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NEWS REVIEWS
FEATURES
POSTSCRIPT 17 SEPTEMBER
Fiorentina were down to draw with Arsenal at 9-4 (Coral and Tote). The Independent goes for a draw, saying they haven't bedded down as team, following 12 new arrivals - at a cost of £30m.
Gabriel Batistuta has hinted that this might be his last season with Fiorentina, saying he wants to win something before he retires from football. Arsenal are in pole position for a close-up a la Luhzny, last season.
Arsene Wenger has warned his side that Fiorentina are "like snakes who can kill you in five minutes with the stealth and quality of their individuals."
Now Barcelona manager, Van Gaal predicts, along with the Fiorentina management, Swedish outfit AIK Solna could be the surprise package in Group B. He said:"they are very dangerous."
Well, they do have an uncompromising defence which has only conceded just five goals at home in 10 European matches going back to 1993. They didn't let any in, in the qualifiers, and Nebojsa Novakovic has been known to snatch the odd goal.
Although the rest of the squad beat Dennis Bergkamp to Florence, Arsene Wenger said:"But he looks fresh - fresher than the rest of the team. Maybe we should all have come the way he did."
Before the first match, Arsenal are 16/1 to win the Champions League with Suker 0n 25/1 and Bergkamp - 50/1 to be the top scorer.
Arsene Wenger outlined the club's Euro-ambitions this week:"Our target
is to do well in the Championship, of course, but also to establish
Arsenal in Europe. Historically, that is what the club is missing.
When have Arsenal ever done well in the Champions' League? No-one
will say you are a great
team if you don't do well internationally."
David James, who caught a stud in training, which eventually lead to the second Arsenal goal against Villa, will be out of action for two weeks.
One paper cliamed Johnathan Metliss, head of SJ Berwin's sports business division, was phoned up by David Dein asking him to take boots and shin pads for Matthew Upson in Florence. Metliss is a Chelsea fan.
Emmanuel Petit is reported to be back in training.
After thanking everyone at Highbury, including the tea lady, Davor Suker said:"We can go on now and do what United did last season and win the lot. We can win the league, Champions' Cup and the FA Cup - they are not even in that!"
Suker was likened to Reg Lewis, whose goals won the FA Cup for Arsenal in 1950.
UEFA have raised 828 million Swiss francs ($533.2 million) gross income from TV and sponsors for the Champions League with 592 million ($381.2 million) earmarked for the clubs.
The record books didn't augur well for Arsenal in Tuesday's CL tie. In their last 13 matches in Europe, Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet and have let in 23 goals. Between 1970 and 1996, Fiorentina kept 18 clean sheets in 21 official European games.
The Guardian suggested that Charlton should keep a look at developments at the Dome. A move there by Arsenal, back virtually to their roots, would be disastrous for Charlton, it says.
POSTSCRIPT 07 AUGUST
There were many prices reported over the actual fee for Davor Suker. Reuters had it at $5.67m; the Sun at £500,000; The Times says: "thought to be less than a million." The Mirror at £1m.;The Daily Mail at £1.3m; The Evening Standard and the Guardian go with £3.5m. The Indy, perhaps the most sensible, hedges its bets with between £1m-£3m.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports the definitive price Marseilles paid Arsenal for Kaba Diawara was $5.8m.
Perhaps if David Dein takes his crusade to EUFA and FIFA there may be a chance that some good will come from the Anelka saga. There are legislative moves planned to tie agents fees to hours worked, and to have contracts not allowing the agent to destabilise the player. And also to divide agents' fees into instalments over the duration of the contract.
Tony Adams says this week that in training there's a Russian interpreter running up and down the line talking to Oleg Luzhny. (But he's not on horseback.)
So what exactly did Pat Rice say to Luis Boa Morte in the Monaco match?:"Now go, now go, now go, now go. Go on!"
At least Luis Boa Morte can chatter in Portuguese to Silvinho. And for that matter Suker can chatter in Croat to fellow countryman, Boro Primorac.
Only one commentator said David Beckham's free-kick almost matched the one Paul Gascoigne thundered into Arsenal's net at the start of the decade. Perhaps lucky that David Seaman missed the match, after all.
See David Lacey is back with some gems:"getting the ball off the Nigerian [Kanu] must be like attempting to take the ball off a circus clown who has it tied to an enormous foot."
ANR has a weekly column in three North London papers
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
FIVE REASONS WHY ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
"We can count on one hand the number of times Winterburn has been late coming out in the Nineties. And still have enough fingers to stick in a bowling ball." Myles Palmer - see Solna analysis
30 SEPTEMBER
Trevor Macdonald's expose on the Anelka transfer on ITV last night, including hitherto secretly recorded tapes, didn't really tell us anything we didn't already know.
But perhaps it brought into focus the obscene sums involved - £4m signing on fee, and £2m each for the Anelka clan agents.
And perhaps it emphasised what sort of people the agents were.
Claude Anelka said that " life's a jungle"; admitted that he could well be a "parasite" and that he "didn't care about anyone else".
In conclusion, it re-affirmed that Arsenal are better off without the Franchman, who would have always been connected to these elements.
Besides Arsenal would not be able to bring on players like Suker to turn matches.
The international football authoriteis said they would only investigate if Arsenal put in a formal complaint.
PRESS SCAN - 29 SEPTEMBER
Most go with the almost symbiotic relationship between Barcelona and Arsenal.
The list appears endless. Van Gaal was within a whisker of getting Patrick Vieira; Marc Overmars nearly went to Barcelona; Kluivert was within minutes of coming to Highbury (but as AW confirmed on Saturday, AC Milan upped th eprice at the last minute; Nano was very nearly on his way to Arsenal - but for a last minute intervention package from Barca, getting round some rules.
Van Gaal risks Bergkamp's ire by suggesting he isn't the player he was at Ajax - where he used to create and score 25 goals a season. Dennis incidentally arrived OK in Barcelona, following a car ride from Montpellier.
There are 11 ex-Ajax players potentially involved in this match. Barca have eight, plus the former manager, leading witty Catalans to re-name side Barcajax.
Dave Seaman and John Lukic are on standby - a late decision is to be made on Alex Manninger.
ITV
Ironies of ironies is that although ITV isn't showing the Arsenal v Barca match on the terrestrial network, it is showing an investigation of the Anelka transfer, including tapes which dish the dirt on the Anelka crew - at 10.15.
For a preview - the D.Mirror runs two and a half pages of the sordid revalations.
ARSENAL 1 WATFORD 0
[Saturday 19.35pm]
-Euro, Paul Durkin, and gritty Watford - not the ideal mix for an exciting game of football.
And like the Solna game, Arsenal had around 70% of the posession, but couldn't break down the defensive shield - until the last few minutes.
Here again - the key to unlocking those dogged defences is give the ball to Kanu in the area late in the game - and anything can happen.
This time, Watford who were visibly tiring, on 87, allowed Kanu to take a ball, and one touch to the side and a sidefoot did the trick. The previous 22 Arsenal efforts had failed.
Arsene Wenger gambled with five changes from the midweek Champions League side - Luzhny and Silvinho for Dixon and Winterburn, Parlour for Grimandi. And Kanu and Henry starting instead of Suker and Bergkamp.
The first half was bread and butter stuff.
Watford are well organised. They know how to break up the rhythm of a game with fouls. They know that if they knock the ball high enough, then there's time to harry and close down the opposition.
Arsenal were in getting to know you mode in the first half.
Tony Adams had a good chance but headed straight at Chamberlain.
The first real threat came on 23, when Kanu flashed a shot wide.
Ray Parlour burst through once or twice. Marc Overmars sent several chances wide or over.
The half ended as it started. Adams had the ball in the goal, but was judged to have fouled Chamberlain.
Arsenal upped the pace in the second half, and consequently looked more dangerous.
But a slip by Silvinho gave Allan Smart a chance to run on to - but for smart and very brave goalkeeping by Manninger who took a bad knock in the process.
There may be a doubt over him for the Nou Camp, meaning David Seaman will be in contention for a premature comeback.
But as the chances came and went, the same feeling of frustration built up. This, after all, was Watford, who in their 118 year history have only had seven years in the top flight.
Arsenal missed Dennis Bergkamp. At times it was like an engine without an axle. The boys in red missed those clinical, probing angled passes. Basically, they missed the offensive fulcrum which he so classily provides.
So it was a welcome sight when he entered the frey on 74.
When Suker, who had come on earlier, missed a couple, you began to think of spells and witch doctors (Watford entertained a tribal war dance when the Nigerian Iroha arrived).
But Kanu had some magic of his own left in his boots. The goal will wash away those painful Florentine memories.
Graham Taylor said:"We defended well and had moments of good fortune. It was disappointing as we came so close."
Taylor said Arsenal players are either six foot two or go like whippets - and said from day one Arsene Wenger had assembled a squad of very athletic but talented players.
Arsene Wenger said:"It was a real test of the squad system. The spirit was high and the motivation to win was very strong."
On Kanu, Wenger said:"if you give him the ball in the box, he can always kill you. He's tall but turns quickly, and he's creative in his decisions."
ARSENAL 3 AIK SOLNA 1
[Wednesday 22.59 pm:]
All's well that ends well. It did for Arsenal in general and Theirry Henry in particular tonight.
The Frenchman turned a match at the end, which was going badly wrong.
In injury time, with the score at 1-1 he was put through delightfully with a Suker backheel. With only the goalkeeper to beat and a glaring goal, he contrived to bend it round the post - the wrong way.
A few agaonising minutes later, the long legs of Kanu held the ball on the six yard line, and grounded, he squirmed it to Henry in space, who fired it into the left hand corner past a ruck of players. Had he not scored, the previous miss could have wrecked his confidence for a long time.
This was a game of two halves. Arsenal started the sprightlier.
They could have been two up in five minutes, as first Suker made space from an Overmars cross but headed wide. And then headed over.
Bergkamp was through after a one-two but fired straight at the goalkeeper. Overmars had about five efforts - all off target. He wasn't on his game tonight.
As the misses mounted, the nagging doubts rose. Would it be a 0-0? The Swedes, at times could have been mistaken for a black wall, often with ten behind the ball.
Until Bergkamp threaded a ball to meet Ljungberg's run. The Swede carried it forward and poked it in the right corner. Suker made a wise old run taking players out.
Arsenal were cruising. Grimandi was seeing a lot of the ball, sitting behind the back four. Ljungberg was making those awkward runs which characterise his national game. Vieira was majestic. All they had to do was to pass into the wide open spaces.
But they came out sluggish after the break. They were caught out whether to go for another goal, or defend a 1-0. Complacency crept in.
And the Swedes transformed their game - and became dangerous.
A sloppy ball, out of defence, was punished by Andersson who threaded the ball to Nordin, who beat Nigel Winterburn's attempt to catch him offide, and lifted the ball over the advancing Manninger.
Tension started entering Arsenal's play. Tension of their own making.
Silvinho replaced Grimandi, who took a knock on the thigh. And Kanu and Henry came on around 65, for wide players Ljungberg and Overmars.
Suker used all his foxy craft to create a free kick on the edge of the area. And Dennis Bergkamp produced a fast curler, just wide.
Martin Keown rose - and headed against the bar, from a Bergkamp cross.
It was getting desperate - and Arsenal were losing their shape. The Wembley hoodoo was alive and kicking.
It was only luck which stopped Arsenal concede a penalty, as Winterburn lunged in, ball hitting arm, to stop a shot. And both Anderssons had chances to score.
In the end, Henry showed his value to the side, when fed by Bergkamp, he broke away, feeding Suker, at the end of his run, for a simple tap in.
Arsene Wenger said:"We never gave up. There were lots of missed chances. Most of these games are decided in the last five or ten minutes when players tire. We needed experience and luck."
STOP PRESS:
ANR sources heard on Monday that Emmanuel Petit got married in relative secret at the week-end. The reception was at a tennis club in Hampstead.
SOLNA PREVIEW
AIK Solna's rise is down largely to one man - coach Stuart Baxter.
He sold five players, brought in Anders Limpar and took them to the double last season. They are currently top of the league. And thanks to the CL place - are now the richest club in Sweden. And are planning to float on the stock exchange.
Very solid defence, they rely on their 35 year old Bosnian striker, Novakovic who Baxter says is highly intelligent. Anther recognisable player is the lanky striker Andersson, who Arsenal looked at one or two times. And Kamark, who did man to manmarking jobs for Leicester.
I suspect that it will be like playing George Graham's Arsenal. It is difficult to defend the wider open spaces at Wembley. And Baxter won't be on the touchline, after being banned for his protestations on the touchline after the last Champions League match against Barcelona. He wasn't allowed to put an injured player back on. Barca scored. Solna lost the plot and conceded another. That could be a key result which determines the outcome of the Group.
1-0 to the Arsenal?
SOUTHAMPTON 0 ARSENAL 1
There are two leagues now and this is the secondary one whether we like it or not.
Witness, not only the financial rewards of Champions League success, but also the Premiership team changes of the top three - and the results - Chelsea losing to Watford and Wimbledon nearly beating United.
There is an element of using the Saturday games to get players fit for the Champions League - and/or assessing players ability in certain positions for the midweek matches.
The most immediate effect of the 'other league' on the Arsenal team sheet was that Suker was rested for AIK Solna -and in came Kanu from the start. And back came Dixon, for Luzhny, and for the second half Parlour for Ljungberg.
The effects of Florence (the city) were seen in the first half when a bright and literally sparky Saints could have easily scored a couple by half-time.
Free transfer Dean Richards had the best chance with a loose ball in the area, but Manninger's agility cleared the danger - temporarily, until Beattie scraped the upright with the rebound.
Manninger also saved well from a long range effort from Oakley. Seaman is pencilled in for a return on 2 October.
Arsenal didn't really start playing until after half time. Arsene Wenger saidthat the team came in a bit 'down' at half-time, but were conscious they needed to win it and re-grouped as a unit.
Dennis Bergkamp shook off his road-weariness and kick-started the attack by knocking a ball up and just over the Southampton goal.
He then exchanged passes with Overmars and send a classy forward ball setting his compatriot one on one with Jones - who saved.
Kanu picked up the loose ball, dribbled past three but with a clear goal-line space beckoning, he dragged it wide. Shame - he needed a goal for confidence sake. Wenger will have to work on him.
Henry came on for the Nigerian - and Almeida (who shares a name with a theatrical, and sometimes alternative venue off Upper Street, Islington) took centre stage for the Saints.
His performance was a bit alternative - popping up in all areas of the field.
However, it was a case of wrong place, wrong time, when on 79 he allowed Henry, on the edge of the area to swivel to his right and send a thunderbolt past Jones.
And what did the Frenchman think:"I missed a couple of goals today. In eight games I've missed a lot of goals. But it was very important for the team."
His manager said it was a fantastic goal:"He did it in style and scored from the most difficult chance
"He looked more confident after the goal. It was very important for him and his future as a striker," said Wenger.[Indeed, some of the more critical Arsenal fans were beginning to say he was a bigger, more expensive version of Perry Groves.]
Conscious that last season Wenger said that the Southampton results could well have cost Arsenal the title, he said that:" we did much better here than last year."
And added that it was important not to let the leaders get too far ahead.
It was also important to pick up the three points after a somewhat lacklustre performance.
FIORENTINA 0 ARSENAL 0
Solid professional performance by Arsenal. But they leave Florence thinking, if only...
*Fred Ljungberg had more composure when put through in the 11th minute
*Ref Krug had more courage when Bergkamp was felled in the area near half-time
*If only Kanu didn't wait until the keeper moves before striking his penalties
Some great performances - notably Keown, Vieira and Bergkamp - who looked as if he'd stepped out of a health farm, not a gruelling two day car journey.
Wenger got it tactically spot on - sending out what looked like a defensive line up - but actually quite "offensive" as he would say.
The downside - the four bookings, including Vieira, Suker and Keown - which could prove costly later on. And the histrionics which no doubt contributed to the bookings.
And perhaps that lingering sense of deja vu. Last season Arsenal played well and deserved three points in Lens. Lets hope history doesn't repeat itself.
ARSENAL 3 ASTON VILLA 1
Vital match for Arsenal this - and one which turned on a dodgy knee.
Earlier in the week James caught a stud in training (and said whooaa, you shouldn't be doing things like that).
So come 49, holding the ball, with knee getting progressively worse, and unable to kick, James was stranded with no-one to throw to.
And conceded a free kick from five yards for time-wasting.
Up step Bergkamp and Suker. Slight tap - and bang. Anyone who hadn't heard of the Suker left foot - would be hearing about it now. It executed a perfect rising volley avoiding around 17 players in and around the goal-line.
Suker had previously knocked the stuffing out of Villa, near the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal had huffed and puffed in the 85 degree heat. Pretty good build-up play - but the final ball had let everything down.
Until Bergkamp around 30 yards out tried a reverse pass one-two, which put Ehiou and Southgate off guard.
Suker earned a half yard on Southgate, accelerated and toe poked the ball rising into the roof of the net. Welcome to Highbury (on his full debut) Davor Suker.
Arsene Wenger was pleased. "He has the qualities we needed. When he gets a chance he hits the target; he smells danger in the area. He loves to score. He's got good communication with the fans, and is a box player, a bit like Ian Wright"
In fact Wenger said he'll take the free kicks on the right side from now on.
The first half though was a reminder of ANELKALESS ARSENAL. Fine intricate build up play, breaking down a defence by stealth rather than pace.
It is both better to watch, but more frustrating at the same time, if it results in no goals.
Several times, the Arsenal attack cried out for a ball over the top for a rapid striker like Wright or Anelka to get one on one on James - even though Villa play deeper than most.
Until Thierry Henry transforms his game, then we are in for plenty of stealth football.
Overmars, Suker, Parlour and Vieira all had efforts wide or over in the first 45.
But the real moment of midfield creativity in the first half came from the Magic Man Merson, who juggled the ball three or four times, before setting up Joachim in space to turn it around Manninger.
It seemed like the Villa heads dropped after the second Arsenal goal - as if they'd set out for a point - or a nicked 1-0. Alan Wright seemed the only player to show some effort.
Bergkamp and Suker went off with Fiorentina in mind. And it was only a matter of time before Arsenal added to the tally. Overmars broke on the right and fed Kanu who sidefooted it in with ease.
Arsene Wenger said Arsenal were disciplined and organised and won the battle, and said Grimandi did well in a relatively new position.
John Gregory's deputy, Steve Harris, said:"The ref could have shown a touch more understanding. One or two decisions went against us. We thought the last goal was offside."
"We didn't play well. In the first half, we battled and scrapped, but the longer the game went on, Arsenal became more confident. Once they get into a flow, they are a difficult side to play against."
POSTSCRIPT 10 SEPTEMBER
Older readers may remember the "farce in the fog" of 1945, when Moscow Dynamo beat Arsenal 4-3, allegedly bringing on a substitute without taking anyone off. It is remembered in the new book - Football's Strangest Matches by Andrew Ward.
When Suker arrived at Highbury, ANR wrote:"He is very patient, a player who can concentrate, seeming to do nothing for 89 minutes, and then score." Last Saturday, he's down as scoring in the 90th minute in Croatia's 1-0 victory against Ireland. It was his 42nd goal in 52 internationals.
Ian Wright's zestful performance for Nottingham Forest against Walsall, no doubt had many a Gooner wishing he was back at Highbury.
Ray Parlour was no doubt grateful for being switched from left to right on Saturday. He looked out of position for 20 minutes. As one paper put it:' Keegan realised he was not Romford's answer to Rivelino."
The predictions about Nicolas Anelka's move to Spain appear to be fulfilling themselves. Already he's created problems over his shirt numberand boots, is threatening not to talk to the press, reportedly thinking of quitting football, and saying Raul Gonzalez and Fernando Morientes are not great players but always give each other the ball.
He adds that Spanish football doesn't suit him - the style is too slow.
Arsenal's Stuart Taylor gained valuable experience in the international week, training with the England squad at Bisham Abbey.
Arsene Wenger helped boost last year's poppy appeal for ex-servicemen and women by £250,000. He helped launch the appeal with Des Lynam and Tony Blair for the Royal British Legion, who raised £17.5m.
The Independent on Sunday said there is talk of Don Howe, currently involved in Arsenal's youth set up, joining Bobby Robson's sexagenarian revolution at Newcastle.
Dennis Bergkamp, for one doesn't like playing at Wembley. He told Barcelona's Daily Sport: "I think it's a disadvantage for us. The pitch is very wide and our midfield will be spread out. We have to work a lot harder. I prefer to play on our own pitch." He says the Dutch players in the Barcelona camp say Wembley will suit the Spanish team's style of play.
AIK Stockholm's entry to the Champions League, has made them the richest club in Sweden. For the record they haven't let in a goal for 13 games.
Arsenal are reportedly tracking Brentford centre back Darren Powell.
What was old fox Guy Roux, the Auxerre manager doing at Arsenal v Tottenham Reserves match? Trying to snap up Arsenal talent? Trying to tempt Moussa Saib back to France, more like.
Bob and Meg Wilson have set up a charity called the Willow Foundation, to give young people struck by cancer, special days out, like meeting celebrities. Bob Wilson was nicknamed 'willow' in his playing days, and the foundation is in memory of their late daughter Anna, who fought so bravely against the disease.
Catherine Porter has split up with Arsenal fan and comic Alan Davies and left the house near Arsenal's ground. His agent said:".. Alan's one of the few decent blokes in showbiz...even though he's a Gooner.
Asked who he would lock up and throw away the key for, Tony O'Callaghan who plays Sergeant Boyden in The Bill, said Arsene Wenger the Arsenal manager."They've been doing too well in the Premiership and getting into Europe."
Some pundits wondered last week what would have happened had Bobby Robson come to Highbury after George Graham. Both parties wanted a deal but for Porto's insistence he saw out his contract.
Arsenal Ladies' Marianne Spacey is apparently in with a chance of winning the Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award.
When Michael Black replaces Henry, you'd have thought it was an Arsenal match. But no - Barnsley v Tranmere where the young Arsenal player has moved recently. David Hillier is apparently making an impact with Bristol Rovers, following his £15,000 move.
International Federation of Football Historians and Statisticians have worked out that Arsenal are the 21st best club side in the world. Their table is based on a complex formula. Man U are top with Chelsea 5th.
The market liked what they heard at the AGM, with Arsenal shares rising £100.
ANR sources tell us that 27 pizzas were delivered to the Villa team coach outside the main stand after their recent game at Highbury. As a dietician once said:"you are what you eat", and perhaps a major difference between Villa and Arsenal?
ANR learned on Monday that Emmanuel Petit got married in secret at this week-end. The reception was in a Hampstead tennis club.
It has hardly escaped notice that roughly half the Premiership fixtures recently aren't on traditional Saturdays. And those Euro-bound teams playing at home on Sunday and Monday all won, this time round.
Substituting Thierry Henry for Kanu on Saturday, "was akin to bringing on Linford Christie to run the last 200 metres of someone else's marathon," said the Independent.
The Italian government is reportedly backing a scheme put forward by national coach Dino Zoff and Marco Tardelli, backed by the Italian Sports Ministry whereby only five 'foreigners can start a game'. The move is likely to encounter heavy lobbying by the leading clubs. The Italians though, contrary to a report in the Mirror don't hold the EU Presidency. Finland do - and they'd be most upset to read this error.
Seems like the history between Ian Wright and Kevin Muscat carried on on Sunday, with Ian Wright getting a red card for the altercations.
Southampton's Portuguese substitute Almeida, shares the same name as the sometimes alternative threatrical venue in Islington. His performance was certainly 'alternative' popping up in all areas of the pitch, but the wrong place and wrong time when he let Thierry Henry turn and score.
Some of the more crueller, more critical Arsenal fans were beginning to think of Thierry Henry as a bigger more expensive version of Perry Groves -until Saturday, that is.
Arsenal scouts were casting an eye over left winger Kevin Ellison, in the Altrincham v Woking match at Moss Lane this week.
The D. Telegraph said that Wenger's skill will be tested keeping his four key strikers happy.
Arsenal's performance against Fiorentina must be put into perspective.Fiorentina are joint leaders of Serie A.
AIK are also top of their league in Sweden.
Paul Merson, the former Arsenal and England striker, has admitted that his new autobiography could upset his present club Aston Villa.
With all the talk about TV rights, it is worth bearing in mind AC Milan earn £62m/yr from their domestic TV rights - a lot more than Arsenal do at present. And in Italy advertisers are willing to pay eight times more for coverage between Euro games than for Serie A.
According to a Midlands papers Villa boss John Gregory disciplined a group of his players who were out until the small hours on the Thursday before the Arsenal game.
That very Scottish sounding prospect Wycombe's Jermaine McSporran, who once had a trail with Arsenal is allegedly being eyed by them again and Spurs. Seems strange as his price is now many times the £75,000 he cost from Oxford last November and many times more than if had Arsenal kept him.
Stefan Maltz told the press: "I'd rather sit in the stands at Arsenal than play for 1860." And maybe the growing German contingent at Arsenal could possibly be attracting Oliver Bierhoff, who said that he wants to play for Arsenal. Only trouble - a three year contract with AC Milan.
Arsene Wenger believes Stuart Baxter could make an impact coaching in England but says: "I regard Stuart as a good coach and I always say he is good enough to manage in England. You don't have poor managers in the Champions League - unfortunately!"
According to the S.Mirror, Police are hunting Southampton fans who attacked the Arsenal team coach on Friday night and covered it in graffiti at the Botley Grange Hotel in Hampshire.
David Pleat said:"Arsenal have purchased a couple of players who have not been the quality of the team that Mr Wenger demands and we do not wish to buy players purely to supplement the squad." Strange.
Arsene Wenger and Stuart Baxter were introduced in 1989. "We found we were both into sports psychology, dietary analysis, flexibility training and other ideas which were new back then," Baxter said.
Arsene Wenger offered Baxter the assistant manager's job in 1996 when he came, but Baxter preferred to stay in the J-League.
Anders Limpar, signed for AIK last season - and helped them win the cup and league double. AIK Solna is planning a stock market flotation.
Baxter said of the match against Arsenal:"Because the game's at Wembley, it's going to be like climbing Everest - or, because of Arsene, Mont Blanc at least.
David Seaman was 36 this week.
Transfers
Completed In
Oleg Luzhnyi - Dynamo Kiev - Arsenal - £1.5m
Stefan Malz - Munich 1860 - £650,000
Silvinho - Corinthians - £4m
Moritz Volz (M, Schalke 04)- undisclosed
Eric Chukwunyelu (St Etienne) - one year trial
Davor Suker - Real Madrid -£3.5m
Thierry Henry - Juventus -£10.5m
Nicollo Galli - Fiorentina (undisclosed)
Completed Out
David Grondin Arsenal to St Etienne - loan for one year
Jamie Day - Bournemouth
Kaba Diawara - Marseilles £3m
Fabian Cabellero - Atletico Tembetary
Steve Bould - Sunderland -£500,000
Michael Black - Tranmere - free
Jason Crowe - Portsmouth -£1m on appearances
Stephen Hughes - Fulham - three month loan with view to permanent move
Nicolas Anelka - Real Madrid-£23.5m
Probable Out
Alberto Mendez - transfer listed
Christopher Wreh - transfer listed
Possible In
Sophia Kone - Nancy - £4m
Nakarta - Perugia - £3m
Robbie Fowler - Liverpool -£12 -15m
Sergei Rebrov - Dynamo Kiev - £10-£12m
Par Zetterberg - Anderlecht (fee unknown)
Roberto Muzzi - Cagliari -£7m
Joachim Borklund - Valencia -£6m
Jose Cardozo -Toluca
Robbie Keane - Wolves
Alan Stubbs - Celtic
Retired
Remi Garde