The true Obifemi Martins interview

*how the hell am I supposed to write something worthwhile tod....*

Oh hi! Didn't see you there. Just about to write a fantastic blog today full of news and facts that you wouldn't be able to get anywhere else

*hope they didn't hear me talking to myself*

Do you wanna hear some really interesting transfer news? Well maybe you don't but I am gonna tell you anyway, being the nice bloke that I am.

Obafemi Martins is set to sign for Arsenal in a matter of hours. Anytime in the next 100,000,000 hours. If nothing happens after that then it is safe to say that the deal fell through.

What, you don't actually believe me? [someone chuck me the quotes please]

"Arsenal is a big club that everyone wants to play for. I am thrilled and it will be nice to play for such a team," Martins is quoted as saying in The Sun.

"But, now that I am a Newcastle player, there is nothing much to say. If it is true, both clubs would have to reach an agreement.”

He added: "Is Arsenal a good club? Yes. Would I love to play there? Probably, if Newcastle are ready to listen to them. But if Newcastle says no then it'll be no.

"Because I still have a contract, I expect the club to speak to me when I get back. I am not saying I want to go but, if anything happens, that's football."

See! It must be true. The Sun said so.

Ok, maybe they forgot to include the reporters quotes, that can happen you know.

They may have been something like this.

Sun Reporter: Hey Obi-Fem Kenobi ! Can I have a word?
Martins: For the last time I am not 35 years old
Sun Reporter: No, no. I want to ask you about something else.
Martins: Phew! Go ahead..
Sun Reporter: Do you think Arsenal are a big club that some players want to play for? Would you like to play for such a team if you were 50 years old with no money left?
Martins: "Arsenal is a big club that everyone wants to play for. I am thrilled and it will be nice to play for such a team,"
Sun Reporter:Ok, how about this then. If Newcastle wanted to sell you to them would you like to play there and are they a good club?
Martins: "Is Arsenal a good club? Yes. Would I love to play there? Probably, if Newcastle are ready to listen to them. But if Newcastle says no then it'll be no.

Basically, it isn't that difficult to get crappy quotes from players is it?

Oh here is something top secret that only Nasri and his agent know. So don't tell anyone. Well he is on holiday and back to sign in 9 days so all the other sites reporting that it is 10 days are lying! You heard it here first.

I'm off to buy my new Arsenal shirt now so have a splendid day. Leave your thoughts and frustrations in the comments.

Until tomorrow.

Your Vision

Don't forget that you can submit your own articles on the YourVision section and receive feedback from fellow Gooners. Latest article YourVision - Nasri is here who's next (By aaron coppin)

Why Santa Cruz and Huntelaar are not the answer

Adebayor is back in he headlines again, well not exactly him but according to today's news, Barcelona have tabled a £30 million bid for Adebayor. I would like to know how the press got hold of this information but hey, that's just me. If this is true then I think it would be a fantastic bit of business for the club as long as they invest some of the cash into the transfer kitty, preferably the goalscoring section of the transfer kitty.

The press have mentioned Santa Cruz's name quite a lot of late and some fans are jumping on that, wishing Santa Cruz to Arsenal but personally that is not a name that interests or excites me.

Buying a player is not just a case of quality it is a case of quality fitting into what you have. It is about adding something to the team that will let others provide their best qualities.

Santa Cruz is a good player, a player who is good in the air and poaches around the penalty box. Adebayor was the one player who brought pace to our attacks, he was the one player who ran into channels and pulled defenders away from areas that allowed Cesc to run into.

Players like Santa Cruz and Huntelaar are goalscorers who would thrive on crosses from teams who play to their strengths. Bendtner and Van Persie are players who play behind the front striker. Eduardo, Vela and of course Adebayor are players who play on the shoulder of the defender. Eduardo is quick over 5 yards but is not fast, he would have another 20% if he had extra pace. We would need to replace Adebayor with an Eto'o (without the ego), Anelka (without the Chelseaness) an improved Theo Walcott converted to a central position.

We would obviously lose the ariel power of Ade but gain other strengths.

This is just my views and concerns, Wenger may well have other ideas if he does sell Adebayor. Wenger has usually had someone up front with pace such as Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry and now Emmanuel Adebayor. He didn't like partnering Bergkamp and Kanu together for that same reason that is why I do not see a long term partnership for Bendtner and Van Persie.

Marcos Senna is set to stay at Villarreal.

Senna told The Sun: "I met with the president of Villarreal on Tuesday and we talked about extending my contract by two years.

"But now I want to rest. I am on holiday and hope to detach myself from these things."

Wenger was never going to have Gilberto in the squad and purchase another holding player at the same age, it would be pointless although I think Senna would suit our game more than Gilberto does in terms of distribution and mobility.

For those who follow the ladies, the Arsenal ladies that is so behave yourself. You must be disappointed to hear that top goalscorer Lianne Sanderson who scored an amazing 51 goals in 36 appearances (couldn't she replace Ade?) and Anita Asante the tough defender have left for Chelsea for hardcord cash a new challenge.

Today is Friday isn't it? Friday press conference anyone? Nah, probably not.

Have a good day. Drop your view in the comments.

Until tomorrow.

Your Vision

Don't forget that you can submit your own articles on the YourVision section and receive feedback from fellow Gooners. Latest article YourVision - Nasri is here who's next (By aaron coppin)

Is Wenger in need of Ar Shav? / Stop being such a complete Bisch!

Good morning you'all. Sorry about the cheesy headline.

Without further ado lets jump straight back on the speculation train. Arshavin's current club Zenit St Petersburg have claimed that Arsenal are the most active in the race for the Russian playmaker.

Zenit official Dennis Lakhter told The Sun (yep, good choice I hear you say)

“Arsene Wenger is a cunning fox,”

“In the morning he says Arshavin will play all the time at his club and during the day he says he doubts the capabilities of Andrei to play three games in a row at the highest level.

“But this is a tactic to fool the competition.

“He calls Andrei a Tsar and then tries to deny interest in the player.”

To be honest, I was kind of thinking the same thing when Arsene came out and suggested that he couldn't play three games a row. Arsene is very good at mind games as Alex Ferguson will tell you. But something is bugging me about these comments. We know how Arsenal conduct their transfers, we know that we do things behind the media and the public. This cannot only be done by ourselves, it would need the seller and buyer to make sure that business is kept anonymously. Arsene Wenger, Ken Friar would instruct the seller to not say anything in public before a deal is reached and this obviously isn't the case. As Zenit know that Arsahvin is leaving they could well be trying to create a bidding war for the player and what better way to spark a bidding war is to tell the world that Arsene Wenger the super talent spotter is after their employee.

Like I have said, I would love a player of Arshavin's quality to join Arsenal even though he needs to work on his attitude when things are not going right during matches (based on one game I must say) but he is a player that Arsene would love, the position he plays, the style of play, his cutting edge just smells of an Arsenal player.

The questions that we do not know are 1) Will Arsene make a move for the player who is on high wages, 2) Will Arsene let go of Adebayor to fund the purchase which would then mean a change in playing style 3) Would Arsene rather keep and develop Adebayor who has more miles in his tank than the older Arshavin. 4) Does Arsene want both players at the club.

Oh and 5) am I just spouting crap? Infact don't answer that one.

I do believe that Arsene will try and get him but I think their will be too much competition, especially financially. It would be a signing that would excite the fans though. Which brings me nicely onto my next subject.

We are apparently close to picking up Bischoff from German side Werder Bremen on a free as the player is out of contract. The guy is 21 years old who has had injury problems in the past, we are supposedly offering him a 1 year contract to prove his fitness and talent, the player is apparently talented and has been watched for a few years by Arsene Wenger and his scouts. I am struggling to see the problem in this. Can you point it out to me? I have read a lot of negative comments from disapproving Arsenal fans about this and I do not understand it.

Picking up another young player does not all of a sudden mean the end to our transfer purchases. He is not instead of Nasri or anything like that. I have read things like 'We do not need another young player, what's the point?!'

I will give you my version of the point. The point in my view is, the more young talented players you can find and develop the more chance you have in unearthing gems. The more gems you unearth the better our team will be. It is simple when you break it down like that.

Some fans seem to forget that Arsene has worked only one way since he joined the club and he is not going to change, so fans have to deal with it really. I am sure there are no complaints about Vieira (AC Milan reserves). Cesc Fabregas (Barca youth), Kolo Toure (ASEC Mimosas), Clichy (Cannes who were not in the top division), Carlos Vela.. I could quite easily go on. Are there any of those players who you rather didn't sign?

This chap may not turn out to be a first team player, he may not even be good enough for the squad but all that will happen is that he will get a good football education and develop on his talent on the pitch (show me one player who has worked under Arsene and gone backwards) then he will be sold and he can start his career elsewhere. We would have made a profit from him. Everyone's a winner baby.

Going back to the Adebayor saga, The Guardian claim that Barcelona will come back with an improved bid following an alleged failed £24 million bid that was rejected by Arsenal.

They have just signed Daniel Alves from Sevilla for £23.5 million which would add up to something like £50 million on transfers alone if the Ade bid is true which is a lorra lorra dosh. They will be hoping to make some of that back by unloading big transfer tagging players like Eto'o and Ronaldinho. They are apparently after the likes of Hleb and Arshavin so it will be interesting to see what happens there.

It is funny the way teams are waiting for that one big transfer to go through and it is followed with money being exchanged all over the place. Teams do not really want to buy unless they sell first (apart from cheating clubs such as Chelsea) once the likes of Eto'o, Ronnie possibly Drogba, Adebayor and Ronaldo move then you can expect a chain of events to follow.

Ac Milan shouldn't be signing anyone whatsoever according to their vice-president, Adriano Galliani. He said a few weeks ago that if he doesn't sign Adebayor then his squad will stay the same. Well he now claims that Adebayor's price tag is beyond his reach.

"They want around £35m and that is an impossible request,"

Well goodbye AC, don't come again.

Oh, incase you was not aware. Adebayor is not a greedy fella, if you don't believe me, listen to his agent.

"It is vital that Arsenal show their motivation to keep him," agent Courbis said in the Daily Star.

"There has been a love story between Adebayor and Arsenal and his relationship with Arsene Wenger is based on trust and respect.

"If this was a money problem, then he would have asked to leave. He is a man of heart, not of money. He is not greedy."

Now come on Arsenal, show your motivation and pay him more than Thierry Henry got because he deserves it, he has scored 30 goals a season for the last 5 seasons straight... oh.

Thank you to those who wished me a happy birthday via the comments and contact button, it is much appreciated. Have a good day. Drop your view in the comments.

Until tomorrow.

Your Vision

Don't forget that you can submit your own articles on the YourVision section and receive feedback from fellow Gooners. Latest article YourVision - Any Spare Bullets?... (By Mr H)

Massive Ade bid rejected / Kanu 13th?

Hello fellow Gooners out there.

I have mixed feelings about today, it is my birthday today, great I get loads of presents and cash and stuff like that but the downside is that I am 30! I cannot believe that my twenties have gone just like that. Anyway, some confirmed signings would make me feel a little better.

The Adebayor rumour has taken another twist, according to the Mirror Arsenal have turned down a £25 million bid for the Togo (dancing, ego growth, on par with Henry, money hungry) international.

If there is any truth to this bid then I would imagine that a bid of around £28-30 million should be enough to prize him away from Arsenal.

I cannot imagine that teams like Barca and Milan are willing to pay these sums of cash for Adebayor. I rate him highly and he will improve but I cannot envisage him being successful at Barcelona. He may well give them what he gave us, that different option, that power and aerial ability that we missed. I think the Barca fans and press will get on his back once they check out his first touch and misplaced passing.

American investor Stan Kroenke has told the board that he has "no intention" of taking over the club according to chairman Peter Hill-Wood

Hill-Wood said:

"I don't think he has any intention," he said. "Certainly in the short term. In the long term, in 10 years' time, he may take a different view. Things might change. He is certainly committed to not taking over the club."

It will be interesting to know what he can provide for the club. In all truth off the field issues are not my strong point.

Certain people who have been organising petitions to get David Villa to Arsenal will be in for a shock today as the player has declared his desire to stay at Valencia.

Villa said:

“I’m very grateful, I’m happy to be here,” Villa said. “Hopefully, I’m staying. The president plans to keep the same team to please the fans in order to have a great team.

“From the start, I’ve received a lot of affection from the supporters. There are further years left on my contract and hopefully I’ll extend my stay."

It was always a non starter really. Good little player of course, good goalscorer but at the end of the day he will cost a lot of money, money that Arsenal football club will not spend. He is too similar to Eduardo who is not far away from full fitness. However I don't think he will stay at Valencia regardless of the statement, I think a lot of clubs with loads of cash behind them will want David Villa in their side.

I have just read that Kanu has been rated as number 13 in the greatest players list. I dunno about that one, but hey. I can think of 13 better players in the last few seasons let alone the whole History.

Have a good day. Drop your view in the comments.

Until tomorrow.

Your Vision

Don't forget that you can submit your own articles on the YourVision section and receive feedback from fellow Gooners. Latest article YourVision - Speculation...Just speculation.....right?... (By Mohamed Hassan)