Arshavin fee NOT agreed & other news 27 January, 2009

Today is the day that we set as a deadline for a deal to be done over Andrei Arshavin. The day broke with the news that an agreement had been reached between Zenit an Arsenal for the player and only personal details etc needed to be completed. This, a statement on Zenit’s official website. It sounded quite believable but then with the way Zenit have been over the whole thing I wasn’t expecting.

Lo and behold – it’s a load of bollocks. Arsene Wenger there confirming the story is false and that we are not near to signing anyone:

“There is no news about Andrei Arshavin or about anybody else that is why I cannot give you anything. At the moment it is all quiet.

I believe that we are not close to concluding any transfer, Arshavin or anybody else.
I don’t know [if it will happen] frankly. Time is getting short and at the moment I am more focused to win the game tomorrow. We know we are in front of a big game and the most important thing is to focus on that.

I am only responsible for the statements we make and I cannot be responsible for the statements that other clubs make. Zenit look to have different voices coming out of the club and I’m not sure if it always the official voice. I believe what I see and what I hear directly.”

He also denied that a fee had been agreed between the two clubs.

It’s hardly surprising is it? This whole saga has been a series of ups, downs and massive lies. I, like most, am just fed up of this whole thing now. I just want it to end so we can all concentrate on our lives. Today was the day we set for it all to end but realistically this will carry on until the very last minute of the window…

You can tell this is all getting on Arsene Wenger’s nerves too. Not only does he not like talking about transfers with the press but he probably feels like Zenit are trying to take us for a ride. Wenger is very reluctant to pay over his own valuation on a player and here is a club trying to squeeze every single penny out of this sale.

In my opinion, he won’t go anywhere are Zenit are going to lose out on getting any money and it’ll be all their fault. By the summer he’ll be 28 and his price will have gone down even more. We will not be interested in him by then, Zenit, Arshavin and his agent will have to whore themselves out to another club.

Arsene’s had another say on the influx of money on a transfer window such in the case of Man City. He believes it just doesn’t work. OK, Chelsea have proved that money can get you trophies but they’re in so much debt now. They have risked a lot for some short-term success whereas we have gradually built a team and are doing it the proper way. It’s like playing with a cheat on a game – yeah you can win, and winning’s fun but you will always know that you used that cheat and didn’t do it properly. If an investor said he would come and give us billions of pounds and buy a totally new squad so we can win the Champions League, I’d tell him to fuck off. Where’s the fun in that? Where’s the pride in that?

Arsene Wenger has put a date on Eduardo’s return. He’s said he still needs a few reserve games and he might organize a behind-closed-doors game and then he is scheduled to play for Croatia against Romania on 11th of February. Wenger says he should play in the international friendly and then he will be ready for us. That would mean a possible return game of the FA Cup game vs. West Brom or Burnley if we get past Cardiff in the replay. I can’t wait.

Wenger’s been praising Tim Cahill saying he has done well in Everton’s time of need. They actually have no fit strikers at the moment so Cahill is being played up top acting as their goal-man. He’s done well actually and their lack of strikers doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take extra care tomorrow night – they are still a big threat and are still more than capable of scoring goals.

Just before I go I want to point you in the direction of SoccerPro.com. You might remember me talking about them before, they’re a website dedicated to selling all sorts of football gear. Last week they were kind enough to send me a Nike Premium Fleece Hoody and this pretty cool reversible Nike Arsenal Football Scarf which I’m loving in the freezing weather.

If you get a chance go check them out, they’ve got all sorts of stuff and some things that I haven’t seen for sale in the club shop. You can look at all their jackets and sweatshirts here and all other “soccer” gear here!

Ok that’s it for today. I know I usually do my previews the day before a game but with the tight schedule of matches at the moment I’m going to post it tomorrow morning. Until then.