So it’s cup final Sunday. A quick round-up of the stories for you because everything that’s needed to be said about the game has been said already.
Jeremie Aliadiere thinks the Carling Cup might have saved his Arsenal career. He was on the brink of leaving the January transfer window but Robin van Persie’s injury and some good performances and goals have convinced Arsene Wenger that his faith in the Frenchman was justified. Whether he remains at the club beyond this season remains to be seen but it would be nice if he had one or two more telling contributions to make – starting today.
Gilberto, who I think will start today, says he’s been like a father figure to Denilson. Denilson himself says he doesn’t feel any pressure and he says the Carling Cup final will be like a kick about in the street – except there you don’t get to nutmeg John Terry to score the winning goal. There’s also a nice piece in the Telegraph about the Boys from Brazil while the News of the World has the video, which surely everyone has seen by now, of Gilberto, Denilson and Baptista eating Uncle Bens and singing songs on the mandolin.
Arsene Wenger says Theo Walcott has been under more pressure than Wayne Rooney – obviously not gravitational pressure because Rooney’s enormous girth has its own orbit – but has backed the young man to come good. Wouldn’t today be a nice day for his first Arsenal goal?
George Graham says he always thought the Carling Cup or whatever the fuck it was called back then (Milk Cup, Littlewoods Cup, Rumbleows Cup, Heinz Baked Bean Cup) – the League Cup – was a trophy worth winning. Of course it was the first trophy George won at Arsenal when we beat Liverpool in the 87 final. He did go and spoil it all a bit by winning it with Sp*rs some years later though.
Finally, Patrick Barclay in the Telegraph, has some sensible comment about the furore caused by Cesc’s remarks to Mark Hughes last week.
And that’s that. To everyone travelling to Cardiff today please have a safe trip there and back, enjoy the day and give the lads the support they deserve. I’m off to get the Sunday papers and the lucky beers.
Come on you reeeeeeeeds. Till tomorrow.
