By Sir Hardly Anyone
Sepp Blatter has suggested that some European draws were fixed by placing certain balls in the refrigerator before the draw, so that person pulling the balls out of the box or bag knows to pick a big name or small name club or country.
A Uefa person reacted by saying, “Allegations that Uefa has in the past fixed draws for its competitions are completely absurd and therefore not worth a reaction.” So that is ok, because we always believe Uefa.
Blatter is also alleged to have said that security inside and outside the grounds at the Euros is excellent, he had no worries about the behaviour of fans, and that Mars was being invited to send a team to the next world cup.
So now onto the transfers…
Here’s the one we seem to have got and the one that got away:
CHUKS GUNNERS Nigerian wonderkid Samuel Chukwueze performs a dramatic U-turn over Arsenal move and now set for Porto
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger misses out on Super Eagles starlet to Portuguese club despite club getting deal for team-mate Kelechi Nwakali over the line on a five-year contract
Now this story has been buzzing back and forth for weeks and weeks. Have we signed Nwakali? Yes or no? Answers please because there seems to be no definitive answer. But then there never is.
So without any whatnot let’s have the mainstream gibberish from the hacks and the bloggettas.
1: With Vardy being difficult who should we get?
This is the story occupying what passes for the minds of the people who make up transfer rumours, and they are coming up with various names. Let’s start with
Islam Slimani, Edinson Cavani, Christian Benteke
Arsenal and Liverpool have made an official approach to sign Islam Slimani but his club Sporting Lisbon have rejected both offers, Express Sport has revealed.
Apparently he scored 31 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions.
Sporting Lisbon manager Jorge Jesus was full of praise for the Algerian as he declared that he would be perfect for the English Premier League. “In England if he is guided by a manager who knows a lot about football, he can score double the goals Vardy does,” his manager is reported to have said.
Exclusive: Arsenal prioritise Cavani if Vardy deal flops amid PSG star’s China rejection
He’s the Metro’s choice. But, but, but….
2: But that is not all because we also have Robert Lewandowski.
Lethal in front of goal, the Bayern Munich front-man reportedly wants to leave this summer. Could he replicate his stunning Bundesliga form at the Emirates?
3: And then we must not forget Romelu Lukaku:
Has been in impressive form, scoring 18 goals during 2015/16 despite Everton’s struggles and Graeme Souness believes Lukaku could be the answer to Arsenal’s woes. (And what exactly are those woes we might ask, having scored just three fewer than the team that won the league. But no perhaps we should not ask).
And while we are at it, how about…
4: And the rest…
- Alexandre Lacazette: One of Europe’s top marksmen, scoring 21 goals for Lyon during the 2015/16 season
- Gonzalo Higuain: Always there to make up the numbers in any editor’s list of suspects.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Now he is making the top of the list in a lot of papers. The man from Borussia Dortmund scored 36 goals in 45 appearances and is attracting interest.
- Arsenal Could Seal £25million Deal For Bundesliga Star This Week
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan has signed for Arsenal ahead of Manchester United, confirms player’s sister
So that must be true because if you can’t trust a player’s sister who can you trust?
But although the deal for Mr Unpronounceable had been talked up as done with the player “jetting in” and “estate agents gearing themselves up for a bonanza”, now suddenly the story has change.
Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has said they are reluctant to sell him and has vowed to keep Mkhitaryan until the end of his contract. “We have been negotiating with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for four months for him to extend his contract with us,” Watzke told Bild.
“Now we know that it is not extended, it was never our commitment that Mkhitaryan may leave us prematurely. We have intensely discussed the question of an early transfer in all club bodies and came to the conclusion that Mkhitaryan will stay in Dortmund next season.”
That of course could just be an attempt to get even more money out of someone, knowing that the player will leave for free at the end of next season. Besides hanging onto a player who wants to go is never going to get the best out of him.
And thus Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola has started to talk up… Man U. Oooops. That’s from the Guardian.
“Dortmund presented an official offer which was rejected, but now the BVB bosses fear of their own fans. Suddenly they tell Micki, that he should go next season on a free transfer. This is very bad management. Manchester United is a unique opportunity, Micki wants to go there,” he added.
But the Independent has this…
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has confirmed the Bundesliga club “will make a decision this week” as Henrikh Mkhitaryan continues to be linked with a switch to Arsenal.
However…
When quizzed on the future of Mkhitaryan – and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Zorc said Dortmund will act “this week”.
One insight into the problem is that Dortmund players want release clauses in their contracts but Dortmund are refusing to entertain such a clause after seeing both Mario Götze and Mats Hummels leave for Bayern.
6: Arsene Wenger has heaped praise on N’Golo Kante
So there we are another Leicester man to Arsenal. He’s 25, he has a £20m release clause (where have we seen that before) and Mr Wenger is alleged to have said all the right things.
“I admire and like N’Golo Kante a lot. It gives you ideas,” he told beIN Sports. “He gives you the feeling that the higher the level he plays at, the more at ease he is.”
7: Arsenal’s hopes of signing Riyad Mahrez this summer have been given a significant boost after the Leicester City winger reportedly decided to leave the Foxes. According to reports.
Mahrez: ‘It is possible that I stay, it is possible that I leave’
According to other reports.
The problem is that Leicester simply don’t have the machinery to handle the sort of interest their players are said to be getting, and their approach seems to have been to have handed out an extra £35m in salary promises for next season already. So it does look as if they might have to sell someone, just to keep balancing the books. Mahrez is said to have signed a new contract with Leicester last summer so that means he should be ready to move on now.
But Arsenal really should be very grateful to Leicester as they have taken all the heat off. Normally by now we’d have headlines about Ozil leaving, Alexis going to Man U, Iwobi being taken by Chelsea, Santi Caz going back to Spain and so on. But because of Leicester’s lack of a quality press and marketing team on the spot, they don’t have mechanisms to deflect all the stories about not getting their sums right, having to pay sell on fees, upping salaries and then doing it again…
Coming again soon – the updated Great Arsenal Transfer Index.
You know it makes no sense.
- Arsenal to play each team twice!
- Vardy’s drugs issues causes transfer concern
- To all Arsenal fans: your club urgently needs your help. Now.
And on the Arsenal History site…
- Arsenal in the 1930s – the full story of 1930/1, Arsenal’s first league championship, has been told in a series of 12 episodes. Probably the most detailed analysis ever published.
- The First League Season, including a review of each player who played in that season
- Arsenal in the 1970s – the complete review of every game and every transfer
- Arsenal in the summer – the transfers, the friendlies, year by year
- Arsenal anniversaries – nearly 5000 entries
The full index to all the series is on Arsenal History Society Web Site
5: Ricardo Rodriguez wants to leave Wolfsburg amid speculation he’s set to join Arsenal, the German club’s sporting director Klaus Allofs has confirmed.
‘As we have recently gathered, it was clear. His idea is to leave us,’ Allofs told Blick. And you can’t say fairer than that can you, especially since his team mate Granit Xhaka has already done the deal. It’s “understood” by people who make these things up that he has a £19million release clause in his contract at Wolfsburg.
6: Liverpool prepare £25m bid for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott Standard
And elsewhere:
Are Liverpool considering making a £50m bid for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott? Rush to the Kop
7: The eyes of Arsene Wenger appear to be fixed on Albania right-back Elseid Hysaj.
Apparently with Barcelona sniffing around Bellerin and Debuchy sure to leave we have real problems and so here is the solution. Although I suspect it is a solution to a problem we don’t have.
Hysaj turned heads for club side Napoli last season, helping Maurizio Sarri’s men to a second-placed finish in Serie A, as they conceded just 32 goals in those 38 games.
But if we don’t get him, it is all Wenger’s fault…
However, the north London outfit may need to act quickly to get their man, with another impressive display in the 1-0 defeat to Switzerland for the Shqiponjat on Saturday believed to have attracted other illustrious suitors.
So there it is.
Four surgeons
are discussing who makes the best kind of patient to operate on.
The first surgeon says, “I like to see accountants on my operating
table because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered.”
The second surgeon responds, “Yeah, but you should try electricians!
Everything inside them is colour coded.”
The third surgeon says, “No, I really think librarians are the best;
Everything inside them is in alphabetical order.”
But the fourth surgeon shut them all up when he observed: “You’re all
wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on. There are no guts,
no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and the head and the ass
are interchangeable.”
* BRICKFIELDS GUNNERS BLOG APPLIES TO BE THE THIRD OFFICIAL ARSENAL BLOG *
The world famous Brickfields Gunners Blog has officially applied to the club to become the third official blog to disseminate true and factual news about the Arsenal .
At present all official Arsenal news are presented only via Arsenal.com and Untold Arsenal . While a few well known blogs were also in the running to be gazetted , but due to the negativity shown during last season , they have been dropped from contention .
The Brickfields Gunners Blog has always kept the eye on the ball and did not even blink as the final games unfolded last season . The steadfast belief that there WILL always be a St. Totteringham’s Day was refreshing and heartening to the millions who religiously follow the blog.
Please wait for the official announcement soon from the club at Arsenal.com and Untold Arsenal .In the meantime we thank you all for your undivided and loyal support .
Cheers !
@ colario – June 16, 2016 at 8:25 am -While I concur with my esteem colleagues above , I ‘d like to think that like politicians , ‘them’ too are also very easy to operate on !
And in the case of any (untoward ?) fatal mishap , no one would even notice !
” Do you concur ?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_471626&feature=iv&list=PL141B1821A39A69A6&src_vid=Ow8mG8qutkw&v=i5j1wWY-qus
Sir Hardly Anyone, please which and which the media Arsenal transfer rumours hold any water in them for us to believe after the signing of Granit Xhaka that came to fruition?
I think the Arsenal transfer media rumours which are looking to hold some waters in them are, those of Jamie Vardy and likely the one of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Because the media has reported that Arsenal have actually submitted a bid of £20m to Dortmond in the case of Mkhitaryan. And earlier, have activated the buy-out clause of Vardy in the sum of £20m, which was widely reported in the media unlike that of Mkhitaryan that is being lowly reported.
Nonetheless, I should think the likely transfers of, Kelechi Nwakali and that of Samuel Chukwueze the former Nigerian Golden Eaglets players for the Arsenal Under 21 squad have some elements of truths in them.
We must have seen a picture posted on the Arsenal official website that shows the Boss, one other guy, Kanu Nwanko and Nwakali standing in an office with some papers & pen on the table. Hence, it has been perceived Arsenal have signed Nwakali.
As the Boss must have known, Nwakali is a midfielder who can occasionally scores some goals. While Chukwueze is an attacker who scores goals regularly. In fact, the combinations of Chukwueze goals and a few of Nwakali goals won the last Fifa Under 17 World Cup for Nigeria 2 years ago.
I think the Boss should try not to miss out on Chukwueze because he’s a kind of natural scorer of many goals. And hopefully he’ll seal that of Nwakali too as the duo complement one another’s efforts successfully in the team.
Let the Boss try to re-negotiate Chukwueze’s deal with his Nigerian club side and give them what they are demanding for. Even if it’s the sum Arsenal are paying to sign Nwakali, let them overlook it and pay the amount. Because as I’ve said, the duo complement themselves and Chukwueze is a scorer of many goals
Simply love all the Foxes speculation: Leicester not big enough to handle media pressure; will be forced to sell players to meet payroll (Mahrez to Arsenal for 60 million or more – no release clause here), will fight against relegation in new season as key players leave for bigger clubs etc etc.
Great entertainment, really.
But in all reality, Leicester will likely paste the bigger clubs once more – finishing an astounding 10 points clear of lowly 2nd place and put in commendable performances in the Champions League. Mores the pity, they possess a great PL recruiter in Steve Walsh, the man responsible for bring Mahrez, Kante, Vardy, Drinkwater and Schmiechel to wee Fosse.
And finally, the club is debt-free, the owners are seriously wealthy and disciplined businessmen.
So no worries, the wee pond can “handle the pressure.” What say the Arses?
Brickfields Gunners, should I say, in the future, Congratulations! to you for your efforts to become the 3rd officially approved Arsenal blog site by the Arsenal Holdings Plc.; besides the officially approved ones of, arsenal.com and the Untold Arsenal blog sites.
Everyone is looking for his own success. But even then, haven you been a part of the Untold Arsenal’s comment posters, I hope you will not over rival the Untold, but still be contributing to it with your comment postings.
Where on earth do you get these stories from?
Paul,
it would be impossible for Leicester to have another Injury free year.
Keep dreaming.
However, they’ll get such a big rise in income that I don’t believe they’ll need to sell anyone. But most players will want a move if a good opportunity arises, as they know a top 4 place isn’t sustainable for them, even with new players coming in (which will predominantly take a season to hit form).
I’ve always thought some of the draws must be rigged and wondered how.
Thank you, Sebb Blatter, for telling us.
Regarding Leicester’s problem of holding on to their best players, it’s a shame but that is football’s perennial problem. Like the old poem –
‘Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite em’
So little fleas have smaller fleas, and so on ad infinitum’.
So any player who rises above his team mates will automatically become a target for a ‘bigger’ club. Even Man Utd couldn’t hold on to Christiano Ronaldo once he became a target for Real Madrid. Borussia Dortmund, despite being one of Europe’s elite clubs seem to appear to be little more than a feeder club for Bayern in the last couple of seasons. Foxes fans have to learn to live with it because when the so called bigger clubs stop coming in for their players it will mean that they no longer have players good enough to interest them.
Paul……I see your ego has been bruised BUT don’t worry, this is all media-inflamed idle speculation and regardless of what happens, Leicester’s achievements this season have been commendable. That said;
1) There is REAL pressure for their top players to be convinced to move on, whether they do so or remain loyal for another season is anybody’s guess…
2) The CL is NO picnic and will take a lot out of Leicester with up to 8 potential games before they are assured of a good finish in the CL. I believe these extra games over a 38 game season will take its toll,just like it did for the Spuds, united and so on. Add in there the Cups and you have a much heavier schedule than 2015-16.
3) The EPL will be more competitive next season with seasoned managers like Mourinho and Guardiola and veterans like Pochettino, Wenger, and Klopp having woken up to the Leicester style and threat. the new Tv money will help otherwise averrage clubs to improve as well. It will be a tough run for Leicester to repeat its 2015-16 performance and results,imho.
4) As already mentioned, there is NO guarantee of two important elements that helped Leicester last season; the officials generosity with penalties in their favour AND few injuries. Let either of those two aspects turn against Leicester and they’ll have a much harder run…..but who’s to say?
2nd is good and being the ONLY team beating Leicester twice was a bonus so that’s just a prelude to whjat could happen in the EPL next season. regardless, the best team over 38 games will win it all, and that’s always unpredictable imho.
@ SamuelAkinsolaAdebosin -June 16, 2016 at 11:50 am – Thank you very much for your congratulatory wishes , being premature as they may be !
And have no fear , as I will be contributing and posting on the pages of UA – the only website I read . Other than Arsenal.com. of course .
@ Tony Attwood -June 16, 2016 at 12:48 pm – Tony , I am assuming that your , “Where on earth do you get these stories from?’ , was directed at me ?
Well ,either way , in my defence , it was never my ambition to be a doctor -it was my parents’ wishes . I had originally wanted to be a professional footballer like most boys ; but since I had neither the stamina nor the skill, nor the heading ability , and was overweight -that dream went out quite early .
And through medicine , and its accompanying attendant absurdities , I found humour . And sanity ! The old but apt saying, Medicine is the best laughter is often very badly misquoted !
As was that’ an apple a day’ quote – wherever I went people would give me an apple . I first thought that they were just being kind , then it hit me – they were wanting to keep me away ! You know – like garlic , Kryptonite , wooden stakes and silver bullets !
I took the hint and became a humourist – I slayed them with wit ! And now with me approaching 60 (and half price train tickets , free hospital treatment and what nots !) , and with an empty nest at home and full blown menapausal wife for company , what is there not to laugh about ? Especially with a glass or two of wine . Really .
I find it funny at Arsenal’s so called problems ! And the very silly ‘them’ who come on here to teach us old uns the truth/facts as they see it . When I read these articles and comments , my imagination truly runs wild !
Of course it could also be due to that I often forget to take my medication !
The diagnosis –
A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor’s office complaining about aches and pains in whichever part of her body she happened to touch.
The doctor looked at her completely puzzled, wondering what on earth could be wrong with such a young, vibrant-looking woman. “Impossible!” he cried. “Show me.”
The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left shoulder and screamed, and then she pushed her elbow, screaming even more. She pushed her knee, screaming yet again, and then she pushed her ankle, doing the same.
Appearing pensive for a few moments, the doctor suddenly had a great idea about what might be causing the problem. He asked, “You’re not really a redhead, are you?”
Seeming surprised at the question, the woman was at a loss as to why the doctor might be asking her this.
“Well no,” she replied, “I’m actually a blonde. I got this new dye job because I was fed up of everyone thinking I’m some airhead… but what does that have to do with anything?”
“Ah – I thought you might be a blonde,” said the doctor while trying not to laugh.
“You don’t have aches and pains all over your body. The pain you’re feeling is because your finger is broken.”
*Medicines For Husbands!*
New medicines for men created by women scientists awaiting FDA approval…
ANIVERSIA:
Triggers memories for birthdays and anniversaries…
SLIMOXIL:
Widens male cornea making wives appear slim…
SPORTOBLIND X: Reacts with optic nerve to prevent men from recognizing the word “Sports” on TV…
WORKOCETAMOL: Generates an insatiable desire in men to do household chores…
SHOPHOFOBEX: Makes men eager to take wives for shopping every week and wait patiently…
FLIRTONATE-N:
It reduces vision whenever a pretty woman passes by.
VERYTASTYMYCIN:
Husband always praises wife’s cooking.
I wil like to see both henrikh, verdy, mahrez all Wearing an arsenal jersey next season.
A New Metal is added to Chemistry:
Name: WIFE
Symbol: Bb
Atomic Weight: Light when first found… tends to get heavier over the years with time.
Physical Properties :
– Boils at any point
– Can freeze at any time
– Melts if treated with love
– Very Bitter if Mishandled
Chemical Properties :
– Very Reactive
– Highly Unstable
– Possess Strong Affinity towards Gold, Silver, Diamond, Platinum, Credit cards,Debit cards & Cheque books
– Money Reducing Agent
Occurrence : Mostly found in front of the Mirror.
Please circulate to all scientists !
Sir Hardly:
I did notice that when Vardy scored for England against Wales last night, he headed straight to JACK WILSHERE.
The deal is done 😉
Czech Republic 2-2 croatia
Team Rosicky snatched a point from the jaws of defeat.What a match.
Really happy for our Gunners Legend
Tomas Rosicky & Peter czech.