The night of the long knives

Okay, I'll admit it. When I arrived at the gym, got on the exercise bike last night and saw Kolo Touré signing autographs in Manchester, I did feel a slight pang. It's very sad to see Kolo go, but for me it's a bit like seeing an old girlfriend that you weren't particularly happy with run off with somebody else - not that this has ever happened to me, you understand.

Where was I? Oh yeah, pangs of sadness. Yes I felt them, but then I looked up a little bit later and saw that Francesc Fabregas, who had cut short his holiday to join the Austrian jolly - sorry, sorry, the Austrian boot camp - had given the Kololess Arsenal a 1-0 victory in their final game of the tour. And so the world keeps turning.

So I can't be bothered to look up stats to justify Kolo Touré's departure. Whilst it's okay for fans to get sentimental about smiley, bleed red and white, Kolo Touré, the manager has to make a decision based on facts, not sentiment. And so he has has decided that he doesn't want to keep a player who handed in a transfer request at the beginning of the year, a player who appears to have been in decline for a couple of seasons and that should be the end of it. I have to say, and it's not something I've thought about for a while, but when the Night of Long Knives began for the Invincibles, I never thought that Kolo would finish his career with us, as his main asset was his pace. I felt sad about it then, and I feel sad about it now. But not for this football club, because we have seen his best days. Mark Hughes called Kolo "world class" last night, and he would say that, but nobody who has watched Kolo for the last two years would honestly agree with that assessment.

It's been put to me that Arsenal are scared of Manchester City, I don't think so. I don't think we'd be selling Ade and Kolo Citeh if we were that scared, or thought that they would give us reason to be scared. That's not the way we do things round here. Oh, and speaking of Ade, I say this again, just because Ade scored 30 goals two seasons ago, it does not mean he was a 20 goal a season striker, especially when added to 4, 12 and 16 goals in his other Arsenal seasons. He may well become one, but the only thing Ade guarantees is offsides. And lots of them.

You have to wonder what planet Ian Wright is on, don't you? I say that and I slated him around this time last year for questioning, correctly as it turns out, Arsenal's ability to compete, but his statement that he's heard Patrick Vieira will return to Arsenal on a pay as you play deal takes some beating. Credit to him for managing to get it as far as the national press, mind. The first I saw of it was this morning's Sun - I don't buy it, a guy was reading it on the Northern Line - and I caught a glimpse of the back page. My heart leapt. Yes, it did. I was gutted when Patrick left, so the news that he could be on his way back - a week after denouncing him as past it - had me going. Until I went into M&S and read the "story", such as it was, for myself. There's nothing to see here really. I do think he could provide us with some experience, but if we're being honest, he looked like he was starting to struggle 4 years ago- has the intervening time produced a miraculous regeneration? Doubtful.

Still, as the one blogger says, if it's Vieira or nobody, I'd take Pat in a heartbeat. As I said, fans are allowed to be sentimental.

The boss has indulged in his customary summer maybe we will, maybe we won't game. Apparently "we are strong enough but if we can add then we will". I guess, brass tacks, this means the right player at the right price. Huntelaar is a name that keeps being mentioned, apparently he turned down Stuttgart (who have since taken Alexander Hleb "home") when he heard we were interested, so perhaps there is something there. Or is it simply a case of 2+2=5?

User Comments

John Dale

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 09:56 AM - Reply

@BrianTheGooner - you must be kidding right? 'We don't need any more player'!!. Well we don't need and more strikers or attacking midfielders, but certainly a last DM and another CD. Apart from Song in DM:
- Denilson is not that good, he's neither a defensive nor very good at attacking. That's one utility player whom we can afford to keep, but is not an option to start games. He was one of the reasons why Cesc didn't flourish last season cos we needed someone to clean up after him and allow him to freely attack. Really don't see what Wenger sees in Denilson for him to start and play almost every match. I always feel we play 10 against 11 when he plays.
- Diaby is also too attack minded to be a DM. He doesn't tackle much. He always tries to pull off fancy dribbles instead of giving a simple progressive pass.

So to say we shouldn't strengthen is quite.... Point to note, Song will be leaving for the African Cup. Who replaces him then?

Kaymax

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 08:31 AM - Reply

After reading through, i am indeed impressed by Clayton's comments.Let us wait and see what happens before the transfer window closes.We almost won the champions league last season.Arsenal fans are known for there passion and interest in the club.Infact,people envy our commitment to the arsenal course.Its cool that we sell Toure and Ade cos January is crucial and thats when African nation come starts.Also note that Song will be playing for his national side.Can AW get us a stop gap?Honestly,Denilson and Song really improved and deserve some credit.People should also remember that it took flamini some time before he became that strong force in midfield.I wish we win the premier league this season.

walter

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 08:26 AM - Reply

Clayton

spot on

Andy Chan

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 07:51 AM - Reply

Did anyone realize that:
1. So far the players that we have sold (Ade & Kolo) & about to sell (Eboue) are all Africans.
2. There's an African Cup of Nations this coming Jan 2010.
See the coincidence? Perhaps that's another factor that Wenger considered in his decision making process, coz it's likely that we'll lose these players for a couple of weeks during a crucial part of the season.

ahmed_gunner

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 07:19 AM - Reply

Hey guys look, Arsenal got 25 mil pounds from Ade's departure, now they've got around 15 mil pounds more from kolo's departure...this makes 40 mil pounds, plus they will already have some more million in the budget, i mean they must have at least 5-10 million in budget already... thus these 40 mil add into it making like 50 mil... cmon wenger, we can easily buy at least 2 nice players in that money... im keeping my fingers crossed for huntelaar!

losky

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 07:10 AM - Reply

Great article Clayton. The gunners are unique. we just need a defensive midielder and a striker to partner up with van persie and the rest of the squad is in tact. maybe huntelaar for a finisher and Vieira or Alonso or any good dMF. UP gunners. VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT.

arvind

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 04:26 AM - Reply

Arsene
Please bring back Pat. Cost and benefits are totally in favor of this. For a little money, we get leadership, mentoring, experience and someone the kids can look up too. WHo currently has this experience on the team that can take this mantle???? Patrick is a legend and his mere presence will make the weak stronger and hopefully give that extra push of motivation to our squad. I miss him and know that his efforts have made ARsene and Arsenal what they are today. Bring him back home Arsene. SHow the loyalty you talk about and give the fans something to get excited about again! Bring Pat home.

Money Penny

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 02:37 AM - Reply

Clayton - thank you!
Thank you for letting us know what football and Arsenal is about.

And to all you guys that talks about buying. How many of you were cheering the purchases of Henry, Viera, Anelka, Bergkamp, Edu, Flamini, Ade, Toure....

...and how many of you were able to predict the potential to youngsters as Fabregas, Clichy, Flamini, Denilson, Song, Cole, Toure, RVP, Bendtner...

As previous mentioned, all the big clubs are quiet in the transfer market...and wich clubs got the most potential among existing squad?

delboy

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 12:40 AM - Reply

All young arsenal fans, read Clayton comments at No. 8. It somes it up for me. Be patient! Fair play to you mate, you should be a regular blogger

jar09

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 12:37 AM - Reply

Clayton,

Top comment!!

Here's to a great season for the Arsenal!

Aaron

Posted on 31 Jul, 2009 at 12:23 AM - Reply

Clayton mate you touched me there (metaphorically you dirty people). i totally agree with everything you said

wondrinfree

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 10:57 PM - Reply

The biggest name bought by any of the top four is Zurkov (Chelsea). No one is really buying except City and they are only buying what others are happy to sell. Man U have down sized so have Liverpool. I don't know why arsenal are being singled out as needing a whole new spine to the team. Just a few tweaks should be fine.

clayton

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 10:52 PM - Reply

Sometimes it’s all to easy to see footballer’s as the exception, but, they are not. They are people that have lives and families like everyone else. They can be good at their jobs and at the same time not..
They are the same as you and I.

Why is it that football fans seems to forget that players are just human. I’ve never stayed in a job for more than 3 years, so why should I expect others to stay for life?

Most would move for a job that payed double just like 85% of people do every day!! or sometimes get tired of your boss, because he’s always going on and on asking you to give more and more but giving you nothing in return, other than more advice and experience!! I’m a head chef, a leader of a team of 36. Some of my people can do the task and some can’t.

Some are commited for family reasons, some for finacial and some because they want to be better at what they do. For me, I honestly don’t mind whether we come 3rd,4th 5th or 6th. What I love about Arsene and the club is the fact that we want to give the almost great players the chance to become the great player. {as they say,”its not the winning but the taking part”. Arsenal is a unique club, and its something to be proud of. yes , we would love to be the champs at everything and one day soon we will, but. For now we aren’t.

Yes we finish 4th for the last few seasons, but all true heart felt fans can see where we are headed, and its only greatness. ” good things come to those that wait. This club has had the best years under Wenger that it has ever had and I’m proud of the way that we try to bring the youth through. We play the best football in the world and the whole world knows it. How many people around the world knew about Arsenal before Wenger ?!? we were nothing. We were the same as the spuds. now!! one of the top 10 clubs in the world. yes maybe we will never be like Madrid, Barca, Inter, Juve or inter, but in all honesty is Man U? for some reason English clubs are never as great as these clubs, not that we are not better, as we know we are. We just don’t hold the same fantasy as the Latin clubs, why, I don’t know. Arsenals time will come and we shall be the club that can’t be beat. Just like the invinsables who were a put together team, eventually we will become the invinsables that grew together.

I only see greatness.

I look on sites for a flash of a new signing, and at times feel fustrated that we don’t sign anyone, but sometimes its best to give the chance to the ones that you have been building up everyday than to take the complete package, the complete package that worked for another team. doesn’t mean it will work for ours. When Wenger came, we all saw that he had a project in mind and were very happy to go along with it when the likes of Bergkamp and overmars turned up, he brought in players that we never knew about before, Pires, viera Petit, Edu, Silvinio etc.. and it was great, fantastic, infact we won the league,not just a cup but the league. We had ten pint a night drinking players talking about how Wenger had extended the careers. When Wenger came, he, himself, his approuch, his attitude, his scouting, connections, his Wenger ball was new to the English game. Due to him and what his dream is at Arsenal is 50% responsible for what the premiership is today.

And those who don’t believe or are impatiant to wait are like kids who would rather steal money to buy a pair of ”Nikes” rather than get a job a save up.

Clayton

BrianTheGooner

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 10:33 PM - Reply

I don't believe we NEED any players other than the ones we have right now. Midfield - Nasri,Asharvin,Fabregas,Rosicky,Walcott,Denilson,
Diaby Ramsey,Song and Wilshire.
Forwards - RVP,Eduardo,Vela,Bendtner (+ Walcott and Arshavin can play up front)
Defence - Vermaelen,Sagna,Gallas,Clichy,Traore,Gibbs,Djourou.(+ Senderos if he stays)
I cannot believe people say we need THREE players !!
This squad is well capable of competing !!!

Tom14

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 09:58 PM - Reply

Great article.

We need a backup defensive midfielder because it looks like we will play a 433 with both Song and Denilson.

We won't sign a center back unless Senderos leaves because we replaced Toure with Vermaelen.

I think we will sign a striker.

Rob

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 09:55 PM - Reply

Toure hasn't been the same since that bout of malaria - it comes back when you stress your body, and nothing strains your body like a proffessional footballer. Sad but thanks and bon voyage. Incidentally young Mr Lansbury has been pulling up trees for the under 19's in the euro tournament this week.

Stephen

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 09:48 PM - Reply

I believe that Arsenal are in good hands and have the best young squad in the country, give us a strong DM, and citeh will not get into the top ten, after all Hughes is no Wenger is he!

Tom, Romford

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 09:47 PM - Reply

Kolo Toure was on the radio today stating he had wanted to join Man City 'a club who had gave him love' since last January. Arsene knew of this and his actions can be seen in a more informed light. Was Toure's falling out with Gallas a pretext to leave. This is important especially where unity of the squad is very important at Arsenal. Also Paul you can read the Sun, even buy it if you want too. You shouldn't make an excuse for reading it or pretend to dislike it. We're a broad church at Arsenal!

The Arse Agent

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 09:47 PM - Reply

Kolo was a true Arsenal player! Sad to see him go. Wenger wont spend the money anyway..

steero

Posted on 30 Jul, 2009 at 09:36 PM - Reply

We need to but at least 3 player for a tilt at the title and they need to be in place for the start of the season

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