Hello there, for the first time this week there’s a bit of football news so instead let’s talk about … nah, we’ll talk about football.
Not much good in the way of injury news. There’s no Gallas, Arshavin or Diaby for the Stoke game although Eduardo comes back to training today and should make the squad. He’s unlikely to start but will add a bit of attacking depth to the bench.
Worrying news about Gallas though. He’s had a ‘setback‘ in training and his calf injury is causing some anxiety. I imagine in his absence Sol Campbell will play but we have to hope Gallas recovers soon. There are big gaps between games at the moment but when the fixtures really start to pile up we need him fit and ready. Sol can’t do two or three games a week and that means Sylvester and Sylvester causes a browning of underwear across the Arsenal fanbase. Sure, hes talking the talk about fighting to the end and batting for the title, all good, but you do get the feeling that if any team even played a comatose Galapagos turtle up front Sylvester would find himself outpaced at some stage.
As expected the boss played down reports suggesting Robin van Persie would be fit at the start of April. Wishful thinking on behalf of the Dutch FA and Arsene says he hasn’t even seen Robin because he’s in Holland. I’m sure he’s doing his recuperating and all that but why isn’t he doing it around the club? I’ve always found that a bit strange. Perhaps he’s got a timeshare apartment in Holland and feels this is the perfect way to get value from it. It’s happened before with other players who go ‘home’ when they’re injured. I just think it’s weird. I’m all for them getting fit and feeling happy and comfortable in their surroundings but while we’re paying their wages surely they could help out with some odd jobs around the training ground or something. Footballers these days, pfff.
He was also asked about Kieran Gibbs and if he might be fit before the end of the season. Obviously this question was not asked because anyone really cared about Kieran Gibbs but because Wayne Bridge did to the England squad what John Terry should have done to Bridge’s missus, pulled out. It’s surely unrealistic for a player who is still in a cast, and still so inexperienced, to be even thought of in terms of the World Cup. England have plenty of other left backs, leave ours alone. It’s when they start hanging around with ruffians and hoodlums like Terry and Lampard that things start to go wrong for them. Next thing you know Gibbsy will have married Susan Boyle in a tacky ceremony and then the swerving off the road will start and it’s all downhill from there, let me tell you.
In other news the boss also backed Gael Clichy despite him having something of a poor season. Hopefully he can find some form again heading into the business end of the season, while the Mail reports Theo Walcott will be picked on the right for England as they take on Egypt in a friendly next week. I’ve got no problems with that. Theo needs the games, it’s not as if he’s going to be exhausted or anything.
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Not much else happening so on we go with this week’s Arsecast. To discuss the upcoming game against Stoke, the goalkeeping situation, fans leaving early and more, I’m joined by John Cross from the Mirror (you can follow him on Twitter here). There’s a bit of a Russian tinge and some waffle about men who should know better.
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And that’s about that. Last night’s wine has given me a little bit of a headache. Time for some breakfast. Mmmmmm, Solpadeine Flakes.
