In the post-season lull between the excruciatingly long final match that Arsenal are now custom with, and the beginning of the transfer window, not much is going on at Arsenal. Only a few stories have made it to the news as the players rest up after a long and stressful season.
The Future Of The Skipper
The main story at the moment is Thomas Vermaelen and his future at Arsenal. Speculation is rife about his departure with rumours of Napoli and Manchester United being interested in the Belgian centre-back.
It seems that Vermaelen has attempted to crush the rumours, stating his desire to stay and fight for his place at the Emirates. After a season which began with Vermaelen as the first choice centre-back and club captain, before ending up in him being third choice at the back, these rumours were always going to rise up. Hopefully they will be over now due to Vermaelen’s statement, no doubt to rise again if a new centre back is signed.
Vermaelen actually made 25 appearances for Arsenal this season, joint fourth highest at the club, but the form of Koscielny and Mertesacker during the final games of season saw Vermaelen stuck on the bench.
It is important to Arsenal that he stays with the club, as he is a solid centre-half and great cover and competition for the current defensive pairing.
New Emirates Employees
In other news it seems some of Arsenal players may be operating on different wings next season. Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had a go in a flight simulator with the latter apparently landing the plane perfectly. Gibbs and Jenkinson made more nervous landings in the replica cockpit of the A380 plane worth £250 million.
With many trips across Europe in the pipeline next season, maybe Wenger could save even more cash by letting one of the three Englishmen drive, then again, maybe not.
Santi Gets Inked
Santi Cazorla has also made the news after getting a tattoo of the name of his new-born daughter, India. The name, along with the date of birth, will be on show on the playmakers forearm next season.
The Spaniard, who has been crucial for Arsenal this season, scoring 12 and setting up 13 in the premiership alone, also watched on as fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres got inked. The tattoo parlour in question is featured in the show ‘Madrid Ink’, a spin off from the LA, Miami and London shows.
Podolski Takes Up New Sport
Finally, it seems Podolski has been aiming at a different kind of net in his break from football.
Podolski is currently on tour with the German team in America, and has been showing off some good basketball skills while away. The German team face Ecuador tonight in Florida and Podolski will be hoping to carry on his skill at finding the net for the national side in what would be the 27 year olds 109th cap.
After an on-off first season in the Premiership, grabbing 11 goals making him the joint third top-scorer, Podolski will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow German Per Mertesacker in cementing a first team place for the Gunners next season.
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