To play or not to play, that isn’t really the question
Let’s proceed and assume that there is a match. I’m going to try and fly through this as I am up to my nips with work with every one thing completed generating three more things to do.
Denilson and Arshavin return, but the rest of the usual suspects are still out. No word on Rosicky, who, after signing his new contract in the Arsenal squat, has returned to keep Theo company in
Ashburton Grove Medical Centre no doubt.
Bolton are in a bit of disarray following the stupid sacking of Megson and the ridiculous war between themselves and Burnley for Owen Coyle. Perhaps by the time you read this that whole saga will
have worked itself out, but either way it matters not to Arsenal.
There are, off course, the usual fears that players performing for a new manager generally get a result in the first match but as we are Arsenal challenging for the title, at home, if we cannot
overcome that then we deserve all we get. Which will be nothing.
Starting I presume we will return to what we have standing. Despite his fantastic saves on Sunday, Fabianski is likely to be relegated to the bench as the other one is restored to number ’1.’
Injuries and ACN will dictate that we will more than likely start like this (I have a funny feeling we’ll see Eduardo take up the central role leaving Arshavin to play his normal game):
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Traore
Denilson
Nasri Ramsey Diaby Arshavin
Eduardo
There has been no official confirmation from the club regarding Merida’s alleged signing for Athletico Madrid, but our dearth of players means that even if he has signed a pre-contract agreement
we are likely to see him on the bench alongside Vela, Silvestre, Fabianksi, Eastmond, Wilshere and A.N. Other, perhaps Watt, or even, if we dare dream, Rosicky.
It will be tough, it will be cold, but it should be three points and second place. We have all assumed for so long that this was a guaranteed three points that we must hope that mentality hasn’t
filtered through to the players.
I read on Monday that Arsenal are lucky as we get to get our game in hand out of the way quickly so as to not have it hanging over us for too long. Am I mistaken in thinking that this game has
been in hand since August? Typical, the press have only being paying any attention to us in the last few weeks, so to them, everything that has come before does not exist.
Watching Wenger’s press conference, I couldn’t help but notice how little he was asked about the number and duration of our injuries. Watch any Man U conference and that’s all you’ll hear them
ask. Perhaps that’s the only question Ferguson allows. Will Ferguson be asked about his comments regarding injury time YET again? Don’t be so stupid. How a manager can say that a referee is an
insult to the game and NOT get charged even though he has a suspended ban in place just shows how shit-scared the League and FA are of him. It’s a joke.
Tangent. Sorry.
In other non-Arsenal, but Ladyarse-related news, from this Sunday I will be doing a weekly piece for In The Stands. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to
publish it here, but I would assume so, unless they plan to pay me, which they don’t. Why do I tell you this? Well, perhaps if I do get enough readers they might stump up some cash, and if not,
hopefully one or two of you might at least get entertained for an extra few minutes once a week.
And that’s where I’ll leave it for today. If the match is called off I’ll try and get a notice out ASAP, but if it goes ahead I’ll no doubt see some of you on Twitter.
