So it’s Thursday and then tomorrow it’s Friday and then it’s football. Sweet, nutritious, life-giving football.
We’ll get an idea, later today, of what the squad for Birmingham will be like, who has returned, who is still crocked etc, but it does seem as if the treatment room is going to be emptier than usual. Bendtner, Walcott and Cesc are all said to be close to comebacks but we’ll wait and see what the boss says later on.
Also on his way back, but still a little bit away from first team action, is Aaron Ramsey. He spoke to the official site, saying:
I’ve missed a lot of football and it’s made me realise how much it means to me. Now I just want to get back and start doing what I used to do.
Obviously he’s feeling better, seeing light at the end of the tunnel, and having been stuck in a gym doing grueling exercises to strengthen his leg must have been very trying indeed. Many footballers hate the running part of training, Ramsey says he’s loving the fact he can get outside and do that, leaving the weights and machines behind.
Arsene Wenger says:
Now he knows that again he will be a football player he wants to hurry up and make it happen as quickly as possible. But just for him to have the ball again and to be outside training is a fantastic sensation.
So, good news. I know they’ve pencilled in November but I think, all things going well, he’ll be eased back into action slowly. His return will provide the midfield with more competition which can only be a good thing. Remember, at the time of Shawcross’s assault, he had edged ahead of Denilson in the pecking order. With the emergence of Jack Wilshere he’s got even more to contend with but that’s the nature of football. I’m sure he’s up for the fight.
And speaking of Jack, he’s aware that a few first team games doesn’t mean he knows it all. He says:
Sometimes have to be done quicker, sometimes you can dribble but sometimes it has to be one touch. Every day you learn when you watch someone like Cesc Fabregas, though it’s not just him. There are players like Samir Nasri and Denilson and you can learn anything from them. They’re top class players and the best thing to do is train with them every day.
I’ve said it before but what has impressed me most about Wilshere this season is his willingness to do the simple things. He’ll sit and cover when needed, curbing his natural attacking instincts, and bar one or two moments he hasn’t looked to show off on the ball. The one time I think he did, which was in the Liverpool game, he was dispossessed in midfield. He’s a quick learner, I like that.
Meanwhile the Daily Star quotes Manuel Almunia:
I am trying to be fit for Saturday.
Or is it:
I am fit to be trying on Saturday.
Either way the keeper dilemma is one for the boss to sort out. I’d missed this for yesterday’s blog but remember Vito Mannone saying he gets frustrated when he doesn’t play. He obviously missed out the words ‘at full back’. Check out his highly successful audition for the top job at Arsenal. Impressive, you have to say. It’s everything Arsene looks for in a keeper. I fully expect him to start against Birmingham. Cheers to Elliewoo for the vid.
More on that game to come in the next couple of days but if you fancy winning a couple of tickets I’ve got a pair to give away with thanks to O2. All you need to do is send a message @O2 on Twitter saying who you’d like to bring to the match and why. Add the hashtag #arseblog to your Tweet and we’ll pick a winner tomorrow morning. Simple.
Amusingly, when O2 announced the competition on their Twitter, someone replied to them saying:
#arseblog?? could you not have thought of anything a little less crass?
Crass? I ask you. If this were a blog about arses, speaking in graphic detail about tea-towel holders, rusty sheriffs badges and hairy cracks then fine, I could let that lie, but this is a blog which strives to be good, clean fun for all the family, as those of you who read regularly know fine well. There’s certainly no bad language or disgusting imagery at al … erm … might quit while I’m ahead here.
Although, to be fair, there was the very same reaction when one of the chaps on the Arsenal Facebook group posted a link to the blog and many people there, Arsenal fans too, expressed their disappointment that a blog about Arsenal might use the word arse in its name.
Anyway, don’t forget you can follow Arseblog on Twitter here and if you’re one of those people for whom the internets = Facebook you can be a fan of Arseblog right here.
Right, lots to do and see and speak into a microphone and such like. Till tomorrow.
