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In the face of reported interest from José Mourinho's Internazionale, William Gallas has said that whilst he has not discussed a new deal with Arsenal, he is "relaxed" and looking forward to next season at the club. Which may surprise some of you reading this. Of course, the cynical amongst you will probably look at this and ask why he hasn't begun to at least discuss a new contract. It may well be that he leaves the club next summer- of course it may be that he leaves us this summer- but if Arsenal were to let him go now, bearing in mind where this blog finished yesterday afternoon, I think it would be a mistake of biblical proportions. But perhaps I am overstating things slightly.

Overstatement is something our glorious football club seem to specialise in at the moment and if you don't believe me, check out the reveal for the next season's "third" shirt. For some reason Nike have decided that they're going to give us a shirt which mirrors "the craftsmanship of a fine English shirt". Now, the Arseblogger has already pointed out that nobody who wears a football shirt will give a monkeys about the fine cratsmanship, I'd say that if I wanted to wear a "fine English shirt", I'd buy, um, a fine English shirt and not an Arsenal one. Certainly not one that had "Fly Emirates" emblazoned all over it. Could this shirt have been dreamt up by some marketing whizz at the club, hoping to capitalise on the amount of city boys and corporates populating the "prawn circle"? "Surely not!" I hear you cry.

There is one good thing about this shirt though,. As Ben Ingber observed moments ago, as long as Cesc Fabregas keeps it on when not playing, nobody will ever be able to complain about his "inappropriate" attire again. Not looking at anyone in particular there, Mr Brown. Taking it further, if Nick Bendtner wears it out clubbing, the next time he loses his trousers, perhaps the high quality engineering of the shirt, and those horizontal stripes, will distract everyone from the sight of his Calvin Kleins (that one's mine).

Arsène Wenger has been explaining why he decided not to go to Real Madrid. If you think about it, it's a tribute to the work Wenger has done over the years that, even in the "worst" period of his Arsenal career, a club like Real would want him. I say this when you bear in mind the "football spectacle" that Madrid are intent on operating, as opposed to the "construction" project our manager is in the middle of. I'm sure his words will be interpreted by the naysayers as an admission that Wenger is in a comfort zone, but then he says something like this:

"I want to have success by building a team with a style, with a know-how, with a culture of play specific to the club and its fans and with young people. "

Personally, I find that inspiring. I also think it's a much braver, bigger and will ultimately be a more rewarding experience then going to Madrid and being able to throw money at something long enough so that eventually some of it will stick. We're lucky to have him.

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James McBeer

Posted on 3 Jul, 2009 at 02:07 PM - Reply

Hear hear (here?) I second that. Well said that man. Aye. Too true. Well said....

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