February 14th
Let’s start this morning with team news ahead of tonight’s big match against Liverpool. We are without Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, José Antonio Reyes (whose bruised foot was confirmed as such but it’s still too early to know if he’ll be fit for Madrid), Cygan, Clichy, Cole, Campbell, Lauren, Gilbert and Walcott.
However, we do get Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure back which means we can actually play four defenders in the back four. Eboue will go to right back, Djourou and Toure in the centre and Philippe Senderos will move over to left back. Midfield we have options but without Bergkamp, Reyes and RvP Thierry and Adebayor are the only recognised strikers. Liverpool have stumbled a bit after a great run but it’s going to take our best away performance of the season to get the three points we so badly need. The game will be won and lost in midfield, I reckon, and it’s going to mean we need big performances from whoever plays in there. Certainly we need Gilberto to be strong and to tackle because Gerrard, Alonso and Sissoko all like to get stuck in. I wonder will we see the midfield 5 again with Diaby brought in to add some physicality and maybe Thierry as the lone striker.
Speaking of Thierry, Barcelona have denied fresh claims by Catalan daily ‘Sport’ that a deal has been done to bring him to Camp Nou this summer. Barcelona vice-president Jordi Dourface said “We have made no contact with Thierry Henry and no contract has been agreed with him.”
Which is pretty much what you’d expect him to say, I suppose. Gilberto is already talking about the Madrid game, which is a bit strange as the focus should really be on tonight’s game.
Arsenal reserves drew 0-0 with Chelsea reserves last night. The profilic partnership of Lupoli and Bendtner couldn’t find the net for once against a Chelsea side sporting the likes of Ferreira, Maniche, Carlton Cole and Lasanna Diarra.
The FA want Jens Lehmann to explain his comments about referee Howard Webb. He made reference to comments made to Bolton player Kevin Nolan suggesting that the official was telling him he only had 5 minutes to hang on for the win. He also said the referee was bald and shit and that he liked to eat his own shit in the company of Liberal MPs. What’s to explain?
Right, not much else. Let’s hope tonight is a famous Anfield night and that the mug smashers do not prevail, the mug smashing baaaaaaaaaastids. Laters, all.
