By Ian Grant
Wenger shocked
Wenger has said: “I was shocked by the reaction to the Sol Campbell move, and it does concern me when people go so overboard.
“This is 2001. Why should people kill each other over a football player, over support for a club?
“I can tell you that Arsenal will not be giving in to crazy people.”
Transfer tales
The S.Mirror posits that Arsenal have bid for Spurs back, Steven Carr – £18m with Silvinho going the other way.
Arsenal are reported to have turned down a £7m offer from Barcelona for Silvinho. They say he’s worth £10m.
Deportivo continue to be interested in Kanu for around the same price, although the Scottish press say there’s interest at Rangers. While Valencia are interested in Silvinho.
A lot of sites say Arsenal want McManaman from Real, for around £10m.
However one or two question whether his style suits the current Arsenal style of direct fast football.
Express on Sunday says Bobby Robson continues to search Europe for a quality central defender, with Deportivo La Coruna’s Portuguese international Helder still high on his list.
But if he is to sign the defender on a permanent deal, he will have to beat off surprise interest in the defender from Arsenal.
Marc Overmars could be leaving Barcelona in a swap deal with the Internazionale goalkeeper Sebastien Frey, despite Overmars stating that he is happy to stay, according to onefootball.com.
Leicester are expected to turn to Alex Manninger.
Middlesbrough’s manager Steve McLaren is keen to sign the Arsenal defender Matthew Upson for £2m.
Keown and Campbell – first choice
Martin Keown is quoted in an Express article that he and Sol Campbell will be the first choice centre backs next season.
It is somewhat contrived – about the break up of the old guard.
Why contrived? the break up happened when Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn left.
Loyalty?
Charlie Whelan in the Sunday Telegraph makes a good point about greed riding roughshod over loyalty in football.
He is a Spurs man, but he’s also a Union man.
Van Bronckhorst defence
Ex-Rangers star, Alex MacDonald said: “Anyone who has watched Van Bronckhorst in the Champions League can have no doubt that he has the natural talent to go right to the top. Providing he can put his injury problems behind him I think he will do well. I don’t think any objective study of his game will find many faults. He is a very good athlete and has that rare abilty to travel well over the ground at speed and still find a vital yard or two of pace to find a threatening position.”
He adds:”He is a good finisher as well. He likes to get forward, but he is equally happy tracking back and he can tackle well. Rangers’ fans did not get many chances to see him at his best because of injuries last season. But he takes excellent, pacey, inswinging corners and mean free kicks.”
Jonatan Johansson believes Arsenal have got themselves a bargain by landing the Dutchman for just £8.5m.
Ronald de Boer said: “He [Vieira] does not know what he’s talking about if he described Gio as simply a promising player. That is quite ridiculous.”
His sentiments are echoed by Arthur Numan.”If he is doubting Giovanni’s quality or whether Arsenal should have signed him, I can only say that perhaps he has not actually seen him play.”
Chapman bar bust
Lesley Ash and ex-Arsenal forward, Lee Chapman have been forced to close one of their swanky bar-restaurants, Teatro in Leeds after a year.
Feminine fever pitch
Nick Hornby is writing a film about the dilemmas of a successful career woman. His co-author is the actress Emma Thompson who may also play the leading role.
[They studied English together at Oxford, ya know.]
Falling off a stand, and into the hands of destiny………
The emergency rescue drama documentary last week featured parachutist Nigel Rogoff falling 70 foot off a stand at Aston Villa when they were playing Arsenal.
The former RAF flight sergeant fell in love with nurse Sarah Collins whilst recovering at the Defence Services Rehabilitation Centre in Epsom, Surrey and had twins. He has now left the RAF on a £9,000-a-year pension.
[How refreshing to hear a football story, not solely about money]
Old boys
Former Arsenal defender Andy Linighan, 39, has signed for Ryman League St Albans. [now there’s a loyal player]
And former Arsenal and England youth international Jamie Day has joined Conference side Dover from Bournemouth on a free transfer. [Can remember his debut performance].
Arsenal Ladies
Marieanne Spacey, the Arsenal Ladies’ striker, announced her retirement after England’s 3-0 defeat by Germany that eliminated them from the women’s European Championship in Jena.
The Guardian says if media attention garnered through the Women’s Euro 2001 campaign can be maintained by the likes of Arsenal in Europe, then the creation of an English professional league, along with viable crowds and sponsorship deals, may even become a reality by 2003.