The first massive game of the season sees us take on Porto tonight. Of course the league games against United, Sp*rs and Liverpool were all important games but given our league position and what we did last time around we just have to get a result tonight to see us into the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
A draw will be enough for both teams to progress and I doubt you’ll find a bookie giving odds that are too long but Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will be going there to win. We’ll hardly be going all out but the last time I remember us playing for a draw was in the FA Cup final against United and to be honest we were lucky to grind out a 0-0 that day.
Wenger is not worried about the absence of Thierry Henry, saying:
I am confident even without Henry because we have Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott to produce goals. Without Thierry, the young players will take responsibility.
He also revealed the captain’s absence will see more playing time for Theo Walcott who he claims is a different player to 6 months ago. I think we forget that he’s so young and there’s an expectation every time he comes on that he can do something. It looks like he’ll be used from the flanks for the timebeing as the boss feels he lacks some physical presence to play up front. However, the boss has backed his captain to come good on his return and feels he’s been getting too much stick in recent times, something I’d go along with.
There were no surprises when he named his squad yesterday. Henry the most notable absentee but Tomas Rosicky is also missing with a hamstring problem that could keep him out for three weeks. It’s a bit worrying how often he’s injured. I hope he hasn’t caught Aliadiereitis.
As for tonight I have a feeling we might see Baptista start. His experience in Spanish football will put him on a good footing, unlike the Porto players who will appear to be like Bambi on ice the way they’ll go over at the slightest touch. Whatever team he puts out though they’ll be determined and motivated to carry from the good performance against Sp*rs on Saturday.
Thierry Henry has backed Cesc Fabregas to do the stuff on the pitch that will win us games. He says:
I have so much confidence in Fabregas. I think he’s young, but I do think he can spark the team any time he wants to do it. He doesn’t know yet how good he is and I think he can do what he wants.
‘Do what he wants … with a football‘, please Thierry, let’s clear that up. We don’t want him arriving at the training ground one morning in a limo with some bitches and bodyguards then asking for a giant bowl of M&Ms with the yellow ones taken out (although that would be mad because the yellow ones are the best but you know what I mean).
No question the Cescinator is going to be a hugely important part of our team for the seasons to come and when we sell him at age 38 to Barcelona for half a billion pounds he’ll not only be an Arsenal legend but probably the supreme ruler of the Universe (or at least my assistant).
Good news from Lauren who is slowly but surely getting himself back to full fitness. He talks about how he feared for his career after suffering a knee injury over 10 months ago now. He could be back for the Carling Cup game against Liverpool.
Falkirk will hold talks with Arsenal this week to prolong Anthony Stokes loan. He’s been in brilliant form for them and was again named Young Player of the Month by the SPL.
And that’s that. Don’t forget you can still enter the competition for the Savile Rogue scarf, details on yesterday’s blog. Here’s to the right result tonight. See you tomorrow.
