While Real Madrid continue to harass Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United while protesting their innocence, their Spanish arch-rivals are seemingly waging a similar campaign towards Arsenal. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Fair play to Alvaro Arbeloa, who has pulled no punches when being asked about the Cristiano Ronaldo situation at Old Trafford. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Mathieu Flamini buggered off to Milan as soon as he got the chance, and it’s nigh-on certain that Alexander Hleb and Emmanuel Adebayor will be joining him out of the exit door. Should Arsenal fans be worried? [Read the rest of this entry »]

Amidst the speculation surrounding Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb’s Arsenal future, [Read the rest of this entry »]

Adios to Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb this summer? [Read the rest of this entry »]

We’re sure that Alexander Hleb will be ‘furious’ with the latest press speculation surrounding his future. [Read the rest of this entry »]

Alexander Hleb is a confused individual. The Times reports that the ice cream-loving Belarussian is mad at reports linking him away from Arsenal, despite his agent being possibly the most outrageous flirt in the history of football. Does this signify that the winger might be staying at the Emirates after all, or is he just having a hissy-fit for the hell of it?

“These reports anger me,” he said. “I have not signed for Bayern, Barcelona or any other club for that matter.

He added: “So much is being speculated and said, but I just want to have some peace and sit down with my closest friend [and representative] Niki Spilevski to consider my future.”

Is Hleb angry because the press are linking him to the wrong clubs? Should they be associating him with Real Madrid, Inter and Milan instead? Perhaps the player should consider his future very carefull before jumping ship, especially as Arsene Wenger plucked him from relative obscurity in the first place and made him into the player he is today.

Despite Robin Van Persie urging Arsenal to change their wage structure so that the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor would stay at the club, it appears that the pair are now going to stick around without doing anything so drastic. The Sun report that, despite Milan showing a great deal of interest in the Togolese striker, Adey is going to stay at the Emirates and ‘fire them to glory’ (whatever that means).

30-goal Adebayor said: “I came to Arsenal with a mission to succeed.

“I’ve assured the gaffer Arsene Wenger I’ll stay because I believe in the team and I want to assure the fans my concentration is here.

“I have no reason to leave so I’ll stay to ensure that together we’ll win silverware.

“Mathieu’s a good player but his departure doesn’t mean Arsenal is about to collapse. Our team is a deep well of talent.

“I am confident we are capable of winning titles and we will return for next season hungrier to be successful.”

So, it appears that just Flamini and Hleb will be leaving the Gunners this summer, so much for the mass exodus! With new signings imminent, particularly that of Samir Nasri, could it be that Arsenal’s squad will be even stronger than last season? Especially with the likes of Adebayor, Fabregas, Van Persie and Clichy likely to continue improving as players.

You have to feel for Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb. Why, you ask? Because, based on the quotes that have come out over the last couple of days, it appears the Belarusian is suffering from a severe case of ‘selective amnesia’. How else could you explain the backpedaling that has gone on in the past week?

Just days ago, the midfielder was being linked with moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona after making it known that he was ready to move on to green pastures. However, today it seems like Hleb must have forgotten he was being linked with the two Spanish clubs, because The Times is reporting that he’s forgotten all about last week, and is ready to stay at the Emirates.

Alexander Hleb has claimed that he does not want to leave Arsenal. “I have also read, but I do not know who has written it,” the midfield player said. “That is nonsense. I have learnt so much from Arsène Wenger. He has supported me. If I’ll go, then only in a different league, in any case. In England, there is only Arsenal for me.” (The Times)

Who knows what’s really going on in that lad’s head, but I for one hope that his selective amnesia gets cleared up really soon!

So what’s your take Arsenal supporters: Would you keep Hleb after reading these comments, or do you think this is just his way of trying to save face before bolting for La Liga?

Just a shame for Spurs fans that it’s not Dimitar Berbatov, although it must still be great news to hear that Robbie Keane has pinned his colours firmly to the Tottenham mast. The striker had a very strong season for the North London club and the Daily Telegraph reports that the Irishman is loving life at White Hart Lane and is a firm part of Juande Ramos’ plans for next season.

“I’m very content with my life and my time at Spurs.

“I want to play there as long as I’m happy and as long as I’m wanted.

“Over the last three of four years there has always been speculation that I’m going here, there and everywhere.

He said: “I’m having a summer off without people ringing saying ‘Are you going here, are you going there?’

“So I’m looking forward to a nice break and then going back to Spurs next season.”

It remains to be seen who Keano’s strike partner will be next season, although it’s all gone quiet on the Berbatov transfer front, despite the Bulgarian’s agent giving Hleb’s counterpart a run for his money in the flirtation stakes. Tottenham fans, who do you want to see partnering Keane next season?

Who needs Flamini when you’ve got Samir Nasri! Gooners will be delighted to read (in the Daily Telegraph amongst other publications) that Arsenal have landed their man from Marseille for £12.5 million as they start building for next season. It’s clear that Monsieur Wenger has been busy in the transfer market recently and it will especially please him to see that the midfielder has been selected in the French squad ahead of the Flamster. In your face Mathieu!

It seems Nasri, labelled the new Zidane in some quarters, is pretty pretty versatile with regard to where he can play. The midfielder can play centrally and on the left, so it’s not strictly the case that he’s a a like-for-like replacement as far as Alex Hleb is concerned. It will come as a relief to Arsenal fans to see a quality import such as this one, and set their mind at ease that the Gunners squad for next season can be stronger than ever.

Not that it’s going to stop him leaving the Emirates if he and his agent have their way. Alexander Hleb had just started to peak for Arsenal when, all of a sudden, he goes out for an ice cream in Milan and comes back to London with his head full of ideas about playing for Inter. Setanta report that the Belarussian has described the Premier League as the best in the world, although also explains that the poor lamb has found it tough going in England. Who’s going to get the violin out for this millionaire footballer?

“I have learned in England that there is still so much to improve,” said Hleb in Frankfurter Allgemeine.

“I have always dreamed of playing in a great club. Now I have learned that it is not so easy and a lot of work.

“The first year was a killer. I felt very lonely.

“It was clear that The Premier League would be a challenge – but with this pace, I have not expected this.

“The Bundesliga is still a good league, but a season in England feels like two in Germany.

“I will tell you an example: When I was here at the beginning, everything went chop chop, so fast. The pace was madness, even in training.

“I look for the ball in front of me, then where I can play it – when I looked down again the ball was gone.

“The English league is the best league in the world.”

Is this Hleb trying to curry sympathy with Arsenal fans before he says his goodbyes and jumps ship? Real Madrid are now reported to be the front-runner for his signature and it’s hard to see Arsene Wenger keeping the player against his will.

Arsene Wenger has described Carlos Vela as a similar player to Eduardo, and Arsenal fans can look forward to seeing the Mexican striker in action next season. Le Boss has confirmed that the 19-year-old will be involved in the first team next season, after the club landed a work permit for the player yesterday. The Daily Telegraph report that Vela has been at the club for eighteen months, although spent last season on loan at Osasuna.

“Vela will be involved with the first team next season. He has played the whole season at Osasuna on the left wing but, for me, he’s a central striker, an Eduardo type. He’s a great young player.”

Who are we to doubt the man who has a proven track record of moulding rough diamonds into polished gems? The same article reports that the Gunners are on the brink of signing Marseille midfielder Sami Nasri, while Lyon’s Hatem Ben Arfa continues to be another Arsenal target. Surely fans of the club must be heartened by this kind of news, despite Flamini leaving and Hleb’s agent continuing to flirt shamelessly with the big clubs on the continent.

What with the mass exodus and all going on over at the Emirates, you’d think that the entire world was coming to an end around Arsène Wenger. With Flamini fleeing for AC Milan and Hleb jumping ship for Inter, the opening to the transfer season has looked as dismal as a Zenit/Rangers UEFA Cup Final. (ooops, that already happened!)

But fear not Gooner supporters, apparently there is hope on the horizon in the form a swashbuckling Paraguayan footballer — one Roque Santa Cruz.

The Telegraph is reporting that Wegner is Interested in making a move for the Blackburn star that bagged 19 league goals in 37 appearances.

Wenger has been impressed by the way Cruz adapted quickly to the particular demands of English football is keen to bring in a player who is familiar with the physical nature of the Premier League and as such would be able to offer a reliable option in an area of the team that was at times found wanting last season. (Telegraph)

If the deal were to go through, the move would further bolster the Arsenal striker group that already includes Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Eduardo, Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adeb.. oh, that’s right, there is one hitch to the Roque rumor.

To add more gasoline to an already flaming bonfire, Barcelona is keen to make a swoop for Adebayor in the summer, thus adding another Arsenal dressing room “stalwart” to go right along with Thierry Henry.

“For the moment I’m very happy at Arsenal FC,” Adebayor said. “but we’ll see what happens next.”

In Togolese, “see what happens” means “when’s the next flight to Barcelona?”

To lose one midfielder, Mr Wenger, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness…The Sun – bastion of journalistic purity that it is – reports that Alex Hleb is going to buy out the last two years on his contract and elope with Inter Milan, so says Hleb’s agent Nikolai Shpilevski:

“Alex is preparing to make one of the most important moves of his life.

“He is leaving even though Arsenal FC want to offer him a new long-term contract.

“Only time will tell if it is the right decision but there’s no way back now. Everything will be settled in the next two weeks.”

Actually, the above declaration from Shpilevski seems a little muted, perhaps worried even – is this going to be a good move for Hleb?

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