There’s only one place to start this morning and that’s the return of Andy Linighan. It’s been rumoured for quite a while now and yesterday things went into overdrive. He played for the reserves last night and … oh … it was a dream. Just a dream! Phew.
The focus is still very much on Sol Campbell this morning and while he talks about ‘ongoing’ discussions regarding a contract you have to think everything is probably done and dusted at this stage. There’s no way we’d have played him against the reserves, courting so much media attention, if we hadn’t made our minds up already.
Optimistic chappy that he is Sol reckons he can play at the top level for another three years and says he wishes he’d never left Arsenal. I think he’ll probably join a large number of players who thought the grass was greener elsewhere, soon to realise the grass doesn’t get much greener than the red grass of Arsenal. Or something. Look at Alex Hleb, back at Stuttgart after his Barcelona adventure flopped like a high jumping fish. Or how Mathieu Flamini’s career has nosedived since he left. He’s being played at full back for Milan, when he even gets on the pitch, and from being one of the most effective central midfielders in the Premier League he’s now even being linked with a move to Sp*rs. It doesn’t get much worse than that.
So while the main reason Sol Campbell was brought back is because we desperately need a centre-half, I think the reason it was Sol and not somebody else is because the manager wanted experience. He knows his squad is young and improving and has a decent chance of winning something this season, but there’s a lot to be said for having players around who have been through it before. The pressure, the intensity of the games, and the spotlight being well and truly on when you reach the final part of the season is something they haven’t really had to deal with before. Perhaps in the 07-08 season when we fell apart towards the end – but while we might have learned from that it’s no harm having players around who have gone the distance and have the medals to prove it. Campbell says:
It’s not so much dragging them over the line but just showing when you’ve got that green light to keep them going. They are fantastic guys and great players. But as the games come thick and fast and you’ve got to get a win here or a draw, and it’s the fifth game and everyone is tired, getting the lads over the line and getting that result is what’s important. Those points add up at the end of the season.
Wise old heads are good, but they do have to be able to contribute on the pitch. I have no doubt he’ll be a good influence around the dressing room but the real test will be when he’s asked to perform on the pitch. There’s no point being a model pro and full of experience if you’re not to up the job footballistically, as Arsene might say. There are two words which prove this point fully – Syl Vester. As I said yesterday though though, we have to trust that Arsene knows what he’s doing here.
There’s some early team news ahead of the Bolton game on Sunday. Denilson could miss out after his fainting spell against Everton but Cesc is back, hurrah, and Gael Clichy could be back too. Nicklas Bendtner is still a couple of weeks away according to the manager and that’s obviously a concern. That brings us right up until the end of the month and with Villa on the 27th and United on the 31st you have to wonder if he’s going to be able to play any real part. After so long out with injury it’s going to take him some time to get match fit and to gain any kind of sharpness or form. So you have to wonder if Arsene’s still looking to bring in a striker hoping someone will call him up and offer him a world class striker for £29.99.
Apparently we have signed somebody though. Gunnerblog has the lowdown on ‘Bolivian Wonderkid’ Samuel Galindo. My initial thoughts are … I really don’t care. I’m sure he’s a very good young player and all but we have lots of those. Will he be the next Carlos Vela or will he be the next young South American to take the Premier League by storm, just like … erm … pffff … uhm … yeah. Good luck to him and all that but you’ll forgive me if I don’t bother my hole jumping up and down with joy.
Schteve McClaren … wantsh … Jack Wilshere … on the loan, you know … from the Arshenal (Dutch talking Schteve!).
Interesting result last night in the FA Cup as Reading knocked out the Mugsmashers. I can only imagine the fury of the Mugsmasher himself as he thrust even more pins into his Rafa Voodoo doll. Anyway, with them out and United out it really does give the manager something to think about. On only two occasions since 1991 has the cup gone to a team other than United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea (Everton in 94 and Portsmouth in 2008). With only us and Chelsea from that group still in it, you have to think it’s a glorious opportunity for us to do well in the tournament. There are lots of good teams in the competition now, and I know many people don’t view the FA Cup as that important, but when you’ve been without silverware for so long you would be mad not to try and take advantage of this situation.
This team needs to win something to instill the belief that will bring more trophies to the club. This season’s FA Cup is a good chance to do that – and while I fully support shuffling things around as the games come thick and fast, I think we’d be unwise to not take the cup seriously this season.
Right, that’s that. More tomorrow, including an Arsecast. Till then.
