And here we go again. Exactly seven days after the last one, it’s Friday again. Hope we find you well this morning, there’s plenty to get through so we’ll crack on.
Starting with team news ahead of tomorrow’s game against Wigan we’re without William Gallas (calf strain) but Kolo Toure returns and could play alongside Johann Djourou in the centre of defence. We might also see the return of Eboue after his knee injury. Beyond that it’s the lifers although Eduardo is getting ever closer to his comeback.
He was scheduled to play a friendly game last week but that didn’t happen. However, the manager says he’s back in full training and just needs games. There’s a reserve match against Portsmouth on Dec 16th in which he’s likely to feature
We know it’s a game we have to win in order not to render the Chelsea result completely useless and you hope that the post-United lessons have been learned. More on the game itself tomorrow.
So, while one Arsenal player was quickly playing down a move to AC Milan (Cesc’s wonderful habit of killing these kind of stories is fantastic), speculation was growing over the future of William Gallas. The Sun quotes a ‘source’ who says that Gallas feels ‘humiliated’ by recent events and would welcome an escape from the club. I have no doubt he does feel a bit humiliated but he doesn’t really have anyone to blame but himself, does he?
Since being stripped of the captaincy though he’s put in two decent performances at the back (clanger against Kiev aside) but I’ve always maintained that his future at the club was in serious doubt after everything that happened. I’m told that Arsene’s priority in the January transfer window is to reinforce the defence (see below for more on that) so Gallas moving on and someone else coming in wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
Some other little snippets – Aaron Ramsey is the future of Wales, says Ryan Giggs, while Fabio Capello has raided Arsenal again for one of our club doctors. Dr Ian Beasley will start work straight away and hopefully he can slowly poison John Terry.
Right, I’ve been running a competition this week with a rather fine prize. A copy of Arsènal: The Making of a Modern Super-Club by Kevin Witcher (The Gooner) and Alex Fynn, signed by Arsene Wenger. I have never, ever seen a response to a competition like it in all the years of Arseblog. Obviously the number of entries means odds are slim but thanks to everyone for taking part all the same.
The three lucky winners, selected by the RNG, are: Ian Allerton, Kevin Faulkner and Alexander Ridler. Well done to you three, I’ll be in touch to get your details and have the books sent on.
Bad luck to everyone else but if you do want to get your hands on a copy for yourself or for someone else as a Christmas present (it is a very good read) then simply go to this website and using the code ‘rocky‘ at checkout will get you a £2 discount on the price. Can’t say fairer than that, can you?
Now, speaking of the book I’m joined on this week’s Arsecast by one of the authors, Alex Fynn. He’s spoken to Arsene recently and has some insight into his thinking on the squad, possibly reinforcements in January, the appointment of Ivan Gazidis and what it might mean, amongst other things.
As well as that there’s a player history from The Man in the Bar, a tale of the unexpected and more scarf related goodness from the fine people at Savile Rogue, makers of the finest neck warmers known to man.
You can subscribe to the Arsecast iTunes by clicking here. Or if you want to subscribe directly to the feed URL you can do so too. To download this week’s arsecast directly – click here (16mb MP3) or you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
As well as that there’s a dedicated Arsecast hotline available all season long should you desire to make a comment, get something off your chest, share a song a chant or hilarious anecdote. Feel free to call it any time during the week, it’ll go to voicemail and you can leave your message. The number from inside the UK is 020 3286 6360 or from outside the UK it’s +44 20 3286 6360.
Right so, get that lot down ya. More tomorrow.
