It’s drawing ever closer, ever nearer, the football, the real football is on the way. Once tonight’s round of internationals are done with we can get back to the real thing. Until the next, not too far away at all, Interlull, but let’s not depress ourselves.
With World Cup qualification on the agenda Arsene is keen for his players to do well but wants them to focus more on their club than their country. He says:
I am convinced it is important for the players to go to the World Cup, but as well I know that those who have a good World Cup are those who win with their clubs during the season. The most important thing is that they do well with the club and it puts you in a strong position confidence-wise for what follows.
I’m not sure that’s true really. We won the title in 2002 and didn’t France have a terrible World Cup that year? Anyway, I couldn’t care less about the World Cup at this stage but maybe there’s something to be said for going into a tournament having been successful with your club. It’d be nice if our players went to South Africa full of beans and silverware.
On the way back is Samir Nasri who is now close to a return to action after breaking his leg in pre-season training. He says:
I’m due to rejoin the Arsenal team this weekend, or at the start of next week. I think I will be back in action against West Ham on the 25th.
Good news indeed. Despite what was probably an average first season at the club I have high hopes for him. And let’s not forget most of our lot were fairly average last season. He still weighed in with 6 goals and he provides another option in midfield and possibly an option as one of the front three. Quite where the manager sees him is still a bit up in the air, there was talk at the end of the last campaign about him doing the defensive midfield role, but having him back in the squad and providing competition for places will be a good thing wherever he’s going to play.
One man already back is Tomas Rosicky and Cesc Fabregas has hailed his return, hailing him as the ubiquitous ‘like a new signing’:
You can see straight away the vision he has, the touch, the class that he plays with. It’s great to have him in the team; he’s like a new signing.
Nasri’s return is also like a new signing. As was Eduardo’s. Philippe Senderos is like a new signing too having been away and returned to the squad. Cheese, that’s like a new signing. A second-hand dart board, like a new signing. Monkey butlers, like a new signing. I’d love a monkey butler. Not as much as a real Butler called ‘Cavendish’ though.
Aaron Ramsey may not play for Wales due to concerns about a back injury. With Wales game against Lichtenstein more meaningless than a Dan Brown novel it’d be poor form if he did play him and the player’s club chances suffered. And according to the Sun article about Nasri above William Gallas is a doubt for France after smashing a couple of teeth at the weekend. There are still a good few involved tonight so let’s keep fingers crossed they get through unscathed.
Transfer speculation? According to the player’s agent Arsenal are interested in signing new German hot-shot, Stefan Kiebling. He’s scored a few goals this season and now his agent is linking him with as many clubs as he possibly can, most likely to ensure he gets a new deal on fatter wages at his current club.
Not much else happening so to reward you for your patience during this Interlull it’s competition time. Thanks to Octopus Books I have one copy of the rather fabulous Official Illustrated History of Arsenal by Martin Tyler and Phil Soar and two copies of Gunners Lists, the perfect toilet book which provides you Arsenal top 10s which range from the obvious, like top scorers, to the obscure, such as fattest players.
To enter the competition all you have to do is answer the following question:
How many times have Arsenal appeared in the FA Cup final?
Answers, as always, to [email protected].
It runs until Friday and I’ll give you the winners then. For more info on the books in question check out Octopus Books.
Right then, have at it. More tomorrow, as per usual.
Till then.
