[ENG] Andy Murray standing on the verge of Wimbledon history

 

Andy Murray has a first Wimbledon final in his sights as he prepares to meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Andy Murray has a friend in Tim Henman, linked as they are by a common burden not entirely of their own making, and their conversation in a quiet corner of the All England Club before the Scot plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday could help him rewrite a chapter of tennis history. Murray, for the fourth year in a row, is two wins away from the prize that has eluded everyone from these islands for 76 years.

Henman is anxious not to intrude. He maintains he was never interested in coaching Murray and has enormous respect for the man who took up the job six months ago, Ivan Lendl. Old Stone Face, inscrutable behind his dark glasses in Murray's box as all around him go crazy, has given the world No4 an edgier, more switched-on mien, noticeably at these championships, where Murray's eyes have blazed in adversity and when going for the kill.

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[ENG] Arsenal's self-financing model comes under scrutiny from within

Robin van Persie said he did not sign a new contract with Arsenal as he disagreed with the club's direction and strategy. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

The morning after Arsenal's captain and outstanding player, Robin van Persie, announced he will not renew his contract and criticised the club's strategy and ambition, the club's brooding, frustrated 30% owner Alisher Usmanov piled in. In an "open letter to the board of directors" the Uzbek steel and telecommunications billionaire savaged Arsenal's direction and "self-financing model" under the 62% owner, the American Stan Kroenke, and argued the manager, Arsène Wenger, is being denied the wherewithal for success.

The "self-financing model" has been so sung by Arsenal in praise of their approach that it was presented as a beacon of good practice to the parliamentary select committee examining football's unholy relationship with money last year. In essence Arsenal have for years prescribed that the club must live from its income, and no director or owner must put a penny into the club.

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