It wasn’t even a subject for debate, really. When Alex Song moved to Barcelona in the summer, the fact he’d be underused and maligned, before becoming unhappy was an inevitability. And so it transpires, that’s exactly what’s happened.
The Cameroonian has started less than 15 games this season, and was recently reduced to helping the Barca kit man. There’s hence been speculation that he wishes to return to the side that brought him to prominence.
However, in his press conference today, Arsene Wenger rejected the idea, pointing out that there was no buy-back clause in the deal, and that he advises Song to ‘stick it out for another year’ at the Catalan club, though chances are he’ll be loaned out to Birmingham by next season (happened to another Alex...)
Ivan the oracle
For all the complaining about American ownership offered by Gooners, they’d do well to remember that Liverpool have a far more active Yankee owner, one far more devoted to the Moneyball philosophy than Silent Stan will ever be.
And John Henry has actually been consulting our very own Ivan Gazidis for advice. The Liverpool supremo believes Arsenal and Manchester United are blazing a trail for survival in the FFP-shaped future, and so has consulted CEOs of both teams.
“John and Tom are both very open in their approach," said Ian Ayre. "They'll contact David at United and Ivan at Arsenal - 'What do you think?' That's healthy.
'Let's get a rounded view of the sport and how we should be doing things.
"It's better to have an owner who is taking a genuine interest and is well-informed.”
So, while fairly inconsequential, those who consider Arsenal’s higher-ups to be totally incompetent should perhaps take this into consideration.
Is this the summer?
The summer of spending, of marquee signings and rejoicing in the streets. The Mirror’s John Cross certainly thinks so, for the main reason of Arsene Wenger intending to stay beyond his current contract providing Arsenal are in a good position.
Every summer there comes a series of party lines about how Arsene is in control of transfers and the like, and there have even been suggestions that he’s rejected board offers to buy players for him. His tendency to take the fall has resulted in perhaps unwarranted criticism.
But will this summer, be the big summer? There’s no real way to tell. There are certainly suggestions that machinations are underway for something large to happen, but only if Arsenal qualify for the Champions League. That’s automatically, so third place.
If Arsenal are forced to play a qualifier, I can see a summer like the one before last, one of near misses and settling for secondary targets, because there’s no set budget. We’ll have to see, unfortunately.
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