Friday again, wooo hooo!
I think I shall be taking it rather easy this weekend. Compared to last weekend at least. Arsenal are on the telly here so that’s something.
The early team news for the Sunderland game is that we have no new injuries but Alex Song, who was missing from the Champions League squad, may return. He might even start. An away game against a Sunderland team built in the image of their manager might require a bit more physicality in midfield and after the Hull debacle it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was drafted in.
There’s still no sign of Diaby whose thigh injury has kept him out since pre-season. Unless some kind of worm ate away most of his thigh it seems like an inordinately long time to be missing. Eduardo too is progressing while Wenger didn’t sound as confident as you might like when talking about Rosicky, saying:
I monitor Rosicky’s progress very closely but at the moment it is very difficult to put a date on his comeback. We are not pessimistic about the future of his career but we still need more patience.
It’s the first time we’ve heard any kind of hint about his career so it is a worry. Even if he is saying they’re not pessimistic they’re not saying they’re optimistic either. Fingers crossed he can get through it. We’re really missing someone to score that 4th goal when we’re 3-1 up!
The manager has also spoken out against abuse from the terraces. In the light of the slagging former Arsenal man Sol Campbell got from Sp*rs fans, he said:
Sometimes stupidity is contagious as well and sometimes in the crowd there is a competition to see who can be more stupid. That is why you should not let these people be together. My reaction is that abuse cannot be tolerated from anybody towards anybody in the world.
Now, it’s a very noble thought but like it or not it’s part of the game. A former player is going to get booed, a life long enemy (a Sheringham, for example), will always get stick from the crowd, and we cannot bemoan the atmosphere at football matches yet try to stop this kind of thing. However, there is a very definite line which sees regular banter and singing become something more sinister.
Arsene has obviously had first hand experience of this as idiots have sung that song about him. Everyone is ripe for a slagging, everyone, but to sing a song accusing somebody of being a paedophile is beyond the pale. Yet, the FA have done nothing about it over the years, even though it could quite easily have taken a stand against the clubs whose fans gleefully chant that in front of their chidren. And with Sol Campbell, not somebody I have a great deal of time for to be honest, it seems the Sp*rs fans not so much crossed the line as stomped over it, pissed on and beat a defenceless old granny around the head with it.
Anyway, it seems to me that it’d be easy enough to stop it. Threaten clubs with points deductions and the fans might realise they have to stay (somewhat) within the bounds of decency.
Stuart Pearce wants Theo Walcott for the England U21s. Arsene thinks that’s a bad idea. I suspect particularly because it might extend Theo’s season as the U21 European Championships take place next summer.
Arsene Wenger and Joe Kinnear, unlikely buddies.
Not much else happening just yet so let’s get on with the Arsecast. On this week’s show I revisit the Hull trip and try and address those who think our defeat was all my fault for just being there. There’s some talk of Porto and Sunderland, as well as a player history from the Man in the Bar, a tale of the unexpected and Silvester.
To subscribe to the Arsecast in iTunes simply click here, the direct feed URL is here, to download this week’s arsecast directly – click here (14mb MP3). You can find the arsecast archives here. And you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
As well as that there’s a dedicated Arsecast hotline available all season long should you desire to make a comment, get something off your chest, share a song a chant or hilarious anecdote. Feel free to call it any time during the week, it’ll go to voicemail and you can leave your message. The number from inside the UK is 020 3286 6360 or from outside the UK it’s +44 20 3286 6360.
Ok then, have a good Friday. More, and a fuller Sunderland preview, tomorrow.
