Odds and Sods

Arsene Wenger announced that Mexican wonderkid Carlos Vela will feature in the Arsenal first team next season.

Vela, 19, played on loan for Spanish side Osasuna least year, scoring three goals in 32 appearances from the left wing.  Wenger, however, sees him in a more central role, describing him as “a central striker, an Eduardo type.”

Vela has three caps for the Mexican National team.  He signed for Arsenal in 2005 from Mexican club Guadalajara for £2.5 million.

Here is my All Premier League Team for 2008

David James, Portsmouth (GK) He was calm, collected and competent.  Unfortunately he didn’t bring back the slicked doo.

Gael Clichy, Arsenal (DL) Good defender.  Great going forward.  Provided the width Arsenal needed.

Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United (DC) He is a phenomenal defender, when not out “merking” his pals.

Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United (DC) The brains behind Rio’s braun.

Bakary Sagna, Arsenal (DR) Consistent, confident and composed, basically everything Eboue was not.

Ashley Young, Aston Villa (ML) He managed to save some of his pace and ferocity for his on the field endeavors.

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal (MC) Fabulous as usual.

Javier Mascherano, Liverpool (MC) He maybe the best midfield stopper in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United (MR) 31 goals.  20 more than any other midfielder.  Pretty, Pretty Pretty good.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal (FC) He improved his finishing from poor to below average, but still got in position to score 24 goals.

Fernando Torres, Liverpool (FC) The difference between Liverpool and a mid-table finish.

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.

Apparently, Madonna let Guy Ritchie out of his gimp suit long enough to shoot this amazing Nike commercial.