Hmm, where to start? *boilk* might be a good place.
Now, let’s put that behind us and move on. We have a game against Fulham today and preparation has been far from ideal. With all the internationals this week the manager just had one outfield player to work with, Denilson, and that may see a revolutionary 0-1-0 formation today at Craven Cottage. I suspect we’ll line up:
Nobody – Nobody – Nobody – Nobody – Nobody – Nobody – Denilson – Nobody – Nobody – Nobody
Obviously a lot will depend on the service Nobody gives Denilson but unless Nobodybayor converts the chances we could struggle today.
In seriousness though we might see the same team as last weekend although if Eboue went right, Song came into the middle and van Persie started up front I wouldn’t be surprised. Fulham had a bad start to the season, losing to newly promoted Hull City, so they’ll be desperate to get a result today. This won’t be an easy game by any stretch but one that we do have the quality to win. Kick off is 5.30 and it’s on Setanta.
The Independent has a very readable article about Arsene Wenger. I have to say despite feeling a little irked with him at times due to his apparent stubbornness in the transfer market he is somebody I greatly admire for his belief in himself and what he does and has done for Arsenal. In the article he says:
For me Arsenal is a club which tries to respect tradition, style, honesty, fair play. If you come in and behave like a gangster you will not last long. The supporters will be the first ones not happy with that. A club needs values. If a club has no values you go nowhere.
I love that and it’s a philosophy he’s had for his whole career. I’m currently reading the biography of the man by Xavier Rivoire and it’s very interesting. The behind the scenes stuff about how he works, prepares, deals with players and his squad is quite fascinating. Above all you get the impression that we have a wonderfully intelligent and decent man as our manager but as well as that somebody with a deep desire to win and bring success to the club. While some people might question how he’s going about doing it there should be no doubt over what he’s trying to achieve.
The manager has defended Emmanuel Adebayor saying he believes the striker has been treated unfairly. Classic Wenger stuff that. Publicly he will be unfailingly loyal to the player but he knows well enough why the fans might be unhappy with him. But the fans have made their point, there’s no need for it to be made again, and now it comes down to Adebayor to put the work in to repay the faith of the manager and get the fans back onside again.
Martin O’Neill says Villa have had no contact from Arsenal about Gareth Barry and has called Arsene’s comments about him bizarre. I suppose they were a bit odd really but I don’t really think we’re interested in Barry at all and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if, on or close to the deadline, we saw Arsenal buy Alonso and Barry go to Liverpool.
Kevin Keegan wants Philippe Senderos but AC Milan are also reported to be interested. The arrival of Fishface has probably made life very difficult for Senderos now and he might well decide it’s time to continue his career elsewhere.
Right, that’s that. Some breakfast required and here’s to three more points later on.
