Arsenal.com are messing with our heads
Add comment January 29th, 2010
Arsenal.com are messing with us. They know we’re scared, paranoid and frightened. Every time one of our players goes down to tie up their shoelaces I feel confident that they may never stand up again. Or if they do, they won’t have a head.
And yet all they seem to do is exacerbate our fears. One minute, they’re telling us Aaron Ramsey will miss three weeks, five days later he’s playing against Stoke. They said Samir Nasri would miss almost a month with a hamstring problem – he came on to face Villa within a week or so.
Then, to top it all, on Wednesday night they sparked panic attacks among Gooners everywhere by telling us that Thomas Vermaelen “might” have broken his leg – now he’s got a chance of facing United on Sunday.
Why tell us he “might” have broken his leg? It’s only going to upset us. It’s like telling an arachnophobic that their “might” be a tarantula on their face.
If Vermaelen is anything over 50% fit, I’d imagine he’ll play on Sunday. If he doesn’t make it, Arsene has hinted that Sol Campbell will deputise, and he seems to feel the veteran is up to the task:
“I have to assess him today but normally he will play if Vermaelen doesn’t play. I think he can stop Rooney. He has experience and he likes the big games. He can turn up if needed and experience helps in these kind of games.”
That big game mentality is going to be vital at both ends of the pitch, which perhaps explains why Arsene is hoping for another magic moment from the enigmatic Andrey Arshavin:
“When you look at him, he turns up when it is really needed – not at 4-0, but at 0-0. He is always coming up with something special. He is a player whom you always rely on in a big game like that.
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.”
Andrey scored with an absolute rocket at Old Trafford earlier this season and almost provided another for Robin van Persie with a brilliant run down the left. With Eduardo nursing his hamstring and Bendtner lacking sharpness, it’s very possible the Russian will be asked to lead the line again. It’s a difficult role for the Russian, but all he needs is half a yard to produce a moment which can make all the difference.
I’m doing a lot of talking about Arsenal today. Have a listen to today’s arsecast for a chat with arseblogger about injuries, Stoke, Villa, United and more, and tune in to Arsenal.com’s Friday night Fans Forum around 9pm GMT if, for some peverse reason, you think I might have something interesting left to say.
Finally, Arsenal fans are going to really struggle wishing a Bolton player well. Good luck, Jack – this is a very important stage in the career of English football’s brightest prospect.
