Borussia Dortmund announced today that the deal to sign Jens Lehmann this winter collapsed after the player decided he rather stay with Arsenal. Lehmann’s contract with Arsenal expires in the summer, and Wenger have said earlier that he wont stand in the goalkeeper’s way to return to Germany, but it seems Lehmann believe he can regain his position and the trust of Arsene Wenger.
This is what he had to say today: “Although it would have been a very attractive challenge to play for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga once again, I have decided against taking this step due to personal reasons, I am sorry, particularly to disappoint the people responsible at Borussia Dortmund, who have tried very professionally to convince me to move and gave me sufficient time for consideration.”
Ofcourse the Germany coach Joachim Low and team manager Oliver Bierhoff backed Lehmann’s choice. Even Wenger stated today that he is happy Lehmann is staying and that he will be included in the next match against Birmingham. He said: “Lehmann will be on the bench, the indication I can give is that I am happy if he stays because he is an important player in the squad, like Gilberto also. We have such a young squad that these players have a big weight in the dressing room and a big input in the team. I am happy if they stay.”
Although am happy he is staying, but I find his decision a bit odd, he knows Almunia is number one now and it would take more than a couple of bad performances by Almunia to make Lehmann first choice again, what is he depending on, that Almunia is injured?? On the second hand, his national team manager already informed him only players who play regularly with their clubs will be considered to represent Germany in Euro 2008!
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January 12th, 2008
All Arsenal fans already know the story, Flamini takes Gilberto place, Gilberto looks for an out, Gilberto finds destination. The guy wants to go to Juventus, so if he said it so clearly like that, then it is already done. Juventus were expected also to sign a top class midfielder. I like Gilberto’s style but Wenger has my full trust as usual, in addition the player is 31 years of age. So I guess this move will give Diarra the chance he always wanted.
Here what Gilberto had to say today to “La Gazzetta dello Sport” about a move to Turin:
“I would willingly go to Turin, Juve are a prestigious club and they have already overcome their problems following their demotion to Serie B.
I would adapt myself well to the Italian league, however Juve should know that I have no intention of starting a war with Arsenal.”
Gilberto added: “Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the world and it is true that he is a symbol of Juve. Del Piero is a player with large prestige on the international stage. As for me, well I do not have the feet of a Ronaldinho, but I do know how to organise a team”.
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November 23rd, 2007
Well, a number of news sources, mostly gossip, already set Adriano to Arsenal, we already know that Inter Milan have sent the faty adriano to brazil for rehab. Depression, partying, unfitness, and so on, basically the player lost his appetite to play. I totally disagree whats happening is that Mr. Mancini just doesn’t want the guy to play, i don’t get it why, but thats how its been for a while and any inter milan fan knows this. So lately there was a lot of fighting between the two men and you can see who suffered.
Although I like Adriano and I always watched him since he was half owned by parma and then later having great games playing beside crespo, but i think this wont be a winning deal for Arsenal, although i know wenger loves to fix broken players as he did with a good number of them who later became stars.
The way I see it, Adriano would just disrupt the harmony in the squad, although Gilberto moving to Inter Milan would actually solve Lassana Diarra dilemma, he did not feature with his new team and not playing regularly is giving him a hard time to play for France, he already sounded this yesterday in an interview:
“But it will be sorted out soon. To be called again by Les Bleus I have to play for my club. So that situation has to be settled quickly, I am not getting mad with that. I am patient.”
“At Arsenal I don’t feel in competition with Bacary Sagna, as I am a midfielder. The midfielders are outstanding, but I work fine in training sessions and I am waiting for an opportunity.”
The only way for Diarra to have a chance to start up matches is for Gilberto to leave, since the arrival of this player i was wondering what wenger was thinking ?, is it a long term solution or did he just do it in the bases of any player snatched from chelasea is a success buy?!
I don’t doubt Arsene Wenger, the years taught me that this guy always has the key and he knows what he is doing, but am telling you Gilberto will be a huge loss, he is a fit pro who knows Arsenal style and has history with wenger and handles the midfield rather beautifully. Getting Adriano might be good but he will have to accept the fact that he wont be playing any part in arsenal during this season because he will need to work hard to regain his fitness.
Bottom line, getting Adriano withought losing Gilberto or Rosicky is ok, other that its just our loss.
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November 17th, 2007
Arsenal will be playing their 11th match in the league, being top of the table with 26 points, while Manchester United will be playing their 12th match second in the table with 26 points. Well, this is the awaited match since the start of the season, everybody says this is the real deal, this is the true test that will show how fragile those teams are, yes its a test for both teams because to be honest they are the only two teams that has a chance in winning the league, those not only my words its fergie’s too. Well although i don’t really care what he usually says but this time he is right, only in this point, it true those teams are the only ones who can actually do it.
Statistically speaking, Premier League’s best attack (Arsenal: 22 goals scored) is playing against the best defence (Man Utd: 4 goals conceded), Arsenal averages 2.20 goals per game while Man Utd avergaes 1.73 goals.
We shouldn’t forget also that last season Arsenal won both games against Manchester United in the league. There are no new injuries reported for both teams, evra is fit and expected to feature in the match.
Arsenal’s Squad: Almunia, Lehmann, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Eduardo, Eboue, Walcott, Gilberto, Rosicky, Bendtner, Denilson.
Manchester United Squad: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, O’Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.
I expect a scoreline of 2-1 for Arsenal, a draw is still possible but still believe Arsenal will be victorious.
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November 3rd, 2007
Arsenal will be playing tonight their 3rd match in Champions League Group H, they have already won their first 2 matches so they have a solid 6 points, they will be facing SK Slavia Prague who are in 3rd place with 3 points.
I don’t believe that this game will be as easy as we expect, especially after seeing how Arsenal played against Bolton this week, yes we won but after we struggled though-out most of the match. Anyway I guess Slavia Prague will be so happy if they escaped with a 0-0 scoreline.
The Player i will be watching is Eduardo, let him show us he is worth playing for arsenal, in my book he still didn’t do it, I guess any Arsenal fan is not really that much happy with his game. But here is a chance to show his ability.
I expect a scoreline of 1-0, yes I don’t expect that we will thrash Slavia Prague they are not really that easy team, they are the top in their league table.
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October 23rd, 2007
