Arsenal Fever
Latest News,Podcasts and Radio related to Arsenal Football Club.Archive for March 4, 2007
Want new contract – Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor has said that he wants to negotiate a new contract with Arsenal after the Togo striker was made aware of interest from Premiership leaders Manchester United.
Spanish side Valencia are also tracking Adebayor.
Despite the interest, Adebayor said that he wants to remain at the Emirates Stadium.
Adebayor said: “My agent has told me both Manchester United and Valencia are following me.
“But I am not getting carried away with that, even if they’re two massive clubs.
“I am doing well at Arsenal, but they have to show me they want to construct something with regard to my new status in the team.
“I would love to extend my contract. I am in the heart of the supporters.”
LMA to meet Wenger
The League Managers’ Association will contact Arsene Wenger this week before deciding whether to back the gaffer in his feud with the Football Association.Wenger has been asked by the FA to explain his comments accusing the assistant referee in the Carling Cup final of lying in his account of the controversial match at the Millennium Stadium.
Wenger has vowed to continue his fight to clear Emmanuel Adebayor’s name following the striker’s dismissal against Chelsea, and the Gunners boss has also commented that “the whole system is not honest” after his club faced action this week.
Former Premiership referee Graham Barber said: “People are allowed to disagree but questioning the integrity of the officials is completely wrong and completely out of order.”
LMA chief executive John Barnwell will attempt to talk with Wenger early this week, but vice-chairman Frank Clark hinted that the Arsenal boss may have overstepped the mark on this occasion.
When asked if he agreed that Wenger was out of order, Clark said: “I think so. Managers are allowed to criticise officials, the Premier League, FA and we agree with that.
“It has to be done in a sensible and constructive way, all managers know that foul and abusive language towards officials won’t be tolerated. Anything that can put doubt on their integrity won’t be tolerated.
“Constructive criticism is allowed and we would fight to defend that.”
Clark added on BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek: “I’m sympathetic to all managers but it doesn’t mean they are right all the time, our policy is not to support managers if we think they are wrong.
“In quite a few occasions there are mitigating circumstances for instances on the touchline and we’d be happy to support that. We’ll be speaking to him to get the facts and when we see the charge-sheet we’ll make our decision.”
Fulham boss Chris Coleman believes Wenger’s words may have been lost in translation.
“We have to remember he’s a Frenchman, even though he speaks very good English,” said Coleman. “It’s the same with Jose Mourinho at times. The words that come out of their mouths are not the words they mean.”
However, former referee Barber feels the Arsenal boss should be held accountable for what he said.
He added: “There is nothing wrong with a manager having an opinion but sometimes the timing is inappropriate.
“I’m 100% sure he knew what he was saying and it was not the correct thing to say.”
Henry might not play
Arsene Wenger admits Thierry Henry is only ‘50-50′ to face PSV Eindhoven following a foot injury.
Henry was given an injection prior to facing PSV in the first leg of the team’s UEFA Champions League tie last week.
Arsenal lost 1-0 in Eindhoven and have since suffered defeats in both domestic cup competitions so the second leg against the Dutch side has assumed even greater importance.
However Wenger admits it is touch-and-go as to whether he will be able to call on Henry for the Emirates Stadium clash on Wednesday, with the striker already ruled out of Saturday’s Premiership match with Reading.
“Thierry is injured – back and foot – and is 50-50 for the PSV game,” said Wenger.
“He has a problem with his foot. We injected him at Eindhoven and it made it worse.
“They said there was no danger. It was just like a bad kick and it was to stop the pain so he could get through the game.”
Henry had sciatic nerve problems which affected his lower back earlier in the season and Wenger believes the heavy fixture schedule is to blame for the Frenchman’s injury catalogue.
“He’s had injury problems the whole season. The fact he played a lot last year has contributed,” said Wenger.
“I have seen we have played 46 games this season – plus there are the international games as well. Some of our players have played 50 games.”
Source :www.skysports.com
