Joey Barton slam ‘Clueless' Arsenal Chairman Hill-Wood

Above: Joey Barton insists he held talks with Arsenal

BAD-BOY Joey Barton has blasted Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood - claiming he “doesn’t know what’s going on at his football club”.

Bitter Barton insists that he had held talks with Arsene Wenger about a possible move to the Gunners before his switch from Newcastle to QPR.

Hill-Wood, 75, scoffed at Barton’s claims that he might have signed for Wenger had he not been involved in a flashpoint against the club on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Barton, 29, reckons a scuffle with striker Gervinho put paid to a move to north London and he said: “Peter Hill-Wood said they never had any serious interest.

“I just don’t understand – maybe the dialogue between him and his coaching staff has broken down so severely that he doesn’t know what’s going on at his football club.”

And in another dig at Arsenal’s waning powers, Barton said: “Fair enough, if I was claiming to sign for Real Madrid or Barcelona or Man City or Man United – but I don’t think it’s that big of a shout to say Arsenal were after me because it’s definitely a club in – what shall we say – transition.”

Hill-Wood had said: “It’s not something that the board heard about and if it was a serious proposition I certainly would have.”

Meanwhile, Park Chu-Young looks set to leave Arsenal in two years’ time after abandoning hope of avoiding national service.

The Gunners paid Lille £4million for the South Korean star, a figure that could rise to £10m if he manages to get out of the compulsory two years’ military action.

However, Park, 26, says there is no chance of that happening, meaning Arsenal will lose a player arguably reaching his peak in 2013.

“It isn’t really possible to be excused,” he said. “That can’t and won’t happen, which is another reason I chose to come here.

“I’ll have to leave Europe in two years’ time and I thought this would be an incredible place to finish.

“My national service is inevitable and there is no point in thinking anything else.”

To make things even more galling for Arsenal, Park will still be playing football during his national service.

“I’ll still be playing games – but for an Army club,” Park added.

“I think it’ll be difficult to return to Europe after that, although if something interesting comes up, you never know.”