The Inamoto Situation...

Inamoto hopes to play for Arsenal next season


Agence France-Presse

MORI, Japan (June 15, 2002 5:56 a.m. EDT) - Japan World Cup star Junichi Inamoto said Saturday that he still has hopes of playing for English champion Arsenal, insisting that he was unaware of moves by the Gunners to dump him.

"It is up to the coach (Arsene Wenger) who decides on whether he sacks me or not by watching my play and attitude. I have nothing to complain about after showing my performance," said Inamoto.

Reports earlier this week said Arsenal had released Inamoto on a free transfer - but the player Saturday said he was still waiting for confirmation.

"I haven't yet heard about it directly from the coach. He called me before, but I couldn't answer the call. I expect him to call me later, maybe at the end of the tournament.

"Basically, I want to play for Arsenal next season. I was confident to show my ability if I had a chance to play, but I also knew that the coach would not use a player soon after he joined the team."

Wenger has refused to play Inamoto in the Premiership, limiting his first-team appearances to two Worthington Cup ties and 20 minutes in the Champions League.

But Inamoto has already upped his value, however, by scoring in Japan's 2-2 draw with Belgium. He followed that up by scoring the only goal in his nation's first-ever World Cup victory over Russia Sunday.

The World Cup co-hosts went on to beat Tunisia 2-0 to finish atop the preliminary group to reach the last 16, where they will play Turkey for a place in the quarterfinals.

"When I read papers, I thought

'I was fired, was I?' I was surprised when I heard a news flash about it while I was watching TV vacantly lying on my bed. The news woke me up," said Inamoto.

Inamoto said playing for Arsenal and watching top players closely had improved his play.

But he said he would not be so keen on Arsenal if it meant another season on the bench.

"I may change my mind if my position is the same as the last season, even if I can renew the contract for the next season. It is not up to the coach but to myself to take a regular starting position. It depends on my own ability."

"Even if I can not renew the contract, I'm ready to play in any countries. It is a good chance to play in the World Cup, because many coaches are watching. It is a good chance to show myself to the world," added Inamoto.

Monday, June 17, 2002
Fulham head the queue for Inamoto
By Leo Spall

Fulham are leading the chase to sign Japan World Cup star and former Arsenal misfit Junichi Inamoto.

Inamoto: World Cup star
(ShaunBotterill/Allsport)
Club executives have made contact with representatives of the 22-year-old, and are confident of recruiting him provided his wage demands are not too high.

J-League club Gamba Osaka claim they still hold Inamoto's registration, and that he is available on loan - with a ? million option to buy after a year.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger decided to let the midfielder go last month - since when Inamoto has been a revelation for Japan at the World Cup finals, scoring twice, and winning two man-of-the-match awards as the cohosts qualified for the knockout stages for the first time.

Inamoto, speaking about his time at Highbury, said: 'I thought I had the qualities to make it in England. It is very physical, but I can cope. I always gave 100 per cent but other players were on a much higher level.'

Meanwhile, Charlton will not be signing the out-of-contract Ireland defender Gary Breen despite his impressive displays at the World Cup. Chairman Richard Murray said of reported interest in the former Coventry player: 'We have several good central defenders, and are not looking to add to them.'

soccernet