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Silly Season Begins/Emirates Cup/Gazidis Meeting

By 2010/04/30 11 Comments

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emiratesatnight

The silly season in the media is cranking up to full volume once again as the summer transfer window approaches. The blogosphere, newspapers and football websites are full of a long list of players alleged to be coming and going at Arsenal. Personally this drives me bonkers. I shall comment only when players have definitely left or signed for us. 

The three visiting teams for the Emirates Cup have been announced. It’s to be Milan, Olympique Lyonnais and Celtic. I shan’t be “breaking my duck” and attending the tournament for the first time. Twenty years ago before the satellite and cable stations combined with the digital breakthrough and deregulation we hardly ever saw the top continental teams on the box. Even their visits to play here in European competition weren’t covered live, except for the finals. 

These days at Arsenal at least we’ve been spoilt. We’re on the brink of our thirteenth consecutive season in the Champions League next term. Most of the big league games from Spain, Italy, France and Germany can be seen here live if you have satellite or cable television. The internet is also a rich source of football. 

Clearly Arsenal has been getting it right for most people in terms of the Emirates Cup. It doesn’t do it for me personally though. These days I’d like to see at least one of the teams coming from outside Europe. There are plenty of teams to choose from in terms of popularity and television ratings. I could get motivated to go and see the likes of Argentine giants River Plate or Boca Juniors, one of the Mexican giants, a big club side from Brazil, maybe a national team from Africa or Asia like Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Japan or China. I realise I’m in a small minority but the Emirates Cup is not for me at the moment. 

Good luck to those who enjoy it, and clearly the succession of sell-out or near sell-out crowds and extensive television coverage (I saw one Emirates Cup game live on the box after waking up early on a Saturday morning in my hotel room in Arequipa, Peru in the 2008/9 pre-season!) prove that a lot do. The Emirates Cup is popular and makes a decent contribution to the club’s coffers. It’s just not for me at the moment. 

Talking of club finances and management, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis will be appearing at a question and answer session for members of the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust on Monday week 10 May at the ground. The event is exclusively for AST members. If you’re not already part of the AST Army then now’s the time to join: 

http://www.arsenaltrust.org/join.php

It’ll cost you just £2 a month if you pay by standing order, £30 a year by cheque or credit/debit card and £250 for life membership (cheque or debit/credit card). 

We’ve got a blank weekend coming up as far as Arsenal is concerned with our game having been moved to Bank Holiday Monday tea-time for television. Wildly inconvenient for those planning to travel to the game by public transport of course, but when did we ever count? Football is great at the mind over matter trick. They don’t mind and we don’t matter. That gripe aside it would be nice to come up with a win to definitively nail down a third place finish with a game to spare. We can then all enjoy a festive day out against Fulham on Sunday week in our final game of the season. The Cottagers will no doubt have one eye on their trip to Hamburg where they’ll play Atlético Madrid in the Europa League Final. Hamburg is a really nice city with more than enough scope for having FAR too much fun. I’m pleased that Fulham have got through. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for them. I’m also delighted for Roy Hodgson – a VERY underrated manager and a true gentleman. 

Keep the faith! 

vic@arsenalinsider.com

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Vic Crescit

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  • John in Norfolk

    I’d be more than surprised if Gazidis did more than trot out the old familiar platitudes at the meeting with the AST.

    There will be no information forthcoming about the current stalemate between Usmanov and Kroenke.

    Obviously nothing about transfers or budgets.

    Might we hear something about expanding sponsorship deals? I doubt it.

    Let’s face it as long as there are 60,000 bums on 60,000 seats at each match the board couldn’t give a 4X for the punters.

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  • bergkampisgod

    Join the ast get an invite and ask the questions you want answered
    gazidis is putting himself out there he doesn’t have to meet us

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  • db10

    I was expecting the Colorado Rapids to be in the emirates cup at some point as a continuation of the marketing in the US.

    As for the Q and A with Gazidis, Wenger was also supposed to be there but he has postponed his Q and A with the shareholders until the start of august I think. Probably something to do with him not wanting to face the fans until the disappointment of not winning anything has faded and the optimism of next season along with the signing of Chamakh that will probably come the day before the meeting or something.

    Well done to Fulham and Roy Hodgson.
    hahahaha Liverpool can’t even win the Europa cup!!haahahaha

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  • John in Norfolk

    Let’s see how many of the questions asked by the AST get definitive answers.

    “Gazidis is putting himself out there he doesn’t have to meet us” It’s nothing more than a bull-shitting session.

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  • Danish Gooner

    Two or three is he joking,we need at least 4 or 5,havnt he been watching what has been unfolding right before his eyes.

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  • Not over the hill

    Dear, dear Vic
    Please read the interview in the Sport Express, Tuesday last. It seems AA won this paper’s best footballer of the year award. Apparently the award was given by a very nice looking reporteress from the blog, at a “bit-of-a-do” in Mayfair, London. After Barça game versus Arsenal, I think amy footballer would have thought the same! The translation of the Russian word for “if” has been omitted.
    Pleasae check it out, your apology to AA is accepted!!!

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  • Vic Crescit

    @ John in Norfolk – I understand your frustration mate but I think fatalism and cynicism are twin curses of the age. I wouldn’t promise IG will answer every qustion as frankly as I’d like. I’ll guarentee he won’t if they aren’t asked.

    @ bergkampisgod – I agree mate.

    @ db10 – I think SK is more interested in having Arsenal out in the USA than havin the Rockies in the Emirates Cup. Very much doubt that will happen as long as AW is manager though.

    AW was never going to participate in the AST Q & A. He wouldn’t lower himself to answer questions from mere mortals like us. He did do a session with Diamond Club members this week, but they copper up too much cash per head to say no to.

    The two previous AW Q & As have been organised by the club for shareholders. AW clearly looked forward to both like a visit to the dentist. I understand like you that what should have been the third such session next month has ben postponed until August. I’d bet a fair amount that it won’t happen at all. AW clearly hates them.

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  • harper

    Ditto your comments re Fulham and Hodgson, Vic. Truly remarkable turnaround for a club facing relegation not too long ago, fantastic manager.

    Re the Ems Cup – I agree about the Europe-centric team selection but I’ll still be attending. I’ve been to all of them. I esp. look forward to watching Lyon at the Grove–they have one of Europe’s best forwards, Lisandro Lopez, who’s fantastic to watch. Looking forward to seeing Lloris and Cris, whom I’ve seen a number of times in Brazil. Cris has a long, interesting, tumultuous history in his Brazil-playing days, he’s a great character. Lyon supporters call him “the policeman.” Also look forward to seeing Dinho and Pato. Pity that Arsenal won’t be playing Lyon, tho. That was a pretty stupid decision–we’ve already seen Arsenal play Celtic and Milan, but not Lyon.

    As for Celtic….no offense intended, but the less said about their presence in the Ems Cup the better. Of all the clubs to choose from….!

    It would’ve been fantastic to see Sao Paulo or the millionarios or Chivas, Vic, but the Ems Cup is smack dab in the middle of the campeonato (domestic league). Brazil’s campeonato is about to begin in May.

    As for transfers….I’ll believe it all when I see it. It’s ridiculous to try to keep up with all the speculation, 99.999% of which is nonsense.

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  • Vic Crescit

    @ Danish Gooner – I don’t agree mate. I think we need a forward, a central defender and a goalie. Maybe another central defender if William Gallas slings his hook.

    @Not Over The Hill – I wasn’t specifically referring to that interview, but his litany of complaints and whinges, not to say his stream of sub-par performances. As for Sport Express rating him player of the year, I want some of what they’re on! :lol:

    @ harper – true on “o brasileiro” but Argentine clubs regularly come to Europe as there’s a gap between the clausura and apertura in our pre-season.

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  • Mexican Gunner

    Why Arsenal dont come to America or go to Asia ?? What Arsene said about it??

    Manchester United will come to Mexico to play against Chivas for the deal of “chicharito”. It will be great to see Arsenal someday in USA, Mexico or anywhere out of Europe.

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  • The Law

    What, exactly, is John’s beef? Arsenal haven’t given him bragging rights for 5 years so, “waaaah waaaah” and out go the toys?

    I’d love to see John try to do the job himself, in real life, not on his pc, and see if he doesn’t quit after 20 minutes.

    Eejit.

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