Arsenal close in on Ben Arfa
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While off-the-field matters are important, Arsenal are
also expected to announce soon, possibly within days, their first
major signing following a disappointing end to a season that
promised to deliver another League title. The most likely arrival
appears to be the France international left-winger Hatem Ben Arfa,
who has long been admired by Wenger and who claimed in the French
sports newspaper L'Equipe that he is in talks with the
Gunners. "It is true that we have spoken about Arsenal, but we will
see how it is going to happen," he said.
The French season has not yet ended and Ben Arfa, a 21-year-old
of Tunisian descent who can also play as a central striker, has
endured a difficult season at Lyons under coach Alain Perrin.
Although having just been voted the French league's young player of
the season, he has been in and out of the team. Ben Arfa has been
in talks to extend his contract but has sought first-team
guarantees, while a swap deal involving Marseilles' Samir Nasri has
also been mooted.
Arsenal know that Lyons are a notoriously difficult club to
negotiate with and that Ben Arfa's public declaration may be a
bargaining tool for his own ends, but an offer of more than £11m is
likely to succeed. It would also be a statement of intent from the
club who have been angered by suggestions that they are strapped
for cash in the transfer market.
Ken Friar, Arsenal's acting manager director, has reassured the
influential Arsenal Supporters Trust, that a sizeable kitty is
available to Wenger which includes cash rolled over from his lack
of spending last season. Arsenal are also targeting a powerful
central defender and there may possibly be a third new arrival to
counterbalance the loss of Mathieu Flamini and the expected
departure of Alexander Hleb.
Arsenal are increasingly impressed by Kroenke and want to foster
closer relationships with the American who has signed up to the
lock-down agreement over share sales which effectively prevents the
club being taken over before 2012 – although there is a termination
clause in October 2010. Kroenke, who also has interests in ice
hockey, basketball and American football, has worked hard to
develop a marketing relationship with Arsenal.
It is unlikely that he will be offered a place on the board in
the near future but such is the degree of trust that has developed
between the parties – in contrast to the Russian billionaire
Alisher Usmanov – that he is likely to be asked to join before the
end of the year.
