december 10th
08.34 – Not only do Arsenal have to contend with a Lokomotiv Moscow team that has been warming up in Marbella all week, they not have to fight against the curse of Myles. In his latest ANR piece Myles says “I’m sure they will beat Lokomotiv Moscow at Highbury.”
‘What’s the problem?’, you say. Here are a couple of previous Myles predictions. See if you can spot a pattern:
- Don’t be surprised if Arsenal just blow Bolton away
- Nick Leeson will prove to be the 20th century’s greatest financial expert
- Michael Jackson will be a role model to kids for years to come
You see what I mean? Anyway, provided they can put such a dastardly curse behind them, qualification for the second phase is within touching distance. Thierry Henry is almost certain to start, despite missing the weekend’s game against Leicester. Despite speaking some English, Barcelona President Joan Laporta seems not to have understood Thierry when he said he loves it at Arsenal and he wouldn’t move to any other club. The more cynical amongst us might speculate that Laporta talking up a bid for the best striker in the world might be seen as a way of deflectiing the spotlight from the fact he appointed an inexperienced manager, his team are shite and his club have just lost to Madrid at Camp Nou for the first time in 20 years. Anyway, Sol Campbell is determined to get through to the next phase, while Arsene Wenger talks about the team, the new stadium and other stuff.
Alan Smith adds a final touch of laquer to his hand-crafted ‘Most Pessemistic Arsenal Columnist Ever’ sign. It’s easy to see why he’s become persona non grata around Arsenal FC. His comments about Pires are unnecessary, and the whole tone of his article is wrong. You feel like he’d like to see Arsenal lose, Wenger leave taking Vieira, Henry, Pires et al with him, just so he could write another piece saying ‘Oy towld yow sow’.
Of course, I’ll be working this evening and I’ll only get the second half. Fingers, toes, spleen, everything crossed for tonight. More later.
