To paraphrase William Shakespeare, something is rotten in the State of Colorado. With mixed messages coming from the Kroenke camp, it seems that Stan has been playing his cards closer to his chest than originally thought (but probably no more than anyone expected) and has purchased ITV’s shareholding in Arsenal through an investment vehicle, KSE UK Inc. Having originally denied the intention to do so through the somewhat aptly named Jurgen Mainka, Big Stan then denied the denial at which point everyone suspected he was indeed interested in obtaining some sort of foothold in the Club. To what end is not known but many suspect it will not be long before there is an official takeover bid. The Club have not yet filed the requisite notices that were issued to try and identify the recent purchaser(s) of small shareholdings but it would be no surprise to find the dark hand of Stan behind them.

However, to assume that a takeover is imminent is to jump the gun. There is no evidence of this occurring yet although to dismiss it out of hand is somewhat naive. Kroenke is following what is becoming a well-worn path for US Sports Franchise Owners. If he is to purchase the Club, at least he comes from a Sporting background. How he funds it will decide how the supporters perceive the bid. Reading supporters comments, it is clear that there will be hostility to any takeover in any case; a debt-laden buy out in the manner that the Glazers cobbled together would be actively opposed but what of a bid in the same nature as those at Liverpool and Aston Villa? The problem with lumping all three in the same basket is that there is no discernable track-record at the latter to decide if they are good or bad for their respective clubs. Still, it would seem a takeover at Arsenal is some way off, possibly in the Summer at the earliest. Oh, and for those who think that it will not be possible because the Board are all supporters, think again. Money talks. And this situation, it will talk considerably louder than any loyalty to the Club. And the argument that David Dein will not sell because of the influence he has in international football through the Club does not hold water either – all he needs to do is to negotiate a place on the Board and he can retain all of the other positions that he has cornered for himself.

One last thing. For those who have not yet worked out where ‘Ice Skunk’ came from, it is an anagram of KSE UK Inc, the now proud owner of at least 9.9% of Arsenal Football Club plc.

Thierry Henry’s Mr 15% has alledgedly been breaking the ice with several bigwigs around Europe recently. In his own mini ‘Around The World In 80 Days‘, the Spanish sports daily, El Mundo Deportivo (The World Of Sport), reckons that stopovers have been made in Barcelona and Milan to try and sort out a move following on from a meeting with Le Boss which left Le Captain distinctly unimpressed by the coming Summer’s transfer plans. However, the same newspaper reports that there is concern about how he would fit in at the Camp Nou and that some Cojones Grande at the Club are still miffed at the apparent volte face Henry carried out before committing to Arsenal last Summer. Personally, I think that this is the product of an over-active session on the Carajillo yesterday morning but there you go. And nor should it be the time for all the sniping to re-commence about how Henry is past it and finished.

Top of most people wishlists should the Mad Monk decide to remove himself as custodian of the Arsenal goal, Gianluigi Buffon, appeared last weekend to put the kibosh on any hope of him coming to The Emirates. The Observer Sport Monthly quotes him thus,

I stayed at Juventus because they were sent into B. If they’d stayed in A, I’d probably have gone to Milan…The probability is that I’ll stay at Juve so long as others remain around me and the team is competitive

Emmanuel Eboue is apparently no more than 50 – 50 for the match against West Ham tomorrow, a groin injury now striking him down. If this is the case, and he does miss the match, then I believe that serious questions need to be asked and answered by the Club as to why so many players seem to be breaking down within days of returning to fitness. For someone who prides himself on being at the vanguard of training methodologies, Arsene is suffering an exceptionally high muscular injury rate. It appears that the Club are rushing players back instead of allowing them to recover sufficiently and this was admitted by Le Boss today,

It is unbelievable, he was out for six weeks and then played a complete game when perhaps he had not recovered. Sometimes that is the price that you pay; you get another injury.

You’ll forgive me if I do not share Arsene’s amazement at this. The key for me is the last part, an admission that they are bringing back players too soon. In Eboue’s case, there is no reason for him to have been rushed as there were plenty of other options available at Anfield. AW needs to review this policy and another week on the sidelines may not be too small a price to pay if it ensures that other players do not return too soon.

Good news though is that Gilberto returns tomorrow. This will enable AW to play a stronger central midfield pairing. An initial reaction to it is that I would rest Fabregas and have Diaby and Gilberto in the centre with Hleb and Rosicky on either flank. More on that tomorrow with a preview of the game. Jeremie Aliadiere’s return does not fill me with as much joy but it is at least another option if Baptista and Adebayor misfire although part of me shrugs my shoulders and thinks that JA has not set the Premiership on fire so why expect anything different. However that is to ignore the somewhat pressurised environment facing the forwards at the moment although there is a school of thought that believes that the good players respond positively to such circumstances.