Cesc Fabregas might be looking at Arsenal colleagues present and past and be somewhat thankful he hasn’t played yet in this World Cup.
The French are a group of players so far removed from a team it’s almost embarrassing to watch. I said almost. Carlos Vela did all right last night until injury forced him off, it looked like a hamstring problem. Philippe Senderos will miss the next two Swiss games having been injured against Spain. Kolo Toure looked in some trouble during the Ivory Coast’s game against Portugal while Nicklas Bendnter has been struggling with a thigh injury.
He might be as well to stay where it’s safe – however, I suspect he’ll start the next game. Provided he can get out from under the weight of all the tapping up SMS he’s receiving from Messi and Co.
Yesterday was quite a fun day at the World Cup. Argentina got the goals flowing with a 4-1 win over South Korea. They were excellent going forward but looked decidedly dodgy at the back (sounds familiar) which could make for some very entertaining games in the near future.
I only saw the first half of Nigeria v Greece but once again a goalkeeping howler proved decisive. Vincent Enyeama (not “Onyemu”, as the BBC’s Colin Murray insisted on calling him) had been the stand-out keeper so far. He was quick, brave, made saves – then he went all Rob Green. The lengths these keepers will go to catch Arsene Wenger’s eye is something else.
And last night France showed the world why they ought to have made John Sitton manager, anybody but Domenech. They were entirely woeful, it’s clear they’re a broken camp, and with Mexico and Uruguay just needing to play out a classic 3rd group game draw to both advance it’s clear they’re going home early from this World Cup. Not too many people will be unhappy about that considering how they secured their place at the finals, I still find respected journalists painting a diddly-eye picture of Ireland to have a pop at the French a touch distasteful. It’s not as if there isn’t enough ammunition there to have a go at France on their own merits.
No specific Arsenal connection to any of today’s games. Germany v Serbia could be tasty early this afternoon and of course England play Algeria this evening.
Not much going on in the way of Arsenal news. Centre-half target, Laurent Koscielny, has spoken about the potential move and says:
It’s a joy to be courted by Arsenal. I want to join this prestigious club. I told the board and they understood me. Everything has been fast for me. It takes a good bit of luck to not miss the right car.
Perhaps something got lost in translation there. What does he mean ‘the right car’? Like a train carriage? He’s confusing me and he hasn’t even joined yet. He’d better not talk in crazy riddles if we do sign him.
I had a look at the Spanish papers for the first time in a while but there’s really nothing worth talking about regarding Cesc. One story which did catch my eye was one involving Atletico Madrid. They’re apparently chasing a Rennes right back and suggest we might be interested in him should Bacary Sagna move on this summer. His name? Rod Fanni. Marvellous.
And apart from that the only news is that Sylvester looks to have found a new club. Hurrah! He’s off to the middle-east to play for Al Jazira in Abou Diaby. They’re going to pay him £4m a year which is thoroughly depressing. £4m a year to do what he does? I could do that for half the price. Oh well.
Still, the forecast for the weekend is good, we should have some Arsenal players, and potential Arsenal players in action tomorrow, and there is wine in the fridge.
Sorted.
