Saturday round-up
Good morning and happy Saturday to you wherever you are. There’s obviously lots going on ahead of the United game tomorrow. Nothing much new in terms of the team news. There’s a small chance Vermaelen will be fit but the likelihood is that Sol Campbell will play tomorrow. If that’s the case the manager isn’t worried, saying:
He worked for three months every day and I think for 60 days it was without working with our team, just fitness. We pushed him really hard. We have had some players here with a good attitude but I was very impressed with Sol’s attitude. He is very fit and I think he’ll be able to cope with Rooney.
He also spoke about Rooney’s penalty record against us, the one earlier in the season and that dive which helped put an end to the unbeaten run. I think it’s fair to say he’s a lot more gracious than most Arsenal fans would be and I doubt there are too many other managers who would be quite so mannerly about it, but what it will certainly do is make sure it’s fresh in the mind of the referee tomorrow without causing a huge storm. Which is sensible enough, you have to say.
At the other end of the pitch there’s Andrei Arshavin on whom much will depend tomorrow. It’s a big game, he is one of our most important players and if we want to win it he’s going to have to put in a performance. The manager has backed him to rise the occasion, saying:
I am very happy with Arshavin, because in every big game he is influential and creates the chances. Arshavin likes the big stage. He can be quiet for 20 minutes, and then suddenly turn up with something decisive. That is what you want from the big players – the big players make you win the big games.
Arsene is not blind. He’ll have noted the Russian’s contribution of late hasn’t really been of the required standard for a player of his standing and reputation. While I fully acknowledge he’s been played out of position and has been doing a job that doesn’t really suit him, there is the sense that he’s content to let the game pass him by at times, and this is a gentle nudge from the manager. Time to get into gear, Andrei.
Captain Cesc Fabregas isn’t happy. Not in general, I’m sure he’s quite content with his lot in that sense, but with regards football. He says:
What’s the point of being happy now? It’s better to be happy when you have won something. Now we will see the real Arsenal because the next three games – against United, Chelsea and Liverpool – are really so important. We definitely know we can beat anyone if we are at our best.
He also points out that we haven’t lost in the league since the Chelsea game at the end of November and the reaction to that defeat has been positive. Which it has been. Let’s just hope the rest of the players take their cue from the captain. If he’s not happy then they shouldn’t be happy and should work tirelessly to ensure he is happy therefore they can then be happy. It’s the circle of life.
Cesc reckons United is the ‘most special’ game to play in the Premier League and because of the history and rivalry down the years I have to admit there’s always an extra edge. Cesc, I’m sure, will hoping if there’s a slice of luck it’ll fall to us and he’ll be looking for a pizza the action tomorrow. In Cesc we crust! I’m getting excited now.
Some transfer guff in the Mirror this morning. John Cross reckons we’re going to try and sign Marouane Chamakh on a pre-contract deal although I’m not sure signing a player now who won’t play till next season will keep happy those who want a player to make an impact in this campaign. He also quotes Gilles Grimandi on our interest in Loic Remy (Mercy Oil!).
At his press conference yesterday Arsene said new signings at this stage were ‘not impossible’ but ‘unlikely’. There was a board meeting yesterday so unless he was handed a suitcase full of cash and told ‘Go spend this or else’ I doubt we’ll be seeing any new faces.
Thanks to Matthew on Twitter who alerted me to a story on a local Portsmouth paper apparently saying we’ve made a £5m bid for keeper Asmir Begovic, who I’m sure I read the other day was about to join Sp*rs. I say apparently because the site it’s on appears to be down. Portsmouth are deep in the shit financially so they couldn’t possibly turn that money down but have we really made the offer? From what I can gather it’s not impossible, but unlikely. Just the other day though Arsene said he had no intention of brining in a new keeper and was very happy with the four he had. So let’s see.
Not much else going on but I have to address the Martin O’Neill thing. The other day I was quite prepared to believe he had reacted to Arsene’s post-match quotes without having heard everything the manager he had to say. However, this reaction, when he’s clearly had time to read everything that was said and in the context in which it was said, does little but paint O’Neill as a shrieking, tracksuit wearing, jumping up and down like a window licking, woolly haired goblin cunt. Which, funnily enough, is exactly what he is. I hope John Terry shags his wife.
Right then, that’ll have to do. Have a good Saturday, more tomorrow.