By Ian Grant
WENGERSPEAK
Wenger said on the proposed PFA strike:”We are a privileged profession and live in a wealthy world,” said the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. “There is so much money in our environment, I think people would have problems understanding [a strike]. It would be a bad advert for football.”
On Vieira’s captaincy agianst Schalke, Wenger said:”He is like Beckham in that they both become natural leaders, not so much through their talking, but through their playing. They set an example on the pitch.”
Wenger added:”When he was sent off against Leicester it was early in the season and Patrick always makes a slow start. When his game is not right, he is not right. I think he has overcome that now by producing better performances. His mental state means he is much better able to cope with these important occasions.”
And: “Patrick has responded so well that I can see him as a future France captain. Maybe Fabien Barthez has an outside chance when Marcel Desailly stands down, but I suspect they will go for Patrick.”
On his contract, Wenger said:”Because there is no basic problem. There is a small problem that exists at the moment, but it will be solved.”
Arsenal’s Union rep is Martin Keown.
Wenger believes 10 points will be enough to see Arsenal into the second Champions League group stage.
Arsene Wenger says that Francis Jeffers must be patient as he develops into Arsenal’s first choice striker – but still thinks he would be ready to play for England in next year’s World Cup finals.
POST-BOLTON
“We have no one really effective in the air,” Arsene Wenger said on Arsenal’s 15 corners to Bolton’s none.
And “Maybe we were guilty of believing we had the match won when we were 1-0 up, ”
Bergkamp admitted: “Once we were 1-0 up, we thought we had done it. You expect three points from a game like this even before it starts.”
Sam Allardyce said on the Bolton sending off:”If he was hit by anything it was a feather,”. He hopes to appeal.
TRANSFER TALK
According to the People, Real Madrid want first option on Patrick Vieira.
Stathis Tavlaridis Iraklis (Greece) has officailly moved to Arsenal.
West Ham manager Glenn Roeder and David O’Leary have been linked with Ray Parlour.
Arsenal are reportedly checking out exciting Parma striker Emiliano Bonazzoli. The 22-year-old made a name for himself in Serie A last season.
The Sunday Mirror says that Southampton may try and capture Matthew Upson with the Dean Richards transfer money.
The People claims to have spotted Arsenal scouts watching the West Bromwich Albion striker Scott Dobie and checking out the 18-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder, Jermaine Jenas.
According to the Sunday Mirror, Robbie Fowler has no intention of signing a new deal with the Liverpool with his future so uncertain. It says Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa would compete for his signature.
Sol Campbell’s agent Sky Andrews has said that a number of bugging devices were found in his house in the months leading up to the transfer, allegedly placed by tabloid journalists.
Arsenal are keeping tabs on Rosenborg keeper Arni Gautur Arason
INTERNATIONAL
David Dein is spearheading a petition, involving 11 European clubs to host Australia v France in Europe:”Many of the clubs whose fixtures this would affect have stated that they would be willing to host the event – some have even offered to do so free of charge.”
Highbury would do so even though it would cost at least £100,000. Dein said having recently returned from Chile, “two of them came back with funny tummy”
The hamstring injury which has forced Arsenal defender Sol Campbell out of England’s World Cup qualifier against Greece has thrown Highbury colleague Martin Keown an international lifeline.
PLAYERS
One paper said – Luzhny, he’s nicknamed ‘Horse’ – and, on this showing (against Bolton) , he’s more selling class than Group One.
Matthew Upson said:”Eventually you get to the stage where, what you have learnt over the past four years, you want to put it into practice. You like to be involved and I need to get playing.”
Barry Neville, the player’s agent, said that Upson was “desperate” for first-team football and suggested that he would move this week.
Patrick Vieira is the only Arsenal player in the Independent’s top ten defence, midfield and attack league.
An Angela Banks hat-trick helped FA Women’s Premier League Cup holders Arsenal to an opening round 8-0 drubbing of Ipswich Town at home.
Tony Adams will take charge of a team in a special charity match on Sunday, October 7, which aims to raise funds for his proposed Sporting Chances Clinic. A gala dinner at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on February 7, will also provide a major fund-raising boost.
Inamoto travels around London by Tube.
Back home in Japan he was forced to use a bodyguard and travel by car to flee fans. But Inamoto has discovered he can move unnoticed on the Underground, even mingling with Arsenal fans who don’t recognise him.
OLD BOYS
Chris Wreh has joined St.Mirren on a year’s contract. John Fashanu engineered the deal. Wreh was signed by Arsenal for £300,000 from Monaco in 1997 but was released last season.
EUROPE
Arsenal could be punished by UEFA after Schalke 04 fans threw a missile at Thierry Henry during the Champions League clash at Highbury.
UEFA are set to carry out an investigation and it could be Arsenal who are punished with a heavy fine if any security issues are raised from Wednesday night’s incident. UEFA hand out fines of up to £50,000 for incidents where objects are thrown on to the pitch.
LEGAL
Arsenal are appealing to the European Court of Justice on a trade mark ruling which has favoured a fan selling Arsenal merchandise.
The outcome could have great implications for football and other sports that rely on trade mark laws to protect their merchandising programmes.
MISCELLANEOUS
David O Leary said:”I know what I need players-wise, and I know that Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have better squads than us. They are bigger clubs than us and we have got to improve on that.”
Alun Armstrong, the Ipswich forward said:”People talk about Liverpool and Arsenal but for me United will be the champions once again and probably win the Champions League.”
Niall Quinn has paid tribute to Arsene Wenger for extending his career, through a technique called Pilates, which he learned off Steve Bould: “Arsene Wenger came up with it first and got Bouldy another three or four years in the game.”
Arsenal are second in the yellow card tally this season after Derby and average 2.67 per game.
This week, ten years ago, Ian Wright signed for Arsenal – for £2.5million from Crystal Palace.
Tottenham asked for the red and white ribbons on the Worthington cup (reminscent of Arsenal) to be removed before being put on show at White Hart Lane, according to one paper.