Ljungberg and Lauren to go? Aliadiere and Arsene to stay? 11 January, 2007

Arsenal fans have been looking forward to Lauren’s return from injury this season with great anticipation but now it looks more than likely he will be moving clubs. It’s sad news for us and if he was anywhere near as good as he was before the injury then he’d definitely get the first team football, but maybe his decision to leave is more than that. I don’t think it’s about money; Ralphy just doesn’t seem that sort of person. It seems to be to do with the Carling Cup game against Liverpool, apparently Lauren was actually fit and expecting to play but Arsene came out saying ‘he has a small toe injury’ which was a lie. This is what I’ve heard anyway. I was thinking we’d see Lauren as the regular right back soon, possibly on Saturday but now Lauren is having talks at Upton Park.

Wenger was full of praise for Lauren last month but it seems now things have changed. I will be a sad Gooner if Lauren decides to leave but at least we have got some cover. Eboue is good but he’s had some bad games this season and has turned into a bit of a diver and a cheater. I think Wenger’s getting a little fed up with him too and has brought him off a few times. The other option is Hoyte. Better than Eboue? Personally I think no, but he is getting there. Then we’ve got Gilbert currently on loan to Cardiff and doing well. Most fans probably remember his performance at Highbury, setting up a goal brilliantly and then had Thierry Henry congratulating him and presenting him to the crowd. I’ve seen him a few times at Underhill for the reserves and he does look a talented player. I’d say he’s of the same quality as Hoyte but we’ve got 3 upcoming youngsters to replace Lauren if he decides to go. Ralph’s contract expires in the summer and talk is that Gary Lewin patched him up enough to sell on this January to make a bit of cash out of him. Hopefully he decides not to go but at the moment it looks likely.

Freddie Ljungberg is another player who looks set to leave Arsenal this transfer period. He’s been linked with West Ham, Portsmouth and Inter Milan but Arsene still values him as a player saying ‘he has a lot to offer us’. With Hleb, Rosicky and Walcott cementing their places in the team it doesn’t really look like there’s a place in the starting eleven for Freddie. He’s been incredible for us over the years and a fantastic representative for Arsenal but everyone knew one day it’d come to an end and it looks like 2007 could be the end of the Arsenal-Freddie relationship. He was unlucky with injuries at the start of the season and it was then that he lost his place in the team.

There’s been stories in the tabloids saying Arsenal are pushing him out the team after all his good service but I don’t believe we would do that. To be fair we don’t really need him anymore and his talents could help another team elsewhere. He’s definitely not going to see as much football as he did in previous years so maybe it is right for Freddie to move on. Again, it would be sad to see him go but I feel it has to be done. It’ll be a hard moment for Arsenal fans and we will always love Freddie Ljungberg no matter what.

I think Freddie still has a good relationship with Arsenal despite what you might’ve read in the papers, there’s been quotes on arsenal.com about how Wenger would like him to stay etc but nothing about Lauren. I think Ralph and Arsene have had a bit of a fall out and he’s looking to leave because of that but hopefully he stays. Both of the players will always be favourites of mine and I will always be fond of them if they do go. We’ll see how both situations develop.

Before the transfer window it was taken for granted that Jeremie Aliadiere would move on in January. However after a top performance at Anfield he might stay with Arsenal. Arsene has always been on about how Jeremie’s performances in training have earned him starting places but we’ve never seen evidence of that on the pitch, apart from Tuesday night. It was without a doubt the best I’ve seen him play and I’d definitely be one to say keep him. He’s be behind Henry, Van Persie, Adebayor and Baptista but what an option he is. I’m not sure he’d be so happy to be 5th choice, which is why I don’t blame him if he still wants to leave. He’s been at Arsenal for something like 9 years and I’m sure he feels it’s about time he played some regular football. I’ve always wanted to see him do well but when he’s played for us in the past he’s done nothing and looked as if he was just there to complete the numbers but after Tuesday’s performance I think he’s been noticed. I’m not sure now whether he’ll stay or go but we’ll see in the near future.

Arsene Wenger said around his 10th anniversary at Arsenal that he doesn’t think he’ll make his 20th hinting he’ll be leaving in a few years. He’s made us what we are today and it’s no surprise that Arsenal are trying to offer him a long-term deal. I always thought Wenger would stick around and settle us into our new stadium and then move on and that’s what he was saying a few months ago. I can’t think of any Arsenal fan that would want him to go so hopefully he’ll accept this new contract he’s been offered. He’s be on £3m a year if he did sign this new deal and I think it’s money well spent. We won’t find out until the Summer I think about where the manager’s future lies but everyone is hoping it’s with Arsenal Football Club. He’s brought in all these youngsters that are going to be the future and he’s got to be the one to bring that side up to the full level.

The only other real news is about ‘The Beast’. He’s been talking about how he had a little talk with Henry that helped his game. Also he’s said he wants to repay Wenger’s faith in him by becoming an important player at Arsenal. It’s still unsure whether he’ll return to Madrid at the end of his loan or stay at Arsenal but I think at the moment things are swaying our way. Hopefully Arsene realises now that he is a striker after his 4 goals on Tuesday night and he’ll get more games in that position this season. I think he’s only just starting to adapt to the Premiership but it’s still going to take quite a bit of time before he’s fully adjusted to the English game. We’ll get the best out of Baptista if he stays on after his loan because it’ll be at least next season before he’s ready. He’s still getting muscled off the ball and for a player nicknamed ‘The Beast’ that’s not very good; the Premiership is completely different to La Liga so I’m putting it down to that for the moment.

That’s enough for today, build up to the Blackburn game later this week. Bye-bye.