Cesc refuses to dance for Barcelona

Yes, I'm back with my latest blast of Arse and, let me tell you, this one's gonna be a cracker. Oh yes.

We start this afternoon, with a commendable show of maturity from our captain in the Spanish capital. Speaking at a promotional event for some perfume (why, Cesc, why?), with the Spanish press apparently desperate for Cesc to publicly state what everyone is taking for a fact (I include myself in "everyone", by the way), Cesc said instead:

"A player who is not frustrated at not winning titles is either lying to himself or lacks ambition.

"There is a good team and a good manager and one of the most faithful fan bases in Europe. With those I believe we can make progress and one day win an important trophy.

"I am an Arsenal player. I have been very happy for eight years and I am very happy. I am not thinking about football right now, just about my holidays.

"There have been no decisions. The truth is that it doesn't always depend on the player and at the moment I don't know anything.

"He (Wenger) is the boss, the one who makes the decisions. You should ask him. I was injured at the end of the season and I haven't seen him for about six weeks."

"I am very happy where I am. Anything else would be speculation that is untrue. You can never say never in this life as so many things happen that you can never predict."

Of course, that penultimate paragraph could, and probably will be spun- by those who choose to do so- as "FABREGAS LOSES TOUCH WITH WENGER!". However, whilst there is a clear implication that Cesc wants to go home and play with the big boys (which we knew anyway), I think there are words of comfort to those who believe Cesc will stay at Arsenal this summer. Particularly those relating to his happiness and that when he talks of Arsenal progressing and winning trophies- he says "we". That said, I think that, bottom line, all we really take from this is the fact that Cesc isn't going to put Arsenal in the position of having to sell him to Barcelona at a cut rate price- even as Bacary Sagna tries to do it for him (Bac, I love you but shut up, please?)- by publicly declaring his intention to quit. Not after eight glory filled... oh. Regardless, I am touched by Cesc's diplomacy and respect for the institution that is Arsenal.

Anyway. Aside from Cesc related business, it seems that behind the scenes, big, fat, fuck off cigars are being smoked in meeting rooms, palms greased and backs slapped as the transfer market cranks into life. I say "cranks", I'm well aware it's already been cranked elsewhere- thanks Asser! In Arsenal land, though, it seems as though the first signings of the summer are imminent- well, the first signings apart from an Arsenal supporting kid from Charlton Athletic: welcome Carl Jenkinson!

A deal for Lille's Gervinho is said to be close, with a feww of £12m likely for the Ivorian winger. I swear to God if this guy is another Eboue, I will hunt Arsène down myself! Closer to home, Oliver Holt said on Sunday afternoon that Bolton's Gary Cahill was closer to Manchester City than Arsenal. The paper Holt writes for, however, The Mirror, now has Arsenal in pole position as Manchester City's Dedryk Boyata has no wish to be a Bolton bound makeweight and Ivan Gazidis is apparently poised with 17 million pieces of paper with the Queen's head on them in a suitcase. I expect he's sitting nervously in a hotel room like the gun dealer in Taxi Driver. If all else fails, there is Christopher Samba apparently ready for the call. I think Samba may be a useful addition to the squad, big, tough, experience of the Premier League- but I do wonder, if he is the answer, then what is the question?

Samir Nasri appears no closer to resolving his Arsenal future, although his agent has impressed upon us all the "need" to talk to Arsenal before meeting potential suitors. That's good of him/them, don't you think?

Finally, Ivan Gazidis met the AST on Monday night and in a not entirely fashion, said that he backs Le Boss 110%. I don't think you could have expected otherwise, though for me, it was interesting to see that Gazidis said "Arsène has done a fantastic job in a difficult period", not "is doing", not "does". Again, it's only an implication, but the implication is that things have to change for the better- otherwise, in one of the more interesting comments that emerged, Ivan may well throw Arsène at the mercy of an increasingly impatient support.

And you were wondering why Arsenal had built their own coliseum in the heart of north London, weren't you?

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