Wenger may save the cash as Eduardo’s pre season return date is set

By Aries

You would have surely heard the news and seen the video, first reported on this site, that Eduardo’s recovery in Brazil has been coming along expertly.

If you haven't you can watch the video of Eduardo in physiotherapy kicking a ball on the right hand side of this page.

Arsenal coach and one of Wenger’s close confidants on Arsenal’s staff, Boro Primorac (who is from Herzegovina) has been holidaying in Split and spoke yesterday about Eduardo’s progress.

“We are all extremely happy that his rehabilitation went so well and that soon he will join up with the team” he said.

The Croatian press reports that Eduardo is now expected at London Colney for pre season training in two weeks time.

When asked about Eduardo’s recovery from his injury, Primorac was very confident that he will recover his fitness at pre injury levels.

“I believe that Eduardo will soon return to his form that was before the injury” he said.

Primorac said that Arsenal are waiting for Eduardo with an already prepared detailed working plan which he will follow to reach full fitness.

This is great news for all Arsenal fans and of course for Arsene Wenger who may now consider saving any more contingency cash he may have set aside for another forward.

Let’s hope that we hear similarly good news about Tomas Rosicky!


Is it all Wenger’s fault this transfer activity?

Eduardo surprised with speed of recovery” Plus amazing video in physiotherapy kicking a ball!

The woman behind Nasri!

Is it all Wenger’s fault this transfer activity?

By 1970’s Gooner

Arsene Wenger obviously knew what was coming when right after the last gasps of the League season he warned that his first priority in the transfer market would be to try and keep this team together.

For, when your club’s strategy is to rely mainly on youth and to “make the stars rather than buy them”, it is crucial that time through proper training and on the job experience be allowed to do its work.

And that is to impose the required maturity on all the young and talented players on the club’s books.

It is no surprise therefore that all of Arsene Wenger’s teams have been vulnerable to young and up coming as well as ageing stars been lured by the sirens blown by the bigger clubs, mainly from the continent.

Older players start getting itchy feet if the club doesn’t win anything of note either in the domestic scene or in the Champion’s League.

They realise they do not have far to go before they are put on the scrap heap. Like Hleb is going to do this year…Like Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira did before him.


Younger players get itchy feet because their talents, given the chance to play and shine in the first team by Wenger, become so apparent in an Arsenal shirt, that they attract the bigger clubs offering them more money, status and the chance to win major trophies.

Trophies they may feel might not be achievable with an emerging team littered with young and exciting talents (like themselves).

Like Flamini did and Adebayor might do for example. As Anelka did years ago (and regretted it) and as Fabregas, Clichy and Van Persie might do if Arsenal remain trophy less for a few more years.

It looks that we the fans might have to endure more frustration since this type of situation is likely to arise with each transfer window for years to come.

This is because the two major factors that are underpinning this strategy and vision will likely be in place in the coming years.

The first one is Arsene Wenger’s own natural tendency to build teams up by relying on what he does best: spotting young and relatively unheard of talent (which might not be so young) and nurturing it to play the beautiful game.

This allows him to mould the players as he likes them to be but also makes a huge profit when he (ideally) disposes them in their latter and therefore not so productive years (see Henry and Vieira).

He also doesn’t have to break the Bank buying them in the first place thus not jeopardizing the financial viability of the club.

The second is the financial impact the new stadium is having on the ability of the club to fund major transfers.


The huge loan burden taken on to fund the stadium will need to be eased off before there are real surplus cash generated.

This is not expected to happen soon as the loan will have to be repaid over a very long term horizon (over 25 years).

It will be eased however in a few years time when the Highbury Stadium’s property development would come into final fruition and bring more cash to the club (which would then go towards alleviating the club’s loan burden).

The funny thing is that, whatever the state of Arsenal’s finances, Wenger will probably still do what he does best: “Make the stars, not buy them”

Which also means that we the fans will have to be ready to put up with more anguish and frustration every time a transfer window creeps near….


Arsene, take the Adebayor money and buy Arshavin

Arsene’s revised transfer plans?

Hleb to sign for Barcelona next week

By Aries

It had gone a bit quiet recently with regard to the Hleb transfer.

There were three teams interested in his signature but the one that Hleb was really interested in, Inter Milan had a change of manager and a change of heart.

Then in stepped Barcelona and Bayern but it is the first one that is now claiming that Hleb will sign on the dotted line, with the blessing of his club Arsenal of course, next week after the Euro tournament comes to an end.

In an interview given to a Russian newspaper, Barcelona director of Football Txiki Beguiristáin said that negotiations for Hleb’s transfer were well under way after talks were taking place with the player and Arsenal.

“We could say talks are well under way. We are indeed very interested in the services of a class player and have long been trying to get him.

When asked if they were talking to Hleb personally he said:

“Yes, of course. We discuss details of possible cooperation. There are negotiations directly with "Arsenal”.

It seems that this saga which started in Italy last March in an ice cream parlour in Milan will end in Spain with Barcelona.

And it looks like Hleb’s replacement, Samir Nasri, will come to Arsenal at about the same time.

At least Nasri is not afraid to shoot.



Wenger reported to be interested in Spanish striker

Adebayor wants £120,000 a week or he goes. Take the money and run Mr Wenger

By 1970’s Gooner

Adebayor has got some cheek really. He has hardly established himself at Arsenal after one full season as a main striker and now he is demanding a staggering £120,000 per week to stay!

“I have asked Arsenal to look at it and see what they want. “I have a promise from the manager Arsene Wenger that they will call me next week. I am waiting for their answer and next week I will decide” he said yesterday.

He obviously thinks should Arsenal decide not to pay that much money (and who can blame them) that he can repeat the 24 goals he scored in the League last season for AC Milan or Barcelona.

He is also showing no loyalty whatsoever to the club and the man that plugged him out of relative obscurity in France and gave him the chance to shine.

Wenger could have gone out and bought a direct replacement for Henry when he left but instead chose to promote Adebayor.

What Adebayor has to realise is that there is no way that he will be able to repeat his goal scoring feats for another club as well as he has done for Arsenal.

For a start the age old saying that it’s the team as a whole that creates the scoring opportunities will come into force.

And it is so true at Arsenal where most goals scored are a result of slick interplay and movement from the rest of the players especially from the little maestro, Fabregas.

If Adebayor thinks that he will be given so many chances to score with his new club, whichever that is, he is living in cloud cuckoo land.

Go and ask Thierry Henry Mr Adebayor and you will find out.

At least Henry had reached an age where he felt he needed to move so as to play and try and win honours with another big club.

Adebayor is only 24 and has a lot of time to do that, if indeed he has not won anything in the next few years with Arsenal.

Hell, Fabregas and the other Arsenal stars like Robin Van Persie will indeed begin to get restless if that happens too. And in my opinion they will be, in a way, justified.

Take the money and run Mr Wenger. We have after all paid only £7m for him and now we are offered around £23m!

This team that you have built will create chances for anyone that plays as a main striker; and he will I am sure score those 24 goals and even more.

I have declared myself a supporter of the idea of not buying a direct replacement for Adebayor and promoting Van Persie in the main striker’s role.

He will not, I am sure, need so many chances to score.

During the 2006/2007 season, when he was a little bit more fit than last season, he had a similar ratio of goals to shots on target as Adebayor had this last season.

This was a ratio of 44%. He also had a similar goals to shots ratio of 21% vs Ade’s of 23%.

He was however not playing as a main striker then as Adebayor has this last season.

Van Persie can do the business alright as long as stays fit that is. But even if he doesn’t we have Eduardo.

Eduardo IS going to make it for pre season (as we have first reported on this site) and WILL feature in the first team without too much of a fear of going into a tackle.

His psychological built up and character, I am told by my Croatian friends, is such that he will not be fazed that much by tackle threatening opponents.

But I would also like to see another wide player with experience brought in that can also play in the middle so as to offer more maturity up front and especially cover when needed.

And additionally there is Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner who have shown that they have the credentials to contribute substantially this coming season. And don’t forget Carlos Vela who will feature in the first team; he is that good.

As Wenger has recently said:

'It doesn't look like we have no team and we have to build a team. 'We were unbeaten at home and that is only the second time in the history of the club.

'We have done that with young players who will be better next season'.

I think that, in football as in life, we should not underestimate the process of learning and the beneficial effects it has especially on young and talented footballers.


Arsene’s revised transfer plans?

Wenger prayed for Fabregas who “passed a barrier”

By Aries

Arsene has been commentating for TV during the tournament but he was in the stands watching the Quarter Final between Spain and Italy.

He admitted later that, when Cesc Fabregas stepped up to take the last and decisive penalty for his country, he prayed for the young maestro who sent Buffon (Ed correction) the wrong way to earn Spain a place in the Semi Finals.

"It was a great responsibility, especially as he is not a specialist in this area. For me it was a moment of happiness. It was important for him. He is going to gain confidence and Spain and Arsenal will take advantage," he said.

Wenger also pointed out that if Fabregas had failed with his kick then he would have been persecuted for it. However he has now overcome a kind of psychological barrier which will stand him in good stead for the future.


“Fábregas has passed a barrier, because whoever fails at that time is long persecuted for their failure." "Overall I think his entry into the game was very beneficial for the team," he said.

Wenger also said that the Russian central defence was the main weakness of the team and that Spain along with Germany were his favourites to play in the Final.

Although not wishing to name which team he thought will win the competition he did acknowledge "similarities" in the style of play between Spain and Arsenal.

Wenger reported to be interested in Spanish striker

By Aries

While the saga of Adebayor’s apparent exodus from the Emirates is continuing, Arsene Wenger like all good managers, is keeping his eyes and options open for a possible replacement.

He has been linked to Spain’s top scorer Daniel Guiza before but this time the link seems to have been confirmed by Guiza’s agent Felix Moneo.

But not as you might expect in trying, true to all agents ploys, to artificially raise up the supposed interest in his player.

In fact Moneo is a little bit fed up waiting for a bid for Guiza from Arsenal which seems to be a little bit slow in coming.

Guiza has already undergone a medical and agreed personal terms with Turkish club Fenerbahçe but he has not put pen to paper yet as his agent was led to believe that a bid would soon follow from Arsenal.

He is reported to have indicated in the Spanish press today that he did not rule out Arsenal showing an interest.

Güiza who is 28 next August won the Pichichi or the golden boot in the Spanish League this season with Mallorca.

He is the first Spanish player to do so since Diego Tristan triumphed in 2002 with Deportivo La Coruna.

The player scored 27 La Liga goals (in 37 appearances) none of which came from the penalty spot, while playing for a club who finished in seventh place.

As you might expect goal scoring opportunities may not be as forthcoming as at top sides and this record has alerted some of the top clubs on the continent.

Güiza scored Spain's second goal in a 2-1 victory over Greece for his first international goal but missed one of Spain’s penalties in the shoot out against Italy.

He reportedly has a €15m (£11.7m) release clause in his contract.


Arsene, take the Adebayor money and buy Arshavin


Arsene’s revised transfer plans?

Arsene, take the Adebayor money and buy Arshavin

By 1970’s Gooner

I have eulogized about Andrei Arshavin before. I consider him as the most appropriate player to be bought by Arsenal this season.

He is a typical Wenger player. He is very very quick, athletic and most of all possesses high technique and ball skills. More over he plays with his brain.

His through passes, bisecting the opposing defence and playing his on coming forward through are exquisite and reminiscent of Wenger's style of football.

There is, I am sure, a lot written about his skills, after his single handedly destroyed a luck luster Holland in the quarter final of Euro 2008.

However, he also possesses another characteristic that Arsenal is desperate for. Experience.

Although he does not look it, as his baby face masks his real age, he is actually 27 years old.

If he is transferred to Arsenal he will be, along with Hleb (if he stays) and Toure only one of three players aged 27 and only behind Rosicky who is 28 and Gallas and Almunia who are 31.

Arshavin would indeed be a significant signing for Wenger. Not only is he an exceptional player he would also provide more selection alternatives especially if Adebayor is sold on.

The news coming out of the Spanish press is that a fee has already been agreed between Arsenal and Barcelona.

Arsenal requested 30 m euros and Barcelona offered only 25. The final figure is reported to be 27 m euros or around 22m pounds.This could increase as AC Milan seem to also want to splash the cash for Adebayor.

Take the money and buy Arshavin I say.

Robin Van Persie could be moved in the central striker’s role and he would I think end up with more than the 24 goals Adebayor scored last season.

The team after all would create scoring chances for whoever is playing as a central striker.

And in my opinion Robin Van Persie would not need as many chances to put the ball in the net as Adebayor did last season.

With Van Persie as a central striker Arshavin as well as new boy Nasri along with Eduardo, Rosicky, Walcott and Vela would be the players Wenger could choose from to place around him in either a 4 3 3 or a 4 4 2 formation.

I am assuming that Hleb would not be at the Emirates next season.

Arshavin himself said: "Regarding my future, I have already said I'd like to try one of Europe's top leagues, among which the Spanish and English leagues interest me most."


No wonder Wenger is interested in Arshavin

Arsenal agree large fee for Adebayor. But kept quiet until replacement signing comes in

Vela can score that goal for Arsenal next season

By 1970’s Gooner

Carlos Vela is about to start his well earned holidays at his native Cancun, a well known holiday resort in Mexico, before he joins up at last with his new team mates at London Colney for pre season training.

He had a very tough last loan season with Osasuna in the Spanish League where relegation from the first division was avoided only in the last day of games.

Carlos played an integral part in almost all of Osasuna’s matches and impressed so much so that the club’s hierarchy made the trip to London last month to try and convince Arsene Wenger to loan the player for another season.

Having watched Carlos play for Osasuna on a number of occasions I have been impressed by his trickery and ball skills but most of all his battle hardened attitude to perform under pressure.

I think he will obviously prove to be the most successful Arsenal loan; one that funnily enough never played for the reserves or youth sides before going out on loan.

He has now been performing well for the Mexican national side scoring yesterday his third goal in as many games.

His previous goal against Belize was a simple tap in after the ball came back to him off a post. On this occasion against the same opponent (in the second of a double World Cup qualifier) he showed what he can do for Arsenal next season.

Although he started the game as a central striker he did drift to the right channel (a little bit like Henry used to do although usually he drifted to the left).

He received a pass and then cut in on the edge of the area firing in a low strong shot to the goalkeeper’s left side to open the scoring in the fifth minute for the rout that was to follow.

You can watch all the goals on the video bar on the right hand side of this page.

I can see Carlos scoring this type of goal for Arsenal next season.


Carlos Vela not guilty

By the way, contrary to some reports, Carlos was never arrested along with the other Mexico players after their last game against Belize.

Those arrested for rowdy behaviour in a hotel room were captain Oswaldo Sanchez and Andres Guardado, Ricardo Osorio, Jonny Magallón, Carlos Salcido and Patricio Araujo.

According to the Mexican press, although Carlos is considered to have a good voice and be a good dancer, was so tired he went to bed early.


Arsenal agree large fee for Adebayor. But kept quiet until replacement signing comes in

Osasuna replace Carlos Vela with Arsenal trialist

Arsenal agree large fee for Adebayor. But kept quiet until replacement signing comes in

By 1970's Gooner

It started sounding like one of those rumours that at first you disregard but later when you read that Barcelona’s hierarchy had flown to London to speak to Arsenal you begin to take it seriously.

Why would Arsenal after all accept to see them if Arsene would have none of it?

“I would give them the answer they deserve” he said a few days ago.

The news coming out of the Spanish press (Marca) is that a fee has already been agreed between the two clubs.

Arsenal requested 30 m euros and Barcelona offered only 25. The final figure is reported to be 27 m euros or around 22m pounds.

The two clubs have agreed to keep the deal under raps. This has been requested by Arsene Wenger so that he has enough time to find a replacement for Adebayor.

This may explain the reported interest in Russian Andrei Arshavin who has yesterday announced to his club Zenit that he wishes to leave.

Arsenal have been linked with the player last December and also recently when Wenger had met with Zenit’s coach Dick Advocaat on the fringes of Euro 2008.


If Adebayor’s departure does actually happen then Wenger has indeed to act pretty fast to find a replacement.

This is so as to placate not only the fans but also other important players in the squad like Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie.

They would be concerned at the possible break up of the team and the prospect of another trophy less season.

Arshavin would indeed be a significant signing for Wenger. Not only is he an exceptional player he would also provide more selection alternatives.

Robin Van Persie would be moved in the central striker’s role and Arshavin as well as new boy Nasri along with Eduardo and Rosicky would be the players Wenger could choose from to place around him in either a 4 3 3 or a 4 4 2 formation.



No wonder Wenger is interested in Arshavin

Arsene’s revised transfer plans?

By 1970’s Gooner

Arsene Wenger finished off last season promising new signings.

'I know what I want and I am very confident,' he said. 'I hope to turn that around in the next two or three weeks. The fans should be re-assured by what they see.'

He identified as one of the main areas that Arsenal needed strengthening as that of central defence pinpointing as a major weakness the inability to defend high balls into the middle.

With Mathieu Flamini having already opted to sign for AC Milan and Alexander Hleb ready to opt out, Wenger looked set for a busy two months.

But we are in the middle of June and the only apparent transfer activity so far has concentrated on trying to replace the “departing” Hleb.

It is reported that Samir Nasri will sign now that France has been knocked out of Euro 2008.

A possible reason for this inactivity is that Wenger may not want to further dwarf the chances of the younger players coming through by adding more players on the roster.

Wide midfielders: No more to come?

This is an area where there is a plethora of wide midfield players at the club even without Hleb.

Players such as Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela, Tomas Rosicky ( who by the way never said that he will actually miss the start of the season) and now it looks like Nasri too.

I have kept Eboue out of this list for obvious reasons!

And there are also forwards that can play as wide midfielders such as Robin Van Persie and Eduardo (in a say 4 3 3 formation with Adebayor in the middle).

Which ever way you look at it and taking into account that Rosicky and Eduardo will come back early enough, Wenger may be hesitant to splash the cash for any more forwards and wide midfielders other than Nasri.

Not unless there are more departures other than Flamini and possibly Hleb.

Not withstanding the above I would very much like to believe the rumours circulating that a bid is imminent for Andrei Arshavin.

I have enthused about him not so long ago as I think he will be that fantastic winger that Arsenal have been looking for a long time (No wonder Wenger is interested in Arshavin).


He is ready to make a huge impact. A much bigger impact than Nasri would make.

Wenger has shown interest before but somehow with Nasri’s arrival any day the chances of Arshavin coming at the Emirates may be affected.

Central midfield: Promote from within?

Now this is an interesting area where a vacancy is open for Fabregas’s partner.

Again I really do not see Wenger splashing the cash for a major signing. This is because there are alternatives within the existing squad that could fill the void.

As pointed out in one of our articles on this site (“There are four ways to replace Flamini”) Arsene would not want to jeopardize Diaby’s chances to eventually play in his natural position.


He would also like to give Song a chance there as well as Denilson and Gilberto who would probably be used as understudies (Toure is another alternative).

So again adopting this mode of thought it's difficult to predict a major signing in this area either.

Another goalkeeper; surely

I have written on this subject before (Arsene’s wish list?). Arsenal need to buy another goalkeeper to replace Lehmann.

Otherwise it would indeed be reckless to try and go through next season with only Almunia experienced enough to play in the first team.

Fabiansky is good and should be given a chance but what will happen if both of them get injured at the same time? Mannone would prove too raw to figure in the first team.

We therefore need to recruit another goalkeeper (maybe nearing his shelf life) who will add experience and would be fighting for a first team place with Almunia (and Fabiansky).

Full back positions: Don't even think about it

I consider the full back positions, manned by Sagna and Clichy as set in stone.

They are in my opinion the best full backs in Europe and their back ups Hoyte, Eboue, Gallas, Toure, Djourou and Traore are also adequate enough so as to allow Wenger to divert cash elsewhere.

But what about central defence?

This is an area that every Arsenal fan has been waiting to see a major signing.

Arsenal after all conceded 31 Premier League goals last term, the worst record of the top four clubs. Manchester United let in just 22, Chelsea conceded 26 and Liverpool leaked 28.

If you look at the results of the poll we set up on the subject this was the area that most fans wanted new faces.

517 votes out of a total 1369 (38% of the total) were cast for this option against those for a wide midfielder of 454 (33%).

Maybe most fans were conditioned to expect a signing here after Wenger’s comments pointing to the need to strengthen this area.

Well, his recent comments on the possibility of signing Vincent Kompany have usurped this idea!

“I have been interested in Vincent Kompany ever since he was 16, but I am not interested in him this year. There is nobody I need for my team’s defensive department”!

So there you go.

He will probably consider Alex Song as a reliable centre back.

And buying in another defender would dwarf his chances of shining through.

You will remember how enthusiastic Wenger was about Song at the question and answer session with shareholders at the end of the season.

You will also remember how well Song played in that high pressure game at Old Trafford last season.

Forwards: Stay as you are

You would not expect Wenger to enter the transfer market for another centre forward would you?

The excellent news that Eduardo will be ready to start pre season and (touch wood) Van Persie's apparent fitness imply that having four players for the two centre forward positions is adequate, even by Chelsea's standards.

Conclusion

If the above analysis proves correct, Arsene Wenger is likely to concentrate his transfer activity in buying younger players (as he has done for Ramsey and may do for Spear for example).

And he will expect that the youngsters will improve next season due to the experience gained.

'It doesn't look like we have no team and we have to build a team. 'We were unbeaten at home and that is only the second time in the history of the club.

'We have done that with young players who will be better next season.' he said recently.

He will then hope that a) there are no more departures and b) that the freak injuries that took out two of the three most potent goal scorers do not happen again.

I do like that Arshavin though.



No wonder Wenger is interested in Arshavin

There are four ways to replace Flamini

Arsene’s wish list?

Arsenal, Manchester United locking horns while starlet’s club “will not stand in his way”

By 1970's Gooner

It is reported that Wenger and Ferguson are about to go head to head again over the signature of another wonder kid.

This time they have to go as far as sunny Cyprus where Demetris Christofi plays his football.

Apparently both Arsenal and Manchester United have been tracking the youngster over recent months by sending scouts to watch him from close quarters.

He was, until two weeks ago, playing for his local club ENP which is very near the popular (amongst UK sun seekers) summer resort of Protaras.

He was however transferred to one of the big clubs on the island, Omonoia Nicosia, for a record fee of 1m euros (about £750,000) and has already joined up with his new team mates for pre season training.

Well, if reports linking him to Arsenal and Manchester United are true it looks like he will be on the move again.

Reports coming out of Cyprus suggest that no official contact has been made by the English teams and this has been verified by both the player himself and his club.

However Omonoia Nicosia’s President said today that the money could come in handy and that they will not stand in his way.

“We will not stand in his way. We will use the money to strengthen the team for the start of the new season. However nothing official has been received”.

Christofi who is 19 has been putting some excellent performances for his club this season. As a result he was called up for his first cap coming on as substitute in a recent friendly against Greece.

He is a left footed wide midfield player who is blessed with speed, strength and also good football technique.

It is also a fact that the big Greek football clubs have also been looking at him with a view to making a move.

It looks however that the £3m that Arsenal and Manchester United are reported to be prepared to pay is way out of their league for such a young player.

Arsenal have had another Cypriot youngster on their books, Georgios Efrem, who after a few years at London Colney was released two season’s ago. He is now in Scotland on Rangers books.

Osasuna replace Carlos Vela with Arsenal trialist

By 1970’s Gooner

Osasuna were so impressed with Arsenal’s Carlos Vela that they sent a delegation to London last April to ask for an extension of his loan for another year.

But Arsene Wenger would have none of it of course and Carlos will be joining up for pre season in early July.

Osasuna who have just managed to avoid relegation usually play a tight 4 3 3 or 4 5 1 formation where the wide midfielders play a key role not only when they attack but coming back to close in the midfield areas and defend.

And Carlos played that role on the left wing quite well. Now he has gone they have been on the look out to replace him and it appears that the new recruit to do that is a player that Arsene Wenger had on trial last December.

It is reported that Bulgarian Nicolay Dimitrov will be that man. We don’t know if Wenger has been advising his friends at Osasuna, President Patxi Izco and sports Director Juanjo Lorenzo but they are willing to pay 1.5 m euros for his signature.


He is a similar player to Vela. He is on the shortish side, left footed and full of trickery.

As reported on this site Dimitrov has been under the close eye of Sunderland and Newcastle recently and there was also keen interest from German clubs Nuremberg and Leverkusen.

Dimitrov was invited by Arsenal to London Colney last December for a 10 day trial. Wenger also had the player watched by scout Bobby Bennet in a tournament his club Levski played in Israel.

Wenger’s three arguments that convinced Ramsey to snub Manchester United

By Aries

In a two hours, no holds barred, question and answer lunch come meeting in a Basle restaurant, Arsene Wenger convinced Aaron Ramsey and his parents, Kevin and Marlene, that Arsenal is the better club to join.

According to information coming out of Wales Arsene Wenger had three major points to put forward which seemed to sway the young man’s decision towards snubbing Manchester United.

Wenger first told him that his route to first-team football at Manchester United was blocked by no more than nine players.

And he named them as Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Darren Fletcher, Ji-Sung Park, Anderson, and Nani.

Whereas at Arsenal he only has to compete with Tomas Rosicky, Gilberto Silva, Emmanuel Eboue, Denilson, Abou Diaby and Walcott.

Fabregas is obviously beyond his or anyone’s reach and Hleb will probably not be there next season.

The second point made by Wenger was that Arsenal’s transfer policy is more conservative and does not rely on signing big stars.

Big money transfers would obviously further block his development and his route to first team football. Which according to Wenger is what Manchester United tend to do.

He pointed out that United have spent around £300m on transfers in the last six years, while Arsenal in the same period have splashed out only £40m.

And the third point which seemed to convince the Ramsey family is that Aaron’s style and football technique is more suited to Arsenal.


Arsene Wenger is of course the master at this kind of thing. He has to deal with concerned parents of young starlets all the time.

Remember last summer around this time he stopped short his holiday in Sardinia and traveled to Norway to meet with Nordtveit, his father and club president clinching his signature right there and then.

He probably has by now developed the art of persuasion to a masters level. He not only laid on a private jet for Aaron to travel to his base where he is commenting for French TV on the Euro 2008 but he invited his parents too.



Ex Arsenal boy Hartson agrees with Ramsey. Arsenal’s the team for you

Vela having English lessons and ready to fight for his first team place at Arsenal

By 1970's Gooner

Carlos Vela, like his national side, has returned to form scoring the third of four goals for Mexico against Peru and having a hand, directly or indirectly, in the other three.

His mind is currently focussed on World Cup qualification and the double encounter against Belize coming up on Sunday 15th June and again on the 21st June.

But it seems he has been planning for the day when he joins up with Arsenal.

In an interview given to Mexican site hoyinternet.com he revealed that he has been having English lessons so as to be able to facilitate his transition to Arsenal and English football as smoothly as possible.

“I'm still not very good to talk but I am studying and I hope soon to be able to talk well so that the language will not be an impediment” he said.

He also revealed that he had been waiting for three years for his chance to play for Arsenal.

“Now I have a chance. I hope I can seize it and be there for a long time”.

In Spain I was playing for a team that was trying to avoid relegation.

Now I look forward to another challenge to play for a team that will be fighting for honours and also in the Champions League”

He also expects that there will be tough competition to win a place in Arsenal’s first team.

“It will be very difficult. I'm going up a level to a better team and players. But I will fight for a place and hopefully it will happen fast and I can play from the start”.

Carlos Vela has high ambitions as to how high he can reach in his career. His idols are Ronaldo and Ronaldinho but he admits that when he played against them in Spain he saw them differently.

“I had the good fortune to play against them. But now I see them differently because when you see that you can compete against them you realize that someday you may be able to reach their level”.

Let’s hope he does.

Vela’s next game for Mexico is against Belize and he is expected to start having shrugged off the thigh strain he picked up in the previous game against Argentina.



Vela injured and will be living in London, like Santos, alone

Vela shines and scores as Mexico trounce Peru

Another Premiership team asks for Arsenal youngster on loan

By Aries

It is reported in the Midlands press that newly promoted West Bromwich Albion are looking to Arsenal in the hope of signing French youngster Armand Traore on loan.

They join a long list of clubs who have been knocking on Arsene Wenger’s door asking to take up the youngster for the coming season.

Portsmouth are also keen to have Traore as Harry Redknap looks to improve the blend of mature players, which he has many, with younger legs.

Interest in Traore follows a string of impressive displays initially for the Carling Cup sides that Wenger fielded during last season.

The youngster was given invaluable experience against strong Premiership opposition which culminated with his premiership debut in the home game of the Liverpool trilogy.

In the latter part of the season Armando was tried out on the left wing and again he proved his versatility by showing that he has the potential to help Arsenal in that position too.

However Arsene Wenger will want to keep the youngster at the Emirates as back up for the excellent Clichy.

Traore has after all shown a lot of promise and Wenger will want to oversee his development closer at home.

In addition the alternatives, Gallas, Hoyte or even Djourou are all right footed.

Ramsey to share digs with Tottenham player

By Aries

In our last posting we talked about Carlos Vela and the fact that for the first time since his three year stint he will be living alone, in London, away from his parents.

The same will happen to Spurs bound Giovanni Dos Santos who will also make the move to the capital without his parents who will stay behind with his kid brother who is in Barcelona’s youth academy.

We did, rather jokingly, suggest as the two were mates that they may contemplate sharing digs!

Vela injured and will be living in London, like Santos, alone

Well, the idea of sharing digs with the enemy is about to happen but not necessarily between Carlos Vela and Giovanni Dos Santos (although this may happen after all).

Arsenal’s new young gun Aaron Ramsey, who is said to be a bit shy and quietly-spoken, is great mates with full-back Chris Gunter who joined Spurs last season from Cardiff for £3m.

It is reported that the pair will cross the Spurs-Arsenal north London divide when they share a flat as Ramsey settles into London.

So each day, Ramsey, will head off to Arsenal’s training ground as Gunter leaves for Tottenham’s. Let’s hope that they don’t share training ground secrets!

Another interesting piece of news about this transfer is that Feruson was reported to be livid when he learned of Ramsey’s snub.

I bet he will be even more livid when he reads that even Everton were ahead of Manchester United in Aaron’s list!

This is even more surprising since Aaron is believed to be a Manchester United supporter!

This is according to a friend of his as reported by i-c wales.co.uk

“With Manchester United being his favourite team, I thought there was more of a chance he would join them,” said Thomas Rose, 17, of Bedwellty, Aberbargoed,

Full name: Aaron James Ramsey
Date of birth: December 26, 1990(age 17)
Place of birth: Caerphilly, Wales
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position: Midfielder


Ex Arsenal boy Hartson agrees with Ramsey. Arsenal’s the team for you

Ex Arsenal boy Hartson agrees with Ramsey. Arsenal’s the team for you.

By 1970’s Gooner

It seems that Aaron Ramsey has been won over by three major factors.

One is Arsene Wenger’s fame of nurturing young talent and not being afraid of giving youth a chance. You only have to think of Fabregas and Walcott and all the other young guns that are getting first team action at an early age.

The other is that with Manchester United he would have been loaned back to Cardiff for the coming season. Aaron might have felt that his development as a player would remain static.

Add to all this the fact that Alec Ferguson couldn’t be bothered to whisk young Aaron to his holiday hideout so that they could have had a face to face.

Arsene Wenger of course is the master at this kind of thing. He has to deal with concerned parents of young starlets all the time.

Remember last summer around this time he stopped short his holiday in Sardenia and traveled to Norway to meet with Nordtveit, his father and club president clinching his signature right there and then.

He probably has by now developed the art of persuasion to a masters level. He not only laid on a private jet for Aaron to travel to his base where he is commenting for French TV on the Euro 2008 but he invited his parents too.

John Hartson once moved to Arsenal as the most expensive teenager in British football.

This was in 1995 from Luton Town for £2.5m at the age of just 19, and so knows all about the situation Ramsey will find himself in.

He is also all in agreement with Aaron Ramsey's decision. He reckons Ramsey will have no regrets, despite turning down the European champions.

"Whichever club he finally went to it would have been a great move. But opting for Arsenal I feel was the right one for him.

"I’ve recently been to Arsenal’s training ground and it is out off this world.

"He will have the best facilities, the best coaches and the best back-room staff that money can buy.

"He will also be working with one of the best managers in European football. So he's on a winner already."

Vela injured and will be living in London, like Santos, alone

By Aries

Carlos Vela had a good game against Peru scoring the third of four goals for Mexico and having a hand, directly or indirectly, in the other three.

He was substituted though in the 68th minute amid the applause of a thankful Mexican crowd that had gathered at the Soldier Field stadium in Chicago.

His substitution however was not, as reported by other sites, in order to rest him for the important double qualifier against Belize coming up in five and 11 days time.

It was because Carlos had suffered a slight strain during the 4-1 defeat against Argentina and he again felt the strain during the warm up for the Peru game.

"I had discomfort from the start, since warming up for the game and I played as much as I could endure" he said to the Mexican press.

Speaking to Vefutball.com he sounded excited about his early integration into the Arsenal squad and he was not that concerned about the process of adaptation to the English game or the lifestyle, because he had already experienced this process in Spain.

"I had to face another country and another type of game and everything had gone normally. Sometimes its strange but over time you'll adapt and I did not have much problem".

However things might be a little bit more difficult this time round as he revealed that his parents and siblings who spent the last year with him in Spain will not be accompanying him to London.

"This past year my parents and a brother lived with me, but now I will be alone again and I’ll see how I go," he explained.

By a strange coincidence his arrival in England will coincide with that of his Mexican friend, Giovanni Dos Santos, now of Tottenham.

"It seems that we are following each other and hopefully we can make quick transition to life in England and that we both do well" he said.


However it looks like they will both find the surroundings different and lonely.

Dos Santos had also been living with his parents in Barcelona but as he revealed in a recent interview he too will not be accompanied by his parents.

They will stay behind with his younger 16 year old brother who is on Barcelona’s books.

It looks like both sets of parents, Vela’s and Dos Santos’s will be taking trips to London together in the not so distant future.

May be the two friends could decide to share digs together….God forbid!

Carlos intends to spend whatever little time there will be left of his holiday with his friends (he has no girlfriend at the moment he said) at the well known Mexican resort “Cancun”.

He will then join his new team mates for pre season training at London Colney.


Vela and Santos like Fabregas and Messi: World stars in the making

Vela shines and scores as Mexico trounce Peru

Vela is ready for the Premier League Walcott not yet

Vela shines and scores as Mexico trounce Peru

By Aries

Mexico had to make a come back after that abject and disappointing defeat, or rout if you like, against Argentina last Wednesday.

What was missing in that game according to Jesus Ramirez, the Mexico interim coach until Sven Goran Erikkson takes over was forcefulness and above all the taking of chances.

"The truth is that we learned a lot from the game against Argentina. This time we had the opportunities and we took them”.

And they certainly did with Carlos getting involved in almost all the good moves that Mexico created.

He got the third goal by positioning himself between the two central defenders as he did against Argentina only on this occasion he raced past the goalkeeper, who had just slipped, to slot the ball into the net.

He nearly repeated the same routine but his shot from an acute angle went just wide.

And he was in there again as he was correctly placed to challenge for a cross from the left only for the loose ball to fall to Arce who duly slotted home.

You can watch Vela’s goal and the highlights of the game against Peru on the video on the right hand side of this page

Vela’s next games are for World Cup qualification in the double encounter against Belize in Houston, USA, Sunday 15th June and in Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday 21st June.

He will then, after a well earned summer holiday in Mexico with his family, join the rest of his Arsenal team mates at London Colney for pre season training in early July.


Vela and Santos like Fabregas and Messi: World stars in the making

Vela outpaces Argentinean defence but fails to have overall impact

By 1970’s Gooner

Mexico failed to impress last Wednesday night playing in front of 68,500 extremely vociferous fans in San Diego. They also played in front of a quiet and pensive looking new manager, a certain Sven Goran Eriksson.

They went down 4-1 as Argentina outplayed them in almost all areas of the pitch producing beautiful football creating and scoring goals as if form another planet.

The second and fourth goals, especially the second scored by Lionel Messi was pure poetry in motion.

The ball was moved around the Mexico penalty area and finally a low cross from the left was put into the box.

The oncoming forward dummied allowing the ball to run between his legs only to reach the oncoming Messi who just side stepped it into the net.

A truly wonderful goal and the type that you would expect to see Arsenal scoring.


Carlos Vela was played up front in a double pairing with Sergio Santana.

The partnership didn’t work as the two could not strike an understanding. They were described in the Mexican press as playing like a divorced couple!

The interim Mexico coach, Ramirez, also criticized the more creative aspects of his team especially the forwards:

“The score doesn’t reflect the level of play of Mexico and Argentina. “The different factor was the quality of forwards” he said.

Nevertheless Carlos had one great chance to open the scoring as early as the 7th minute.

He cleverly positioned himself in between the two Argentinean central defenders and received a through ball which enabled him to get a clear run at the defence.

He duly outpaced the defenders and the on rushing goalkeeper (who collided in their desperate attempt to catch up with him) only to see his diagonal shot at the unguarded goal go agonisingly just wide.

You can see the goals and Vela’s miss on the video on the right hand side of this page.

I can see what Arsene Wenger means when he says that Vela has more of a future as a central striker rather than a winger; like Eduardo he said.

Mind you he said that about Walcott yet he still played him mostly on the wing during this last season. And to my mind vela will probably feature on this side of the pitch rather than centrally.

Argentina opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Burdisso’s shot past goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

As mentioned above Messi added the second, Maximiliano Rodriguez the third from close in and Sergio Aguero the fourth in the 71st minute.

Vela’s mate Dos Santos signs for Spurs

By Aries

It’s now official. Giovanni Dos Santos the Mexican starlet has admitted that he is leaving Barcelona for Ramos’s Spurs.

Interviewed on Wednesday night in San Diego, California where he witnessed the encounter in which Mexico lost 4-1 to Argentina, he said: "I will play next season at Tottenham,"

Tottenham waited until his operation on his left ankle had been carried out making sure that the player was moving well before putting pen to paper.

Barcelona will receive £4.7m pounds for the transfer.

It is believed that Dos Santos was positive about Spurs above other Premiership teams that were interested in his signature due to his relationship with Ramos.

It is ironic that Dos Santos’s close friend in the Mexican national team and also in Spain, Carlos vela, is also coming to London but he will of course ply his trade with Arsenal!



Vela and Santos like Fabregas and Messi: World stars in the making

AC Milan’s Galliani denies agreeing terms with Adebayor

By Aries

Ac Milan’s vice president Adriano Galliani has commented today on the news reported by Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport that Adebayor had been in talks with AC Milan.

Adebayor is said to be top of coach Carlo Ancelotti's transfer targets as he looks to build a team capable of challenging for the Serie A title.

He is reported to have met with Milan officials over the past few days and shaken hands on a move to the Italian club.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported that a fee of around £32 million for Adebayor could prove a stumbling block for AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.

However Galliani, although admitting that AC Milan are on the look out for top striker, has moved swiftly to deny the rumours.

When asked if the transfer is likely to come from England he said:

“I do not know. For now, there is also Paloschi which is excellent”

When pressed further whether an agreement has been reached with Adebayor he replied:

”We can not be make agreements with players”.

However Galliani would not be so foolish so as to admit to making an illegal approach to a player would he?

And if this statement may be true there is nothing to stop them speaking to Adebayor’s agent is there?

This may also be linked with the recent pay rise offered to Adebayor by Arsenal which looks like an attempt to close the barn door before the horse bolts out!

A major concern however is the fact that Adebayor has not come out to categorically deny the link.

Mourinho doesn’t fancy Hleb but his bride does!

By Aries

Alexander Hleb had set his heart on leaving the cold climate of London, which he never came to terms with and join Inter in Milan where the weather is sunny and they serve better ice cream.

But how things change so fast. Just as Alexander and his agent begun to prepare the ground for his contractually premature departure from Arsenal taking all the flak that was coming their way, in comes a managerial change at Inter.

The new chief Jose Mourinho doesn’t seem to fancy him much. Agent Vincenzo Morabito said:

"I'm sorry that we won't be able to take him to Italy, he liked Inter a lot but obviously Mourinho has made some different choices and has gone for some other names."

However Morabito, who had been discussing the proposed move to Italy, confirmed that Hleb is close to agreeing terms on a switch to Barcelona instead.

"A deal is close. He has been a Barcelona target for some months," Morabito said

So it’s just as well, as Hleb actually got married last Saturday to his ….wife, pop star Anastasia Kosenkova otherwise known as Nastya.

Well, they got married behind closed doors last year but on this occasion they had more than the two witnesses they needed last time round.

They publicly tied the knot in a Belarusian ski resort with a lot of relatives and close friends attending.

Alexander Hleb was dressed in classic black suit and white shirt and Nastya in a chic pink dress "Versace".


They danced to Bryan Adams song “Everything I do, I do it for you” and they both agreed that they preferred their first born to be a boy.

I don’t like the way Hleb’s impending departure has been managed by himself and his agent but as long we get a hefty transfer fee then I would have to accept it.

If the transfer to Barcelona, or to any other club, materialises then I wish Alexander good luck and thank him for some amazing trickery and football skills displayed during his time with Arsenal.

The woman behind Nasri!

By Aries

You know the saying: “Behind every successful man there is a woman”.

This has certainly been the case with Alexander Hleb as we revealed on this site back in December of last year.

Everyone was revelling, but also trying to fathom out the reason for his newfound rigour and fantastic effectiveness on the football pitch.

And Hleb had revealed the reason: His wife Nastya (Anastasia Kosenkova).

" My wife has helped me a lot. I married a year ago and since she came over to live with me, everything seems easier to me.

“Every goal, every decent pass gives me new power. Then, I feel easy and free, as if I could fly.”

Nastya as you may know is famous pop star and sings for the pop group “Topless”

It seems that Nasri’s performances on the pitch both for his club, Marseille and for the France national team as of late have been similarly boosted.

The woman behind the man in this case is famous tennis star Tatiana Golovin.

She has confirmed to the French press that the two are now a pair!

Tatiana did it showing a little embarrassment but smiling.

She could no longer hide it as the photos of the two embraced in a tender kiss, published in the press left little room for doubt.

Tatiana Golovin (born January 25, 1988) is a French professional tennis player of Russian descent.

She is best known for winning the 2004 French Open mixed doubles event with her countryman Richard Gasquet.


She also reached the singles quarterfinal at the 2006 U.S. Open, losing to the eventual champion Maria Sharapova.

The 20-year-old's highest singles ranking to date is 12.

Let’s see if Nasri’s performances, hopefully on the Emirates pitch next season, continue on the same path.



Wenger: "Thanks Nastya for Hleb's resurgence"

Ghanaian wonderkid invited for trial rejects Arsenal for Spanish club

By Aries

It seems that Arsenal’s reluctance to part with £700,000 in order to secure the signature of Tawrick Jibril has come back to haunt them.

Arsenal had decided that they wanted to have a close look at Jibril by giving him a trial at London Colney during this summer period rather than pay the asking price outright.

Well, the young man along with his agent, Prince Umar, have today traveled to Spain for a medical at Atletico Madrid and if successful sign on the dotted line!

“Because the laws of the game recognise the player as a minor, I would be embarking on the journey with him. We hope to go through the medical examination successfully in order to seal the deal.

If everything goes through as expected, we would return to Accra after two weeks before the player goes back to Spain to commence his professional career.” Umar said.

It is believed Hearts (Jibril’s club) have released a letter of consent to Atletico Madrid officials suggesting they are in full support of the player's trip to Spain.

Umar went on to say that Arsenal were not “forthcoming” so they were left with no option but to accept Atletico’s offer.

“We accepted the 1m euro offer from Atletico because Arsenal were not forthcoming and I did not want this opportunity to slip through our fingers. I am happy for Jibril because as part of the agreement he would stay with the first team and not the junior side as is being speculated”.

Hearts of Oak prodigy, Tawrick Jibril, had been handed a two-week trial period by Arsenal which was announced at the beginning of last month.

Jibril is reported to have been recommended to Arsenal by the scouting agent Steve Rowley who watched the youngster play in one of the inaugural African Nations Championship qualifier against Niger. He was due to begin his trials in July.

The 16-year-old midfielder has been a target of some European clubs after breaking into the Hearts of Oak senior team this season. His impressive performances have resulted in his call-up into the national team.

Jibril will sign a three year deal if he passes the medical in Spain.

Wenger: “Nasri has a considerable margin for improvement”. But what about his wages?

By 1970’s Gooner

Samir Nasri came on as a substitute for France in their Euro 2008 preparation game against Paraguay last Saturday and almost immediately had an impact on the game.

Watching it I could clearly see why Arsene Wenger is quite ready to part with £12.5 m of Arsenal’s (tight) cash. This was a much improved performance than in his last outing against Equador a few days before.

Nasri is not yet 21 yet he showed against Paraguay that he has the football nous along with the skills that may make him a big hit in the Premiership.

He came on in an advanced midfield position between the front players and the defensive midfielders (in the Bergkamp area)and was very good at turning with the ball and dribbling past players.

He was thus able to advance menacingly at opponents, opening avenues for his forward players to make the runs behind the defence so as to receive his often incisive passes.

He is, in other words, a typical Wenger attacking midfielder and one that would perform a similar role that Hleb does (or did).

No wonder the Marseille newspaper “La Provence” is today quoting Wenger as saying that Nasri has a considerable margin for further improvement:

"At 21 years old his whole future is ahead of him and he has (quite) a margin for progressing further. He has in any case the qualities needed to assert himself at the highest level".

Ed: Nasri will be 21 in June 26

As I wrote in my previous posting (Arfa, Gomis and Diarra impress more than Nasri), Nasri does have one major positive difference to Hleb and that is his thirst and quest for shots and goals.


This boy will not dilly dally when a shooting opportunity unfolds. And he proved it against Paraguay.

He will have a pot, like say Frank Lampard does, so expect some nice deflected goals coming Arsenal’s way next season.

If he does get to join that is!

Because it seems that although the deal has been agreed between the two clubs the player’s personal terms have not.

This is apparently why, as we reported on Arsenal Analysis (Nasri transfer to Arsenal hits a snag?) the transfer has not yet materialised.

Nasri’s agent Jean-Pierre Bernès said as far back as May 20th that:

“Nothing is done. There is no hurry. We actually are studying a proposal from Arsenal for Samir Nasri, but I also received other offers."

Arsene Wenger has admitted as much when he said only yesterday:

“It is more complicated now because the wage differences (between the French and the English league) are not as big as they used to be.

“It is very difficult (to transfer players from the French league) but England is considered one of the two top leagues and the best players want to play against the best players.”

“La Provence” is further reporting today that the deal will be completed after the Euro ends so that the player can concentrate on the important matter of helping his country win the trophy rather than worry about transfer matters.

This may prove risky for Arsenal for if the player has a good tournament then who is to say that either the player or his club may come back with renewed demands?

Christiano Ronaldo to journalists: "My favourite song is: I believe I can fly”. To Real?

By Mancgunner

Christiano Ronaldo invited all this speculation about his future with the statements he came out with right after the Moscow triumph revealing a lifelong desire to play in Spain.

This awakened Real Madrid to the possibility opening before them that they can prize Ronaldo away from Manchester United.

Last week Real pushed United to breaking point when coach Bernd Schuster gave an interview which alluded to the fact that deal had been all but completed.

In 2001 Real managed to lure a certain Zinedine Zidane from Junentus in the most expensive transfer in history for £48m. On this occasion the fee, should it at all come to that, is believed to break that record at around £70m.

The player himself has not come out to quash all speculation. Should he declare that he has no desire to leave the European champions it will at least draw a line under a saga that is threatening to dominate the summer.

He has in fact gone one step further and when asked by a Portuguese journalist on his way out of Portugal’s game against Georgia which was his favourite song he replied:

"Why did you ask me that?".

"I'm doing a story about you and I need that information," replied the journalist.

The answer was very revealing: "My favorite song is I believe I can fly”

And the question is: Does he believe that he can fly to Real Madrid?

When pressed as to his future he said: “Let's see. There will be news soon. In two or three days I will decide my future"

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the Glazer family would rather keep the player even if he refused to play for the Red Devils.

Ferguson said: "Their attitude is, 'To hell with them'. They'd sit a player in the stand, I'm telling you, absolutely no doubt about it, just to prove a point. Not to give in to these people.

"They've got balls, I can tell you. I've been delighted with them in that respect."

Manchester United strangely find themselves in the same situation as Arsenal do with important players wanting away. The big difference is that Manchester United are actually winning trophies.

If Ronaldo does decide he wants to leave will the Glazers, in this increasingly money obsessed business that football has become, take what some call “a courageous decision”?

Will they be willing to forgo the huge fee offered and also continue paying his awesome wages without playing him?


"I Believe I Can Fly"

This is a 1996 song by R&B singer R. Kelly. The song is credited to being produced, written and also arranged by R. Kelly.

The song has been number 1 on the UK charts. It is featured on his 1998 album R. It was the theme song of the movie Space Jam.

"I Believe I Can Fly" has also won 3 Grammys, and ranked 406 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.