More bad news on the injury front yesterday when Mathieu Flamini NDP was ruled out of tonight’s game against Newcastle. His combative style and all-energy performances have won over the most doubting of Thomases this season and without Hleb and Cesc our midfield is weaker, no question about it.
However, we’ve got Gilberto and Diarra who will probably start while Denilson is there as well. Diaby is, of course, out injured. Given the personnel available I hope we play the 4-4-2 alluded to yesterday. Adebayor is a real handful for any defence while Eduardo is mobile and in and around the box he’s capable of finishing chances. It’s going to be a big test tonight, I think. The Newcastle players have reacted ‘furiously’ (according to the papers) to reports that they’re unhappy under Walrus looking cunt’s regime but the proof of that will be how they perform tonight. Obviously they’re professionals and they want to win games so they’ll be fired up for this one.
As well as that I suspect Allardyce will send his team out with the instruction not to let Arsenal play football, the same way he did with Bolton. They may not have the physicality of his old Bolton side but with the likes of Alan Smith, Joey Barton, Nicky Butt and Mark Viduka he’s got some cunts who don’t mind sticking their boot in – and you’d prefer a stronger referee that Mike Dean but we’ll see how that goes. Fat Sam will want to provoke us so it’s vital we concentrate on our own game because if we do Newcastle are vulnerable due to their defence being completely rubbish. If we can keep it tight at the back then the game is there to be won, no question about it.
With Demento starting his mind games already there’s no small amount of pressure on the lads tonight. This is our game in hand and three points would put us 6 clear of United going into the weekend and ram his words right back down his whiskey soaked throat. When you look at the players we have missing then this is going to be a real measure of how well the squad can cope with injuries. I think we’re capable of winning though.
Looking around the other stories our two full backs are in the news. Gael Clichy reckons it’s too early to be talking about being champions – but it strikes me the only ones doing that talking are the press. There’s no question Arsene will have impressed upon his young team that a good start is one thing but with still over 20 games to play there’s a long way to go. Meanwhile Bacary Sanga’s impressive start to his Arsenal career has been a ‘complete surprise’ to Arsene Wenger, who says:
He adapted very, very quickly not only to the technical level – but also to the way we want to play the game, and as well to the physical aspect of the game. At the start of the season, I thought I will give him six or seven months – but he just looked to have improved very quickly and adapt very quickly. It is a complete surprise to me because I didn’t expect him to have so many appearances so early on.
The boy looks like he’s been at the club all his life. He’s so good going forward, is tough as old boots and has provided the right back position with the kind of steel we’ve been missing since Lauren. Consider me a fan.
Alex McLeish wants to keep Johann Djourou for the rest of the season but with Kolo off to the ACN it’d mean we’re left with just two central defenders so I can’t see it happening. He hasn’t been having the greatest time at Birmingham, it has to be said, but I’d be very surprised if we extended his loan period.
The Mirror is reporting that Chelsea want Nicklas Bendtner. Another one I can’t see happening. He’s just signed a new 5 year deal and a recent interview in the Arsenal magazine reveals him to be much more realistic about his chances this season than people might imagine. He knows he’s got to work hard and that he’s not going to play in every game. As well as that there are high hopes for him at the club so I can’t imagine this has any legs. The Mirror is reporting a potential fee of £12m but in another article I read yesterday it was £5m as they were set to bid £8m for that lad Drenthe who has fallen out with Real Madrid due to car crashes (into a police car if you don’t mind), too much clubbing and sitting on the bench listening to an iPod during a league game. A proper professional, eh?
Philippe Senderos, who appeared for the reserves in midweek, talks about the ‘Arsenal way’ of playing and how Arsene’s style works its way through the club at all levels. Nice stuff.
The £16m we got for Thierry Henry raised a few eyebrows at the time of his transfer to Barcelona, some people thinking it wasn’t quite enough for a player of his standing and stature. Seems fair enough now though, doesn’t it?
And that’s about the size of it. I have to go see a dog about a man so it’s time for some breakfast then I’m off out. Here’s to three delicious points tonight and come on you reeeeeeeeds.
