Good morning folks, it’s pretty damn quiet and I have neither the gumption or another thing which is like gumption but slightly different from gumption to make a lot out of it.
As per usual there are stories about Cesc and Barcelona. As per usual I shall ignore them. Pre-contracts, £60m transfer fees and all the rest of it is all part of a big game being played which really is not worth talking about at this moment in time. In fact, if I were a betting man, which I am sometimes, I’d be inclined to put a bet on Cesc signing a new deal at Arsenal before any move to Barcelona. One thing is for sure though, as the presidential campaign hots up in Catalunya it’s going to become unbearable for Arsenal fans as Cesc is used from all sides.
Looking around there’s a common denominator running through the main stories. See if you can spot it. Eduardo talks to the Telegraph about his season, his injury interrupted season, but says he has real faith in this squad:
The hardest thing will be to keep this group together because as the players flourish and improve, other clubs are going to try and take them. But if we stay together for the next four or five years, and I say this with my heart, we can rule England and Europe.
Strong words indeed. Watching Eduardo this season has been a bit sad. He’s clearly struggled with form, confidence and the litany of little niggles he’s picked up. I don’t subscribe to the theory that he’s finished or he’ll never be the same player again. I think he’s determined enough and talented enough to become a regular goalscorer for us again. Hopefully he can do that before the season is out.
Diaby for me is the player who is going step-by-step higher and standing really as a strong player. He missed a complete year with his ankle injury and since he came back last year he was out a lot but this year in central midfield he has really stepped up and improved tremendously. He has become a very strong player.
There’s no doubt he’s really improved this season, more accurately in the last 3 months when his performances have been much more dynamic than we had become used to. His goalscoring is excellent, physically he brings a lot to a team which is quite small in general, and when you consider he doesn’t turn 24 until May his best years are certainly ahead of him. If he can stay out of the treatment room long enough.
And then there’s Robin van Persie who says he turned down Chelsea and Man City to sign a new deal at Arsenal but goes on to talk about his injuries:
When you look at great players, they are always fit, always sharp. When you play 50 games a season, you can score more goals and get more assists, so it follows that you are more important to the team. Everything starts with your fitness and some players are lucky like that. I hate it but I can’t do anything about it because this is my situation.
I’ve always said he’s been desperately unlucky with injury. He has never been a Michael Owen, suffering from dodgy hamstrings or whatever, he’s suffered serious injury through accidents. A twisted knee landing awkwardly on international duty, a broken metatarsal after scoring against Man United, his latest ankle problem after a tackle in an international friendly. If we’re frustrated as fans he must be gutted. Nevertheless, the consistency of the injuries becomes a worry. If a player spends 50% of every season out injured then you have to count on him spending 50% of the next season out injured and anything more than that is a bonus. I think there’s a really brilliant player in van Persie waiting to get out … if the injuries allow. Fingers crossed.
The People says we tried to sign Louis Saha on deadline day and goes on to talk about Marouane Chamakh who has, apparently, gotten involved in local politics in the Bordeaux area and will stand in local elections next month. Some politician guy says:
Marouane Chamakh has not just been made to score goals – he has things to say as well. He had hesitated to launch out into politics because he is going over to play football in England. He won’t be the first person to work away from his constituency if he is elected. He is a bloody clever guy.
Chamakh Obama? Yes we can!
That aside there’s not a lot happening. Have yourselves a nice relaxing Sunday. It’s bacon time here.
