By Ian Grant
Freddie Ljungberg will get the chance to prove his fitness for the FA Cup final away at Birmingham following an operation on swollen glands, which were pressing on a nerve and causing pain in his hip.
Lauren is out with blood poisoning and Wenger is considering moving Kolo Toure to fill in – so says The Irish Times.
But The Guardian says Wenger is likely to rest Philippe Senderos and partner Campbell with Kolo Toure in the centre of defence [They got the Le Guen story wrong]. Gilberto is to have a fitness test.
Meanwhile Patrick Vieira got married in Chelsea. An Arsenal fan has denied David Ginola his No 1 choice of boat in Cannes. And in about the only thing that appears to have gone right for them this week, Manchester United grab the favoured “lucky” hotel, the Vale of Glamorgan hotel on the outskirts of Cardiff.
Paul Beddoe, marketing director for the Vale, said: “It obviously helps that teams happen to win when they stay here. Footballers are superstitious, so they will be very precise in their requests.”
In terms of the latest transfer rumours, Arsenal are today linked with Mahamadou Diarra part of the outstanding Lyon midfield including Essien and Juninho.
Also linked to Arsenal yesterday – Willy Sagnol, the French international and Bayern Munich right back which seems plausible given the French Connection – although at 28 outside Wenger’s preferred age range.
Meanwhile, a weekly news review:
PLAYERS
Guardian Unlimited reports that Edu is leaving Arsenal: “I’ve decided to go after the FA Cup final but I haven’t decided which club I’m going to join. A lot of clubs have asked about me and since January my agent has spoken to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Juventus.”
He added: “To be honest I don’t know what will be the best thing for me to do. Real Madrid wanted to talk to me but then they signed Thomas Gravesen. I don’t want to go to a club and just be part of the squad, that’s not my plan.”
Reyes said in the Daily Express: “I went through a low patch but it looks like I’m back to being the Reyes of the start of the season. It’s difficult to say why my form dropped. Every player goes through this from time to time and I can only blame myself. But I’m not thinking about that anymore.”
And added: “It was special for me to score the winner against Tottenham, and even when I missed an early chance it didn’t affect my confidence. I knew I was going to score sooner or later. Never did I feel that my confidence was leaving me.”
Casc Fabregas said: “I never thought when I was playing in the reserves a year ago that I would be playing against Liverpool in the Premiership, let alone scoring, and looking forward to the FA Cup final. I’ve had to believe in myself and scoring against Liverpool gives me more confidence for the future.”
And added: “The step-up to first-team football was hard because there are so many great players here and I had to be patient. I had to believe in myself. And scoring in a game against Liverpool gives me more confidence for the future.”
He said: “I remember watching it on TV a few years ago when Arsenal were in the final. I knew Lauren so made sure I watched the game. Now I’ve got the chance myself. It’s my first season in the Premiership and it’s been difficult at times playing out of position on the right, instead of the middle. Even the club doctor has told me I have to expect good and bad games because at times my energy levels are all over the place.”
Wenger said in the Daily Telegraph: “Philippe [Senderos] is playing well and is deserving of his place but I also feel frustrated for Sol because he is working hard to get back in the team. It’s a fair competition between them, Sol will get his opportunity again but Philippe is doing well.”
And added: “He [Senderos] is on a wave of improvement so you have to keep him on that wave. If you were to cut him down now, it wouldn’t help him. I’m honestly not thinking about possible FA Cup line-ups at the moment.”
Meanwhile the Sun reports Senderos as saying: “Last year I was into Paulo Coelho, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and French literature. We all read something at Arsenal.”
Robin Van Persie hails Robert Pires as his inspiration: “The key person for me is Robert Pires. He’s been my real inspiration because I knew I had to change my game. I watched Robert in training and playing in games. He’s a fantastic player and I can bring things from his game into my game.”
ARSENAL LADIES
Julie Fleeting hit a hat-trick as Arsenal wrapped up their fourth FA Women’s Premier League title in five seasons by beating Fulham 6-2. Fleeting has subsequently won the Women’s Player of the Year award.
MISCELLANEOUS
John Terry told the Express: “Our aim next time has to be to go through the season without losing in the league at all.”
Jose Mourinho has been ordered to attend the Ashley Cole ‘tapping up’ hearing next Tuesday – hours before he flies to South Korea with Chelsea. The independent commission, chaired by Sir Phillip Otton, convenes next Tuesday and Wednesday and Ashley Cole is expected to attend on both days, when he will outline a fresh defence – namely a threat to take the case to the European Courts over ‘restraint of trade’.
According to the Irish Times: “The former Newcastle United Academy manager and head coach, Brian Eastick, is to take over as assistant to Ireland’s Under-21 manager, Don Givens, following the departure of Neil Banfield who had to resign when he was made reserve team manager at Arsenal.”
Oxford United have appointed former Arsenal player Brian Talbot, 51, as manager.
Alex Ferguson said on the West Brom game: “It was absolutely ridiculous. It’s at times like this that we miss a high class finisher like Ruud van Nistelrooy. It’s a pity because I thought we could have got second place. That can’t happen because we need Liverpool and
Everton to both beat Arsenal.”
Some bookmakers had Liverpool 4-1 to win at Highbury last Sunday.
TRANSFER RUMOURS
According to the Evening Standard, Arsenal are tracking Wolves 22 year old defender Joleon Lescott.
The Independent says: “Pires has now said a transfer to Spain is a “possibility” if he is not given a two-year deal to keep him at Arsenal until 2007.” Pires says: “I don”t see myself going back to France.”
However one French wire service says Robert Pires has indicated to Arsenal that he would spurn interest from Lyon and Valencia to stay at Highbury, even if they could offer him only a one-year contract extension.
Media in France are suggesting Lyons manager Paul le Guen, the 41 economic science graduate, may take a role under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal in his sabbatical year, following his declining a new contract.
Le Guen, who has won the French title three times in a row, told Reuters: “Winning a title as a coach is much more difficult. You need to dedicate yourself much more and you take more blows. I don’t like it when people say it’s difficult for a player to become a coach. It’s just something you have to plan carefully. You need passion but also need to keep some distance.”
But Wenger has denied any link with Arsenal.
According to the Daily Star: “Arsenal are chasing Feyenoord pair Salomon Kalou and Gianni Zuiverloon. Striker Kalou, 19, and Zuiverloon are highly rated by Feyenoord coach Ruud Gullit and have caught the eye of Arsenal scouts in senior and reserve games.
Meanwhile Steve Sidwell has ruled out a return to Arsenal, according to the Daily Star.
The Observer reports that Arsene Wenger won’t sell any of his star players this summer: Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira and Jose Antonio Reyes have all been linked with moves but Wenger says: “Apart from Edu, everyone’s staying.”