Heart and soul

It's been refreshing not to have to think about Arsenal, or write about Arsenal for the last four days. Actually, that's not quite true. I haven't been writing about Arsenal because I've either been too busy, or too tired to put something together when there's precious little to talk about, especially when you're pretending the FA Cup Final isn't happening. But I had nine hours sleep last night, have finally won an hour to sit and think and write and there's so much to talk about now. Or is there?

Reports yesterday suggested that Marouane Chamakh is as close as it gets to becoming an Arsenal player without it actually happening. It is said that he was over here, putting the finishing touches to his contract and possibly, maybe, even undergoing a medical. The Bordeaux President seems less than happy at how this transfer looks certain to be concluded, but any sympathy for them will be tempered by the knowledge that they could have had a fee for Chamakh last summer, but chose to up the ante on us following our sale of Adebayor- despite knowing Chamakh could walk for free in the summer. That, and the fact that they managed to get £13m out of us for Sylvain Wiltord all those years ago. He may have been a a far more effective player for us than I ever gave him credit for, but £13m? Anyway, we get a player we could have had last summer and who would have been an undoubted asset throughout that strikerless winter and Bordeaux don't get a fee. You have to conclude, I think, that it would have been better for all parties had a deal been concluded last summer, but it's water under the bridge now.

As one comes in, barely days after the Spanish season coming to an end, silly season bubbles up towards fever pitch already. It's all about Cesc and the possibility of Barcelona taking him back home. Cesc didn't exactly dampen the speculation surrounding him last week when he talked of his future being resolved before the World Cup. Yes, I know that he also said that he was in no rush to leave Arsenal and is very happy at the club, but if that's the case, what is there that needs resolving? As things stand, he's got four years on his contract so that shouldn't be an issue, unless he wants a pay rise. But I think Fabregas is too honest and decent a man, with too much respect for Arsène, to go about such an issue so cravenly. What might be an issue, however, is how the promise of this season was turned to rubble by the injuries sustained by Ramsey, Gallas, Song, Vermaelen, Arshavin and Fabregas himself. I guess the manager needs to convince Cesc that he is at the right club to win those trophies he so openly desires. I've said it before that I wouldn't blame Cesc for leaving now, though I do think he'll give us one more season at least. It would be ironic if Cesc's final act in an Arsenal shirt would be to smash in a penalty (as with Vieira before him) before going off injured not to be seen again until he reappears in the shirt of the team he got injured against (as with Sol and Spurs). The Barca vice president, Rafael Yuste alludes to contact having been made with Cesc- there's a shock, eh?- although not with Arsenal just yet- I know, I know, pick yourself up off that floor. He says,

"The situation with Cesc is different because even if you have the will of the player it is very important to talk to his club and, if you can, find an agreement. But what makes it easier is that both players want to come to Barca."

Obviously, unless Cesc forces the issue with Arsenal, it's going to take a mega-money deal for Arsenal to part with the heartbeat of the team and so it should. Even if Cesc forces the issue, I guess we'd still be in line for a, to quote a line from Depeche Mode's 101 film, "lot of money, loads of money. Tons of money". But I think we'd all rather keep Cesc, and you have to think that Cesc having spent 7 years at the club would like to win something more than just one FA Cup before he heads back to the Catalonia coast for good.

As Sol Campbell has pointed out on the official site, we're not going to win anything until the players start giving 100% in every game. It's interesting that the frustration Sol appears to be feeling almost directly reflects that of those supporters disappointed by the flaccid end to our season. For me this is just spot on,

"We have had some big, big injuries which hampered us for sure in some key positions. But next season the players have to respond."

Everyone understands that a midfield without Song, Ramsey and Cesc is not going to be as strong as a midfield containing those players. In the same way, we all understand that a centre back pairing of Silvestre and Sol (no disrespect, big man) is not quite going to match up to the Vermaelen Gallas axis but a lack of quality is one thing. A lack of effort is quite another and Sol has some strong words for anyone at Arsenal thinking that they've made it,

"You can be 16 years old or 40 years old but you still need the strength, the power, the skill, the intelligence, the desire, the heart and the soul. You need all those things to become a top sportsman."

Both he and captain Fabregas are great examples of that. Cesc proving the old adage that if you're good enough, you're old enough whilst Campbell's resurrection at Arsenal would surely have been the football story of the season if only he could have ended it with some silverware. One young lad that may yet follow the example set by Cesc is Craig Eastmond. Steve Bould's glowing words of praise so luminous they've got a few fireflies clinging onto them on the official site. Actually, what Bouldie has to say about Eastmond almost directly mirrors Sol's pep talk to his younger colleagues; he says,

"He has worked his absolute socks off, he is a great lad, everybody at the Academy loves him and he deserves everything he has got. He had always been at the back of the queue in terms of that group when he was younger, but it just shows that with a bit of hard work, dedication, belief and of course talent you have a chance.

"He has grabbed his chance with both hands and everybody is delighted for him. He is an example to everybody, including the group he came through with. There are still lots of them around the Club and they can look at Craig and say 'well if Craig can get there why can't I?'

"It is fabulous for the Academy to see our lads doing well and it is encouragement for everybody."

I don't think I need to spell out what that means, or what it should mean, to anyone at the club. Be they first team, reserve team or youth team.

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