SOCCER:ARSENE WENGER has been reassured he retains the full support of the Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and the board of directors as he fights to complete new signings before tomorrow's transfer deadline and lift the club from its crisis.
The mood remained sober in the aftermath of Sunday’s 8-2 humbling at Manchester United, which has intensified the pressure on Wenger. There continues to be concern at the club for the Frenchman’s health, given the levels of stress he is under.
Kroenke has said nothing in public since he became Arsenal’s majority shareholder and he did not want to go on the record with a vote of confidence for Wenger in case it might be misconstrued. The same was true of Ivan Gazidis, the club’s chief executive. An Arsenal source said: “The club is very much behind Arsene Wenger from Stan Kroenke to the board, downwards and sideways.”
Wenger has faced crises before and has come through them. The target in the coming days is to strengthen a squad that has come to look thin after a spate of departures, chief among them Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and a run of injuries and suspensions.
Wenger has sanctioned the transfer of Armand Traore to Queens Park Rangers, despite his only other recognised left-back, Kieran Gibbs, being out with a hamstring injury and having a questionable fitness record. Traore played at Old Trafford but he underwent a medical at Rangers yesterday morning.
Wenger was given the opportunity last week to take Ryan Bertrand on a season-long loan from Chelsea as they pushed to sign Alvaro Pereira from Porto but Wenger passed it up. He wants a central defender with Premier League experience, and he has moved for Everton’s Phil Jagielka and Bolton Wanderers’ Gary Cahill, among others. Everton’s €23 million valuation on Jagielka appears to be prohibitive for Wenger.
There is a stronger possibility he will close a deal for Cahill, despite sparking an argument with Bolton last week over his opening offer of €6.8 million rising to €11.3 million on performance-related goals. Wanderers described that as “derisory”.
Gazidis has made it clear Wenger had a “substantial” transfer budget and that was before they raised €67 million from the sales of Fabregas and Nasri. Wenger has offered €25 million to Rennes for the France midfielder Yann M’Vila but the French club want €34 million. Arsenal have declared an interest in the Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun and are poised to announce the €2-4 million capture from Monaco of Park Chu-young, the South Korea captain.
Arsenal will make the gesture to their supporters who travelled to Old Trafford of covering the cost of a ticket to a Premier League away game, by way of an apology for the performance.
Two Days to Save Arsenal
Park Chu-young (Forward, Monaco)
Arsenal have made an undisclosed bid for the 26-year-old, who featured for South Korea at the 2010 World Cup.Likelihood 5/5
Gary Cahill (Defender, Bolton)
A €6.8 million bid for the 25-year-old was dismissed as derisory by Bolton, but a renewed attempt to sign him is likely.Likelihood 4/5
Yann M’Vila (Midfielder, Rennes)
Will provide Arsenal with required tenacity in the centre and he has recently become the subject of a €25 million bid.Likelihood 4/5
Eden Hazard (Midfielder, Lille)
The 20-year-old inspired Lille to a French league and cup double and an offer of €34 million is likely to secure the Belgian.Likelihood 3/5
Marvin Marton (Midfielder, Sochaux)
The 23-year-old has been described as the next Zinedine Zidane, partly because he scored twice on his debut for France.Likelihood 3/5
Phil Jagielka (Defender, Everton)
A €13.5 million offer for 29-year- old was rejected and a renewed bid is unlikely.Likelihood 3/5
Mikel Arteta (Midfielder, Everton)
The Spaniard appears to have stagnated after six years at Goodison and so a move away could suit everyone.Likelihood 3/5
Marouane Fellaini (Midfielder, Everton)
Another who could add much- needed steel to Arsenal’s midfield, but the Belgian is deemed a key asset at Goodison.Likelihood 2/5
Yossi Benayoun (Midfielder Chelsea)
While the Israeli offers experience and creativity, at 31 years old he hardly fits the profile of a typical Wenger acquisition.Likelihood 2/5
