March 24th
Another Friday rolls in. Ahhh, good times. You’ll be pleased to know that I was unbeaten as Arsenal in my PES5 tournament yesterday. The two Italians, using Milan, Barcelona and Juventus at various times, were unable to better my glorious gunners. Take that, Eyeties!
In Arsenal news Sol Campbell and José Antonio Reyes are back in contention for this weekend’s game against Portsmouth. It’ll be good to have José back. Arsene Wenger says “I don’t know yet whether they will play on Saturday or not but they are very close.”
I also liked the boss’s comment about how Campbell was 90% fit enough to ‘compete for a place in the team’.
Arsene on Vieira – “It is always difficult to tell a player he is no longer wanted when you have been in battle together and given everything together. He often feels it is a betrayal. No player understands when he is no longer strong enough. I have learned to tell my players in the most frank way possible, even if they don’t accept it. Some refuse to accept my judgement, but they accept the verdict because they know the level of honesty of their coach.”
No doubt Paddy will be full of passion when he returns but after a good start in Italy his performances have been under par and his apparent lack of effort at times has frustrated Juventus supporters. I still maintain the mistake was not replacing Vieira, selling him was good business.
A goalkeeper called Pele? It’s true. He plays for Le Mans and we’ve watched him 20 times this season it seems. Apparently the Grimster has been scouting him and the French club say “We are aware of Arsenal but he is being watched by many clubs. If a big club makes an offer we could discuss it.”
Another keeper rumour involves Hearts Craig Gordon but I’m not sure how much truth there is to that. Meanwhile current number 1 Jens Lehmann would like former Scummer Jurgen Klinnsman to make a decision now about who is going to be Germany’s number one for the World Cup. He says “Actually, it would please me if the coach made the decision now. I believe my chances are good. I have no idea how I would react if I am told I am No 2. I have asked my wife the same question many times and I still don’t have the answer.”
Just off the top of my head I would imagine Jens reaction to being number 2 would be akin to that of King Kong in Manhatten. He would climb tall buidling and pluck bi-planes out of the sky before throwing them to the ground, roaring and beating his chest. He would develop the ability to shit fire bombs and would drop flaming loads on the streets below before going to Munich to fight his arch-nemesis the evil, albino gorilla. A monstrous battle would ensue and fur would fly and some teeth would be lost before Jens snapped the gorilla’s neck and removed its head. He would then climb to the top of the brand new Allianz Stadium and drop kick Khan’s hideously mis-shapen noggin which would fly for miles before landing in the meditteranean just south of Sicily. Locals will exclaim “Oooooh, mama!”
In other news Ryan Smith says he wants a place in the Arsenal first team despite not being able to win a place in the Leicester first team and David Beckham added fuel to the rumours that he’ll be at the club next year by saying he’ll be supporting Arsenal in the Champions League this season.
And that’s it. My old man never said ‘be a To*tenham fan’ so he’s flying over this weekend to stay. Some food and beer is in order. Till tomorrow, Arsechums, have a good Friday.
