Greetings, one and all. I’ve been so busy of late that a midweek blog has become something of an unaffordable luxury. However, with the horrors of Internationals upon us, I reckon it’s probably best that we huddle together and warm ourselves by a reassuring, Arsenal-flavoured fire.
I don’t know what percentage of the readers of this blog follow me on twitter. If you don’t yet and are considering it, abandon that plan: I will only stress you out, as I seem to have devolved in to the football fan equivalent of Chicken Licken. In the last 48 hours I have stated, on separate occasions and with a worrying degree of certainty, that Robin van Persie and Mikel Arteta were both suspended for the game at Anfield, and that Van Persie had picked up an injury in training with Holland. On each occasion, I was incorrect: the fact that Arteta and RVP have reached five yellow cards ceased to be relevant after December 31st, and the decision to let Van Persie sit out training with Holland last night was predominantly precautionary. The sky, it seems, is not falling after all. Apologies: I shall endeavour to be more thorough in the future.
Of course, we’ll still all be praying that RVP and others come through tonight’s internationals unscathed. We have a massive game at Anfield on Saturday morning, and to be without the Dutchman in particular would be an enormous blow. There’s rather a nice piece by Henry Winter here which makes clear his importance to the club. Some papers have attempted to attach some drama to the fact that Van Persie will not enter in to discussions about a contract renewal until the end of the season. To most Arsenal fans, however, it comes as no surprise. Van Persie will want to know whether or not Arsenal will be competing in the Champions League, and in the interim one cannot question his absolute commitment to making that happen. When those talks do happen, I don’t doubt that Arsene and Ivan will attempt to throw money at the problem by offering Robin a very competitive contract. In some respects, they’d be better throwing it elsewhere: what’s most likely to keep him is a competitive Arsenal team.
Perhaps one of the summer recruits will be Lukasz Podolski. German tabloid Bild claims the player has decided that his future lies with Arsenal – the sole obstacle is for the two clubs to agree a fee. Knowing us, that remains rather a big obstacle, and the article itself seems speculative at best. Let’s wait and see on this one.
A bit of good news to end with: Andre Santos has said on Twitter that he expects to be back playing in the next fortnight. That’s a huge boost for us – prior to his injury, his form was outstanding. Although Kieran Gibbs recovered from a shaky start to have a strong second half against Spurs, for me Santos is a superior player, and certainly provides a more experienced option at left-back. When Santos returns, we’ll discover if Arsene sees it the same way – if, that is, Gibbs can stay fit long enough to make Arsene have to choose.
Right, that’s all from me. Enjoy your Wednesday.
Kieran Gibbs had a nightmare vs Spurs and clearly isn,t ready to play in the big games
so Andre Santos will be well received by most
fans when he plays again in a fortnight or so?
A very good news on santos & podolsiky
I would welcome Santos back! Bring back the goals baby.
AW will 100% choose santos over gibbs, and well should he. I rate gibbs but he should not be anywhere near the first team yet. He was at fault for both spuds goals. Failed to recognise the threat and come inside to cover. Obviously need to be loaned out to be taught by a professional manager how to defend.
It’s funny that we’re looking to bring Santos in for his defensive acumen, innit?
Bendtner is always entertaining. What is he on about considering a move to Russia when no one even wants him? It’s quite sad really.
Anyway, Ox or Benayoun to start against Liverpool?
GS… its like watching the painfull death of a fly sometimes… why dont you allow there to be a guest writer to the blog, freshen up the thing… i’m sure there are a few people who could write a semi articulate article on the day’s gossip,… you would not have to hand them over any passworfds, allow tthem to email you ?
come on give it a go fella!
WEG…. apart from coming from a sporting diaster zone … australia , you could thro a few words together … could you not
?
why even mmention the brisbanes bri’s….
Barca think they can sign RVP for £20m,bunch of cunts he’s worth double that at least!!!
Solid win. Fantastic.
what is wrong with this blog? is everyone suffering from clinical depression? how about some positive posts about how we came back from being 1-0 at anfield to win 2-1? what a bunch of crap fans you lot are. i live in india and hardly get to go to a game, i dont have the pleasure of living in london and going to a game any weekend i please, but i still support our team and celebrate the goods times.
i think its integral that you lot start to do that or else you will lead very morose sad lives. learn to be happy when its justified to feel so!
Ok Indian gunner I will rejoice unashamedly!!! Brilliant result. That’s pool fucked for fourth. Rvp is a magician. Chesney is a legend, sagna awesome. Chamberlain looks the business. Diaby is …… Well he is diaby. But never mind. This was at anfid and it’s absent along time since pool lost there. Great result. Pool didn’t score. Didn’t deserve a penalty. And they did hit the post acouple or three but I am loving arsenal and the result will do me fine. We need fourth so the new manager can have money and attract players. COYG!! 😍😍😍😍😍
If torress is 50. Rvp is 80. Rvp is worth 45 to us this year alone. One man cl army. Scores when he wants!