidane. However reports say that Real will have to sell some players.
The Sunday Times said Arsenal are now said to be chasing Tottenham full-back Stephen Carr. It is thought that an £18m deal involving a swap with their own unsettled defender, Silvinho, plus a cash payment, could tease Carr away from White Hart Lane. Spurs rate him at £22m.
Carr said of Sol Campbell: “If was him, I would have left as well and I wish him all the best at Highbury.
David Dein said:”I presented a document Arsenal have had drawn up for all agents to sign, which is going to be incorporated into the Premier League handbook. Now, when a transfer goes through, the agent has to sign a non-solicitation clause, undertaking not to try to move the player on without the club’s permission. It is a legally-binding document between all the parties concerned.”
OLD BOYS
Following the transfer of Zidane to Real for £42m, Reuters reckon Nicolas Anelka‘s transfer is now sixth on the all time world record tranfer lists. Xinhua News Agency reckon he’s tenth. He left Arsenal in 1999 for Real Madrid for $35.7m.
Wimbledon boss Terry Burton has gone back in for Aston Villa’s Paul Merson. He wants him to play but also to become a coach.
Ruby Wax, said after interviewing Emmanuel Petit:”I knew nothing about football, then someone showed me a film of Petit and I realised how interesting the game could be. He is divine. When I met him I could barely speak, he was so gorgeous.”
He also admits it did not take long to appreciate that quitting Highbury had been a mistake.
Petit said: “I realised after just a few months, weeks even, how much I missed England. I left a wonderful club and I loved the people.
Agathe added: “I like him because he’s got such a nice arse.”