We hired a new CEO yesterday, Ivan Gazidis, whose experience of football is mostly from America. This suggests two things to me: firstly he’s probably good with cash, and secondly that he probably knows nothing whatsoever about football. Both of these are helpful traits; I was very alarmed at some of the names being touted previously, who were men with serious experience working in football in serious footballing places, places that aren’t America, for instance. That’s the last thing you want.
What you want is somebody very good at not giving agents any money, and not giving in to people like Emmanuel Adebayor when they tell you that they’re the most valuable men in the world, even more valuable than the entire defence, say. Anyway it’s not a decision they came to slowly. You imagine the Arsenal boardroom at times to be a bit like a convergence of the ents in Lord of the Rings. They never discuss anything quickly, and they never speak about anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.
Anyway. It’s another bit of stability in what has been a good stabilising week so far for the club. Hopefully the nous and the extra revenue he can drive will act as a barrier against evil Boss Nass look-alikes who want to use our football club as a place to rape and intimidate people.
Gael Clichy has slightly come out of my good books for his attack on Gallas. I thought he’d done so well the other day, and then he goes and is mean to poor William just when the chips are down.
Clichy out! Gallas in!
Etc.
Seriously it does seem a bit silly to suggest that Gallas ‘shattered’ moral with his comments. I imagine that losing to Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Villa and Manchester City, and drawing with Tottenham, is what damaged morale. But perhaps I’m old fashioned. To my mind the bigger issue was Gallas’ impropriety in the role of captain. Maybe that’s what Clichy means.
From now till Sunday it’s going to be build up to Chelsea. Anybody got any good ideas? I have to say, just as against Utd, I feel quite optimistic – Chelsea didn’t look convincing last night, and our lot have little to lose at the moment. I daresay we’ll start to get injury news quite soon.
I’d like to start Vela, please. And I’d like Wilshere on the bench, please, and for him to come on for at least fifteen minutes. And for Song either not to play at all or to transform into a six foot four Senegalese called Patrick in 2001.That can be a very small part of my early Christmas present. How about you?
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Chelsea, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy, Ivan Gazidis, William Gallas
November 27th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Not sure what Clichy was thinking saying that really – not like him at all to seemingly start rocking the boat again when things have been settled…
I would definitely settle for a draw against Chelsea on Sunday – it would be a great result for us, even though it wouldn’t help our distant title chances very much. More important though is the performance – if Arsenal are gutless and get rolled over, the small, timid steps which have been taken to restore club pride over the last week will be completely undone.
Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in lads, that’s all we ask!
November 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I was dissapointed with Clichy too. In recent weeks he has become more and more outspoken and pobably spent more time talking to the media than any other player. This hasn’t been a bad thing as he mainly speaks sense and is supportive of his team mates but what he said about Gallas shatering morale served absolutely no purpose. It seems to me even some of the players are now looking for a scapegoat – well Gallas fits the bill, he was made one for last season and he has been made one already this season.
Time to leave him alone, he could still become a great player for us.
As for Chelsea i believe a lot will rest on whether we get Adebayor and Sagna back. If we do I think we’ll win. Chelsea were poor against Bordeaux, their defense was wide open at times, we can exploit that. Also they are no longer invincible at the Bridge. A psychological blow for them a boost for everyone else. And we have had a days rest more than them. I’m confident we can do it. I certainly don’t see us losing.
November 27th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
certainly odd for clichy to speak like that..but wasnt it in the sun?not sure how much i believe what comes out of those back pages anymore, i reckon his past attitude suggests we should give him the benefit of the doubt.
lots of people seem confident about the chavski game, result of this game is going to be massive, if we can take maximum points off all the top sides then maybe we can retain some confidence of a good season. What worries me is the strength of their full backs getting up the field, scolari’s been using it well all season but can our wingers deal with it? nasri/vela(if he gets the chance to play on the wing) and denilson/ramsey are hardly known for their ability to defend..