Yesterday there was a piece in the Daily Mail about Cesc moving to Italy. Mostly conjecture you know, possibilities based on the fact that we’re hard up for cash and maybe, just maybe we are no better or worse of a team with or without Cesc. What was missing from the piece was any solid facts to back up the “whispers”.

Today the Sun decided that they cannot be outdone, presented their case for Cesc leaving, backed up by evidence from the man himself, including juicy bits like

“my family would understand if I signed for Real Madrid”

and

“Cristiano said he’s leaving Manchester United because he had nothing else to win. For me right now it is the exact opposite, seeing the impotence.”

although that last quote seems curiously like an unfinished sentence, maybe the rest of it didn’t fit with the direction of the piece.

Further proof of his impending departure in presented in a previous statement about camaraderie apparently he (Cesc) told Spanish TV that there was no comparison between the fantastic team spirit in his national side and the morose atmosphere at Arsenal.

In as much as it does not make good reading for Arsenal fans, it sounds to me similar to how we all feel. Are we not angry about the lack of trophies, isn’t the atmosphere around fans morose and despondent, is it surprising that a bus full of Spaniards will have a better atmosphere than one filled with an international mix?

One thing to bear in mind is context, I’d like to see the full text of the interview, some of the statements look heavily edited to me.

Anyway I am not at all worried that about Cesc leaving, I’ve accepted that one day it will happen hopefully we will get a few more years from him but I doubt he’ll be going anywhere this summer.

Another player in the news is Walcott, who is angry about being dropped by Pearce. He did recognise that he was poor against Finland and even his parents booed him off — I think the call it tough love son, tough love.

Yesterday I watched the Spain USA game, and a few things struck me.

• I’ve always suspected that Alonso isn’t that great of a player, I never understood why Arsenal fans keep calling for him except for the fact that he is Spanish and could keep Cesc company. Yesterday he gave the ball away much more than whisper it.. Denilson ever would.
• Is Torres and Villa really any better than Adebayor? Take away all the rubbish from Ade last season and look at it from purely as strikers, Ade’s strike rate is not dissimilar from the two. Yesterday Torres seemed intent on breaking Ade’s record for most offsides in a match.
• Once you learn to accept the vuvuzelas, your brain tends to shut it out. Just don’t pay attention to it.

Spain’s amazing run came to and end against the most unlikely of opponents. It just goes to show why we love sport, anything can happen.

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UPDATE As I thought the quotes were entirely out of context, arseblogger has enlightened us to the source and context of the quotes.