Porto Preview: Who will wear the armband?
Add comment December 10th, 2008
Ahead of a tricky looking Saturday lunchtime game at Middlesbrough, Arsene has left seven of the side who started against Wigan back home:
“Bacary Sagna has ‘flu and Gael Clichy has a hamstring, he has a little chance of playing on Saturday. Kolo Toure has a recurrence of his calf injury, he should not be long but it was not enough to play [at Porto].
Cesc is a doubt for Saturday, he got a kick on his knee on Saturday. Samir Nasri is definitely out for Saturday, he will be out for two or three weeks. Robin van Persie has been left behind. He will be OK for Saturday, he has a little stiffness in his thigh. Emmanuel Adebayor is rested.”
It’s a blow to see Nasri injured again – despite making an impressive start to his Arsenal career, he has been hampered by a variety of niggles. It seems we bought him to replace Tomas Rosicky in every sense.
The absence of Cesc raises the question of just who will wear the armband. Gallas is in the squad, but I suspect he’s not simply been demoted to vice but removed from the captaincy hierarchy entirely. If my suspicion is correct, Manuel Almunia will skipper the side.
One man almost certain to start is Emmanuel Eboue, who after falling off the horse so spectacularly on Saturday will be very keen to get back on straight away and gallop apace back into the fans’ favour. I hope the travelling Gooners give him the support he will require to commence his rehabilitation.
A draw would secure first place in the group, though the advantage of such a position is dubious: we could still face sides like Inter Milan, Athletico Madrid, and even Lyon or Juventus in the next round. Nevertheless, after three consecutive wins under our belt, Arsene will be keen to keep the side on a winning track.
Come on you Reds.
