There’s a big, big game tonight. Probably the most important game of the season so far. heh. It’s Sparta Prague in Prague in the Champions League qualifier.
It’s a return home for Tomas Rosicky to the club where he began his career and for which his brother and his father both played. He’s looking forward to the game and Arsene Wenger is expecting big things from him, saying:
It is a game where Tomas is a bit more under pressure than others because of the extra scrutiny. But he is classy and I feel he is at the age where he can get the right balance in the final third. He is sharp, quick and lively. We want him to give key passes and score goals – and I am convinced he will.
It is the perfect fixture for him to kick into gear with. We saw at the end of last season that he was capable of scoring goals and arriving in the box at the right time. However, his Arsenal career up to now has been hampered by a series of niggly injuries and we have to hope that he can get a good run in the team uninterrupted. If he does then I think we all hope he can prove to be a more effective player than last season.
In terms of the team it’s likely to be the same one that played against Fulham as Eduardo and Adebayor are both out with ankle and groin problems, while in midfield we’re without Diaby and Denilson who both have ankle injuries it seems. A good result here is vital. We don’t want to be chasing a game back at home and so much depends on the result over the two legs. Not only financially and, to use Arsene’s word, footballistically, but you have to think that if we have our eye on a player or two our involvement in the Champions League group stages could be a big factor in whether we sign them or not.
Sparta are a decent side, good defensively, very strong and intimidating in their leather underpants and they know they’ve got to get a result in the first leg to have any real chance of going through. We have to keep it tight at the back and try and nick a goal or two. So no silly mistakes, no slips in concentration and no gifting them the first goal. It’s a lot to ask but here’s hoping! Speaking of gifting goals, Jens Lehmann will play tonight, and he’s philosophical about what happened against Fulham, saying:
 I have never taken such a woeful first touch in my entire career. If that is the way the season begins for me, it can only get better. As Yazz so famously said, the only way is up. Baby.
Indeed. At the press conference Arsene was asked about Gallas as captain and as I predicted he made it all sound quite reasonable. That’s what he does. You know what I think, that’s not about to change, so I’m not going to labour the point. When asked about Gilberto’s comments yesterday he said:
I cannot justify every small decision, and explain it to everybody. Things have to stay inside. He was not in the (training) group last week, and that is why what happened happened. I respect Gilberto a lot. I had a face-to-face meeting with him and told him what I wanted to tell him. I have nothing more to say about that.
If the implication is that the Arsenal captaincy is a small decision then that is rather odd, I have to say, and I still think he could have taken 5 minutes to tell Gilberto before it was announced anywhere else. Anyway, what’s done is done, for better or worse, and there’s no changing it so let’s just put it one side and when Gallas lifts the Premier League trophy next April we can cheer and be a bit sick in our mouths at the same time.
Blackburn have dismissed reports linking us with Morten Gamst Pedersen, especially at the price being quoted, around £8m. You can’t blame Blackburn for wanting more. I mean, if someone’s willing to spend £16m on Darren Bent then you have to think you can get more. In the current climate we’d probably have gotten £10m for Gus Caesar. I suspect if we do make any signings they won’t be from English clubs.
It’s your final chance to win two tickets to Sunday’s game against Blackburn at Ewood Park. Clicky here to enter and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow.
And that’s it. Tonight’s game is on Setanta Sports, I think. Anyone know if it’s on the free to air Setanta here in Ireland or is it on one of the subscription channels?
Till tomorrow.
