january 3rd
09.26 – Tomorrow sees the start of the FA Cup. Perhaps its importance has faded a wee bit in recent years, but I still love this competition and it’s one I always want us to do well in.
We take on Oxford United at Highbury, and I would imagine we’ll see some changes in the side. Patrick Vieira is set to be rested, Thierry is injured so it should mean a starting place for Francis Jeffers, and I would like to see Matthew Upson get a game in the centre of defence. However, with Parlour, Cygan and possibly Freddie all still out, there isn’t much room for manouvre. Edu is fit again though, and perhaps we’ll see him and Gio in midfield (the first time we’ll have two left footers in there since …?)
For Oxford striker Jefferson Louis tomorrow’s game is a big one for him. A year ago he was in prison for driving offences, now he’s going to play against the team he supports, at a ground he used to go to as a lad. Good luck to him (but not too much luck, I could live with him scoring in a 7-1 Arsenal win).
Robert Pires was upset at being substituted against Chelsea on New Years Day and wants an explanation from le Boss about it. Given the fact we ended up playing the most defensive midfield we have, and in the end we had 5 across the middle, I think it’s fairly obvious. Greek defender Stathis Tavlaridis has joined Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth on a month’s loan, and he could go straight into the side to face Manchester United in the cup tomorrow (live on Sky). Still no work about a new keeper, but Planet Football has us linked to all sorts of strange characters. The bald Bulgarian, some bloke with a giant mouth from Paraguay, and Lazio sub Angelo Peruzzi. We shall see…
Finally for now, the 2003 bloggies are upon us. ‘The what?’ you say. Well, they’re awards for ..er…blogging and people with blogs and such thing. Anyway, feel free to nominate Arseblog for any categories you like, but I reckon we could do well in best tagline, best topical weblog, most humorous weblog (once the judge is an Arsenal fan of course) and best new weblog. Some funny categories there, even one for best Canadian Weblog. What’s that all aboot then?
