Oh man, what a busy morning we have. Not that I’m trying to hype things up or anything but there’s so much going on it will rock your socks, even if you happen to wearing open-toed sandals like some kind of priest.
Firstly, good news. It appears that Aaron Ramsey is going to be just as good as Cesc Fabregas. This is most timely indeed as it means we won’t miss Cesc one bit when he goes back to Barcelona next Tuesday week for a world record fee of £13.99 and some Green Shield stamps. Welsh coach Brian Flynn says:
He can be whatever he wants. I see him as a top six Premier League and a top international player. He’s as good as Fabregas was as a 17-year-old. He’s moved to London and can establish himself in the Premier League.
We really haven’t seen very much of him since his arrival but from what I have seen I can confidently predict that he is much, much better than either Denilson or Song and should be Cesc’s partner from here on in. It’s not that I’m setting the expectation level too high so much as desperately trying to build him up so it will inspire him to be completely awesome.
In all seriousness though I’d like to see him get a bit more playing time. The boss has spoken about what a great engine he has and maybe he’s the one to provide that bit of high-tempo midfielding that we’ve been lacking in certain games this season. It’s worth a try, isn’t it? I mean, it’s not like we have an abundance of riches for him to get past.
And even though it’s only just October and the transfer window doesn’t open until January The Sun is linking us with St Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi (OleOle link). If only Brian Moore were still alive.
“And here comes Matuidi … blaising through the midfield…”
Mikael Sylvester made his debut for the club in the reserves game against Stoke the other night and he says he feels mighty real after getting some minutes under his belt. Reserve coach Neil Banfield said of his performance:
He has won so many trophies but he is still here flying out on the edge of the box and blocking shots. He is a credit to our profession and as a senior pro, it was first class, absolutely first class.
What a disgrace. Flying out on the edge of the box, blocking shots, winning tackles and no doubt he probably won some headers too. I hate the way these players come from other clubs bringing their scabby way of playing football with them. We’ll soon knock those rough edges off him.
Banfield also talks about how the club will help young players who aren’t going to make the grade at Arsenal find a new club. I suppose it has to be a big part of how the youth operation goes as so few actually make the grade.
Not much else happening as all our players are away preparing to get injured for their countries. The training ground is a quiet place. There’s only Arsene, Almunia, Denilson and Rosicky who are passing the time by making Hallowe’en decorations. Rosicky’s pumpkin Adebayor face is apparently quite terrifying and merely looking at it caused Tomas’s good hamstring to snap right in two.
But don’t worry, he’s on course for a first team start in December.
2012.
Until tomorrow, Arsebandits.
