Sol Campbell To Rejoin Arsenal

The news comes as a bit of a surprise but shouldn't really, but Sol Campbell looks to be close to agreeing a short-term deal with Arsenal.  Arsenal have obtained a special registration which will allow Campbell to take part in a reserve team match against West Ham reserves tonight.

Campbell has been training with Arsenal in Hertfordshire since soon after leaving Notts County and will act as cover for Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas until the end of the season.  This strikes me as a good signing as Campbell is a first class defender, and was key to Wengers 2003/04 Invincibles Team will provide confidence in the event of absence or need for rest to Wengers key centre-halves which will lend Wengers title chances more credibility.  He is also available for registration in the Champions League which again is an added bonus.  For Arsenals blossoming young players he is a hero of recent memory and will likely act as positive motivation and as another source of leadership.  His experience will benefit the team greatly.

There is also the potential benefit that if Campbell somehow finds himself in an extended run of games before the summer there is another solid defensive option available to Fabio Capello who will surely take a good look at Campbell now given his experience of two prior World Cups.

Wenger would be hard pressed to have found a better signing if he had of opened up the cheque book and spent big. 

This certainly spells the end of Philippe Senderos' Arsenal career, and he will be regretting not joining Everton in the summer.

Team selection update: Guess who ees complaining

How can you not love the Voyeur when he comes out with such gems as this

And all because Hull got a Wednesday off and he didn't

It's Hull, Wenger, at home, grow up (oh, and please win, I have money riding on this)

"We have some teams who do not play at all. We play Sunday and Wednesday away and at home on Saturday against Hull, who have not played all week."

By 'some' he means two - Hull and Stoke get a week off because Everton and Fulham have Europa league commitments

This does of course mean they will have to play catch-up at a later date, but really Wenger should be taking this up with the ridiculous Europa league -  and every year we get six games in December, how long does it take a Frenchman to get used to this?

I would also like to point out that Hull played an extra game on the 25th November, as did Everton, Blackburn and Fulham - this was not Hull's fault, but Arsenal got a mid-week off (then lost at home to Chelsea, while Hull got a point at City...) - did I here anyone complaining (well yes, David Moyes, but that's a different story)

Of course, Arsenal do play in the Champions' League - but for the purposes of this argument Wenger is sticking to the concept of league fairness - presumably then Hull shouldn't be playing extra games in November to benefit Everton? I didn't hear Phil Brown whingeing about City getting a week to prepare while he had an extra game to deal with

But wait, there's more!

Wenger went on to criticise Mick McCarthy's decision to rest players against United

"We will have to compete with Manchester United over 37 games instead of 38," said Wenger.

As I mentioned earlier - were Wolves expected to get anything at Old Trafford - did I miss that hot tip? If we are going to subjectively judge Wolves' team as worthless then there's no reason for me not to state categorically that United were always going to win that match, I guess it's ok to send out the reserves as long as you keep it to one competition eh, Arsene?

And let's be honest - you're competing with Chelsea, and you're really just narked that you lost two points at Burnley because your team doesn't have staying power

Truly, the Voyeur is worth every penny Arsenal pay him (especially when he's taking his team up north mid-week) - and I can't resist posting this:

What Ever Happened To Applying A Cold Wet Sponge?

I chortled my sizable behind off when I heard this news on the radio this morning.

Robin Van Persie (RVP) is off to see a specialist about his ankle injury that is keeping him on the sidelines until Christmas.  It isn't the bloke in America that Shearer, Owen and Hargreaves flew off to see, and he isn't in Harley Street.... In fact, he, is a she.  In fact it is the not so well known Mariana Kovacevic from Serbia.

Theres more.

RVP on Sky Sports:

"I will fly to the Balkans to meet with a female doctor who helped [PSV Eindhoven midfielder] Danko Lazovic.

"She is vague about her methods, but I know she massages you using fluid from a placenta.

"I am going to try. It cannot hurt and if it helps, it helps.

"I have been in contact with Arsenal physiotherapists and they have let me do it."

Pardon, could you say that again please?

"placenta"

OK great; thought that's what was said, just checking...

Perhaps Arsene Wenger's ever decreasing average squad age has pushed an old man like Van Persie to drastic measures and the mere mention of placenta fluids got RVP all excited.  Or, perhaps RVP has sussed that the older a person gets, the less they smell like an infant to Wenger; and ipsofacto the less likely you are to be included in the current Arsenal squad?  A little Placenta fluid could add years onto his Arsenal career.

Run it off lad!!

Sol Campbell Moves To Notts County

Sol Campbell his joined up with Sven-Goran-Eriksson at Notts County. The news comes as a shock to many including Arsene Wenger. (I was however tipped off to the move Monday morning, by fellow Football Banter Mini-League participant, Jon M.)

County were recently taken over by one of those mysterious Middle-Eastern consortiums, this particular one is called "Munto Finance" they immediately reached out to friend of the Sheiks Sven-Goran Eriksson who has joined as Director of Football.

Harry Redknapp also commented today on Campbell's move saying "He's still in my opinion a top six central defender in the Premier League, so for Notts County to get him in that division is just incredible".

Wenger Insists No Deal Is Done For Fabregas

I wonder if the line about doing a deal in a year in advance is a sly dig at Sir Alex after the rumours that the deal was signed a long time back?

Fabregas May Leave Arsenal If Wenger Leaves

The Daily Mirror has a story that Arsene Wenger tops the Man City wish list for new manager, ahead of Jose Mourinho, Slaven Bilic and Diego Maradona.

And in a related article they quote Cesc Fabregas as saying that he would quit Arsenal if Arsene Wenger left in the summer. Cesc Fabregas has repeatedly been linked with Real Madrid and would have no problem finding a big money move.

Arsenal are out of the title race again this year and Arsenal fans are starting to question Wengers strategies for the first time. Contract negotiations are taking place with Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott who may also have their heads turned if Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League next year.

Captain Keano

Harry Reknapp has confirmed to Sky News that Robbie Keane will be handed the captains armband for the big match against Arsenal this weekend.

Ledley King is sidelined with injury, so Keane will get a run of games as captain. King will remain club captain for now.

Redknapp says "I said to Robbie that if I brought him back that I would like to make him captain. I think it was important to him, to come back and lead the club.

"They [the squad] are all pleased to have him back, and they know what he can do."

"He is a leader and has the personality to be a captain of Tottenham."

Some Tottenham fans have had mixed reactions to the return of Keane, and those who were not happy will be less so with this announcement.

The derby game may be missing Arsenal new boy Andrei Arshavin as he needs to prove his fitness to manager Arsene Wenger to be included in the big game.

Arsenal Granted Work Permit For Arsharvin

Arsenal have been granted a work permit for the signing of Andrei Arshavin. The fee is reportedly not agreed between the two clubs, but the deal is likely to take place given the high profile nature and Arsenals need for a quality signing in midfield.

Arsene Wenger has said today that he would like the deal done within 24 hours.

Breaking News - Cesc Fabregas Out For Four Months

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will likely be out for four months with damage to his medial ligament.

The news is obviously a blow to Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans. It also raises a number of questions.

Will William Gallas be asked to stand in as captain in his absence?

Can Arsenal achieve a top four place in the Premier League without their most influential player?

Will Arsene Wenger now spend some cash in January? Who is available? Or will Wengers youth policy supersede the need for a purchase and govern who will fill in?

Can Arsenal expect to progress past the first knockout phase of the Champions League against Roma?

And of course, in the event of Arsenal failing to qualify for the Champions League, will Fabregas be happy to stay at Arsenal next Season? - Especially as Real Madrid will inevitably launch their annual campaign to sign or unsettle the very best talents in the Premier League?

The day today

It should be worth mentioning that today (Sunday 21st December 2008) was a big day in the history of British Football. Manchester United have scored a famous victory and been crowned Club Champions of the World. (well done lads!). The victory is not without a price, with Nemanja Vidic red carded and facing a Champions League Ban.

Late Goals saw Newcastle overcome Tottenham 2-1, and West Brom overcome Manchester City by the same scoreline.

Arsenal drew with Liverpool at home 1-1. Wenger was also disappointed to see Adebayor sent off and commented that he felt that cost them the win.

The biggest domestic result of the weekend however, was probably the 1-0 win for Aston Villa over West Ham. Terry Venables says that if Arsene Wenger thinks Arsenal are still in the title race, that Villa should stop thinking about finishing fourth, and set their sights on the title.