Daniel Ek still waits for Stan Kroenke to call him six months after his PS2billion Arsenal bid was rejected.
His ears probably perked up when it was announced that Silent Stan would be writing a PS590million check to settle a longstanding legal dispute.
The dispute dates back to 2016, when Kroenke moved his American football team to Los Angeles from St Louis.
He has already spent PS3,75billion on a new Rams Stadium in LA, and another PS410m for relocation fees.
If Spotify’s kingpin Ek thought that this latest payment of compensation to the city St Louis would force Kroenke to accept his Emirates offer, then he will be disappointed.
Money is not an issue when you are a multibillionaire and married to the Walmart Heiress.
It’s bad news to all the angry Gooners, who have protested long and loud in opposition to their club’s absence American owner.
Maybe it’s not as bad for Mikel Arteta, the manager of the expensive young team he quietly assembled over the last year.
The last thing Arsenal needs right now is to have more turmoil behind the scenes, at a time when they are finally getting their act together.
The humiliating loss by Liverpool last week, after earlier defeats by Chelsea, Manchester City and others, showed how much more work remains.
It is not too far-fetched to think that they could be contenders for the fourth position and final Champions League qualifying place.
West Ham are not worse than Manchester United, or Tottenham at the moment. However well they are doing right now, it is difficult to see them maintaining their lofty status.
Arteta has been allowed to spend more money than any Premier League manager during the summer months.
He received the unwavering backing of his owners, even when they had three points and no goals in their last three matches.
Kroenke also paid off the malcontents in the dressing rooms at the London Colney training facility.
Now, Arsenal has the youngest and perhaps most enthusiastic group in the Premier League.
No club in recent years has had more false dawns.
It’s a good sign that they are moving forward. This was something most fans expected after their team failed in its quest to qualify for Europe.
Kroenke made a grave mistake when he signed up for the European Super League. He deserved to be criticized.
Ek attempted to take advantage of this explosive situation in order to gain control of the club. He recruited legendary players Thierry Vieira, Patrick Vieira, and Dennis Bergkamp as part his campaign.
Henry remained steadfast even when his move was rejected: “We are not going anywhere.”
Vieira, who was hired as Crystal Palace’s manager in the past few months, has already left.
Silent Stan is not moving anytime soon.
It’s possible that this is not a bad thing at all for Arsenal.
CROUCH DOWNER
Premier League football is in a good position. Four English teams are top of their Champions League group and NBC has just signed a TV rights agreement worth PS2billion.
Tracey Crouch, the former Sports Minister of England, disagrees and has conducted a review that recommends the appointment an independent regulator for the management of the game in England.
But not in Scotland. Their football is booming.
Who will be the one to appoint such a regulator? Of course, the government.
You and I may think that Boris Johnson’s political allies are the last people who should be involved in football, or any sport for that matter.
Tracey, however, knows better. And with all the other things this government touches turning to gold I am sure that football is now ready for a trip up into the sunlit highlands.
No Wave Goodbye
BAYERN MUNICH has cut the wages of five players who are not vaccinated and Werder Bremen has fired their manager after allegations of fake Covid certificates.
Novak Djokovic, the tennis player, is expected to miss the Australian Open next month as he refused to confirm he had been double-jabbed.
Eddie Howe played his first game as Newcastle manager in solitude and West Ham’s Europa League match at Rapid Vienna took place in a stadium that was empty.
Although we might think that the coronavirus is over in sport, lockdowns across Europe could lead to another UK outbreak.
A CRASH OF ASHES
It turns out that Tim “nice but dim” Paine was not the clean-cut leader needed to restore cricket’s reputation in Australia.
Now, “Sandpaper” Steve Smith is back in the role of vice-captain and Pat Cummins, who was recently promoted to captain is likely deleting his Internet history even as we speak.
While they are up to their necks with sleaze and scum, England captain Joe Root along with many Yorkshire team-mates have been accused of being deaf to racist abuse.
We only need to drag the BBC and Sky commentators into this dispute. Sorry, what’s that?
PILLOW TALK
If you thought that a YouTuber battling a geriatric ex-boxer was the lowest form of pay-per view, then think again.
The world’s very first Pillow Fighting Championship is coming soon.
Organisers promise “all the excitement of MMA, but without the blood.”
All fights are likely to be featherweight.
