A come from behind draw in Spain last night is a reasonable result. The Cesc Fàbregas – Emmanuel Adebayor show was on display again with a great pass and finish for our equaliser in the second half.
We were flat in the first half. Their goal from Marcos Senna was a screamer and Joan Capdevila should have really put The Yellow Submarine two up. We were significantly the better side in the second half. Let’s hope the injuries to Big Bad Bill Gallas and Manuel Almunia aren’t too serious.
Now we need to be ruthless. All thoughts of the Champions League need to be put to one side now. The focus must be on Saturday’s visit to the north-west and the League match against the Pie-Eaters. Playing last night gives us an extra day to recover and prepare which is helpful. It’s got to be a mantra from now on – one at a time. It’s going to be VERY difficult to finish third in the League with so few games left, but that’s got to be our objective. We can’t do anything about how other teams perform. We need to keep on grinding out the wins one at a time and see what happens.
Villarreal v Arsenal
Turning to the ownership of the club, it appears that Silent Stan Kroenke has been a little too silent recently. City rules are clear. Any director of a publicly listed company must immediately declare any change in their shareholding up or down. An announcement to the plus market yesterday told us that Kroenke had bought 42 shares in the market in six separate transactions between 6-23 March 2009, in addition to his purchase of five thousand shares, I assume on hire purchase, from Danny Fiszman. A bit naughty of Stan not to have disclosed these purchases immediately as required. I still doubt very much whether he’ll go over the 30% holding that would require him to make a mandatory bid for all the remaining shares. Where’s he going to get the money from?
As far as I’m concerned, all the senior shareholders – Danny Fiszman, Stan Kroenke, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith and Alisher Usmanov – have a duty to us the supporters to sit down with the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust and set our their plans for the club. Enough of the warm words. Let’s get down to brass tacks, lady and gentlemen. Another block of twelve shares changed hands yesterday in an off-exchange trade for a total of £78,000 (£6,500 a share). I assume the buyer is Stan Kroenke. I’d love to know who’s selling though.
Speaking personally I have no intention whatsoever of selling my share voluntarily no matter the price offered. That’s easy for me. I don’t have anybody to worry about but myself. I can understand that some shareholders have different personal circumstances. I’d urge all shareholders who aren’t absolutely desperate for cash to hang on for grim death their shares however.
Let’s focus now on getting three points against Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Finally for those Gooners who haven’t had a better offer for tomorrow night, the reserves are home to Spurs at Barnet FC’s Underhill ground. Kick-off is 7.00pm and admission is free. Get there early if you prefer a seat. There’s likely to be a fair crowd. The last Arsenal-Spurs reserve match I went to at Underhill even featured the assembled Gooners singing. At a reserve match? Who’d have thought?
Keep the faith!