The 2013 summer rumour list is being updated again. This Silly Season is the busiest I can remember, at least when it comes to speculation about incoming targets.
241 players have been linked with Arsenal after the January window was shut. Only two, Yaya Sanogo and Dan Crawley, have been confirmed as Arsenal signings so far.
The much hyped £70m in Arsenal's so-called war chest is probably the reason for the flurry of rumours. Plenty of European agents want in on the action, both for themselves and on behalf of their clients. But there are also targets where the reports are so ubiquitous that there have to be cores of truth in them.
The single player with the most links to Arsenal is now far and away Gonzalo Higuaín, the Real Madrid striker. Several papers have reported - and are to be belived at your own peril - that personal terms have been reached between Arsenal and the player's representatives quite some time ago. The selling club, however, aren't going to take the deal lying down.
All around Europe, a lot of the major clubs have changed their managers (or head coaches, where that term is more precise). They all want two things: assess the current squad themselves before deciding who goes and who stays, and at the same time get fans on their side with a marquee signing. At the same time, cash-rich owners of some clubs spend like it's the end of the world as they know it. And with the advent of UEFA's Financial Fair Play, it probably is.
Real Madrid wanted Carlo Ancelotti in place before Higuain was sold, and that proved to be a masterstroke. At the start of the summer, the Argentine wasn't in such high demand. Now, however, as a sort of domino featuring the world's leading forwards is afoot, his transfer value has soared.
As Edinson Cavani left Napoli for Paris Saint-Germain, the only ones who would pay off his transfer clause without blinking, the Italian club got their hands on serious dough. How many top strikers are in the market? Not many, but Higuaín is one. Before you know it, Real Madrid raised his asking price from £23-25m to £35-40m (depending on reports). A classic case of what an increase in demand does with the price in a closed market.
Arsenal, not blind to this development, have made ouvertures to Wayne Rooney and Luis Suárez instead. Several reports have suggested that these are just feints designed to scare Real Madrid into selling Higuaín. In that case, it hasn't worked, especially not with Napoli thrown into the mix.
The Rooney rumour is based on the Manchester United and England striker's discontent at Old Trafford, where competition for places seems to have put an end to his preferred, less professional fitness regime. However, for Rooney to choose Arsenal over Chelsea - who have confirmed their interest with a firm, official bid - is nonsensical. Arsenal can't offer the money Chelsea can, nor the (perceived) chances of silverware at this point. I've a slight suspicion that Arsène Wenger keep making noises just to complicate matters for his rivals.
Luis Suárez, however, is another matter. Arsenal are the only firm bidders in this case, but true to form is any bid lower than the selling club's set value. Liverpool are in an even worse situation than Arsenal, who still have Champions League football to offer. Suárez' comments in South American media suggest that a move would appeal to him. For Wenger to sign a striker of questionable temperament and a poor disciplinary record is nothing new. Arsenal supporters would have a hard time taking to the Uruguay striker with his sordid reputation, but fans are fickle. Goals will heal any wounds.
In the media, quite a few of the stories about any of these three "targets" carry a mention of the two others. That is why the number of links after each name has grown so drastically.
Of the three, Suárez looks the more likely, as Higuaín and Rooney will cost more money than prudent Arsenal are prepared to spend under any circumstances. However, the Stevan Jovetic saga is a warning in itself. So closely linked to Arsenal throughout the spring, but now about to leave Fiorentina for Manchester City instead. Again, inflation brought forward by the endless spending of a few major clubs meant that the Montenegrin's asking price went through the roof. Once the oily operators in European football enter a race, Arsenal are put in place.
Suárez may very well end up in Real Madrid instead, perhaps is that even more likely than Arsenal. What will then be left? Wenger clearly wants more competition for Olivier Giroud, and more firepower up front in general.
My prediction - only as good as your own, mind - is that Arsenal will lose out on all the three targets of this frenzied week, like they lost out on Jovetic. However, when all the top names are signed, others will be put on the market.
When Manchester City have signed Jovetic and, as reported, Álvaro Negredo of Sevilla, what then of, say, Edin Dzeko? If, or when, Chelsea secure Rooney, what then of Fernando Torres or Demba Ba? They have all been reported as targets for Arsenal in this Silly Season as in the last fewtransfer windows.
I think Arsenal will end up with the leftovers. But who would you trust more at a car-boot footballer sale than Arsène Wenger?
Showing posts with label Jovetic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jovetic. Show all posts
Friday, 19 July 2013
Saturday, 8 June 2013
An annual ritual
This week, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis met the English press to discuss the state of affairs at the club. Unsurprisingly, Gazidis was very upbeat and optimistic ahead of next season. He always is, not least around the time memberships and season tickets are up for renewal.
Like in June 2011, or June 2012...
But that particular cynicism aside for a moment, the chief executive offered at least one truth:
I didn’t hear last summer an outcry that we must sign Santi Cazorla, but we knew he was a top-class player who would add to our team and give us something that we needed. There is a short-term narrative that we play through week by week where we will get linked with every name under the sun.
(Full transcripts of Gazidis' press conference can be found at the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror websites.)
The rumour mill has been churning since the end of the January window, and more than 170 (!) players have been linked so far. 'Stupid' doesn't quite cover it.
Even the most persistent rumours can die down in the end. Stevan Jovetic looks to be set for a Juventus move, if the Italian papers are to be believed. Instead, Real Madrid's Argentine striker Gonzalo Híguain is this week's darling in the European press. It's all about having fresh news to spread.
At the same time, the English papers can't let go of the very weakly sustained Wayne Rooney rumour, probably because any paper with Rooney on the cover will sell more than any other. I'm not sure any media will ever be interested in that rumour being quashed!
These stories in the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail both try to sum up Arsenal's transfer plans for the summer. They both mention the same names - goalkeepers, defenders and strikers - but put Rooney in the headline. But neither mention Yaya Sanogo coming in, all but confirmed by the player himself. As we all know, French kids don't sell English papers.
At the same time, Gervinho and Thomas Vermaelen has been linked with moves away from Arsenal. But it doesn't sound like Gazidis has that kind of activity in mind.
Quietly we did a good job during the season of tying down most of out important players to long-term contracts. We’re in a very strong contractual position, not just for this summer, but looking forward. We’ve got a lot of players locked into contracts, which is why we’ve got a very strong, robust foundation going forward. The critical thing for us is making the right decisions in terms of additions.
So contracts have been signed, players have been signed and the chief executive says there are more to come.
Even though the first parts have been delivered, I'll believe that last bit when I see it.
There is real tension among Gooners now. The rumour mill has never been harder at work. The list of targets has never been longer. The weight of expectation may weigh so hard that no signing in the world can be good enough. That's what the promise of £70m can do to you.
Like in June 2011, or June 2012...
But that particular cynicism aside for a moment, the chief executive offered at least one truth:
I didn’t hear last summer an outcry that we must sign Santi Cazorla, but we knew he was a top-class player who would add to our team and give us something that we needed. There is a short-term narrative that we play through week by week where we will get linked with every name under the sun.
(Full transcripts of Gazidis' press conference can be found at the Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror websites.)
The rumour mill has been churning since the end of the January window, and more than 170 (!) players have been linked so far. 'Stupid' doesn't quite cover it.
Even the most persistent rumours can die down in the end. Stevan Jovetic looks to be set for a Juventus move, if the Italian papers are to be believed. Instead, Real Madrid's Argentine striker Gonzalo Híguain is this week's darling in the European press. It's all about having fresh news to spread.
At the same time, the English papers can't let go of the very weakly sustained Wayne Rooney rumour, probably because any paper with Rooney on the cover will sell more than any other. I'm not sure any media will ever be interested in that rumour being quashed!
These stories in the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail both try to sum up Arsenal's transfer plans for the summer. They both mention the same names - goalkeepers, defenders and strikers - but put Rooney in the headline. But neither mention Yaya Sanogo coming in, all but confirmed by the player himself. As we all know, French kids don't sell English papers.
At the same time, Gervinho and Thomas Vermaelen has been linked with moves away from Arsenal. But it doesn't sound like Gazidis has that kind of activity in mind.
Quietly we did a good job during the season of tying down most of out important players to long-term contracts. We’re in a very strong contractual position, not just for this summer, but looking forward. We’ve got a lot of players locked into contracts, which is why we’ve got a very strong, robust foundation going forward. The critical thing for us is making the right decisions in terms of additions.
So contracts have been signed, players have been signed and the chief executive says there are more to come.
Even though the first parts have been delivered, I'll believe that last bit when I see it.
There is real tension among Gooners now. The rumour mill has never been harder at work. The list of targets has never been longer. The weight of expectation may weigh so hard that no signing in the world can be good enough. That's what the promise of £70m can do to you.
Friday, 31 May 2013
Anatomy of a transfer. Allegedly
With Silly Season well and truly underway, Gooners everywhere hit 'refresh' on the websites of their choice to gather hints of possible new signings. Arsenal are notoriously secretive, which makes the deal for Yaya Sanogo - confirmed by manager Arsène Wenger as being in the pipeline - so special.
But the striker most tirelessly linked with Arsenal this Silly Season is Stevan Jovetic. The reports have been all over the place.
Two months ago, we looked at a top international striker who said he had "an affinity for Arsenal". Then last week, his agent stated that his client would "prefer to stay in Italy". That Jovetic definitely is on the move, was confirmed by his current employers Fiorentina on the day before yesterday.
Probably, that last decision was made in the player's mind on the final day of the Serie A season, as Fiorentina narrowly lost out on the chance to qualify for the Champions League. The other decisions are not as straight forward. We might be looking at the same kind of player power that finally put Robin van Persie in a Manchester United shirt last summer.
This brief telegram from Italian wire service ANSA sums it up well: Fiorentina want €30 million, no ifs or buts or well thought-out clauses. Cash is king. They want to sell abroad, and want Arsenal to stop haggling. Chelsea are also said to be interested, and any bidding war with them will likely end in tears at the Emirates, as usual.
Jovetic or, more likely, his agent, are more aligned to Fiorentina's way of thinking. Cash is king, and the highest bidder is where they will go. The statements have most likely been prepared already: if Juventus put the most money on the table, Jovetic will likely praise the Serie A and the need for his family to stay in Italy. If Chelsea flashes enough rubles, he'll talk about the challenges of another league and another environment.
The only way I see him choose Arsenal is for actually taking part in a developing project, being a brick in Wenger's continued building of a fourth Arsenal title winning team. Either that, or Chelsea aren't interested after all.
Because we shan't be fooled by the tabloids' insistence on Arsenal having a £70m war chest. We still have the same manager, and he still has principles about how to spend money. No way will he outbid the tank with the £50 notes and its megalomaniac owner.
Of course these are only my interpretations of leaks and reports over the last few months. But I was an optimist about Arsenal signing Jovetic two months ago. Now I expect to see the Montenegro striker go elsewhere.
But the striker most tirelessly linked with Arsenal this Silly Season is Stevan Jovetic. The reports have been all over the place.
Two months ago, we looked at a top international striker who said he had "an affinity for Arsenal". Then last week, his agent stated that his client would "prefer to stay in Italy". That Jovetic definitely is on the move, was confirmed by his current employers Fiorentina on the day before yesterday.
Probably, that last decision was made in the player's mind on the final day of the Serie A season, as Fiorentina narrowly lost out on the chance to qualify for the Champions League. The other decisions are not as straight forward. We might be looking at the same kind of player power that finally put Robin van Persie in a Manchester United shirt last summer.
This brief telegram from Italian wire service ANSA sums it up well: Fiorentina want €30 million, no ifs or buts or well thought-out clauses. Cash is king. They want to sell abroad, and want Arsenal to stop haggling. Chelsea are also said to be interested, and any bidding war with them will likely end in tears at the Emirates, as usual.
Jovetic or, more likely, his agent, are more aligned to Fiorentina's way of thinking. Cash is king, and the highest bidder is where they will go. The statements have most likely been prepared already: if Juventus put the most money on the table, Jovetic will likely praise the Serie A and the need for his family to stay in Italy. If Chelsea flashes enough rubles, he'll talk about the challenges of another league and another environment.
The only way I see him choose Arsenal is for actually taking part in a developing project, being a brick in Wenger's continued building of a fourth Arsenal title winning team. Either that, or Chelsea aren't interested after all.
Because we shan't be fooled by the tabloids' insistence on Arsenal having a £70m war chest. We still have the same manager, and he still has principles about how to spend money. No way will he outbid the tank with the £50 notes and its megalomaniac owner.
Of course these are only my interpretations of leaks and reports over the last few months. But I was an optimist about Arsenal signing Jovetic two months ago. Now I expect to see the Montenegro striker go elsewhere.
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Planning further ahead
The final game of the season will decide if Arsenal finish third, fourth or fifth in the Premier League. A win at Newcastle means that Arsenal qualify for next season's Champions League regardless of other results.
A win will be crucial for Arsenal's transfer dealings. Reports, rumours and common sense all suggest that a number of deals are put in place for the summer already. But it's more than likely that some of the players in question have Champions Leage qualification as part of their demands. Arsenal finishing fifth will probably mean some deals are off.
The strongest rumour in this vein concern the Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic. The Montenegrin international has been heavily linked with Arsenal through the last three months, and before that since October last year. But one of the most sought-after attackers in European football won't choose a suitor in the Europa League.
The deal for Nacho Monreal was originally set up for the summer, but was fast-tracked in January because of Kieran Gibbs' injury. It's just an example of how Arsenal run things: plans are made way ahead of the normal tabloid Silly Season brouhaha.
The Yaya Sanogo deal is another example of this. In the season's final pre-match press meeting, Arsène Wenger confirmed that a deal is in the making for the French youth international. Sanogo is out of contract in the summer, but Auxerre in Ligue 2 is due a compensation.
The Sanogo story first appeared in the French sports daily L'Equipe (not online), which was quoted in the Daily Star on 7 March. By that time, it was reported that Wenger and Arsenal's France scout Gilles Grimandi had already met the player with a view of signing him in the summer.
A "Wenger signing" if I ever saw one: young, French, cheap, injury prone and immensely talented.
In other words: not Wayne Rooney. That particular rumour has manure-stirring, cash-eyed agents' speak written all over it.
There are more deals in the pipeline, I am sure of it. But the names aren't necessarily listed here. Arsenal are better at keeping deals under wraps than most.
A win will be crucial for Arsenal's transfer dealings. Reports, rumours and common sense all suggest that a number of deals are put in place for the summer already. But it's more than likely that some of the players in question have Champions Leage qualification as part of their demands. Arsenal finishing fifth will probably mean some deals are off.
The strongest rumour in this vein concern the Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic. The Montenegrin international has been heavily linked with Arsenal through the last three months, and before that since October last year. But one of the most sought-after attackers in European football won't choose a suitor in the Europa League.
The deal for Nacho Monreal was originally set up for the summer, but was fast-tracked in January because of Kieran Gibbs' injury. It's just an example of how Arsenal run things: plans are made way ahead of the normal tabloid Silly Season brouhaha.
The Yaya Sanogo deal is another example of this. In the season's final pre-match press meeting, Arsène Wenger confirmed that a deal is in the making for the French youth international. Sanogo is out of contract in the summer, but Auxerre in Ligue 2 is due a compensation.
The Sanogo story first appeared in the French sports daily L'Equipe (not online), which was quoted in the Daily Star on 7 March. By that time, it was reported that Wenger and Arsenal's France scout Gilles Grimandi had already met the player with a view of signing him in the summer.
A "Wenger signing" if I ever saw one: young, French, cheap, injury prone and immensely talented.
In other words: not Wayne Rooney. That particular rumour has manure-stirring, cash-eyed agents' speak written all over it.
There are more deals in the pipeline, I am sure of it. But the names aren't necessarily listed here. Arsenal are better at keeping deals under wraps than most.
Monday, 1 April 2013
Such a draft, even after two months
Even though the transfer window closed after 31 January, it sure hasn't shut tight. It seems like there are more Arsenal rumours in the air than ever before. On the 2013 summer rumour page, you'll see a compilation of no less than 103 - one hundred and three - professional footballers linked with a summer move to the Gunners.
As always, the list is sorted alphabetically, with each mention in the so-called serious media linked. These rumours aren't spread by men in pubs, these appear in print - or as close as it gets in the 21st century.
103 names in 59 days is almost 1,75 new players linked to the Arsenal per day. Words fail me.
These are the top 3 so far:
1) Stevan Jovetic, forward, Fiorentina, 56 mentions.
2) David Villa, forward, Barcelona, 42 mentions.
3) José Reina, goalkeeper, Liverpool, 36 mentions.
Montenegrin striker Jovetic is, despite his tender years, old news in an Arsenal transfer rumour setting. He was first linked by UK radio station Talksport, an outlet without enough credence to be included among my regular sources, in September 2011. He was only included on the 2011/12 winter rumour list back then because the BBC and the Daily Mirror lent credibility to the rumour by quoting it.
This winter, almost half his mentions were in the run-up to Montenegro's World Cup qualifier with England last week. A quote from a press conference where he spoke of an "affinity" with Arsenal was all it took for the rumour to fly around the world.
David Villa, on the other hand, was flavour of the month for February. Arsenal's reported attempts to sign the out-of-favour Spanish international in January kept his name in the running for a few weeks. Then he started appearing and scoring for Barcelona again, and the rumour has since died down.
Liverpool's Pepe Reina has similarly been a hot target when Arsenal's current 'keepers have had bad games, or when his own fortunes at Anfield have been scrutinised. But what really brings Reina to third place overall is that goalkeepers are linked with Arsenal like never before these days. The Spaniard has been a reported target since April 2010 (the link to the Sunday Express story has later died) and his name often pops up whenever any other goalkeepers are linked.
The top 3 for goalkeepers are:
1) Reina, 36 mentions.
2) Victor Valdés, Barcelona, 31 mentions.
3) Asmir Begovic, Stoke, 27 mentions.
Valdés and Begovic both look to leave their clubs for new challenges. More times than not, it seems, that is reason enough to link them to Arsenal.
When it comes to the forwards, the story is different. After Jovetic and Villa, many names are mentioned without anyone standing out. It's symptomatic that Carlos Vela is third on that particular list with 16 mentions. The Real Sociedad forward has spent the last month assuring that he'd like to stay in Spain even if Arsenal have a buy-back-clause after his transfer last summer. There is absolutely no reason to think that the Mexican would have any role to play at the Emirates next season.
As for defenders, the top 3 are:
1) Ashley Williams, Swansea, 32 mentions.
2) Fernando Amorebieta, Athletic Bilbao, 12 mentions.
3) Nicolas N'Koulou, Olympique Marseilles, 8 mentions.
By far the hottest rumour is Welshman Williams. He is, however, coveted by other Premier League clubs as well when the rumour is reported. Liverpool and his former manager Brendan Rodgers were the main interested party when the rumour was first reported in the January window by the Daily Mirror. Since then, most mentions have been a re-hash or other of this original rumour.
The midfielder top 3 are:
1) Étienne Capoué, Toulouse, 22 mentions.
2) Victor Wanyama, Celtic, 16 mentions.
3=) Mario Götze, Borussia Dortmund, 6 mentions.
3=) Sebastian Rode, Eintracht Frankfurt, 6 mentions.
3=) Alex Song, Barcelona, 6 mentions.
In brief, the rumours are that Arsenal are looking for a replacement for Alex Song. However, this is so difficult that Song himself is a prime candidate!
(How easily Gooners forget screaming at the so-called defensive midfielder for straying out of position in game after game, never really replacing Gilberto Silva.)
Oh, and Arsenal are looking at youngsters in the Bundesliga. There really are a lot of rumours about up-and-coming, short-arsed, technically gifted, attacking midfielders about. As if Arsenal are lacking.
To put it briefly, only the Stevan Jovetic story qualifies as a proper rumour. It carries the weight of at least some quotes, interest has been reported for some time and by many different media outlets. Not that all that should mean anything at all in football's ever expanding Silly Season.
As always, the list is sorted alphabetically, with each mention in the so-called serious media linked. These rumours aren't spread by men in pubs, these appear in print - or as close as it gets in the 21st century.
103 names in 59 days is almost 1,75 new players linked to the Arsenal per day. Words fail me.
These are the top 3 so far:
1) Stevan Jovetic, forward, Fiorentina, 56 mentions.
2) David Villa, forward, Barcelona, 42 mentions.
3) José Reina, goalkeeper, Liverpool, 36 mentions.
Montenegrin striker Jovetic is, despite his tender years, old news in an Arsenal transfer rumour setting. He was first linked by UK radio station Talksport, an outlet without enough credence to be included among my regular sources, in September 2011. He was only included on the 2011/12 winter rumour list back then because the BBC and the Daily Mirror lent credibility to the rumour by quoting it.
This winter, almost half his mentions were in the run-up to Montenegro's World Cup qualifier with England last week. A quote from a press conference where he spoke of an "affinity" with Arsenal was all it took for the rumour to fly around the world.
David Villa, on the other hand, was flavour of the month for February. Arsenal's reported attempts to sign the out-of-favour Spanish international in January kept his name in the running for a few weeks. Then he started appearing and scoring for Barcelona again, and the rumour has since died down.
Liverpool's Pepe Reina has similarly been a hot target when Arsenal's current 'keepers have had bad games, or when his own fortunes at Anfield have been scrutinised. But what really brings Reina to third place overall is that goalkeepers are linked with Arsenal like never before these days. The Spaniard has been a reported target since April 2010 (the link to the Sunday Express story has later died) and his name often pops up whenever any other goalkeepers are linked.
The top 3 for goalkeepers are:
1) Reina, 36 mentions.
2) Victor Valdés, Barcelona, 31 mentions.
3) Asmir Begovic, Stoke, 27 mentions.
Valdés and Begovic both look to leave their clubs for new challenges. More times than not, it seems, that is reason enough to link them to Arsenal.
When it comes to the forwards, the story is different. After Jovetic and Villa, many names are mentioned without anyone standing out. It's symptomatic that Carlos Vela is third on that particular list with 16 mentions. The Real Sociedad forward has spent the last month assuring that he'd like to stay in Spain even if Arsenal have a buy-back-clause after his transfer last summer. There is absolutely no reason to think that the Mexican would have any role to play at the Emirates next season.
As for defenders, the top 3 are:
1) Ashley Williams, Swansea, 32 mentions.
2) Fernando Amorebieta, Athletic Bilbao, 12 mentions.
3) Nicolas N'Koulou, Olympique Marseilles, 8 mentions.
By far the hottest rumour is Welshman Williams. He is, however, coveted by other Premier League clubs as well when the rumour is reported. Liverpool and his former manager Brendan Rodgers were the main interested party when the rumour was first reported in the January window by the Daily Mirror. Since then, most mentions have been a re-hash or other of this original rumour.
The midfielder top 3 are:
1) Étienne Capoué, Toulouse, 22 mentions.
2) Victor Wanyama, Celtic, 16 mentions.
3=) Mario Götze, Borussia Dortmund, 6 mentions.
3=) Sebastian Rode, Eintracht Frankfurt, 6 mentions.
3=) Alex Song, Barcelona, 6 mentions.
In brief, the rumours are that Arsenal are looking for a replacement for Alex Song. However, this is so difficult that Song himself is a prime candidate!
(How easily Gooners forget screaming at the so-called defensive midfielder for straying out of position in game after game, never really replacing Gilberto Silva.)
Oh, and Arsenal are looking at youngsters in the Bundesliga. There really are a lot of rumours about up-and-coming, short-arsed, technically gifted, attacking midfielders about. As if Arsenal are lacking.
To put it briefly, only the Stevan Jovetic story qualifies as a proper rumour. It carries the weight of at least some quotes, interest has been reported for some time and by many different media outlets. Not that all that should mean anything at all in football's ever expanding Silly Season.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
A fairy tale on the agenda
"They say they do not want to acquire the club to make money but to invest." - Jason Burt, the Sunday Telegraph
"For these men this is not a club which should be living in the shadows of Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea." - Shaun Custis, the Sun on Sunday
On the morning of the North London Derby, the Sun on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph publish identical "exclusives" about a supposed £1.5bn (!) Arsenal takeover by Arab interests. It's said to be £20k per share, which would value Arsenal Football Club at almost twice the sum that the Glazer family paid for Manchester United!
In the current climate around Arsenal, this is all too easy for disgruntled Gooners to get all worked up about. I believe that is the target of the whole exercise.
The editorial handiwork also looks suspect. The sole source - "a bid source" - refers to funds from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and supply almost identical quotes to both newspapers. "The group do not want their identities made public yet," the Telegraph reports. If the editors really believe the source and its story to be genuine, they fail to convince.
The so-called consortium's targets look like clippings from the wet dreams of the "supporter" groups who have lately been the most critical of the current Arsenal owners and manager. They really cover everything, from a new board, a vast budget for transfers and salaries, a critical stance towards the manager, setup and staff and even a promise of lower ticket prices and a return to "some of the feel of the North Bank".
And remember, all this not "to make money but to invest".
Pardon my cynicism, but even though the source claims to to have "requested a meeting" with representatives for majority owner Stan Kroenke, this looks like a fairy tale backed by Santa Claus, not by oil money.
Other media shoot it down too. While the Sunday Mirror base their "understanding" of the bid failing on earlier quotes by Kroenke, the BBC choose not to report on the rumour at all. Instead, their Arsenal correspondent David Ornstein dismantled it on Twitter last night.
"Serious Middle East interest never advertise plans," Ornstein wrote. "Qatar [and] UAE buying together [is] very unlikely."
However, subtleties from serious reporters covering Arsenal for a living will probably fail to convince a lot of frustrated Gooners. So many of us just want trophies for whatever cost. The model of sustainability is attacked because it's blamed for the trophy "drought" of eight years.
But why? And why now? The timing of this takeover rumour is downright hostile, coming on the morning of a pivotal game for the club and management. A derby with Tottenham, no less.
The target today is obviously to hurt Kroenke and his ownership. The "bid source" attacks the American and his family in both newspaper stories. Stan Kroenke is there to make money. He is no Arsenal fan, and takes too little interest in the running of the club. His son, Josh Kroenke, is inexperienced and doesn't know football. The Kroenkes damage the club by not engaging with the minority owner Alisher Usmanov.
Obviously a key point for the bid is that Kroenke should deal with the oligarch on more friendly terms. Reportedly, the money men behind the bid are prepared to work with Usmanov, but not with Kroenke. I wonder why?
The single operator in and around Arsenal who has spent more time and energy than anyone else to create unrest the last few months is just Usmanov. Like here. Or here.
The fact that this "bid source" paints the Uzbek in such a positive light is almost suspicious in itself.
If Stan Kroenke were to sell Arsenal, he would have taken Usmanov's money when offered. When he hasn't, it's very unlikely that he'll take the money of someone who paints him as an indifferent and greedy owner. The very fact that Arsenal are a model of sustainable business for other clubs suggests that a takeover along these lines will not be welcome. This is what manager Arsène Wenger on several occasions has called "financial doping".
But perhaps the only target of this story is just that, to make Kroenke look indifferent and greedy?
"And when the £1.5billion bid to try to take control arrives it will show they mean business," the Sun on Sunday puts it. As if.
But remember, Arsenal have agendas of their own! This week, much ridicule has been made of the yearly leak from the club's coffers. Anonymous sources claim that the club's wage structure will be broken to accomodate new star signings, like Stevan Jovetic and Mario Götze.
Stories like this, in the Daily Telegraph a week or so ago, rear their heads every year, just as the offers of renewal go out to season ticket holders at the Emirates.
Whose money any of these stars - or others - will be signed for may very well be the number one topic among Gooners today. On the day where we all were needed to stand united and support the team.
"For these men this is not a club which should be living in the shadows of Manchester United, Man City and Chelsea." - Shaun Custis, the Sun on Sunday
On the morning of the North London Derby, the Sun on Sunday and the Sunday Telegraph publish identical "exclusives" about a supposed £1.5bn (!) Arsenal takeover by Arab interests. It's said to be £20k per share, which would value Arsenal Football Club at almost twice the sum that the Glazer family paid for Manchester United!
In the current climate around Arsenal, this is all too easy for disgruntled Gooners to get all worked up about. I believe that is the target of the whole exercise.
The editorial handiwork also looks suspect. The sole source - "a bid source" - refers to funds from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and supply almost identical quotes to both newspapers. "The group do not want their identities made public yet," the Telegraph reports. If the editors really believe the source and its story to be genuine, they fail to convince.
The so-called consortium's targets look like clippings from the wet dreams of the "supporter" groups who have lately been the most critical of the current Arsenal owners and manager. They really cover everything, from a new board, a vast budget for transfers and salaries, a critical stance towards the manager, setup and staff and even a promise of lower ticket prices and a return to "some of the feel of the North Bank".
And remember, all this not "to make money but to invest".
Pardon my cynicism, but even though the source claims to to have "requested a meeting" with representatives for majority owner Stan Kroenke, this looks like a fairy tale backed by Santa Claus, not by oil money.
Other media shoot it down too. While the Sunday Mirror base their "understanding" of the bid failing on earlier quotes by Kroenke, the BBC choose not to report on the rumour at all. Instead, their Arsenal correspondent David Ornstein dismantled it on Twitter last night.
"Serious Middle East interest never advertise plans," Ornstein wrote. "Qatar [and] UAE buying together [is] very unlikely."
However, subtleties from serious reporters covering Arsenal for a living will probably fail to convince a lot of frustrated Gooners. So many of us just want trophies for whatever cost. The model of sustainability is attacked because it's blamed for the trophy "drought" of eight years.
But why? And why now? The timing of this takeover rumour is downright hostile, coming on the morning of a pivotal game for the club and management. A derby with Tottenham, no less.
The target today is obviously to hurt Kroenke and his ownership. The "bid source" attacks the American and his family in both newspaper stories. Stan Kroenke is there to make money. He is no Arsenal fan, and takes too little interest in the running of the club. His son, Josh Kroenke, is inexperienced and doesn't know football. The Kroenkes damage the club by not engaging with the minority owner Alisher Usmanov.
Obviously a key point for the bid is that Kroenke should deal with the oligarch on more friendly terms. Reportedly, the money men behind the bid are prepared to work with Usmanov, but not with Kroenke. I wonder why?
The single operator in and around Arsenal who has spent more time and energy than anyone else to create unrest the last few months is just Usmanov. Like here. Or here.
The fact that this "bid source" paints the Uzbek in such a positive light is almost suspicious in itself.
If Stan Kroenke were to sell Arsenal, he would have taken Usmanov's money when offered. When he hasn't, it's very unlikely that he'll take the money of someone who paints him as an indifferent and greedy owner. The very fact that Arsenal are a model of sustainable business for other clubs suggests that a takeover along these lines will not be welcome. This is what manager Arsène Wenger on several occasions has called "financial doping".
But perhaps the only target of this story is just that, to make Kroenke look indifferent and greedy?
"And when the £1.5billion bid to try to take control arrives it will show they mean business," the Sun on Sunday puts it. As if.
But remember, Arsenal have agendas of their own! This week, much ridicule has been made of the yearly leak from the club's coffers. Anonymous sources claim that the club's wage structure will be broken to accomodate new star signings, like Stevan Jovetic and Mario Götze.
Stories like this, in the Daily Telegraph a week or so ago, rear their heads every year, just as the offers of renewal go out to season ticket holders at the Emirates.
Whose money any of these stars - or others - will be signed for may very well be the number one topic among Gooners today. On the day where we all were needed to stand united and support the team.
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