This morning comes the news that the FA is to bring a series of charges against Aaron Ramsey who now faces a three game ban, applicable from when he is declared fit enough to resume first team action.
Sources within the FA say that he is to be charged under the following sections of the FA Code:
Section 26.11a – Causing unnecessary trauma by wantonly injuring oneself off an England international
Section 3.44b – Displaying an obviously shattered bone and contorted limb which may cause distress and upset to workers at Sky television
Section 14.3c – Making the FA’s disciplinary procedures look out of date, perhaps forcing the FA to do something about them, but at the very least making the FA suffer a couple of uncomfortable days as they wait for it all to go away
As well as that Arsene Wenger has been charged with bringing the game into disrepute by ‘Expressing a an opinion about the health and safety of one of his own players’.
Arsenal have five days to respond to the charges under the FA’s new fast-track system. As yet the club have made no comment.
Here’s an interesting experiment carried out by Danger Here. They put ‘feel sorry for Ryan Shawcross’ into Google, then ‘feel sorry for Aaron Ramsey’ into Google. The results speak for themselves.
Tomas Rosicky on Aaron’s injury:
I think you cannot blame the player or to tell that he wanted to break his leg, of course not. But it’s always against us.
And before the accusers and wind-up merchants continue their attacks on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, how many other Premier League clubs would allow the player who smashed one of their players legs to train at their facilities less than 48 hours later? I bet Arsenal don’t like it, I know I don’t and I’d be quite happy if they told England to fuck off down to Hackney Marshes for a kickabout, but maybe think about that before you open your stupid fat mouths again.
As the week goes on the more focus shifts back to football and the game against Burnley on Saturday. There’s some good news in that Abou Diaby is expected to be fit again while there’s also the chance Andrei Arshavin could return. William Gallas remains a doubt with his calf problem but with a full 7 days between matches Sol should be fit and ready to step in once more. Although, if Gallas is not going to be fit for Porto the manager might decide Sylvester can cope with Burnley and save Sol for Europe. We’ll see.
Some more good news in terms of the Arsenalisation of the Grove – Highbury’s iconic clock is to return. Ivan Gazidis says:
We want to bring the clock back into the stadium and we will move back to having a Clock End, a North Bank, and East and West stands. We want to make sure it is the best stadium in the world, five, 10 and 15 years from now. We want to make it not just a technological marvel but a place that our fans can feel the traditions of the club.
More and more the new stadium feels like home but the one thing that will do the job more than anything is seeing Arsenal lift a trophy there. Fingers crossed that happens sooner rather than later. The Chief Exec also talks about the Ramsey injury.
Some odd transfer speculation as we’re linked again with Brazilian Felipe Melo. I don’t quite know where Arsene’s comments have come from, perhaps some TV commentary, but the Brazilian was voted worst player in Serie A. He’s the perfect fit for us.
After a lengthy absence caused by legal issues and a serious trumpet accident, Leopold Mendacious returns with ‘Riled Arsenal Show Spirit‘ on the Real ANR. Meanwhile, ‘holic’s guest poster, whoever he is, is in good form.
And that is about that. Fingers crossed all our players come through the international friendlies in one piece. It’s the least we deserve.
