Arsene, Gilles And Freddie

Amazing how letting off steam makes the world a better place…

Arsene is the subject of today’s rumours with The Sun Says So It Must Be True, quoting a “friend” of Le Boss at length, blathering on about how he’s unsettled with DD’s departure, how he’s worried about the squad being too young for a true tilt at the title, how he’s been told to sell players before he can buy. All of which sounds like this friend of Arsene is a bit of a figment of someone’s imagination after a fifteenth pint of Tennants Super. There is an element of truth in what is said though to my mind and that is the timescale, which is of course what the hack in question is playing on. I have no doubt that AW will know by Christmas what he is going to do, if he has not already pretty much made up his mind already. Where the story veers from reality is over the question of money – AW knows the financial situation better than anyone else and the impact it will have on his plans for strengthening the squad. Personally, I have no doubts he wants to stay but the question he wants answered is on the pitch, as in has he put together a squad that is improving as quickly as he believes. The answer to that I believe is yes. But interestingly, the story then segues into more from Patrick Vieira, as if that gives it more credibility. Bless ‘em.

Gilles Grimandi seems to be the media favourite for the Director of Football role now that Nicky Hammond turned it down so we’d better get used to some Gallic shrugs and puffing of the cheeks in the news. Grimandi would be a logical appointment in many respects having scouted for Arsene in France in recent years, giving him an insight into the type of player that Le Boss wants and how the Scouting Network should be operating. No doubt there are those who will deride such an appointment because he has a lack of experience in dealing with Contracts and Negotiations but hellfire, unless the Club go out and poach someone from another top team, where does this experience come from? And don’t say DD; it’s so passe.

Freddie Ljungberg has said he wants to fight for his place, some cruel comments noting that he is due a testimonial as this will be his tenth season. I doubt that it is the case. FL is well aware that his chances of playing for another top side are limited and no doubt believes he can do a job for the squad. I have no axe to grind with that attitude because if others – no name, no packdrill – had shown the same public commitment then half of the Summer’s newsprint would have been lost. Back to the Testimonial angle. I’d be surprised if that is even on the horizon. Not through anything other than they don’t happen very often anymore, DB10′s was an exception rather than the rule. OK so the average Premiership player doesn’t spend long enough at a club to warrant one but the concept of rewarding service is now outdated, a fact noticeable as most recent testimonials have been raising funds for Charities. I think the Club hit on the way forward with this during the final season at Highbury where a ‘themed day’ is held in the players respect, part of the ‘profits’ from the day going to Charity with the match having some meaning, a particular bugbear of mine that testimonials were often a pointless exercise in the past, taking place when players were knackered after a long season or not really contributing much to the pre-season.

And that’s yer lot for this morning so ’til Tomorrow.