While all the focus in Europe is on the 2008 Euros, Arsene Wenger has been quietly stock piling Arsenal behind the scenes.

Starting with the Work Permit for Mexican Carlos Vela and last weeks coup signing in the form of Wales’ Aaron Ramsey, They Voyeur is now intent on making the most of what could be an ugly situation.

With Flamini already gone and Hleb seemingly on his way out in what was the worst kept secret of the off season, Wenger’s focus on filing the defensive midfield role could seemingly be fixed with the acquisition of Kolo Toure’s brother and Barcelona’s Yaya Toure.

The 25 year old has already been with Olympiakos, Monaco and Barcelona, so the international pedigree is obviously there and that’s not even counting his 21 Full National Team Caps and World Cup experience with Ivory Coast.

If Arsenal can pull this one off and can hold on to Adebayor, then every team in the Premiership should start worrying about the upcoming 2008/09 season.

image via BBC

Mexican striker Carlos Vela has finally been granted his UK Work Permit and will join up with The Voyeur and Arsenal in July for pre-season training.

Vela had originally signed a five year deal with Arsenal back in November 2005 and was loaned out to Celta de Vigo, Salamanca (31 games 5 goals) and Osasuna (32 games 3 goals) before finally qualifying for the Work Permit.

He made his full debut for Mexico against Brazil in 2007 and followed that up with scoring the next match against Guatemala.  Vela was also named one of the best players at the 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada along with teammate and Barcelona star Giovani Dos Santos.

image via ArsenalPies

Looks like the summer’s only gonna get worse for Le Voyeur after news started leaking that Emmanuel Adebayor is looking for 80,000 Euro a week.

Although the big man signed a deal worth 35,000 a week just last summer, that was before finding the back of the net 24 times this campaign.

Come on Voyeur, pay up. If you offered 55,000 Euro a week for Flamini (who by the way wasn’t even getting consecutive matches only a year ago), then you better drop some coin on the most athletic forward in the Premiership.

And don’t give me that crap about signing a contract and abiding by it. With the amount of money that these clubs are making, they can afford it.

Just a little reminder, when you’re thinking about the outrageous amount of money that we’re talking about, think about the NBA and the amounts those 7th, 8th and 9th men on the bench are making.

image via Footy-Boots

When Blackburn’s David Bentley gave his opinion on Arsenal’s young talent Theo Walcott and his need for as many games as possible, rather than just cameo appearances, big boss man Arsene Wenger was not pleased at all. Accusing Bentley of trying to unsettle the young 18 year old, Wenger’s subtle cheap shot was a pretty deep one if you ask me.

Yeah, Bentley might have an axe to grind after being sent out on loan before deciding to leave Arsenal for a permanent move and to Blackburn, but on the other hand he might have a good point of view, being a player that’s found success outside a team that’s been filled with a mostly young, non-home grown starting 11.

I’m waiting to see how Sparky responds to Wenger’s comments and you know all these comments will play an interesting role in the next match between the two clubs.

When Nikolas Bendtner scored the last second equalizer against Aston Villa on Saturday, his strike partner was noticeably absent in the celebrations that kept Arsenal in the Premiership drivers seat. Since the argument and subsequent headbutt from Emmanuel Adebayor in the game against Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has maintained that both players get on as friends and there’s no problem between the two.

Trust me on this one, they hate each other. If I had to count how many teammates I’ve had that truly hate another player on past teams, I’d run out of breath.

Wenger admits as much when making the comment, “For me, the emotional sympathy is not a big importance for the big players. They are winners and they respect the game so much it goes above liking or disliking.”

image via CartoonStock