Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Nick Simmonett 
Date:Friday February 23 2007
Time: 8:04PM
UK time is: 21:07:42
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Baptista: I Have Proved My Worth
Julio Baptista thinks he has taken the opportunity given to him by Arsene Wenger to make a claim for a permanent deal at Arsenal.
Baptista`s opportunities have been limited outside the Carling Cup this season but the man dubbed 'The Beast` has grasped the small opportunity with both hands. He has 6 goals in just 2 games in the league cup, a 4 goal haul at Anfield and a brace at White Hart Lane.
Fitness permitting, Baptista is almost certain to start in Sunday`s final.
Speaking ahead of the Sunday showpiece Baptista said: "This is the competition I'm having most opportunity. It's the one in which Arsene Wenger is really giving me a chance, the only one where I've been able to show how I am able to play.
"It has been very important to me, as much as anything for my own self-confidence. It shows that when I'm needed I can do the business.
"I think I've definitely shown what I'm capable of and now it's the decision of the Club [whether to keep me or not]."
Baptista also went on to talk about his role in the team. Since he arrived Baptista has played in 5 different positions and proved more than able in all.
"My favorite position is as second striker," he said, "but a free-roaming one, ideally about five meters behind the striker.
"Arsene knows that's my best position but sometimes the situation arises that I am needed in other positions and I'll play there. But really the one I want to play in, and know I'm best at, is the second striker role.
"Of course it has been frustrating not to play more but you're competing with international players in every other position.
"When I arrived the team was pretty much formed already, everyone had their positions. But of course I want to be playing in the main team."
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Your Comments
I very much like Julio's attitude, and whilst i would love him to stay, i think he's a bit to do yet, to me, his control seems a little cumbersome at times, and the ball does not seem to like sticking to his feet when it is passed to him, to become a mainstay for the arsenal, he will need to be able to receive balls played to him at pace, control them instantaneously, and move the ball on, in a fluid movement. Perhaps Arsene sees him do this regularly in training, i have no idea. I hope he does, as i would like him to stay, his attitude is good, and were he to display those facets, he would be an asset to the club. We already know he can find the net... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
to me he seems more like an out and out penalty box striker. he does not yet have the subtle touch and close control for the supporting striker in the hole position that he favours. but he does get in the box for any half chances and i felt it looked better when TH sat deep and the beast pushed on in their recent game together. but with Ali its better when he sits deeper. I'd like to see more of beast and Ade combo, since at Bolton it worked a treat.
gazzap
I hope he has done enough for Arsene to make his move permanent. Though from what I've seen so far, I doubt it. That said, I would like to see the beast be made a permanent part of this side. Sure Wingston, his touch/control dont look perfect yet, but I'd like to give him some more time. He brings a little extra to the side, and he needs a consistent run in the side, which looked like it was going to happen only to be halted by injury. Let's hope he seals this debate with a couple of goals at Cardiff !!
prits
You guys haven't seem the real baptista.The real beast was at Sevilla, real madrid almost ruined the lad.I hope we don't see the real him on sunday.
k_chelski
Yeah gazzap, he does look quite good comign from deep. The guy seems to have to adapt his game to suit hi strioke partner, which can't make it easy for himm to define a role for himself. I agree, prits - like i said, i like the guy, and would love to be able to make a more informed judgement of his capabilities. A couple? I'm hoping he'll be taking home his 2nd matchball of the carling cup, come sunday evening :) »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
What's the process if we want to keep him? If Real want him back is that the end of the story? I'd be happy for a permanent swap, Reyes for Baptista.
JakeB
Watch him slack off when the pen goe;s to paper...
col8
Let me tell you a ******y story.A brazilian team was currently with a Lyon player on loan.A week after they bought him, he got injured( for six months).Hahah, imagine that happening to arsenal?I would kill to see your faces.
k_chelski
Wot!You can't say sp00pky anymore?What the feck does sp00ky in the uk means?
k_chelski
The word Cashley springs to mind for some strange reason
nikolaijns
JakeB, i don't think it's dependent on Reyes staying with Real, that we get to keep baps, but i could well imagine them trying to fleece us for Baps, should they decide not to keep reyes, or if he has a barnstorming end of season for us... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
I can't remember us ever being that unlucky kchelski, though in all honesty we haven't exactly seen too much of Gallas since he left Chelsea, due to injury. On the other side of the coin we saw Pires and Edu leave at the end of their contracts only for them to pick up long term injuries almost immediately after joining their new clubs (Valencia & Villareal). Okay, admittedly there were no transfer fees involved but I guess that the clubs still have to pay their wages. Michael Owens time at Newcastle hasn't exactly been blessed either. Funny thing is though, you guys bought Shevchenko fo 30 million and he may as well have been out injured for six months 8-)
flv
k_chelski - or winston bogarde, who just fleeced you guys for 2 years or so, collecting a hefty pay cheque each week, whilst being 'injured' - I thought that was disgraceful. Funny though it may have been for a while, you never like to see a club having the pi$$ taken out of it like that... I'd hate it is it was my club... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
Kevin Chelski I tried to use the word s-n-i-g-g-e-r the other day and it bleeped that so I can only reason its a racial thing (take the S off!) s-p-o-o-k is a racial slur too, pretty dumb eh? such is the over-sensitive world in which we live
nikolaijns
The fecker won't be remembered as footballer.Just the guy that robbed our arses.
k_chelski
nikolaijns, i have taken great offence at what you have written about our world being overly sesitive, and have reported you to my local council... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
ha not another one! my own council is tryin to evict me 2, they don't like outdoors nudey sleepwalking apparently
nikolaijns
Its all gone PC! Many a player has fleeced Chelsea in recent times. Bogarde, Bosnich, Veron is still on the payroll. I really hope the beast stays he seems to have settled very well!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RiCQZkaF7M Mr K_Chelski was kind enough to translate the chat for me earlier! I think he is performing well for a guy who has played so few games in his 1st season in a new country.
iceman10
The Reyes/Bap deal are not binding on each other, we have bap on loan with the option to buy for $12mil at the end of the season, Real have Reyes with the option to buy for $20mil at the end of the season
bootoo
k_chelski, where did he go to after chelski? cos he joined you from Barca, didnt he? »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
lol.How the hell did you assume my name was Kevin?Aaah,there's not enough kyles in the world.But you're right,my name is Kevin.I was bleeped out for saying B O LLOCKS!That is sad.Does it get bleeped out if a black person says N|gga?
k_chelski
We must be taking the pi$$ asking that much for Reyes! Straight swap just to get him off the books will be fine by me.
iceman10
Wingston, i think he retired!Or stopped robbing, if you put it in that way.
k_chelski
Can't see Real buying Reyes really, and can't see Wenger sploshing 12 mill on the Beastie boy either, unless he bangs a couple in on Sun and a good few more before the seasons end - its a tricky situation maybe another year loan is a temporary answer?
nikolaijns
Chelski, No way you're really a Kev? that aint a Brazilian name is it? were your parents Keegan fans or summit? btw whilst we're on the subject of PC gone mad, most countries in the world have supposedly offensive nicknames for its natives (argies, yanks, the hun etc) but I've never heard any for Brazilians - Brazzers?
nikolaijns
It's irish.Since my father spent some of his youth in england, that would be possible.Well, since we are a multi ethnic country.They just call us latinos, or monkeys.Both of those are really irrelevant, since we speak portuguese, and we have many different races.I never really heard a specific brazilian offensive nickname.Brazilian-Kidnappers maybe?
k_chelski
I would class monkeys as pretty damn offensive tho!! that aint pc gone mad thats jus fighting talk he he, I do think its pretty sad that words in our language are being censored cos you can add or subtract a letter and its a swear word/slur I mean s-p-o-o-k-y fe fecks sake that is CRAZY
nikolaijns
Como é seu nome?!
iceman10
Yes, but it's no really offensive to me.Since i'm not black, calling me a cracker wouldn't hurt me either, since i'm not white.Calling me cholo or some spanish **** wouldn't do any damage either.
k_chelski
that's true, never heard a slur against brazilians... So Bogarde went 'on the straight and narrow' did he, k_chelski? I bet you guys were broken hearted to see him go. I wonder if he'll ever be invited back to play in a testimonial... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
OH COME ON! I can't say ch0lo either?!LOL, iceman since you asked.Meu nome é Kevin, venho de uma cidade perto de onde pelé nasceu.
k_chelski
Yup wingston.We were his last club, i hope he enjoyed those 57k per week.He ain't gettin' that anymore.
k_chelski
Im not good enough to read that whole sentence K_chelski! Obrigado all the same!
iceman10
what was that about Pele? thats surely not your middle name? :D
nikolaijns
I said i live near where pelé was born.I live in Belo Horizonte.
k_chelski
too many scummers about like bogarde - thing is, they're not just fleecing the clubs, they're fleecing the fans of the clubs, and therefore all football fans, regardless of allegiance. »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
I cannae be Arsed reading through all the comments.Long and short, the deals for Reyes and Baptista are irrespective of each other, fee's have been agreed if either club wishies to purchase the player at the end of the season.
Rocky7
well, let's hope that reyes ends up staying there. I don't want an unhappy player back on our books... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
The Beast has most certainly turned into a real Beauty!
sandgroanun
Baptista should stay. And that's that! xP
ducksworth
If he plays well and scores 4 goals against Chelsea he can stay :)
AB_Arsenal
And I'll bake him a cake. »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
And Mourinho will shine his shoes.
AB_Arsenal
Faria Alam would be round him like a shot... »»Arsene Knows««
Wingston75
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