Cazorla Interview – Arsenal have been after me for years (and size doesn’t matter!)

The talented Spanish midfielder Santiago Cazorla believes he will settle into playing with his Arsenal team-mates very quickly, although he admits that the pace of the game in England is a lot faster than he’s used to after playing in La Liga.

Also there were many rumours last summer saying that Arsenal were in contention with Malaga for his signature, and Cazorla admitted this was true. He said: “My initial impressions are really good and I’m really happy to be here. Hopefully we can have a great season this year and with any luck I’ll be able to help the team achieve great things.

“It’s a great team, with a very important history in the English game. I know they’ve been interested in me for a few years and that means a lot to me. It is a good fit for me.

“Here there is a faster rhythm to the game, a higher tempo. In Spain games are more cautious, more tactical. Here is more tempo, more to-ing and fro-ing, but I like it.”

“Every day I’m becoming more used to my team mates and enjoying myself more. The club have done a lot to help me settle in the team and to make it easy for me to get used to life in the city. Every day is a little bit better and I feel a little more comfortable.”

Despite a lot of English teams having big, strong players, Cazorla doesn’t think his size (5ft 6in) will have an adverse affect on playing in the Premiership. “It’s overstated,” he said. “The idea that smaller, technical players can’t do well here. We have powerful players in Spain, too.

“Being tall isn’t what makes you a good footballer and I don’t think that’s the defining factor in English football at all.

“It’s a great league and it’s a different challenge. There’s a great passion for football here and it’s a wonderful place to play your football.

Having spent most of his career playing as a winger, Cazorla also revealed that Wenger is expecting to play a more central role. He said: “That’s where the manager played me, as a second striker, with the freedom that I like to have. It’s a position I really like, not one I’ve played in much in recent years, but I will play there without problems.”

Being the same size as Lionel Messi, and having played regularly against the Argentinian and also Christiano Ronaldo, you would have thought that one of these two would be his favourite footballer that he has faced, but he has other ideas! He said: Cazorla said: “During your life you always have different players that you like. When I was a child, because my dad liked the ‘Dream Team’, I liked Michael Laudrup.

“But I have always said the best player I have played against, and the most elegant player, was Zinedine Zidane. There’s Messi and Ronaldo, but I still think being lucky enough to play against Zidane, and see him play, was amazing. He is still the best.

“He had it all as a player. He was elegant, he had quality, he was strong and he was tall. He looked like he was going to be clumsy because of his height but then you realised he was so skilful and gifted with the ball.

“I really enjoyed watching him play, it was a pleasure. I would highlight everything about him, because he had everything to be the best player.”

He has had a promising start to his Arsenal career, and perhaps we will be seeing our youngsters talking about him as their hero in the same way he talks about Zidane. Arsene Wenger obviously believes in him……

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Santos held after car chase

It is understood that Andre Santos, 29, from Sao Paulo in Brazil, was

apprehended by officers who noticed a car being driven erratically by a driver

who failed to stop.

The incident happened last Friday morning - the day before the North London

team's first game of the season - Scotland Yard said.

It is thought Santos, who was on the bench for the Gunners' opener against

Sunderland on Saturday, was behind the wheel of a powerful sports car.

He was picked up by officers close to Arsenal's training ground in London

Colney in Hertfordshire, just inside the M25 motorway.

The Sun newspaper reported a car was being driven at speeds of up to 130mph in a high-speed chase.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Shortly after 9.30am on Friday August 17, a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop for police on the A1, near to Junction 22 of the M25.

"Officers' attention was drawn to the vehicle due to the manner of its

driving.

"The man has been bailed to return at a date in mid-September to a North

London police station.''

The man was not breathalysed, police added.

?

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Alex Song completes £15m move from Arsenal to Barcelona after passing a medical

The Cameroon international successfully passed his medical at Barcelona earlier today and this afternoon put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Primera Division giants.

Song, whose contract has a buy-out clause of £63 million, will now join his new team-mates for the official team presentation at the Joan Gamper Trophy at the Nou Camp this evening, where the Catalan club face Sampdoria.

After passing his medical with flying colours, doctor Ricard Pruna said of Song: "His body fat percentage is extremely low and he has good muscle quality.

"I don't think he's had muscle injuries since he was 17, and that's really good news. He passed all the tests and he's available to the manager."

The 24-year-old becomes Barca's second major signing of the summer after the capture of Spain full-back Jordi Alba from Valencia and follows a well-worn path from Arsenal to the Nou Camp.

During Arsène Wenger's reign at Arsenal, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Thierry Henry, Alexander Hleb and Cesc Fabregas have all made the switch to Barca.

It remains to be seen when Song will make his debut for his new side.

After tonight's match against Sampdoria, Barca are back in action on Thursday when they host arch rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Supercopa.

On Sunday Barca travel to Osasuna for their second Primera Division game, having started their campaign with a 5-1 mauling of Real Sociedad last night in what was new coach Tito Vilanova's competitive debut having replaced Pep Guardiola this summer.

Song sat out Arsenal's Barclays Premier League opener against Sunderland on Saturday amid widespread speculation he was on the verge of a move to Barca, and immediately after that match it was announced that the two clubs had agreed terms for the transfer of the player.

Primarily a defensive midfielder, Song joined the Gunners on loan from French club Bastia in August 2005 before the move was made permanent at the end of the 2005/06 season.

In the following season he spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Charlton before returning to Arsenal and subsequently establishing himself as a key member of Wenger's squad.

In total, Song made 204 competitive appearances for Arsenal during his seven seasons at the club, scoring 10 goals.

Arsenal said in a statement on their website today: "Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Alex for his contribution to the club and wish him the best of luck for the future."

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Poll: are Manchester United now title favourites after sealing £22m move for Robin van Persie from Arsenal?

Van Persie's arrival is a major coup for Sir Alex Ferguson. The 29-year-old Dutchman had been coveted by Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini spoke in glowing terms about him last week.

And United fans, who over the last few years have become used to seeing all the star names head to City, will certainly be thrilled by the potential of Rooney partnering someone who caused such damage to top flight defences, scoring 30 times in an overall tally of 37 last term, despite Arsenal's obvious inconsistencies.

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Robin van Persie secures £22m move after Manchester United and Arsenal agree on a fee

It is understood that Ferguson’s determination to sign Van Persie convinced the Dutchman that his future lay at Old Trafford, rather than at City, who failed to match Arsenal’s asking price or United’s salary offer.

Van Persie is also believed to have placed high importance on playing for a club steeped in tradition and with a long history of success and United, along with Barcelona, who failed to join the pursuit of the player, were the forward’s favoured options when he announced his decision not to extend his Arsenal contract.

Although Wenger had been determined to retain Van Persie after losing Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in recent seasons, the player’s decision to issue an incendiary statement in July, which questioned the club’s ambition and blueprint for the future, set in motion his exit from the Emirates.

Following a meeting with Wenger and Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, Van Persie said in a statement on the player’s website: “Unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we, in many aspects disagree, on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

“I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract. You guys, the fans, have of course the right to disagree with my view and decision and I will always respect your opinions.”

After being omitted from Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the Far East to “work on his fitness”, Van Persie was booed by travelling supporters ­during a friendly against Cologne in Germany at the weekend — an episode which accelerated Arsenal’s decision to reopen negotiations with United this week.

Talks resumed between the two clubs on Tuesday and United, who had opened their bidding for Van Persie with an £8 million offer in July, ultimately raised their offer to £15 million, with further payments based on Van Persie’s appearances, goals and silverware won as a United player.

While falling short of the £25 million initially demanded by Arsenal, the North London club claimed last night the deal could ultimately be worth £24 million, although United were adamant it was £22 million.

Van Persie’s signing may also help smooth growing dissent among ­United’s supporters following the recent move by the club’s American owners, the Glazer family, to raise £150 million in a partial share sale on the New York Stock Exchange.

Having had a £30 million bid for Brazilian youngster Lucas Moura accepted by Sao Paulo prior to a late gazumping by Paris St Germain prior to securing Van Persie, United have made their first eye-catching foray into the transfer market since the captures of Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez in the summer of 2007.

The £17 million purchase of Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund and a deal worth up to £6 million for Crewe youngster Nick Powell ensure that United’s spending will break the £40 million barrier with the acquisition of Van Persie, who is expected to make his debut at Everton on Monday evening.

Speaking last week, United forward Wayne Rooney admitted his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Van Persie.

"He's a fantastic player," Rooney said. "He's been amazing for Arsenal over many years. If he does come here, he would be a great addition to the squad."

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Sir Alex Ferguson disgruntled Arsenal are playing hardball after Man United make Robin van Persie bid

There had been rumours circulating prior to tonight's game that Van Persie was heading to Manchester for a medical.

It seems they were wide of the mark.

"I can't give you any more information," said Ferguson. "We just have to persevere.

"We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there's no progress at this moment in time."

It was the second transfer blow of the day for United, who discovered prior to kick-off that Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura had joined cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain.

Ferguson was keen to sign the teenage midfielder from Sao Paulo and remained in Manchester at the weekend when his team headed to Norway "to do some business".

The clearest indication Moura was looking elsewhere was that Ferguson jetted out of Manchester prior to Brazil's Olympic semi-final win over South Korea last night, when the midfielder was an unused substitute.

It seems United simply could not compete with PSG's Qatari-backed spending power.

Following the huge purchases of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, Ferguson stated the world had 'gone mad'.

"I find it quite amazing that a club can pay 45million euros for a 19-year-old boy," said the Scot.

"To tell everyone that PSG are here they've signed Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They must have spent about £150million in the last month.

"The only deterrent to that is Uefa.

"In the conditions of European football, you don't qualify for Europe by winning the league or coming second - you only get in by invitation.

"That's where, hopefully, Uefa can have some power.

"When somebody's paying £45million for a 19 year-old boy you have to say the game's gone mad."

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tribalfootball.com cop pelters from Facebook friends after Team of the Year nomination

Following the PFA's Player of the Year nominations being released this week, the front office at tribalfootball.com thought we'd throw up our suggestions for Team of the Year on Facebook - and were absolutely hammered for it!

Our starting XI - literally - was:

Al Habsi (Wigan) - Vidic (Man Utd), Gallas (Spurs), Evra (Man Utd) - Nani (Man Utd), Wilshere (Arsenal) Parker (West Ham), Bale (Spurs) - Nasri (Arsenal) - Tevez (Man City), Berbatov (Man Utd)

We couldn't find a right-back - which sparked furious debate among our Facebook friends - along with the omission of Edwin van der Sar as goalkeeper.

After plenty of back and forth, a new Team of the Year was established:

Van der Sar (Man Utd) - Sagna (Arsenal), Vidic (Manchester United), Gallas (Spurs), Baines (Everton) - Nani (Man Utd), Parker (West Ham), Nasri (Arsenal), Bale (Tottenham) - Berbatov (Man Utd), Tevez (Manchester City)

But we still copped pelters for selecting William Gallas ahead of Chelsea captain John Terry!

Upset for missing out on the fun? Then you have to visit Facebook.com/tribalfootball, 'like' us and get involved!

The game is about opinions. Make yours heard! Join the tribalfootball.com
nation on Facebook today: Facebook.com/tribalfootball

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