Hello hello, lots to be getting on with this morning so no hanging about.
Starting with team news and there’s some good news, possibly, and some unexpected and rather bad news. Tomas Rosicky may well be back for tonight’s game against Portsmouth, which is good, although he may not make his comeback until the West Ham game on Sunday. The bad news is in regard to Nicklas Bendtner who has had a bit of a setback and looks set to miss another three weeks due to hernia/groin problems.
It’s a shame for us and a real shame for him. Right now we could really use a player like him and it would have been a fantastic opportunity for him to put his money where he’s never been afraid to put his mouth. We’re also without Denilson who misses the game with a back injury, the long-termers we all know about, and captain Cesc Fabregas.
More on him later but in his absence there’s a weight of responsibility on others and in particular Abou Diaby to help ensure his loss doesn’t impact us that heavily. Arsene Wenger says Diaby has grown up this season and while he’s had his niggles the absences through injury haven’t been as serious as previous campaigns (I’ve well and truly jinxed him now, haven’t I?). Diaby himself is looking for a World Cup spot and if he keeps up his current form then he’s got every chance.
He admits his injury woes got him down – to the point where he was thinking about giving up the game. He says:
I asked myself questions because they were really hard times to live. I started to have enough of football and getting injured all the time. I wanted to stop, to give everything up. But I hung on. I worked a lot and now I am getting rewarded.
I know we bemoan players injuries, especially at the moment, but I don’t think we often stop to think about the impact it has on players. Money aside they are just normal chaps who love to play football and anyone who finds themselves unable to do so because of injuries is a frustrated and unhappy person, whatever level of football you’re at. There’s no doubt Dan Smith’s tackle which put him out of the game for 9-10 months was a horrific thing to go through. And then the constant niggles he’s had since, which must be a consequence of that, have never allowed him to find the kind of form we’d all hoped he’d produce.
There was never really any doubt about his ability as a player, some of the things he is capable of are fantastic, but there were certainly worries about his application and desire. The fact he was considering giving up football probably explains some of his more … erm … leisurely performances. The effort and spirit he showed during the Villa game is far removed from that Diaby and it’s good to see. That said, it’s only been a few games so we need to see this consistency from him over a longer period. Another good showing against Portsmouth will go some way to proving Arsene’s faith and patience with him was justified.
Tonight I’d expect to see the same team that started against Villa but with Aaron Ramsey in midfield ahead of Denilson. I hope the manager will play Eduardo to give him another chance to find his groove but he may find his place under threat from Theo Walcott. We shall see later on. The game itself is potentially tricky. We know they’ll be fighting for their lives and we’ve got to show we’re capable of coping without players like Cesc and van Persie. I think it’s time for the more experienced campaigners, I’m thinking Arshavin and Eduardo in particular, to pick up some of the slack.
Returning to Cesc and he’s backed the manager’s decision to play him against Aston Villa and the hope is that his injury isn’t too bad and he might be back for the Everton game. Which would be good but as I said yesterday the main thing is to ensure he’s properly fit for that Death Crunch Run, as I’m now calling it, at the end of Jan/early Feb.
And with the January transfer window dusting off its latches the captain is no doubt aware that the usual tedious guff will emerge from the rancid anuses of the Spanish press. He says:
There has been talk about Real and Barça since the summer and the only thing I am doing is thinking about my club, Arsenal, and seeing how I can help my team mates. I have a cool head, I am very happy at Arsenal and in England and there is still a lot for me to do. That’s all I can say. I am not thinking about anything else. I am very content and have a good deal still to do in the Premier League.
Which should shut those twats up for a while, at least. I know those of us who don’t really take Spanish newspaper stories all that seriously don’t necessarily need the constant reaffirmation from the captain about his commitment to the club, but it’s nice to hear all the same.
In other news the manager has denied any bid for Craig Bellamy despite saying he ‘likes the player’. As he rightly points out, Man City are very unlikely to sell to us even if we do go after him. Which I don’t think we will.
Also, Jack Wilshere’s loan to Burnley has been put on hold as we wait and see the extent of the injuries to Denilson and Cesc. It’d be mad to loan him out now, especially as he might well get the playing time he needs with us.
The Mirror says we’re ‘battling’ to sign 15 year old QPR whizzkid, Raheem Sterling. Why are transfers always ‘battles’ and ‘scraps’? It’s so uncouth.
Now, I know it’s not Friday but this Friday is New Year’s day and as I am likely to be starting the new year like every other, rancid with a hangover, it’s Arsecast time today. Not a normal Arsecast either. I am joined by GilbertoSilver from Gunnerblog, the Man from East Lower and Goodplaya to talk about Arsenal over the last 10 years.
As we head into a new decade we look back and select our teams of the last 10 years, games of the decade, goals of the decade and other decade related stuff. Plus there’s the winner of the Savile Rogue scarf competition from the last Arsecast.
You can subscribe to the Arsecast on iTunes by clicking here. Or if you want to subscribe directly to the feed URL you can do so too. To download this week’s arsecast directly – click here (28mb MP3) or you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
Right then, that’s enough for a Wednesday. Fingers crossed for three points later on, talk to you tomorrow.
