Early team news ahead of tomorrow’s crunch game against Sp*rs. Sol Campbell is definitely out having not yet recovered from his broken nose so I would imagine we’ll see an unchanged central defence. The two left full backs are close to comebacks but with Arsene Wenger saying Ashley Cole is a good two weeks away from being fit enough to play and more stories about him being off in the summer you have to wonder if we’ll ever see him in an Arsenal shirt again. However, this morning The Sun says Cole could be on the bench against Sp*rs.
I’d imagine we will see changes from Wednesday night but as of now the boss hasn’t made his mind up who or what. He says “I need a little bit more time to decide that but I will do it. We want to beat Tottenham and find the best way to make it to the Final. I need to think about the best way to achieve that.”
Kolo Toure talks about the defence and how much he learned from Tony Adams and how much he is still learning from Martin Keown. He says “Martin Keown is at the training ground every day and we will talk about how the first leg went. He will tell me what I did well – and what I didn’t do well!”
It must be great for Keown to be working with such young, hungry players who are willing to learn. He was not everybody’s favourite (by that I mean opposition!) but he was certainly a fantastic defender and an intelligent man as well. When you have him alongside Senderos, Toure, Flamini and Eboue it must be a great help to have that experience. Obviously whatever he’s doing is having an effect as we haven’t conceded in 9 European games which is a fantastic achievement.
Also helping the back four with his experience is Jens Lehmann. There was an interesting moment during Wednesday’s match and I think it was just after Villarreal were claiming the penalty. Jens came out to talk to Kolo and Phil and was giving them some instructions and to have him behind that defence shouting at them, telling them where to go, what to keep an eye on is vital as well. He talks here about how much he’s enjoying his football and how he thinks he, and everyone else, can get a little bit better with each game. There’s a nice bit in that article about him giving Eboue something to think about.
You have to question the timing of Robert Pires announcing that Villarreal want to offer him a two year deal. I know he’s got a future to think about but quite honestly I don’t imagine too many Arsenal fans want to hear that he’s considering joining the club we’re playing in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final. As well as that José Antonio Reyes is telling him he should go, saying “I’ve recommended that Robert go there. The Spanish League would suit him down to the ground. Also, the sun shines more than it does in England and he would have a great lifestyle there. So he should make the move and eat lots of paella!”
Well, that’s the important thing. Paella. Good one, José.
Finally for today thanks to Spencer for drawing my attention to these old Panini sticker albums – Arsenal 1984 and 1985. I think I’d stopped collecting by 1984 but I remember a few years previously having a massive collection and trying to swap in the playground. “Got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, got it, need it. I’ll swap you Irvin Gernon and Peter Davenport for Steve Gatting. Come oooon. Ok, I’ll throw in Steve Lynex too”
Ahhhh, memories. Ok then, till tomorrow.
