Looking at Spurs first, you have to say under Redknapp they
were much more formidable despite not winning any trophies. You just have to
look at their finishing league positions under Harry to realise. He bought
wisely and his team played attractively, hence the link to the England
manager's job.
Luckily for us, the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has a
tendency to self-destruct, in my opinion. It makes me appreciate the stability
offered by the Arsenal Board of Directors who have stuck by managers and not
dismissed them at the drop of a hat or a point. Stability maybe boring to some
but at least it leads to success. Ask Manchester United!
Lots of Spurs fans are fearing the worst, and unless they can
appoint someone as good as Jose Mourinho I think the only way is down for them. All the names
being bandied about as Redknapp successors are inferior to Harry and I think
the best they can hope for next season is a mid-table finish. It wouldn't
surprise me if they sacked their next manager halfway through the season.
Trigger-happy chairman tend to do that.
Talking of trigger-happy chairman, how long can Di Matteo stay
at Chelsea as boss? Not that long is the answer. He's been given a two-year contract
and I will be surprised if he sees that out. The Di Matteo has a huge challenge
on his hands next season as the team is in transition. However, I expect
Chelsea to finish above Spurs but below Arsenal. That, ultimately, will not be
good enough for a Roman Abramovic.
We have to thank our lucky stars that our board have more
about them than the chairmen of our London rivals. So for once, I'd like to
praise our board the sterling work they've done. However, there is always room
for improvement, so let's hope we take the opportunity this summer to put some
distance between us and the two teams down the road.
There is some encouraging news on the transfer front with
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger refusing to comment on the possibility of the club raiding
Montpellier for striker Olivier Giroud. Goal.com claim that Wenger was asked
the question on French TV. He apparently told TF1: "I won't say anything
to you. Even under torture!"
We are hearing a deal worth €14.8 million is set to be
concluded shortly with some websites claiming that the 25-year-old France
international striker will temporarily leave the French training camp in order
to put pen to paper on a €60,000 per week deal. I can't see it myself, I think
we will have to wait until France are knocked out of Euro 2012. As long as it
happens before the Premier league season begins, I will be happy. Perhaps that
is the "exciting news" that Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis is promising.
Meanwhile, moving out of the club could be Sebastien Squillaci.
Newly-promoted Bastia want the French defender to add experience to their back
four for their forthcoming Championnat season. There is also interest from
Evian (good for rehydration) and Brest (cue smutty jokes). Most fans will be
happy for the 31-year-old to move on at any price after an unsuccessful stint
at the Emirates.
The word "unsuccessful" brings to mind Park Chu-Young.
Arsenal's South Korean striker is in hot water it seems regarding the
controversy surrounding his military service, or lack of. He recently told a
press conference in his native country: "I understand that there was a
huge controversy concerning my military service. I would like to apologise for
all the trouble this caused, and for letting people down.
"I learned a lot about football while playing with AS
Monaco for three years. I started dreaming of learning more in Europe as a
football player. But even though I delayed my military service, I never plan to
emigrate or avoid it altogether.
"I submitted a handwritten letter to the Military
Manpower Administration pledging to fulfil my military duty, and I promise
again that I intend to honour that."
Who knows, perhaps, the furore this has caused has affected
Park's form. When he was granted a ten-year residence permit in March this year
by the principality of Monaco it meant that he could delay his military service
until 2022, by which time he will be 37-years-old.
However, now that he has been named in South Korea's Olympic
squad, there is a possibility he could be excused military service completely. Well,
if South Korea team manage to win a medal that is. Park seems to be really
going for it given that he's now training in Japan, having outstayed his 60-day
permission to remain in South Korea while resident in another country.
From an Arsenal perspective, we can only hope that Park
plays well enough to secure himself a move to another club with us recouping
most of the transfer fee we paid out last summer.
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