So, after 24 hours of hearing that the deal for Arshavin was finally done, guess what?  It's not.

Instead we're being told that the deal is still tangled because Arshavin and Arsenal have yet to agree on personal terms.  I wrote yesterday that it seemed odd that this would be the case since everyone was reporting that Arshavin and the Gunners had already reached a basic deal and all they were waiting on was Zenit's approval.

So what's the hold up?   Uh...I don't know, but here are some of the reported issues:

1. Who pays the fees of Arshavin's agent?  We're talking about a fee along the lines of 2 to 3.5 million pounds.   Zenit want that fee to be paid by Arsenal.  Arsenal have never paid an agent's fees and that's unlikely to change now.  They feel that's something the player should pay.  And Arshavin's agent only cares that he gets his fee paid.

 2. Arshavin is seeking a pay packet over 100,000 pound per week.  The highest paid players at Arsenal right now are Adebayor and Fabregas -- at 80,000 pounds per week.  The idea that any new player (nevermind one that's yet to prove himself in the Premier League) would receive such a pay packet from Arsene Wenger is laughable and brings to question Arshavin's "desire" to leave Zenit.

 3. Zenit are still holding for a fee close to their 20 million pound valuation.  Uh, that's a deal breaker.

At this point (Tuesday night), I think that unless a miracle happens, this deal will not go through.  And part of me is disappointed -- as someone over at the WSD boards mentioned, imagine a midfield of Nasri, Cesc, Rosicky and Arshavin.  Then again, part of me just wants a resolution.

If Arsenal want to kill this deal and go looking elsewhere I understand.  

BTW, tomorrow's game pits us against Everton.  And don't look so surprised but we're only 9 points off the lead and 6 behind Liverpool and Chelsea.  In short, while I think a title challenge is still too far away, the Top 4 finish that we need isn't.  Tomorrow's game is paramount to that end.  And the last few days in the transfer window should bring some help.  

We always leave it late in the transfer window and we've been leaving it late in the league so far this season.  I can see both trends continuing.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article5594933.ece

From all indications it appears so.  The long-protracted transfer saga of one Andrei Arshavin appears to have finally come to a conclusion as Arsenal appear to have landed their man.  

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24969029-2883,00.html

This article says the amount is AU$35 million (or approximately17 million pounds)...

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-at-last-close-in-on-record-deal-for-arshavin-1516908.html

...which this article seems to confirm.  In short, that'd be Arsenal's transfer record purchase.

Now one small bit of pause: all the articles imply that terms have yet to be reached between Arshavin and the Gunners.  

But weren't they saying that Arshavin had already reached terms and that the hold up was Zenit's constant consideration of the transfer fee?

Fingers crossed this is finally reached its conclusion...and the club can go buy a defensive midfielder.  Hey, Bolton are tabling a 13M quid bid for Miguel Veloso!  Can we go find some loose change to challenge them?

*The quote is from the Matrix movies.  Right after Agent Smith's finally turned Neo into another one of his clones, he asks whether the battle is finished...right before all the Matrix explodes.  Here's hoping the same doesn't happen here.

So while we wait on news from the Arshavin front (latest rumors: he's going on strike at Zenit and won't report for their winter training trip to the United Arab Emirates while at the same time his agent says something could happen by next week),  the big news out there in this quiet transfer window is the massive offer Manchester City have reportedly made to AC Milan.  100 million pounds for one Ricardo Kaka'. 

Read that again.  100 million pounds.  Nearly 150 million dollars.  For one player.

That's more than double what Real Madrid paid for Zidane (the current European transfer record).  That's more than triple what City paid for Robinho (the current English transfer record). 

The first thought that rang in my head is: "Wow, how could Milan turn that down?"  But they went and did anyway.  The second thought was: "How would I use 100 million pounds on Arsenal?"

I think we can start by saying we wouldn't spend 100 million quid in one transfer window; nevermind on one individual player.  Arsene has never been one to go overboard on transfer fees -- instead preferring to pay lower amounts for unknown players that can be molded and added into the Arsenal rosters of the past and present.  When your most expensive purchases are Sylvain Wiltord, Jose Reyes and Theo Walcott, well, you're not exactly splashing the cash around.

But that's part of Arsene's point.  Spending so lavishly on any one player creates an imbalance in the locker room.  Players know that there's a new sheriff in town and that he's almost certainly untouchable.  They know that such a player is coming with an almost guaranteed starting spot penciled into the roster and that they have to acquiesce out on the pitch to whatever this new player demands.

The other problem it creates is an inflation of the prices in the transfer market for other players.  If Player X is worth 10 million quid but is sold for 20 million, then Player Y will think to himself "Oi, I'm better than that bloke!  I'm worth 25 million!"  And his club will think "Clearly Player Y is worth 30 million!"  Just ask Chelsea how it felt to be held hostage by Lyon over the transfers for Essien and Malouda.  But what could they do?  Lyon knew that Chelsea had splashed the crazy cash around and they weren't going to budge from their valuations. 

Or to bring it back to the start, why is Andrei Arshavin worth 20-27 million pounds according to Zenit St Petersburg?  He's 27 years old.  He's never played in any league outside the Russian league.  Before last season's run in the UEFA Cup and the run by the Russian National Team in Euro 2008, Arshavin was in no one's radar.  But a few big games and all of a sudden he's worth as much as the top players in Spain and Italy and Germany and England?

It's because clubs in the last few years have gotten used to big money transfers.  Players who'd be worth 2 million go for 5.  Players who are worth 10 would go for 16.  And a lot of those moves were made by the English clubs -- Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham being the prime suspects.  Guys who'd yet to prove themselves at the top levels going for 16-18 million quid.  Talented stars going for 25-30 million pounds. 

This is what people expect of major English clubs.  Unfortunately for them, Arsenal have never played that game.  And with the way the current global economy is going, the chances that they would start now are slim and none...with none having left already.

So let Zenit think Arsenal are capable of going mad like Manchester City.  We won't.  100 million pounds for one player? 

Do we look that batshite mad?

-- Written at minute 83:45 on the thread dedicated to the game between the Gunners and the Wanderers over at the World Soccer Daily message boards.

Yeah, you can say I kinda lost it.  

It was the vintage Fat Sam tactics we were accustomed to seeing but now being used by Gary Megson.  You can say it was everything that Arsenal has hated to face in recent years all found in one game -- well, except for the bad refereeing decisions and Ferguson mind-games garbage.

Outside of a second-half start push, Bolton's entire plan was to put 10 men behind the ball, hoof the sucker down and pray for a counter-attacking chance.  As I said, vintage Bolton.  Give so much possession, so many chances and so much of the pitch to use while ensuring that it all results in nothing and pray you can steal a win or at least get a draw. 

Of course, it's not as if we made things easier.  A number of really good chances went wasted.  Manu Adebayor went M.I.A. once again -- and I think one or two questions need to be asked of his performance so far in this year.  The creativity in midfield came from Samir Nasri, who linked rather well with the other attacker with his shooting boots on, Van Persie.  

I have to say I feel sorry for RVP.  He worked his butt off all game long, taking defenders on 2 and 3 at a time and trying like hell to create a goal.  Perhaps it looked at times as if he was trying to do it all himself, but the fact is that if he wasn't, it appeared that no one else would step forward.  When that shot of his (past 3 defenders and the keeper) caromed off the post, you had to feel that

Then Bendtner came in for Eboue and almost had a goal from start.  Finally RVP found him with a long ball from the left that Bendtner connected with.

Which led to my reaction.

Three points.  Three glorious, beautiful points.  

With Villa's narrow win over West Brom and Manchester United's crushing victory over Chelsea, we find ourselves three points behind the 3rd and 4th spot holders.  Not the best of spots, but all things considered, we are keeping pace with the leaders.

Just a quick aside to mention the latest Arshavin rumors: Apparently his dream move to Eastlands is now happening as it appears that Manchester City have used the Sheik's Platinum Credit Card to sneak in and steal Arshavin from under our noses.  An 18 million quid transfer fee was the asking price.

Wait..no...no...apparently Arsenal are the only club to table a bid (10 million pounds) and that was turned down by Zenit.  Yes, that's the latest rumor.

Unless you've heard that Andrei is quitting football to finally live the dream of acting in the live action Prince Valiant movie.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/01/07/arsenal-on-verge-of-10million-andrei-arshavin-signing-exclusive-115875-21021457/

Just a slight post today, to bring this up.

Yeah, it seems we are dealing with Zenit St Petersburg over Andrei Arshavin.  The price?  10 million quid.

....Really?

After spending the summer valuating him anywhere between 20 and 27 million pounds, Zenit's asking price has fallen like a lead balloon.  But by half?

This may be influenced by a number of factors: Arshavin's well-known desire for a move somewhere (Anywhere at this point) away from the vodka and stunning blondes of St Pete.  And the current financial climate means that 25 Million quid fees are likely to return to their rarefied air.  Finally, after Barca and Spuds went and couldn't get a deal finalized, it's obvious that demanding such a high-fee for a 27-year old attacker with no foreign league experience is too much to ask for. 

Let's see if it's true.  

In other rumors, apparently Nicklas Bendtner is being offered to clubs as a swap partner and Fulham may have taken them up.  Bendtner and cash, the rumor goes, would go to Fulham in exchange for...Jimmy Bullard.

I'd be all for this swap.  Bendtner may one day become the striker he feels he already is.  Right now...he's not.  And Bullard (injuries aside) is the kind of creative midfielder we could use.

So is any of this true?  Will it happen?  Or is it all part of the wind-up paper machine?

Fingers crossed.

Ok, maybe not so much.

BTW, hope you had a nice holiday and didn't have to show up for work.  And if that's the case, then may you get bad beer over the weekend!   (Lousy...no good people...enjoying their holiday...not at work unlike me....)

Anycase, the big news right now is the mooted transfer request by Kolo Toure.  It seems his relationship with Billy Gallas has gone the way of Robert Shaw and that mechanical shark.  Sad to say they don't get along and Kolo feels as if his career would be better served elsewhere.

I've been a big fan of Kolo's.  He had the game that complemented Sol Campbell, Phil Senderos or any other big, bruising CB.  He was a quiet leader who was growing in stature within the club.  And he was a mainstay on the Ivory Coast team.  I thought he was set for a good, long career with Arsenal. 

But between his loss of form after the malaria he contracted while on ACN duty and his inability to work with Gallas in central defense, Kolo has lost his spot.  Not only that, but he's now third choice CB after Gallas and Johan Djourou.  All of that has resulted in Kolo being willing to leave the club as shown by his putting in a transfer request.   The request follows the rumors of a potential 10 million pound move out there to Manchester City, who are in a desperate situation regarding their defense and have crazy money to fix it with.  (They just paid Chelsea 12 million quid for Wayne Bridge!)

That said, I feel that what I said for Gallas' departure in January goes just as well for Kolo.  I don't expect him to leave in this window.  In fact, unless it's an over-the-top offer, I don't expect we'll be selling any first team players right now.  The team is too riddled with injuries and lacks cover to just sell Premier League-experienced talent at this point. 

And that may be a blessing in disguise for Kolo and for the club.  I still think he's a quality defender. I think he can be brought back into the fold.  And regardless of what happens this season, I have to think there'll be major changes in this squad over the summer.   Perhaps things can be smoothed over in the coming weeks.  Perhaps the long-awaited departure of Gallas will change things.  Who knows?

All I know is that I'm glad the club isn't just trying to be accomodating to his transfer request.  It tells me that they're aware of their own situation and still see value in Kolo. 

We'll see how this plays out.  In the meantime, we're apparently moving for Shay Given, Andrey Arshavin and the Swedish bikini team.  Awesome!  Them Swedish girls make great wingers!

I'll take a quick moment from all the Arsenal-gazing to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas...or Happy Hannukah...or Happy Kwanzaa.  Or may you just simply have a festive Winter Solstice.

Now is the time to be with family, friends and loved ones.   We can worry about Cesc's injury or the holes in the roster later.

Drink eggnog.  If you got lots of family crashing with you, then drink lots of eggnog with a serious splash of vodka, tequila, rum or whiskey.   Open presents and don't think of what someone else got you as being insulting (even if it's just peanuts).  And if you gotta answer the same questions about when you're getting married/having kids/moving out/growing up, well, grin and bear it.  

There's plenty of Arsenal in the days to come to make you forget all that.

You'll have to forgive me for not commenting on today's game.  Unfortunately, I'm out of town and that means I was unable to catch the game.  Not that I missed much from all reports.  Losing sucks.  Losing at home sucks.  Losing at home TO Hull Freakin' City sucks big time.  But losing at home to Hull Freakin' City WITHOUT SCORING A SINGLE GOAL is...well, I got no description for it.

So rather than put myself through the aneurysm-inducing replay, I'll rather comment on the big story of this week:  Michel Platini picking a fight with Arsene Wenger.  

Short version, Platini does an interview with French press in which he blasts Arsene as a "businessman" (i.e. someone interested in the business end of football more than the sporting end) and implied that all Arsene cares about is the big clubs.  What made it kind of weird is that the interview wasn't about Wenger, but Platini found a way to bring it back to him.

By Friday, Platini had backed down and apologized for some of his vitriol; partly because his dad (a mentor to both men) sort of tore him a new hole.

I won't go into all of Platini's faults as they are many.  (After all, isn't it ironic that on the same week he proclaims he's a football man, that UEFA announces they're expanding the Euros field to 24 teams? Because clearly that will increase the chances San Marino, Luxembourg and Faroe Islands make it, right?)  But I'll just explain why he's wrong.

1. Arsenal have no Daddy Warbucks benefactor. 

In fact, Arsenal have rejected various opportunities to be taken over by billionairies with deep pockets.  Both Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov have found their advances and promises rejected by the club's board and the fans.  Yes, the club is among the richest in the world, but this is without a Roman Abramovich or Middle Eastern sheik to prop the books up. 

2. Arsenal aren't breaking the transfer fee records.

Unlike the mega-clubs from Spain or Italy (with whom Platini seems to have no issue), Arsenal don't blow 30 million euros on one player.  Just this offseason, Barcelona spent 24 million pounds on RB Daniel Alves and Inter Milan spent 17 million pounds on winger Ricardo Quaresma.  The most Arsene has spent on a player?  13 million pounds on Sylvain Wiltord.  The most expensive purchase starting in today's roster?  Theo Walcott, who could cost up to 12 million pounds once everything's said and done.  But he was bought as a 16-year old long-term project, albeit one that's developed strongly. Compare that to the 30 million pounds (a record at the time) Manchester United paid to purchase 17-year old Wayne Rooney.

And unlike those other clubs, Arsenal brings talent that is still growing and maximizes its abilities.  There's no buying of a finished product like Real or Milan or Chelsea do.  It's why so many of our players are targetted and tapped up by other clubs.  

3. Arsenal aren't the ones jacking the price for talent.

Players at Chelsea demand wages of over 100,000 pounds per week and no one bats an eyeball.  Players and agents looking to increase their wages simply have to sound the alarm that they're being followed by scouts from the biggest clubs around and can get it.  Well, except at Arsenal.  The club has a wage structure and it holds to it.  Ironically enough, that wage structure is seen as a detriment to the club's title aspirations as, conventional wisdom holds, players will eventually choose to leave for richer pastures.   

4. Arsene Wenger's track record.

Honestly, does Platini not know of what he speaks?  Wenger began his career at AS Nancy, moved to AS Monaco, where he had success.  He actually turned down moves to Bayern Munich and to take over the French national team out of loyalty to Monaco, only to be fired after a slow start.  How different might things have turned out if Wenger had done what Jose Mourinho did and bolt for the first big job he was offered?  And would a manager interested only in business be so willing to head to Japan to continue his career?  

The only major argument that critics can levy against Arsene and the way he does business is his purchasing of young players out of academies before they're old enough to sign a professional contract.  But even then, it's not as if Wenger and his coaches are using and disposing of youngsters and leaving them with nothing.  Just look around the top leagues and notice the number of players who began their careers in the Arsenal set-up only to move elsewhere to continue their careers.  Guys like Steve Sidwell, David Bentley, Fabrice Muamba, Arturo Lupoli, Justin Hoyte, Seb Larsson are all plying their trade elsewhere in football thanks to the training they received at the club.

Football has always been big business and it continues to be so now.  Platini, however, is talking out of his arse by targetting Arsenal as examples of the modern trend of money being the only thing that matters.

Well, with World Cup Qualifying break upon us, there's no game to talk about.  No preparations and no outcome to sample.  So let's look instead at what happened Monday night on Transfer Deadline Day (tm and copyright owned Sky Sports).

...

...

..

.

That was the round-up.  

Nothing.  Nada.  Zip.  Zilch.  Zero.  Bupkiss.  Whatever word you want to use.  No players going out (thank God), but no players coming in either.

This caused a massive wave of shock and anger across the Internet.  Blogs, message boards and call-in shows all filled with back and forths of fans who seemed to fall into two camps:

Camp #1: The group filled with angry gooners who couldn't believe that a single player could not be found to help bolster the central midfield hole and who angrily took to the waves to proclaim their anger against Arsene Wenger.

Camp #2: The group filled with angry gooners who couldn't believe there were Arsenal supporters hating on Arsene Wenger and who angrily took to the waves to remind everyone of the brilliance of the manager's tactics and policies and their anger at supporters who weren't behind the club 110%.

And both camps went at it in the hours after the transfer window shut down.  Accussing one another of myopia or doomsaying or bandwagoning or frontrunning or of stupidity and uselessness. 

All of which is a shame because if you notice both groups are gooners.  Arsenal supporters.  Fans.

I think there's more than enough room in the opinion chasm between both to placate every fan.  We can all support the manager and the players present and available at the club while at the same time ruing the opportunity to add talent, depth and health to our numbers. 

Injuries are a part of football life.  By not adding, Arsene has now left open the very real possibility that we could see 17-year old Aaron Ramsey or 16-year old Jack Wilshere on the pitch against a Manchester United or a Chelsea.  No offense to either kid, but they'd find it difficult against such opponents.  But he sees the players every day and feels that whatever was out on the market was not as good as what he had available for the prices being asked.  So be it.

Let's all remember:  Not every person who rises to Arsene's defense, however, is a sheep and not every person who openly criticizes him is a jackass.   Win, lose or draw, we will all continue to back the Arse.