Another completely news free week, unless you are a fiction fanatic. I’m starting to get the right hump with this summer. I checked on what football streams were available yesterday and found I was out of luck unless I could work up some enthusiasm for the J or K Leagues. No offence to those in Japan and Korea, but I couldn’t.

Today at least there is the Johnstones Paints international invitation final between Brazil and the United States. That will give us another opportunity to cast wistful glances at Gilberto Silva, and his colleague Melo, who is becoming more and more expensive with every passing day. I’m not sure we have seen enough from him in this tournament to suggest he is worth anywhere near the twenty million plus his value seems to have doubled to in this close-season.

What makes this game watchable is the prospect, however remote, of the USA repeating their astonishing drubbing of Spain. Now even allowing for the fact that everything that could go right for them, did, and everything that could go wrong for Spain, did, you have to applaud what the States have achieved with the players at their disposal. There is a lesson there for some Gooners, and Piers bloody Morgan. You don’t need to have the biggest names to achieve.

There is basically a week left before pre-season gets under way. That could make this a big week for Ivan Gazidis as we try to usher along deals that Le Boss would like to secure before the players get back together. However, unless you are Real Madrid or Manchester City it is starting to look as though everybody else is playing the brinksmanship game and sensibly looking for the best deals for their limited budgets.

I think we should start considering which of the youngsters may be offered the opportunity to step up in the early friendlies, and I will return to this theme in the blog in the coming week. Other than that it looks like I’ll be digging out the old videos and dvd’s of seasons past for my football fix.

Apart from today. Good luck to the Merkans, but forgive me if old memories have me cheering Brazil on. Until Arsene came along the 1970 Brazilians were the finest footballing side I had the pleasure of watching. I’ll always have a soft spot for them.

And tomorrow, of course. Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs should feature prominently as England take on Germany in the European under-21 Championship final. I’ll be hoping they can avoid any knocks as much as wishing them all the best on the night.

Have a good Sunday, ‘holics.

An interesting discussion, and some even more interesting emails, followed my piece last week about season ticket holders looking to hire out their precious gold memberships as they cannot afford to renew this season.

I understand that the economic situation is really starting to bite and Arsenal do not have full take up of their executive box allocation for next season, so supporters will be offered the chance of premium matchday hospitality. Club level packages too will be available on a match by match basis.

Obviously the club is charging a premium for these so as not to upset existing corporate clients and platinum members. Prices will range from £250 per person up to a four figure sum for grade A games, so Dad will have to be worth a few bob if he is to treat the family to a luxury Arsenal experience.

What is interesting for me about this development is the fact that once again we have proof that Arsenal is not immune from the economic realities of the outside world. The signs are all there. Boxes not sold, Highbury Square properties not yet paid for, ‘Setanta’ cash may be reduced when those packages are resold, season ticket holders unable or unwilling to renew. Those who would have us throwing money at expensive signings really need to understand the pressures the club are facing.

Although in the short term Arsenal have solutions to all of these situations, they will know that they will not be able to shift premium level seats on an individual basis for more than a season or two. I can imagine a number of fans will be keen to sample that level of comfort once, but not many will be able to afford to repeat the experience.

The club was always able to withstand pressure on ticket pricing from the bottom up because of the number of people on various waiting lists, or on the red membership list. This is different. If boxes and club level tickets remain unsold for any length of time then the price pressure from the top down will have much more of an effect. If at some point the prices for ‘corporate’ seats are forced down, then the other levels will have to be adjusted accordingly.

So if you are on the Arsenal mailing lists be prepared for the charm offensive that will start to arrive in your inbox in July. Then think long and hard about how many highly-priced and highly-paid players you expect the club to move for when it is desperately hawking its prime seats to all and sundry.

Most of all though do not be tempted to view this as being a potentially negative development for only Arsenal. All clubs are facing the same challenges, and those like our friends up the road who have new stadiums in the pipeline should be absolutely bricking it at this moment. The years of prudent direction are about to work in our favour, I think.

Charity Arsenal Celebrity Match

I’m indebted to the Arsenal Away Boyz for sending me details on Facebook of a charity match to be played at Marriotts School, Telford Avenue, in Stevenage on 12th July. If you are in the area why not take the family down for a great day out.

A team of Arsenal ex-professionals and celebrities will be playing at the event. Tickets are just a tenner for adults, and a fiver for kids (under fives go free). The proceeds will help to provide a better life for Kayley, and further details can be found on the ‘Future Events’ tab on that site. If you are able to go along, please do. Thanks.

So the deal is complete and Thomas Vermaelen is now officially an Arsenal player. I have to confess to not having watched more than about three Ajax games last season, and he did not live in the memory. However there was no question that we needed a central defender, and the capture of a Belgian international, improving but yet to reach his peak, could prove to be a very shrewd piece of business.

It has been interesting watching this story develop from the time when Steve Stammers reported our interest in the Mirror back in May. It was interesting following the rumours on the various Arsenal forums. It is probably fair to say that there was as much negative discussion as positive in the last month.

Primarily the critics concentrated on his size and the fact that he has been plying his trade in a sub-standard Dutch league. I guess if your glass is always half empty those are fair concerns.

I’m not overly concerned if he is six feet tall, or an inch shorter. Aerial ability has never been determined by height alone, as fans of Tim Cahill will point out.

I’m also wary of the argument that just because the Dutch game does not generate the same funding as the major European leagues that players signed from there will be somehow blessed with less ability than once they had. The quality remains high but the cream of the Dutch game is destined to be lured away by the greater riches on offer elsewhere.

I called a mate I have worked with in Amsterdam for his take. I trust his judgement having spent time at Arsenal with him. He tells me that Vermaelen is (or rather was!) the best defender in Holland. His strengths are his distribution, and yes, his aerial ability. The fact that he was captain of a side of the stature of Ajax at just 23 tells us a great deal about his leadership qualities. He is more comfortable on the left side of the central pairing, which suggests he could be arriving as a replacement for William Gallas. As viewers of YouTube will be aware he is also more than capable of popping up with a goal or two from crosses and set pieces.

The only cautionary note is that he feels Vermaelen is not yet the finished article. Like all young defenders he still learns lessons the hard way occasionally. I asked if he thought there were similarities in that respect with Senderos, given the potential for the Swiss stopper to return this summer. ‘Most definitely not’, was the response. ‘He is more consistent than Phil and is not likely to suffer the same bullying by big centre-forwards. Technically he is at a level above Senderos.’

That’s good enough for me, for now. We will get the opportunity to form our own opinions soon enough. Let’s just be pleased that the first activity of the summer has been concluded and a player in an area most of us would agree needed strengthening has arrived.

Another centre-half, a defensive midfielder, and a goalscoring winger for me now please, Arsene!

The release of the new fixtures has prompted memories of one of the greatest of all Arsenal seasons. Back in August 1970 the side that three months earlier had ended a seventeen year run without a trophy by lifting the European Fairs Cup was handed the task of confronting new champions Everton at Goodison.

Everton took the lead as the half hour approached when Joe Royle climbed at the far post to head home a Tommy Wright cross. If the first-half belonged to Everton, there was no doubt the second was Arsenal’s.

Charlie George, freed by a typical John Radford through ball, equalized 19 minutes from full time. Not only the first Gunners goal of the season would follow this pattern. At Wembley the following May the two would combine for Charlie to score the last goal of the season, and clinch the double in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool. The former was costly however as George broke his ankle in a collision with Everton ‘keeper, Gordon West.

Everton then scored a controversial goal to go up 2-1, with Alan Ball later confirming he had deflected the ball to scorer Johnny Morrissey with his hand. How ironic that Ball would find himself at Highbury just seventeen months later.

This Arsenal side never knew when it was beaten, however. John Roberts, standing in for the injured Peter Simpson for the first few months of the season, set up George Graham for a glorious chip to equalise for a second time, and the Scot who would enjoy an altogether more glorious night on Merseyside in 1989 still had time to strike the bar as the visitors sought both points.

Here is hoping the 2009 contest is just as enthralling, and the points head back to North London afterwards.

It really is not my intention to write just a weekly piece during the summer, but there has been precious little to bring to you that is either newsworthy, or hasn’t been well covered elsewhere. Essentially the only ‘news’ of the week surrounded those who have, or have not, signed.

On the plus side Lukasz Fabianski has put pen to paper to end speculation that he may be heading for Paris. His record of nine clean sheets in eighteen appearances last season tells you much about him. Critics will point at his decision-making in the FA Cup semi-final, but in truth his decisiveness appears to be one of the things that has endeared him to Arsene Wenger.

One only has to think about the early months of Jens Lehmann at Highbury to realise that decision-making is something that can get better with time. Gerry Peyton, the goalkeeping coach, will be putting some hours in with the young Pole on this side of his game, I’m sure. On balance I am pleased that we do not need to spend scarce resources searching for another ‘keeper.

The week started with much speculation about the impending arrival of Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax. Everything I read and hear about the deal says it is all but done. We will know for sure I suspect around the end of the month, but I’m sure this is one signing that will be greeted enthusiastically when it is confirmed. Our defensive frailties are not a secret, and it is no surprise that the popular press are concentrating, for now, on stories concerning Kolo Toure, William Gallas, and Philippe Senderos.

Whilst I expect two of the latter trio not to feature at the Grove next season, any stories currently circulating about them are just pure speculation, or invention even. If I am right about that we should expect another central defender to appear, hopefully before August 31st.

Long-Term Red Member?

As the week developed I ended up chasing the club about membership renewals for both the management and I. Having signed up for direct debits for us both a year ago I was concerned that Arsenal.com was showing us as renewed about ten days ago although no money had been taken from my account.

I was even more confused when the renewal cd arrived on Tuesday telling me I should renew by Monday! To cut a long story short I called the membership hotline and they confirmed the money will be taken between the 18th and the end of the month. Then Friday they emailed me to say it would be debited on 22nd June.

So all was well, but while I had a real life person on the end of the phone I thought I would ask when the management can expect to join me as a silver member. She has been a humble ‘red’ for five years now. Apparently she is up to around 15000 on the waiting list, and the club expect conversion to happen after ‘about eight years’ at the moment.

Apparently those joining as a red member now would be at around 135,000 on the waiting list. Eight years at £27-35 a season is quite a contribution. I am so glad I was a member of the original ticket registration scheme before all this nonsense started.

Interestingly I am aware of a large number of season-ticket holders looking to ‘hire out’ their gold memberships as they cannot afford to either renew, or lose their privileges at the present time. The season-ticket waiting list is starting to look like a very tempting alternative to the red membership for new supporters, don’t you think?

I can say it is now official. I no longer have feelings for a former love. Which is something of a surprise, given the hold they once had over me. Time though has ravaged the features that once held an allure for me.

It is around twenty years since we were actually in each others company, but I had kept in touch from afar, a kind of long-distance stalker, if you will. Yesterday provided another opportunity. I knew my desire was on the wane. This was the first of half a dozen recent opportunities I had taken to run my eye over the England football team.

Even a four goal win on foreign soil (where the hell is Kazakhstan?) did not prompt once-familiar feelings. Apart from an early burst from Theo, there was nothing that made the soul stir. The football was barren, the opposition weak. It was, in truth, a non-event.

There was a time when part of the footballing calendar included a much-anticipated dual with the Scots, and the over-production of adrenalin that was generated by attending that particular game. I could not imagine going nowadays even if the fixture remained, and if the tickets were complimentary.

How did it come to this?. I have not fallen out of love with football. Already I am missing my Arsenal fix, even after a season which has prompted such disappointment and disagreement. I am starting to think it is something to do with the regard the modern day player has for himself.

Nowadays the top players are remote idols to their fans. Six figure weekly salaries enable these people to socialise in places that you and I will not have access too. When I watch the England team today (or rather yesterday!) I see only remote characters who I happily abuse on the once or twice a year I am lucky to see them.

I have seen Arsenal over the years of plenty grow into a side that delivers something more in the way of quality than it used to. That, and the huge emotional hold that the club has over me will keep me coming back for more.

I’m afraid the turgid stuff that England are delivering these days ensures I will not waste another penny on them. There is wall to wall football available on television and the internet these days, and I can be pickier about what I choose to watch. I’ll never have that choice as far as Arsenal is concerned, but the attributes that once earned England a place in the ‘holic heart have long since been surrendered.