Arsa-Barca poaching spat

Arsenal are at it again. Tediously whining at the ref? No, not that. Arsene Wenger claiming he never saw a controversial incident inches from his nose? Again, no. Having the most irritating fans in London? Probably true, but I wasn't thinking of that especially.

Apparently the Gooners are sniffing about another couple of wunderkinder owned by Barcelona and president Joan Laporta is not happy: "British clubs offer astronomical amounts to juveniles of 14, 15 and 16 years; amounts that, ethically, we cannot match."

More Barca griping here and here.

Arsenal snatched Cesc Fabregas from the Catalans last year and now apparently on the trail of Fran Merida and Assulin Gai.

Here's some video of Fran Merida (apparently)

There's more here

I can't find much info on "Assulin Gai". I think the player being referred to is Gay Assulin (stop sniggering at the back), a young Israeli. Apparently he spent his childhood in Belgium and Holland before turning out for Beitar Nes Tubruk back in Israel. His parents took him to a Barca trial and the rest is history. And internet speculation.

Some advice for Gay: For Lord's sake, keep that "Gai" thing going if you do get to London otherwise you're going to get bullied. And Assulin ain't too clever with that first syllable is it? Best keep shtumm if asked what your name is.

There's some confusion with Fran Merida as it was announced last October that Arsenal had signed him and since then nothing has been heard.

Various internet rumours have swirled around that he left Barca to train with Celta Vigo but it may be more likely that Arsenal want to keep everything quiet as it's a delicate area.

It was also announced at the time that Arsenal had signed young Mexican striker Carlos Vela - but it's also gone quiet on the front, maybe because trans-continental players movements are tightly regulated.

Barca have a point - Man Utd also nabbed Gerard Pique last year and it must be rather galling to lose all those players. Although Barcelona did nick Leo Messi at the age of eleven from his Argentinean club Newell's Old Boys.

And Laporta also is correct in saying that English clubs aren't that interested in developing youth players. Yesterday the European U21 Championship Finals started in Portugal with zero representation from the UK. Yesterday also saw the annual Toulon U20 Festival of Football finish (France beat Holland on penalties) with no British side troubling the tournament.

However, three British sides have started qualifying for Euro U19 Championships. After three games, Northern Ireland and England are propping up Group 6 but Scotland are flying high in Group 5. The Welsh have not bothered in the first place.

I can neither confirm nor deny Arsenal scouts attending those matches. But I bet they aren't. Too busy in Barcelona, probably.