You know, the distressing fact that one’s daughter has left school and is now almost 18 and can then stay out as long as she wants without having to listen to her somewhat strict father saying “Make sure you’re home by this time or you’re in big trouble” and hang around with boys and other reprobates like that, is somewhat tempered by the fact I no longer have to get up really early to give her a lift to school.
Another 9 minute snooze there? Don’t mind if I do. How about yet another 9 minute snooze? Sure, why not? Will I get up or will I snooze for another 9 minutes? I shall snooze.
Who was it that decided the snooze on the alarm clock should last 9 minutes and why 9 minutes and not 10 or 6? 9 seems awfully random. I’m not that curious really.
Anyway, onto matters Arsenal, such as they are. While most of our players are away indulging themselves in orgies and debauched parties, possibly involving goats, one of our lot has shunned the traditional footballer’s summer to work on getting fitter and stronger for next season.
Abou Diaby, of all people, is working with a French fitness coach during his holidays. According to Renaud Longuevre, for that is the fitness coach:
He is motivated and wants to reach the next stage on the physical level. The English league is very demanding; as a consequence his objective is to improve physically in order to be stronger and more resistant. He wants to be stronger in challenges. That is why he needs more muscle power.
Whatever you think about Diaby as a player I think his efforts have to be applauded. It shows that he’s aware he’s got to step it up next season. Not just one gear but a whole lot. He’s capable of some fantastic moments, the goal last season against Villa was absolutely top class, but moments are all we get from him.
I can’t remember him dominating a game, he’s careless, sloppy in possession and he really isn’t dynamic enough. For a man of his size and build he should be a lot more imposing. Hopefully this will go some way to addressing that. Perhaps he’s realised, as the man from East Lower points out, that he’s pretty much in the last chance saloon when it comes to his Arsenal career. We can’t keep carrying him, both as a player who is injured a lot and one who simply doesn’t produce most of the time.
He’s seen Alex Song and Denilson go ahead of him in the midfield pecking order while the manager seems to have no idea how to use him best. He clearly doesn’t trust him in central midfield, instead he gets picked on the left wing, when he’s clearly not a left winger, or at times behind the striker.
And I’m quite sure he knows he’s fighting for his Arsenal career when he reads the captain talking about how the boss will be bringing in players this summer, with a focus on central midfield. Whether it’s enough to save him remains to be seen but at least he’s shown a willingness to fight for it, which is most definitely an improvement.
One of the players rumoured to be coming in is Brazilian Felipe Melo and he says he’s flattered by the interest shown in him by Arsenal but plays the game well by saying he’s happy at Fiorentina and has a good relationship with the fans. All setting it up nicely so he can say “I never said I wanted to leave” as he pulls on an Arsenal jersey with the number 17 on it.
Marouane Chamakh, strongly linked with us, is hopeful that Bordeaux will let him go should the right offer arrive. You know, that could possibly be the most boring piece of football news I’ve ever seen in the 7+ years I’ve been doing Arseblog.
And that’s about that. Things are pretty quiet, as you would expect. This is the quietest time of the quiet time.
Till tomorrow.
