Good morning and good Friday to you all.
We’re in Amsterdam tonight and tomorrow for the Amsterdam Tournament which sees us take in games against Ajax and Sevilla. Two good tests by any standards.
Arsene Wenger has called it ‘ideal preparation’ and it’s a good chance to give some players a run out, in particular Cesc who’s like to play his first game since returning to training last week. The boss also claims he’d have liked to play Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan but frankly I couldn’t give a shit if I never saw that arrogant, overweening cuntblister ever again.
He’s give his backing to William Gallas as skipper saying he feels some of the other candidates are too young, but more importantly spoke about the team learning the lessons of last season. He says:
We have kept the basis of the team and the frustration we got from not winning it in the end will come out for the good. We have the strength and resolve to do it. We need first to get in that position and if we do that again, I believe we will show the needed resilience.
It’s hard to argue with the fact we were only just short last season but in truth the title challenge was over after that run of draws. As I said yesterday if we can learn the lessons of last season then fantastic – the difficulty is that the squad isn’t quite as good as last season, particularly in central midfield. Ironic when you think back to the end of last August and the abundance of talent we had in there. I still think we need that one signing to make ourselves real contenders for silverware this season – especially given the fact Diaby is injured again leaving us with only Cesc and Denilson as realistic contenders for central midfield.
Theo Walcott talks about how he asked for number 8 this season but discovered it was going to Nasri, so he took 14 instead. Sometimes football is just too exciting for words.
Not much else happening really. So we’ll get on with the Arsecast. On this week’s show I’m joined by the fine chappy from A Cultured Left Foot and we talk pre-season, Amsterdam, Jack Wilshere and more. As well as that the Man in the Bar has a player history, there’s a tale of the unexpected, Adebayor and more.
To subscribe to the Arsecast in iTunes simply click here, the direct feed URL is here, to download this week’s arsecast directly – click here (16mb MP3). You can find the arsecast archives here. And you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
Reminding you as well about the Arseblog mini-league in OleOle’s fantasy football game. Simply select your English Premier League team then join the mini-league named ‘arseblogprem‘ and the password is simply arseblog.
The overall prizes include Champions League final tickets and hotels and PS3s and FIFA games and all manner of stuff and there’ll be an Arseblog only prize or two as well. More details on fantasy football here.
Right so, have a good day. More tomorrow.
