The guy has everything he needs to be one of the best here at Arsenal. He has intelligence, creativity, shooting and a treadmill. Once he uses all of those then he can be what he wants. I would love to see more of him in a central role, it is from there that he does most of his damage

I am looking forward to the Champions League final this evening, perhaps I would be looking forward to it just that little bit more had we been one of the finalists. As we have beaten both teams this season, I think I would just tell myself that we are the real winners of the Champions League. I mean how many teams have beaten both teams this season?

Shhhh, don’t worry about asking how many teams have played both teams, that just isn’t important.

I don’t expect Manchester United to play any sort of open game against Barca. Ferguson knows that his team would get slaughtered. I am guessing that we will see his team drop off and play pretty compact while trying to use Valencia on the break.

I hope Barcelona press United as insanely as they pressed us at Camp Nou, although I think they will have more of an outlet than we had in Barcelona.

It should make for an interesting spectacle and deciding which team I want to route for is proving quite difficult because they are both despicable for various different reasons.

As is often the case, you have to choose the rival that doesn’t play in your own league. Well you don’t have to but I usually do.

Anyhoo, this has nothing to do with the Arsenal and that is why I am here. Most of the stuff is the usual transfer rumour stuff which I guess I have to entertain. I have had to concede that if I am to write this blog over the summer weeks then I am going to have to wave the white flag and join in the transfer speculation, otherwise my page will just consist of…

My Vision

Daily Round up

Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 17th June 2011

Hello Gooners,

Nothing new to report on apart from a reserve fixture being rearranged for next season.

Back tomorrow.

Before I get to the juicy new transfer gossip, some of our squad members have squashed the idea that they are surplus to requirements.

Andrey Arshavin has told us to ignore the rumours and that he and Arsene are proper bredrins, so he will be around next season. I am paraphrasing here but it was something along those lines.

I have been quite the critic of Arshavin and even given his numbers last season (is it classed as last season yet?) and I wouldn’t have shed too many tears had the little Russian been sold on to open a squad space for a new arrival. That being said, I was watching the Arsenal goals of the season on dot com and it was quite amazing how much Arshavin was involved in those goals. It is one thing looking at his numbers but another going back visually over the goals and noticing his little turns and threaded passes or his slipped passes into Nasri. He even did a pretty good impression of Alex Hleb, playing the pass before the assist.

The guy has everything he needs to be one of the best here at Arsenal. He has intelligence, creativity, shooting and a treadmill. Once he uses all of those then he can be what he wants. I would love to see more of him in a central role, it is from there that he does most of his damage. Fitting him into a central position with his short comings defensively is not quite as easy with the likes of Van Persie and Cesc around.

If Arshavin does stick around then I really hope that we see a much fitter and determined version than the one we often saw waddling around this season. Even a waddling Arshavin can create so many goals for others so imagine what a hench, super machine Arshavin could do. I reckon he could probably score four goals against Liverpool or something. Nah? That would be ridiculous.

The Alvarez story is refusing to go away, apparently we have people out in Argentina talking to their people about another person, one that is 6ft2 and plays out wide. Judging by the most effective scouting tool available to managers and coaches alike, the You Tube clips left me scratching my head as to where that type of player would fit into our system and squad.

Absolutely love this headline on Newsnow.

‘Gunners launch Samba bid EatSleepSport 13:34’

Who needs to fax through bids or maybe even call the club. It is 2011, the only way to get your message across is to blinking launch bids over. That will teach them and it will send a message out, whatever that means. What’s the other one? ‘it shows our intent around the world’

Can we not just build a top quality team capable of winning trophies instead of sending out messages? Anyway, it is the lingo these days and what the heck, I am running with it.

From a purely defensive point of view I like Samba. I like the fact that he is a winner and that he looks like he might eat you if you say the wrong thing but against bus parking teams when you need that quality on the ball, I just don’t know. Haven’t seen enough of him to be honest.

Offer me a red pill and a blue pill, one being Squillaci and the other being Samba give me a three second countdown with the threat that if I do not choose in that time then I will forever become a Tottenham supporter then I may just snatch the blue pill (the Samba one for those not quite following) not that I think Squillaci is quite as bad as some make out but I am not sure he compliments his partners. It is like he is part Djourou and part Koscielny without having the best of either.

Against Stoke City I would throw on Samba but then against Barcelona, Manchester United and co he can go back to being fourth choice. Goodness, imagine Samba against Messi. The giant would leave the pitch in tears. Anyway let us see if any launch takes place anytime soon.

The Premier League approve Kroenke’s takeover *yawn* sorry but I would rather talk about launching transfer bids and the like.

Anymore? Ah yeah, Gervinho. Happy birthday Gervinho first of all. Even if you don’t end up joining us, I hope you had a great birthday. Party hats, iced cake, pass the parcel the whole caboodle. Gervinho was 24 yesterday, I only know this because I wanted to know his age and our good friends at Wikipedia gave the information to me. I say good friends but the truth is, I don’t know Wikipedia at all but it is what you say isn’t it?

Anyway, I have gone way off topic. Arsene was interested in the forward in the past. In fact Gervinho was practically begging for a move to Arsenal back in 2008

“Arsenal is the club that makes me dream, To join Arsenal would be the happiest day of my life.”

He has just won the league with Lille and his ‘numbers’ have been pretty good this season.

2010/11 French Ligue 1

Games (33), Goals (14), Assists (9), Shots (85)

He certainly would be the type of player that I would imagine Arsene being interested in but the fact that he will be heading to the ACN could be a problem but at the same time it could also drive his fee down and you know how much Arsene cannot resist a bargain.

Apparently Gervinho, party hats included will make a decision on his future soon and he has already made up his mind as to what he wants to do.

Right zat iz very much zat.

Back tomorrow, if not then back on Monday.