Gunnerblog

Blackburn Preview; Losing Flamini would be disastrous

Add comment December 18th, 2007

Ahead of tonight’s League Cup quarter-final tie with Blackburn, Arsene Wenger has reiterated his selection policy for this competition, declaring that the squad members who did not play against Chelsea will be heavily involved tonight.

That means we’re likely to see Lukasz Fabianski behind a back four of Justin Hoyte, Alex Song, Philippe Senderos, and Armand Traore.  However, it is possible that Gilberto Silva, who was only a substitute against Chelsea, could be drafted in to add some experience to that youthful back-line.

In midfield, Lassanna Diarra (who Wenger has moved to reassure over his first-team prospects) will probably be partnered by Denilson, with Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby taking up roles on the flanks.

In attack, the impressive Nicklas Bendtner will play alongside Eduardo da Silva, who is experiencing a sticky patch after a promising start.  A goal tonight would do his confidence the world of good.

Blackburn are a more-than-decent side who will have designs on winning a competition like the League Cup.  However, that pressure could turn to our advantage.  Yet again our youngsters are the underdogs, and that might allow them to express themselves on the pitch with a freedom that could prove beyond the home side.

Mathieu Flamini has reportedly turned down our opening offer of £40,000-a-week.  Whilst I sincerely doubt The Times could have any certainty about the figures involved, it nonetheless gives cause for concern.  Flamini’s contract expires in just over six months, which means that from January 1st he’s free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another European club (Juventus are rumoured to be interested).

Losing Flamini at this point would be a disaster.  Arsene has spent the last three or four years moulding his compatriot into a complete midfield player.  The improvement in his technique and positional play has been immeasurable.  Having finally turned Flamini into the midfielder he always had the potential to be, it would be a tremendous blow for Arsene to have to let him go just as his star begins to rise.  And that’s without mentioning the cost of replacing him – this summer Manchester United spent £20m on Owen Hargreaves, who has performed no better than Flamini this season.

Hopefully the situation can be amended soon and Flamini can concentrate on cementing his status as one of the league’s most combative midfielders.

Returning our gaze to tonight: I don’t like to discuss the ramifications of defeat before the match has been played, but it is worth saying that of the four competitions we are currently in, the League Cup is the most expendable. Try telling that to the Young Guns though.