Good morning, happy Friday and all that. Lots to get through starting with team news ahead of tomorrow’s game against Hull.
Unusually Arsene’s press conference took place yesterday. I don’t know why. Perhaps they all have to attend a recital at which Fran Merida is doing a solo today. It’s the only possible explanation I can think of. Anyway, the news is that Cesc is pretty much out. Arsene is talking about miracles but I think that even if Superman himself came down from heaven and used a magical viking elixir it’d be too risky to play him.
There are also doubts over Sol Campbell, old age, and Tomas Rosicky, Tomas Rosicky. Sol apparently had cramps at the end of the Porto game. Good job he didn’t have to do too much defending then. The choice is between him and Sylvester and I think, like most of you, I feel more assured with Sol at the back. With a week until the next game then I’d be inclined to smear him in Deep Heat and hope for the best. Alex Song misses out due his consistent and sustained thuggery.
The news over William Gallas remains mixed. Arsene says he won’t hurry him back and that the damage he’s suffered to his calf is ‘minor’. I’d be of the opinion that minor injuries might keep you out for a game or two, not over a month with no clear end in sight. ‘Calves are sometimes a mystery’, says the boss. And what can we say to that?
Going into the game Arsene says there’s no ‘bad blood‘ with Hull who have, since their arrival in the Premier League, not exactly become firm favourites. There was the whole Spitgate thing when Brown made an absolute chump of himself, then the little bit of handbags earlier in the season when Nasri stood on someone’s foot and that someone pretended he had been blunderbussed in the hole. When you add to that Phil Brown and his close association with Sam Allardyce then they’re never going to be the club you invite to your birthday party. Still, it’s clear that they’re preparing for a physical game and are looking to take the handbags to another level tomorrow evening.
The boss also denied he’d be going to Real Madrid after their collection of expensive stars crashed out of the Champions League. I’d forgotten the final was in the Bernebeu this season. Ouch. I’m sure Madrid fans are eagerly awaiting the return of former son Rafa Benitez who will lead them to Europa League glory in no time at all. AW has a contract with Arsenal till the end of next season and I’d be surprised if the club didn’t try and extend that, whatever happens with the rest of this season.
Gael Clichy talks about winning the league and Nicklas Bendtner, plus there’s more brilliance from the Andrei Arshavin official site. I can’t get over how consistently good this stuff is. For example:
Hi. I am 25 years old and I’m still not married. My parents are very upset about this. They say I can end up a spinster. But I don’t want to get married yet. What shall I do? (Sorry if this is off topic; just want to know your opinion)
Arshavin: I think I can help you.
Step 1: You need to find a scruffy heavy drinker.
Step 2: Once you’ve found him, try to persuade him to “marry” you. I think that for a small amount of money, he will agree to fulfill the role of your fiancé 🙂
Final: Bring this guy home. Tell your parents he’ll live with you 😉
I think next time they will think better before forcing their opinion on you.
Heh, that is glorious. Right up there with this one:
Does anybody go in for sports in your family?
Arshavin: Me.
Fuckin heh again. It’s surreal comedy of the highest order. Go read.
Not a lot else happening in terms of news so how about a little bit of a competition? An Audience With…’ is a new series on Arsenal TV Online – and I’ve got two pairs of tickets for you to attend the next programme being filmed.
Ray Parlour will be at Emirates Stadium on Monday 15th March at 6.30pm and you could be there too to put your question to the man himself. All you have to do to be in with a chance of attending is answer the following question:
What was Ray Parlour’s nickname? Was it a) The Romford Malcolm Christie b) The Romford Ripper or c) The Romford Pele?
Answers to [email protected], winners will be notified tomorrow. If you don’t win you can watch it by subscribing to Arsenal TV Online for £3.99 a month or £45 for a full year – details here.
Right then, time for this week’s Arsecast. I’m joined by Amy Lawrence from the Guardian and Observer to talk about the goings on, thankfully it’s all about the football this time around. Andrei Arshavin pops in as well amongst the usual waffle.
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 (20mb MP3) or you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
That will have to do, have yourselves a good Friday. More tomorrow.
