Not much to do this morning but thank Southampton for their 2-0 win over Everton yesterday. Or even thank Everton for scoring two excellent headed own goals.
Whoever you want to thank it turned out to be a fantastic result for us. Is it, perhaps, a sign that Everton have been feeling the pressure, the weight of expectation? I know a lot of neutrals would love to see them secure a Champions League spot, and I understand that.
If it were Everton battling against anyone else I’d be right up for them myself, just to add a bit of variety to Premier League – and European – life. But it’s not against anyone else, so I’m obviously happy they cracked. If that were us, you wouldn’t be able to move for the ‘self destruct’ headlines this morning, and we now have the chance to put a bit of distance between us and them tomorrow night.
If we beat Newcastle, we’ll be four points clear with two games to play. The fact that Everton conceded two without reply means the goal difference is exactly the same as well, so there’s further motivation for us before we face Alain Pardeaux’s team.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere won’t be rushed back into action just because the World Cup is looming. His last game for us was on March 1st before he got his foot broken playing for England a few days later. The boss said:
I don’t want to rush his fitness. If he wants to come back he needs to be fully fit, for that I believe it is very important that we don’t rush him. We want to do the basic work on his stamina so he can support the demands of the Premier League and the World Cup. This time we will take the needed time to build the basic fitness up on a very strong level.
Interesting comments, because Jack’s injury had nothing to do with fatigue or basic fitness, he got crocked in a 50/50 challenge. Perhaps he should have known better than to commit himself like that in a meaningless friendly, but there you go. Other than that I think he’s had a reasonably successful campaign in terms of his fitness.
He’s started 30 games in for us in all competitions, and between club and country has made 41 appearances. I always said this season was one of consolidation, where he needed to play regularly to feel more confident, and despite this latest absence, I think it will prove a positive one overall. Nagging doubts would be fair enough if he’d had a recurrence of his ankle knack, the fact Daniel Agger banjaxed him in a tackle makes it much easier to deal with, and I think we’ll see a much better Wilshere next season.
The only proviso I would have is that he has to be 100% if he’s going to the World Cup. I know it’s a huge deal for any player, but if he’s not fully recovered from this latest injury and declares himself fit then he’s doing everyone, especially himself a disservice. The manager has long said he’d be back before the end of the season though, so let’s see what happens.
Other than that the papers are just full of transfer nonsense this morning. Alex Song could return to Arsenal says one paper. No, no he could not.
Have yourselves a great Sunday, back tomorrow with a full preview of the Newcastle game and all the usual bits and bobs.
