Good morning from the rainiest place on earth. As we have no match today I took the liberty of sleeping in a bit. It has led to me question why it is I don’t it more often.
Anyway, a quick round up for you this Saturday morning, beginning with the sterling news that Laurent Koscielny is expected to be out for another month (and based on the vagueness of what the manager said it wouldn’t surprise me if it were longer than that). He told the press yesterday that there was no chance of Koscielny making it back for the games immediately after the Interlull, saying:
He has not started running outside so you cannot think he will be available in two weeks’ time. Then, you have to see how he responds to going outside and running. He is not there yet anyway. He cannot run. He will not be available for three or four weeks.
Does it matter if it’s outside or inside if ‘he cannot run’. That’s the bit that struck me as particularly worrisome. It’s not a case that he’s feeling a little pain when he runs, he simply can’t. Having had, and known people who have had, Achilles problems in real life, I suspect it’s hugely optimistic to expect him to be back in three or four weeks.
Maybe if we give him some cortisone injections, swab his shirt with ether and lace his pre-match Gatorade with PCP we could get him through games, but surely this is something we need to get sorted out properly, regardless of how long it takes. He is a fantastic, aggressive defender who still has good years under his belt and I don’t think we can take a short-term view on what needs to be done.
Let this chronic affliction get better and then, crazy as it might sound, let’s not play him to the point where his tendons are screaming like a common Danny Mills when he gets nutmegged by Thierry Henry. It probably means muddling through until January, but is there any point in rushing him back only to exacerbate the problem?
It also means that whatever business we have to do when the January transfer window opens has to happen as soon as it opens. None of this hanging around right until the end of the month so we can save ourselves thrupeence ha’apenny as we showcase our marvellous negotiating skills. The targets should be identified now, contact through the usual channels made, bids and personal terms all ready to go as soon as Jools Holland tells us it’s 2015.
That this is a situation entirely of our own making – and by own, I mean Arsene Wenger – is hardly worth repeating at this point. There is literally nothing we can do in terms of adding personnel. We could certainly consider shifting things around a bit with Chambers at centre-half and Bellerin at right back, but I just don’t see that happening bar further injury problems. However, as we’ve spoken about a few times this week, we can definitely help our defence out by being more switched on as a team.
Which brings us to Aaron Ramsey. The manager, in particularly tetchy form yesterday at his press conference, was asked what Ramsey needed to do to rediscover the form of last season. His reply:
Just keep his priorities right. A midfielder is a guy who defends well and helps the other players in the team play well. He has to focus on that.
It’s the second time in a week he’s made that point, and on the Welshman’s goalscoring contribution – which was obviously so important to us last season – he said:
Goalscoring is a consequence of playing well, so first play well.
I remember when the the knives were well and truly out for Ramsey, but what told me he’d make it through is that he never hid. He always wanted the ball, always wanted to be involved. I think Wenger told him something at the time about how it wasn’t that people didn’t like him, they didn’t like his game. He took that on board, went back to basics, and flourished.
Now we have a situation where it’s not happening for him for various reasons. He’s had a stop-start season so far with injury and illness, not to mention it’s very difficult to properly judge individual player performances in a team which has been verging on dysfunctional since the season began. We’ve played in fits and starts; a good 15 minutes here, a nice 45 there, but it’s almost impossible to remember a full 90 when we clicked as a team. We haven’t had a settled midfield either, which does have an impact.
I think we’re looking for saviours and because of what Ramsey did last season he’s been disappointing, no question. However, I don’t think it’s a long-term problem and I’m pretty sure he’ll find his form again. The manager’s words are spot on for me though. He’s trying too hard to make an impact at the top end of the pitch at the expense of some of his more routine responsibilities. He’s good enough and intelligent enough to take that into account, and I think it’ll turn around soon (bearing in mind others have to step up too, a rising tide floats all boats etc etc).
Not a lot else going on. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to yesterday’s Arsecast, you can find it right here – and the Arsenal Gent’s review of last week is well worth your time. More from me tomorrow as we preview the Swansea game.
Until then.
