JOSE REYES has taunted Villarreal and declared: Arsenal are already in the Champions League final.


The cocky Spaniard, 22, insists tonight’s semi-final return leg is already settled with the Gunners sure to be in Paris on May 17.

And Reyes is so confident about his side’s chances he boasted Arsenal are not scared of AC Milan or Barcelona.

He said: “I see myself in the final in Paris and I’m not bothered which team we face.

“Barcelona and Milan are strong but if I had to choose, I’d obviously stick with the Spanish side.”

Arsenal take a 1-0 first-leg lead to the El Madrigal stadium with the club’s young stars determined to convince Thierry Henry to stay.

Reyes has hardly bothered to study Villarreal’s players and tactics, despite being banned for the first leg.

He said: “I was surprised they made it to the semis — I don’t follow them that much.”

And Reyes has stunned his team-mates by revealing he cannot see himself carrying on at Arsenal even though he signed a five-year deal — and would love to join Real Madrid.

The former Seville star added: “I have five more years with Arsenal but it’s not because I see myself here for all that time, even though I signed it. I’m going step by step and if one day someone comes to see me, we will listen. But I think the next step will be Spain.

“You never know about a move to Madrid. My brother and some other family members are Real fans — but they all supported Arsenal when we played them.”

Reyes admits it will be a massive blow to Arsenal if skipper Henry — who is a target for Barca and Real — decides to quit just like Patrick Vieira did last season.

He said: “If Thierry goes it would cause us a great deal of damage.

“We hope he stays. If we get a Champions League place it will be difficult for him to leave.”

But Reyes believes he is destined to sign for a club back home, regardless of whether Henry stays.

Reyes added: “I’ve been in England since January 2004. I had a really bad time in my first year.

“But my family and my girlfriend supported me and helped me feel more comfortable. Now things are going much better.”

Despite wanting to leave, Reyes is keen for Highbury boss Arsene Wenger to launch a summer bid for his best pal, Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres.

He added: “Fernando is a player I like very much. The boss hasn’t asked me much about him, although it’s normal that we make observations about any player.”


(www.thesun.co.uk)

:blink: :ban: :angry:
not quite the thing u want to hear before a semi-final....

yea i hope we get through now! so his girlfreind has been longterm i am guessing?

im really upset about that!!! but then again if hes happy to be in spain i think its the best choice 4 him. We want him to do well! anyways WE'RE IN THE FINAL!!! :first:

yer

personally, i'm getting a bit sick of him continually saying that he wants to go back to spain. If he really does, then he should wait until the season is over, and stay loyal to the club which is paying his wages, and the supporters who are contributing to this.

:( at the end off the day if he want's to go to spain let him the is no point keeping him if he is not happy i know we all love the boy but if he's not happy let him go

and why did he sign a new 5 year contract if he didnt want to stay?

5 year contracts though mean arsenal get more money if the player leaves

To be honest it is the sun...they probably asked him can you see yourself playing in spain again in the future and he said yes as he is only 22 so more that likely he would....but then the writer twisted it to sound like it would be soon.


What i am getting sick of is him keep coming out and saying how easily arsenal are going to win games. He has to learn that sometimes he should just keep quiet.

yer just in case!

i hope that ur right Goonerlizzy coz i dont want him 2 leave :( but if he's really not happy at Arsenal than its best if he leaves coz i dont want him 2 b sad :(

yea but i still dont wnt him 2 go

PLEASE DNT GO JOSE !

DATZ IT 4 GUDNA SAKE YH I LYK REYES BUT IM GETTIN SICK OF HIM SAYIN HES GONNA LEAVE IF HEZ GONNA LEAVE DAN LEAVE DIZ SUMMER UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IM REALLY PISSED OFF (OH I DIDDNT MEAN WOT I SAID ABT REYES)

i thing he wanted to say that some years ahead he will return to spain :( i hope so!

Te quiero Jose ! :yippy: :worship:

he's got to learn that he mustn't tell the press everything.........think before you speak...can't use the excuse now thats hes young as at 22 almost 23 he's practically one of the oldest now this season :lol:

Reyes finds happiness with Gunners


14/05/2006 - 18:09:17

Jose Antonio Reyes is no longer pining for a return home after admitting he felt like quitting the club when he first arrived at Highbury.

The Spanish youngster has become an integral part of Arsene Wenger’s new look Arsenal and is looking forward to facing old foes Barcelona in the Champions League final in Paris this week.

Reyes, signed for a club record fee of £17.5m from Sevilla in January 2004, initially failed to adapt to life in London and was constantly linked with a return to La Liga.

In February 2005, Reyes was caught out by a prank call from a Spanish radio station when he allegedly declared he was disappointed with life in London and had not ruled out a return to Spain.

But he signed a new six-year contract with Arsenal last year and now says he is no longer looking to go home even if he gets depressed by England’s winter weather.

Reyes said: “I have to admit at the beginning of my stay in England I did struggle a little bit and I thought about leaving the team.

“Now, with the help of my family and colleagues, I am very happy here and don’t want to leave.

“No particular player helped me – we all help each other and I could not single out one person from my family because they all helped as well.

“Privately they were telling me England is not such a bad place and just because I didn’t speak English, it shouldn’t be a barrier for my happiness at Arsenal.

“In the winter when it gets dark at 3pm in the afternoon, I get depressed. But when it is sunny I am quite happy. But I am now very happy here.”

Reyes is no stranger to facing Barcelona as he did so on four occasions during his time at Sevilla – winning one, drawing two and losing one.

But he believes the favourites for the competition have reached a new plateau in terms of the way they play football.

“”“Barcelona have always been a great team,” said Reyes. “I have never looked at them with dislike. When I was playing with Sevilla we lost one, got two draws and beat them once. I scored when they drew.

“I believe they have reached another level in terms of footballing ability. They play very attractive football.

“They have been playing together as a team for a few years now and they understand how they have got to play.”

The final is already being billed as a showdown between Barca’s Ronaldinho and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry and Reyes believes they are both at the very top of their game.

Reyes added: “They are very strong and quick and score many goals – I would include them both in the top three players in the world right now.”

I hope this means he's staying for a long time.