Odds and Sods

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro “the snarling dog” Gattuso has admitted his desire to play in the English Premier League, potentially next season.

Gattuso, 30, previously played in Britain for Scottish side Rangers and has an English speaking wife. He has been rumored in the past to be a target of Manchester United.

He is widely regarded as one of the premier defensive midfielders in football, known for his energy and savage tackling. If Milan will let Gattuso go, he would arouse interest from the top four in England as well as hopeful cash foisters, such as Newcastle and Tottenham.

Wenger mentioned bringing an experienced player into the Arsenal squad. It is hard to get more experience than Gattuso who has two Champions League winners medal and a World Cup.

He would give Arsenal some steel in the midfield. He would also provide flexibility, being able to play on the middle and on the right and in the midfield or in defense. It would seem to make sense.

Having lost the monikered Gattuso to Milan, would Arsene splash the cash to bring in the genuine one?

According to The Independent, Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini is Milan bound as of July 1.

Flamini will reportedly sign a five-year 20 million Euro contract with A.C. Milan. The Rossoneri see him as the eventual replacement to Gennaro “The Snarling Dog” Gattuso.

The contract was worth a million more per year than Juventus’ offer and much more than Arsenal was ready to pony up.

Wenger urged the midfielder to stay loyal to the Gunners, but given his treatment at the club before this season, Flamini was perhaps wise to look out for numero uno.

Flamini is a fine player but not irreplaceable. Arsenal have an experienced hand in Gilberto as well as frisky youngsters like Diaby and Denilson itching for a chance.

The scene after the match at Old Trafford looked quite familiar for Arsenal.  Their legs spent.  Their effort admirable.  The run of play theirs’.  The scoreline favoring the opposition.

The Gunners have won just two of their last thirteen matches in all competitions.  The only wins coming from a late brace against a gassed AC Milan and an improbable comeback from two-nil down against Bolton.  It’s been a two-month run that saw them eliminated from contention in the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Perhaps, we were wrong to expect so much from the squad.  They are young and inexperienced.  The already thin squad faced soul-sapping injuries.  With some better luck, they may still have been alive.  With the squad as constituted, they gave it a good effort.  We should be happy with their over-achievement.

The problem is that there is no compelling reason for the squad to have been so thin and so inexperienced.  Arsenal are one of the top five wealthiest clubs in Europe.  Even with the expenses from the new stadium, the club is raking in the profits.  The board have repeatedly stressed that whatever resources Arsene wants will be made available.

There is no justification for not having enough defenders, for having no natural wide players and for not having enough cover at striker.

Arsenal’s healthy first eleven can play with anyone in Europe, but they needed that first eleven on the field to win.  If you take Fabregas, Hleb, Flamini, Adebayor, Toure, Gallas, Rosicky or Clichy out of the eleven, Arsenal struggle and collapse.  

Forcing your key players to play every match takes its toll.  The difference against United today was not in quality, but in fitness and depth.  Arsenal held the advantage in the first half, but faltered when their legs were shot midway through the second half.  The fresher Man U squad reloaded, bringing in Tevez, Anderson and Giggs.  Arsenal subbed two teenagers and a reserve squad defender.

No one is suggesting Arsene spend 60mGBP, but a few more players of decent quality would allow them to rest regulars without taking a titannic dip in ability.  If the money is available, there is no reason not to do so.

The only rational justification has been to feed Arsene Wenger’s ego by accomplishing more with less, but, as I said before, the league is won by points, not points per pound spent.  I spent more money on Arsenal merchandise this season than they spent in the transfer window.  There is something wrong with that.

Why pass on outbidding an extra few million pounds for players on principle, when winning the title or the Champions League would more than account for it monetarily?  Was principle worth having Eboue on the right wing instead of say, Ribery or Cristiano Ronaldo?

Arsenal’s youngsters may well lead the club to trophies down the road, but they will still need to compete with Manchester United’s who are of similar age and winning right now.

How many years does Wenger withstand on ego and propriety alone?  And is it worth it?

Two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho has agreed to initial terms with AC Milan, paving the way for a move from Spanish side Barcelona in the summer.

The 28 year-old has made just seventeen appearances for Barcelona in La Liga this season, scoring eight goals.  Controversy over his training regimen and his relationship with teammates has simmered.  He has also struggled with numerous injuries.

Milan could potentially have a coup.  Ronaldinho is still relatively young.  If their medical staff can keep crusty farts like Paolo Maldini moving, they can mollify any of his meandering issues.  The environment change and the reunification with his Brazilian compatriots may ignite his enthusiasm for athletic achievements on the pitch (rather than in the bedroom).  They could be getting the best player in the world, for a bargain price.

But, this will still be an excellent sale for Barcelona.  With Henry, Eto’o and Ronaldinho, Barca were getting maximum alpha ego but minimum production from their absurdly talented front line.  Shedding Ronaldinho is the first of many moves required to restructure the squad around the superkids Leo Messi and Bojan Krkic.

We here at Odds and Sods wish the Brazilian well, if only so he can continue to inspire racial stereotype-spiced on-air orgasms from Tommy Smyth when he gets a bulge in the old onion bag.

Arsenal stole the show in Tuesday Night’s Champions League action, shocking A.C. Milan 2-0 in an historic evening at the San Siro. The Gunners are the first English club to beat A.C. Milan at home in the Champions’ League.

The two squads fought a back and forth duel of flowing football, with Fabregas - with the help of poor goalkeeping from Kalac - finally breaking the deadlock with a speculative 30-yard effort. The second goal, however, was pure skill as Walcott sidled his way into the box and set-up a sublime through ball for Adebayor to seal the deal.

The difference between the two sides, seems to have been up front. Adebayor consistently threatened the Milan back four, but Milan could not claim the same success. Inzaghi and Gilardino were useless. Jesus could not give a barely fit Kaka that extra bit of oomph to get by his markers.

With Ancelotti on the hot seat, could “the Special One” be leaving his Setanta Sports gig?

Man United also beat French-club Lyon 1-0, 2-1 on aggregate to secure their place in the quarterfinals, with the decisive blow coming from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 41st minute. Though the performance was neither perfect nor pretty, it sufficed.

Barcelona beat Celtic 1-0 on a third minute strike Deco. The goal gave Barcelona a commanding 4-2 advantage over Celtic with three away goals, allowing them to control without extertion. For a club that often seems a corrupt circus off the pitch, the calm and collected performance was a reassuring sign, though a mitigated one with the loss of Messi to a “suspected torn thigh muscle.”

There was also an exciting match in Spain, though not exciting enough to warrant a mention by the British media, as Fenerbahce advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s history on penalties after a 3-2 defeat at Sevilla.

Though the Turkish side lost the match, their 3-2 victory in the first leg made the aggregate score 5-5. With both clubs having two away goals, the decision came down to penalties. Where Fenerbahce keeper Volkan Demeril made three saves to send the club onward.