Planet Swans ArchivesWilliams is a reported long term target for the Gunners although it has been widely rumoured that the initial interest was nothing more than agent speak at the front end and possibly even the catalyst for the falling out between the club and our manager’s agent.
And now injuries in the Arsenal defence to Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal have meant that the press can again link them with a move for Ash despite him starting the season for the Swans against Malmo last Thursday. The press reports also suggest that the gunners are unwilling to match the Swans valuation of £10m although interestingly again, the Swans valuation is rumoured to be closer to £15m – 50% up on the press reports which probably rubbish them slightly more?
I said it before last season ended (http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/news/31931/ash-to-stay-a-jack) that Ash would be a Swans player at the start of the season and nothing has changed that belief despite endless press speculation suggesting that the player will leave.
This kind of press speculation is to be expected at this time of the season and it is much easier still for the press to link Williams with a move to Arsenal than actually look around for people that may actually be on the way to the Emirates. Of course it will be worrying for Swans fans but never get away from the acceptance that this is continually the same story being re-hashed, just because Arsenal have a couple of defensive injuries doesn’t make it any more true or likely to happen.
So how do you spot a non-entity story? Generally they are backed with nothing other than words. No quotes from either club, player or player’s agent and generally they contain nothing that you haven’t already read elsewhere. This weekend’s press speculation is nothing more than people filing copy ready for a weekend break rather than insightful journalism that we should be worried about.
Ash is a Jack and he will stay a Jack. I’m convinced of it.
