Well, we knew it was going to be a young team for tonight’s game and Arsenal announced the squad yesterday which includes 10 teenagers, 3 toddlers, 2 embryos, 1 sperm and Sylvester. The full list is here.
With the amount of injuries we have the manager really didn’t have much choice but I suppose it does add a bit of interest to what is, effectively, a nothing game. I remember years and years ago we played a similar kind of team in a Champions League game away from home. It might even have been in Greece too. I think Alberto Mendez might have scored and the Dead Snake too, but it was so long ago I don’t recall the details. Nor is it interesting enough to go look them up.
Players who thought they might possibly get a chance in the Carling Cup are now thrust into European action and it’ll be a good experience for them. We know all about the likes of Merida, Wilshere, Ramsey and co, and with some experience from the likes of Walcott, Vela, Song the aforementioned Sylvester there should be enough of a blend to gel things together.
That said, it’s always a risky business playing young players in Europe and with this game so far and away the boss will be hoping it’s not mission impossible for a player likely to make his debut at left back, Tom Cruise. Let’s face it, he could have moved Sylvester to left back and perhaps made room in the squad for Senderos but Arsene said:
Hell, no! I’m playing the kid, man. He’s used to the mickey-taking. But, for me, there’s only one Tom Cruise and he’s the one who plays for Arsenal! Tom is a very good footballer.
Despite the youth of the team the manager thinks we can win the game. Personally, I don’t think it matters one bit if we win or lose once we give it a good go. There’s already talk of the manager being roundly criticised if we don’t win this game but to me that’s just absurd. We have already qualified for the knock-out stages as winners of the group, most of our senior players are injured to within an inch of their lives, it makes no sense to do anything other than pick a young team. And they’re probably going to be a bit out of their depth against a pretty decent Greek outfit.
So if the result doesn’t go our way then so be it. It’s not a stick to beat the managers and players with. We’ve already done the job we were supposed to do so if people want to go off on one should the result go against us then I really think they’re wasting their time.
It will be a good chance to see certain players though. Merida, Wilshere – whom the boss is open to loaning out – and Ramsey are all being talked about as the future of our midfield. They struggled against Man City last week in the Carling Cup, again not too unexpectedly, so it’ll be interesting to see how they go tonight. Of Ramsey the manager says:
He has spirit, and something that is very interesting, he is an efficient player, gets in the box at the right moment and is a penetrating player. He is not a guy who goes right across the pitch – Ramsey goes where it hurts, and when he gets there, he is a good finisher.
So perhaps he’s looking for a bit of that going where it hurts from the young Welshman tonight. He’ll go into the game on the back of a productive cameo against Stoke too. All in all the presence of the youngsters makes the game watchable. Here’s hoping they acquit themselves well.
In other news Dennis Bergkamp is making flirty eyes with us and frankly I’m swooning. He says about a possible return in a coaching role:
They want me to come, but it’s too early for that. But I can see myself working with Arsene Wenger. We share out honesty, humor, vision, how to manage people and how to work with young players. It all worked out. There have been some hints. From him, from Arsenal, from the media. They want me to come.
Oh God, Dennis, come, come. Sadly Arsene Wenger has ruled out a move for the moment so we’ll have to just use our imaginations. You filthy bastards.
Reports in Russia say some some Russian players were out carousing the night before their World Cup exit to Slovenia. Arsene Wenger has defended Andrei Arshavin saying he wouldn’t be involved in those kind of high-jinks. Mostly because he’s so tiny he can only get up to low-jinks which aren’t nearly as much fun.
Right then, final thing for today – a chance to win one of three copies of ‘Football Ambassador‘ which is the biography of Arsenal legend Eddie Hapgood. Eddie joined Arsenal in 1927 and made a total of 440 appearances in both league and cup before retiring in 1944. In addition he captained England for 34 of his 43 international caps. Football Ambassador was the first football autobiography and was written at the end of a long and successful career for both club and country.
To win a copy simply answer the following question: Eddie Hapgood is pictured on the front of Football Ambassador with his son Tony. Which current Premier League club did Tony play for professionally?
Was it – a) Arsenal – b) Burnley – c) Chelsea
If you’re stuck on the question you might check out the website of the publisher, GCR Books, who also re-published the Arsenal Stadium Mystery and Forward Arsenal. Answers to [email protected] and the winners will be announced on Friday.
Right then, that’s that. Have a good day, fingers crossed for some fun football tonight, more tomorrow.
