november 20th
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. It looks like Gilberto could be missing for the rest of the season as his back injury has failed to get better in the weeks he’s been resting. According to Arsene Wenger “We don’t think that it is career-threatening but it is season-threatening. If in the next six weeks the bone has not completely grown together we have to give him three months more.”
It sounds like a pretty serious injury and with Mathieu Flamini carrying a knee injury and Edu still out it leaves us with only Vieira and Cesc for central midfield. Anyway, best wishes to Gilberto and get well soon.
More positive news is that the squad will be bolstered in the new year with the signing of Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboué from Beveren. The boss says he’s Kolotastic in that he can play all over the park and we’ll just have to wait and see where he ends up long term.
With Sol Campbell and Edu’s contracts due to expire in the summer there’s mixed news. The boss is confident that Sol will sign – “We are closer to agreement with him. If you are going from Newcastle to London, we’re at Watford.” – but he’s not at all sure about Edu “We have not progressed. That is the worry at the moment as we need his commitment.”
Sol is obviously a vital signing but Edu’s contribution to the team shouldn’t be overlooked either. At the same time the player needs to remember how the club stood by him when he had his passport problems and all the other stuff that went on in his life around the time he joined and show some loyalty. With all the injuries at the club he’s going to play lots of games. Sure he may be tempted by Barcelona but when they get Gabri, Motta and Edmilson back from injury their midfield is going to just as tough to get into as ours. I hope he stays and that he’s not being swayed by € signs from elsewhere.
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Right, that’s it. Lots of football today. Arsenal v West Brom this afternoon, then this evening it’s the big game in Spain which I shall view then follow with some tasty, delicious, life giving Mojitos. More later.
