We cannot expect to hold onto players if our first team are getting paid half or quarter of what other big clubs are given them. It simply cannot work in the long term

Morning,

Appologies for my no show yesterday, I was supposed to mention that on Saturday but I forgot, I seem to be forgetting an awful lot of things these days.

I swear Arshavin’s agent has already said this but today all the papers are saying that he would love to play for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.

“The stable situation in the club and the influence of Arsene Wenger to Arsenal to English football is huge. I think this is an advantage,” said Lachter.

“If Arsenal go for Arshavin it could be really good for both parties. Arsenal is a very young team and Arshavin is 27. There’s something about combining young and older players, they propagate attacking football.”

All of a sudden Barcelona do not seem like such a great choice according to Mr 20%

“Guardiola was an excellent player, but no one knows what kind of a manager he is.”

Are you sure about that? Didn’t he realise this before he said that Barcelona is his dream move. Maybe the truth is that Barca do not want to pay the amount that is being asked.

You guys know what I think of Arshavin and Arsenal so I won’t saying anything else just yet.

Today seems to be the day where we wave goodbye (or yell abuse) at Alex Hleb as he appears to be on the verge of being unveiled as a Barcelona player.

Apparently he is on around £30,000 – £35,000 a week at Arsenal which is likely to be doubled at his new club. If that is the case then we really need to take a look at the wage structure. We cannot expect to hold onto players if our first team are getting paid half or quarter of what other big clubs are given them. It simply cannot work in the long term.

The argument that players are earning as much money as some of us do not earn in a year does not really stand up. The fact is that football players are stupidly overpaid, infact it is sheer madness but try and tell someone like Bill Gates to take a £30,000 a week salary and he will probably die of laughter. It is all relative, people live their lives dependant on their circumstances.

I personally would rather we matched the other clubs around the world not including Chelsea and waved goodbye to a transfer kitty and relied on bringing through young players until we had money free from the stadium.

I would be more confident in keeping the likes of Flamini, Hleb and Adebayor and building on what we have. We have a fantastic production line of some of the best young players in the world coming through and in time they will be like new signings. It would give us a much better chance than losing key players every season and then trying to sign players to fit into that wage structure.

At the end of the day, Emmanuel Adebayor is not an Arsenal supporter. He comes from Togo and has been trying to make a career for himself. Yes the way he has gone about wanting more money is ridiculous but think of it this way. If a semi pro team in Austria came and asked you to play for them and they will pay you as much as your current employment (for those who are working) you would be mad to turn that down.

You played for a great coach who taught you to get the best out of yourself. Then you got promoted to the main striker and had a fantastic season, you feel great the semi pro Austrian fans love you (some don’t!) but you realise that other semi pro players are getting twice or three times as much as you are. Then some semi pro Norwegian team comes in and says that they will pay you three times as much as the Austrian team will. What will you choose? You like the Austrian club because they have been good to you and you have developed but at the end of the day you are not an Austrian semi pro supporter you are just an employee.

ok, perhaps that was a little long winded and pointless but I was just trying to show it from the players view. Maybe for the likes of Henri Lansbury and Gavin Hoyte it may be a little different as they are born and bred Gooners like erm.. Ashley Cole. But at the end of the day if Arsenal are only willing to pay peanuts then players are going to move to get cashew nuts***. Ok, I will shut up after that.

What do you make of the new Arsenal away shirt? I think its groovy, not sure why I am using that word but it suits. I would rather it had proper collars instead of nothing but I can forgive it for now. I bloody want number 10 on the back as it is my position but some defender in our squad has for some reason decided to take that number. I am being a little OTT when I say that really annoys me?

Call me old fashioned but central defenders are supposed to be 5 and 6! If not then some other squad number outside 1-11. If I had it my way our squad numbers would be.

1. Almunia
2. Sagna
3. Clichy
4. Fabregas
5. Toure
6. Gallas
7. Walcott
8. Denilson
9. Eduardo
10. Van Persie
11. Rosicky

Maybe slight adjustments but you know what I am getting at. Basically Gallas is stopping me from getting the number I want. *change subject before I sound like a spoilt kid*

Finally, Patrick Vieira has been voted as 5th best player according to Arsenal.com. You’ve gotta be kiddin! 5th!! Vieira was a legend. Sorry Cesc but you have a long way to go before you can dominate a midfield like the monster that is Paddy used to. I am not comparing the two because they are different players, different roles etc but I would have to put him higher than 5th thats for sure.

So many memories of him flicking the ball over an opponents head and just striding away or sliding in winning the ball and playing a through ball to Henry. I will always remember Patrick Vieira.

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

Until tomorrow.

Your Vision

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