By Tony Attwood
During the course of the morning of 3 June several UK newspapers changed their web sites to reflect an interview with Arsène Wenger. The Daily Telegraph piece is by Nick Pearce and runs with the headline
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger hints at shock moves for Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas
and then as a subheading
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has admitted he would not turn down the chance to sign unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney if the opportunity presented itself this summer.
According to Pearce Mr Wenger also made a “thinly-veiled offer of sanctuary” to Cesc Fabregas.
The interview was on the increasingly football-orientated Al Jazeera news service. But of course journalists like Pearce just can’t let a story go without putting their own anti-Arsenal spin on the tale, in the belief that most Arsenal supporters are members of the AAA. I quote him in full…
“Long-suffering Gunners fans are desperate for Wenger to bolster the squad with world-class additions and the signings of Rooney and Fabregas would certainly satisfy their craving for big-name arrivals.”
Long-suffering? Compared with what? Compared with Tottenham? Compared with Chelsea who between 1905 and the arrival of Abramovich one the title once, with an Arsenal player as manager? Compared with the Darkness at Arsenal – the period of Swindin and Billy Wright where we not only won nothing, we couldn’t even finish anywhere near the top four? Long suffering meaning what exacly?
As for the interview, what Mr Wenger said was not quite the commentary that the paper wanted to put onto it.
“Rooney could be an interesting player for everybody in the world, who would turn him down? David Moyes’ first challenge is to go in to Manchester and bridge the gap between him and Rooney. If that is feasible or not depends on his personality and if Rooney bears a grudge or not, we will see. It will be interesting to see how that will be handled.”
This refers to the fact (ignored by most papers) that after the appearance of his autobiography (I use the word lightly) Rooney was sued by Moyes. Ultimately Rooney apologised and paid Moyes ‘substantial damages’ in 2010.
As for Fabregas, (who the newspaperman tells us, left Arsenal on bad terms) Mr Wenger said, “I think at the moment he’s [Fabregas] lacking the confidence of being a regular player,” Recently he has not been that. Cesc is such a passionate player, a player of such quality, that it must hurt him not to play in every single game. That’s what he misses. When you come in and out you never play with full confidence.”
Other papers said much the same. “There is talk about Arsène Wenger admitting he will be monitoring the availability of Wayne Rooney this summer and that no club would be able to turn down the chance of signing him.”
And then, “Arsenal are now understood to be considering an offer for the striker, whose future is uncertain after Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he submitted a transfer request at United in May.”
“Understood”. So what does “understand” mean? I understand that the universe will go on forever. Does that mean it will? Who knows. Mr Wenger is famous for having TV access to virtually every channel that shows football, and he watches game after game. He considers everyone. He handles transfers personally so that we get the people we want. Better to say, “Mr Wenger is monitoring all the top leagues.” At least that is true.
So the conclusion is that “Arsene Wenger has opened the door for Arsenal to make a shock swoop for unsettled duo Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas.”
Opened the door. Nothing else. He’s opened the door. I did that this morning. Then I closed it again.
And then by the time we get to the Independent we find that “Arsenal fans would revel in such a move in light of United’s capture of their best player, Robin van Persie, last summer.”
Well yes, possibly, since we tend to enjoy all transfers. Just don’t get too excited – it’s bad for your heart.
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