Mordig all,
ad you may hab gaddered I’b god a bery bad head cold. Stubid cold.
It’s Plymouth Argyle today in the FA Cup and the team news is that Fabianski will play in goal and will do so throughout the competition. The manager is promising a strong team for today, well as strong as possible under the circumstances, and claims this is ‘major priority’ this season.
It’s certainly different from last season when one of the most awful displays of Wenger’s Arsenal reign saw us get spanked at Old Trafford. We sacrificed the cup last season in pursuit of larger glory, that’s not something we can afford to do this time around. Realistically it’s our best chance of silverware this season and we have to give it a good shot.
With Denilson out and Alex Song suspended it means our central midfield is likely to be Abou Diaby and Aaron Ramsey, which should be interesting. Diaby gets another go in his preferred position and we get another chance to see what the Welshling can do. We don’t have another league game for a week so there’s no need to rest the strike force although it would be nice to see Carlos Vela get a run out.
Plymouth lie 15th in the Championship and will bring close to 10,000 supporters to the Grove today. It’s a big day out for them, they’ll certainly come and have a go, but this is a game we should win. We’ve had them watched in every game they’ve played since the draw was made, according to the boss, so we’ll have a good idea of what they’re about.
I do love the FA Cup, I have to say. It might not be as prestigious as it once was but some of my fondest Arsenal memories have come in this competition. We’ve had some shocks down the years as well though. Fingers crossed nothing like that happens today.
The boss had plenty to say yesterday in his press conference yesterday. He denied making any bid for Mikel Arteta or for Shay Given and said there was ‘no progress’ in relation to Andrei Arshavin. I wouldn’t read anything into that though. He was asked if there was any progress, he said ‘no progress’. I don’t think he was implying that negotiations were ongoing.
He also said he was glad to see the back of 2008, sentiments which I’m sure many Arsenal fans will agree with, and denied that he was off to Real Madrid in the summer. The reporter asked the question a couple of times asking, ‘So are you saying you’ve never had contact with Madrid?’, which he denied, then she got all crafty and said ‘And Madrid have at no time been in contact with any of your representatives?’, which got a pause and another denial with him smiling ‘No, because I represent myself’.
He admitted there’s money to spend but not as much as some of the figures bandied about in newspapers. Which is fair enough, it wouldn’t be unlike a newspaper to exaggerate or anything, but he did admit he’s looking to spend, saying:
But we will try to use it wisely and well if we can. We live in a naturally healthy situation – we do not depend on one person, we do not depend on the banks because we make our profit. We respect our balanced budget, so I believe that we will not be in trouble.
I mentioned West Ham yesterday and the dire financial situation they find themselves in. There are other clubs in the Premier League whose finances are coming under intense scrutiny, including one very, very high profile club who are struggling in a big way to keep the weight of their debt from collapsing the whole place. The manager’s insistence at throwing money around like water and some foolish owners mean things could get really bad up there.
As much as I want Arsenal to spend and improve the squad I’d rather not be in that kind of position financially. But then I don’t think any of us have ever advocated the manager going out and blowing £7m on a left back who turns out to be the worst defender in history and the other hit and hope kind of deals that have gone on. We know Arsene can spend money well, look at the signings of Sagna and Eduardo for example, and while he’s had some duffers along the way all we’ve ever wanted is for him to spend the money he has. There’s never been anyone who wanted him to go to Fat Tony and get a loan to buy players. Anyway, we’ll see what happens.
The Kolo Toure situation is sorted out apparently. According to the boss:
We spoke about it with him and I think he has changed his mind. I am happy with players who are committed and Kolo is a big example for that. There was a minor incident that you could multiply by 20. It happens every day in every club and is sorted out now. Kolo is happy here.
Which is all very vague. The fact is that Kolo demanded a transfer using his relationship with William Gallas as an excuse. Much as I love Kolo that was disappointing. Anyway, despite what the manager says all this situation has served to do is alert other clubs that Toure is willing to leave Arsenal. The manager says he’s staying but then he’s said that before about many players and we’ve seen them sold. Man City appear to be still interested.
I know Kolo is only 27 but the manager, stats freak that he is, won’t have missed the decline. If he feels Kolo can return to the level he was at before then he’ll probably keep him, if he doesn’t he might well be inclined to sell him while his stock is still high.
It was interesting to hear Arsene talk about his partnership with Gallas, saying:
It’s not a question of Kolo Toure or William Gallas. It is that the two together are a bit short in the air. We needed to add some size centrally.
It took him long enough, eh? Djourou looks set to play today and continue his emergence into the first team. He could establish himself properly between now and May and come next August who knows if either Gallas or Toure will be giving Wenger any kind of selection headache?
Right, that’s about it. Here’s to a good game this afternoon and the first step on the road to some silverware this season.
Till tomorrow.
