By Ian Grant
PLAYERS
Patrick Vieira says he wants to lead Arsenal to European glory and become a Highbury legend rather than move to one of Europe’s top clubs where he would be just another player.
“If we find the right balance this club is going to explode. I would have more pleasure winning the European Cup with Arsenal with all the club represents for me than with, say, Juventus who have won everything,” he told the Sun.
“What can I change at a club like Juve? Nothing. At Arsenal there is everything to change, everything to win. In fact, I want to enter the history of this club,” he added.
“I want my future to be fixed before the World Cup. The ball is in the directors’ court. If the club want me to stay, I will stay,” he said, adding the fact that manager Arsene Wenger had extended his contract was an important element for his future.”
“He’s always been behind me, as with all of his players. The relationship he enjoys with his squad is, frankly, extraordinary. He really listens to you,” he said.
“We are expecting a new striker and a goalkeeper. And the new stadium will be ready soon. Why not stay? I do not feel I have come to the end of the road with Arsenal.”
Lauren described his penalty as “the most important kick of the season”. The Guardian described it as a cool head from Londi Kribi outwitting a jumping bean from Washington.
Wenger had drawn up a list of penalty takers on which, after Thierry Henry, came Edu, Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord in descending order of responsibility. Lauren, it transpired, had not even been considered.
When no-one took the ball, Lauren decided enough was enough. A veteran of penalty shoot-outs in Olympic and African Nations Cup Finals, the Cameroon international showed he was made of sterner stuff
Thierry Henry said today that the Premiership title means more to him than being the top scorer in the League.
QPR manager Steve Holloway said of on-loan Jerome Thomas’s winner against Swindon: “Jerome’s goal shows the type of quality he possesses and if he is eligible I can definitely see him going on to play for England sooner rather than later.”
TRANSFER RUMOURS
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are keeping tabs on £3million-rated Genoa defender Marco Malago. He can play right back or centre half.
In an interview in the Evening Standard agent Marc Roger claims that Arsenal turned down the chance to sign Brazilian Ronaldo, and the world’s most expensive defender Lilian Thuram.
Barcelona’s Frank de Boer could join Arsenal. The veteran Dutch defender may be allowed to leave Camp Nou on a free this summer, according to reports.
The People says Valencia and Real Betis are considering £5m bids for Arsenal striker Kanu.
According to one paper, Arsenal see Chelsea’s £12m-rated Eidur Gudjohnsen, 23, as the long-term successor to Dennis Bergkamp and apparently they also want West Ham’s £10m rated, Jermain Defoe.
OPPOSITION
Middlesbrough striker Noel Whelan will miss this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal with a torn hamstring. Striker Benito Carbone is cup-tied, while Szilard Nemeth has an ankle injury and Alen Boksic is nursing a groin problem.
Robert Pires along with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Thierry Henry ,David Beckham and Roy Keane have been nominated as candidates for Players Player of the Year.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ryan Giggs said: “I see he [Wenger] predicts that Arsenal will win their remaining games and clinch the title before they face us. And even if they don’t wrap up the title before coming to Old Trafford, they will win it at our place. Arsenal have some great players and seasoned pros but they have yet to pass the test of character in the run-in when nerves are tested to the full. They won’t win at Old Trafford. If it comes down to the wire there will only be one winner.”
The Ashburton planning decision for the new ground couldn’t have come soon enough. Arsenal have slipped to seventh in the average attendance league in the Premiership.
Bobby Robson said: “The title race is not over, everyone’s got tough games coming up. Manchester United have got Arsenal, Arsenal have got Manchester United and Leeds have got Leeds.”
Steve Morrison, chief executive of Granada, was seen meeting David Buchler, the insolvency expert advising the League, in the directors’ box at Highbury on Saturday when Arsenal played Tottenham Hotspur. Mr Buchler is the Spurs vice-chairman, while Granada holds a minority stake in Arsenal and advises the club on media issues.
The Guardian points out that the Queen Mum’s death posed a problem for Charlton, who discovered they didn’t have a copy of the national anthem to play before the game against Arsenal.