“It’s not job done, it’s job to do”
Arsene Wenger on tonight’s game against Celtic in the Champions League qualifying round. Given the 2-0 lead, the start to the season we’ve made and the fact we’re playing at home many think tonight is just a formality.
Now, I would be quite confident indeed that we can go through tonight, nevertheless I think we ought to be a little cautious. Celtic come to the Grove with nothing to lose, they’ll probably give it a real go and hope to repeat the heroics of their away day in Moscow a few weeks back. Arsene talking about this game being more important than the Man United game is spot on – not just from a financial ‘we have to get in the Champions League’ point of view, but simply because this is the next game.
As expected Cesc Fabregas misses out with his dicky hammy but the manager says the results of his scan are ‘reassuring’ and he may have a chance for Saturday’s game. In his absence you’d expect the midfield trio to be Song, Diaby and Denilson – and I suppose it says something when we’re naming that trio and not talking about them lacking something or needing to be augmented by somebody. We’ll look to Song to anchor things and continue his fine start to the season, Diaby to prove that his performance against Portsmouth wasn’t a fluke and Denilson to do that wibbly-wobbly head thing after he cracks in another 25 yarder.
Anyway, it’s clear the system suits the players well enough to get more out of them than maybe we had expected. Up front I think it’ll be Arshavin – Eduardo – Bendtner, I have a sneaky feeling the manager might keep van Persie on the bench with one eye on the United game. Speaking of Eduardo the manager is expecting a big season from the Crozilian, saying:
It is a massive season for Eduardo because he was out for such a long time – he was out before he could prove what a big player he is. Eduardo was one of the players we missed terribly because he can score goals and provide.
He has a goal and an assist to his name in two games this season and he’s just one of those players you’d always feel happy to have a couple of quid on to get on the scoresheet. He’s 10/11 to score tonight and that’ll tell you something (mostly that you’d need to put a load of money on him to make a bet worthwhile, but there you go).
Defensively it’s hard to see beyond what’s fast becoming the first choice back four of Sagna – Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy and the manager has been singing the praises of former captain and goalscorer with any part of his body, William Gallas. He says:
He has taken the right attitude which is what you expect from a top-level sportsman. We know that he will score goals … what is the most important for me is that he’s looking sharp defensively.
I have to admit that I was surprised he didn’t move on this summer after everything that happened last season. It obviously came down, as far as AW was concerned, to a choice between 33 year old Gallas and 28 year old Toure and we know how that ended up. Regular readers will know I’ve never been his biggest fan but since the captaincy was given to Cesc it’s like a burden was lifted from him. He has played as well as his biggest fans always claimed he could and how can you argue with the way he’s started this season? You also can’t help thinking if things might just have been different towards the end of last season had he not got injured in Villarreal. So while he’s never going to be my poster boy I’ve got to doff my cap to him, his penis, his arse and, of course, his left nipple. More please.
When asked about rumours surrounding St Etienne’s midfielder Blaise Matuidi yesterday Arsene said “I deny that” and hit the NewSigning Macro which makes him say:
I can tell you that at the moment we are not close to signing anybody.
I think if any deals are done they’re going to be done right on the deadline. I alternate between thinking he’s not going to bring in anyone and the opposite, that he will bring in anyone, but while there’s nothing I can do to influence the situation I’m not going to get stressed about it. I would like a couple of signings, I think we all would, but que sera, sera.
The Mirror reports young Spaniard Fran Merida is set to be offered a new deal. It’s interesting to see he’s in and around the first team now. He’s another candidate for one of the ‘front two’ of the midfield trio and he looks a tidy player to me.
And that’ll be about that. Let’s hope the Arsenalisation of the world continues tonight, a good atmosphere at the Grove and a good performance will set things up nicely for the weekend. We’ve got a some momentum going right now, we have to ensure we keep that going, take tonight’s test seriously and, above all else, make The Lord of the Wing sad.
Till tomorrow, arsebandits.
