I won’t go into much detail on the alleged Arsenal “civil war” about to break out between our two majority owners, Stan Kroenke & Red & White Securities Limited fronted by Uzbeki, Alisher Usmanov. Usmanov & Red & White recently released an ill-timed letter, but purposefully & strategically timed letter, mind you, criticizing the current majority ownership policies of Stan Kroenke. The policies known as the famous/infamous, depending on where you stand, “self-sustaining” business model for which Arsenal has become known.
Usmanov’s letter coupled with van Persie’s announcement the day prior that he wouldn’t be re-signing with Arsenal will no doubt gin up support from the “spend some feckin’ money!,” crowd of Arsenal supporters. The timing of both releases also almost hints at coordination but at the very least shrewd strategic timing by Usmanov & Red & White to strike while the spend money crowd’s dissent will no doubt be at its highest.
“I only care about the club & will not use it as an investment vehicle…. psssssssssyche!”
If you want to know more, b/c this kind of off the field stuff frankly sickens me, you can check out articles about the “civil war” here:
Amy Lawrence in The Guardian
Peter Hill-Wood’s response to Usmanov & Red & White
Arseblog’s take
Moving on, Denílson has had his loan moved to São Paulo re-done & it’s for yet another year, so that will clear out a space again in the midfield which hopefully will be filled by Jack Wilshere when & if he returns from injury in September.
Also, Terry Burton has been confirmed as the new Reserves’ manager replacing Neil Banfield who is being promoted to 1st team coach along with Steve Bould’s appointment to assistant manager from u-19s coach, replacing long-time Wenger #2, Pat Rice. Burton worked a bit with the reserves in the 80s & was originally in Arsenal youth player from 1969-1971.
Updated signing/departures list (updates in red):
Confirmed signings: Olivier Giroud (Montpellier), Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln)
Confirmed departures: Manuel Almunia (released), Geroge Brislen-Hall (released), Alban Bunjaku (Sevilla), Joel Campbell (Real Betís-loan), Denílson (São Paulo-loan), Gavin Hoyte (released), Sean McDermott (released), Jernade Meade (released), Rhys Murphy (Telsar Velsen), Sanchez Watt (released)
Likely signings: ?
Likely departures: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit Saint-Petersburg), Niklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh, Łukasz Fabiański, Vito Mannone (Hull City), Chu/Ju-Young Park, Sébastian Squillaci (Bastia), Robert van Persie (Juventus/Manchester City), Carlos Vela
Possible signings: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United), Etienne Capoue (Toulouse), Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Yann M’Vila (Rennes), Kenneth Udjus (Sogndal), Jan Vertonghen (Ajax Amsterdam), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo)
Possible departures: Benik Afobe (loan), Johann Djourou (Napoli), Conor Henderson (Charlton Athletic-loan), Henri Lansbury, Ignasi Miquel (Brighton & Hove Albion- loan), Aaron Ramsey (Fulham), Theo Walcott (Chelsea, Juventus, PSG)
The Tasty Nuggetz 