november 24th
Really not a lot going on this morning as we look ahead to the weekend’s game against Blackburn. Philippe Senderos, who put in a reassuringly solid performance against FC Thun, says Arsenal are ‘growing up’ in the Champions League. He says “We are playing better and are finding each other better on the pitch. We have got a lot of quality, and we can now show that in the next game at home as well.”
We are, along with Barcelona, Lyon and Inter the only teams so far to definitely finish top of the group and with Lyon beating Real Madrid into second place we could be off to sunny, sunny Spain in the knock-out stages. Both Chelsea and Liverpool have qualified but I think there’s a rule which says in the first knock-out round you can’t meet a team from the same league. Afterwards, as we all know, it’s a free for all.
Robert Pires spelled out his intentions and he wants to stay at Arsenal this season and beyond. He says “I will not be leaving before the end and I very much want to stay. I am going nowhere – that is for certain. And I hope I am at Arsenal next season. That is what I want.”
I’m told the team are going through a rigorous training plan ahead of the Blackburn game to get them used to the tactics employed by Mark Hughes’ men. They are spending today being elbowed in the face, getting studs in the knee, their hair pulled Savage-style, kicked in the bollocks and pinched in the back when the ref’s not looking.
And that’s it, so it is.
