Good morning to you from the winter wonderland that is Dublin. There are drifts of snow everywhere you look, flying snowmen, children frolicking gayly … well, in actual fact we had a light dusting of snow so I’m expecting the whole place to grind to a halt.
When it rains in Dublin, even though we’ve probably had more experience of rain than other nation on earth, the traffic instantly becomes about 600 times worse. Snow is going to mess this place up good and proper, let me tell you.
Anyway, with just hours to go until the transfer window closes there are reports (hah, how true all the reports have been so far, eh?) that Hooty McOwl flew to London on a private jet in preparation for a move to Arsenal. Sky Sports ‘understand’ that he did that. The same way BBC Sport understood stuff in the summer and the same way that I understand that we’re still not that close to an agreement with Zenit.
The deadline is 5pm today and at least after that we won’t have to worry about understanding, reports, dodgy agents, tricky sellers, striking players or any of the the other stuff that goes with the transfer window.
Arsene has been talking about the possible arrival of Arshavin but has tried to play down his impact, saying:
We do not need an instant saviour. There is always a danger that people always want a wonder man, but I do not believe in that.
I believe we have to keep going, and accept that the expectation level on him would be very high – if he joins us. But if he doesn’t join us, then I am not more pessimistic.
We may not need a saviour or a wonder man. What we need is someone to rescue us and possibly some kind of superman. Look, here’s the thing the way I see it. Yes, expectation level around Arshavin would be high, almost insane, but the only reason for that is because we need some new players and fans would see his signing as a step in the right direction.
Arsene is looking for his team to be judged at the end of the season and while that’s obviously the best time to pass judgement it’s asking people to ignore the evidence in front of them. And on the basis of that argument if we waited until the end of last season to judge we could have said ‘Good side, not quite good enough to win the title, but with a couple of canny additions it would pose a real threat’.
So when we go into the next season with a team and a squad that is actually weaker than the one which came close the previous season then it’s a bit much to ask people not to judge.
Anyway, back to Arshavin. I hope he signs. I really do. It would provide us with a fresh face, somebody to give the squad a boost, and, perhaps, somebody who might make the difference in the kind of game we drew against West Ham.
Obviously I’d love another player or two as well but I just don’t see that happening. We don’t know yet the extent of the injuries to Diaby and Eboue. I suspect the former is far more serious than the latter but if injuries mounted up (even further) a loan signing to add some depth to the central midfield area might not be beyond the realms of possibility.
But look at me getting all giddy. Chances are Arshavin is still in St Petersburg, Arsenal will sign nobody and Eboue will be our central midfielder until Cesc returns (see what I’m doing here? Good).
Please note blog will continue on my return from the school run which may take some time due to the terrible snow…I’m just making sure you all have arses to play with.
Right, the blog will continue now. Not sure with what though. It seems Arshavin is in Hertfordshire. And I understand he’s having a bacon sandwich and a cup of Earl Grey. Reports suggest he’s going to build a snowman in the garden of his hotel and he has specifically requested that the kitchen provide him with a carrot and two spuds so he can make either a nose and two eyes or something a little more rude, depending on how he feels.
I need breakfast. More tomorrow.
