Payback time for Arsenal's Fran Merida after Carling Cup goal

Fran Merida's goal for Arsenal in the Carling Cup against Liverpool was his first installment on the £2million debt he owes the club for covering the compensation he was told to pay Barcelona for breach of contract after leaving them three years ago, aged 16.Arsenal were advised to appeal as that would be heard in Madrid, where they would be far less likely to find a judge inclined towards Barca's way of thinking.  Payback time: Fran Merida celebrates scoring against Liverpool in the Carling Cup But the transfer of Merida came shortly after that of Cesc Fabregas, causing relations between the two clubs to reach an all-time low so David Dein, who was Arsenal vice-chairman at the time, engineered a diplomatic truce, with the Gunners paying up and promising to be more circumspect in their scouting of Barca's youth team. ARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail