Studs Up

So Wenger seems worried about the imminent trend of footballers taking advantage of the Webster Rule, just as the Bosman changed the face of the game for a few years (quick, name the last significant player to move on a Bosman). Arsenal are really the only team to have been stung in the Premier League, with Hleb and Flamini using it to engineer moves away from the club either directly or indirectly by forcing a transfer. Lampard threatened (via his agent) but ended up getting the fat contract he wanted from Chelsea.

Thus attentions turn to Cesc Fabregas. Wenger made him captain when Gallas proved again what a tit he was, but I’m sure he had one eye on piling on the emotional connection the Spaniard may have to the club in an effort to get him to stay. But Cescs’ best mates have left and his hero, Pep Guardiola, is the current manager of a rampaging Barcelona side.

All the Arsenal fans I’ve spoken to seem to believe that Cesc will stay out of love for the club, but there isn’t a better time for him to join Barca on a professional and personal level and unfortunately for the Premier League I think he knows it too.