Vernazza

[El Padrino]

I take it that this is all off now that he is getting a bit of first team action?

[Men At Work]

Hmmm. He can stay in a Premiership first team and be on the bench for Champions League matches or can come to a first division club that is still having problems on and off the pitch. Tough call.

[Dave]

VERNAZZA GUNNING FOR A NEW DEAL
OPTA
Sunday, October 8, 2000

ARSENAL starlet Paulo Vernazza is hoping that his call-up to the England Under-21 squad will help persuade the club to offer him a new long-term contract.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who is on a weekly deal at Highbury, has seen his chances of regular first team football limited because of the depth of talent in the North London giants' midfield department.

The Islington born player is a self-confessed Arsenal fan and he thought he might have to leave the club for first team football with London rivals Crystal Palace believed to have been monitoring him.

Vernazza was loaned out to Ipswich two years ago and he had a temporary spell with Portsmouth last season in a bid to get some vital first team experience.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has involved the player more with the senior squad this season making three substitute appearances in the Premiership and in the process scoring his first goal for the club against Coventry last month.

After finally making the breakthrough into the first team, Vernazza is determined to stay at the club and win a new deal.

"Everyone is telling me I am doing really well and I have been part of things a lot more this season," Vernazza told the London Evening Standard. "There are so many great players at Arsenal and you learn a lot from them in training.

"It makes you realise the standard you have to achieve to succeed, but there comes a time when you want to play.

"It works for some people to go to another club to play and then come back, but hopefully I can stay at Arsenal.

"My agents are trying to sort out my contract and I will just keep working hard and try to earn my place."

by Peter O`Rourke

[SE .Kent]

If he sees Palace a stepping stone back into AFC -then no thanks - I have to say that Messrs Grey and Black may have the same idea.